A/N: I have lowered the rating from M to T. However it may go back to M again once the dark and bloody parts of this story start coming up.

Termina was a comparably small to other terras, only covering five square miles of surface area, and hosting a community of only a few hundred people on a single central settlement. The Termina settlement was built into a tall circular wall two miles in diameter, it's center dominated by a large clock tower that doubled as the town's beacon, casting a bright ray that swept around the terra making a full revolution once a minute.

In the shadow of the eighteen storey-tall clock tower a young man crossed the plaza before it. He was in fact on the cusp of adulthood, late into his seventeenth year. He wore his raven hair short and raised, gently sloped brows rested above sharp blue eyes that scanned the crowded plaza for danger.

His name is Rayner, and he is a Sky Knight. His close fitted black and grey uniform, and rigid armor cuirass, vambraces, and shin guards announced his profession, as did the pair of metal eskrima sticks that were attached to a harness on his back.

Rayner had arrived in Termina Town an hour ago via skimmer, his purpose for being here lay ahead of him. It was a rustic looking establishment called the Silver Spar Inn, named after a famous but now defunct Sky Knight squadron that used to protect Termina, having long been replaced by a large militia force.

Walking into the Silver Spar Rayner swept his eyes across the large common room, several people turned to fix their eyes on the Sky Knight, unsure of his purpose for being here, before slowly turning back to their drinks, food, and conversation. He looked around until his eyes fell on two people sitting at one of the tables in the back. Rayner smiled to himself as he walked over to the table.

The person on the right looked up at him as he approached, "Hey'a Rayner! Yer right on time!" She said with an excitable voice heavy with the accent common to her people.

"I try to please Lucy-Lu," he said, the blizzarian female chuckled under her breath. Lucy-Lu was a striking specimen of her kind, graced with spotless light-grey fur with dark blue highlights on her headfur, ears, legs, feet, hands, and forearms. She wore a simple fur-lined winter coat left open over a black tank-top with the symbol of the Absolute Zeroes, printed in white on the front, and green pants with the leggings torn off at the knees of her digitigrade legs. While she appeared to be unsophisticated, her emerald eyes betrayed the brilliant intellect Rayner personally knew her for.

The man sitting next to her was human, he was a few years older with a bald head and stocky build, he wore a brown leather jacket that was patched up in several places over a white shirt that was soiled around the collar from sweat, he wore brown pants and black boots. His features were locked in a state of perpetual contemplation.

"Gorman," Rayner said, acknowledging the older man as he sat down.

"Rayner," Gorman replied in his thick voice, altered from smoking too many lho-sticks in his adolescence to present. Despite his foul habit and taciturn demeanor he counted him along with Lucy as his best friends.

"So before the others arrive, did you dig anything up?" He asked them both. Lucy-Lu, true to her upbeat nature spoke first.

"Sure did!" She chirped, pleased with herself, "It's just what we've been lookin' for, a lil old but beggars cannae be choosy, eh?"

"More than a little old," Gorman corrected, "It's Cyclonian War era, launched in the first years."

"So it's a classic, with a little elbow grease I am sure she'll be all we need her to be, besides those rigs were instrumental in keeping the Atmos free, right?"

Lucy-Lu seemed about to say something but a sharp look from Gorman halted her with a hand on the shoulder and a hard look. Rayner observed the action with a raised eyebrow, and cast a pointed look at the Blizzaran, who had suddenly found the surface of the table very interesting.

"Is there something I should know?" Rayner asked Gorman. The larger man adopted a small smile, "You'll know when we take you to see her, let's just say it left me with a little nostalgia." Rayner sighed, knowing Gorman, that could mean many things, most of them unpleasant.

"You didn't take any pictures?" Rayner asked.

"My camera was out of film, but don'cha worry nothing, it'll make the surprise all the sweeter," Lucy-Lu answered with a wide smile stretched across her mug. "So don't keep us in suspense! How'd ya meeting with Anju go?"

Frowning slightly at the swift change in topic, Rayner decided to answer anyway, "She's in, she will be arriving with the others tomorrow. And then all of us can go to Terra Detriton together."

"Have you talked to the Council yet?" Gorman asked. The Sky Knight Council on Terra Atmosia was in charge of registering and validating all official squadrons, they were also responsible for judiciary functions such as courts martial, and prosecuting international criminals. In order for Rayner to lead an official squadron, he would have to clear it up with them first.

"We don't have the carrier yet, and our team has yet to be assembled. Garth isn't due to join us until we pick him up with the carrier, and Darius hasn't made it clear whether he will be coming or not."

"Darius is a total hoser, Rayner. Do we really need him?" Lucy-Lu asked, her ears folding back with obvious distaste.

"His skills as a flight engineer are a must, I am not doubting your skills Luce' but I have seen what happens when you overwork yourself," Rayner replied with a devious smirk, enjoying the fact the Blizzarian was likely blushing furiously under her fur. Rayner did not know the specifics behind Lucy-Lu's dislike for Darius, the eccentric female was usually slow to anger and quicker to forgive. Darius must have screwed up big time for her to hold a grudge like this.

"Now then, tell me what is new with you two." Rayner asked, steering the topic away from business.

"I have been expandin' my crystal inventory, I gotta' lot of shockers, and I recently found a gen'yuu'ine gale crystal," said Lucy-Lu, while producing a moss green crystal with a swirling rune inscribed on it.

"I take it that one is rare," Rayner said.

"Course it's rare! I wouldn't 'ave brought it up if it was common variety," she said with mock indignation, "Seriously, aren't Sky Knights supposed to have a 'lil know-how on crystals?"

"Sorry, but I only got to drink the happy juice and I only learned about the common crystals, with the exception of the concussion crystals I use in my energy sticks," he said, pointing to the pair of weapons on his back, bearing cylinderical bright green crystals held in metal frames on the tips.

"What about you Gorman?"

"Nothing much, with my racing rig totaled I've been sitting on my hands waiting for this idea of yours to come through. But I can tell you Pa' has sold the farm, after the Cyclonians took Terra Forvan he felt that it would be best to pack up and leave while he still can, don' know how he managed it though. Selling real estate on a Terra on the brink of being conquered is next to impossible." The veteran pilot said, his tone colored in sadness.

"I'm sorry to hear about that; but that is why we are doing this. We are the good guys now," Rayner said sincerely.

"Wasn't always the case Rayner," Gorman replied. Rayner didn't know what to say to that at first, it was the stone cold truth.

"Fer' what it's worth, I think both of you are the real deal, 'specially you Rayner," Lucy-Lu said, "What you pulled off all those years ago was nothing short of stupid... but I'd be a liar if I said it wasn't damn heroic." She adopted a Cheshire grin. "Now come on boys, nobody likes a downer, 'specially me. How 'bout we celebrate our reunion with a round of Sahar Fire Brandy, eh?"

Despite themselves the two men couldn't help but smile.

"Sounds like a plan to me," Rayner said.

"You're paying Sky Knight," Gorman said with a smile.


(The next day)

It was morning when Anju arrived at Terra Termina astride her skimmer. She was a woman of average height, but she had a toned build that was visible beneath her form clinging leather flight-suit. Her skin had a healthy tan, and her pixie-like face as devoid of any blemishes. Her plum hair was done up into a bob which somehow retained it's shape despite the fact she had been flying against headwinds for over an hour before arriving. Her chocolate colored eyes scanned the area before she dismounted and activated her skimmer's security system, poised to violently electrocute anyone who tried to steal it.

She entered town, and followed the directions she had been given beforehand to the Silver Spar Inn, upon entering she was greeted by the sight of a relatively empty common room, with a middle aged woman sweeping the floor. Walking up to her Anju made herself known, "Excuse me, I am looking for some friends of mine, they said they would be staying here."

The woman looked up from her task, "For the safety of our customers, we keep information like that under the lid."

"My name is Anju, I know three of my friends are already here. A Blizzarian named Lucy-Lu, a Sky Knight called Rayner, and a bald guy with a sour face called Gorman.

"Anju? Ah, they said they were expecting you. My name is Gretta, I help my husband run the Inn by managing the books, and cleaning up once in a while."

Anju nodded her head, "A pleasure Gretta, it looks pretty cozy here. I can see why Rayner chose it. I am curious, why is it called Silver Spar?"

"The Silver Spars were the pride of Termina, this place is as much a memorial as it is a business. Me and my husband were their biggest fans, so we took it upon ourselves to make sure their lives and triumphs are remembered, rather than their tragic deaths."

Anju looked around, the common room's décor was indeed themed to honor a Sky Knight squadron, over the fireplace there was a round shield, with a dark blue field bearing two silver diagonal streaks, crossing over one another, it was lovingly polished and showed signs of age. On the walls were framed photographs, fan memorabilia, and autographed merchandise.

"How did they die?" Anju asked Gretta solemnly.

"As heroes," Gretta said, her eyes gaining a far away look, "They were part of a combined assault by several squadrons on Terra Laegrus, it was being used as one of the Cyclonian Army's primary rally points in their invasion into Coalition airspace, Termina was one of several terras being threatened by invasion."

Gretta pointed to one of five gold framed photographs, this one was in the center. It depicted a middle-aged man with coarse looking blonde hair, he had a sturdy jaw and intense green eyes. "Devron also known as Razor Wind was the Sky Knight and leader of the Silver Spars, he was one of the bravest men to ever take the oath, and today his name is one of the first things most Terminian children learn, for the very fact he spared a quarter of Atmos from being overrun."

The woman looked back to Anju, "Devron led the Silver Spars to battle from the carrier Aquila, at first it was going well, with the aid of the Storm Hawks, and the Howling Griffons, the Silver Spars were making short work of the Cyclonians. It was a surprise attack via the Wastelands you see, they had converted their skimmers and carriers to operate for a limited time in those conditions. They struck hard and fast, taking out several Cyclonian destroyers in sky-dock, but alas victory would not be won so easily that day."

Gretta looked longingly again at the pictures of the individual pilots, "The Cyclonians received reinforcements, six destoyers and over a dozen Talon squadrons. The Storm Hawks and Howling Griffons received the brunt of the attack, their carriers were damaged and some of their pilots were shot down. The Silver Spars rushed to their aid, Devron led his wingmen to engage the Talons, Harris, Deeja, and Skope were the ones who flew with him. While the carrier pilot Kaylee, used the Aquila to cover the Condor and Fire Spirit from the destroyer group's pursuit. In a heroic rearguard action, the Silver Spars bought the Storm Hawks and Howling Griffons time to escape."

She lowered her gaze, Anju listened on with rapt attention, "They were outnumbered and outgunned, one by one, they fell until only Devron and Kaylee remained. A shot from a Destroyer's prow gun claimed a direct hit on the Aquila's unshielded bridge, mortally injuring Kaylee, but she still piloted the carrier regardless. Devron's sky ride suffered critical damage from the Talons, and he was forced to land back on the Aquila. He ordered Kaylee to maneuver the heavily damaged carrier towards the Cyclonian base on Laegrus, while he rigged the Aquila's power core to blow. With her dying breaths, Kaylee crashed the carrier into the base's crystal munitions depot, and at the same time Devron forced the carrier's core to go critical. The resulting explosion wiped that Cyclonian base off the face of the Atmos. With the sacrifice of the Silver Spars, Termina and many other terras were spared, and the two other Sky Knight squadrons managed to escape, the rest is history."

There was a moment of silence between the two women, Anju looked at the shield again in a new light, the story had made her contemplative. She wondered if death was a price she would have to pay if the Cyclonians renewed their aggressive expansion. No, not if, when they resumed their hostilities. Finally Anju decided to say something.

"They were really something, weren't they?" she asked, feeling a little stupid.

"They may not have been the brightest, or the best skilled, but they were ours; and the bravest people I have ever had the pleasure of encountering." Gretta said with a smile, "Come take a seat, your friends will probably not wake for an hour or two, and in the meantime lets see if we can get you fed up. On the house."


Atmospedia

The Great Cataclysm: Approximately 1,200 years ago, Atmos suffered a series of catastrophic geological events of apocalyptic magnitude that shattered continents, boiled the seas away, gave rise to oceans of fire, and destroyed numerous civilizations, leading to the depopulation and extinction of the indigenous races of the planet. Atmos was covered by an ashen shroud of darkness caused by the rampant volcanism of the newly formed wastelands, leading to further death with the onset of volcanic winter, and the worldwide failure of surviving crops. The remnants of civilization clung to life on the isolated geological formations that remained above the poisonous cloudlayer that hung over the wastelands.

Decades later, when the Aurora stone was found on Terra Atmosia, it's tremendous power was used to cleanse the atmosphere of the persistent ash cloud, allowing the life giving rays of the sun to shine once more on Atmos, enabling temperatures to return to normal, and the people of Atmos to recover. To this date, nobody knows the cause behind the Great Cataclysm. The loss of Old Atmosian scientific knowledge and technology, as well as the appearance of power crystals led to the evolution of the pseudo-magical steampunk world of New Atmos.

Silver Spars: Founded fifty years before the present day, the Silver Spars were the official Sky Knight squadron of Terra Termina. The roster included Devron Sky Knight and leader, Kaylee the carrier pilot, Harris the flight engineer and heavy ordnance specialist, Skope the sharpshooter and tactical adivsor, and Deeja the crystal mage. Their record as a fighting unit is above average when compared to other squadrons. Before the First Cyclonian War, their activities were mostly concentrated on disrupting aerial piracy around Termina and nearby terras. During the war they made names for themselves by destroying several enemy supply convoys, relieving besieged militias of local terras, and raiding enemy outposts. Their final mission to destroy the military staging ground on Terra Laegrus immortalized them as heroes. After their sacrifice, their names were inscribed in the Hall of Champion on Terra Atmosia. A popular Inn on their home terra is named in their honor.