Part 8 – Green with Envy…
A small cargo vessel in deep space…
Five Es'ka walked down the aisle of a long carrier ship, their Serpent-Stings were fixed on rapid-fire.
Children huddled in the corner with their parents shielding them from the Es'ka who could at any moment turn their weapons on them.
"Ordersss from command," the Sergeant Es'ka said, "We are to take thisss ssship back to Earth, with the civilians inssside."
Before the Es'ka the Sergeant was talking to could speak there was the sound of banging on the roof above them.
"What wasss that," The Es'ka asked as she aimed her Serpents-Sting toward the ceiling.
"They've come to ressscue the humansss." the Sergeant said.
The doors then flung open, and Damien, Matt, Jackie, and Lara jumped into the ship wearing their Ranger armor.
Before the first Es'ka could open fire, Damien dropped the Sergeant standing next to her, causing her to get distracted long enough for Jackie to drop her like a stone.
Lara fired and dropped one of the Es'kas right as they reached for one of the kids.
Matt fired at the forth which staggered back into the vacuum that opened up and was sucked out into space.
The final Es'ka got one shot off, but it was high and off-target.
The four Rangers then fired all their lasers at once, nailing the Es'ka in the chest at the same time.
As the Es'ka went flying backward, the simulation froze and normal gravity to return to the training room.
"Forgive my mentioning of it Sergeant," Carter said as he walked through the door into the vessel, "But I'm pretty sure Mrs. Rawlings warned you about shooting the same target with your Prehenderats."
"She did Major," Damien said as he walked up to his CO before saying, "Power down," the armor on the four rangers disappeared as Carter handed Damien the tablet containing his team's score, "I remember her exact words were 'don't cross the streams'."
"As I recall that was primarily for when we were using our P-Carbines," Matt said as he walked up to Damien, "How'd we do Sarge?"
"A−," Damien said, "Not bad, but still not good enough," as the team walked out of the simulators and towards the ops center Damien kept talking, "One of those Es'ka could have grabbed one of the kids, and threatened to throw them out of the ship."
"You'd probably do a lot better if your whole team was here," Carter said.
"I know sir, I know," Damien said as they walked into the ops center.
"Officer on deck!" one of the soldiers exclaimed.
As the soldiers shot into attention, Carter raised his hand, "At ease everyone," he said.
As they entered Carter's office, Damien spoke, "But, Major, I know that Steve is a hard worker when he needs to be."
"I know that as well Sergeant Winters," Carter said as they both sat at his desk, "I, however, would like to remind you that this a military operation, not a high-school drill team. You lead your men well Sergeant, but you need all five members of your team to be in it one hundred percent of the time not when it's convenient for them."
"I understand Major," Damien said, "I'll try my best to improve on that."
"See that you do," Carter said, "Your team is building publicity with the colony, but no social points with Colonial Defense."
"Then it shouldn't surprise you Major that I couldn't give a hundredth of a damn about what Colonial Defense thinks of my team or the Alliance," Damien said, "They're glorified police officers who are too busy playing soldier to actually protect the colony."
"Not very flattering to say about the division your father works," Carter said.
"My father works there because he wants to distance himself further and further from me, my mother, and my sister," Damien said, "He said the only reason he took that job was to spend more time with us, but the exact opposite happened."
"Interesting deduction Sergeant," Carter said, "Right now though, speculation is the last thing we need," he then pointed his thumb upwards toward the ceiling, "Because right now, five floors above us, General Kruger of the SPD Security Branch is having an all-out yelling match with your father over that astrolabe."
"Colonial Defense has no authority over the Alliance," Damien said, "That astrolabe is top secret, only a handful of people know that it physically exists. My team, the away team that went with you to get us when we got our powers, and the heads of the Alliance. He's not at liberty to know about it, and what he's asking is for all practical purposes to asking about government secrets. Which according to several clauses introduced in the Statement of Unity which was ratified a month and a half ago states is illegal."
"There's a technicality in that," Carter said, "He doesn't know what the astrolabe is, which is what General Kruger is trying to sell your father on. If he buys it, then it gives us time to figure out what the astrolabe is, and how to use it."
"That's a fair point Major," Damien said, "Until then we need to figure out how to do our job without outside intervention from Colonial Defense."
"That might be a bit difficult," Carter said, "Colonial Defense is still charged with defending the colony. Until we can get it through their thick skulls that they're in-over-their-heads when it comes to the Es'ka Lieutenants."
"Trust me, Major, I know my father, he believes he can conquer anything," Damien said, "And he'll continue to think so until something horrible happens."
"Any examples you can think of?" Carter asked.
"He believed that the soldiers at the base which he was the Executive Officer of should work ten-hour shifts," Damien said, "Despite the protests, he didn't change the policy. He was corrected on his theory when a soldier fell asleep in the machine shop and caused an explosion that killed not only the one that fell asleep but four others, caused the others to receive an honorable discharge, and he received disciplinary actions."
"Which is something I might have to consider soon," Carter said.
"Sir?" Damien asked.
"We might have gotten off topic Damien, but don't think I was distracted by the topic that was first proposed," Carter said, "Steven has yet to show up for a workout. if he were in the actual military, he would have already been reprimanded. I gave him some leeway to clean up his act because of his status as a Ranger. But I'm getting grief from the Brass, if he doesn't start to act like a soldier, then I'm going to have to have him disciplined."
Steven's dream that night was one that would probably give any man a small smile.
He was working as a gondolier in Venice, Italy, as he traveled down the canals, serenading the girl in the gondola in front of him.
She was dressed in a knee-length white sundress and had on a large, white sunhat.
The lady turned around, but right before he could see her face, the sound of his alarm going off caused him to jolt awake.
He sat up as fast as he could and banged his head on the shelf over his bed.
As he reached up and rubbed his forehead, he looked at his clock, it was about 9:00 A.M., he knew he was late, but when you're a Ranger you should get a little leeway.
Walking downstairs, Steven was greeted by his Mother who was wide awake, cleaning the house, "Morning mom." He said.
"Hello Steven," Loren said as she looked up to see him, "Good to see you awake."
"Are there any messages for me?" Steven asked.
"One," Loren said, "From Damien saying to get down to the station as fast as you can."
As Steven put on his uniform and walked to the tram station where upon entering, he found a seat near the entrance.
It would be another few stops before he arrived at the base, the first stop the train went to, a young lady about Steven's age stepped onto the train, she wore a black skirt, black high-heels, and a white blouse.
"Is anybody sitting here," she asked as she walked up to Steven.
"No," Steven said as he motioned toward the seat, "Please."
"You're Alliance aren't you," she asked.
"Yes," Steven said before holding out his hand, "Steve Malone, but you can call me Steven."
"I'm Mandy," she said as she held out her hand, "Mandy Linnell."
"What brings you to this train?" Steven asked.
"I work at the City Library," Mandy said, "I work in the records vault.
"Amazing position," Steven said.
For the next couple stops, they talked about everything, music, movies, and everything else. The next to last stop before Steven had to leave, a young male about Steven and Mandy's age stepped onto the train, "Mandy," he said as he sat next to her.
"Hello Scotty," Mandy said as she kissed him on the cheek before turning her attention to Steven, "Steven, this is Scott, my boyfriend."
"Nice to meet you," Scott said.
"Likewise," Steven said as he shook Scott's hand, "If you'll excuse me, I have to use the bathroom."
Steven walked to the restroom, and once he was inside, he leaned his head against the wall, he found a girl he liked and found out she had a boyfriend. Some people have the worst luck.
As soon as the next stop appeared, Steven stepped off, not knowing that Mandy was watching him
As he walked down the steps, he saw the base off in the distance, and as he walked up, Matt, Jackie, and Lara were standing outside waiting for him.
"Hey guys," he said as he walked up to them to see the impatient look on their faces, "What?"
"You're late," Matt said, "And both Damien and Major Grayson are pissed."
"Why isn't Damien her to tell me," Steven asked.
"He received a call a half hour after the simulation from Kit Acklin," Matt said, "That Colonial Defense officer that stopped us the other day. Said he wanted to meet and talk so Damien decided to go alone."
Damien met up with Kit in a local café where Kit had waiting for them, having already ordered them coffee, "Kit," Damien said as he approached their table, "Good to see you."
"You too," Kit said as he ushered toward the table, "Please, sit."
"Alright Kit," Damien said as he took a sip of the coffee that they ordered, "Why the meeting?"
"To warn you," Kit said, "Your father went to the governor, today. He's getting a subpoena to call Supreme Commander Kruger in front of a judiciary board to answer questions about this thing he heard WarMachine talking about a few days ago."
"Which means we have to get that thing out of the colony," Damien said.
"Yes," Kit said, "And probably get those Rangers off the planet as well."
"Good idea," Damien said before leaning across the table, "You're risking your career telling me this, why?"
"I believe those Rangers can do some good here," Kit said, "And I know that you're on the support team."
"You seem to be the only one," Damien said.
"Untrue," Kit said, "There are many of us who think the same way."
"Think you can pick out the ones that won't blab to my father?" Damien asked.
"I work with them," Kit said, "We report for Alliance duty by…"
"No," Damien said, "We can't risk that. But we could use a few spies."
"You want us to spy on Colonial Defense for the Alliance," Kit asked.
"We need them," Damien said, "Just have your friends keep tabs on what my father is planning, have them report it to you, and you pass them on to me," Damien held out his hand, "What do you say?"
"I'd say you've yourself a spy, Sergeant," Kit said as he shook Damien's hand, "Now let's go before we arouse suspicion."
As they left, Damien spoke, "You know Kit, this could very well be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
"Yep," Kit said as he turned toward Kit, "See you soon, friend."
Damien and Kit walked in opposite directions, when Damien arrived back at base, Steven was the first to greet him, "Damien, what's this I hear about you being angry?" He asked.
"Not now," Damien said as he walked to the lift where the rest of his group followed him, "We have a problem."
"What kind of problem," Steven asked.
"Two words," Damien said, "My father."
Damien and his team walked to Carter's office where upon hitting the chine button, there was an answer over the intercom, "Come in."
Damien and his team walked into Carter's office where he was talking to Chad Lee, the Alliance's Martial Arts Instructor.
"Captain Lee," Damien said as he saluted the Blue Lightspeed Ranger, "Good to see you sir."
"You too Sergeant," Chad said, "Me and Major Grayson were just wrapping up," he then turned back to Carter, "I'm due at the training grounds."
Carter grabbed Chad's outstretched hand, "Alright," Carter said, "See you," as Chad left, Carter looked at Damien, "Stand at ease Sergeant," Carter then noticed the look on Damien's face, "Something wrong, Sergeant?"
"Yes sir," Damien said, "As you're aware I was contacted by a young man by the name of Kit Acklin who works in Colonial Defense," Damien sat down in front of Carter's desk, "Good news first, Kit has agreed to pass on any information about my father's activities directly to me. We now have a spy in Colonial Defense."
"Good," Carter said, "The more we know, the better."
"Now the bad news sir," Damien said, "My father went to the Colonial Governor. He's issuing Supreme Commander Kruger a subpoena to talk about the astrolabe."
Carter slammed his fist onto the table, "Damn," he cursed, "Man's become an even more a threat to The Alliance than we thought."
"Sir," Damien said, "I was wondering actually. What if the astrolabe wasn't on the colony when Commander Kruger is at the judicial hearing?"
"You're thinking on your feet now Sergeant," Carter said, "Take it away for a few days for testing? Maybe some training exercises?"
"We're going to need to find a pretty remote place." Damien said.
"You let me take care of that," Carter said, "You prep the astrolabe for off-world transport."
Earth…
"I knew WarMachine was worthless," the Serpent Emperor said, "No surprise there."
"Then you sssent him asss cannon-fodder?" Gaeko asked.
"Yes," the Emperor said, "To test these Rangers. Now that they have their weapons they're even more dangerous," the ball in the Emperor's hand began to glow, "The astrolabe is on the move, probably the humans are going to study it. Gaeko, follow them in the Jörmungandr, and bring it back."
"Yesss, my lord," Gaeko said, "And might I sssuggest sssending along sssome backup?"
"Of course," the Emperor said, "Snake-Charmer, summon another, someone that can handle himself."
"Yesss, my lord," Snake-Charmer said as he raised his Pungi to his lips, and played a small melancholy tune.
What rose out of the pit was a serpent-like humanoid that looked like what would happen if Naja and Stingerella had a daughter.
She had her mother's body texture with her father's face and color scheme.
As she rose out of the pit, she moved very seductively, almost trying to seduce the Emperor, "My Emppperorrrr," she said in an almost purring voice like a cat.
"Hello Illustria," the Emperor said, "Welcome back."
"My lllord," Ilustria said, "What is thy bidding?"
"The Rangers have been reborn," the Emperor said, "And they have the Astrolabe."
"The astrrrolabe," Ilustria asked, "Werrre are they taking it?"
"Somewhere," the Emperor said, "You will go with Gaeko in the Jörmungandr, and follow them."
"Yes my lllord," Ilustria said, "Can I make just one request?"
"Anything," the Emperor said.
Ilustria reached back into the pit, and retrieved what appeared to be an umbrella, when she unfolded it however, it was large, made of snake skin, and had a serrated edge that ran along the edge of the umbrella.
"Would you be so kind as to escort a lady," Ilustria said as he held her arm out to Gaeko's friend, the Sergeant Es'ka standing next to Gaeko.
"Of course," the Sergeant Es'ka said as he held out his arm.
Guess what happens next…