Part 11 – Streak of Blue – Part 1
A slow warm heat crept over the colony as the team sat on the edge of the colony, and watched as the sun sank over the horizon.
Damien's team, however, didn't get a chance to enjoy the gentle heat on what would usually be their area of Mirinoi's colder temperature because they were busy in the simulator in Alliance Headquarters.
"Steady as she goes Lara," Damien said as he sat in the shuttle's command chair, next to Lara on the viewscreen was a large asteroid field.
Lara concentrated as she slowly navigated the field in front of them, "I've found a way through here," Matt said as he turned toward Damien.
"Good work Corporal," Damien said as he typed the course correction into the computer, "Lara, see if you can follow this course."
"Making the course correction," Lara said as she input the course into the shuttle's navi-computer.
"Sir," Steven said, "I'm detecting clear space ahead."
"Scan for any ships," Damien said, "I don't want to be surprised when we exit the field."
"Commencing scan now," Steven said, "Nothing so far sir."
"United to Shuttle Libra," Carter said over the radio, "How's it going out there?"
"Very good sir," Damien said, "Observation complete."
"We'll be waiting for you back on the United," Carter said.
"Sir," Steven said, "I'm getting a reading, looks like we have company."
"Details Steven," Damien said as he prepared the weapon systems.
"Two Serpent Shuttles," Steven said, "Coming right up on our six."
"Raising shield," Damien said as he raised the shields, "Matt, standby on weapons."
"Weapons ready," Matt said, "Ready for your command."
"Matt, you don't my command to defend yourself," Damien said.
"Shuttles closing," Steven said, "They're powering up weapons."
"Engaging," Matt said as he aimed the turrets on top toward the shuttles, and fired several shots which struck the front of the left shuttle, and caused it to explode.
"One shuttle down," Steven said, "The other one is about to fire. Brace for impact!"
The Serpent shuttle behind them fired two bolts at them which struck the back of the shuttle, rocking it like a boat in a hurricane, "Report," Damien said.
"Shields down to 42% Sergeant," Steven said, "Their weapons are powerful."
"Matt, finish that bastard," Damien said.
Matt aimed at the shuttle, but the shot missed, and struck an asteroid, "I missed, sir." He said.
"They're powering weapons again," Steven said.
"Firing again," Matt said as he fired once more, but only grazed the top of the shuttle.
The shuttle fired back, and hit the team's transport, "Shields are gone sir," Steven said, "We can't take another hit like that."
"Matt hit that freak," Damien exclaimed.
"Working on it," Matt said as he made some adjustments to the cannon, "Firing."
The shot that came out of the cannon was more like a physical torpedo that attached to three asteroids, and as the Serpent's shuttle approached, three laser-wires appeared, and sliced the shuttle apart, "Shuttle's been destroyed sir," Steven said.
The shuttle cleared the asteroid field and flew toward the United.
Right as they were approaching, the simulation ended, and the team fell out of their seating positions onto the floor, "Well done Rangers," Carter said as he entered, "I'd say you've earned an A- on that one."
"At least it's an A sir," Damien said as he sat up, "But do you think we could adjust the simulator so that it drops on our feet, and not our butts?"
"I'll check into that," Carter said as the Rangers stood up, "And make no mistake Rangers, just because we haven't heard from the Serpent Empire in a few days doesn't mean that we can rest easy."
"We know, sir," Damien said, "We'll keep at it."
"Good," Carter said, "Right now, we have an assignment. I'll see you in the Science Lab in thirty minutes, I have to make my report to Cruger."
"Yes sir," Damien said as the team saluted him.
Back on Earth…
"It was then that the serrrgeant jumped in frrront of me, and saved my life," Ilustria said.
"Is that true, Sergeant," the Emperor asked.
"Yesss, my Emperor," the Sergeant Es'ka said, "I couldn't ssstand the idea of her getting hurt."
"Very good," the Emperor said, "You have my thanks. For saving one who is very close to me. Charmer."
The Snake-Charmer glided up the stairs to stand in front of the Emperor and spoke, "Yesss, my Emperor?"
"See to it that the Sergeant is adequately rewarded," the Emperor said, "And summon another one of our minions."
"Yesss, my Emperor," the Snake-Charmer said as he glided back down the stairs, raised his Pungi to his lips, and blew three notes low, one high, and one heavily pitched.
A very heavily scaled yellow and black splotched webbed hand with sharp claws rose from the pit, grabbed onto the edge, and out of the pit arose a seven-foot yellow and black splotched humanoid reptile with yellow serpent eyes, robust muscles, and exposed razor-sharp teeth.
"My Eeempeeeror," the hulking reptile said as he knelt in front of the Emperor, his voice had a very subtle hiss, like an alligator or crocodile when they're annoyed, or angry.
This hulking reptile easily dwarfed Gaeko, the Sergeant Es'ka, and Ilustira, even though the Es'ka weren't considered to be the smartest tools in the shed, the Sergeant Es'ka knew that this one could easily crush them without so much as a second thought.
"Welcome Cayman," the Emperor said, "It's been a long time."
"Too long, my lieeege," Cayman said, "What is thy biiidding?"
"The Rangers have the astrolabe," the Emperor said as he gestured toward Gaeko, "You will follow Gaeko and Ilustria's lead. Destroy the Rangers, and bring me the Astrolabe."
"Yes, my Eeemperor," Cayman said.
Cayman stood up, and walked over to Gaeko and Ilustria, "Where are weee going," he asked.
"Thisss way," Gaeko said.
As Caymen walked out of the room, the Sergeant Es'ka turned to face him, "What arrre you thinking," Ilustria asked.
"I don't like thisss guy," the Sergeant said as he turned towards her, and put his hand on her shoulder, "Keep your guard up around him. He'sss dangerousss."
Mirinoi…
"Sorry I'm late," Carter said as he entered the lab, "What'd I miss?"
"Not much," Eric said as he was talking about the holographic controller on Steven's arm, "I just finished explaining the device," he let go of Steven's arm, and walked over to the Astrolabe, "When the device became part of Steven's powers, a small blip appeared on the Astrolabe. After doing some plotting, I discovered that the blip was right on the planet we were on. It was then I did a search on heavy energy, discovered it was right on top of Steven's location, and discovered what the Astrolabe is for."
"It's to help us locate lost sources of Power isn't it," Damien asked.
"Exactly, Damien," Eric said, "The Astrolabe will point us toward powers that were lost during the battle all five of your recounted when you first got your powers. It might be possible that if we continue to monitor the astrolabe, more sources of power will be revealed."
"So if we find a use for something new, we assimilate it," Matt asked, "Like what Steven did with the holographic generator?"
"In theory," Eric said, "But so far, none of you have inherited the holographic generator like Steven has. That leads me to believe that you will unlock items that are unique to your powers."
"Like now," Damien asked as he pointed to the astrolabe where a single blip appeared.
Eric looked at the map, and saw that there was a star appearing on the map, "Yes," he said as he quickly pulled a small notebook out of his lab coat, and began writing down some basic equations.
"Eric," Damien said as he put his hand on Eric's shoulder, "Isn't there an easier way to locate the power," he then turned Eric's attention to the console that pointed them towards their powers in the first place.
"Oh," Eric said as he stopped the equation, "Right, right," Eric walked over to the console, and started scanning for the energy, "I found it."
"Where?" Damien and Carter asked at the same time.
"Located in Sector 8-B, planet BB6-O4," Eric said, "Coordinates Seventy Two Degrees North, One Hundred and Twelve Degrees West," he then looked at one of his subordinates, "Give me those coordinates on that planet!"
The scientist quickly typed the coordinates into the computer, and found the location, "This can't be right," he said, "It's right in the middle of a desert."
The team walked over to see the planet where the Astrolabe said their next upgrade was located, it was a very humid, but desert planet with some moderate vegetation growth around the equator.
"Regardless it's worth a look, and it's only a two-day trip to the planet," Carter said as he walked down to the ground floor of the scientific room, "Team, go home, pack a bag, kiss your family goodbye, we leave tonight," he then pointed at the Astrolabe, "And we're bringing that thing with us."
As the team went home, Matt was packing up his clothes when Eric came into the room.
"Hello, Matt," Eric said as he jumped on his big brother's back while he was packing.
Matt stumbled a little bit before swinging his brother around on his back, and then lining up with the bed, "Oh no, I tripped," he said as he fell backwards, and nearly crushed his brother.
"Come on," Eric said with a chuckle, "Get off. Where are you going?"
"I have to leave for a few days," Matt said as he sat next to his brother, "The Rangers are going on a patrol of a distant system. As the backup team, it's up to us to help them."
"But what about my school career day," Eric said, partly pouting.
"Come on," Matt said as he put his hand on Eric's shoulder, "Look, your school's career day is one week from today. The planet we're going to is a two-day trip, two days there, one day on the planet, and two days back. That's not even a whole week. I promise I'll be back before then," he then turned Eric to face him, "And then, how about after career day, I take you to meet the Rangers?"
"You can do that," Eric asked.
"We're the Ranger's backup team," Matt said, "I'm sure I can swing it."
As the team departed for the Spaceport, Matt was speaking to Carter about Eric meeting the Rangers.
"You know that out-of-costume is out of the question," Carter said, "You can tell your brother that he can meet them, but on my terms."
"He'll be very happy with that one," Matt said, "You're the best, Major."
On the Jörmungandr…
The sound of an engine thundered through the halls as Gaeko sat in the commander's chair on the bridge of the ship as it snaked its way through the stars.
"Sssergeant," Gaeko said.
"Sssearching now, sssir," the Sergeant Es'ka said as he input a few commands into his console, the console scanned every deck of the ship for that noise before pinpointing the source, "I've got it, sssir. It'sss coming from the cargo hold."
The Sergeant Es'ka and Gaeko walked to the cargo hold where upon opening the door they found Cayman doing laps on a motorcycle that had high-hanging handlebars, a low seat, very wide wheels, and a custom front-fender that looked like an angry alligator around the containers that held the food for the entire ship.
As soon as he saw them, he came to an abrupt stop in front of the two of them, by planting the front wheel firmly into the ground, causing the back wheel to lift up "Whaaat's up," he asked.
"What isss that thing," Gaeko asked.
"Thiiis iiis my riiideee," Cayman said, "Tweeelveee huuundreeed horseee poweeer, laseeer proof metal, aaand hiiigh teeech offeeensiveee weeeaaapons," Cayman hit a button on the right handlebar, and a series of lasers came flying from the eyes of the fender of his motorcycle.
"Thisss isss," Gaeko began.
"Brilliant," the Sergeant Es'ka said, "Thisss isss exactly the kind of thing the Rangersss won't be expecting."
What do you think…
*Hey guys, sorry it's been so long, school, work, family, and laziness has been all the factors as to why I haven't updated anything. Now with me about to graduate college, and looking for a job, I please ask your understanding if I don't update for a while…