Part 3 – A visit from an old friend
As the United took off, Damien and his friends walked onto the bridge where Carter was sitting in his chair.
While the United looked like a cross between the Defiant from Star Trek and the Astro Megaship used by the Space Rangers, the bridge had several levels where soldiers of the Alliance sat at their computers, and at the top level was Carter's seat that had two touch-screens on his left and right. A few feet behind Carter's seat was a conference table that was protected by a screen of privacy glass where the seal of the Alliance was imprinted.
"Sir," Damien said as he walked up to Carter, and saluted him.
"Sergeant," Carter said, "Welcome to the bridge."
"It's very nice," Damien said, "Just curious though, we know who the CO of this ship is, but who's the XO?"
"That would be me," Ryan Mitchel said as he walked out of the conference room carrying a datapad, "Just came from the engineering room," he handed the datapad to Carter, "Engines are running at full capacity, all systems in the green, and we are at steady cruising speed."
"Good," Carter said as he handed the pad back to Ryan, then turned to Damien who was standing at attention with his team, "I forgot to mention Damien that Ryan has earned his Lieutenant Stripes, and he'll be my XO on the United."
"At ease Sergeant," Ryan said as he walked up, and shook Damien's hand, "Long time, no see."
"Sure has, sir," Damien said, "Good to see you again."
Somewhere in Distant Space…
Gaeko paced in the weapon bay of his own ship, the Jörmungandr as they headed off to the planet where he would take his revenge on Damien and his team for leaving the burn scar he keeps uncovered on his foot, humiliating him, and dishonoring him in the eyes of his emperor.
"What'sss taking ssso long," Gaeko exclaimed, "I want to tessst thossse weaponsss before we get to that planet!"
"We're working on it sssir," one of the Sergeant Es'Kas said as he prepared the new weapon the Es'Kas and Gaeko would be taking down to the planet to confront Damien and his team, he finally inserted the final piece, and handed it to Gaeko, "Here you go sssir."
The weapon had the grip of the Time Force Chrono Blasters, and the length of the Lightspeed Rescue V-Lancer, but looked like it had snakes coiling around it, "What isss it?" Gaeko asked.
"I call it, the Ssserpent'sss Sssting," he said, "You can ssshoot rapidly, widely, or explosssively."
Gaeko took aim with the Serpent's Sting at the targets set up down ranger and fired full-auto, the laser bolts struck the targets, and left small holes.
As he selected widely, the bolts turned into shotgun-like shots which took the top-half of the targets off.
He then selected explosively, and as he fired, the explosion destroyed all three targets.
"Perfect," Gaeko said, "Thossse teensss won't know what hit them," he then broke out into a maniacal hissing-like laughter.
Back on the United…
Ryan was showing Damien and his team their new weapons, or rather an attachment for their weapons.
He took his own blaster (which I forgot to mention in the last chapter are called: Prehenderat Blasters), "Your Prehenderats are simply sidearms," he said, "But they can be made into something else," he picked up a small item from the table which looked like conversion kit that you would use to change a 1911 from a pistol to a carbine rifle, and inserted the Prehenderat Blaster into it which extended a small five-inch barrel.
"Cool." Matt said.
"You'll either take it with you down to the planet as the carbine," Ryan said, "Or you'll take it down, strapped to your back," he then showed them a small dial on the side, "You can either fire as a long, continuous beam, a short, rapid beam, or a flat, and wide beam," he then handed the rifle to Damien, "Sergeant."
Damien took the carbine from Ryan's hand, and walked up to the range, after extending the sliding, wire stock, he took aim, and fired the continuous beam at all three targets, leaving small holes in the center of the targets.
He then switched to fire the rapid beam, and as he pulled the trigger, the beams left small holes in the targets.
He finally switched to the wide beam, and as he pulled the trigger, a flat beam sprung from the end of the weapon, and sliced all three targets in half.
"Sweet," Damien said as he observed the weapon, "What's it called?"
"We call it the P-Carbine," Ryan said, "The Name Prehenderat-Carbine seemed a little long."
"Indeed," Damien said, "Any Es'kas we run into don't stand a chance."
"Maybe," Carter said as he entered, "But might I remind you Sergeant about what I taught your two years ago about the Es'ka."
"Overconfidence is their greatest ally." Damien said.
"You learned well," Carter said, "I think we might just pull this off."
Two days later…
The United arrived in orbit above the planet, when Carter called Damien, Matt, Jackie, Steven, and Lara into the room, they found the map of the area they were going to be in pulled up on the screen at the end of the room.
"Please, sit," Carter said as he ushered toward the table, as the team took their seat, Carter began his briefing, "Alright, here's the deal," the map zoomed in on a small area of the planet in a range of mountains, "This is where you're going. Several days ago, we picked up unusual energy readings from this area. We think it's only a matter of time before the Serpent Empire takes notice."
"How are we going in?" Damien asked.
"Beam-down," Carter said, "We've been working on transporter technology, and we've had very positive results. You teleport in, walk to the mountains, find the energy readings, and get back to the ship. Should be an easy assignment. Any questions," no one answered, "Good, let's move."
The team followed Carter and Ryan to the transporter room where upon entering, they took their survival-packs, breathing, masks, and the conversion-kits for their Prehenderats, they combined them into their P-Carbine, and stood on the transporter pad.
"Alright," the transporter chief said, "If all goes to plan, I should be dropping you about a mile from the mountains."
"Good luck." Carter said.
"Thank you, sir," Damien said as he looked straight ahead at the transporter chief, "Do it."
The transporter pad flashed a white-hot light that was so bright, Carter, Ryan, and the chief shielded their eyes.
When they unshielded their eyes, they saw that they were completely gone.
Down on the planet, the team dropped from the transport-beam onto the ground where they looked around at the planet.
Damien pressed two fingers to his tactical ear-piece which transformed into a pair of glasses similar to Visual Scanners the Time Force Rangers used, the sun on that planet was bright.
As Damien looked around, he contacted the ship, "United, this is Winters." He said.
Carter came over the other line, "We hear you Winters," he said, "How's it look down there?"
While Damien contacted the ship, Steven began a scan of the planet's atmosphere, when the scan was complete, he handed the tablet connected to the scanner to Damien, "The planet's atmosphere is comprised of a mixture of Argon, Hydrogen, Neon, and Oxygen," he said, "Should sustain life. Standby," Damien handed the tablet back to Steven, took a deep breath, and deactivated the breathing-mask, as he exhaled, he could breathe easily, "It's breathable."
"You crazy bastard." Lara said.
"Planet's livable," Damien said, "A little dry and sunny, but livable."
"Ok," Carter said, "Proceed to your objective."
"Yes sir," Damien said, "Let's move, got a long walk ahead of us."
As the team started walking, the Jörmungandr had arrived in orbit on the other side of the planet, "We've arrived sssir," the Sergeant Es'ka said as he looked at Gaeko.
"Good," Gaeko said, "Have a team meet me in the ssshuttle room, we're going down there."
After about ten minutes of walking, the team were walking by a small rock formation, not knowing that they were being stalked.
The Sergeant Es'ka observed them through his binoculars, "That'sss them," he said as he looked at Gaeko, "What are your ordersss, sssir?"
"Let'sss move." Gaeko said.
Two minutes later, as the team could see the mountains, an explosion from behind them sent them diving for cover.
"What was that?" Steven asked.
"Disruptor blast," Damien said, "We're not alone."
"No," a familiar voice said from a few yards away, "It'sss been a long time teensss."
"Gaeko is that you," Damien asked, "How've you been these past three years? How's the foot?"
"It'sss well," Gaeko said, "You made a mockery of me during our invasssion. Because of you, I am dissshonored."
"You're a slave now," Matt asked, "What a shame, you such a good soldier."
"You insssolent little whelpsss," Gaeko said, "Kill them!"
As the Es'kas charged, the team popped out from behind cover, and fired their P-Carbines.
The two that Damien and Matt hit were thrown backwards against the sand, Steven's beam had completely disintegrated the one he shot.
The two that Jackie and Lara shot flew backwards, passed Gaeko, "They've defeated them sssir," the Sergeant Es'ka said, "What do we do?"
"Fire back," Gaeko exclaimed as he pointed at Damien and his team.
The Sergeant Es'ka aimed his Serpent's Sting at them, and fired the area-shot, the beams that struck Jackie and Lara sent them flying backwards, the one that struck Matt and Steven launched them over Jackie and Lara.
As Damien fired a few times at Gaeko who seemed to be actually hurt by the blasts, grabbed the Serpent's Sting from the Sergeant Es'ka, and fired the explosive round at Damien that sent him flying backwards, and left a huge scorch mark on his chest.
"Damien," Carter said over the radio, "What's going on down there? We're detecting weapons fire."
Damien was helped sit upright by his team, "We've been reunited with an old friend," he said, "It's Gaeko, he's back."
"Sir," one of the Ensigns in the ship said, "I'm detecting massive atmospheric anomalies in the skies, heading toward the away team fast!"
As Gaeko approached them with the Sergeant Carter spoke, "Damien," he said, "You have to get out of there!"
"Sssay goodbye you pesssts," Gaeko said as he raised the Serpent's Sting before a large rumble of thunder boomed all around them, and a bolt of lightning struck the area next to them, it was so close, they could feel the heat.
Damien saw his chance, switched the weapon to wide, and fired, sending Gaeko and the Sergeant Es'ka flying backwards.
"GO," Damien yelled, "TO THE MOUNTAINS!"
As the team took off running, the storm that was forming quickly in the skies above them started to turn violent.
Lightning struck all around them, Gaeko and the Sergeant Es'ka managed to get back to their feet, but before Gaeko could attempt to shoot them again, a bolt of lightning struck the sand right in front of them, sending them flying backwards.
"I suggest we get out of here." the Sergeant Es'ka said.
"You can," Gaeko said, "I'm not leaving until…" another bolt of lightning struck the area right next to them, "Ok."
As Gaeko and the Sergeant Es'ka transported back to their ship, Damien and his team found a small entrance in the side of the mountain.
The cave was a hole in the side of the mountain, but for all the team cared, it was the Four Seasons, lightning, ice-cold winds, and sand that felt like broken glass mixed with razor blades was whipping everywhere.
As they entered, the temperature changed, it was nice and cool, and not freezing like outside.
The team entered a small hallway, and sat down against it, "Wow," Steven said as he flopped down against a solid rock, "This is crazy."
"Yea," Damien said as he pulled off his survival pack, "United, this is Winters," there was nothing but static on the other end, "United, this is Winters, please respond."
"United, this is Aspenov," Matt said, "United, acknowledge."
"Either the storm or the cave must be blocking our communications." Steven said.
"Speaking of cave," Jackie said, "How long do you think we can stay here?"
"It's not how long can we stay," Damien said as he sat down next to his team, "It's how long are we're going to stay. We're not going back out there until the storm clears."
"Agreed." Matt said.
"I second that." Steven said.
"Fine." Jackie said.
On the United…
"What do you mean you can't reach them?" Carter asked.
"Our comms can't cut through the storm," the communications officer said, "The signal's just not strong enough, and that storm is producing heavy electromagnetic energy, we can't even pick up their life-signs through the storm."
"That's not acceptable," Carter said, "I have to make my report to Alliance Command in one hour. If I tell them that we can't get in touch with our team, they might consider them dead!"
"We're trying everything," the officer said, "Atmospheric readings suggest that storm will die sometime tomorrow, but until then, we can't get anything from them."
Carter let out a heavy exhale, "Tomorrow, I'll lead the away team," he said, "In the meantime, keep trying!"
Back in the cave…
Steven had just managed to get the fire going as Damien pulled out the large pot he carried around while Jackie, Lara, and Matt pulled out their field rations.
"What combination should we try this time?" Matt asked.
"Let's go with the creamed corn, and the spam." Damien said.
As Jackie cut the spam, Lara opened the can of creamed corn, and poured it into the pot.
After Jackie had cut the spam, she tossed them into the pot with the creamed corn, "You think they'd give us something good to eat nowadays rather than these MREs that the military has left over." She said.
"Yea," Damien said, "How far away from our objective do you think we are?"
"I don't know," Matt said, "But I don't think that's the key issue right now."
"I know that," Damien said, "But if Gaeko is here, then he's not only trying to kill us, that means he's probably trying to find the energy source as well."
"How do you figure that?" Lara asked.
"Because it makes sense," Damien said, "The Serpent Empire is all about power, and an energy source like this? Unknown or not, if I were an evil emperor, then sending someone who was humiliated by a group of five teenagers and three Power Ranger Veterans would be a win-win situation. If Gaeko succeeds, he regains his honor, and the Emperor gets a new power source. If Gaeko loses, then he's gone, and he doesn't have to be heard from again."
"I can see why that would be a victory either way," Matt said, "The Emperor must see Gaeko as a liability, if he can't defeat us, then what good is he? But if he does, then he's useful again."
"Yep," Damien said, "I wonder what the United is doing."
Back on the United, Carter was giving his report to Alliance Command…
"They said they came under fire from Gaeko," Carter said, "The same Serpent Empire Lieutenant that wounded Sergeant Winters three years ago on Evacuation-Day. There were more readings of weapon's fire, then of severe atmospheric anomalies, and then we lost their signals in the storm."
"Any word from them sense?" Commander Cruger asked.
"No sir," Carter said, "But we haven't had much luck cutting through the storm, it's full of electromagnetic energy, and its hell on all forms of communication equipment."
"You think they're still alive?" Cruger asked.
"Yes, I do," Carter said, "Damien… Sergeant Winters is the best soldier Me, Major Collins, and Commander Tate ever trained, and the soldiers under his command are not only his best friends, but they're almost, if not just as good as he is."
"You said that storm should dissipate in one day?" Cruger asked.
"That's what our readings say." Carter said.
"You can stay, one more day following that," Cruger said, "Any longer than that, then you head back, with or without them."
"Yes sir." Carter said.
"Good," Cruger said, "Good luck Major. Cruger out."
As the screen changed to an image of the Alliance's logo, Carter put his head in his hands, and exhaled strongly, not three days after he had promoted Damien to Sergeant, and he would probably have to write a K.I.A. or M.I.A. letter to his mother.
It was then that Carter received a call from the Colony, when he answered, he saw it was Damien's mother, Maria.
"Hello Mrs. Winters," Carter said, "How are you?"
"I just wanted to check on my son," Maria said, "But I can't reach him. Is something wrong?"
Carter hesitated a little, and spoke, "I don't want you to worry about this," Carter said, "But we lost contact with your son."
"What," Maria asked, "Is he ok?"
"I can't lie to you Mrs. Winters," Carter said, "But we don't know. You son's squad stumbled across an Es'ka patrol led by the Serpent Empire Lieutenant that injured him during Evacuation-Day, then an electromagnetic storm popped up out of nowhere, and we lost all communication with the team."
"Oh my god," Maria said as she sat down on the couch in her living room.
"Mrs. Winters," Carter said, "As I said I don't want you to worry. Damien is one the best men I've ever trained, and he's with his friends. I can almost guarantee you that your son will come home exactly the same as when he left. Mrs. Winters, I'll bring your son home, you have my word."
"Thank you, Major Grayson." Maria said.
As the call cut out, Carter slammed his fist down on the conference table, it was his fault that Damien was down there, so now he had to find some way of getting him and his team back.
Back in the cave…
As the team began eating, Damien spoke, "This is terrible." He said.
"Horrific." Matt agreed.
"Disgusting." Steven said.
"You're a good cook Damien," Lara said, "But this is crap."
"Yea," Damien said, "Then again, the quality of ingredients I received just as bad as the product."
"Yea," Jackie said as a crash of thunder from outside drew their attention, "Sounds like the storm's intensifying."
"Yea," Damien said, "Shame we can't get any readings."
"Well," Steven said as he reached into his pack, and pulled out a small orb that had six slots, "I did bring this," he tossed it to Damien who caught it, and gave it a small examination.
"What is it?" Damien asked.
"Something I've been working on with Mrs. Rawlings," Steven said, "It's an atmospheric probe that you release into major storms like hurricanes and tornadoes. It's light, aerodynamic, and it's covered in an inch of the same material they use for beach balls."
"How do you activate it?" Damien asked.
"Simple," Steven said, "Press on any one of those slots, and throw it in."
"That's it?" Damien asked.
"That's it." Steven said.
"Ok," Damien said as he stood up, "I'll be right back."
Damien walked back to the cave entrance, hit one of the slots, and gave it a toss into the storm.
As he turned, he felt his scanner going crazy, as he pulled it out of his pocket, he saw that as he pointed his energy scanner down the hall going away from the camp, the energy readings got stronger.
"Hey," Lara said as she walked up behind Damien, "What kept you?"
"Worried about your CO?" Damien asked.
"Worried because if you die, Matt takes over," Lara said, "And I'd rather have you than him as a CO."
"Look," Damien said as he pointed at the scanner, "The energy signature's coming from that direction."
"Let's get the team." Lara said.
Damien and Lara walked back to camp, "Hey guys," he said, "I think we found our objective."
"Where?" Matt asked.
"Come on," Lara said as she picked up her P-Carbine, "It's just this way."
Matt shrugged as he picked up his own P-Carbine, and followed Damien and Lara down the tunnel where the signal on their energy-scanners just got bigger and bigger as they moved further into the cave.
They soon arrived at a large, circular door, Damien waved his scanner over the door, "Whatever's giving off that energy signature is on the other side of this door," he said, "Now the question is, how do we open it?"
As he was scanning the door, he came across an indent that looked like it was meant for a human hand, and there were five others he scanned the second, but as he scanned the middle one, it glowed red as his hand got closer.
"Wow," Matt said as he walked over, "That's crazy," as he reached up to Damien's the inner-right indent glowed blue.
As Lara walked over, the one on the outer-left glowed pink, Steven walked over, the one on the inner-left glowed green, and when Jackie walked over, the one on the outer-right glowed yellow.
"It's mean for the right hand," Damien said as he slowly raised his hand to the indent which glowed bright and brighter red as he reached for it, when his hand touched it, it felt warm to the touch.
Matt placed his hand against the one that glowed blue, Steven placed his hand against the one that glowed green, Jackie against the one that glowed yellow, and finally Lara placed her hand against the one that glowed pink.
The door shook and started to lift which caused the team to ready their P-Carbines, when the door fully opened, a small light appeared on the ceiling above them in the form of a swirling ball of energy.
"What's that?" Lara asked.
"Looks like some kind of luminescent gas compound," Damien said before he saw something in the center of the room.
In the center of the room was a spherical astrolabe that appeared to have pure space in the center, and surrounding the astrolabe were five pedestals, and on them were five spherical objects colored red, blue, green, yellow, and pink.
As they approached, Damien could have sworn they got brighter as they approached.
"What are they?" Lara asked.
Steven pulled a small device out of his pocket that looked like an ear-thermometer, and placed it against his, when it beeped he looked at the readout with disbelief, "That's can't be physically possible," he said, "They're diamonds."
"Diamonds," Damien asked, "But they're almost perfectly spherical."
"That's not the weirdest part," Steven said, "According to the carbon-dating, they've been sitting here for at least two thousand years."
"That's not possible," Damien said, "Jewelers are still trying to make perfect cuts like this today, and even on big gems like these, they've not this accurate."
"Think they're worth anything?" Matt asked.
"I don't know," Damien said, "But what are they doing here," as he reached down to pick it up, it glowed brighter and brighter.
As he picked it up, it was like Damien was holding a lightbulb.
As Matt, Steven, Jackie, and Lara picked the ones in front of them up, the astrolabe in the center suddenly bathed them in a different color of light, and started spinning faster and faster before releasing a huge burst of energy.
The burst of energy threw the five of them backwards, where upon landing, they each glowed a different color before the diamonds that they were still holding onto disappeared into their hands.
Guess what happens next…