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: The Battle for Terra Vicis is drawing closer. Let's continue.
2 days before the Cyclonian invasion fleet arrives, early afternoon, Terra Vicis…
Thanks to a handful of Cyclonian militia turncoats, over the course of a night, Phoenix's message of Cyclonia's deception was spread across Terra Vicis.
Many militia groups renewed their loyalties toward the loyalists and the original government, but some militia groups remained unconvinced, as was expected, and the remaining die-hard militiamen have now held up in a base located in a highly mountainous region located north east of Proelium.
Early morning, loyalist base west of Proelium…
"Phoenix, my scouts have already positioned themselves to do reconnaissance of the area near the north-eastern base." stated Finch calmly.
"Good, tell them to report back with their findings as soon as possible." replied Phoenix in a similarly calm tone.
"You got it." said Finch as he turned away to converse with two reconnaissance scouts.
"You have breakfast yet?" asked Sparrow to Phoenix tiredly as she had just woken up a few minutes ago.
"No, I've been really busy." stated Phoenix as he scanned the room looking at the loyalist forces busily organizing and executing logistical tasks.
"Here, energy bar." Sparrow said as she tossed a small object to Phoenix.
"Thanks." replied Phoenix before opening and subsequently biting into the bar.
Phoenix then turned to look at a giant map of the area they were infiltrating.
"Something is worrying you isn't it." said Sparrow as she walked to stand beside him.
"The region is too mountainous. With the time they've been given, they could've dug in already. Ambushes, traps, and who knows what else they've set up already." stated Phoenix before taking another bite from the energy bar.
"We have a loyalist cohort, a sharpshooter and his scouts, a crystal mage, and a sky knight. We'll be ok." stated Sparrow as she put a hand on Phoenix's shoulder.
"I sure hope so." stated Phoenix as he looked over at the crystal mage who now gave him a supportive smile.
Early afternoon, near the north-eastern Cyclonian militia base…
"Just a bit further." stated Phoenix to a few weary looking soldiers who had been carrying heavy supplies for the assault on the Cyclonian militia's last outpost.
The peaks towered over the medium sized cohort of loyalist troops as the sky knight, sharpshooter, and crystal mage led the assault party from the front.
"Have you heard anything from your scouts?" asked Phoenix to Finch concernedly.
"Nothing. I don't like it, but we're already this far." replied Finch quietly.
"Yep, I really hope we aren't walking into a trap, but these peaks are giving me a bad feeling." stated Phoenix quietly back to his sharpshooter.
"If I were them, I would definitely post some guys up there." commented Finch as he briefly scanned the peaks with the crosshairs of his crystal longbow.
"Are we closing in on the compound yet Phoenix?" asked Sparrow calmly.
"Should be a few more kilometers." stated Phoenix.
"Oh great." remarked Finch.
Late afternoon, on the outskirts of the north-eastern Cyclonian militia base…
The tired troops and the three Swooping Sparrows took a break as they saw the compound a short distance away.
"I don't like it. I don't see anyone in there." stated Finch as he scanned the compound quickly.
"Still no word from your scouts?" asked Phoenix suspiciously.
"They should be around here, so we should've gotten a messenger from the other group by now relaying information." stated Finch.
"Something's not right." Sparrow added.
The group rested a few minutes longer.
Suddenly, a swarm of crystal blasts hit four resting loyalist soldiers simultaneously.
"Ambush! Spread out!" yelled Finch.
The group quickly formed a protective perimeter as the medics tried to tend to the wounded loyalists.
"Attack!" came a voice from behind a pile of gravel.
Cyclonian militia popped out from all around the loyalist cohort and rained down crystal bolts on the group.
Several loyalist soldiers were slain within minutes of the ambush.
With low numbers, many wounded, and no routes of escape, Phoenix knew they had to fight their way through the Cyclonian ranks to escape.
"Follow me!" shouted Phoenix as he ignited his blade and made a dash at a group of Cyclonian militiamen.
Loyalist forces trailed behind him taking aim and striking at their ambushers.
"I'll stay with the medics!" shouted Finch to Phoenix as he unleashed a volley of bolts towards the ambushers to protect the busy medics from any incoming fire.
"I'm with you!" added Sparrow as she took a defensive position beside Finch and ignited a crystal shield to cover the busy medics.
After incapacitating another group of militiamen with the Phoenix's Resolve, Phoenix could see there were still many combatants eyeing them angrily.
"Sir, there are too many!" shouted a soldier to Phoenix as he fired off shots in a panic.
"Stand your ground! To the end!" stated Phoenix as he lunged toward another group of Cyclonians and continued forcing back the seemingly endless waves of militiamen.
Just then, Finch let out a scream as a crystal bolt had hit him in the shoulder and he collapsed in a bit of shock.
"Finch!" yelled Sparrow as she came to her friend's side with her crystal-powered shield still ignited.
Without the cover fire from the sharpshooter, two medics were cut down by the fire coming from the militiamen.
Sparrow felt anger and anguish as she saw the personnel collapse lifelessly.
"Enough!" yelled Sparrow as her eyes lit up with dazzling purple light and she unleashed a brief wave of blinding purple light that seemed to radiate throughout the area.
Loyalist soldiers found their opponents grabbing for their ears, closing their eyes, and collapsing to the ground briefly as they let out screams of agony.
"Sparrow." said Phoenix internally remembering what he had been told.
The screams from the militiamen quickly ceased as their bodies seemed to have the life drawn out of them.
Loyalist soldiers looked at their deceased opponents with looks of gratefulness, confusion, and fear.
Many redirected their gazes to the now seemingly dazed crystal mage as she slowly collapsed to the ground.
"Sparrow!" yelled Phoenix as he ran to catch her in his arms.
"What the heck was that?" said Finch quietly as the remaining loyalist soldiers looked on from their respective positions.
"Redemption told me this would happen." stated Phoenix quietly to Finch as he put his hand gently on Sparrow's cheek.
"The phoenix?" asked Finch in a bit of awe.
"Yes." replied Phoenix.
"She's still breathing, we need to get her back to base." said Phoenix promptly.
Phoenix then eyed the burn from the crystal bolt on Finch's shoulder.
"Nothing but a scratch. Let's worry about her first. I'll be fine." stated the sharpshooter with a tired smile.
"Alright. Let's move out!" stated Phoenix as he carried Sparrow in his arms with Finch and the remaining loyalists following closely behind him.
Late evening, underground loyalist base in Proelium…
The weary assault group returned to Proelium and made their way to loyalist command.
Phoenix briskly walked into the base with the unconscious crystal mage in his arms.
"Get her a bed, and keep track of her vitals. Keep her alive." instructed Phoenix as he placed the unconscious crystal mage on a treatment table, allowing for the medics to begin their procedures on the crystal mage.
"What happened?" stated Warbler running out from a corridor.
"It's a long story. Sparrow is unconscious." stated Phoenix in a slight panic.
"The medics are amazing here. She'll make it." stated Crow walking out from the briefing room.
"You two doing alright?" asked the sky knight with concern in his voice.
"Surviving." replied Crow wearily to which Warbler nodded in agreement.
"Alright." said Phoenix still with concern in his voice.
Midnight, loyalist base west of Proelium…
"How's your arm holding up?" asked Phoenix to Finch as he saw the bandages tied around his friend's arm.
"Aches a bit, but I'll be fine." stated Finch as he picked up a twig and poked at the campfire that the three had previously sat at last night.
"What Sparrow did back there was quite incredible." stated Finch as he popped a roasted marshmallow into his mouth.
"As Redemption had said, she is capable of great preservation and great destruction. Now I know why. We'll check on her tomorrow." stated Phoenix shakily.
"She'll be alright." Finch stated as he put a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"I can't lose her." said Phoenix slowly with tears welling up in his eyes.
"She'll be alright man. She'll be alright." replied Finch as he patted Phoenix's shoulder, and peered at the fire that crackled on into the night.