DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING OR ANYONE IN THE SPYRO UNIVERSE. ONLY MY OCS.

Chapter 71: Darkest Before Dawn

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(Improvised Rotarian Airfield outside Royalis, Syllia)

The rain came down in sheets, soaking the ground and turning the beautiful green fields around Royalis into a quagmire. The transport plane carrying Kaleb Dieter Muntz Junior landed on the runway of the airfield that, with the permission of Queen Lysa de Launces, had been converted to a temporary military base for Rotarian usage.

Gazing out into the rain, Kaleb could see that the Rotarian flag that flew at the base was at half staff. A crowd of people stood beside the runway: Rotarians, of course, but also Syllians, mainly the 1st Air Wing and a few other fighter groups. There were also Tellanians there but they were not the ones that Kaleb zoned in on.

Close to the front, surrounded by members of the Rotarian Air Force, the Griffon Corps, and the Syllian Royal Air Force, was his Sister and Mother.

Both had already been informed of what had happened.

As the engines of the transport slowed, Kaleb rose alongside others who were with him and they strode towards the plane's sole remaining passenger. Fighting the tears, he reached down and ran a hand over the flag-draped coffin that held his Father.

Dieter Muntz had been shot down during the battle for Gotha. He had been found by Loyalists, led by Alfred Marks, and had been summarily executed. Machinegunned in the lake where he had parachuted.

Five men came forward, two with rifles, two with sabers, dressed in Rotarian uniforms, one unarmed dressed in Syllian blue. They took the lead in front of the coffin as Kaleb and his fellows grasped the handles and lifted. Then, as leader of the procession, he gave the command.

"Honor Guard. Foward, march!"

Slowly, with steadfast motions, the Guard descended the cargo ramp and exited the transport. As he exited, he expected to be hit with the torrential rain but instead a sound similar to rain hitting a tarp was heard and he looked around to see, of all things, dragons from Syllia's Dracocorps, wings extended, standing beside them, shielding them from the worst of the rain.

One of the dragons that he recognized as Caldor, the dragon who had fought alongside the Resistance during the Launces Occupation, and the mate to Zafra de Launces. He had taken position beside him and, glancing under his outstretched wing to him, gave him a small, reassuring nod, before returning his gaze straight ahead as they approached the crowd.

The unarmed soldier approached Kaleb's Mother and Sister and saluted them both.

"Ma'am, we bring to you, the remains of your beloved husband, Colonel Kaleb Dieter Muntz Senior, Rotarian Air Force, callsign 'Ritter'. It is with a heavy heart that we perform this duty, but nevertheless, I, and several others, were honored to be with him in those final hours over Gotha. As a state of war yet persists, Colonel Muntz shall be buried here, on Syllian soil, until such a time that Rotiart is once again free, and he may be returned home."

Kaleb's Mother nodded her head slightly, as if afraid any large movement would shatter her already fragile composure. The officer then produces a small box from his coat and handed it to her.

"By order of Queen Lyseerah de Launces, in absense of His Majesty King James de Launces, Colonel Dieter Muntz is hereby posthumously awarded the Winged Aegis of Syllia, First Class, the highest award in the Syllian Royal Air Force just shy of the Syllian Cross. He is the first ever pilot of a foreign land to recieve this medal, and his name shall be entered into the records of Syllian history as a pilot unmatched by any, and trusted by all who flew with him."

A Rotarian officer then approached, saluted his Syllian counterpart, and then turned to her.

"By unanimous vote of the Princess-Accendant Ayura's Council, Dieter Muntz is posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General, and is to be awarded the Accendant's Star, a medal that shall serve as Her Highness' highest honor until Rotiart is under her rule and peace is restored."

Kaleb then saw the crowd beginning to part and several dragons extending their wings out, forming a shielded path to the gravesite where his Father was to be buried. He picked out faces in the group as he passed by.

Voss and Wolff, out of respect for their fallen Commander's family, did not weep but held sharp and respectful salutes. Kaleb saw through the façade though, he knew what they were truly feeling. In a letter he had recieved from Jyne, another fallen pilot, a year ago, he had told Kaleb that Dieter was like the 'Old Man' of the squadron, a father-figure to the young 'Nuggets' he had under his command. At first, he had resented the implication that Dieter had put his squadron before his family. Now, he would have given almost anything to have Dieter with him now.

Standing next to Voss was Werner, the young gold griffon who was his Father's squadron's mascot. Unlike his stoic friends, Werner, who was still only a child, wept openly and sobbed almost uncontrolably until Voss finally broke attention to scoop up the little griffon and hold him as Werner buried his face into Voss' shoulder. When he felt tears threatening to come to his eyes, Kaleb blinked and looked away from Werner and to the next group in line.

Next was the 1st Air Wing. Colonel Bertram de Launces stood at attention in respect for a fallen adversary, comrade, and friend. He and Dieter had crossed paths many times. Sanijo Port, at the start of the war, Tellanos during the initial assault, and Avalar before becoming allies in the skies over Launces. Standing next to Bertram was his promised mate Flaire, her tail curled around Bertram as if sensing the sadness within.

Captain Jake Havvers, Lieutenant Ivan Volgna, and Lieutenant Kani Fenn stood by their wingleader in solidarity. From what Kaleb understood, they were the only remaining original members of Bertram's 242 Squadron from the start of the war. With Michijo Ayatane killed in action over Launces and Sahna Medowl formally discharged and living on the Blue Isles with Ayatane's family, he sensed that Bertram knew how small his close knit group was becoming.

Then there was George de Launces and his betrothed Angela and next to her was Zafra de Launces who momentaily rubbed her neck to Caldor before pulling back and sniffling once.

After that was Major Hans Kronan of the new Rotarian 3rd Air Group. Major Kronan had once been a student of Dieter's back at the Gotha Academy, learning how to fly a plane. Kaleb had attended that same Academy after his Father was returned to active duty and saw that, officially, out of all of Dieter's students, Hans Kronan had been one of the best.

Then, standing alone (although Reyson Havvers was technically close by) stood Gerald Ross, the man who had flown with his Father during the Callinar Incursion. The legendary 'Crimson Tide' himself stood stoic and at attention, slowly saluting his fallen wingman as the procession passed by. Kaleb saw the look of sadness in Gerald's eyes and knew that look. Gerald was now the only remaining living member of the once illustrious 'Flying Circus' that had been the bane of Tellanos during the Incursion.

After a moment's walking they found themselves at the burial site. There, dressed in a somber attire, was Queen Lyseerah de Launces who also stood beside the Rotarian Council as well as emmisaries from the Praetorian Empire. Kaleb caught movement to his right and saw Wolff walk by to stand at the head of the open grave. Slowly, carefully, Kaleb and his fellow pallbearers laid Dieter's coffin onto the platform that would lower him into the ground. As Kaleb remained at attention, Wolff cleared his throat and opened the Sacred Texts.

"Friends, Comrades, we are gathered here today to lay to rest the body of Kaleb Dieter Muntz Senior. A man who was a Father, a husband, a teacher, and a friend to us all. A man who loved the freedom that the skies brought, and revelled in every moment of life he was given. We gathered here saw him at his best, and at his worst, yet what never changed was that he was steadfast and true to his ideals, his honor, and his courage. For though it is often darkest before the dawn, always, the sun shall rise, and all that was dark shall be brought to light and all evil shall be brought to justice."

Wolff paused for a moment and reached into his pocket, pulling an old griffon feather, its gold color long since faded, and placed it on the casket.

"One of our rituals in our squadron was taking feathers that Werner had shed and placing them in our coats for luck. Dieter did this more seldom than Voss, Jyne and I because he said he made his own luck. Still, before each sortie, he would take a feather out of his coat, press it to his forehead for a moment, and then return it to his pocket." Wolff then gazed down to the coffin and gave a wane smile as a tear slipped from his right eye, his voice cracking as he spoke.

"You've finished with one adventure old friend, here's a bit of luck to help you on the new one."

As Wolff stepped back, two men came forward and grasped the Rotarian flag (the gold, white, and silver one), and began folding it several times. Then, once it was about the size of a small triangular pillow, the soldier handed it off to an officer who saluted Kaleb and then knelt in front of his Sister and Mother.

"Ma'am, on behalf of a grateful nation, we offer you this flag. It is of little recompense for what you have lost, but it is all we can offer."

That was when his Sister and Mother lost their composure and began to weep openly. The officer, being respectful, stood and saluted before turning away to the rifle detail that came up beside the grave. The detail leader, a Master Sergeant, raised his saber in salute to the casket before turning to the riflemen.

"At the ready! Present, Arms!" The riflemen readied themselves. The Sergeant continued.

"Take, Aim!" The soldiers raised the rifles to the clouds.

"Fire!"

A volley of seven shots rang out against the gloom, followed shortly thereafter by two more volleys of seven. During the volley, Gerald, Kronan, Voss, Bertram, and Reyson had come forward and, with a swift motion, slammed a set of Aviator's Wings into the wooden lid of the casket.

One for the Callinian Volunteers Aerial Corps, 3rd Element, 'Red Section'. 'The Flying Circus'.

One for the Rotarian Air Force Academy, Gotha, 1st Element, 2151 Squadron. 'Squire Squadron'.

One for the Rotarian Air Force 10th Air Corps, 215th Squadron. 'Knights of Gotha'.

One for the Syllian 1st United Air Wing, Launces Division, 242 Squadron. 'E Squadron'.

One for the United Alliance Air Force, Northern Command, 21st Squadron. 'Liberators of Gotha'.

Someone then depressed the pedal and slowly, the casket lowered into the ground. Kaleb, in a final act, grabbed some soil (kept dry thanks to a earth and fire dragon), and spread it on the lid as it lowered. He then gave a salute as the tears finally came.

"Mission complete Dad. You can leave the rest to us." Kaleb turned to Bertram and became serious.

"Colonel, all that remains is Black Sand Island. No matter what happens, I want to take part in that mission." Bertram said nothing, but he gave a nod to Kaleb.

"The day after tomorrow, we meet at the briefing room, 0530."

Kaleb gave a nod and, placing his arms in a hug of sorts around his Mother and Sister, slowly walked down the path leading away from the grave. After they were gone, Bertram turned back to the grave.

"I can't say I'll absolutely keep him safe Dieter. I've seen him fly and if he's half the pilot you are well then, I truly pity Mechanos' remaining pilots. But for Marks I have no pity. If he flies against us, he will be put down."

Bertram was aware of several people with him and turned to see Voss, Wolff, Kronan, Gerald, Reyson, and several others present. All of them spoke no words but the feeling and intent was clear.

When next they crossed paths, whoever found Marks, would take him out.