Sleep wasn't coming easily for Gwen tonight, the blue ranger was still pumped up from her earlier rooftop scrap with Charlie and the revelation that the black ranger was actually on her side. With nothing better to do Gwen decided to get up, at least she would some breakfast before Faith commandeered all the toast as usual. Grabbing her phone from a small cabinet next to her bed, Gwen optimistically checked for any messages. The only person outside the rangers that had her number was Eric so it was usually a fruitless check.
Today though was different as when Gwen unlocked her phone, there was a text message waiting for her. It wasn't from a number she recognised, in fact there was no number displayed, "What the hell", Gwen frowned, debating whether to open the message. Her curiosity got the best of her and she tapped the screen to display the message. Her frown only deepened as her eyes scanned the message:
Docks 0700, traitor shipment unload. Team will be there can you move at Lightspeed?
Gwen's eyes widened, somehow Charlie had sent her a message from wherever she was. If she was reading this message correctly then Charlie and the rest of A Squad would be at the docks on some kind of mission from the SPD traitor. Suddenly she realised that 0700 was just over an hour away, that was barely enough time to mobilise The rangers and get them into position.
Without hesitation she sprinted out of her quarters and down the corridor. She barely paused to bang on the doors of the rest of the rangers as she continued towards her ultimate destination. Gwen thought about going to Commander Cruger with this information but the stubborn old dog probably wouldn't take this seriously. He certainly didn't seem interested to acknowledge the existence of Operation Hexagon last night. There was only one person she could go to with this message.
Stopping outside the door to the guest quarters, Gwen banged hard on the door, "Demi open up", she wheezed breathlessly, "I think we've got a breakthrough". The blue ranger kept hammering on the door until it slowly opened. She was slightly surprised to see the Special Ops officer fully dressed in her uniform at this early hour, "Do you actually go to sleep?" she asked.
"Clearly you do", Demi turned the conversation back on to her fellow ranger. In her haste to find Demi Gwen hadn't bothered to change. She was fortunate that no one else was awake yet, otherwise they would've seen Gwen sprinting through the base in her flannel pyjama bottoms and a blue tank top. "What's so urgent that it couldn't wait until I've had some coffee".
"That's what I'd like to know", a very groggy looking Faith asked, still dressed in a fuzzy white pair of pyjamas with a matching white eye mask pushed on to her forehead. The rest of the rangers was slowly trailing behind, each of them in varying states of post sleep dishevelment.
"I know where A Squad are going to be", Gwen answered and handed her cell phone over to Demi.
Jack rubbed the sleep out of his eyes before asking, "You got a random message with their location?" Gwen nodded slowly, "Who from?" the blue ranger's guilty look told its own story, "Collins", he groaned.
"How do you know it's from her?" Eric asked, a deep scowl on his face.
"I just do", Gwen snapped back, "look they're going to be at the docks in an hour, we need to get there and head them off".
"Alright say I believe you", Jack began, "why did you bring this to her", he pointed at a less than amused Demi, "and not Cruger or even me?"
"Would you Believe her if she did", Demi handed the phone back to Gwen " get dressed, I want you on the road in fifteen minutes".
"Hold on a minute", Jack frowned, "you have no authority over us, we're not taking orders from you".
Gwen watched carefully, wondering what Demi was going to do next. Would this be the perfect moment to reveal Operation Hexagon to the team? Instead a cold mask of indifference slipped over the Officer's face as she pushed past Jack and the others, "You do now", she stated firmly. "SPD protocol Beta is now in operation", she added and walked off without waiting to be questioned further.
"Beta?" Spock repeated in confusion, "never heard of it".
"You wouldn't", Jack sighed.
"In the event of an emergency any Special Operations officer can claim command", Eric recalled, "time force remember", he shrugged.
An uneasy feeling settled over Gwen, by the sounds of it Demi had used a SPD protocol to take control of the rangers. That hardly seemed necessary unless Cruger was being uncooperative behind the scenes. The only other sensible reason was to avoid any arguments from The rangers at this moment. Demi knew the rangers were loyal to Cruger and wouldn't easily accept ordered from anyone, "I have a bad feeling about this", Eric mumbled to himself. Gwen nodded numbly, she certainly agreed with that sentiment.
Just after 0700 hours, The cruiser pulled up at the main gate to the docks. It had taken some frantic preparations and some manic driving but somehow the quintet had made it just about in time. "Power rangers we need immediate access". Jack said flashing his morpher
The gate officer complied with the order and raised the barrier, allowing the cruiser to roll inside. The docks weren't part of the main dome, they were one of the few surviving parts of the old outer ring. During the construction of Deep Space Nine, this had been the sole gateway for supplies and workers. It had also been the home of the immigration port and security checkpoint for the arriving alien asylum seekers. That was until the docks were damaged in the anti-alien immigration riots in the mid 2010's. After this the outer ring was never fully repaire. Most deliveries into Deep Space Nine were done using the Dock the outer ring is mostly obslete.
Despite the reduced size from the past, the docks were still a maze of shipping containers and machinery. The security guard had been kind enough to give them a map of the area but without knowing exactly where A Squad were, it would be a long search. They quickly covered as much ground as they could using the cruiser but the path through the docks soon become too narrow to traverse in their vehicle and they would have to proceed on foot.
The group slowly got out the car and took a look around. According to an intelligence report given by Demi no ships were due to arrive or depart today. The last shipment arrived yesterday at Platform 12 which was at the far end of the docks. With no other leads they decided this would be the best place to begin. Eric though clearly had other things on his mind, "This uniform's too tight", he grumbled, "and who thought white was a good idea, I can hardly sneak around dressed like Elvis".
Gwen felt a little bad for her friend. The uniform was a white pair of pants and matching jacket. The only colour on the uniform was a couple of blue bands around the pant legs and a blue sleeve on the right arm of the jacket, "Sure you're not a little out of shape", Jack teased and slapped Eric on the stomach.
"Guys can we focus", Faith grumbled, she was feeling uneasy enough without hearing Jack and Eric snipe at each other for the entire journey.
"Alright sorry", Eric snorted sarcastically.
"The last time we went chasing after A Squad I got dropped off a building and shot in the chest", Gwen snapped back, "forgive me for wanting to exercise a little caution". Memories of that day soon silenced the rangers and they shuffled along in silence. Truthfully that wasn't the only reason Gwen was feeling a little nervous. A small part of her wondered if Charlie was still playing with her, hoping to catch her off guard again. Whilst she was pretty confident that the black ranger was on her side, Gwen wasn't going to let her guard down until this was over.
As they approached Platform 12, the group could hear the sound of voices. Jack ordered his team to fall behind him and the red ranger slowly produced his Blaster. The others followed suit and they inched towards the nearest container. Using his fingers Jack indicated for Eric and Gwen to sneak between a couple of containers in an attempt to encircle whoever was at the pier. The pair did as instructed, moved into position and await further instructions.
When Gwen got to the far edge of the container she allowed herself a quick peek around the corner. Immediately she spotted Charlie and the rest of A Squad huddled around a bright blue container. The group looked nervous and agitated, like they were waiting for further instructions. It confirmed part of what Demi told her the previous evening, A Squad were acting on the orders of someone else and were not the masterminds of this plot.
Gwen caught the eye of Jack at the other end of the pier and he began counting down from three. Once the count ended B Squad pounced with their weapons drawn, unfortunately A Squad were fully aware of their presence. The five members of the renegade team spun immediate and aimed their own weapons at the rangers, "You're late", Charlie snorted, "I don't like being kept waiting".
"Sorry to disappoint", Jack replied, "how about you put the weapons down".
"I've got a better idea", Mack countered, "you put yours down first". The red and A Squad green ranger's stared at each other but neither made an attempt to lower their weapons, "Yeah just what I thought".
"Look we're here to help", Gwen drew tired of the male posturing on displaying, "we want this traitor found and so do you". She carefully moved her finger away from the trigger and placed the safety back on her blaster, "Can't we do this together?"
"Gwen what the hell are you doing?" Jack growled in her ear.
"Girl's got balls", Rose snorted, "I can see why you like her Caz", Gwen noticed a small blush creeping into Charlie's cheeks and had to resist the urge to smile. "Who says we're going to arrest him", the A Squad pink ranger continued, "maybe we want him out the way permanently".
"Because that's not the right thing to do", Gwen pleaded, hoping to end this confrontation without a shot being fired, "a small part of you must see that, don't you have some honour left".
Gwen noticed some movement from the opposing yellow ranger and for a moment was worried that Ronnie was going to fire her weapon. Instead she was stepping forward towards Gwen with a purpose, "Do not insult my honour", her voice rumbled off the containers, "I say we settle this old fashioned way".
The blue ranger wasn't sure what she meant by that but A Squad seemed to be powering down their weapons. She briefly caught Charlie's eyes and saw the conflict hidden deep behind them. She was certain that a small apology flashed across her features before Charlie spoke, "This is how it's going to go down", the red A Squad ranger began, "the five of us versus the five of you, winner gets to bring in the traitor".
"That's stupid", Jack snapped, "what can possibly be gained by fighting us?"
"Freedom", Charlie shrugged, "if we win and bring in the traitor, SPD will have no choice but to exonerate us". She paused and slowly walked forward, "If you win, not only to do get to arrest the traitor but us as well".
"Not part of the deal Charlie", Mack hissed.
"What's the matter, afraid to lose again?" Rose taunted the A Squad ranger.
Wondering what game Charlie was playing, Gwen cautiously moved towards the rest of her team. A Squad must have some trick up their sleeve she theorised because they were placing a lot of faith in their ability to defeat the rangers in battle, "One rule", Jack slowly lowered his blaster, "no weapons and no morphing".
"Very well", Charlie shrugged, "it's your funeral". The two teams began to cautiously circle each other, eager to begin their rematch which had been building for several months. Little did they know that the traitor was watching their every move remotely.