A few weeks later, Dustin walks back onto his ship after delivering the prisoners they had rescued from the raiders to the Atmosian council. He had decided it was time they did something useful and left it to them to handle the former prisoners to get them back to their terras or, if need be, resettle them. Meanwhile, he had decided to oversee the construction of the office and hangar area that the Raven's had acquired in their negotiations with the council on the terra.
After the mess they experienced in Cyclonia, they couldn't retake the chance with one of their designs being stolen and misused. So now they have their very own production and design building with a large hanger for their various ships. In this case, the vessels being built would be for civilians that the council agreed to pay for—mostly cargo ships for safer and faster travel, with more efficiency.
During the weeks of constructing the facilities, news had come in of the sky knight squadron taking down two raider cruisers. With how many the Ravens had reportedly destroyed, most of the squadrons declared a victory, and they were returning to their terras, but Dustin knew a rift had opened up between the northern and southern sky knights. One that would either quickly mend or worsen when the cold war turns hot again. While constructing, he had sent Angus, Daria, and Condor to Cyclonia to oversee the construction of the two prototypes of the Cyclonian merchant ship. The class of ship was named the Onyx-class, adding to the fact the first to receive the vessel would be the crystal mining industry of Cyclonia.
Unlike the Atmosian commission, Dustin had a freer hand in designing as Cyclonis knew he worked best without outside pressures or keeping to a specific design. As per request, it was heavily armored. Not the armor on the Tailwind, but nearly Cyclonian destroyer levels. The resigned engines also looked promising using conventional tech of Cyclonia and optimizing it a bit, making, in theory, the fastest merchant ship even with the cargo bay full.
The three he sent will be there to keep him apprised of the progress and issues with the prototypes will have as discovered. Meanwhile, they have started hiring in Atmosia for people to help run the office there. Surprisingly and unsurprisingly for some, many of the former prisoners applied to work for the Ravens. While still going through the list of applications, it is clear that the Typhoon Ravens are more and more popular whenever they act.
Dustin checks the office progress in the meantime when he can. He finds that the wallops put the walls up quickly and, being sturdy, would take a few cannon shots at least. He even added guards that would watch from afar as they do want to catch these bastards and send a warning to anyone else who tries. But he did receive one message from the guards who were approaching the main office building. And usually, he would tell them to send them away, but when he heard the guards away who it was, he stopped working and immediately went to the front door. Opening it up, he sees a very familiar purple-haired girl. "Been half expecting you, Starling."
Starling smirks, placing a hand on her hip to lean against. "Half, huh? What's the other expectation? Materials or money?" she jokes.
"No, I was expecting you to show up eventually since you weren't there when we fought the Raiders. So you would want to hear from me directly on what happened," Dustin says, gesturing for her to enter.
Starling nods, walking in and looking around the office building. "Yep. So mind telling me how things are going?"
"Fine enough. Got the office starting to be built here so your sky knights can stop whining," Dustin informs, waiting patiently for her to say why she is there.
Starling gives a slight frown at that jab before letting it from her face and sighs. "So…still working for Cyclonia? I heard that the ships they want are in the prototype build phase."
"Oh, you heard about project Onyx then?" Dustin inquires, taking a seat.
Starling nods, still pacing around the office room, and wonders where the heck the rest of the length of the building is when she measured it in her head, walking up to here. "Yeah. I mean, a cargo ship that would work almost five times better than what they currently have or even ours? Color me interested," she mentions, sitting in the open desk chair as Dustin sits in one of the chairs in front of the large desk.
"Well, it's not like it is a big secret. They approached us through the exploration guild with a commission, and the money offered was good. I couldn't turn down the offer as the commerce branch of the Cyclonian government leaned on the neutral exploration guild for this commission," Dustin informs.
Starling raises an eyebrow while putting her feet up onto the table, leaning back in her chair. "Are you still part of that guild? I mean, you hardly deal with them from what I heard."
"I am, and it's where we get our commissions from. It's just at the rate we are going; we may become a branch all our own," Dustin informs.
Starling smiles at the idea of a new branch, but with Dustin and his group leading it. "Will you give it a new name, maybe? Besides the obvious names that guilds tend to do? Let me guess…the Techno Ravens?" she guesses, chuckling at the thought.
"Typhoon Ravens is much better," Dustin corrects, shaking his head with a smile.
Starling giggles behind a hand before smirking. "So…are you going to give a sneak preview of both ships to an old friend? Maybe check out the specs right now?"
"Project Onyx is in Cyclonia along with the plans. We are still building the facilities even to begin building project Nimbus," Dustin informs.
Starlight sighs, leaning her head on her arm. "Well, what about the specs? Can you give me those? I know the idea of how much changes with even drawing it out to be ready to be built."
Dustin inhales before exhaling. "I did not enjoy project Nimbus at all," Dustin informs as he goes to a safe and starts to open it up.
Starling tilts her head and stands up from her seat. "Why? Figuring out a style for the Free Atmos was hard?" she asks, walking over.
"Because I was more fixing other people's shit than making something new," Dustin says, very unenthused as he unrolls the blueprints for her to see. Most of the stuff written she didn't understand.
Starling looks at Dustin with a questioning look. "And what is the 'mess' I am looking at?"
"I read the initial issues over the radio a while ago. These are corrections and using the knowledge I acquired from the Cyclonians engines," Dustin informs, already walking away to pace as Starling looks over the drawings.
Starling frowns as she tries to decipher each piece of writing and specifications before noticing something. "There are no armaments? No way to defend themselves?"
"The armaments weren't included in the Onyx designs either. They will have to decide that. We did make it very easily adaptable to an extent for armaments, though. We don't standardize weaponry yet. Even the Tailwind started with no armaments," Dustin clarifies.
Starling raises an eyebrow at him and points to some parts of the airship. "There is no real spot to put them, though. It would seem like you have to rip it apart to put something in," she points out.
"The request in writing is for a civilian cruiser. There was never anything about weapons in the contract. So it wasn't included in the designs. Besides, if we did include weapons system into it, we would have to go back and redesign a lot of it," Dustin informs.
Starling sighs, placing a hand over her forehead. "The council will be pissed once they see this…" she mutters.
"Oh, they know. They objected until I showed them the contract they signed. Now, if they wish to renegotiate this, then now is the time as we haven't started on the prototype yet and can still make the changes," Dustin informs.
Starling sighs again, shaking her head. "I have to go warn the council then. But I don't think they will like your answer," she points out.
"I got them by the balls on this because it is their contract. Also, how will they justify doing anything against the Ravens after all we have done with the raiders, including saving over two hundred prisoners from our assault on the Raider's base?" Dustin asks, smirking.
Starling now lets a smile grace across her face. "You love messing up leaders," she breathes out exasperated, and Dustin chuckles at that remark.
"Leaders are people who do something. The council is all show no substance," Dustin counters. "Now, anything else you want to talk about now that you have aired that?" Dustin inquires.
Starling hums, letting go of the blueprints, watching it roll-up. "Yeah," she voices before looking at him. "How are things between you and Suzy?"
"I think you know how well they are since she is one of your best friends," Dustin says, smirking.
Starling chuckles, smacking the side of his shoulder. "Come on. You can tell me, Romeo."
"Well, we are together, but with the raiders, it has been an issue as so busy," Dustin informs.
Starling nods. "And now? Maybe some dates here and there when she's around? Especially since you are here working on a ship?"
"Maybe, but with how damaged they are, and this premature decoration of victory after twelve cruisers were destroyed and a base, she is smart enough not to lower her guard yet," Dustin informs.
Starling offers a comforting smile towards him. "I'm sure she will still try to go out on a date with you if you asked."
"I have a question for you, Starling, before we continue this line of thought. The schism between the northern and southern squadrons. Will that become worse before the war turns hot again, or will it get better?" Dustin questions.
Starling shrugs, crossing her arms. "No idea. Right now, everything is uncertain by all the groups."
"Give me your realistic best guess," Dustin asks, wondering what Starling will say.
Starling hums, trying to figure out what could end up happening. "Well…best guess…they would be at odds with one another. And if not under orders by the council, they would leave each other to their problems. Especially since sky knights have to help each other and the many terras."
"In other words, the Northern squadrons as a whole had their fragile pride hurt by the media and don't want to do anything to help others like children throwing tantrums," Dustin bluntly says.
Starling blows hot air out of her mouth. "Yeah…in simple terms."
"And you wonder why I dislike most sky knights. Either way, though, we should talk about other things," Dustin says.
Starling nods slowly before looking out the window at work being done. "At least you are getting things done when they care about you. I doubt most sky knights can say that about themselves or other shipbuilding companies."
"Companies may be the only things that last beyond this conflict with Cyclonia that was made during it. I don't see sky knight squadrons lasting beyond it. As if Cyclonia disappeared, why would they be needed?" Dustin points out.
Starling gives a sideways glance at him. "Protect the terra from other threats? Bandits, raiders, animals?" she suggests.
"Yeah, but sky knights have been all about fighting Cyclonia, that it practically revolves around them. So with them gone, the system falls apart," Dustin points out.
Starling looks worried at the moment before shaking her head to herself. "They will find a way, Dustin. You can't count them out that easily. Besides…what kind of job can we do if not being a sky knight?"
"Band together finally and make a new organization that looks over the entire quadrant," Dustin informs.
Starling squeezes her hands together and wrings them around that Dustin quietly notices. "Not as easy as you would like to think," she admits, very quietly to herself.
"Yeah, egos and self-interest," Dustin says.
Starling can't even confirm that as she keeps wringing her hands nervously. All before stopping cold as Dustin grabs both her hands and stops her. She slowly pulls her hands apart and makes him let go as well before she lets out a big held breath.
"I think I can put everything on hold for one night to spend time with you, though," Dustin says.
Starling smiles and looks up at him. "Guess I can brag to Suzy I got a date."
"Don't you two make this a competition," Dustin says, sighing.
Starling chuckles as she watches Dustin think about how to start the date.
"Master, Dustin has contacted us. He wishes to speak with you about something," a royal guard informs bursting in, giving her a salute the entire time he gives the report.
Cyclonis raises an eyebrow as she looks up from her work on making a new part of her outfit. As she has learned from Dustin to try making things embedded while doing the refining process, she decided to test it out on her suit and cloak. And all she is currently adding is some crystal energy in it using a modified version of the sewing machine to allow her to dump crystal energy into the threads and cloth as she works.
The guard tries not to stare at the strange image in front of him, keeping his eyes on the ceiling. But he does hear Cyclonis get up and walk over to her radio station. "Not a word of what you have witnessed," she seems to hiss. "Now leave," she announces sharply, letting the royal guard turn around like a statue and march out the door, still staring up at the ceiling. He didn't show fear, but loyalty and obedience. Something Cyclonis liked.
Cyclonis chuckles to herself as she tunes the frequency to what Dustin has told her before. "This is the Master, calling Coming Storm."
"Don't tell me you killed one of your own men again. I heard chatter from the guards that one who disrespects you and enters your office is never heard from again," Dustin jokes back in a haunting voice at the end before chuckling. "And how are you doing?"
"Well enough. You caught me in the middle of a project of my own," Cyclonis says slightly amused as well.
"Is the Grand Master herself copying my style?" Dustin asks teasingly. "Am I going to expect refined staffs and weapons and better armor too?"
"Unless you can wear my clothes, then no," Cyclonis chuckles back.
"Yeah, don't think I can pull off that look. After all, I am more mechanics than a crystal mage. By the way, why aren't there more crystal mages? I would expect Cyclonia to have far more than an entire branch of them," Dustin inquires.
"It's not that simple. True crystal mages are rare and even then it's a lost art to all but my family's exclusive archives. Right now, I believe I am the only true crystal mage in Cyclonia. Even if I did find others, I am quite frankly the only one who could teach them as trying to experiment without knowing things can be quite dangerous. Many of our ancestors died because they experimented with it. That and most just use the scientific method so hard to tell who has the potential and who doesn't," Cyclonis informs.
"I see. Well, I should move on to the true topic I called about. We have started making great progress with the next phase of the Tailwind. Current estimates are around six months right now. When we do that, I would like you to be there for this historic step for our planet," Dustin informs.
Cyclonis hums and smiles at the offer. "My VIP ticket that is being given by the builder himself? How could I not?"
"Pick who you want to come to join this. I will also be having guests from the Free Atmos. Many will pay a lot to be a part of this especially after we finish the guest quarters. They will be far higher quality rooms than when you last rode on her," Dustin adds.
Cyclonis smirks. "But mine will be the best?" she asks, almost knowingly.
"Yes. After all, you are the head of state for Cyclonia. Just don't expect a chandelier. We have decided those are accidents waiting to happen," Dustin says seriously.
Cyclonis laughs at the idea. "Don't worry. I don't care much for that even in my ships. Now, anything that might soon help our ships or those I commissioned to you?"
"I already sent some of my officers to handle your side. They should be able to handle any problems that arise in the Onyx-class. The only issue will be the weaponry which your own will have to decide on the balance for those and the limit of weapons on them," Dustin informs.
Cyclonis nods. "We can handle that part. You just worry about making new things."
"Don't worry about that. Now, what did we stop on during our last talk? I think it was the time pulse and the limitations of the system," Dustin inquires looking for confirmation.
"Yes. You said you might have a plan for a replacement, I believe it was," Cyclonis wonders as she sits down and starts to lay back in her chair.
"More redundancy," Dustin corrects as she hears some papers shuffling around. "One single time pulse to the entire Atmos. That is asking for trouble if it ever went down. Especially for cargo ships as they can hardly turn on a dime if they are flying blind," he points out before sighing. "And simply putting more isn't enough. I am thinking of the other things tacked onto the pulse since it can reach the areas where there are practically dead zones where you have no navigation or communication," Dustin hums before snapping his fingers a few times. "Maybe radio shouldn't be relayed off of it too?" he wonders to himself.
"Go on," Cyclonis says, writing this down now.
"Frankly speaking, we need a backup in place big time. With how old the time pulse is, we need to think of contingencies. After all, it has served well for five hundred years, but it can not last," Dustin says as this reminded Cyclonia that the time pulse had never been targeted since their ships, skimmers, and radios they are currently using also relied on the time pulse to work like it did when the timepulse was first started up.
Cyclonis hums. "You would have to go to the timekeepers. They can help out. Though…if you do place more, make sure one goes on top of my castle," she warns.
"That's a given with how your castle and the Atmosian Council building are the centerpieces of both sides in terms of locations, and that is the problem. Despite knowing about the time pulse, we know nothing about its specifics. The timekeepers keep it to only their guild or, should I say, organization. We know nothing of their time pulse or even if having multiple active at once is feasible as they could interfere with each other, canceling each other out," Dustin points out with a hum, showing he is thinking hard on this.
Cyclonis hums as well. "I will see about getting you in contact with them. Maybe they would listen after what you have done for the ships."
"I tried talking to them already. I got the council to set up a meeting for me when renegotiating the Nimbus-class ship's contract. They never suspected I initially stuck to the letter of the contract on purpose to get such a renegotiation," Dustin informs.
"I am guessing since you still do not know the specifics, it didn't go well?" Cyclonis inquires, approving of his cunning to set up such a meeting while making the ones who did him this favor are indebted to him.
"No, the timekeepers are a very stubborn lot and refuse to give me any details or even show me the plans of the time pulse. This leaves me with three possible reasons why. First, they don't want to give that information out as it gives them influence over the entire Atmos. Second, the time pulse has a major flaw or function they don't want anyone know one to know about. Or three, they have lost the plans and are barely maintaining the time pulse," Dustin informs.
Cyclonis sighs as she massages her forehead now. "Right…maybe I can do something. Help you out there."
"No need, I already started with ideas to address it. If it is the first one, just the reason I need to bring them down. If the latter two, all the more reason to make something to replace it," Dustin says nonchalantly, making Cyclonis smirk as that idea could give her and the talons a perfect way to cripple the rebels' coordination.
Cyclonis smiles as she leans against the table. "Then we might see your ideas after your stratospheric trip," she mentions, already coming up with a way to cripple and use this fact against the rebels.
"Ah, yes. That reminds me, what about the one who designed the cannon? Are they still around?" Dustin asks.
Cyclonis nods, tapping a finger against the table. "They are. Once you deliver, I can get you to them or, rather, them to you."
"I would like them to be a part of the stratosphere tour. You can frame it as a favor for their family to not bring too much attention to our private chat if anyone catches word of it," Dustin suggests.
"Tricky little sky shark," Cyclonis teases.
"Yes, I am. Anything else you can think of to talk about right now?" Dustin asks.
"Just my ships. That's it," Cyclonis mentions, shaking her head.
"Which one specifically?" Dustin inquires.
"The commissioned ones. But I will trust you are doing so great over there and will deliver what was signed," Cyclonis hums smiling.
"I am leaving that up to my people. The stratosphere stage requires my full attention," Dustin informs.
"Then we are done. And I hope to see your ship in action and the sight above the clouds," Cyclonis mentions, almost making it sound like he has no choice with how she hisses and speaks in her evil-like tone.