Chapter Five
Rescue Ops was buzzing with activity. Personnel dashed from computer terminal to computer terminal. Computer monitors constantly flashed with data in visual, audio and text form. Touch pad keys beeped as fingers pressed them. No such thing as a slow day existed for those who staffed this command center. All hands in the room not only coordinated the rescue activities of the military organization, but also local police, and fire departments, communications amongst regional military installations, and the like. What helped everything run smoothly was devotion to duty and discipline.
Lieutenant O'Mara looked up from his post, the communications station, and saw Captain Mitchell. Recalling hours of Academy training, he jumped up from his chair, stood up tall and announced, "Captain on the deck!" He made a proper salute. The hustle and bustle of the room ceased as all hands followed O'Mara's example.
Mitchell looked at the crew assembled before him. He took pride that the best of the best stood before him. It was his hope that the activities of the Rangers and the support crew, Mariner Bay would one day soon be free of demonic activity. "As you were." With those simple words, normal activities resumed.
"Sir," said O'Mara catching his superior's attention. In the young man's hands was a clipboard, "It's the morning report." He passed the clipboard, along with a pen, to Mitchell. What remained in his hands was a folded sheet of paper.
The captain glanced over the various papers. Nodding approvingly, he placed his signature on them.
"Oh, sir," continued O'Mara, "there's a message for you. It's from Command."
"Lightspeed Command?" the captain asked.
The communications officer nodded as he gave his superior the sheet of paper.
Unexpectedly, red sirens blared. The level of action in the room increased as personnel dashed to their respective stations at double pace. O'Mara instinctively replaced the clipboard in Mitchell's hands with a headset.
"Report!" Captain Mitchell yelled as he put on the headset. Action this early morning, already?, he thought in the back of his head.
"Electrical disturbance localized in downtown," answered an enlisted woman at the sensor post, "it appears demonic."
"Rangers to Transport Bay, Rangers to Transport Bay. We've got an emergency," yelled Mitchell.
Carter and Dana dashed from Carter's quarters. Carter thanked God that an emergency was occurring. He was at a lost of words. For all this time, he had never known that Dana had a crush on him. He hoped that everything would clear up as the dust from the upcoming battle settled.
As she ran, Dana looked at Carter. She saw the look of confusion on the Red Ranger's face. She hoped that she did not com off too strongly. She didn't want to leave him emotionally senseless. However, right now duty called. As they approached the elevator, they were joined by Joel and Ryan. The elevator doors opened to reveal Chad and Kelsey.
"Going down, anybody?" asked Kelsey as the team assembled in the elevator.
"Let's kick some can," said Joel as he boarded the elevator.