The disclaimer telling all of you that I don't own any Galaxy Ranger characters has ridden off into the sunset. Just a thought that came to me. What if there were some new rangers on the block but they brought a lot of trouble? Find out what I think when the gang gets…

Back in the Saddle

"I swear I need a vacation to get over my vacation," Doc groaned as the Series Five team walked down the hallway in full uniform.

"It wasn't that bad," Shane remarked. "Apart from the triple murder investigation and your relatives getting arrested."

"Not to mention that bit with the smugglers, the giant monster and the toxic waste," Niko said.

"And let's not forget the elephant stampede," Zach added.

"How can anyone forget an elephant stampede?" Doc rolled his eyes. "They're still working on the front of my house on it! My house has an elephant sized hole in it!"

"Welcome back Galaxy Rangers," Commander Walsh met with them in the hallway with Dr. Nagata. "You couldn't have come back soon enough. I hope you got some rest on your vacation because there are a lot of missions out there that need to be finished yesterday. So you have a lot of work to do. Three of you anyway."

"You're still hung up about that charging room incident huh?" Shane asked.

"Yes!" Walsh snapped at him.

"So I'm stuck on desk duty?" Shane sighed. "It figures."

"It serves you right for trying to speed up your recovery process by charging your implant prematurely," Walsh gave him a look. "Supertrooper Bio-Defenses or not you still need to heal like everyone else."

"But I'm fine now," Shane said. "I even had the docs look me over this morning."

"Gooseman you are on desk duty until I tell you otherwise and that is final!" Walsh snapped. "Now, I want you all to meet the new Series 5.2 team."

"Oh joy," Doc muttered under his breath.

"What was that Ranger Hartford?" Walsh turned around sharply.

"I said, 'Oh boy'!" Doc replied cheerfully, as if he hadn't said anything else at all. "Can't wait to meet the new guys!"

"I take it there was a reason you waited until we were on vacation to introduce them on Tri-D?" Zach asked.

"Actually I was planning on waiting until you got back," Walsh gave him a look. "But since all of you got so involved with the fiasco of Doc's family and that insanity of a triple murder as well as that funeral nonsense…"

"Please Commander," A tall hardened man with a crew cut hairdo approached them with a team of rangers behind him. "It's common knowledge that wherever the Series Five Rangers go, trouble follows."

"Captain Foxx this is Captain Ares, leader of the 5.2 Rangers," Walsh introduced. "I believe you know Ranger Glenn Sanders…" He indicated a tall thin blonde man with glasses.

"Nice to see you finally joined the team Glenn," Doc smiled.

"Just sorry I waited this long," Sanders nodded amiably.

"Ranger Doreen Green, an empath," Walsh introduced a perky blonde. "Ranger Katya Romachevski…" A woman with dark hair in a bob. "Ranger Troy Dumas, a new psychic…"

"Glad to meet you," A handsome red haired man smiled at Niko. "Call me Troy."

"And of course you know Ranger Broderick Broscoe," Walsh added.

"Yeah we know each other," Broscoe snorted. He was stout but muscular and looked more like a bad cop from an old television show than a Galaxy Ranger. "Still polishing those apples eh Foxy?"

"I was hoping that you've matured in the time since we last saw each other Broscoe," Zach bristled. "But I see that was too much to hope for!"

"I wouldn't talk if I were you Foxx," Ares pointed at Shane. "Considering what you have on your squad! The very notion of a genetic mutant wearing a Galaxy Ranger uniform disgusts me!"

"No worse than any disgusting alien," Broscoe snorted. "Then again we don't know what DNA is inside him. I mean if he has animal and demon DNA…"

"Captain Ares! Ranger Broscoe!" Walsh barked. "I have told you already that I will not tolerate remarks like that! Remember Gooseman is a Galaxy Ranger just like you."

"Not quite like us," Ares glared at Shane.

"Captain please," Troy spoke. "Such remarks are not conductive to our goals. Remember we are all on the same side here."

"Yes, and there is nothing in Ranger Gooseman's record that indicates he is anything but a loyal Galaxy Ranger," Katya spoke evenly. She glared at Broscoe. "A pity such things can not be said for other team mates of mine."

Broscoe glared at her. He and Ares left the room. Sanders looked at Doc and shrugged as he followed him. "Nice to see we're all one big happy family," Doc quipped.

"Listen not all of us are jerks like those two," Troy said. "We all know those two became Rangers because they're favorites of the Board of Leaders."

"The truth is that despite your excellent service records you cannot be anywhere at once," Katya said simply. "Plus you have gained somewhat of a reputation for situations going wild. It is only a matter of time before the Series Five Rangers are phased out for new improved units."

"We're not exactly on the scrap heap just yet," Zach frowned.

"I don't think you are," Doreen smiled at Doc and batted her eyes at him.

"Well that's a relief," Doc smiled.

"It's an honor to finally meet you Niko," Troy smiled at her. "I don't think I've ever met another psychic before. I'd like to discuss with you about your powers over dinner sometime. Is that possible?"

"Uh…" Niko stalled. "Actually…"

"We all have dinner plans to meet with each other," Shane said quickly. "But you are welcome to join us if you like." Instinctively he moved closer to Niko.

"I see…" Troy raised an eyebrow. "Well perhaps some other time then."

That's when Niko felt a presence in her mind. So the rumors are true. You and the Supertrooper are infatuated with each other.

Troy? Niko was surprised.

Who else? Troy's mental tone was amused. Oh don't worry. Tell your boyfriend that I have no intention of stealing you away. Or cashing in on that ridiculous betting pool that's going around. But I do want to discuss with you about your powers sometime. I think it would be…enlightening.

To say Niko was stunned was the understatement of the year. Fortunately no one else seemed to notice the exchange. Zach and Katya were quietly disagreeing about the Series Five's future role. Doreen was flirting with Zach and Shane…

No. Shane did notice something. She could feel it.

And so did Troy. It seems Ranger Gooseman isn't as oblivious as I thought. Interesting. I can't wait to hear all about it.

She barely realized when the other new rangers left the hallway. "What was that…?" Shane whispered to her.

"Later," She said quietly. Shane agreed and kept silent.

"Is there anything more Sir?" Zach asked Walsh.

"Yes, Captain there is. What's your impression on the Series 5.2 Squad?" Walsh asked.

"Honestly? Some of them seem to be a bit full of themselves," Zach told him.

"Downright rude is more like it," Doc said. "Some of them anyway."

"You know how I feel about Ares," Shane growled. "And I know you hate him too."

"I didn't have a choice in his placement," Walsh sighed.

"But the Board of Leaders chose this team and it shows," Doc said. "Granted there are one or two of them that seem okay."

"Doreen," Niko gave him a teasing look. "And I admit it's nice having another psychic around."

It was all Shane could do to keep from growling.

"I hate to say this but we're already having problems with that squad," Walsh sighed. "Ares can reign in his attitude most of the time. But for some reason he and his team mates don't seem to get along very well. Except for Broscoe and he's the main problem."

"What do you mean?" Zach asked.

"The Series Five Point Two Rangers have been sent out on six missions since they were commissioned and quite frankly their record isn't up to par," Dr. Nagata spoke. "They've failed two of their missions and we're already getting a lot of complaints about Broscoe's treatment of prisoners and aliens who ask for help alike."

"What kind of complaints?" Doc asked.

"Language, a prisoner or two has a bruise they can't or won't explain," Walsh sighed. "But a few aliens have come forward with complaints saying that Broscoe was intolerant with them."

"What about the failed missions?" Zach frowned.

"Their first mission was to investigate rumors of Crown Activity on Akon Nine," Walsh sighed. "They barely escaped with their lives and never made contact with our informant."

"Apparently for some reason the Queen is targeting Zanguils now," Dr. Nagata spoke.

"And the other one?" Niko asked.

"Happened shortly after that," Walsh sighed. "Ranger Broscoe was supposed to deliver a large sum of League approved funds and weapons to Walcam to help the resistance fighters there. He never made it. Claimed his ship was robbed."

"He went alone?" Doc asked. "That's unusual."

"He was supposed to wait for Rangers Troy and Green but left ahead of them," Walsh sighed. "And quite frankly I am a little concerned. For someone who had been robbed there was barely any damage to his ship or his person."

"What are you suggesting Commander?" Zach asked.

"I'm not suggesting anything just yet," Walsh said carefully. "However if you want to launch a quiet independent investigation on your own time I would not be reluctant to hear your findings. Right now the three of you need to go to the planet Prairie. There are rumors of a star stone vein there."

"And that's going to attract a lot of attention," Zach groaned. "We'll get right on it."

"And you Gooseman, can get right on to all that paperwork that's been lying around on your desk for a few months," Walsh grinned.

"Great…" Shane groaned. "Where's an alien invasion when you need one?"

Next: The New Guys are stirring up some trouble. Some more than others.