Newtech City. a bustling city on the east coast of America, purpose built at the start of the twenty first century to ease the growing fear of Emperor Grumm's reign. Newtech City was host to the Intergalactic Immigration Agency, or The Shadow Proclamation, who processed any immigrants and refugees from the galaxy who wanted to make Earth and other planets their new home. The first fifteen years of the century were a turbulent time, filled with anti-alien and anti-immigrant sentiment that threatened to tear the country apart. Tensions reached their height during 2014, the year of the Armada's invasion. Anger towards the invaders was directed towards those aliens who couldn't fight back leading to some of the worst levels of hate crime ever reported. Right at the heart of this maelstrom of anger was Newtech City.
Just when it looked like a bill would be passed banning all aliens, a group of former Power Rangers banded together to create an intergalactic police force to help control the situation. Space Patrol Delta, known locally as SPD, was born. With the Armada defeated SPD was at the forefront of human/alien relations, restoring order to the city and to the country as a whole. Branches of SPD began to open up across the globe and in other parts of the galaxy. In just ten years SPD had become one of the most powerful agencies in the Milky way.
It was probably a good thing because 2025 saw another invasion, this time by Emperor Grumm and the Troobian Empire. Initially held at bay by SPD's A-Squad, things took a surprising turn when the elite Ranger squadron of the force disappeared, leaving the unknown and untested B-Squad to pick up the pieces. The motley crew consisting of three raw cadets and two rookies defeated Grumm's forces, with a little help from their commanding officer and a visitor from the future.
Six months had passed since Grumm's invasion and life was relatively peaceful in Newtech City. 2026 so far had been the lowest recorded rate of alien race crime since ever. With B-Squad now able to focus their attentions on non-alien related offenses, crime in the city was also dropping. On the surface things appeared to be rosy for the elite police force in the galaxy. It was late in the afternoon when Charlie Matthews walked onto the flight deck of the USS Obama, off the coast of Newtech City. Waiting outside was a man dressed in his Air Force uniform, the stripes on his arm indicated that he held the rank of Major. He removed his sunglasses, revealing a piercing pair of blue eyes. The car stopped and the woman stepped out, "Ms Mathews," the man greeted with a warm smile.
"Knock it off Ryan," the blonde began, "no need for formalities," she added whilst adjusting a SPD pin on her shirt.
"Come on Charlie, is that anyway to greet an old friend?" Ryan Mitchell replied.
Charlie snorted, "I'd be in a better mood if I hadn't been dragged onto a flight deck on a hundred degree day." She removed her cap and glasses, "Please tell me this ship has decent air conditioning at least," she added with a little smirk.
After completing her time in prison, former red ranger Charlie Mathews returned to service with the Air Force. After completely several missions off Earth with the SPD Special Ops, Charlie returned hoke after the Special Ops team was disbanded, Charlie chose to leave SPD.
Some were surprised that she left SPD. Outwardly she claimed to be happy with her current position. The two moved across the deck, quietly acknowledging the salutes of officers. "So, is this the top secret project you've been working on recently?" Charlie asked.
"Yeah, sorry I've missed the last few poker nights," Ryan replied, "we've been working all hours trying to get this up and running." Stopping by the side of the deck
"Really?" Charlie sighed, "this better be worth it."
There was a sudden rumble as a metal dragon burst from the ocean below, it roared. Charlie gaped for a couple of moments before asking, "Dragonzord?" she looked at Ryan, "Why is the Dragonzord here?"
"Funny that's the first thing you ask " Ryan replied, "I mean, you do have experience in that area after all."
Charlie frowned at her the Major, "I have no idea what you're talking about," she lied.
"Really? Your mysterious years at SPD, you were SPD green for a time and then you disappeared for 3 years," Ryan stated, "it's kinda obvious now that every time the Rangers appeared, Charlie Matthews would mysteriously disappear. Not to mention that we rarely see you not wearing something SPD." Instinctively, Charlie covered her badge, "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me," he added.
"How did you find out?" Charlie asked defensively, "that information should be restricted to SPDs and above."
"I told him," a booming voice grabbed the attention of the two officers.
Charlie immediately recognised the stern expression belonging to their superior officer, "General Taylor Earhardt ," she saluted the slightly grey haired woman, "I wasn't expecting you here today."
"At ease Matthews," General Earhardt nodded at Charlie, "Mitchell," he added towards Ryan. The General gazed towards the Dragonzord, "It's quite something isn't it," she began, "years of research and development has brought us this magnificent machine."
"Permission to speak freely General," Charlie asked, the General sighed and nodded towards the former red ranger, "Why?" she asked simply.
General Earhardtt offered a low chuckle in response, "I was expecting much more Matthews, your outspoken reputation precedes you." Charlie blushed slightly, adverting her gaze from the General, "The Armada was a wake up call for everyone," she continued, "for nearly thirty years we've allowed the Power Rangers to protect us from the current threat, for which I'd like to personally thank you for by the way."
"You never struck me as a spandex wearer though Charlie," Ryan joked, "although why didn't you get a skirt?"
"It's not spandex," Charlie groaned in frustration, "and I hate skirts, have you ever seen me wear one?" Ryan smirked back, shaking his head in the process.
"Can I continue?" General Earhardt interrupted the friendly banter, "the Grumm invasion showed us that we could be easily overrun if the enemy attacks with enough force."
"With respect Mam, we still won that day," Charlie stated, "it was a little touch and go at some points but B squad got the job done."
"At what cost though?" the General asked, to which Charlie didn't offer a response. She thought about that day often, if she and the others had been just a little quicker maybe more residents of Angel Grove, Stone Canyon, Silver Hills, Mariner Bay, Reefside, Newtech city, Blue Harbour, Turtle Cover, San Angels, Summer Cove, Amber Beach, and many many more cities would've been saved, "It doesn't hurt to be prepared in case of the next attack," the General continued, "as the Romans said, si vis pacem, para bellem."
"If you want peace, prepare for war," Ryan translated, "this is just the tip of the iceberg, Hexagon together with NASADA we've been putting together our own Ranger project."
Charlie allowed herself a couple of moments to let everything sink in. Her powers came from and Alien space police force but she was aware that other power were man made. Lightspeed Rescue immediately sprung to mind, that began as a military project. Something told her that this project wasn't entirely altruistic and solely for the benefit of humanity though, "Why now though," Charlie asked, "the Armada and Grumm are long gone and there's nothing to suggest they're going to be a threat again. In fact, these last few years have been the quietest on the Ranger front for a long time."
General Earhardt chuckled, "Nothing gets past you, does it Matthews or should i say Collins?" He faced the Dragonzord, "Truth is that we've been getting pressure from the very top," he continued, "everyone seems to be building a Ranger team, some kid and a bunch of robots, that Shiba lady and weird team of misfits, even that renegade team of Rangers a couple of years ago." The former red ranger heard that story, the pnce evil Wild Rangers defending the city they resided in, "The President took that a little personally," General Earhardt sighed.
"More like his approval rating took it personally," Charlie grunted.
"Quite," the General shook her head, "nevertheless we've been tasked with getting this project up and running quicker than expected."
"Why am i here?" Charlie asked, "I get a last minute call to come down here without any further orders or instructions."
"Everything's coming online quicker than we anticipated," Ryan began, "we still need someone to take up the ranger mantle"
"We need one of the best, that's where you come in," General Earhardt continued, "Colonel Mitchell has spoken highly of you during our briefings, and we'd like to formally invite you onto Kiryu Force."
Charlie opened her mouth, a retort on the tip of her tongue but she managed to hold herself back. She was mulling over the offer when it dawned on her what General Earhardt said, "Sorry, did you say Colonel Mitchell?" she asked coldly.
"I've been meaning to tell you," Ryan replied sheepishly, "my promotion to Lieutenant Colonel only came through a few days ago."
The former red Ranger turned away, slowly shaking her head. She willed her legs to walk away but a small voice in the back of her head told her to stay put. "This is nothing personal Charlie," General Earhardt stated, "if it was my decision alone you'd be a Colonel by now. Unfortunately your previous absences count against you, even if you did have a good reason."
"This is another reason that I want you on Kiryu Force," Ryan added, quickly moving the conversation on, "no one else has the experience being a Power Ranger that you do. All it takes is a few people in the right positions to see what you can do, you'll have the rank you deserve before you know it."
Charlie slowly turned around, "We both know that will never happen" she sighed. The guilty expressions on Chris and General Earhardt answered her question, "You Don't need me your both former power rangers, so don't lie about needing my experience," she added with a firm point of her finger.
"Absolutely," General Earhardt agreed, "I'll tell you the truth, I'm too old and we are both retired, that's why we hand picked you."
Charlie nodded slowly, she looked up the Dragonzord, who roared before descending back into the ocean. She couldn't shake the feeling deep in her stomach that something was about to go horribly wrong.