I know they are out there yet I can say nothing for to speak is to be branded...and put away into that god forsaken place. I will not go there. Not when the world needs my help to defeat this...this enemy. I'm writing these words so that others may know the truth, the truth that lies out there...out there in the "STORM."

Wait...be quiet. I think I can hear them now. To the untrained ear the sound is like the hiss produced by a heavy downpour but...I...can hear between the drops. I... can feel the electrostatic resonance which is their signature as they glide among the puddles on the roof, easing their way down the walls as easy as the water running down the side of the building. They may fool others...but not me. Not now...Not ever.

I have long dreaded their arrival, ever since those many years ago, after the war. We were on maneuvers, moving through the clouds. Colonel Manning spotted the first one and reported the sighting. I was his wingman...I said nothing...but I followed. At first I could see nothing though Manning still claimed he saw a disc. He aimed his trajectory nearly vertical and took off. I followed closely, hoping to catch the faintest glimpse at the thing Manning had spotted. Still nothing.

We continued climbing and I realized that we would soon be beyond a safepoint if we were to return. Still, no sight of Manning's infatuation afforded itself to me. I begged Manning to abort, to give up this insane crusade but his mind was already gone...and now I know why. Was he catching a glare from his canopy or was what he saw really there. I had to know. I had to see it for myself.

Shifting my Tiger Plane slightly to the left I peered through the clouds. I had no idea what I was looking for, just that I was looking. Then I saw it. Manning's flying "Jellyfish." It had a centralized disc shape to it with lines of what appeared to be electro static luminescence creating a star shape in the disc. It appeared to have the same consistency of water and that same lack of color look. There were several tentacles dangling beneath the phenomenon, dripping what appeared to be some sort of electrical energy from the tips.

My instrument panel began to act up. That's when I saw the second one. I hollered over the radio for Manning to abort his insane ascent. Still he continued to climb almost straight into the heavens, all the while claiming to be gaining on the strange aerial phenomona. He was insane with the lust of discovery. This was Manning's find, Manning's "Child."

As we continued our Ascent I noticed my gauges were not reading properly. I looked to my right and saw a third "Sky Jelly." It dawned on me , at that instant, at that very second...we were being lured into a trap. I throttled down, backing out of the deep climb I was in. Manning continued to climb. The last sight my eyes beheld was that of Manning disappearing into a higher bank of clouds, laughing maniacally, with three of those things following him.

I made my descent, joining the squadron again. Nothing was said by anyone, especially those who listened as their squadron Commander changed from a sane leader of men into a babbling idiot.

They had infi... sorry, clouded his mind with a vision they planted inside there. Who knows what Manning thought he was chasing; an Angel perhaps. I know better; it was more like the song of the Sirens.

The official report said that Manning suffered from an extreme case of vertigo but I know differently. I was there, I was witness to the abomination. I too was touched by their influence. And now, all these many years later, I feel them again. I know they are here, brought to us by the rain. They can fool others but not me. We are destoying their world, they seek to do the same. Little do they know, I'm onto them. It's time to gather the gang and do a little hunting. My name is Sam Crawford, Stygian Raider, and I hate rainy days.