In the depths of space, a lone spacecraft could be seen drifting through the vast sea of darkness, the stars all around twinkling in the sea of black, the ship adrift with nobody at the controls. It was like the vessel was devoid of life.
Inside of the cockpit of the Valkyrie Shuttle, the lone occupant onboard seemed to lay on the floor of the vessel, unmoving and unresponsive. Electrical wires, cables, lights, and other such parts were scattered across the floor, hanging from the roof and the walls, and many of the ship's control screens were broken and/or destroyed. Some computers all seem to be silent and the screens gone dark.
However, one screen seemed to flash the words 'REBOOT', just as some of the buttons began to light up, the switches all setting themselves up, the interior lights all blinking back to life. Sure enough, all seems to come back to life, but at the same time, some systems did not seem to come back in operation.
The occupant in the captain's seat eventually regains his consciousness after what had just happened. Braedey now shook his head, groaning in slight pain, and looked around, his vision being slightly blurry to begin with, but after shaking his head a little, his eyesight cleared up.
"Man, that was a bit of a ride..." Braedey grunted and he shook his head, regaining his equilibrium. He then takes a look at what was out beyond the windows of the Space Shuttle. He could see different stars and formations out there, as well as nebula clouds in the distance. "Huh. So strange..." she checks out a star-map next to him, but as he does so, he saw no sign of any formations that are even recognisable. "Weird... there's nothing out there that matches any of my star-maps here. None of the stars from Earth's galaxy, or even from Cybertron's star systems even match these." He goes and puts away the star-map charts. "Okay, Braedey. Calm down. Let's just concentrate on something else for now. Focus on the communication system, then figure out where you are."
Braedey goes and removes his harness straps and unbuckles from his seat, the zero gravity still there as he floats out of his seat. He makes his way over to the Comms section of the cockpit, immediately getting to work on the circuit and microprocessors. So far, there is some light damage that can be fixed, as well as some minor damage on other microprocessors. Luckily, he gets some spare parts and gets them fixed up and plugged in, all systems looking to be operational.
"Okay. Let's check the Comms." Braedey gets on the headset. "Braedey Martin to Cape Canaveral. Come in, Cape Canaveral." But all he can hear on the Comms is static. "Cape Canaveral, do you copy?" Again, there is only static. "Alright... let's try Cybertron Command. If I can't reach Earth, I'll try Cybertron. They can relay information back to Earth." He goes and he tunes the Comms to Cybertronian code. "Transformatrix to Cybertron Command. Come in, please." Again, all he can hear on Comms is static. "Cybertron Command, come in. Do you read me?" Again, only static. "Cybertron, this is Braedey Martin calling. Please respond. Do you copy?" Again, there is only static. Braedey looks away from the Comms. "Why don't they answer?" He questioned in concern.
Braedey goes ahead and he goes to check on the main systems, now seeing two of the three engines are not working. On top of that, Energon reserves are down to a minimal amount, while the main containers that contain Energon have not ruptured, and it looks as though there's no readings that's coming from the Spacebridge Engine. He then had to consider whether or not if there's any more damage sustained from the launch into space.
"Okay. If I can't get any Comms out, I'll go ahead and use the S.O.S beacon." Braedey now made his way back over to the main control panel, and he pushes a rectangular button that reads 'S.O.S'. In response, it flashes in Morse Code. "Let's just hope someone is out there that'll pick up the beacon." He said to himself in hope.
Outside of the Shuttle, a lone antenna sticks up out of the roof of the Shuttle, the tip of the antenna blinking red in Morse code...
A far distance away, a paramilitary-like spacecraft was making its way through this sector of space as if it's on patrol for some reason. Its engine rumbles along as it powers along through the starry atmosphere.
The ship itself is decorated with the colours of purple, green and white. It is designed like a rocket ship, with a pointed bow and round shape. On the side of the ship is a number 42 embossed in blue and surrounded by an emblem to help tell it apart from its brethren. The emblem has a silver rocket with the blue silhouette of Saturn behind it, as well as a pair of angelic wings. It has a pair of retractable purple wings either side of the ship. It also possesses four fins attached to the stern that are often used for VTVL.
Onboard the vessel, known as Starcruiser 42, happens to be a group of four individuals, the four of them wearing green and white spacesuit uniforms, all of them being one of the greatest teams out there of the Space Ranger Corps, the para-military organisation whose main purpose is to keep the galaxy safe from criminals. They are known as Team Lightyear.
The first person of the team is a human male by the name of Buzz Lightyear. He is a brawny space ranger, at the same height as the two. His facial makes him look to be 34 years old, and he has fair skin, blue eyes, with an outline of a swirl on his chin, giving it a cleft chin, a purple headcap and collar, plus a clear space helmet with purple buttons on the sides that open or close it. The green torso consists of a light blue marking that has the words "SPACE RANGER" and a symbol of a slim rocket with two angel-like wings on both sides, purple straps connected to it, three oval buttons - one blue, one green, and one red, a yellow badge that says "LIGHTYEAR" above a red button. On the back, it has a white jetpack with a purple value and green triangular accents. The white arms have grey circular elbows and matching spheres on the end of that upper arms with black rings on it. His hands have purple lines on the knuckles and fingertips and green squares on the back of each. The right arm has a red button on the upper arm, and a red laser on his right wrist. The left arm has the same symbol on the chest on the upper arm, and a wrist communicator on the left wrist. A black bending with a thin green waist. The white spaceman pants have matching collars at the bottom and gray spheres behind the knees and holds the white shoes with green toe accents and purple soles.
The second person is an alien girl name Mira Nova, a young female Tangean. She has long red hair, streaked with a paler reddish-orange, and a blue skin complexion. She has large blue eyes and a shapely curvy form. She has on the standard issue Pulsar-400 Enviro-Suit, the standard armour all Space Rangers wear as primary uniform.
The second individual is an alien male known as a Jo-Adian named Booster. He is physically strong and can easily break things apart with his brute strength. Like most Jo-Adians, he has red skin with large scaly patterns on his back, pink eyes, and large yellow teeth that sometimes protrude from his lower lip. He has four fingers, and two toes. Unlike other Space Rangers, his suit has giant rockets instead of wings for a jetpack, and is probably the biggest to date at Star Command.
The last member of their team happens to be the only robot amongst their group, by the name of XR, otherwise known as X-perimental Ranger. He is a small robot sporting Star Command's colours of purple, green, white, and the Star Command logo on his chassis. He has a disembodied gold/bronze-coloured head with yellow optics, encased purple circles and green eyelids. He possesses short arms and legs which can stretch out to any length. He also has continuous treads encased in green feet and has a pair of purple hands. His head is surrounded by an oval glass dome.
"Alright, team. This has been a successful patrol of the Foxtrot Quadrant." Buzz announced to his team. "All seems perfect and no sign of abnormalities to report. A perfect day's work without any problems whatsoever to add for the report."
"Definitely going to be worth it with less paperwork." Mira joked.
"You know what would be better?" XR questioned sarcastically. "Maybe just spend time doing nothing."
"Oh, don't be like that, XR." Booster said back to his robotic buddy. "Doing these patrols lets us see the sights and enjoy the scenery."
"Oh, yeah. Sure. That's nice." XR remarked back sardonically with a roll of his eyes. "Yeah. Looking at nothing but space dust and weird blobs and shapes out there..."
"Those 'blobs' as you call them, are nebulas. XR." Mira reminded casually and matter-of-fact at XR. "But you have to admit, it is very nice to see out there."
"Very truthful, Mira." Buzz acknowledged, then checks the time currently. "But it be best for us to return back to Star Command post-haste before the Commander reprimands us." He advised to his team. But then, an emergency alarm goes off, immediately putting all of Team Lightyear on edge. "What have we got, Booster?" Buzz asked immediately to his a Jo-Adian teammate.
"It's an S.O.S emergency beacon, here in the Foxtrot Quadrant." Booster reported in. "It's about 200 klicks in an Easterly direction from our position, Buzz."
"Who, or even why, in anyone's right mind, would even want to travel out here to the Foxtrot Quadrant, the most dull and boring part of the universe?" XR asked aloud at this.
"Never mind on the who and why, XR. It's an S.O.S, and we are going to answer it." Buzz announced. "Any idea of what we're dealing with?" He asked to Booster.
"The ship's computer isn't able to make heads or tails on what we are dealing with." Booster replied back to Buzz. "Can't determine if it's a civilian, military, or even experimental or hostile."
"Alright, people. Keep your eyes open and sharp for whatever happens." Buzz announced. "Mira, lock on coordinates and lets me on our way."
"Yes, Buzz." Mira replied confidently, then she adjusts her controls, and Starcruiser 42 immediately rockets off to the rescue. "We'll be there in a few moments."
Within just a few short moments after getting the S.O.S message, Starcruiser 42 arrived on the scene where the emergency signal was coming from. As Buzz and his crew now take a look, they now spotted a blue unknown spaceship of some kind, one sporting a slender form with a delta-wing formation, with three engines mounted in the rear below the tall rudder and tail-fin, as well as the name 'Valkyrie' on the wings and fuselage, plus an angular metallic face symbol on the other wing.
"What a strange ship." Booster commented. "I don't recognise the design. And the computer is not getting any matches to the Star Command database."
"Seems as though we've got ourselves an unidentified flying object." Buzz deduced. He then saw the name on the vessel's body and wing. "Valkyrie... what a fitting name." He mused.
"I'm getting a life sign." Mira now reported in, Buzz looking over to her. "Just one life-form on the bridge of that ship."
"Only one? For a vessel of that size, it could take up to possibly the same number or six more members at bay of our Starcruiser." Booster commented in curiosity.
"Maybe it was on autopilot mode?" XR suggested. "But again, who, or even why, in anyone's right mind would even want to travel to the most dull and boring part of the universe that is the Foxtrot Quadrant?" He asks aloud.
"No time for sarcasm, XR. Someone had sent out an S.O.S call, and we came to answer it." Buzz declared. "Mira, prep the medical bay in case. Booster, send a Morse code message to that ship to tell them we have arrived." He began to instruct his team.
Mira immediately gets up from her seat and began to head off to the medical bay down below the bridge. Booster gets on the Comms and sends a morse code message to the vessel. A few moments go by, then what looks to be some kind of docking tunnel extends out from the port side of the Valkyrie.
"Huh. Looks as though someone rolled out the red carpet for us." XR commented.
"Alright, Rangers. Let's get hooked up and make our welcome." Buzz announced.
A few moments go by, with the brawny Space Ranger now manoeuvring Starcruiser 42 around the Valkyrie spacecraft to its port side, eventually making its way over to the docking tunnel, just as a metallic clank could be heard coming from the docking port on the Starcruiser.
"We're locked on. Docking system complete." Mira reported in. "Nice flying, Buzz."
"As always." Buzz nodded.
"This is Valkyrie Space Shuttle calling to unknown spaceship." A young male's voice called in on the radio, now getting their attention. "Can you hear me? Am I tuned in on this frequency?"
"We read you loud and clear, Valkyrie Space Shuttle." Buzz acknowledged. "Requesting permission to board and meet."
"Request confirmed. The docking tunnel is safe and pressurised for you to cross over." The occupant of the Valkyrie Shuttle answered back. "I've also hooked to your ship's life support and electrical systems. I'm been running on just the batteries right now."
"Understood. We'll be right over." Buzz acknowledged back before he gets out of his seat. "Alright, team. Let's go and meet our rescue."
Buzz, Mira, XR, and Booster now began to make their way down from the bridge to the docking tunnel. After checking the tunnel to see it's secured, Booster opens the airlock door, and Team Lightyear made their way along the docking tunnel. Once reaching the other side, Buzz knocks on the door three times. A moment later, the door unlocks with a hiss, and it begins to open. As the four Space Rangers look on, they were taken aback to see a brown-hair and blue-eye teenager standing before them, donning a white spacesuit with one logo reading NASA and the other being the same symbol as the one on the wing of the Shuttle.
"Talk about a welcoming committee." The brunette commented with a surprised expression. "Guess you folks are not from around these parts?" He asked.
"We could be asking you the same question." Buzz mused with his hands on his hips. "Don't recall ever seeing a ship of this size or design before."
"Well, you work with what you've got." The brunette male shrugged back. "By the way, don't think I've ever gotten your names. Name's Braedey Martin." He gives his name.
"Oh, of course. I am Captain Buzz Lightyear, leader of this team." Buzz introduced himself and his team. "And these are Rangers Mira Nova, XR, and Booster Munchapper. We are Space Rangers of Star Command, the para-military organisation of the Galactic Alliance."
Braedey stares on at this group of four people with a look of confusion present on his face. Space Rangers? Star Command? Galactic Alliance? What were these people even talking about? "Uh, I'm afraid I don't understand." Braedey said to them. "I don't recall any kind of group under that designation from where I come from."
"What do you mean?" Booster now inquired in surprise. "Star Command is the most important part of the Galactic Alliance, for they protect the galaxy from the threats of any evil that intend to attack and cause any disbalance in the universe." He proclaimed.
Braedey looks on in curiosity. "Huh. Have you ever considered taking a position in politics?" He mused.
Buzz looked to Booster. "Outstanding as always, Booster." He commended.
"Oh. Thanks, Buzz." Booster gushed.
XR now rolls up forward and looks about the interior of the Space Shuttle. "Huh. Definitely more compact and not as heavily engineered as that of our Starcruiser." He commented.
"Hey, copperhead-in-fishbowl." Braedey spoke up, stopping the little robot. "Did I say you could even come in?"
"Excuse me? Did you hurt call me copperhead-in-fishbowl? Why I ought to take a socket wrench and give you-" XR was cut off when Booster pulled him back and even pushes a mute button on him, XR yelling out but it was silent.
"So you say that you don't know anything about the Galactic Alliance, or about Star Command at all?" Buzz questioned to Braedey.
"To be honest, I don't even know where I am right now." Braedey clarified. "None of my star-maps match to what I'm seeing outside of my Shuttle. My Comms can't even reach Earth, let alone Cybertron. And on top of that, nothing on my rocket is functional at this time."
Buzz, Booster, and Mira now look on at the brunette in confusion. Earth? Cybertron? They have not heard of those worlds, let alone even know of such things.
"Uh, I don't think there's a planet named Cybertron out there, as far as I know." Booster commented.
"And Earth? Don't you mean Capital Planet?" Buzz also pointed out.
"What?? What are you two even talking about?" Braedey looks on in confusion.
Mira now stepped up, Braedey taking note of her. Internally, he had to admit that she did look lovely and unique, despite the blue skin. "Let me try something." She reaches out her hand. "Now, try not to move. This could sting a little." She advised.
"What are you-" Braedey was now cut off when Mira's hand now phases into his head! "WHAT IN THE- YOUR HAND IS GOING INSIDE MY HEAD!" He yells out. He was definitely freaking out at what's going on.
"Hey, easy. This is very dangerous." Mira warned, Braedey immediately stopping in place in response. "Good. Now, let's see..." Mira's brow contracted at she appeared to be concentrating on something.
"Have you found anything, Mira?" Buzz asked.
Mira then adopted a look of confusion as she took a step back, pulling her hand out of Braedey's head. "I'm not sure." She responded. That answer apparently was unexpected from her as everyone, apart from Braedey, looked at her in confusion.
"Wha-Nothing???" Booster looks on in surprise.
XR pushes his mute button off. "Whaddya mean you don't know? You said you were the best telepath there is." He reprimanded at Mira. "How can you not read his mind?"
Braedey's eyes immediately widened at the mention of mind reading. "Whoa, wait. Mind reading? You mean you were trying to get into my thoughts without my permission when you reached your hand into my head? Talk about a violation on my privacy, lady."
In response, Mira merely huffed like it wasn't an issue. "Usually, a mind is like an open book to me. But yours is different. There's some kind of interference that prevents me from delving deeper into your mind. Though I can read what you are currently thinking about." She explained.
Braedey mentally smirked as he thanked Alpha Trion for that feature. Being the smartest being in several galaxies, you'd take telepathic species into account when designing the most powerful device in the universe. So, to prevent the effects of mind control from Psychic aliens, Alpha Trion designed the Transformatrix to block any telepathic attack that would try to take over the wielder's mind or look into their thoughts. But it would allow current thoughts or communication to be permitted should the species only speak through telepathy.
"Look, I know I only have words to go by, but I'm not the bad guy." Braedey said to them. "But I did ask for help. Can you please help me?" He asked. "My rocket doesn't function anymore, and I barely have any fuel to go anywhere."
Buzz now stepped up. "Since we did come to your rescue, we'd best take you back to Star Command with your ship so we can get some clarification on what you are and where you came from." He now suggested.
Braedey now considered the idea. He was on his own, no communication to anyone he knows, and plus, the ones who answered his S.O.S come from a para-military organisation like the Human-Autobot Alliance, and they came to his rescue. It would be a wasted trip for them to not finish their rescue mission without the one who sent out the signal. And on top of that, he has no clue where he even is, or if he's anywhere he could even recognise.
"Very well. I'll come along with you, Captain Lightyear. But I'd like my Shuttle to be taken along with." Braedey asked to Buzz.
"Of course." Buzz acknowledged as the two shook hands. "Team, let's make the preparations for towing the Valkyrie back to Star Command." With that, they go ahead and began to walk down the docking tunnel back to Starcruiser 42, Braedey collecting his belongings before following on after.
A few moments go by, and with the five occupants now on Starcruiser 42, the Star Command ship now gets cables and attached them to the structure of the Space Shuttle, reeling it in closer before securing it. Once done so, Starcruiser 42 began to make its long journey back to Star Command with its otherworldly cargo onboard.
Up on the bridge, Braedey looks about at the structure in curiosity and with an expression of impressiveness. "Have to admit, this makes my rocket look antiquated." He commented. He looks over at Mira's workstation, as well as Buzz's, humming in curiosity. "Very nice."
"Oh, yeah. The Andromeda-Class Starcruiser is one of the flagships of Star Command." Booster pointed to the schematics of the Starcruiser on his computer. "Able to fly and move faster than the speed of sound and lightspeed. If needed for battle, all Star-cruisers have laser cannons and missile launchers."
"At lightspeed? With this kind of manoeuvrability? Impressive." Braedey mused, then he looked at Booster. "So, uh, where do you come from? Just asking." He inquired.
"Oh, I'm a Jo-Adian." Booster clarified. "Mira is from the planet Tangea, while Buzz is from Capital Planet." He added.
"And I was built on Star Command, which is something we shouldn't be telling someone who has zero knowledge of what in the universe is going on around here." XR spoke out sardonically.
"XR, another word out of you about our special guest, I'll have the LGMs downgrade your motherboard to a calculator." Buzz warned without looking back at the little robot.
"Wow..." XR spoke sarcastically. "Kick a 'bot while he's down, threatening to downgrade my motherboard to a calculator..."
"So, because Miss Mira is from Tangea, she has those abilities to... phase through solid objects?" Braedey asked to Booster.
"Oh, yeah. Even to look into people's minds." Booster nodded. "Which is surprising when she couldn't look into yours. You must have something unique that must be inhibiting her from doing so."
"Yeah..." Braedey looks away casually with a sheepish expression. He was very uncertain about how'd these Space Rangers would react to something as highly-advanced as that of the Transformatrix, especially if they don't know about the Transformers homeworld.
Just then, the Transformatrix began to beep out, Mira and Buzz both looking on as they saw the device on Braedey's left wrist for the very first time. The dial was flashing blue and white, just as the core pops out.
"Uncatalogued system detected." The Transformatrix spoke out in a synthesised voice of Braedey's, the Space Rangers all looking on in surprise and confusion.
"What?" Braedey looks at his watch in uncertainty and confusion. "Transformatrix, are you saying that you can't register anything on this rocket?" He asked.
"Unable to decipher any and all tech. All systems not of Earth or of Cybertronian origin." The Transformatrix answered. "Shall we attempt to dock and share data?"
"Dock and share data? If it allows Comms to work, then do so." Braedey answered.
A series do cables now deploy from the Transformatrix and snake their way over to XR's work station, the little robot looking on as the screens flash up Cybertronian writing and schematics upon them, as well as what was English writing as well, everyone else looking on in curiosity and surprise. After a few moments, the cables now return back to the Transformatrix.
"All new systems integrated into Transformatrix main database. All forms of communication have also been updated." The Transformatrix spoke out before the core sinks back into the watch, the blue and white flashing now stopping.
Braedey looks at his watch, then back at the surprised Space Rangers. "Uh... yeah. I'll explain about that when we get back to your base." He said sheepishly. Buzz acknowledged this with a simple nod before he gets Starcruiser 42 to fly at speed, Braedey nearly being sent into the back wall with such force. "Whoa-oh! Easy there, sir!" Braedey called, him having forced himself down onto his hands and knees to hang on.
Buzz can't help but chuckle to himself as he saw Braedey struggling to stay upright. He understood the feeling when he was a rookie. Booster helped out Braedey and secures him to a nearby jumpseat, the brunette nodding and giving a thumbs-up. All the while, Mira was wondering about the device on the young male's wrist. Was it the source behind why she could not read his mind? Did it have that capability? And on top of that, where did this boy come from? There was just so many questions for her to answer.
Eventually, Starcruiser 42 had arrived in the Gamma Quadrant and making its way towards Capital Planet. As Braedey saw this planet, it made him think it looked like that of Earth, since it did bear the markings and the colours of his homeworld.
"So that must be this Capital Planet you spoke of." Braedey mused.
"That's right. The Headquarters of the Galactic Alliance." Buzz clarified. "It serves as the official capital and housing of the central government."
"Right. It kinda reminds me of home." Braedey said softly to himself. "The colours and landmasses, mostly."
"And there is Star Command." Booster announced, pointing out to their destination.
Braedey could now see what this place looks like, his blue eyes wide with wonder. Star Command looks to be some kind of large space station, shaped like two three-dimensional triangles wedged together at their bases, and with a series of launch holes on its upper section, no doubt for any and all Starcruisers to launch from. Four large green fins look to decorate one side of the circular ring, with two purple spires on the other side. The logo of Star Command decorates one side of the ring as well. There is also what looks to be a glass dome of sorts on top, no doubt to track any and all ships in the area. It looks to be the size of a modest city.
"Wow..." Was all Braedey could mutter in amazement.
"Yes, indeed. Never gets old when you see it." Buzz added in.
"So that's where you guys work from?" Braedey asked. "That is definitely something I didn't expect."
"Well, you'll get the chance to see so much more once we're inside." Booster reassured to Braedey.
"This is Starcruiser 42 calling." Buzz gets on the Comms. "Requesting permission to approach Science Hangar Bay 5."
Braedey watches on as the Space Rangers contact their base of operations and they began to manoeuvre and orientate their Starcruiser around to get it onboard the station, as well as the Valkyrie Shuttle. It will definitely be an experience for Braedey to see and know what's going on in this para-military organisation and what could happen to him.
Star Command is definitely in for a surprise…