Space Rangers: Mercenaries

By Douglas Green

Year 2535
The citizens of planet Earth were going about their daily routine. The military was monitoring space radio traffic and travel. The local government was monitoring the movement of people traveling around town as they shopped and the kids played in the parks. Joggers kept fit as they exercised. Some people cooked breakfast as others got dressed and ready for their daily routine. Unknown to them, Earth was about to be attacked and take a heavy blow. The people of Earth were going to be used as slaves.

A wormhole quickly appeared. A huge alien ship passed through it, stealthily descended, entered Earth’s atmosphere and began dropping huge bombs from the sky. The bombs pounded the Earth’s surface like raindrops on all four quadrants of the planet. The explosions were devastating as a well-planned attack. There were scores of people burned beyond recognition. Hundreds of thousands of homes were destroyed. The major population was in disarray. Most of the military ships were destroyed upon impact.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543905649

Douglas Green

Douglas Green is the author of the 2020 novel A Dog of Many Names. He runs the advice website AskShirelle.com, inspired by the first edition of The Teachings of Shirelle. He directed the 2000 film The Hiding Place before authoring books, and now spends his days working with teens and children as a psychotherapist in LA.

Book preview

slaves.

Year 2535

Early in the morning, the heat scorched the pavement as joggers traversed their normal course. The Earth people carried on with their normal daily activities as some people casually walked to work and others shopped in the retail stores. The majority of the population was still asleep because it was early in the morning. A wormhole quickly appeared. A huge alien ship passed through it, stealthily descended, entered Earth’s atmosphere and began dropping huge bombs from the sky. The bombs pounded the Earth’s surface like raindrops on all four quadrants of the planet. The explosions were devastating as a well-planned attack. There were scores of people burned beyond recognition. Hundreds of thousands of homes were destroyed. The major population was in disarray. Most of the military ships were destroyed upon impact.

There were some ships on missions in outer space, but they were too far into space to be of any assistance. Many of the survivors reported to Earth Command and its military base as a staging area for protection. Earth Command also consisted of a huge safe underground facility. No one knew the enemy was coming. The aliens were known as Catalonians. They were fierce fighters that traveled through space trying to destroy every planet along their flight path. They took each planet’s people and flew them back to their home planet to use as slaves. The Catalonians flew smaller ships throughout the cities and beamed up prisoners young and old. Earth Command once again asked for volunteers with military and combat skills experience. They also needed engineers and mechanics to repair the damaged ships.

Most of all, they needed combat pilots to fly the warships. Major Mitchell arrived at Earth Command with his family. They tried to be inconspicuous because Tati and Nori were still in the military. They were on leave, but they had to report in. Captain Shakira had her baby with her who was just barely walking. The family was recognized by one of the senior Earth Command figures. The council member smiled at the Bowen family and introduced himself as Councilman Borack. There will be a meeting announced later for volunteers, he said, and we can use good pilots like yourselves with your important space travel experience, he said.

We are retired, and we are here just for information and protection, Major Mitchell replied.

We have special facilities set up for you and your family members. He handed Major Mitchell a special identification card with the section and location of their temporary living quarters.

Councilman Borack then smiled and walked away to continue on to check on the hurt and injured people. Lieutenant Fem arrived and spotted the Major and his family.

I have contacted Mother, and she is powering up as we speak, Lieutenant Fem said. We have to locate the other rangers and get into outer space for protection.

No, we can’t leave our people in their time of need plus we need to find out what happened and who attacked us, Major Mitchell said. This is the emergency staging area. So, everyone will come here.

Lieutenant Fem, I need you to locate all the female rangers and create a rendezvous point. Once we get the information we require, we’ll join Medusa and head out for space, Captain Shakira said.

We have to report for duty, Ranger Tati and Nori said.

No. Both of you are coming with us, and you will be assigned to the Medusa because I have a plan, Major Mitchell said.

Lieutenant Fem went to locate the other rangers, and the Bowen family went to the briefing. As the Bowen family walked through the crowds of wounded people, Tati stopped to help an injured old lady with burns on her hand and legs. She quickly tore the lady’s nightgown and rapidly began wrapping her hands and legs.

Young lady, are you a medic? Because you are wrapping me up like you know what you are doing, she said.

No, I’m a ranger, Tati said.

Well, shouldn’t you be up there going after the bastards that attacked us? the old lady asked as she pointed up at the sky.

No. I have to wait for orders but don’t you worry, we will get them. I give you my word.

The old lady smiled and held Tati’s hand and said, You go get them, and you make them bastards pay for what they have done to us. After she had finished the bandages, Nori tapped her on the shoulders and told her, We need to go.

They ran to catch up with the rest of the family. Lieutenant Fem was passing through the crowd of people. She walked past two young females on the ground drinking water from a bottle.

As they looked up, they jumped to their feet with big smiles on their faces happy to see Lieutenant Fem.

It was Raven and Yoshi. Do you remember us? Yoshi asked.

Yes, I remember both of you girls. It’s only been a year since I last saw either of you. Are either of you hurt? Fem asked.

No, we were going shopping then a big ship started dropping bombs on everything, Raven said. We need to get home. Can you give us a ride? Yoshi asked.

I don’t have a vehicle, but if both of you come with me, we can go looking for all of our sisters. We have to assemble the ranger team because it’s possible that we are going to be reactivated.

I thought we weren’t ever going back into outer space, Yoshi said.

Well, sometimes shit just happens, and we have to deal with it the best way we can. This is a crisis, and when duty calls, we have to react because we are rangers and we will always be rangers. This is our home, and it is our job to keep it safe from all foreign and domestic enemies, Fem said. Now, we have to get to the Medusa, get a hovercraft and go looking for our sisters, Fem said.

I thought Medusa was hiding at the bottom of the ocean, Raven said.

She is but I can talk to her telepathically, and she is sending a hovercraft to the surface.

That is so cool that you can still talk to your mother like that, Raven said.

Both of you girls still remember your ranger training? Fem asked.

Yes, it is part of us, Yoshi said.

Okay, because now you are going to need it because we are going to hoof it down to the coast to pick up that hovercraft. It’s about twenty miles away, and once we get it, we are going looking for everyone. The three of them took off running in a northerly direction.

I hope all of our sisters are okay, Raven said.

I’m sure they are fine because all of them have many years of ranger experience, Fem said as they continued to jog down the road.

Stop; get down! Yoshi screamed. They quickly took cover.

What’s wrong? Fem asked.

You told me to use my training, so I turned on my hyper instincts, and I sensed someone pointing a high-powered pulse rifle at us, Yoshi said.

Damn girl, you can turn it on and off like a switch? Raven asked.

Yes, when Dr. Clair removed my wings, it enhanced my sensory system. To answer your question, yes, I can turn it off and on like a switch.

Fem put her finger up to her lips to gesture for them to stop talking. She used her scanner vision to check the area at a distance. She spotted someone at long range with a pulse rifle. She increased her vision to get a closer look. I recognize the shooter; he is an ex-ranger, Fem said.

Does he remember you and why in the hell is he trying to shoot us? Raven asked. What about the ranger code that we always protect each other and we take care of our own.

He doesn’t know either of you, and it’s been about five years since I last saw him. I will try to see if he remembers me, Fem said.

Hold your fire, Lieutenant Manny Silver hawk. It’s me Fem. Do you remember me, Manny?

He hesitated for a moment as he wiped his eyes and tried to focus, then he called out, Is that you, robot girl?

Yes, it’s me. Please hold your fire.

You are safe; I would never shoot a fellow ranger, he said.

They walked from behind their cover. Manny lowered his weapon and walked toward them as he slung his rifle on his back with a big smile on his face as he walked toward the three women. He walked up to Fem, embraced her and softly kissed her on the lips as if they were in a sexual relationship. She kissed him back to her own surprise. Yoshi and Raven stepped back; they were surprised because they have never known Fem to love any man.

Sorry, I kind of got a little carried away with the kiss. It’s been a long time, and I am very happy to see you. Fem smiled as she could feel her body wanting more of him, but she had to control herself in front of Yoshi and Raven.

We were hit by something military and alien, and I witnessed them beaming up our people onto their ships. I thought they had returned, Manny said.

Were they human looking? Fem asked.

Yes, the soldiers were human looking except their face; their nose and ears look a little different. I saw one, and he had something like fish gills on both sides of his face. They definitely weren’t from Earth.

Who are these two young lovely ladies? he asked.

They can’t be your daughters because they look so much like some of the other female rangers that were on the Medusa so they must be some of their daughters.

How is your mother, Medusa, doing? Is she still around? I miss her too, Manny said.

You must be Kayko’s daughter because you look just like her. She was beautiful as ever but really mean spirited.

He tried to touch Raven’s face to see the resemblance, but she slapped his hand down, stepped up to him, growled and stared him in the eyes. Fem pulled her back as he apologized to Raven.

I didn’t mean anything by touching you. I was just trying to see the resemblance you have to your mother.

Kayko is not my mother; she is my sister, Raven snapped back.

Kayko didn’t have a sister, Manny said.

You must be Chyna’s daughter because she was really big and strong.

Chyna is not my mother either; she is my sister, Yoshi said.

Wait. Chyna didn’t have a sister either.

Manny stopped and stared at both of the young women then looked at Fem.

Please tell me you are the true original Fem that I used to know.

Yes, it’s truly me the original Fem, Lieutenant Manny Silver hawk, Fem said.

With these two women, I smell a rat.

Within seconds, Raven had him on the ground with a claw around his neck.

Who are you calling a rat?

Within a second, Fem used her nanites speed to grab her hand so Raven wouldn’t snap his neck and kill him.

Stop, Raven. He didn’t call you a rat. It is a slang phrase meaning something devious, sinister or something that is not right.

From the looks of your claws, speed and strength you have to be a clone of Kayko, which is illegal. I don’t want to know anything else about you because it is illegal for you to be here and it’s a death sentence if anyone finds out you and your sister exist. You shouldn’t display your secret so easily, Manny said.

She has been warned before about keeping it a secret. Fem gave her an evil look as she released Manny and backed away.

We are going to need your help to find our team members if we go into battle. Will you join us? Fem asked.

You know you don’t have to ask. Who is going to lead this team of yours?

It’s not my team. It’s Major Mitchell’s team.

I’m in because I really miss the old man, plus the female rangers and Medusa are like family to me. I will give my life for Major Mitchell.

We have had so many talks on the Medusa about the first mission with twelve male rangers. Were you one of them? Yoshi asked.

Yes, Manny said.

Then we are glad to know you because if it weren’t for your assistance, our sisters wouldn’t be here today, Yoshi said.

I am sorry if I hurt you and I would like to be your friend, Raven said.

It’s okay. I just hope I can win your trust like your older sister, Manny said. Lieutenant Fem just smiled.

We need to go and find the other rangers, Fem said. Can you make a long-distance run, Lieutenant Fem? asked Lieutenant Manny.

I’m a little out of shape, but I’m sure I can make it.

They took off running with Lieutenant Fem leading. They ran five miles without stopping. They continued running until they heard a vehicle approaching in their direction so they stopped to see if they could ask for a ride. When the vehicle pulled up and stopped, Lieutenant Manny started smiling.

Well, I’ll be damned. It’s Alphonso Crekman. Where in the hell are you heading when everyone else is heading toward Earth? Command Lieutenant Manny asked. But before he could answer, he spotted Raven and mistook her for Ranger Kayko. He jumped out of the truck and ran toward her as his heart pounded with joy. Lieutenant Fem jumped in front of him to stop him.

You don’t want to do that, she said. She is not Kayko, and she doesn’t like to be touched by strangers, Fem said.

What do you mean she is not Kayko? I know the woman I’m still in love with when I see her, Alphonso said.

Manny jumped in front of him to stop him.

Trust me, man, she is not Kayko.

He stepped closer to Raven and stared intently at her face.

What are you looking for in my face? Raven asked.

I’m looking to see if you had plastic surgery, Alphonso said.

No, Kayko is my sister.

Kayko doesn’t have a sister or at least she never told me she had a sister.

Raven quickly stepped back and had a strange look on her face.

What’s wrong? Yoshi asked.

My body was beginning to feel strange as if I was going into heat, Raven said.

No, your body was reacting to him because you have Kayko’s memories and Kayko and Alphonso were in love a few years ago. I think the feelings are still strong, Lieutenant Fem said.

Well, I’m not Kayko. So please back away from me, Raven said.

They are clones of the female rangers, Lieutenant Manny said.

Cloning is illegal, and I bet Earth Command had something to do with it, Alphonso said.

It’s a long story, and we need to get to the coast, Lieutenant Fem told the men.

I was on my way to the coast. I got a coded voice message on my communicator from a secret admirer saying our old ranger team was meeting there, but I don’t know who sent the message, Alphonso said.

Everyone, get in the vehicle and keep an eye out for the enemy, so we don’t get ambushed, Lieutenant Manny said. Everyone climbed into the vehicle as they drove toward the coast.

How is the Major doing and is he planning to get the old team back together? Alphonso asked.

We don’t know yet, but we could use your help, Lieutenant Fem said.

You know I will follow you guys anywhere. We are rangers, and we are family. I would go to the end of the galaxy to help you.

Yoshi and Raven started smiling as they looked at each other because now they knew that the rangers truly did stick together.

Please tell me you are the true Fem and not a clone, Alphonso said.

Yes, I am the original Fem. She reached over and grabbed his hand. I miss you guys too, she said.

Lieutenant Manny then put his arm around her.

Well, when you think about it, we have been to other worlds fighting our way back home. Wait. Where’s Medusa? Is she okay? You haven’t mentioned anything about her. I miss talking to her, Manny said.

She is okay, and she will be at the rendezvous point, Fem said.

Will Major Mitchell be there?

No, he took his family to Earth Command to find out what happened and I’m sure he is going to offer his assistance, Fem said. Yoshi tilted her head back to see if she could smell any of the female rangers, but she didn’t pick up anyone’s scent.

So, what’s the plan? Alphonso asked.

We are going to the rendezvous point to perform a head count, and whoever is missing, we will go looking for them, Fem said. As they approached the rendezvous point, they could see there were a lot of vehicles parked on the side of the road.

I think your plan has been compromised, Lieutenant Manny said. They pulled over to the side of the road, got out of the vehicle and started walking through the trees.

Our sisters are here, Raven said.

Yes. I smell them too.

Yoshi began smiling.

They walked a short distance and exited the forest. Everyone stood up to greet them as Yoshi and Raven ran to Deanna, Kadesha and Tinajah. Now the five clone sisters were back together again. Nadine, Doby, Bella and little Jessica were there. Chyna, Kayko and all the other hybrid rangers were there. Alphonso spotted Kayko and ran to her. They started kissing. Victor and Chyna were hugging. Dr. Clair was standing in the middle of everyone. The other male rangers were just standing on the side observing.

Okay, people, we need to take a head count, Lieutenant Fem said.

It’s already been taken, and the only ones not here are the Major and his family. We haven’t heard from any of them, not even from Tati and Nori, Shaba said.

They are safe, and they are at Earth Command finding out who attacked and bombed us, Lieutenant Fem said.

So, what’s next, Lieutenant Fem? Sargent Tika asked.

She too had a small daughter from her previous relationship with an elemental alien species. Her daughter’s name was Amelia. She was five cycles in age, and she had the prettiest eyes. Her eyes were a deep blue, and she was born with three different types of DNA. I’ll call my mother and get everyone on board, and then I will go back to Earth Command and pick up the commander and his family, Fem said.

I will go with you, Lieutenant Yar said. Fem turned toward the ocean and tilted her head back as she began communicating with Medusa. Within minutes, there was a splash as two transport shuttles blasted out of the water and remotely landed in the sand on the shore near the grass. Everyone started loading up on the shuttles and strapping themselves into their seats. Lieutenant Manny tried to hand his laser rifle to Lieutenant Fem, but she refused to take it.

Lieutenant Yar grabbed it. We can use it just in case we run into the enemy, she said as she smiled and checked the weapon to see how many rounds it had on the digital counter. It had over two hundred rounds remaining. They both climbed into his truck and drove off. Medusa lifted off the two transporters as they submerged into the ocean. The two women drove back to Earth Command to pick up the Bowen family.

Meanwhile, at Earth Command, there was a general assembly meeting. There were very few combat soldiers present. Most of them with military experience were down at the lower hangers trying to repair the one surviving warship that was badly damaged in the bombing. There were only two surviving councilmen and one councilwoman. The men were old and vibrant. The councilwoman was in her mid-forties with hair that was starting to gray around the edges. She had very tired eyes from the heavy crying because she lost her entire family in the bombing.

We need volunteers with fighting experience, the middle-aged councilwoman said with a hoarse voice. Do we have anyone here with fighter pilot experience? she asked as Major Mitchell and Captain Shakira raised their hands.

A retired commander stepped forward. I will be glad to serve with the Major, he said, but I don’t have any space travel experience," he said.

Good, because this is the right time to get some experience. You can command the ship that is being repaired, Major Mitchell said.

One of the councilmen with gray hair stood up and banged his fist on the table, God damn it, Major, we need you to pilot that battle cruiser, he said. I know your combat history, and I also know your wife’s history as a combat pilot. Hell, I even know your two daughters are rangers. We need your whole family to help us on this one, the councilman said as flopped back down in his chair. Any more damn volunteers? he asked angrily.

About twenty young men stepped forward behind the retired commander.

Sir, we would be glad to serve with you, they all said. They all snapped to attention, the retired commander turned around and snapped to attention to salute his new crew of soldiers.

The councilwoman was sitting next to Major Mitchell as she looked at him with tears running down her face, This is your home, so how could you not defend it? she asked, as she lightly touched Major Mitchell’s arm. We need you to command the Prometheus, she said.

Commander, what is your name? Major Mitchell asked.

My name is James Tie, Colonel James Tie, he said.

The Major stood up and saluted Colonel Tie, then he turned to the councilwoman. I love my home and my family; I never said I wouldn’t assist, but I will not fly with Colonel Tie.

I will help only on one condition, he said.

Anything you want, just ask, she said.

My family stays with me, and I assemble my own crew, he said.

She said, Agreed, as she looked at the other two councilmen for their approval.

Colonel Tie, you are going to need a copilot, so I’m volunteering, the councilwoman said.

I don’t know your name, and I need someone with combat flying experience by my side, he said.

My name is Councilwoman Wheir Helmen. I am a retired fighter pilot with no space travel experience, and I am all you got to help you pilot the Prometheus. My retired rank was major, and I didn’t get to where I’m at by my good looks alone. I do know my shit, she said.

Captain Shakira just smiled as she stood up to walk away.

Wait, Councilman Borack said. We need you now, and you don’t have a ship, and we need every able body to fight. We never said we didn’t have a ship. My husband said we would assist if you agreed to anything we want and you agreed.

Do you have a ship? he asked.

We do now.

Do you have a crew? he asked.

We do now.

What is the name of the ship that you plan to commandeer? he asked.

We are not commandeering a ship. You just agreed to release the Medusa to our command permanently so do you agree? Captain