Via Pacifica: Olympia Sector
Starship Acropolis, 03:00 hours
Princess Sera waited with her friends and allies in a large conference room aboard the zord carrier ship Acropolis. She stood at the head of the table and turned as the door finally opened allowing entrance to their new visitor. From where she was seated, Sage Dael watched as a familiar young man was led in with a security detail. Ash Dael, a former general of the U'shan forces was escorted inside the room by two armed guards along with Keith and Qua'lia who also wore blaster pistols on their belts. The rest of the Rangers fixed their eyes on him warily while Princess Sera and Captain Raines wore impassive expressions on their faces. Ash looked toward Sage and gave his sister a silent nod of acknowledgement before turning back to Sera, "Well Princess… I have to say I'm surprised by your courtesy. I thought for sure that you would have had me locked up in the brig before even speaking to me."
"That can be arranged," Keith threatened quietly but Sera calmly waved the security officer off.
"No. You misunderstand my courtesy. I have six Rangers here who would gladly beat you into a pulp if you even dared to raise a finger against me. I'm really not concerned about you."
Ash snorted mildly while conceding the point, "Ah. But you're still concerned about the Xerxes and the Typhon Cannon. That's why we're all here, isn't it?"
"Might I remind you that you were the one who came to us Mr. Dael?" Hawa pointed out in a cold suspicious tone, "We don't have time for pleasantries and word games right now."
Aaron spoke up, "Commander Jakende is right. What do you know about Xerxes's plans going forward?"
Ash sighed and waited for the two guards to let his arms go before he paced over to a holo-projector. He pulled up a map of the region and spoke, "While I was still working with the Empire, Xerxes had set up a small facility in the Hydrus Sector to repair and resupply should the cannon ever need it."
Ash gestured to the holo-map of the nearby sectors and pointed out an ocean planet, "There. In all likelihood, Xerxes will be taking his remaining forces to regroup at the planet of Calypso. I had been tracking them near the end of the recent battle and their warp trail leads in that direction."
"That's closer to the Imperial homeworld than Arcadia," Geordi pointed out with a confused frown, "Wouldn't that slow him down?"
Raines furrowed his brow thoughtfully as he offered a speculation, "He's not aiming to attack Arcadia, is he? His target is the Imperial homeworld?"
Ash gave a grim smile, "Perceptive. It stands to reason and knowing Xerxes, he's probably desperate right now. No doubt he's already fallen out of favor with the Imperial Council and would seek to save himself in other ways."
"Like by taking power by gunpoint," Sera concluded. "We can't let that happen. If he is mad enough to threaten the Imperial government with it, then we have to stop him. If Xerxes seizes power, then there's no telling how much chaos he'd sow in the Via Pacifica."
"I'm still curious what your angle is in all this," Rin said looking back to the Rangers' former enemy, "Sure you may have helped us at Arcadia, but why should we trust you? You didn't help us as the battle of the Cocytus Gulf. How do we know you're not still hiding an agenda of your own?"
"You don't ," Ash agreed, "But I have the most working knowledge of the Typhon Cannon and Xerxes's operations. When I found out Sage was the Yellow Ranger, have I ever tried to harm her or the rest of you when she was present?"
"When she was present," Qua'lia emphasized with a scowl, "You think we've forgotten that you still have a grudge against the corrupt flag officers of the GSA? Who's to say you won't turn the cannon on them when we stop Xerxes?"
Ash fixed the Pink Ranger with a level gaze, "That's a chance you're going to have to be willing to take. We all have a common goal right now, but you can't expect I'll just willingly surrender myself to all of you either. You need me as much as I need you."
"Ash! This is crazy," Sage pleaded, "You don't have to do this."
He winced a little before shaking his head to her and then turning to Raines, "Well Captain? What say you? Do we have a truce?"
Raines scowled and nodded, "Fine. But if you try anything underhanded, I will order the Rangers to take you down without a second thought."
"Captain!" the Yellow Ranger pleaded but she was swiftly rebuked by a stern gaze from Raines.
"Including you Ensign Dael. Do I make myself clear?"
As Sage fell silent and stood by in dismay, Aaron frowned thoughtfully to himself, "That brings up another problem. If we change course and go to Calypso, we might not have enough firepower to take out the cannon. Our fleet's strength has been seriously damaged."
"I will call the reamining ships around Arcadia and ask for their help... even if my parents protest," Princess Sera said.
Rin smiled quietly, "Hell yeah. Our princess is finally going rogue."
"Don't forget, the Acropolis is still carrying our zords," Geordi pointed out, "The Odyssey Megazord is still in our arsenal if we need it."
"I'm sure you will," Ash agreed looking toward everyone, "Though if you want to destroy the cannon, you will have to do it completely. The key lies in its energy reactors."
Keith pounded a fist into his had, "Great. So let's just have the Megzord punch that cannon right in the sweet spot and be done with it."
Ash shook his head, "I'm afraid it's not that simple. As you know those kind of reactor cores can be extremely volatile as well. If you strike wrong, then you'll risk destroying yourselves and your allies just as much as you would the enemy fleet. The best way would be to get inside and plant explosives to take it down from within."
"We should have enough time to work some kind of plan out in the mean time," Geordi said scratching his chin.
"We also have a chance to finish this," Qua'lia reminded solemnly, "Opportunities like this do not come very often either. I think we should take it."
Aaron nodded in agreement, "I'm with Qua'lia. I think we'd all like to have a little rematch with Xerxes and pay him back for everything that's happened."
Hawa turned to Sera and gave an expectant look, "Well Your Highness? It looks like you've got one more expedition left to lead."
"It seems I do," Sera agreed grimly, "Though, I won't be doing it alone. If I'm going to lead the effort, I'm going to need an able crew for the Acropolis along with a seasoned battlefield commander. Captain Raines?"
He paused in surprise and looked over toward the younger princess who was addressing him, "Your Majesty?"
"I would like you to captain the Acropolis and lead the fleet in the field," Sera said with a gentle smile, "We'll welcome as many other crewmen from the Odyssey as you can spare too."
Raines blinked in surprise before straightening up and giving a salute, "If that is what you wish Princess, then I'd be honored to. Thank you."
"Let's signal the rest of our fleet here and head for Calypso," Aaron said gathering the Rangers together, "How far are we from there right now?"
Sage paused and did a quick mental calculation, "If we change course now, I estimate we'll reach Calypso in about nine hours at best speed."
To everyone's surprise, Ash spoke up and clapped his hands together while wearing an enigmatic grin, "All right then. What are we waiting for, everyone? We have a galaxy to save."
Elsewhere, a small fleet of surviving rebel ships from the U'shan Empire orbited the large blue ocean world of Calypso along with the massive Typhon Cannon. Also orbiting the world was a satellite platform loaded with supplies and equipment for an emergency retreat. The Exarch had always prided himself on thinking ahead and planning. For now at least, it seemed his foresight was paying some dividends. He stood silently at the observation post of the cannon watching as the crew of the cannon went about making hasty repairs. Amid the deep blue glow of the massive ocean planet below, Xerxes contemplated his next move. Admittedly, he was not in a great position. Much of his fleet had been destroyed. The Akula was destroyed and Captain Cepheus had been lost as well. However, he had also struck a grievous blow to the Star League as well. Much of their strength was gone and the GSA cruiser Odyssey had been destroyed. He doubted the Rangers had been killed in that battle, but if they lived, then Xerxes had surely struck a blow to their morale.
As Xerxes continued his silent contemplation over the planet, he wondered how fast the cannon would be repaired. It seemed extraordinary that he was seriously considering turning the weapon on his own government. He did not take any joy in having used his weapon to decimate the Imperial Third Fleet, but if this gambit paid off, it would be an incredible opportunity as well. He would be able to dictate terms to the Council and prevent them from making a foolish mistake... particularity signing a treaty with the Star League. If he had to take extreme action to preserve the Empires borders and its self respect, then so be it.
The Exarch stopped when he heard the door behind him open and he turned to face a an officer from the Akula who was approaching with a report. The lieutenant halted and stood at attention, "Lord Xerxes... repairs are still underway, but I have an urgent message. A small enemy force is approaching us and they look to be in an attack formation."
"Are they Imperial?" Xerxes asked.
The lieutenant shook his head, "No, my lord. They appear to be Star League vessels."
Xerxes balked in silence before recovering his poise, "What? How did they find us?"
Xerxes was handed a datapad and he watched in shock as a group of the Star League's small battered fleet of survivors dropped out of warp poised to meet his own. Among those remaining coalition ships he recognized the carriers Acropolis and Albion. Princess Sera and her Rangers were here after all. Xerxes gave a quiet scoff and handed the datapad back to the officer, "Well... I suppose it doesn't matter any more, does it?"
"My lord? What are your orders?"
Xerxes looked out the viewport toward the advancing enemy ships and regarded them with a cruel smile, "Get the cannon online and power it up as fast as you can. It seems the Rangers are intent on finishing things once and for all. If they're so determined to have it out here and now, then we'll give them what they want... a swift death."
The lieutenant bowed and quickly departed the chambers leaving Lord Xerxes alone with his thoughts and the thrilling promise of finally crushing his hated enemies once and for all.
Back aboard the Acropolis, everyone had already begun to gather on the bridge watching the Typhon Cannon and the planet of Calypso grow bigger in the view screen. Aaron glanced over to Raines and spoke up, "Captain? Maybe now's a good time for us to try and say something to the fleet? You know, boost the morale?"
Raines sat in the command chair of the Acropolis with a thoughtful look before he gave a quiet nod and turned to Sera, "I've never been one for grand soaring speeches, Your Highness. If we address the fleet, perhaps it would mean a lot more coming from you, don't you think?"
Sera looked back toward him in surprise before glancing over to the other Rangers assembled there. Despite their tired battle weary faces, she saw each of them quietly smiling with encouragement as they gave their consent toward the suggestion. Sera looked back toward the blue world of Calypso and the battlefield stretching out before her. She took a long moment to gather her thoughts before finally rising slowly and stepping forward, "Commander Jakende? Please patch me through to the rest of the fleet."
"Transmitting now," Hawa answered as she flipped a switch and opened all their comm. lines.
Sera focused her eyes forward and spoke aloud in a steady determined voice, "This is Princess Serafina Telesto. To all those who've fought and bled in Arcadia's name, know this. One final battle awaits us and never before have the stakes been higher. Lord Xerxes and his forces have brought us nothing but ruin and death and he means to show us no mercy even now. He means to terrorize our worlds… but we must not yield. We must stand firm and place our trust in each other."
She paused a moment and continued, "We must survive this battle and finally put an end to this bloody war with the Empire. It fills me with great pride and honor to see the great powers of the ancient Star League standing together once more as friends and allies… the Pavonians, the Saurians, the Korinthians, and now even the Alliance. I ask all of you to stand with me one more time so that we may drive Xerxes's vile ambitions into the ground. Forward!"
As the bridge of the Acropolis gave a small cheer in response, Captain Raines stepped and took command of the field, "Shields full forward and bring all weapons to bear. All fighters and remaining carrier escorts form up into a bubble screen and clear the path forward. We only get one shot at this."
He glanced over to where the Odyssey Ranger stood by with the former Commander Kharon, "Rangers? You know what to do."
"Aye sir. We won't let you down," Aaron answered waving the Rangers on while they departed the bridge and headed for the zord hangars with Ash Dael. As they began to hurry off, Sera took up her sun globe and headed for the door to follow the Rangers.
"Princess Sera? Where are you going?" Hawa called out in surprised alarm.
"I'm going to help the Rangers. They're going to need me and this is something I have to do."
Hawa raised an eyebrow, "Your Highness, you should stay back here with us where it's safer and…"
"And my mind has been made up Hawa," Sera answered with a ghost of a smile, "You can't stop me, even if you wanted to."
"Stand down Commander. She's right," Raines said placing a hand on his First Officer's shoulder before looking to the princess. He gave a quiet nod of understanding and smiled, "Good luck Your Highness. Bring my Rangers home safely."
"Thank you Captain. I will," Sera answered before leaving the bridge. She knew what task lay ahead and she mentally steeled herself hoping that whatever might come on that chaotic battlefield, she would have the strength and courage to see it though.
