I’ll be the Red Ranger

- Dante -

"Shit. He's going to be pissed," Dante muttered under his breath as he skimmed over the initial operation report. The text scrolled across the translucent hologram above his gauntlet, each line more troubling than the last. His brow furrowed, a knot tightening in his stomach.

Despite his apprehension, he continued his brisk pace toward the operations chamber within the Silo, one of the few important rooms not located on the first floor. Unlike the subterranean levels where most activities transpired, this chamber was situated above ground level. Specifically, it was two floors up, a level the officers called ‘Minus Two’.

Access to any floor above the Silo's was reserved exclusively for the recognized officers of the Sixth Division. This segregation was both a privilege and a reminder of the division's hierarchical structure.

As Dante approached the entrance to the operations room, the doors slid open with a soft hiss, responding to his gauntlet signature. The chamber beyond was vast, dominated by an elongated table. Around it sat the elite members of the Sixth Division, each engrossed in whispered conversations or reviewing data before the meeting.

'Of course, only my operation involves undisciplined personnel from other divisions. My luck keeps getting better,' Dante thought bitterly, his jaw tightening as he navigated between the chairs.

He settled into one of the few empty seats. As he waited for the General to start the meeting, he couldn't shake the feeling of being under scrutiny.

"Dante, I heard you're dealing with a wild kids these days?" a voice drawled from across the table. One of the captains leaned back in his chair, a sly smile playing on his lips. His eyes glinted with a mischievous light, clearly enjoying the jab.

Before Dante could respond, another officer chimed in. "Don't talk like that about our master of disguises," remarked, his tone dripping with feigned respect. The smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth betrayed his true intent.

"A master of disguise who gets discovered by a bunch of Nameless kids," The captain retorted with a chuckle, drumming his fingers on the tabletop. "'Children of The Past' my ass. They would've been erased from the empire if they'd been assigned to my team."

While the Rangers taunted him, Dante remained silent, his fists clenched tightly as he waited for the meeting to begin.

It wasn't long before the distant echo of heavy footsteps silenced the room. The rhythmic thudding grew louder, accompanied by an almost palpable surge of energy that seemed to electrify the air. Even the seasoned Rangers exchanged uneasy glances.

"He doesn't look happy at all," one of them muttered, his earlier bravado fading as he sank back into his chair.

The doors slid open with a sharp hiss, and General Stewart strode into the room. Clad in his uniform, his presence commanded immediate attention. An aura of authority, and barely restrained ire, emanated from him.

"Let's begin," the General's voice cut through the silence like a blade. "How the hell did they get past our radars?"

He moved to the head of the table but didn't sit. Instead, he planted his hands firmly on the surface, leaning forward as his piercing eyes scanned the assembly. His gaze settled on the Ranger responsible for tracking and communications.

The Ranger swallowed hard before standing. "Sir, they used small suicide ships designed specifically for bombing runs," he began, his voice steady but low. "Only one of the vessels was able to transport Orks. Because of this, they were able to execute a short-range jump close to the colony and accelerate into a rapid attack."

The Ranger tapped a command into his tablet, bringing up a holographic projection above the table. The image displayed the colony of Cygnus, overlaid with trajectories and data points highlighting the incursion.

"So far, we've found no faults in our detection systems," He continued. "However, this incident has exposed a vulnerability in our fast response capabilities. Their focus on sheer destruction, rather than sustained engagement, allows them to strike and retreat before we can effectively mobilize."

Stewart stepped forward, his gaze thoughtful. "What about implementing an energy barrier around the colony? What are the chances of acquiring a Crystal to sustain one?"

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A murmur rippled through the room. Dante glanced up, keenly aware of the challenges such a suggestion entailed.

The Ranger adjusted the projection, highlighting energy grids and resource requirements. "Sir, to envelop Cygnus with a defensive barrier, we'd need several hundred standard Crystals or dozens of Unique Crystals," he explained. "It's not impossible, but there are significant logistical issues."

He gestured to the hologram, which displayed Cygnus in motion, orbiting slowly above the planet's surface. "The primary challenge is that Cygnus is a mobile city. Our defense teams are experienced with static installations; anchoring a barrier to a moving target brings engineering complexities we've yet to fully comprehend.”

"Alright. Investigate, gather intelligence, and coordinate with the Blacks," Stewart commanded, his voice cutting through the tension in the room like a blade. "Cygnus may be in the hands of a tenuous ally, but it is indispensable to the Empire." His gaze, sharp as steel, swept across the assembly of officers before settling on another Ranger.

"Have we identified who was selling the blueprints?" Stewart inquired, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.

One of the Rangers, a seasoned operative with a scar tracing his jawline, straightened in his seat. "Sir, one of our agents apprehended the individual who brought the plans to the auction. However, due to the attack, the intended buyers never revealed themselves."

Stewart's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "As soon as you extract any information from him, I want to be informed immediately." His words were precise, each syllable weighted with authority.

He then pivoted to face Dante. "And what of the rookies? How did they perform?"

Dante took a steadying breath, his hands clasped firmly behind his back. "Sir, Pink successfully seduced one of the targets with access to the auction. She infiltrated and gathered intel without raising suspicion. Yellow secured a room on the hundredth floor and climbed down the exterior, infiltrating the auction without being caught. Both executed their missions flawlessly."

He hesitated for a fraction of a second before continuing. "Black subdued one of the investors and stole access credentials to the auction. However, he left evidence in one of the restrooms. We had to intervene to prevent exposure. He has been reprimanded accordingly."

Dante paused, his jaw tightening imperceptibly as he approached the most delicate part of his report. "As for Blue, he gained entry by posing as an investor. However, during the extraction phase, he deviated from orders and remained on-site to assist in civilian evacuation. There is a possibility that—"

Stewart silenced him with a piercing glare, eyes reflecting the cold light of the screens flickering around them. "No excuses, Dante. I have reviewed the same reports." The general's voice was low, but it carried the weight of a loaded weapon. "Summon the civil informant."

Swallowing his reservations, Dante tapped a sequence on the console in his gauntlet. A holographic projector hummed to life, casting a wavering image into the air before them. The face of Hector materialized.

"Hector," Stewart addressed him without preamble. "Did Blue copy the order to retreat or not?"

Hector glanced between them, momentarily taken aback. "General, it's difficult to say definitively," he began carefully. "I did witness him losing his communicator. However, I must emphasize that he saved my life and the lives of dozens of others. His quick thinking and improvisation were—"

Stewart cut him off abruptly. "Is there any chance that he is the Green Ranger?" The question hung heavy in the sterile air of the command center.

Dante's eyebrows knitted together in surprise. The suggestion that one of his operatives could be the Green was unexpected.

Hector shook his head earnestly. "Not to my knowledge, sir."

"Understood," Stewart replied tersely. Without further acknowledgment, he terminated the connection. Hector's image slowly dissolved before fading entirely.

A charged silence settled over the room. Stewart's expression hardened, the lines on his face etched deeper by the stark illumination of tactical displays cycling through threat assessments and battle simulations.

Slowly, deliberately, he placed his gloved hand upon the polished surface of the table. A subtle tremor coursed through the room as he released a controlled surge of energy. The very air seemed to vibrate; tiny arcs of electricity crackled around his fingertips, leaping momentarily between the fibers of his uniform before grounding themselves with a faint hiss.

"Let me make this unequivocally clear to everyone present," Stewart intoned, his voice resonating with an undercurrent of restrained fury. "There is nothing I despise more than a so-called hero. The NEA's sole purpose is to cultivate soldiers—tools engineered to secure humanity's dominion over the Orks."

His gaze swept the room, ensuring his words struck each officer with the intended impact. The atmosphere was taut, a drawn bowstring poised to snap.

Turning his attention back to Dante, Stewart's eyes were as unforgiving as a frozen wasteland. "If Blue aspires to be a hero, he is free to do so—elsewhere."

Dante felt a knot tighten in his stomach. Despite the implicit rebuke, he mustered the courage to speak. "Sir, with respect, Blue's performance has been exemplary. His growth has surpassed projections."

Stewart's expression remained impassive. "Assign him the maximum disciplinary action permissible under code," he ordered, his tone brooking no dissent. "This will be his final warning. Should he defy directives again, he won't simply be a hero—I will make him a martyr."