The disclaimer telling all of you that I don't own any Galaxy Ranger characters has gone off hunting for diamonds. More madness from my tiny mind! And also I have to settle a nagging question now that Shane is with Niko. What about Annie?
Blue Skies of Ozark
"All right team listen up," Commander Cain, the new commander of BETA spoke to the Series Five Team. "It's time for all of you to go to work. Here's a new assignment and it's a doozy."
"I can't wait to find out what it is," Shane folded his arms.
"I don't have to tell you that Earth is still recovering after the war," Cain said. "No matter how brief it was, the war did a lot of damage. It's estimated that over sixty seven million dollars will be needed for reparations. And that's not even counting the amount needed to repay our debts and civil lawsuits those alien senators and the families of humans and aliens killed in the rebellion. And it's gonna cost a pretty penny to ship all those traitors off the planet to somewhere where they can't bother us any more."
"I hear the recruitment drive is going into full mode," Doc said. "You offered the senior class of Miss Abercrombie School full placement into the Rangers due to their help."
"Yes and I've also taken at least two hundred Ranger Academy students who were close to graduation anyway and will swear them in as full Galaxy Rangers tomorrow," Cain nodded. "And about thirty five students from your old school took me up on that offer. But our military is still severely undermanned and thanks to all the ships that got blown up."
"Earth's fleet has been cut in half. About a quarter of our military forces went renegade as well as a good number of commanders and generals," Zach frowned. "And to top it off we lost some damn fine soldiers and Rangers."
"And family…" Shane said softly, referring to Flashfire. The Supertrooper who had given his life to save them all.
"To say Earth is having a military and economic crisis is an understatement," Cain said. "The only good thing is that since we're technically under martial law BETA and the military doesn't have to worry about penny pinching for now. However we've already got accountants breathing down our necks so we need to account for every credit."
"How bad is it?" Doc asked.
"Walsh wasn't the only one to run off with the goods," Cain growled. "Of all the senators and politicians that we've identified as members of the Black Rose Society, twenty eight are still missing. And a good chunk of Earth's treasury and bank accounts went with them. Enough to keep us in the red for at least three years even if we are careful and lucky."
"Yeah and eight of them were on the committee overlooking the Supertrooper Project," Shane growled. "And then there's Ambassador Domani. That's nine I have left to track down!"
"Ten if you count Commander Walsh," Zach gave him a look.
"The point is that Earth needs money and fast," Cain said. "And I don't think the League of Planets is going to bail us out. That's why I'm sending you on this mission. The Series Five Team is the only one I can count on to complete it successfully!"
"What exactly is this mission sir?" Niko asked.
"Two days ago there was a huge deposit of Blue Sky Diamonds discovered on Ozark," Cain explained.
"Blue Sky Diamonds?" Shane asked.
"They're very valuable," Doc said. "The only thing in the galaxy more prized than them are star stones."
"Exactly," Cain nodded. "I've made a deal with the Elders of Bucks County. You will be transporting some valuable farm equipment as well as other machines for mining, drilling for water and other staples to Ozark. In return the Elders will give us twenty seven million dollars worth of Blue Sky Diamonds."
"Twenty seven million for just some farm equipment?" Shane shouted. "That doesn't seem fair! Aren't you overcharging them a bit?"
"No, I'm overcharging them a lot!" Cain snapped. "I just explained that Earth has a mountain of debts and we have to do everything we can to pay them! Outside of conquering other planets that is."
"Twenty seven million dollars is a lot to cover a debt," Doc conceded. "It's not everything but enough to make a dent."
"Still isn't right to take advantage of them," Zach grunted.
"Who's taking advantage? We're giving these people top quality merchandise as well as a few extras thrown in!" Cain said. "Look I have to literally help rebuild a military power from the ground up. I can't worry about every single little deal. Besides Ozark will make out rather well with this."
"I still don't like it," Zach grumbled.
"Like or not that's your mission," Cain said. "Now get going. The sooner those diamonds are back here, the sooner we can pay off some creditors."
"Hey Buck's County, isn't that where Annie is?" Doc realized as the Rangers left the office.
"Yeah it'll be good to see her again," Shane said. Niko gave him a look. "What?"
"Oh Goose, Goose, Goose…" Doc chuckled. "Must the Doctor explain everything to you?"
"Meaning you'd better explain everything to Annie," Niko told him bluntly.
"Explain what?" Shane asked. At this Niko screamed and stormed off. "What did I say?"
"Goose, you realize you just ticked off your girlfriend right?" Doc asked.
"Yeah so…Oh…" Shane realized what went wrong.
"Uh huh, so if I were you my Gooseman I would rehearse my speech where I explain to the lovely Annie about the other woman in my life," Doc told him.
"But Annie…We never…"
"But you did flirt with her a lot didn't you?" Doc gave him a look.
"I may have said a few things," Shane felt uncomfortable. "I meant them at the time but…"
"But then you had a few dozen other females to fight over your heart," Doc smiled.
"It wasn't a dozen," Shane protested.
"And Niko was the victor and she intends to stay that way," Doc pointed out. "Can't have both of them."
"So I gotta let Annie down easy huh?" Shane sighed.
"Easy like Sunday morning," Doc told him. "It's never easy to break a woman's heart. But I'm sure with some sensitivity…Oh wait this is you we're talking about. You're doomed."
"Great…" Shane moaned. "This is gonna be one of those missions."
The ride to Ozark was equally unpleasant. "Niko's colder to you than a case of frostbite," Zach noticed as they flew up in front of Ranger One. "This is about Annie isn't it?"
"Yeah…I kinda gotta tell Annie about us," Shane said. "I mean it's been so long…"
"Come on Goose," Zach said. "You and Annie never really dated. And it's not like you led her on. Did you?"
"Well…" Shane paused. "I once told her that every star that fell would bring my heart back to her. And a few other things like that. That was wrong wasn't it?"
"Kind of! Gooseman where did you pick up a line like that?" Zach asked.
"Tri-D," Shane said. "I mean it sounded right at the time."
"Oh really?" Niko's voice was icy as an ice cream sandwich at the North Pole. "And what else did you say?"
"Uh…uh…" For once Shane's mind failed him. "I don't remember."
"You don't remember? You? A man with an enhanced memory doesn't remember?" Niko raised an eyebrow.
"Uh…Yeah," Shane gulped. "Weird isn't it?"
"Very," Niko said coldly and went back to the other part of the ship.
"I'm a dead man aren't I?" Shane realized.
"Yeah," Zach nodded. "You are."
So what will happen next? Find out next time!