The Cairo Saga, book 4: Operation Chindit
Part 10: That same old feeling

CS Bordeaux
Zenith jump-point
Un-named system
Dieron Military District
Draconis Combine

Cairo's finger pulled back on the trigger for his Magshot.

The single grape-sized round left the barrel at something approaching twice the speed of sound, crossing the distance almost instantaneously. The armoured figure was blasted backwards by the force of impact, slamming against the bulkhead as blood started to flow freely from the gaping fist sized wound.

The assault rifle in the solders hand fired as their body went into spasm, sending a burst of 1mm bullets into the faceplate of the young commando who had made the difficult shot in the corridor just minuets before. The Plexiglas shattered under the impact, turning the woman's face into a mess as her head was blown apart.

Deep inside Cairo's head, something that had lain dormant for a long time was awoken. Pure rage flowed through him as he stalked off down the corridor, leaving Major Akuma and the others far behind.

Cairo stalked the corridors like a vengeful wraith, intent on killing until there was nothing left alive. Word of Blake marines and crewmembers alike fell under his gun as he moved from section to section, pausing only to reload.

Finally running out of ammunition for the Magshot, Cairo gripped it like a club from its overheated barrel and used it to batter one opponent to death, only stopping when they flouted motionless against the wall.

Major Akuma and her team followed at a distance, shocked by the shear brutality of Cairo's actions.

Leaving his Magshot floating in the middle of the corridor, Cairo drew his paired Stetta auto-pistols and fired them with near clinical piscine, leaving a trail of death and destruction in his wake.

The Word of Blake solders apparently knew he was coming, as more and more of them ran as soon as he came into view. Major Akuma picked up several transmissions made in the clear that referred to 'The Demon', and she presumed that they were in reference to Cairo.

Fighting religious fanatics could be most confusing.

Cairo's silent rampage looked like it was finally going to come to an end when he ran out of ammo for his side arms, but instead he simply drew his Kukri and used it to slash open the pressure suit of a terrified Wobbly who stood before him like a deer trapped in headlights.

Grabbing the man's shotgun as he tried his best to seal the gaping gash, Cairo chambered around and pulled the trigger. The blast sent the target spinning end-over-end down the corridor, trailing a constant stream of blood as they went.

Cairo finally stopped when he ran out of targets in front of a barricade erected by the crew to keep the Word of Blake away from the Combat Information Centre, the most heavily fortified room on the ship.

"Who goes there?" A terrified voice asked, "Identify yourself!"

"My codename is Azrael." Cairo's smile was dark and foreboding, "The Angel of Death."

"Stand right where you are!" The voice replied, trying to sound more confident than it was, "Hands where we can see them."

"As you wish…" Cairo bowed his head slightly, hands held out so the people behind the barricade could see the blood that still clung to the blade of the Kukri in his right hand.

"Colonel…" Major Akuma approached Cairo from behind, her gun pointed at his back, "Sir, maybe you should put the knife down?"

Cairo wordlessly whipped the blade clean on the arm of his suit before slipping it back into the specially designed scarab on his belt.

Part of the barricade moved, to crewmembers armed with laser rifles popped their heads through.

"Codeword?" One of them asked, their voice shaky.

"Revelations." Cairo's voice was slowly returning to normal, the tension leaving his body.

"Oh thank god…" The laser rifles were lowered, "I'm sorry sir: the dammed Wobblies tried to trick us before. We had to make sure."

"Yeah, well, everybody relax; I'm here." Cairo slowly stepped forward, "Now what in the hell is so important that you put up such stiff resistance?"

"I think it would be better if we showed you, sir." The senior crewman motioned towards the CIC, "I don't think you'd believe me if I told you."

"This has got to be a nightmare." Cairo shook his head, "Any minuet now I'm going to wake up and this will all have been a bad dream."

"I assure you colonel, this is no dream." Isis Marik stood in the middle of the CIC, dressed in pressure suit, a pair of heavily armed guards at her side, "I must admit, I never expected to see you again, at least, not under these circumstance."

"No: you expected to see me dancing the hemp-fandango under a gallows tree." Cairo collapsed into a chair, "So what in the hell are you doing this far behind enemy lines? Last I heard you were expecting your first child."

"Indeed I was, but that is beside the point: I am attempting to reach what remains of the Free World League to see if I can rally what remains of its military to fight against the Word of Blake."

"Good luck: this ship is in no condition for a journey like that!"

"Then it is my good fortune that you should happen upon us in a fully functional ship."

"Do I have to remind you that I have, like all those under my command, been declared renegade? Your dear husband has given every unit under Allied command orders to shoot me on sight. As a matter of fact, your friends outside should have killed me the moment I identified myself."

"I am fully capable of reading between the lines, Colonel Cairo…"

"Mr, it's 'Mr' Cairo: I was stripped of my rank by the JAG back on Tharkad."

"Very well, Mr Cairo. As I was saying, I am capable of reading between the lines, even if Victor wants to keep me from getting involved in this war. If I can rally what remains of my homelands military, it may be enough to tip the balance against the Word of Blake. As such, I am commandeering your ship to take me to the Free Worlds League as quickly as possible."

"I'm afraid I can't allow you to do that: I have my own intentions for my ship, and they don't include playing taxi for you."

"You intend to just leave us here?"

"No: I intend to make sure this ship is capable of operating under it's own power, then sending it back towards the nearest planet under allied control."

"I find that total unacceptable."

"Frankly Duchess, I don't give a damn."

"You have a real attitude problem, MR Cairo!"

"No: you have a problem with my attitude, there is a difference."

"I can see that there is no point in trying in trying to reason with you." Isis sighed, "Very well: we would appreciate any help you can give us in making this ship ready to head back to Lyran space as soon as possible."

"It shouldn't be too difficult: most the part we need will be on the Deliverance, so it will just be a question of salvaging them and installing them into this ship." Cairo stood to leave, "Oh, could you please pass a personal message onto Victor for me: tell him to remember what I said at Sigfried Glacier."

TBC…

The Kukri is a curve bladed knife with a heavy back to allow more force to be applied during an attack. They can be almost any size, up to and including machete. They originate in Nepal and are most famous as the signature weapon of the fearsome Ghurkhas, the finest light-infantry in the world. The bit about the blade needing to draw blood every time it is removed from its scarab is true: modern day Ghurkhas (there are still Ghurkha regiments in the British and Nepalese armies) still cut themselves every time they draw their Kukri.