"Air traffic control, this is the Tailwind. We are making our approach," Dustin says over the radio to the Cyclonia air traffic control.
"Tailwind, this is Cyclonian Tower. Be advised; we have large updrafts near docking bays. You are cleared to proceed to bay zero two," the radio operator responds.
"Copy. Thanks for the heads up," Dustin replies before hanging up. "You heard him lizard tail," he jokes to Viper, who hisses, annoyed at him. Dustin chuckles as the Tailwind slowly approaches the large castle and enters the airship docking bays.
"Viper, you remember what you and those you picked are to do when we land, right?" Dustin asks.
Viper nods as he gives the controls to their other pilot so they can settle into the docking bay. "Yeah. Find some guys to help us find the raiders."
"Right. We will be here till you return at least," Dustin informs as Viper starts heading out.
"So boss, they aren't taxing us to the drydocks. Will we need to get authorization from your source?" Condor asks.
"Cyclonis wanted to meet me before we started working. I think something about supplies or something like that," Dustin says, getting up grabbing a box he had prepared to take with him.
Condor narrows her eyes at him. "You sure about that? And it's not a business dealing? Because we can also send someone else with you," she voices with concern.
"I am perfectly capable of looking after myself," Dustin says, heading out.
Dustin brushes past some guards as he carries his box gift to Cyclonis. He looks around the hallways as he notices more security than last time with more patrol groups and around the doorways. But with an escort that somehow appeared in front of him without him noticing dressed in sleeker and darker clothing. At some point, he ends up in some large room that has one person standing in the far end in front of a sizable menacing-looking machine.
"New house plant?" Dustin speaks up, walking over next to the person, and looking up at the machine.
"Ah, Dustin, you have finally arrived. I have a few guests I would like for you to meet. They are practically dying to make your acquaintance," Cyclonis says as Dustin notices puberty starting to hit her as she has grown a lot since last they met, but then again, so has he.
Dustin sighs and hangs his head. "Please don't. I still have so much work to do."
"Unfortunately, I had to promise them a meeting with them for political favor," Cyclonis informs.
"Fine…they are businessmen, at least, right?" Dustin inquires.
Cyclonis smiles, watching him slump. "Yes. Do not worry. I will get you funding if they don't."
"Speaking of business. I have something for you," Dusting informs, showing her the sealed box.
Cyclonis looks over the box before smiling. "And what's in here? Blueprints for me?" she asks, smirking now.
"Yes, a new one," Dustin informs, putting it on a nearby table and opens it up for her to see it.
Cyclonis hums, interested while walking over. She then watches Dustin open the box with locking clasps and shows her blueprints for some vehicle. "And what are we looking at?" she asks, looking closely at the design.
"A vehicle designed to pick up heavy objects like cargo boxes," Dustin informs, making her think of all the back-breaking labor this could replace.
Cyclonis hums, twisting the plans around to look at it better. "So how much?" she asks bluntly, holding a small smirk.
"We can negotiate that later. This should help speed the meeting along, right?" Dustin asks.
Cyclonis nods before looking to the box again. "Anything else?" she asks curiously. "Even more could persuade them."
"That is all for now. Been busy recently," Dustin explains.
Cyclonis chuckles and thinks what else could have been progressing since she has last met him. "Making sure designs and ships, I hope. People are waiting for your new debut."
"Mostly getting the Tailwind improved. Which is why we are here, as you know," Dustin reminds as she leads him away.
Cyclonis nods, taking another look at the designs to study them. "And how far is your progression? People will want a completion date. They hate waiting for something to stay unfinished."
"We are entering stage two now with this," Dustin informs.
"Good," Cyclonis acknowledges. "So, the most you will have to do is introduce yourself, list out your major plans, and I can take over," she explains, rolling the plans and putting them in her robe.
"Let's get this over with," Dustin sighs out.
After the meeting, the two returned to the room. "I hate dealing with people like that—all fake," Dustin comments.
Cyclonis rolls her eyes amused. "I assume you have dealt with no nicer kind?"
"They are either that or think they are so superior to you that you should be paying them to talk to them. And yes, that is from experience in the Atmosia side of the Atmos," Dustin informs.
Cyclonis raises an eyebrow at him now. "And ours?"
"They are usually the former. Have better business sense…so should we address the sky shark in the room?" Dustin asks.
Cyclonis hums gently, and they both look at the large machine on the far side of the room. "My grand opus. Is it to your liking?" she asks, having a hint of teasing in her voice.
"That too, but I mean the current master of Cyclonia being ill," Dustin says.
"I would rather not talk about grandmother's failing health," Cyclonis informs, still looking at the machine.
"Ok then, then the device then?" Dustin asks, wondering if Cyclonis is going to hold up well enough.
"This is the storm engine. I plan to use it to end the war once and for all," Cyclonis informs.
"And what does it do specifically? I can guess from the name but want to know exactly what it does," Dustin says.
Cyclonis smiles, starting up the primary systems. The large half-sphere is slowly closing the three pieces of the door. The doors stop before it closes as Dustin wonders what would be placed inside the machine. "It allows me to control the weather over a particular area. I can set it from simple rain to a typhoon in the terra," she describes as Dustin's mind is suddenly filled with so many possibilities, and he is reminded of something, but he can't put his finger on what.
Dustin slowly walks around the machine, looking it over. "It's…unique. I can say that," he compliments before knocking a finger on the device. "Are you planning on using this? On a terra to…?" he presses, starting to frown as he realizes the implications against a colonized terra. "This is your weapon for the opening salvo," Dustin says in realization. "How is it powered? What's the output? What's its stress limit? How long can it run for at a time?" Dustin starts bombarding her with questions as he examines the device.
Cyclonis hums, working on the controls. "It will be powered by a high energy crystal. It can output a storm that can destroy a terra for around a week. It does overheat, but I am working on cooling crystals," she explains, going in order.
"Tested or in theory for the output?" Dustin questions as he realizes something.
"Theory overall. I need the crystal, and I can start," Cyclonis answers, becoming more excited but hardly shows it on her face.
"You already have one in your sights, don't you? More specifically, the Aurora stone of Atmosia. Which would mean you would be working or have turned someone on that terra already. Have to be high-ranking…one of the red eagle squadron members, I would hazard a guess. They are arrogant after being the 'best' squadron left around now after that last great battle, but in truth, they are barely worthy of looking up to," Dustin says, shocking Cyclonis into silence.
Cyclonis slowly stops her typing and frowns. "My guard hasn't been on a speaking spree, has he?" she asks dryly.
"Have I been here long enough to even hear anything from him?" Dustin questions back, noticing she didn't deny any of his hypotheses, making him more curious.
"A fair point and you're not the type to insert spies…well not yet as you are still building up, but you figured out my plan very well; so tell me, what gave it away?" Cyclonis inquires.
"I realized something. The Aurora stone of Atmosia does the same thing as this machine and works twenty-four-seven. So it is the best thing to power this. You are also not the type to accept anything, but the best if you can help it," Dustin points out, taking a seat on the sofa in the room. After a bit, Cyclonis is about to speak up when Dustin cuts her off. "But I completely advise against the plan."
"What?" Cyclonis questions, frowning. "What do you mean, no?"
"Such a weapon would be powerful, but there is the chance something could go wrong like malfunction or sabotage. All it would take is one part not working optimally, and all that power could be turned back on this terra, wiping your empire's capital out. It's a powerful weapon, but do you want to bet your and everyone else's life on it?" Dustin asks, stressing how dangerous and unpredictable a sudden malfunction would be.
Cyclonis stays frowning, watching him. "Are you saying this weapon is not something to be used? Or not to use it?"
"It's too dangerous to use it in that capacity, especially when you told me it's all in theory so far, but you can easily alternate and do what Aurora stone of Atmosia does for Atmosia. With the stone, you could make the weather calm around Cyclonia and make it more hospitable. Easier working conditions equals more productivity after all," Dustin points out.
Cyclonis raises an eyebrow, wondering where he is leading with this. "Helping Atmos? You are saying to make friends with our strained empire?"
"There is another reason I say this. Have you thought about what would come after the war? If you use that on a terra you are looking to conquer, it will forever be lost to you, and one who is seeking to restore the empire to its former glory. Is that an acceptable outcome? Also, what if your enemies got a hold of it and managed to get it working against you?" Dustin inquires, somehow still looking at the machine but never her.
Cyclonis is silent as she thinks about it. She hasn't considered that. Dustin made a few points, and when it comes to that last one, her mind immediately turns to more than a few nobles in her court rather than a sky knight squadron. "Very valid points you have made. I also agree with your assessment that the goal of the Cyclonian royal family and the Talons is to reclaim our territory from the rebels who currently hold them across the Atmos. It defeats that purpose to eradicate a terra. I will think of how to use this more later, but you have given me much to ponder," Cyclonis says.
Dustin runs a finger across one of the braces and brushes off some of the metal. "Yeah. Take your time with that. You're going to need it. Especially since it looks like I have to start calling you queen soon," he adds, humming at how much the metal is chafing away. "Also, add a paint sealant to this thing. Maybe something from the docks that you put on hulls."
"First of all, it's Master. Second, it's not supposed to win a beauty pageant," Cyclonis says with a bit of snark.
Dustin snorts and smiles. "Never said color. I said sealant. Weather machine and it can't handle itself in the rain," he laughs as he turns and walks away. "True face of irony."
Cyclonis watches as he walks past her, still looking over his rust-covered fingers. "Question, how much do you hide the pain for others?" she asks, noticing how much his smile is straining against his face, even if it is normal.
"Don't know what you are talking about. And on that note, heading to the dry dock to work on the Tailwind," Dustin informs, leaving the room.
'Now more than ever, I need to get you on my side. That mind is wasted on Atmosian rebels,' Cyclonis thinks, looking back at her machine.
"Wrong. Wrong. No change at all. Wrong." A pause. "That's correct."
Dustin smiles as he walks into the renovated forge, seeing Salv working with the blacksmiths as they process the ore. Her outfit now changed from the old stitched clothes she was wearing to the uniforms where it's more of an overcoat dress that ends just above her knees. Though, it seems she ripped it along the side of her legs and gave herself more room to move. "Too many failures? No correct process yet for mass production or machine?" he asks, walking up beside her before seeing Condor taking notes of the failures. "And maybe narrowing it down?" he adds, with Condor not noticing him yet.
Salv nods as the blacksmiths bring another plate. "Right," she confirms happily. She then turns to Dustin smiling. "It is tiring. My eyes aren't unlimited, but they do the job. Heck, I saved the research team about a week off of most of the work," she shrugs, not even trying to hide her bashfulness. "But yes. We haven't got a clear process yet. If we are going to make a machine, it might be one of the toughest you will make. The temperature alone is proof of that," she points out.
"And yet it is the only way we can increase our machine's armor and make us completely sealed from the pressure with how our ship is," Dustin reminds.
Salv playfully sputters. "I am surprised you didn't try a form of scales for the hull," she mentions, and he looks at the raptor with a raised eyebrow. Salv smiles and shows her scaled arms. "How else can we take hard hits? Maybe try a mix? Structure and scaled hull instead of flat?" she suggests.
"That is an option, but it would make it next to impossible to repair when damaged, and we lose a few," Dustin points out.
Salv giggles. "And you think ahead," she thinks out loud before being presented with another finished piece. "No," she answers, and the blacksmith frowns as he puts the failed work next to the rest of them. "As you can see, it's a deadly hit and miss. And we are almost out of ore. My brother has already contacted our chief. He says that the chief will now allow trade for the ore if we pay up. Free trade is now over with us since other shipmasters and blacksmiths in different tribes and the terra are now noticing. They are wondering why we are taking such a useless rock," she informs before smirking at seeing Dustin's smiling face. "You like deals. Even if you are on the losing side of a friend," she points out.
Meanwhile, on Terra Bogaton. Repton is sitting in his throne room looking over his collection when he hears an all too familiar voice. "Boss! Ah, boss!" Leugey calls running in very jolly.
Repton growls and hisses, lowering his head onto his leaning arm. "What is it?" he hisses, annoyed.
"Ah, someone is paying a lot of money for the shiny rocks we find all over the place," Leugey informs, getting Repton's interest.
Repton hisses as he leans down and glares at the lumbering oaf of a raptor. "How much?" he asks, almost threateningly. Leugey whispers the amount into Repton's ear and makes him hum, an idea coming to mind. "Boys!" he calls, grinning as the other raptor team members look at him. "We have a new profession starting today! Mining!" he calls, kicking up a pickaxe nearby.
"What do you think they are doing in there to the ship, sis?" Snipe asks as they have been in charge of guarding the drydock where the Tailwind has been for nearly a month.
Ravess waves her brother off, sighing. "Just making upgrades as he promised. What else can they do?" she asks, gesturing an arm towards the ship. "He did say it's not complete yet."
"But we have heard a ton of noise. Stuff like…what is that?" Snipe asks, confused as a vehicle is driving up to them and protruding pieces, almost like prongs, carry crates.
Ravess and her brother watch as the machine rolls by as mostly everyone in the dock watches it once in a while. Their faces in rapt confusion or intrigue as they study it before being pulled back to their work. "A…cargo lifter?" Ravess guesses.
"Ah, good. More materials we ordered," Rorack says, grabbing the boxes from the lifter and brings them inside the drydock.
"Cargo lifter," Ravess repeats, confirming the machine.
"Oh yeah, boss whipped the plans for one up because not everyone is as strong as a wallop," Rorack confirms, lifting two boxes on both his shoulders. When the two siblings look into the open boxes, they see a large metal piece that almost seems like an engine based on the metal amount. If a regular Talon tried to lift them both or even one, they would break their back in half.
"Let's hope the Talons don't get lazy because of this," Ravess hopes as she looks around at every single work ethic of the dock workers. But it seems almost everyone is happy or content with their position as they keep doing various tasks and even guiding the lifter to carry more boxes around the area.
"At least it will be faster," Snipe says, looking at the puny noodles that are the Talons.