Chapter 1 – Green Eyed Monster
February 5 2026
Newtech City, a bustling metropolis on the East Coast of the United States, purpose built at the start of the twenty first century to ease the growing population of the other major cities on the Eastern Seaboard. The city was host to the International Immigration Agency, or INTIMA, who processed any immigrants and refugees from the galaxy who wanted to make Earth their new home. The first fifteen years of the century were a turbulent time, filled with anti-alien and anti-immigrant sentiment that threatened to tear the country apart. Tensions reached their height during 2014, the year of the Armada's invasion. Anger towards the invaders was directed towards those aliens who couldn't fight back leading to some of the worst levels of hate crime ever reported. Right at the heart of this maelstrom of anger was Newtech City.
Just when it looked like a bill would be passed evicting all aliens from the country, a group of former Power Rangers banded together to create an intergalactic police force to help control the situation. Space Patrol Delta, known locally as SPD, was born. With the Armada defeated SPD was at the forefront of human/alien relations, restoring order to the city and to the country as a whole. Branches of SPD began to open up across the globe and in other parts of the galaxy. In just ten years SPD had become one of the most powerful agencies in the Milky Way.
It was probably a good thing because 2025 saw another invasion, this time by Emperor Grumm and the Troobian Empire. Initially held at bay by SPD's A-Squad, things took a surprising turn when the elite Ranger squadron of the force disappeared, leaving the unknown and untested B-Squad to pick up the pieces. The motley crew consisting of three raw cadets and two rookies defeated Grumm's forces, with a little help from their commanding officer and a visitor from the future.
Six months had passed since Grumm's invasion and life was relatively peaceful in Newtech. 2026 so far had been the lowest recorded rate of alien race crime since ever. With B-Squad now able to focus their attentions on non-alien related offenses, crime in the city was also dropping. On the surface things appeared to be rosy for the elite police force in the city. Leader of the squad, Sky Tate, was a common face on news bulletins. The other three permanent members of the team, second in command Bridge Carson, Level 4 officer Elizabeth 'Z' Delgardo and Level 5 officer Sydney Drew were well like and respected amongst the citizen of Newtech, owing much to their defeat of Grumm the previous year.
The problem for B Squad was the Level 3 position. Since the promotion of Sky and Bridge to their current ranks the team had gone through several different members. None of them remained on the team long though for a number of different reasons. A few of them were dismissed by Sky for failing to meet expectations and a couple left due to disputes with the other members of B Squad. There was even one who fell victim to a rather bizarre gardening accident, the details of which were kept confidential for the benefit of everyone.
It was late in the afternoon when Sky and Bridge parked their Delta Runner in the parking lot. They had just finished a quiet patrol of the city where the worst offence committed was littering and a couple of minor traffic offences. The blue ranger closed the door on the cruiser and stretched his back, "Man I am going to sleep well tonight". His squad leader said nothing in response and merely raised an eyebrow, "Come on don't look at me like that, I said I was sorry", Bridge pleaded.
"Three hours", Sky grunted, "that's how long you kept me awake for with your babbling in the middle of the night". Despite his promotion to red ranger, Sky hadn't up the private quarters that came with his rank. Publicly he said that he wanted to keep an eye on the eccentric blue ranger who was well known for veering off on a tangent at a moment's notice. Secretly the rest of B Squad knew that Sky actually enjoyed Bridge's company, to an extent at least, "You must be the only person who dreams about toast", Sky said as the pair entered the elevator, "can't you dream about women like a normal person".
"Maybe, never really tried to focus on one particular thing whilst I'm sleeping before", the blue ranger began to ramble, "could be an interesting experiment. I mean if I think about toast before I fall asleep then will I dream about it but then again if I try to avoid thinking about it then it means I'm thinking about it which will-".
"Bridge", Sky pinched his nose, "just, be quiet". The blue ranger nodded and didn't look remotely offended, he was used to the regular scolding's from Sky and the rest of the team. The pair rode the elevator up to the command level silently but the moment the doors opened, they were greeted by the other members of their team, "Z, Syd, fancy meeting you here".
The female members of B Squad had a solemn look on their face and in the yellow ranger's hand was a piece of paper, "I think you're gonna want to read this", Z said and handed the piece of paper over.
"Cool actual paper", Bridge commented, peering over Sky's shoulder, "and it's from Elliott, didn't know supplies kept paper any more". Elliott was the latest Level 3 officer to be assigned to the team. The rookies were assigned the colour green but they weren't automatically granted the powers of the green ranger. They had to pass their probationary period with the squad first but so far the longest anyone had lasted was three weeks.
As Sky read the note his face began to darken until by the end he was sporting an impressive scowl, "Wow he really didn't like you", Bridge chuckled, slapping his squad leader on the back, "he's also crammed an impressive number of swear words into one sentence".
"This isn't funny Bridge", Sky snapped and crumbled the note in his hand, "Cruger's already been on my back about how quickly we're getting through probie officers". He shook his head a couple of times, "I'm not that hard to get along with am I?" he asked his team, who were sharing a nervous look with each other, "I know I can be a hard ass but that's only because I want you to be the best".
Bridge and Z quickly looked towards Syd, it was common knowledge that the red ranger had a soft spot for the pink ranger. Any time they wanted to break some bad news to their squad leader, the blue and yellow rangers normally delegated that job to Syd, "Well you see-".
Before Syd could finish her sentence, the familiar face of SPD's head scientist Kat Manx popped out of the command room door, "B Squad, Commander Cruger wants a word", she called out before stepping back into the room.
A sudden feeling of dread washed over B Squad, especially Sky. He tucked the scribbled note from the now former member of his team into his pocket and straightened out his uniform, "Better get this over with", he mumbled to his team. He led the way down the corridor and into the command room where SPD's commanding officer Anubis Cruger was waiting for them. As B Squad saluted their commander, they couldn't help but notice the stern look plastered all over his canine features. They were used to angry glares from Commander Cruger but this one was fiercer than ever, "Commander", Sky began nervously, "I assume you've heard about Elliott".
"Yes I have", Cruger replied with a slow, deliberate tone, "I had high hopes that Cadet Manning would be the one to finally make the Level 3 officers spot his own". He paused and glared accusingly at Sky, "Seems I was wrong".
"You've seen his resignation notice then?" Sky gulped.
Cruger nodded, "It was an impressive use of language, especially his inventive combination of curse words". From her position in the corner, Kat let out a little snigger before regaining her stoic image, "Something to add Miss Manx?"
"Nothing at all Sir", Kat replied, keeping her attention firmly fixed on a spot on the wall behind the rest of B Squad.
"Good because this isn't a laughing matter", Cruger barked, "our failure to fill the vacant green ranger role hasn't gone unnoticed. We've gone through eleven of SPD's most promising recruits in just over six months. Coupled with our Level 4 and 5 officers refusal to accept a promotion", he turned his glare on Z and Syd, "is causing SPD Command a headache".
"Indeed it is Command Cruger", a voice called out. Cruger stepped aside to reveal a fair skinned man in his late forties. He was dressed in the standard uniform of an SPD Supreme Commander but with the added addition of a red top underneath his dress jacket. The most striking feature of this Supreme Commander was his brown and blonde striped hair, although there was more than a few grey haired interloping, "Supreme Command doesn't like to interfere in the internal affairs of our bases but Newtech is the flagship facility. Having its primary defence squadron a member down is more than a little embarrassing".
B Squad gaped at the man for a few moments, a little star struck to be meeting someone who they had learned about in their Ranger history lessons. Once they had regained their composure, they saluted in unison, "Supreme Commander Andros", Sky stammered, "this is truly an honour".
Andros nodded slowly and gestured for them to stand at ease, "I've heard a lot of good things about you Officer Tate", Sky puffed out his chest with pride, "but I'm afraid this situation doesn't reflect well on you". The red ranger opened his mouth to defend himself but Andros held up his hand to silence the man, "I have taken the decision to assign someone to your team effective immediately. This order is not negotiable, nor is it up for further discussion after this conversation". B Squad looked bemused by this statement and even Commander Cruger stood up a little straighter, "This person comes with my full backing and I trust you will remember that". Andros straightened out his jacket and turned to Cruger, "Your new Level 3 will come with their briefing documents Commander. Bear in mind that you have been all the information I feel is pertinent at this point in time".
Now Cruger was really confused but he was used to getting cryptic orders from SPD Supreme Command all the time. He kept his face as neutral as he could and nodded stiffly, "Understood Supreme Commander".
"Good, I expect their progress report on my desk this time next week". Without further comment Andros terminated the video link, leaving a blank screen behind.
For a few moments everyone in the command room was too shocked to speak. It wasn't a surprise though when Bridge was the first one to pass comment, "Well that could've been worse", he said with his usual broad grin.
"How?" Sky began, "that was the verbal equivalent of a slap in the face". The red ranger was more than a little upset that his first conversation with the legendary Andros of KO-35 hadn't gone that well. He had spent many hours studying the famous red rangers from the past. Others had posters of famous sport stars or musicians on their walls but Sky's heroes were the previous red rangers. To be verbally dressed down by one of his idols was a little humiliating for the young man.
"That was a little mysterious though", Z commented, "who do you reckon he's assigned to the team?"
"Could be one of his kids", Syd added, "Vogue magazine ran a feature on his son and daughter a few years ago. If my math is any good, they should be approaching eighteen by now".
"Not quite", Cruger grumbled, "the oldest is seventeen I believe". The canine was nervous though, Andros's family weren't the only children of past Rangers. Some of them were adults now and if his memory served him correctly, a couple were training in SPD Academies. It would be a typical stunt by Supreme Command to restore confidence in SPD, assign a child of a former ranger to his team.
Sky took a couple of paces forward, leaning on the situation table for support, "Just what we need, babysitting duty for a new recruit".
"And that's the type of attitude that's seen us go through eleven rookies", Z rubbed her temples, the stubborn attitude of her superior officer gave her a headache sometimes.
"I can't help it if I want the best for this team", Sky snapped, "and I would at least like someone I know assigned to the team".
"Your wish is my command", a feminine voice called out from the doorway. The occupants turned around and laid their eyes on a woman dressed in one of B Squad's uniforms, only trimmed with green. She had black hair that was pulled back into a loose ponytail and a smug look on her face that suggested superiority over everyone in her presence. Everyone in the room stared silently at the woman although Sky's face was flipping between disbelief and anger, "A welcome back would be nice", she added, leaning against the doorframe casually in the process, "I would've liked a banner but I didn't want to push my luck".
Cruger growled at the woman out the side of his mouth, "Charlie Matthews", he hissed.
Charlie Matthews, disgraced red ranger of A Squad, smirked in response, "You were expecting someone else?"
TO BE CONTINUED
A/N – Another new Hexagon related story, surely not. As this is set in the future and I don't want to spoil the ultimate fate of Hexagon and its players, there isn't actually much related to Hexagon in the majority of the story. Why do SPD now I hear you ask, well expect some "timey wimey" stuff to happen later which will bring us back in sync with the timeline just in time for Operation Overdrive in fact. As always reviews and comments always welcome.