Chapter 1
This is a Fan fiction set in the universe of The Adventures Of The Galaxy Rangers. It is standalone but does reference both canon and fan information so there may be some continuity errors for those who are not totally familiar with the 1986 TV Cartoon Series of the expanded Universe.
"Is this it, Mom?" Zach Jr. asked as the three came up to the main boarding platform.
Senator Eliza Foxx looked at the boarding passes and noted the berth number. "Yes, Berth 6a. League StarLiner Hyperion. Let's get aboard and get you settled before the ship leaves. We’ll be home in a couple of days."
"I can't wait to see Dad and GV again, Mom." Jessi said as they walked on board the luxurious StarLiner.
Eliza smiled. "It's only been two weeks, kiddo. It's not like you were away for a year or more."
"I know, but I don't like being away from everybody any more. I like being at home now."
Eliza shrugged and smiled. They looked around at the expanse of the massive ship’s main promenade.
"Wow, this place is boss." Zach Jr. said as they looked at the thick carpets, luxurious chairs, and impressive artworks that made it look more like a six star hotel than a spaceship.
"Let's go find our rooms; deck three, section four, cabins eleven a and b." Eliza said and they set off to find their cabin, quickly vanishing into the growing crowd of passengers returning to Earth from Andor.
Senator Eric Wheiner briskly walked on board the Hyperion some time later, his cape flowing behind him regally. He was successfully hiding his nervousness at being off Earth, but wished to be back as soon as possible, after he'd fixed BETA so the organization would collapse. This ship would be a good reason. He checked his chrono, six hours, then the fun would start. He headed for his cabin.
He swished in and sat in a chair, looking at the small carryall that was all the luggage he brought with him. For this plan to work, he had to travel light.
He picked up a secure comm and made a call.
"Time is in motion. one quarter of Earth and then the Empty zone gets fed." The voice at the other end said in a harsh rasp.
"Excellent. your payment is provided once we are complete." Wheiner said.
A number of VIP's boarded the Hyperion over the next hour, mostly from Andor, Kirwin, and New Gherka. All headed for an important League meeting on Earth in a week. Among them were a number of ambassadors and premiers from Earth itself, along with high-level diplomats from a number of colonies and outlying planets. All in all, a good mix of VIP's. A noticeable presence was also on the ship from BETA, with a large contingent of rangers always visible wherever one looked. Excellent security against any trouble that could be brought to bear on the StarLiner.
"Niko, the ship won't leave port for another hour, come on, let me go back - there was this little circuit tester that Cueball would just love-"
"Come On, Doc! We have to be on board an hour before departure. We're out of time." Niko said, dragging a feebly resisting Doc Hartford behind her as they walked towards the platform leading to the Hyperion.
"Oh all right, I suppose Cueball will have to be satisfied with the Series V rock-muncher I got him. It should take care of all his disposables readily enough."
"Doc you are impossible. And to think, a century ago they used to say women were the ones who always wanted to shop until they dropped from exhaustion."
Doc shrugged. "What can I say, always a trendsetter."
They walked on board and were met by Lieutenant Alverez, in charge of the ship's security.
"Ranger Niko, Ranger Hartford. Good to see the both of you." She said, saluting both of the Series Five rangers.
"Lieutenant, how's the ship?" Doc asked.
Alverez looked around, then back to the two Rangers. "All secured, and ready to pull out. We're still awaiting two ambassadors from Kirwin, but have been told not to delay the launch. If they show, then they show. But when we go, this ship will fly."
"Good. Are the other passengers secure?" Niko asked.
Alverez nodded. "Everybody's snug as a bug in a rug, Ranger Niko. No problems expected or anticipated."
"Excellent. We'll see you once the ship is underway, Lieutenant. Keep us posted." Doc said.
Fifty-four minutes later, the Hyperion detached from it's mooring clamps and slowly pulled away from the orbital dock. Once in free space, it's main antimatter engines fired, and it began to accelerate to hyperdrive clearance speed.
"Nice ship." Doc said, not looking up from the specs he'd managed to wrestle from the ship's main computer. "This is the next model up from the Andorian Express, Niko. She's got more power, twice the passenger capacity, and half the crew. And still only the length of three dirtball fields."
Niko smiled. "It's football, Doc. not Dirtball."
He shrugged. "I never liked the game, too dirty and violent for my liking. Give me a sword and a good fencing partner any day."
Niko laughed. "Doc, you are impossible at the best of times."
Their door chirped, and Doc got up to open it, revealing Lieutenant Alverez with a bottle of alcohol and three glasses, plus a bucket of ice.
"We're in flight, in hyperdrive. nothing else to do right now. We are not really on duty until something actually happens." She explained as she set a glass in front of each of the two high ranking Galaxy Rangers and then poured a measure of amber fluid.
They lifted glasses and cheered, clinking them together, then both women stared as Doc carefully inhaled the aroma rising from his glass before taking a careful sip. He looked at them.
"What? You need to savour the drink. Drinking this type of Whiskey is an experience, not just a pastime. Miss Abercrombie taught me to enjoy the finer things in life."
Niko coughed a little as the strong alcohol ran down. "What - what type of Whiskey is this?" she finally asked, a little sheepish at Alverez's grin.
"You, Ranger Niko, are a lightweight. This is from a small distillery on Andor's northwestern continent. It uses rye imported from Earth, along with native grains to make the mash. It is spectacularly smooth, and a bottle normally sells for over a thousand credits back home."
Doc nodded as he swirled the whiskey then swallowed. "It is a fine drink, Lieutenant."
"Please, call me Sasha." Alverez said with a smile. "we'll be in each other's boots for three days, may as well be on a first name basis."
Doc laughed, then got to his feet with a gracious bow. "Then let me make the introductions. "I am Walter, working name is Doc. You already know Niko, working name .... is Niko." He said, then deftly dodged a pillow thrown at his head by the other ranger as she laughed at him.
Wheiner checked his chrono. Ten minutes until showtime. Time to get to his hiding hole so he could get off the ship before it vanished and BETA's continued existence went with it. He made his way to the lifepod deck.
He made sure nobody was around, then using a forged pass, opened the door to one pod, the pass ensuring no alarm was tripped, and got himself set inside it. As soon as the ship began to grow unstable, he would eject and get picked up.
The lone survivor of the Hyperion. Such a sad story to tell the media, how BETA had failed to protect the passengers and crew of the ship.
Doc and Niko were talking with Alverez when they all noticed a slight change in the ship. The engine vibration was suddenly gone. Niko looked at Doc.
"The engines have stopped." They both said. Doc immediately pulled out the CDU and set it to wide scan.
"Drives are stopped, but the ship's still in hyperspace. We'd better get to the bridge, Niko. Find out what going on. If we stay like this for too long the wormhole will detach from the endpoint at Earth and we could end up anywhere."
Alverez looked from one to the other. "What's happened?"
"I don't know, Sasha. Get to duty stations, and I think we'd be prudent to go to Alert status." Niko said as they got to the door. The Lieutenant going one way as the two Rangers went the other.
