*I'm sorry it's been so long guys, but life got in the way. I will finish this fanfic, I promise
Part 12 – Streak of Blue – Part 2
As the United was flying through space, Carter, Ryan, and Damien were meeting in the briefing room where Commander Kruger was holographically joining them.
On the screen behind Carter was an image of Earth taken from the various satellites the countries left in space when Earth was evacuated, which were now being controlled from the Alliance's drone center at Head Quarters.
"As of right now, we have no idea what kind of state the surface of the planet is in," Cruger said before looking back at the planet which changed to a thermal image of both sides of the planet, he then pointed at the screen where two squares, one over Southern California and the other of NYC which showed various thermal images of both cities, "Thermal imaging from the satellites show a massive decline in heat produced by humanoids traveling through cities such as New York and Los Angeles," the thermal dots on the maps slowly started to fade as the dates on the maps started counting.
"A decline in heat being," Damien asked.
"We believe that humans are being forced out," Cruger said as he looked back at Damien, "If the Serpent Empire hasn't conquered the city, we believe that those that have escaped are taking shelter wherever they can," he tapped the screen again which showed various thermal images which were probably people taking shelter in mountains, and various mines in deserts, "Unfortunately we've been unable to maintain a reliable form of communication with the planet. We can only maintain reliable contact for about fifteen minutes at one time during a 24-hour span, which is how we can keep a constant eye on the radio. We've been testing various methods to try and improve the duration of radio contact, but so far it's led to nothing other than frustration."
"Any chance of evacuating the population," Ryan asked.
"The Council considers it to be too dangerous as of this moment," Cruger said, "They're worried that we don't have the manpower and the means."
"Plus we'd have no way of letting people know we were coming," Carter said, "And we probably couldn't stay for very long, less the evacuation position be overrun with who knows how many Es'ka with who knows what weapons."
"Exactly," Cruger said, "And we don't know if they've put in orbital defenses, right now the satellites are all we have to go on now, and they're still operating."
"But we can't look inside buildings with them," Damien said, "Or inside of underground caverns and mines."
"Yes," Cruger said, "We can't look inside buildings, we can't look at what the Serpent Empire is doing, and we don't know if they're working on any kind of orbital defense system, or if they already have it in place."
"What about airborne threats," Ryan asked.
"Right now, the Empire seems to only have one warp-capable ship," Cruger replied.
"The Jörmungandr," Carter said.
"Exactly," Cruger said as the image on the screen changed to show an image of the Jörmungandr traveling at faster-than-light speed, "This image was taken by KO-35 when they detected the ship heading toward the same star system you're heading to."
"How do they know these things," Ryan asked.
"Well according to what many of these things said, they apparently once owned it," Carter said, "What are you willing to bet that their leader has a way to see what the Astrolabe tells us."
"I'd bet my entire year's salary," Damien said.
"With you there," Ryan said.
"Any idea where the Jörmungandr is now," Carter asked.
"No," Cruger said, "KO-35 reported traveling at a speed comparable to what you're going at right now."
"So they know about the power," Ryan said.
"But the Astrolabe isn't with us," Carter said, "Why would he be after the astrolabe if we don't have it?"
"We don't know," Cruger said, "Intelligence is currently working on several theories, but right now we have nothing."
"Alright," Carter said, "I think that's everything on the war front for now," he then turned to Damien, "You're dismissed, Sergeant."
Damien stood up from his chair, and saluted the three of them, "Sir," he said before turning back to Cruger, "Commander."
As Damien left, Carter turned back to Cruger, "Sir," he said, "Might I ask about the other thing we discussed?"
"I was wondering when you were going to get to that," Cruger said.
Hanger…
"I'm telling you, it's not just me talking," Matt said as he began cleaning the barrel on a P-Carbine, "He's growing up, and as my career progresses, I know I'm going to start losing my relationship with him."
"Come on Matt," Jackie said as she worked on the engine of an Alliance shuttle which was accessed via the underside of the shuttle, "He's your little brother. There's nothing you can do that will drive him away any further."
"Thanks for that," Matt said as he removed the brush from the P-Carbine's barrel.
"Not what I meant," Jackie said, "And you know that. Come on, you and your brother have been closer than me and my father have."
"But don't you feel like you're lying to your parents by not telling them," Matt said.
"You remember the three rules Carter taught us," Jackie said.
"Zordon's rules," Matt said.
"Rule One: never use your powers for personal gain," Jackie said as she slid out from underneath the shuttle to grab a 5/26 socket wrench, "Rule Two: never escalate a fight unless your enemy makes you."
"And Rule Three: I must never reveal who I am," Matt said, "Ranger's Code of Honor."
"Also our code," Jackie said as she pointed her wrench at Matt, and slid back underneath the shuttle, "We can't forget the teachings of the Rangers that came before us."
As Jackie was working underneath the shuttle, Matt couldn't help but look at her: he had always been attracted to the tan-skinned girl, but he wasn't sure if the attraction was mutual.
Seeing her, underneath that shuttle with her field jacket off, her grease-stained tank top, and that pair of clear goggles that she used to keep the grease and oil out of her eyes was something that he didn't think he'd found attractive several years ago, but now that Jackie was one of the United's top engineers, he couldn't help but find a little grease attractive.
She became really attractive a few minutes later because when she came from under the shuttle, and there was a small smudge of oil on her cheek.
Matt chuckled as Jackie walked over to him, wiping oil and grease off her hands.
"I never stopped to realize just how beautiful she is," he thought.
"What," Jackie asked.
"It's nothing," Matt said as he checked the sights on the P-Carbine, "Think this'll work quite fine down there."
"Hopefully you won't have to use it," Jackie said as she sat next to him, but as she sat back, what she was sitting on shifted, and she would have tumbled backward if Matt hadn't grabbed her arms.
"Easy there," he said as he helped her sit upright, suddenly finding themselves really close.
This result was a very interestingly-timed romantic moment that caused the two of them to lean in close before…
"Attention all hands," Carter's voice came over the intercom.
Five minutes ago…
"So Corporal Apenov's brother can meet them," Carter asked.
"Yes," Kruger said, "But there are a few terms and conditions."
"Conditions," Carter asked, "Commander, we're trying to get a young teen to meet the Power Rangers not close a deal with Aquitar."
"I know that, Major," Kruger said, "But unfortunately, the higher-ups are concerned about Sergeant Winters' father possibly getting a lead on the team's identity. The Council believes that if Corporal Apenov's brother starts questioning why only four Rangers are in one room, minus blue, and then blue shows up, he might put the pieces together."
"Corporal Aspenov has said that his brother is a sharp kid," Carter said, "So he'll have his mother drop him off?"
"Yes," Kruger said, "You'll have to keep Sergeant Winters' team at Head Quarters overnight."
"Thank you, sir," Carter said, "I'll let the Rangers know."
Before Kruger could sign off, Corporal Erik Scott came over the intercom on Carter's desk, "Corporal Scott to Major Grayson," he said.
Carter hit the answer button on the desk, "Go ahead," he said.
"Major, I'm picking up a transmission from the solar system we're in-route to," Erik said.
"Alliance," Carter asked.
"Negative sir," Erik said, "The nearest Alliance ship, besides us, is twenty lightyears from the system, and there are no flight logs registered in the area."
"Serpent Empire," Carter asked.
"Negative," Erik said.
"Point of Origin," Carter asked.
"It seems to be coming from the next-inward planet of the system," Erik said, "It's not a natural signal."
"Has any point-of-contact made with any species within a fifty-lightyear radius of the planet ever been recorded," Carter asked.
"Negative, sir," Erik said, "The message just keeps repeating: it's an unknown language, but the translation software is making decoding the language. It says, 'We welcome you'."
"Well Major, it looks like you have more pressing matters to attend to," Kruger said, "I'll leave you to it, and inform the council."
Carter and Ryan rushed out onto the bridge, and over to Erik's station, "Play the message back for us," Carter said.
The message was a series of grunts and hisses, but ultimately the translation software broke it down to, "Welcoming: We welcome all those who would meet with us."
The voice was deep and had a very low pitch, but it was calming, and almost tiring in a way.
"The planet is in the same area as the signal from the astrolabe," Ryan said as he pointed at the screen, "If it's not there, I think we can make a small detour."
"Agreed," Carter said as he walked back to his chair, "Helmsman, adjust course for the source of the transmission."
"Aye sir," the Helmsman said.
Carter hit a few buttons on the armrest of his chair, opening the intercom system for the entire ship, "Attention all hands," Carter said, "Prepare all stations for First-Contact protocol!"
Carter couldn't hear it, but he knew that there was then a collective cheer from the entire crew as they rushed to make sure they were prepared for contact with a brand-new species.
Not exactly the 2000 words I like to end on, but this is the only way I could think to end the chapter…
