Sorry for the delay, I will TRY to get the next chapter out sooner than the others have been. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed. Enjoy chapter three!
Jon nervously tapped his foot on the deck of the Astro Megaship, his arms crossed, staring at the view screen, waiting for what could possibly be his impending death.
"Jon," Janet put a caring hand on his shoulder, "are you ok? I think you may be scaring the other crew members."
"Sis, shut up," he retorted.
"Jon!" she said sternly.
"We're only human, Janet, we have feelings, and right now I am feeling rather anxious... and a little scared."
"We are the leaders of the Resistance, Jon, they look up to us, they will be fearless if we are. We must learn to control our feelings."
Jon didn't have time to answer before the battle claxons sounded.
"We have enemy contacts!" one of the KO-35 soldiers yelled.
Jon turned away from Janet and pressed the communications button.
"Arbalest, Maelstrom," Jon was speaking to the other two Megaships, "this is Red Turbo Ranger, launch fighters and open fire when in range!" he ordered.
"Launch all fighters!" Janet yelled, thankful for that little upgrade.
Through the view screen they all saw the scores of their fighters rush in and engage a greater force of enemy Velocifighters.
"There are too many of them!" Jon shouted, "I have to go out there!" he stood and started to run towards the Galaxy Gliders.
"Jon, wait!" Janet shouted.
"I have to go, Janet!" he replied, stopping, but not looking at the yellow ranger.
"Just, be careful, you're all I have left."
He turned, "I'll be fine."
Janet turned back around to face the battle at hand. The three Megaships' lasers blasted into the hordes of Velocifighters that were positioned between the enemy capital ships and the Resistance's. Although plentiful, the lasers on the Megaships were not enough to destroy all the Velocifighters that Dark Specter sent towards them. Three Velocifighters specially modified to carry torpedoes were able to break in past the fighter compliment of all three Megaships and made a torpedo run on the Astro Megaship.
"Full power to frontal shields, I want those Velocifighters taken out before they release those torpedoes!" Janet yelled.
All the turrets altered their targets, but it was too late. They took out two of the Velocifighters after they released a volley of torpedoes, and the third veered off course, avoiding destruction. The turrets knocked out one torpedo, but the other two impacted against the shields of the ship. By this time the other Velocifighter had rounded back and went in for a second torpedo run.
"Shoot that fighter down! This ship can't take another torpedo hit!" she yelled.
The fighter suddenly bursted into flames, before any of the turrets could acquire a hit. Through the flames a familiar figure appeared, a human-like figure. Jon saluted the bridge of the Astro Megaship before turning around and heading back into the fray.
"Thank you, Jon," Janet muttered. "Can we get an acquisition on any of those capital ships yet?"
"Yes, Sir! Two destroyers and one of the battleships are entering into our line of fire!" one of the officers answered.
"Power up the main weapons, I want them taken down as soon as possible!"
"Yes, Sir!"
She soon saw the three ships the officer was talking about. The destroyers were to either side of the battleship, all were firing at the three Megaships and the Delta Megaship, which started firing on the battleship. She soon saw the sixteen laser blasts from the main weapons of all three Megaships impact on the trio of capital ships. The Astro Megaship and Arbalest were able to take down the destroyer to the right of the battleship. Subsequent shots from the Maelstrom eliminated the other destroyer, and all four ships were able to take down the battleship shortly afterwards. The crews on all ships gave a glorious victory cry as the enemy ships were reduced to atoms.
"Sir, we're receiving a transmission from the Maelstrom!"
"On screen!" she ordered.
"Ranger," the captain of the Maelstrom saluted as they made contact, "I'm afraid the Maelstrom has sustained major damage, and most of my crew and personnel are abandoning ship. I would like to express my sincere apologies for not making it through this and request that you take in our departing crew. Don't worry, we will make sure this battle is won for you!" the captain ended transmission.
"Wait! Wait!" Janet yelled, but it was no use.
They all stared in horror as the Maelstrom went full speed and headed straight through the enemy line, taking out several Velocifighters before it finally smashed into one of the carriers. The Maelstrom exploded in a brilliant fireball, taking out the carrier and greatly damaging the other capital ships. They continued to stare in awed silence, not knowing whether or not to cheer.
Jon screamed in anger as he saw the Maelstrom detonate. He attacked with renewed ferocity. Striking with his Lightning Sword and Auto Blaster Gun he swept through the enemy ranks, destroying several Velocifighters, and saving several of his comrades.
He flew above all the chaos and looked over. They're retreating! He smiled under his helmet. He sped forward, opening fire on one of the destroyers. He maneuvered around the blasts from the enemy destroyer, taking out several of the laser cannons on the broadside of the enemy vessel. He flew up to the level of the bridge and thrust his sword into the protective glass and dragged it through until he was passed. The glass broke open and the bridge was soon empty, all the personnel sucked out into the vacuum of space. He turned 180° and opened fire on the engines, igniting the fuel cells and destroying the vessel.
Jon was exhausted. He flew back into the fray, his moves more clumsy, now and he nearly got hit by several enemy blasts. He destroyed a Velocifighter and looked over to see another coming straight for him. He needed to be quick. He drew his blaster around, he was too slow, and he knew it. He wouldn't be able to escape this enemy. Before the Velocifighter could fire, it was destroyed. Shocked, Jon looked towards the origin of the blast. The Power Rangers had returned! They had finished their work on KO-35, and had come back to help them!
"Jon," it was Andros over the communications, "get back to the Astro Megaship, and help Janet pilot the Astro Delta Megazord!"
"Yes, Sir!" he replied, already halfway there.
"Glad to have you back, Jon!" Janet said as he entered the bridge, waiting for the Delta Megazord to attach.
"Astro Delta Megazord transformation complete!" Jon said.
"Flying Power Punch, fire!" they both said in unison.
The two arm sections of the megazord separated and flew towards the remaining two battleships. They made contact with the shields, faltered for a second, but punched through the outer hull, exited the other end and returned to the Astro Delta Megazord as their targets were destroyed.
They fired the cannons from the Delta Megazord positioned on their shoulders, destroying the last two destroyers.
"What are you waiting for, Janet? Prepare the Flying Power Punch for another round!" Jon said impatiently.
"That last carrier is out of range, Jon, the remaining Velocifighters are retreating as well, there is nothing more we can do."
"Damn!" he pounded his fist down on the control panel.
"Jon, Janet, the battle is won, return the megazords back into their ship form to collect our fighters and the remaining crew of the Maelstrom." Andros ordered.
"Yes, sir," Janet replied.