Stork had switched the Condor to autopilot as soon as they were out of range.
He was busy pacing in front of the rest of the team, brow furrowed.
"Now, everyone. What have we learned today?" he asked.
Aerrow sighed. "Never go into unknown rooms..."
"Always listen to YOU..." Finn muttered.
"Always expect the worst..." Fauc spluttered out loud.
"Atmosians have issues," Junko added.
"Erm...Reep! Reep rawr!" Button chirped. Stork raised an eyebrow at her answer. Then, he turned towards Spark.
"Well?" he asked, tapping his foot expectantly. She leaned against the wall and shrugged.
"Sky sharks have bad breath."
"What to do next?"
Gaeli stared at Nightwing with golden eyes. "I don't know. You're the king here."
"I guess we could...No. Wait. The girl, Aerrow's daughter. She said something about the East." He tapped his finger against the table. "We go East, we take down the Storm Hawks, and once they're out of action, we slam Atmosia."
"Bit vague, don't you think?"
"It's all we've got. Here, look." He pointed at the charts with an ink stained finger. "That's a small terra. Asiatica. We attack, and once we've occupied it, it'll be our base in the eastern skies. Gaeli, look up the squadron and geographical essentials of the terra. And as soon as we're ready, we go."
"Whatever you say, BOSS."
She left, and he sat down, staring at the paper with crimson eyes. Mother would've been proud.
He glanced out the tent flap, at the gray skies that marked the coming of rain. They needed to move before the storm hit. He moved outside, stared at the windswept meadows of Gale, and at the mighty city. Talons moved, thicker than ants at a picnic. A few new "recruits" had added to their small forces.
He grabbed his maps and stood in front of the tent. He stroked the small terra.
"Asiatica. You better get ready."
"Where we headed?"
Stork rolled his eyes at her immature question. "I don't know, AWAY from Atmosia, maybe?"
"The Cyclonians are in the Southwest, near Gale. We should go to them, shouldn't we?"
"We're headed east, like we said."
"Bu-"
"Be quiet."
Spark trudged out of the helm. She didn't...couldn't...tell them of her betrayal. She had given up their location. They couldn't go east; the Cyclonians would find them. But what could she do? Fauc had sworn himself to secrecy. But she couldn't let the guilt eat HIM up either.
She glanced out the window. Piper came out of her room and stood next to her.
"What is it?"
"Just wondering what terra's coming up next," Spark muttered.
"Oh, I can tell you. That blueish dot up there?"
"Yeah?"
"Asiatica. Never been there, but I hear it's fun."
"Hm."
Gaeli found Nightwing in his tent, as usual. She held up her book of squadrons and their terras.
"Hey, I found out some stuff about...whats it called."
"Asiatica?"
"Yeah, that place. Erm...their squadron's called the Fighting Taoists. They're a small terra, like you said, population three thousand. Not rich in crystals, but good timber. And they have jade deposits, if that's anything."
"We're not there for jewelery. Anything else?"
"Three rivers, all leading to a lake. They've got a few small mountains on one side of the terra. Lots of trees."
"I kinda figured that out when you said 'good timber.' And?"
"That's pretty much it."
"Fine. They have good defenses?"
"The Fighting Taoists is ranked number...fifty four on the squadron list. They can't be GREAT, if that's what you mean."
"And who is number one?" He looked up from his charts.
"You already know them."
"Right. Assemble the men, and get me Notte."
"Done, and done!" She saluted, before darting out of the tent. He stood and waltzed out of the tent. This shouldn't be too hard. The sun was starting to sink, gray clouds darting in front of it like veils.
"Sir."
Notte had arrived. He nodded at the boy. He looked tired, unkempt, and rather mussy.
"Notte, you need to sleep more," Nightwing said with a grin.
"I try, sir." Notte returned the grin, albeit a gray and weak one. "What is it, sir?"
"We're going East, Notte. That's where the Storm Hawks are. We take them. Here," he said, showing Notte the map. "Asiatica. Our base. We're going to attack. They've got low defenses, a so-so squadron, and good timber, apparently. You up to it?"
"Of course, sire."
"Good. Ready the men. Actually...I've got Gaeli doing that. Just assemble your seconds in command, and clean out your skimmer. We leave at dawn."
"And Gale?"
"I'm leaving Haydon in charge."
"Well...I'm not too sure about that, sir."
"Neither am I," Nightwing sighed. "But what other choice to I have? I need you and Gaeli with me. Unless you can spare Lark, or Sed..."
"Nope. Sorry, sir. Guess Haydon will have to do. Does he know about this, sir?"
"Not yet. Not yet. Dismissed, Notte."
The boy bowed, then left. Stars appeared, sprinkling themselves across the dark blue sky. Nightwing smelled war on the horizon, and it made him tingle. He smiled at the thought of flying, before retiring for the night.
Well, that's a collision waiting to happen. Tune in...soon...for the next installment of "THE FINAL BATTLE".
Yes, I'm having a TV announcer moment. C'mon, let me have my fun, guys. REVIEW!!