The Cairo Saga, book 4: Operation Chindit
Part 3: New solutions to old problems

Sigfried Glacier Reserve
Evirons, Tharkad City
Tharkad
District of Donegal, Lyran Alliance

"Hello Élan." Cairo looked at the woman he had once called his best friend, "Forgive me if I don't look surprised, but I've had too many shocks already today."

"You always had a sharp wit Steven: be careful you don't cut yourself." Fraser smiled, "Like I said, I have been chosen to handle to prosecution at your Court Marshal. You will need to select an officer to act in your defence..."

"I'll take that job." A voice came from the doorway, making everyone look round, "I've done it before."

"Clearwater!" Cairo looked at the ComStar agent, "What the hell are you doing here already?"

"Saving your life." The Spymaster smiled, stepping forward, "The case is illegal: High Treason only applies to Lyran nationals, and Colonel Cairo is not. After he gave up his Los Alamos nationality, ComStar arranged for him to become a citizen of the Free Rasalhague Republic. As they have recently been absorbed by Clan Ghost Bear, he is under their jurisdiction."

"I'm what?" Cairo asked.

"A citizen of the Ghost Bear Domain." Clearwater smiled, "Now leave me and the General here to discus matter is quite will you?"

The long corridor in the north wall gave unprecedented views of the Glassier, and Sinead found it relaxing to just stand and look at the wilderness.

"Hell Sinead, it has been to long since we last saw each other." A voice interrupted her contemplation and froze her blood colder then the icy wastes outside.

"You..." Sinead slowly turned and found herself face to face with Star Commander Marcus, the Clan Wolf MechWarrior who had taken her captive on Constance seven year before, "W-what are you doing here?"

"I am here as part of the relief force sent by Kahn Ranna Kerensky. I had thought that it was a sign of disgrace, but when I saw you were also here..." Marcus took a stop forward, "I thought that we could relive old times."

"You stay away from me you bastard!" Sinead pulled her laser pistol from its holster and levelled at the Clan warrior, "Don't you even THINK about touching me!"

"I see you language has still not improved, despite the beatings I gave you. I still fondly remember the sound you made when you begged me to stop, and the way you cried when I took you to my bed..."

The echoing sound of gunfire filled the corridor, and Star Commander Marcus fell to his knees, his eyes looking at Sinead accusingly as blood started to poor from the corner of his mouth.

Another gunshot dropped him to the ground, dead.

"And the hoarse you road in on too." Cairo stood behind the dead man, his revolver still smoking in his had. He took half a step forward and fired the last round into the head body, "Sick son-of-a-bitch."

"Steven." Sinead collapsed into him arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

"It's ok, it's ok; he's not going to hurt anyone ever again." Cairo held her tightly, and then looked round when he heard the sound of running feet heading their way, "You'd better get out of here before anyone finds us."

"I'm not going to let you take the blame for this..."

"I killed him, and I'd gladly do it again." Cairo smiled, "You know I'd never let anyone hurt you."

"I know." Sinead nodded.

"Then hide." Cairo pushed her into a side door just moments before half a dozen armed Military Police arrived.

"What happened here?" The officer commanding the party asked.

"You blind or something?" Cairo asked over his shoulder, dropping his empty revolver to the floor, "I killed him."

"Ok, put your hands behind your head and walk backwards towards us." The young officer sounded scared, "Nice and slow."

"Yeah, I know the drill kid: my dad was a cop." Cairo sighed.

"You have a disturbing talent for getting yourself into trouble." Clearwater looked at Cairo as he was escorted into a small office by two MP's, "Any idea why?"

"None, other than it annoys you." Cairo smiled as the guards undid his restraints and left the room, "So how did your meeting wit the JAG go?"

"Quite interesting; you're not going to be charged with High Treason, just premeditated murder." Clearwater sat down on the desk, "But as it carries the same death sentence, and you admitted the crime, they'll hang you."

"Why do I feel you have something else in mind?"

"You know me all to well." Clearwater pulled a credit-card sized object from his pocket and placed it on the desk, "No monitoring system within five-meters will work as long as that it activated."

"Nice; it's smaller than the one Davion had."

"Yes, well, Victor acutely believes that his can block one of my bugs, where as this one stops everything."

"This must be important."

"What I am about to tell you is one of the most closely guarded secrets ComStar has. If Word of Blake was ever to learn it, it could turn the tide of this war back in their favour." Clearwater rested his hands on the desk, "There is a secret automated leistering post hidden on the planet Pluto in the Sol system, codenamed Station-X. It picks up all electro magnetic activity in the system and transmits it using a system similar to the Black Box devices used by the Lyran and Davion military's. Six mouths ago Station-X went dark, and we have no idea why. We need someone to go there and fix it."

"Someone with nothing to lose? Someone already facing the death penalty?"

"Exactly."

"It's not going to be easy. I'll need a ship..."

"You'll have the Spirit Sight, as well as a DropShip and a pair of shuttles to make the landing. After you have completed your mission, you are to make your way to the nearest friendly world, striking at any targets of opportunity you see fit." Clearwater smiled, "If I where you, I'd get as far away from the Lyran Alliance as you can. You're all so publicly condemned as an outlaw for the duration of the mission: you'll be in as much danger from your own side as the enemy."

"Situation normal then." Cairo mused, "What about my people?"

"The DropShip is loaded with a Lance of BattleMechs equipped with the C3i system. You can pick any three other warriors to join you..."

"Sinade, Rebecca and Kerry."

"You seem sure of your choice."

"I trust Sinade more than anyone else in the universe, I owe it to Rob Dancer to look after his wife, and Kerry, she wouldn't last long in a line unit."

"May I ask a question?"

"Can I stop you?"

"True." Clearwater chuckled, "Why did you kill Star Commander Marcus?"

"You've read Sinade's file no doubt, and you know her past and connection to Sebastian Cain?"

"I have, and what he tried to do."

"Star Commander Marcus succeeded where Cain failed. It was a long time before she could tell me about what happened to her while she was a bondswoman, and there was no way I'd let that son-of-a-batch live."

"I understand." Clearwater stood, "Be ready to make your daring escape in two days, and good luck."

TBC...