Chapter One

0625 – BetaMountain SecStaff Quarters

148 - 2105

The trill of Niko's vidcom startled her from her chair. Glancing at the chronometer on the wall, she was surprised to find it reading 0630. Scrubbing hands across her face, she answered the comm, enabling audio-only.

"I know that you're scheduled to have time off today, Niko." The voice of Captain Zachary Fox greeted her with an apologetic tone. "But, the Series 5 Team has been ordered to report to Commander Walsh at 0700."

So much for opening day for the new art and archeological exhibit in New Phoenix today, Niko thought. "Right, Captain, I'll be there shortly."

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Niko was closing the door to her apartment when she heard the familiar voice of Doc Hartford behind her.

"Hey there, Niko. I see that you received the good morning greeting from our Captain." Doc greeted her as he and Shane Gooseman approached.

"Duty calls." Niko replied and fell in step with the two men as the rangers headed toward Commander Walsh's office for the early morning briefing.

"Duty always seems to be calling." Shane Gooseman agreed still looking fairly perturbed at the duty order from his captain. He too had had time off scheduled and had been looking forward to a long promised swim with the dolphins, Icarus and Winter.

"Cheer up, my Gooseman, if nothing else, I'm sure that you'll get a little target practice during this mission."

Shane gave Doc the beginnings of a grin. "You know what, Doc, you may be right."

Niko just shook her head at the two men and cued the elevator to take them to the Commander's office. "You had time off scheduled for today as well, didn't you, Shane?"

Goose nodded and sighed. "I promised the dolphins a swim. Looks like that's not going to happen."

"They'll understand. You'll just have to schedule a longer visit to make it up to them." Niko consoled.

Doc opened the main door to the Commander's office and held it for his fellow rangers to enter into the antechamber. Inside stood Zachary Fox, Captain of the Series 5 Ranger Team.

"Good morning, Captain."

Zach turned at the sound of the door opening and returned the greeting to his team. "Niko, Doc, Gooseman, right on time."

"Any idea what this is about, Captain?"

"So far, you all know as much as I do, Goose. Commander Walsh summoned me this morning with a request to have the Team ready to report for emergency duty, which is why all of your leaves have been cancelled."

"You don't think this has anything to do with the Nebraska phony kidnapping thing, do you?" Doc asked starting to worry about the political repercussions of the injured runaway.

"I can't say for sure, but I read Niko's and your report, Doc. Everything was in order and by the book. I'd be surprised if this were related."

The team wasn't given any more time to speculate as the commander's secretary opened the interior door to the Commander's office and motioned for them to enter.

As the Series 5 Team entered the private office of Commander Joseph Walsh, a distinguished gentleman with a military air rose from his seat behind the expansive desk centered in the room. Once his secretary closed the door behind the assembled rangers, he spoke. "Greetings Captain Fox. Thank you for assembling your team in such a timely fashion."

"Commander." Captain Fox returned the greeting. "You indicated that time was of the essence."

"Indeed I did." Commander Walsh answered and moved back to a seated position behind his desk. "It seems that Beta has received an urgent call for assistance from the mining colony on Arkansas2. But, I think it would be more effective for you to hear the transmission." Commander Walsh cued the message on his vidcom.

Lines of static were broken by blurry images of a technician's face and what appeared to be smoking rubble behind him. "I repeat, this is Sherman Andrews, primary communications representative of Metallurgy Conglomerations on Arkansas2…" More static filled the screen and blanked all but garbled audio. "…………reports that planetary climatology…………unstable field…………destroyed along with 5…………requesting assistance to aid…………military action may be…………"

The commander turned to watch the Series 5 team's reaction to the communication. "That's all we have. According to intelligence in the sector, at 0420 the planet of Arkansas2 had a massive planetary quake. The cause of the quake has been undefined. All the scientist agree that nothing in the planet's climate or history would have caused this kind of incidence to occur. The prevailing theory is that the causing agent of the quake was precipitated from outside the planet."

"Outside the planet? As in man-made?" Doc asked still looking at the screen full of static.

"Perhaps." Answered the commander. "Arkansas2 is continuing to experience aftershocks that appear to be of a magnitude greater than the initial quake. Preliminary data indicates that if these aftershocks continue, the planet's orbit will degrade."

"Rangers, I'm sending you on a two-fold mission. The first priority is to oversee the evacuation of the mining city on the eastern hemisphere. Arkansas2 was never very hospitable prior to these quakes, but the metal ore resources are incomparable. The settlement has roughly two thousand people and about half as much livestock and cyberstock. Secondly, in addition to any aid you may render, I want to know what or who caused this destruction. And, I want to know why."

"Understood, Commander." Zachary Fox saluted and led his team out of the Commander's office.

"Okay, people, we have one hour until departure. Q-ball is installing the portable recharging unit into Ranger One as we speak. It hasn't been field tested so this is as good a time as any. Make sure that your badges are charged before we leave and that all field equipment is in working order. The cybersteeds are being prepped and loaded as well. Report to docking bay 7 at 0830."

"Aye, captain." Responded the rest of the Series 5 Team as they headed in various directions to accomplish their directives.