Meanwhile, Soara crossed over to the Far Side to rejoin her awaiting squadron. Landing on the deck of the Argo, she skid to a fast stop and pulled Harvey from her dash. She ran inside and reported to the bridge.

"Sky Knight on deck!" The carrier pilot announced as the doors opened.

"Welcome back, Soara girl," Gunner grinned. "You're way late this time."

"Smitty," She stated as she entered the bridge, ignoring Gunner's comment. "I'm sorry for the delay. Reporting for duty and mission accomplished."

"No need for apologies, Soara," The carrier pilot turned from the helm to speak to her. "But keep in mind that delays will hinder the efforts of our mission. You spoke to the Sky Knight Council without incident?"

"Yes," Soara nodded. "But they were not happy with our report."

"I didn't expect them to be," Smitty cleared his throat. "But even bad news is still news they need to know."

"I understand," Soara sighed. "But to make things worse…they cannot even manage to consider sending us back up. We're on our own."

"That's not good," Gunner quirked a brow. "We've got it bad enough out here. You'd think they would understand the severity of the situation."

"It's not like they really would care," Young Cain walked onto the bridge with Fletch perched on his shoulder. "The Far Side is not their airspace to be concerned with. They're more worried about their own petty issues, and think everything on the Far Side will stay where it is and leave them alone."

"Cain," Soara looked at him. "Cyclonia is rebuilding on their side and to the council they are still a serious threat to them."

"After all that I have been witness to here," Cain replied in a monotone voice. "Cyclonia is nothing compared to the threats the Far Side has in store for the Other Side. Not even Cyclonis will be able to fight this new threat." The falcon screeched in agreement with her master.

"Then why not let those fools fall under their own ignorance?!" RaZarr sneered and barged in. "If they won't send help here, and treat us as expendable, then why should we even bother to fight this battle for them?! It would be a waste of time and suicide for us!"

"For one…I agree with the Raptor," Ibis raised his hand.

"I know things look bleak," Smitty addressed the crew. "But that is what we do as a Sky Squadron. We are the Thunderbirds, and like our fallen brother squadron the Storm Hawks did back in the day, it is our sworn duty to protect and defend the skies of Atmos!"

"Speaking of Storm Hawks," Soara smiled awkwardly. "I got to meet with my brother, and his newly founded Storm Hawks squadron."

"Is that so?" Smitty grinned.

"So the reason we have been perilously sitting here waiting for her to return…" RaZarr growled. "Is because she took time off to have a family reunion?!"

"Hey! Back off!" Soara pointed at the old raptor. "I haven't seen him in three years! And you know what? All that we have heard about them is true! My brother is the real deal!"

"He's just a kid!" Razarr snarled. Soara grabbed a rolled up magazine and promptly swatted the raptor across the nose. "ARRRGH! You'll pay for that you little-!!!"

"Enough of this bickering," Smitty rubbed his head. "Soara, give Harvey to Dias so he can upload the new information and analysis to the console. We need to get back on course. Tracker is reporting new activity from his lookout point and we need to rendezvous with him to see just what is going on."

"Aye," Soara nodded and tossed the cube to Dias.

"Be careful!" Dias scrambled to catch Harvey as it tumbled and beeped through the air. "The H.A.R. version 525 AI Unit is not a toy! It is a delicate piece of equipment!" Harvey beeped in compliance and flashed green lights.

"Oh, you worry too much Dias," Soara smiled. The slender inventor sighed and plugged the cube into the main flight console. Harvey connected to the ship's information and locked onto Tracker's signal. Setting the ships course, the Argo got underway into the untamed skies of the West. Soara looked out the bridge windows as they flew off into the clouds, remembering the purpose of her mission at hand, and wondering about what is to come…for all sides of Atmos.