Burning Crimson

Summary: The Champion of the Phoenix if fated to die to defeat a powerful enemy. But first the Universe will know . . . Once a Ranger, Always a Ranger. The conclusion of the Crimson Ranger trilogy. AU for MMPR Season 2 and beyond.

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor do I intend/desire to make any money off the Power Rangers/Super Sentai concepts and characters presented in this story. They are fully the property of their respective owners and are used with loving respect. Furthermore, this story utilizes concepts borrowed/adapted from Chris Claremont's run on X-Men.

Chapter 11: Defenders

Officially it was called Lightspeed Rescue Submersible Operations Platform 01; however the majority of people who lived or worked on it, as well as the people of nearby Mariner Bay called it Lightspeed Island. A marvel of modern engineering, the nearly five square mile platform was built over the site of the original Aquabase and was tied to the ocean floor by an even more advanced hydraulics system than was used for the Rail Rescue launch bay. Coupled with technology that allowed every structure on the platform to be rendered completely watertight, the facility could be submerged as a defensive maneuver in less than three minutes.

Admiral William Mitchell entered the Operations Center and was immediately approached by the duty Lieutenant. The young officer saluted and once the Admiral had returned to gesture, she began her report, "Puddlejumper 1 is ten minutes out with four of the Turtle Cove group. The fifth is eight minutes out; we're prepping the main runway to accommodate her Raptor. Puddlejumper 2 is twenty minutes out with the final member of the Turtle Cove group . . . and an additional passenger he was unwilling to leave behind."

Mitchell nodded, "It's alright Lieutenant, I was aware that we might have an extra. He's been vouched for. And the rest of our guest list?"

"Aye sir. The Silver Guardian contingent just cleared Checkpoint Gamma and is on the bridge now." She stopped speaking and put her hand to the ear-piece she was wearing, and then spoke into the mike at her collar, "Confirmed. Let them pass." Turning to the Admiral, she added, "T1 and T2 just arrived at Checkpoint Alpha. I've cleared them through to the bridge."

"Why weren't they immediately cleared?"

"Their vehicles looked like normal cars, which was not what we were told to expect."

Mitchell smiled, "It's alright Lieutenant, apparently they've picked up a new trick."

"Admiral," the Communication Officer called for Mitchell's attention, "I have a call on the secure line from a CW requesting . . . streak? Yes, streak access by six and asking that we not shoot them. Code provided; wind, water, earth, lightning, thunder, star."

Mitchell chuckled and then responded, "Code is verified; give them the GPS for the area directly in front of the main building."

"Aye sir," the officer responded with a confused tone.

Steadily, the Rangers arrived. Wes Collins and Eric Myers, leaders of the Silver Guardians and the Red and Quantum Timeforce Rangers respectively had arrived in their standard Guardians SUV. TJ Johnson, Red Lightning Turbo Ranger and Justin Stewart, Blue Mountain Blaster Turbo Ranger had pulled up in Lighting Cruiser and Storm Blaster right behind them. The two living vehicles morphed from their disguises as an ordinary sports car and jeep to their natural forms as they came to a stop.

A few minutes later the Blackhawk helicopter designated Puddlejumper 1 deposited Cole Evans, the Red Lion; Alyssa Enrile, the White Tiger; Danny Delgado, the Black Bison; and Max Cooper, the Blue Shark Wildforce Rangers on the helipad adjacent to the main building. Almost immediately a jeep pulled up carrying Taylor Ernhart, the Yellow Eagle Wildforce Ranger, from the hangar where she parked her Air Force Raptor. While everyone was standing around, waiting for the last of the Wildforce team to arrive and passing around introductions, the Ninja Storm Rangers ninja-streaked in.

Finally, Puddlejumper 2 arrived and dropped off Merrick Baliton, Silver Wolf Wildforce Ranger and a non-descript man of a similar build to Merrick, with dark hair, almost yellow-looking eyes, and dressed in black. The assembled Rangers followed Admiral Mitchell, who had come out to meet them, into the main building and that's when all hell broke loose.

Walking through a set of scanners that resembled a metal detector, Merrick's companion triggered an alarm . . . an alarm that caused every Lightspeed officer save Mitchell to draw their weapon and level them at the young man. Unfortunately, the surprise and the octave of the alarm caused Zen Aku to lose his concentration and revert to his natural form . . . the Lightspeed officers chambered rounds.

Mitchell yelled, "Stand down! All of you stand down!"

The sergeant on duty did not comply; instead he tried to argue, "Sir, it set off the demo . . ." Whatever else he was about to say was cut off as a loud metallic whine sounded and he felt cold metal pressed up against the side of his head. This was followed by a quieter whine, the sound of a semi-automatic round being chambered, and a growl.

The first whine and the sensation of cold metal came from Eric powering up the Quantum Defender and pressing it to the sergeant's head. The second was Wes drawing his Silver Guardian Pulser and aiming it at the next nearest guard. Taylor had drawn her own sidearm and picked a third target, and the growl was from Merrick and directed at anyone who didn't have a weapon pointed at them . . . although, since those individuals also had a ninja or a samurai within striking distance, they weren't much safer.

Taylor gave her own snarl, "You seem to have a problem understanding what the command stand down means Sergeant."

The sergeant recognized the command tone used on him and his eyes went to Taylor . . . he had the good manners to pale slightly at her captain's bars. "No, ma'am." The other guards all lowered their weapons and Wes and Taylor lowered theirs. However, the sergeant, while he lowered his weapon, kept it ready-to-fire. Therefore, Eric kept the Quantum Defender the same way. The sergeant now addressed Mitchell, "Admiral, this thing set off the demon sensor. Per SOP . . ."

Eric made eye contact with Mitchell, who nodded and Eric lowered his weapon. Standing in front of the sergeant, he addressed his subordinate, "I wrote the Standard Operating Procedure, so am well aware of what it says." The sergeant safetied his weapon. "This being," Mitchell emphasized the word, "is vouched for by a room full of Power Rangers. He has my authorization to be here. Do I make myself clear?!"

"Yes sir."

"Good." Mitchell now turned to Zen Aku, "I apologize; I didn't realize you would set off the ectoplasmic sensor. It's a holdover from the fight with the Bansheera Clan."

"I understand," Zen Aku replied. He then exchanged a glance with Merrick and said, "We should have thought of that." Merrick just shrugged. Looking back and realizing he was now being stared at, Zen Aku explained, "I am technically partly demon . . . or I should say an infusion of demonic energy was needed when I was created to hold the otherwise incompatible wolf and Org essences together."

Everyone seemed to absorb that and then Mitchell conducted them to the main briefing auditorium where the Lightspeed Rangers were waiting: Carter Grayson, Red; Dana Mitchell; Pink; Chad Lee, Blue; Kelsey Winslow, Yellow; Joel Rawlings, Green; and Ryan Mitchell, Titanium. Also present was the Lightspeed Rangers' designer and technician, Dr. Angela Fairweather-Rawlings. Another round of introductions and greetings went around the room.

As was often the case with a gathering of multiple teams of Rangers, small groups formed. The Reds, plus Eric formed a knot and began discussing the issues at hand. Taylor commiserated with Admiral Mitchell on the dramas of command. Ryan, having been raised half his life by demons, as well as being something of a loner, immediately gravitated to Zen Aku and Merrick. Cam found Angela and Justin and within thirty seconds their conversation was well over the heads of everyone else in the room. The rest of the group, being a variety of colors, divided up by gender.

After a few minutes, Mitchell excused himself to answer the beeping of his earpiece, "Mitchell here. Go ahead."

"Sir, we have another call on the secure line. The D and Z groups are requesting teleport access. Codes have been verified."

"Granted. Open the teleport shields."

The communications officer responded, "Aye sir," and then closed the line. A second later everyone's attention was drawn to nine flashes of colored light on the stage.

Conner wobbled a little and Ethan caught him. Looking a little green at the edges, Conner commented, "I should have just run here."

Zack said, "You'll get used to it eventually," and slapped Conner on the back. Conner's eyes went wide and his hands went to his mouth. Dana raced forward and quickly conducted Conner from the room.

"Zachary!"

Zack turned to face the look not only his wife was giving him, but all of his teammates. "Oops?" he responded with a shrug. As the women rolled their eyes at him, he muttered, "I knew there had to be a downside to being the only guy on this team."

Rolling her eyes again, Trini cleared her throat as her team and the remainder of the DinoThunder Rangers took seats, as did the rest of the assembled Rangers. Looking at Admiral Mitchell he nodded and Trini took the podium, "Let's get started. My name is Trini Kwan-Taylor. I was the first Yellow Ranger of Earth and am now the Red Zeo Ranger." The female Rangers applauded and Taylor good-naturedly stuck her tongue out at Cole.

"Thank you." Trini then introduced the rest of her team and the DinoThunders, including the absent Conner. The mention of the youngest Red prompted some snickering at his plight, mainly from Joel, Max, and Hunter. Trini arched an eyebrow, "Some people find teleportation a bit disconcerting, but all of you will get to find out for yourselves. Immediately following this meeting Haley, Dr. Fairweather, Justin, and Cam will be integrating circuits into your morphers that will allow you to access the Command Center teleportation system. Wildforce will be receiving communicators with the same access." Hunter, Joel, and Max all stopped laughing.

"Now, to the business at hand." Trini proceeded to outline the situation, giving the assembled Rangers everything that Brandon and Jason had been able to uncover about the threat posed by Thrax . . . including the defection of Dimitria and the destruction of Inquiris Gam.

News of the destruction of an entire planet sent a shockwave through the room. Eric was the first to find his voice, "Then what's the point of all this preparation if they can just drop into orbit and blow up the whole damn planet in one attack?"

A murmur of agreement went through the room. Trini waited for it to die down before responding, "Thankfully, it's not that easy. The energy output required for a planet-buster is enormous and does massive damage to the Darkthrone's weapons systems. After any such attack they have to retreat and refit, so it's an option they will use sparingly and mostly to generate fear. What we can primarily expect is more traditional attacks with foot soldiers, generals, and monsters. However, as the Lightspeed team has already discovered, these attacks will be far nastier than anything we have ever faced. Our defenses will be coordinated from the Command Center, with Lightspeed operations, Ninja Ops, and the Dino Lair serving as secondary bases."

Trini outlined a few more details of the defense plans and scheduled a meeting with the Reds. She concluded by saying, "Earth will be a primary target. We've kicked evil's ass too many times for it not to be. We will face Thrax and kick his ass every bit as hard. Remember, once a Ranger, always a Ranger."