I’ll be the Red Ranger

- Dante -

Dante's grin stretched from ear to ear, a rare display of unrestrained satisfaction that lit up his face. The success was palpable. Five out of the six Rangers had managed to infiltrate the organization. At last, he had concrete results to present, something tangible to silence the skeptics who had doubted him. The prospect of vindication was sweet, and he relished the thought of proving them all wrong.

As soon as the Rangers had delivered their reports on the recent developments, Dante dove into compiling his own comprehensive briefing. Time was of the essence; in just a few hours, a crucial meeting with the officers of the Sixth Division was scheduled. The operation's momentum was building, and he was determined to maintain it. His fingers danced across the holographic interface, data streams, and encrypted files orbiting around him in a complex choreography.

The meeting room, situated on the second floor above ground level, was the usual center of command when they needed the highest echelon of the Sixth Division.

One by one, the division's officers arrived. Each officer was immersed in their personal holographic displays. Tactical maps flickered with points of interest, reports scrolled with lines of code, and intelligence briefs highlighting key aspects of ongoing missions.

Dante glanced around the room, his confidence unwavering. ‘This time, I'm safe, he thought, a triumphant resonance in his mind. ‘My operation will be a complete success. Even with the upcoming cuts to the next batch of Rangers, we're on the path to achieving our objectives.’

The thought of a potential promotion, a commendation, perhaps even a medal crossed his mind. It was an enticing possibility, one that fueled his dedication.

His reverie was interrupted by General Stewart's arrival. The atmosphere shifted instantly as the General strode into the room with a commanding presence. Conversations ceased, and officers snapped to attention. Stewart positioned himself at the head of the table.

"Updates? Updates?" General Stewart's voice carried the weight of authority. He placed both hands firmly on the center table, leaning forward as his keen eyes surveyed the assembly. "What do we have from the operations?"

The first officer stood up straighter, his hand half-raised in acknowledgment. "Sir. We've received confirmation from our spy embedded on Enceladus," he began, his voice steady. "They are indeed distributing an injection capable of altering the species' composition."

A ripple of surprise coursed through the room.

"Any effects known?" General Stewart asked, his curiosity piqued. The subtle inflection in his tone betrayed the strategic calculations already forming in his mind.

"Thus far, there are no reported effects or side effects," the officer continued. "The primary observable change is in ocular appearance. The subjects' irises permanently shift to a crimson color. We have yet to gather any data on potential enhancements or detriments to combat abilities."

"Excellent. Have you concluded your report?" General Stewart inquired, his gaze already shifting to the next officer awaiting his turn.

"Not quite, sir," the officer replied, a hint of hesitation in his voice. "We still don't understand why they are so invested in this matter, especially if it doesn't impact combat capabilities. Rumors suggest they've had to use Ork technology to achieve these results."

Stewart waved a dismissive hand. "There's no need to investigate that further. It's of no concern to us. If you've finished, we can proceed."

"Ah, one last important detail, sir," the officer interjected quickly. "The injections are being sent to the Great Houses Hyperion and Arctos. They've declared it's a necessary step to free themselves from the Empire and join the Republic."

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"Dammit," Stewart muttered under his breath. His expression hardened as he turned to another officer, an older man whose face bore the lines of countless campaigns. "Any progress from the negotiations with the families?"

‘I wish I could present my operation before things escalate further,’ Dante thought anxiously. He could sense the tension mounting in the room as each question and answer advanced.

"None, sir," the older officer responded, his tone grave. "They inquired about the date of the next election. When our envoy couldn't provide an answer, they dismissed us outright. They mentioned that in the Republic, there is no Emperor who-"

"I don't care to hear their political philosophies," Stewart interrupted sharply. "Inform the other Generals that, as of this moment, Houses Hyperion and Arctos are considered allies of the Republic. They must be eliminated promptly."

"Sir, but without them-" the officer began to protest.

"The Emperor will dispatch the Dogs of War," Stewart declared, his fist striking the table with a resonant thud. The holographic displays flickered momentarily from the impact. "If there's anything left of them afterward, we can discuss terms of surrender. Any questions?"

An uneasy silence settled over the assembly. The officers exchanged glances but chose to hold their tongues. No one wished to challenge Stewart's decree, especially when his temper was on edge.

"Moving on," Stewart said, his eyes scanning the room before settling on Dante. "Dante, what's the status of the infiltration?"

Dante straightened his posture, meeting the General's gaze with confidence. "Sir, we've achieved success. Five out of the six operatives have been accepted into their ranks. Except for the Yellow Ranger, the others have infiltrated."

"Any useful intelligence?" Stewart asked, his tone indicating a waning interest.

"Yes, sir," Dante affirmed. "It appears they've conducted their first test by infiltrating several of our bases in Seoul. These are facilities responsible for the production of the Nameless."

"How the hell did they discover their existence?" General Stewart's voice resonated through the war chamber, laced with exasperation. His steely gaze bore into Dante.

Dante took a steadying breath before responding. "We still don't know, sir," he replied, his tone composed yet underscored by unease. "No memories were supposed to be retained from any of the bases. Furthermore, they've indicated that the next mission will be the 'final' mission of the Children of the Past."

General Stewart paced behind the table that dominated the center of the room. "Do we know their target yet?" he inquired sharply, his eyes flickering back to Dante.

"Not yet, sir," Dante admitted. "But it's likely to be one of our own bases." He hesitated briefly. "Darius reported that the mission is scheduled within the next forty-eight hours."

Stewart drummed his fingers on the table's edge, the rhythmic taps echoing lightly amidst the ambient hum of the war room's systems. "No information about these bases must reach the public," he declared with finality. "Under no circumstances are they to activate their Armors while they're there. Direct orders from the Emperor himself."

"Yes, sir," Dante acknowledged, though a glimmer of confusion crossed his features. Gathering his courage, he ventured cautiously, "But sir, why aren't they allowed to use the Armors?"

General Stewart halted his pacing, turning to face Dante fully. His expression hardened, eyes narrowing. "That's above your clearance level, Ranger Dante," he stated coldly. "These are direct orders."

A flush of embarrassment tinged Dante's cheeks. "Understood, sir," he replied, inclining his head respectfully. After a moment's hesitation, he pressed on. "Sir, should we consider aborting their mission? Perhaps launch a preemptive strike before they can infiltrate our bases?"

Stewart shook his head. "No," he said firmly. "We need to eliminate their leader. Coordinate with our base commanders to ensure the self-destruction protocols are primed. If the Rangers fail to neutralize the leader of the Children of the Past, we'll level the base entirely; leave them no chance of escape." He paused, his gaze intensifying. "Also, deploy teleportation interference fields to activate the moment they set foot inside."

"Yes, sir," Dante responded promptly, his posture straightening as he absorbed the directives.

"If they're this desperate," Stewart mused aloud, "they must be nearing their expiration dates. They're making a last-ditch effort."

He turned back to Dante, his eyes piercing. "Can we trust the Rangers involved?"

Dante hesitated, weighing his words carefully. "Sir, the quality of Rangers in the other divisions is quite poor," he began. "However, they have Darius with them. If any of them step out of line, he has the authority and capability to handle the situation."

Stewart studied him for a long moment, the silence heavy between them. Finally, the General gave a curt nod. "Very well," he said. "Proceed as planned."

He stepped away from the table, his hands clasped behind his back. "Let’s get rid of this problem once and for all."