Aerrow winced painfully as he started to lift himself off the ground. The crowd was in no rush to help him, they were all still in too much of a shock of the situation. Luckily at that moment Junko was landing his skimmer nearby with Finn sitting behind him. They both ran up to their Sky Knight, helping him to his feet and making sure he didn't fall as he swayed.
"You all right Aerrow?" Finn asked, sounding worried. Aerrow nodded in response. Although it hurt there was nothing serious, cuts and bruises yes but nothing more. Wincing painfully he blinked a few times and tried to make his eyes focus as he scanned the area.
"Where are the others?" He asked.
"Aerrow" Piper's voice called to him over the noise of her ride's propellers. Turning his head skyward he saw Piper along with Stork descend into the square, the Condor he assumed was safe. "Are you all right?" She asked as she walked up, mirroring Finn's question.
"I'm fine" Aerrow reassured. Piper nodded in response and relief. She could see that, although his hair was wilder than normal and his face covered in sweat and dirt, except around his eyes where his goggles had been, Aerrow looked unhurt. The crowd who had been watching this suddenly parted as the head of the Sky Knight Council stepped towards the group.
"The Aurora Stone, in the hands of Cyclonis and her forces" He spoke quietly, seeming lost on what to do next.
"We'll get it back" Aerrow assured him, his voice back to it's confident tone as he became determined to not let Cyclonis win. Besides he wanted a rematch. The head council member nodded in an acceptance, having no choice but let this unofficial squadron try.
"It is vital that Cyclonis does not use that stone" He reminded him.
"We're going to Cyclonia to get it back!" Aerrow said determinedly. His team's jaws dropping in bewilderment as, though expecting to help with recovery, none of them thought it would be this direct.
"We are?" They asked in unison. Aerrow nodded and smiled confidently. They were.
"We're doomed," Stork stated with a groan. Across the Atmos Ace was stood on the top set of his ride's wings and was looking over Terra Cyclonia, preparing to grant Master Cyclonis her wish, the possession of Atmos's most powerful crystal. Entering the throne room Ace bowed onto one knee and offered the Aurora Stone to her. Taking it Master Cyclonis then turned back to her machine.
"Well done" She said with no evident emotion in her voice as she had been expecting success anyway. "Now we can see the full power of the Aurora Stone unleashed" She added as she started to press buttons on her machine. This time no other crystals moved but instead the floor did. Ace stared in awe as the machine extended, growing even taller and wider than before. A great metal case with glass walls and a crystal holder lifted out to finish it off. The crystal holder opened up as Master Cyclonis then placed the Aurora Stone, tiny in comparison to what it was about to power, in the grip of one of the mechanical arms that picked it up and held in place of the holder as three pointed metal shutters clamped down on the delicate crystal sides. The Aurora Stone then started glowing even brighter as it reacted with the machine. "It's called a Storm Engine" Cyclonis explained to Ace. "Imagine being able to choose a Terra and how much damage it should receive and suffer, it's about to happen!" She said with a excited smirk on her face. At that moment, a level meter clanked up to it's first point. "In a few hours," Master Cyclonis continued, "This will be the only safe place and all of Atmos will be bowing at my feet" She vowed.
There had been no time to alert any other squadrons who nearly all had their own Terra's to protect in any case. The Storm Hawks were one of very few squadrons who did not have an assigned Terra to look after but instead helped those who needed it regardless of location. Like before, they would have to handle this problem alone. Putting their heads together they had come up with a plan, a very dangerous and very risky plan which, if successful would be a first. They were going to sneak into Cyclonia and get out alive. Aerrow was flying alongside the Condor on his skimmer, which had switched to auto pilot and landed itself during his fall, whilst on the Condor Piper was studying her charts and maps as Stork flew the ship. Looking out of the window Piper gave a thumbs up to Aerrow, who saw her signal and saluted in response before continuing to flying straight ahead whilst the Condor ducked below the cloud line and into the Wasteland. Soon they were levelling out over the molten lava as, as if to test their nerves, one of the hundreds of volcanoes erupted right in front of them. Stork had to swerve to avoid it and changed route as he shuddered nervously. This is the worst plan ever! He thought to himself. Aerrow on the other hand thought the plan was brilliant as he flew in the open skies. Soon he began passing jagged cliffs all with the symbol of Cyclonia attached to them plain for everyone to see and to get the message. Stay away!. On the dark Terra itself a delivery of supplies was coming into one of the docks. There were four large congregated metal containers being picked up off a ship by a large crane and being placed in one of the main hangers. Once the unloading was done the crane and most of the workers left to do other jobs. Not long after they'd gone, however, one crates doors began to rattle and shake. The bolt securing these doors was rammed off and fell to the floor with a clang as the door slowly creaked open. Junko and Finn poked their heads around the door and got their first look at Cyclonia. The first thing they noticed was how forbidding and dangerous the place looked with it masses of weapons, ships, sky rides and worst of all, some Talons a distance away, recognisable in their helmets, goggles, and red and brown uniforms.
"So this is Cyclonia" Finn whispered.
"Yeah," Junko managed to respond, unsure of the plans success.
