Darkening Skies: Death of a Dream
The Storm Hawks world concept is copyright to Nerd Corps and Asaph Fipke.
Aerrow, Stork, Piper, Starling, Junko, Finn, Radarr and other Sky Knights are the intellectual property of Asaph Fipke and copyright to Nerd Corps.
Master Cyclonis, Dark Ace, Ravess, Snipe and the Talons are the intellectual property of Asaph Fipke and copyright to Nerd Corps.
Repton and the Raptors are the intellectual property of Asaph Fipke and copyright to Nerd Corps.
Ageless Specter, Lord Xivor and The Ancients are the intellectual property of AgelessSpecter and used with permission.
Marrshal, Psychos and Lord Astrel are my intellectual property; please credit them as such if for some reason you use them.
Chapter 1
Harrier gripped the throttle of his skimmer tightly in anticipation of the upcoming battle as he waited in the skies above Terra Gale. He and the other Rex Guardians had been hard pressed to make it here in time, and he had to wonder what had happened to the Rebel Ducks that they would have left their assigned post. Then he suddenly remembered: the Rebel Ducks had gone to help the Storm Hawks thwart a Cyclonian raid on Terra Neon and Terra Vapos. He paused a moment to idly wonder what had happened to that task force… From what he had heard the battle over Terra Neon had gone favorably, but he had yet to hear anything on how the battle at Vapos had gone, despite the fact that it should have occurred nearly two days ago now. Then again, it was just like those irresponsible Storm Hawks to neglect to inform others of the outcome of such an important battle. And to make matters worse, the Cyclonians had decided to capitalize on the absence of so many Sky Knights by attacking Terra Gale. Well, he and the other Sky Knights the Rex Guardians had managed to assemble would certainly be able to fend off any attack the Cyclonians had managed to scrounge together. Even though reports had confirmed the presence of two Cyclonian destroyers, Harrier was certain they would prevail, especially since massive defense cannons had been installed on the terra below.
Night Aerrow stood on the bridge of his personal Cyclonian destroyer, idly observing the Talons as they went about the business of running the vessel. Next to him, the Dark Ace also watched the Talons while at the same time examining the pure firebolt crystal he would be using in the battle to come over Terra Gale. Behind the pair, Marrshal busied himself with some last minute data collection, working to ensure that the two commanders had the most accurate information on the Sky Knight force assembled against them. According to the latest report Marrshal had given him, the Rex Guardians had arrived at Terra Gale and ordered the construction of defense emplacements containing heavy energy cannons at various locations throughout the terra to augment the offensive capabilities of the defense force. The fools clearly thought that merely taking out the destroyers would break the backbone of the Cyclonian assault. Too bad the plan called for the destroyers to hang back while the Talons laid waste to the defenses, something which the Talons were at least capable of doing to some degree.
"It would seem that the Sky Knight defenders have deployed in a standard Rex Guardian Eagle Wing formation, a typical formation of defense that allows for intense focused bombardment of targets while protecting the siege cannons from immediate attack. Considering they expect us to deploy the destroyers into combat at the onset, this is the perfect formation to deploy in and would likely be successful in taking down one of our destroyers before we were able to break through." Marrshal observed as he walked up to the two commanders, "I believe that they have completed their preparations for our arrival. It should be most intriguing to see how they respond to our change in tactics."
"I'll be sure to read your observations later." The Dark Ace added, "How long until we should deploy the Talons?"
"About five minutes or so, give or take."
"I that case I think we had best head down to the hanger and thoroughly check over our rides, make sure they're in peak condition for this inaugural fight." Aerrow said with a smirk on his face.
"Harrier sir! We've spotted them at three o'clock!" a fellow Rex Guardian yelled as he pointed toward the ominous shape of a Cyclonian destroyer emerging from the cloud banks off to Harrier's left. Already he could see the dots that represented Talon skimmers flying in formation around the destroyer. Despite the sheer number of Talons arrayed against them, it looked like the Cyclonians were walking right into the trap they had laid, a fact which gave Harrier reason enough to smile slightly. As the Talons drew closer however, he suddenly realized that the destroyers had halted their advance, which could only mean that the Cyclonians planned on taking out the defense cannons before they proceeded any further with their attack.
"All Sky Knights, charge!" Harrier called out as he ignited his sword and swung toward the advancing Talons. As they advanced however, Harrier was suddenly brought up short by the figure who was leading the attacking force.
"Hello Harrier." Night Aerrow said, pointing a red energy short sword at the leader of the Rex Guardians.
"Aerrow! What do you think you're doing?" Harrier asked in sudden confusion. From what he knew of the Storm Hawk's leader, he was quite dedicated to the ideals of the Sky Knights.
"Not too quick on the pick up are we Harrier? No matter, I'll strike you down all the same." Night Aerrow replied mockingly, "After all, the Dark Ace and I have a deal, one point for each Sky Knight we beat and a bonus point if we cut their chute cords. I'll be happy to claim you as my first victim."
"Monster! How dare you betray Atmosia, I shall strike you down where you stand!" Harrier shot back, refusing to be intimidated by his opponent.
"Ironic words coming from a Rex Guardian…" Night Aerrow observed; the volume of his voice fading as he suddenly attacked by jumping onto Harrier's skimmer. Caught off guard, Harrier managed to bring his sword up just in time to parry the blow, only to have the lower half of his chest armor sliced off as Aerrow brought his other blade around to strike.
"You're slow Harrier, you should have retired years ago, allow me to correct your mistake." Aerrow taunted as he battered Harrier's guard aside with the blade that had cut through Harrier's armor. Now undefended against attack, Harrier tried to dodge backward, only to cry out in pain as Aerrow sank his other blade through his shoulder. Wounded but not out, Harrier swung back upward, hoping to slash his opponent across the chest. Aerrow saw the blow coming however and easily stepped back out of the way and smacked the blade along its current trajectory before striking Harrier's wrist with the hilt of his blade. The added momentum combined with the strike on his wrist caused Harrier to lose his grip on his sword and he watched in horror as it tumbled away into the Wastelands below.
"This is your stop." Aerrow added malevolently as he blasted Harrier off the back of his skimmer with the Lightning Claw. Harrier immediately pulled his chute cord, deploying the chute before he lost consciousness. As he floated down Aerrow leaped back onto this own sky ride and shot forward, cleanly slicing through the straps connecting Harrier to his parachute before racing off to engage his next target. Fortunately for Harrier however, another Sky Knight had witnessed his fall and quickly raced over, catching Harrier on the rear of his skimmer before racing down to drop the downed Knight off on the terra itself.
After nearly an hour of battle, Night Aerrow calmly flew his skimmer in the Talon-controlled skies of the newly re-conquered Terra Gale, making his way over to the Dark Ace. He quickly spotted his fellow commander cruising along near the edge of the terra, clearly looking for any Sky Knights who might be hiding under the overhang. He quickly dove down and came up alongside the Dark Ace.
"So how'd you score Dark Ace?" he asked in a friendly tone as he kept pace with the other commander's flight.
"My score was sixty seven, how about you?" the Dark Ace said amicably.
"Only sixty five, I had one coward who ran away before I got the chance to engage him." Night Aerrow replied in an equally friendly tone although tinged with irritation at the cowardly Sky Knight who had cost him the chance to tie or surpass the Dark Ace's score.
"Don't worry about it Night Aerrow, you did well for your first fight against Sky Knights, I'll have to really kick it into high gear if I want to match you." The other commander commented in a friendly tone as the two finished their circuit of the terra. A sudden growing noise alerted Aerrow that one of the Talons was approaching and he looked up to find that he was indeed correct, one of the Talon captains in charge of subjugating the Terra was cruising down to talk to them.
"Pardon me sirs, but we're having a bit of trouble subjugating one of the sub-peaks of the terra, the residents appear quite determined to keep us off their portion of the terra." The Talon captain said apologetically. At his comment, both of the commanders rolled their eyes.
"I'm pretty sure I know who we're dealing with." The Dark Ace said in an exasperated tone.
"The so-called 'Resistance of Terra Gale,' a.k.a Wren and his daughter Dove." Night Aerrow answered in a tired tone, "Don't worry, I think I can handle this without too much trouble." With a shrugged 'as you wish' from the Dark Ace, Aerrow took off, heading straight for where he knew Wren's little holdout was. As could be expected, as soon as he neared the terra, various utilitarian items began flying toward him, guided by the power of a wind crystal to the intended target. The projectiles were easy enough to dodge, and the perfect plan came to Night Aerrow's mind as he neared the sub-terra.
"Wren, it's me, Aerrow!" he called out as he landed on the seemingly deserted landmass, "Come out please."
"Aerrow, of zee Storm Chickens?" the quirky little man said as he popped out of a small cauldron sitting near a tree, "What are you doing here with zee Cyclonian slime?"
"I'm undercover, working to find out what the Cyclonians are up to with these recent raids. I'm sorry about your terra being conquered, but it was necessary to earn the Cyclonians' trust."
"Ah, say no more, I understand." Wren said, "I was quite zee undercover agent back in za day."
"Good, great, hurry up then, we need to get you and your daughter out of here. I know Terra Gale is your home, but if you don't leave the Cyclonians are going to bring in more forces to crush you. Besides, you can plan the liberation of Terra Gale from a more secure location." Aerrow said earnestly, trying to urge the eccentric along.
"Very well, we will go." Wren said with a sad sigh, "Dove, come out my darling, we need to go with the nice young man."
"Okay papa." Dove said as she emerged from her hiding place among a pile of 'ammo' and walked toward where Aerrow and Wren were standing.
"Thank you both of you," Night Aerrow said as he suddenly blasted Dove then Wren with energy bolts, knocking both into unconsciousness, "You've made this job so much easier."
"Cyclonian dogs, I will have vengeance!" Wren screamed in rage as he was hauled off the bridge of destroyer after his little meeting with Night Aerrow.
"That was quite cruel of you to torment that man so…" Master Cyclonis said as she sat down in a throne that had been brought in for her, "Although it was amusing to hear his impotent threats against you."
"Indeed, it was amusing to finally put that little imp in his place." Night Aerrow agreed as he stood to the left of Master Cyclonis, "I especially liked his tirade about how he would personally see to it that I was sent to the Wastelands, a promise he can never hope to fulfill." Night Aerrow continued as Master Cyclonis chuckled evilly.
"You know what I think would be an excellent idea?" Master Cyclonis said suddenly, a wicked smile playing on her lips, "I think we should use that annoying little man as a hood ornament for our destroyer… Talon, get some clamps and secure our new figurehead to the bow."
"Yes Master Cyclonis, in the meantime, would you like the other prisoners brought in?"
"Yes, yes I would." Master Cyclonis confirmed as the Talon rushed off to do her bidding. A few minutes later, a large squad of Talons led in several captured Sky Knights, many of them from the Rex Guardians. The captives, for their part, simply glared at Night Aerrow, the Dark Ace and Master Cyclonis with hatred.
"Attention those who still resist my rule," Master Cyclonis announced as she stood to face the Sky Knight assembled in front of her. "I have been patient and allowed you time to accept the inevitability of my victory, but I do not possess infinite patience and I am tired of your continued efforts to stop me."
"We will never submit to you!" one of the prisoners interrupted.
"Never is not as long as it used to be." Master Cyclonis said as she indicated Night Aerrow, "Already one of your best has seen the light and joined us, but you will not have that same opportunity. Instead, you shall all serve as an example to the others." With that final statement, blue energy enveloped Master Cyclonis's arms as little sparkling splinters of crystals began to fall from the air around her arms. Before any of the captives could respond, the blue energy pulsed over then, instantly trapping them in diamond-like crystal and placing them into a state of stasis. "There we are, take these statues to Cyclonia and place them in my throne room and make sure you keep leech crystals away from them, or I'll have your heads for freeing a Sky Knight in Cyclonia."
The Talons who had escorted the prisoners in bowed obediently and quickly departed with the statues in tow. Once the last of the statues had been taken off the bridge, Master Cyclonis turned back to face the three commanders still on the bridge.
"Now then, that was a wonderful show, where shall we stage an encore performance?" she asked with a playful note to her voice.
"While we could head directly to Terra Atmosia and bring a quick end to this, perhaps playing with the Sky Knights a little would be a wonderful way to demoralize them and make our later conquests that much easier." Marrshal commented as he looked through a book containing brief descriptions of the various known terras of Atmos. "Ah look, the Great Atmos Race on Saharr is here in two days, doubtless some of the Sky Knights from more secure terras will be there testing their rides out in preparation for the contest. It would be the perfect opportunity to weaken later resistance as well as stretch the remaining forces they can deploy against us further."
"Excellent… helmsman, set course for Terra Saharr."