Disclaimer: I do not own anything affiliated with "Storm Hawks". Characters, places, and other aspects of the story (except for original characters, animals, locations, and some other aspects) that are referenced to do not belong to me.
A/N: Here comes the realization segment. Vulture is going to find out who he truly is with the help of the newly allied Quies Resistance. Are those alarms of defection I hear? A backstory and a breakout plan all before dawn? Alrighty then, let's begin!
Midnight…
"First off your real name is Phoenix." stated Warbler blatantly.
Vulture's eyes widened as this was the same name that he had heard from the girl, and it was the name that had haunted him in his dreams.
"I've heard that name before. I've heard it from your friend Sparrow and I've heard the name in my dreams." said Phoenix curiously.
"That was your birth name. It states it here in one of the old public record books that we saved from the sky knight records section of this library before the Cylonians burned all the other records and filled it with their own records and propaganda pieces." stated Crow as he handed Phoenix a thick ragged leathery book that had opened to a specific page.
Phoenix scanned the page briefly. He found his birth name listed below two other names on the tattered page.
His jaw dropped as he recognized the first name that had been written on the page.
"Falcon, Falcon, Falcon." Phoenix repeated to himself slowly.
He saw a footnote beside the name referring him to another page. He frantically flipped to the designated page and saw a picture of a dark-haired man with blue eyes like his own.
He read silently for a minute, mumbling various phrases as to skim through the information until he had found his desired answer.
"Sky knight of Terra Quies." he mumbled aloud slowly.
He quickly turned back to the page which he had bookmarked with his finger and read the second name listed under Falcon.
"Ember." he said silently as he quickly flipped to the page number that was planted beside her name.
He scanned the page studiously as he had with the previous reference.
"Husband is Falcon, son is Phoenix." he murmured in shock.
He abruptly slammed the book close and looked up at the blizzarian, former Cyclonian cadet, and merb who were seated before him.
"What happened to them?" Phoenix asked with a serious tone.
"Your father was killed while he tried to make a last stand against the Cyclonian army during their invasion of Terra Quies. Eye witness reports also state-
Warbler hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"The reports stated that Ember, your mother, was executed by Cyclonian infantry, and that you were taken away shortly by your now former superior, and our hated oppressor, Sergeant Crusher." finished Warbler sadly.
Warbler, Crow and Finch saw Phoenix's eyes start to well up with tears.
Phoenix envisioned the green eyes of his mother from his nightmare and the newly found face of his father which he could never see again either.
Finch put a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder and patted him gently as the uncontrollable sobs started to emanate from his devastated friend.
Warbler, Crow and the other resistance members just looked at the former cadets sympathetically as Phoenix continued to cry.
After a few minutes, Phoenix sobered up and wiped the tears from his now bloodshot eyes.
"Crusher will pay. He must pay for what he has done! He must pay for who he has taken from me!" screamed Phoenix as he tried to control his sobs and regain his composure.
"And this leads to our next conversation Phoenix. We've been planning an all-out assault on the Talon academy for months now." stated Crow.
"You are the last peace of the puzzle. We need your skills to match up to the Cyclonian forces and their leader, Sergeant Crusher." added Warbler.
"We've seen you fight Phoenix. You're a natural, just like your father before you." continued Crow.
Phoenix managed to stop his sobs and stood up from his chair.
"Gentlemen, we attack tomorrow. Our friends will not perish tomorrow. Crusher has taken enough from us as is." stated Phoenix.
He proceeded to walk over to a table with a map sprawled out across it. They were blueprints for the base camp of the Talon academy.
"The executions will be held here. All cadets will be attending the function as a means of conditioning them to kill innocent civilians. Warbler, take a team of around three or four and wait for my signal on the northern side of the compound. Crow, take the rest of the resistance to assemble at the southern entrance to cut off any reinforcements, and their only route of escape. Finch, gather the best marksmen from our resistance cell and cover us from the eastern side overlooking the compound. I'll come from the western flank and deal with the sergeant myself." ended Phoenix.
"Alright guys, gather anything and everything that explodes, blasts, and shields. We're heading out in four hours right at dawn." commanded Crow to the surrounding resistance members.
"Whoever knows how to nail a Cyclonian between the eyes with a weapon, rally around me!" yelled Finch as a group of the resistance's finest marksmen gathered around Finch.
"Phoenix, there is one more thing I must show you." said Warbler as he motioned for Phoenix to follow him.
The two walked over to a pile of wooden crates. Phoenix saw as Warbler opened one of the crates, and procured a blazing orange crystal and an unignited steel blade.
"This was your father's blade. Survivors of the initial invasion found it near his body and kept it safe until the day that his son would take up the blade." Warbler stated.
Phoenix carefully took the blade and crystal from Warbler and inserted the crystal into the hilt.
Phoenix ignited the blade which glowed a bright orange. He marveled at the blaze of the sword that was now comparable to his hatred for the Cyclonian regime.
"We're getting them back. We're getting Sparrow back." stated Phoenix to Warbler who nodded solemnly.
The night carried on as the resistance was preparing for the assault to come. Phoenix knew where his allegiance truly lay, and he also discovered how he could truly protect his people.