[Preview] Galaxy Task Force Astrorangers from Terrania, the alter-dimensional world of Earth led by Commander Leto, known as Doctor Aaron Hanson, observatory astronomer at Griffith Observatory has successfully stopped the forces of the Nazitans against their attempt to assimilate the human race into their society. In hopes of completing their mission, Adol the Great, leader of the Nazitan outpost beneath Pluto has hatched Cyborg Regurgitor. Can they defeat it? And will the Terranians ever learn who the Nazitans are? Find out in tonight's episode: "Trapped!" . . . next.
Phil. Enterprises presents . . .
GALAXY TASK FORCE ASTRORANGER
Starring...
Sheratan Kasei as Dave Marcello .MarsAstro!
Australis Mokusei as Will Richards ..JupiterAstro!
Nashiran Dosei as Tom Nevison SaturnAstro!
Messuta Suisei as Ron Michaeli .MercuryAstro!
Lotia Kinsei as Amy Leven VenusAstro!
and...
Commander Leto as Dr. Aaron Hanson.
Featuring...
Detective Frank Mahoney and Detective Kathy Sanchez.
ACT I:
Morning in Downtown Los Angeles at Los Angeles Police Department Headquarters, Parker Center was seen from the sidewalk as people were seen entering and leaving the tall building.
Inside, Detective Kathy Sanchez walked to one of the offices as Detective Frank Mahoney turned up the volume in the television set on a cart against the wall and returned to his seat.
"What is this?" Kathy asked as she removed her coat. "One of those weird talk shows?"
Frank sat down again and put down the remote. "Heh-heh, no, Kate. C-SPAN coverage. They are right now in the middle of a heated debate upon whether or not to start drafting people or not. They're even trying to push drafting women but they're not getting very far on that. And on CNN, the United Nations held an emergency conference to allocate military forces." Kathy shook her head.
"It looks like every army, navy and air force in the world has mobilized to guard against another full scale attack from the aliens."
"This is the most incredible thing I have ever heard of," Kathy said as she sat down. "It's like World War III, except it's the world against whatever in God's name is out there."
"And it gets better, the President has declared the US a national disaster area, the Governor has asked The Pentagon to allocate all national guard forces available to Southern California and they accepted."
"That's good news, at least now we'll all have a fighting chance to survive should we get attacked again," Kathy replied.
"In fact, the Mayor has ordered the city to be evacuated if another invasion should occur; many have already prepared to leave. Plus he also has set a dusk 'til dawn curfew until a month has gone by with no alien activity."
Kathy sighed. "Can anything else go wrong?"
"Well, because of the invasion, the value of the dollar fell out. According to the business section of my morning newspaper, gold is now worth $400 an ounce."
"The prices of everything will soon go up through the roof," Kathy said. "And you can bet tourism is in the toilet. This is a disaster. This is an absolute catastrophe."
"And if you think that's something, just wait until they might strike again."
Episode 3: "Trapped"
Pluto--the gray, ice covered planet remained in the slow distant and orbit only to receive a fraction of the sun's heat and light. Beneath the surface, a massive bunker housed the Nazitan outpost installed by their battleship. Within the primary chamber, torches were mounted upon the brown, stone walls of the oval room. The ceiling was a dark, crystal dome and, on one end of the chamber, a stage that supported a large iron clad throne. Toward the steps was a gray crystal ball that was held up by a clay-like pedestal. On the floor below stood Tortan, the samurai-style armored warrior and his mate Ginara in metallic Ninja garb. Beside her was Pleadia, the short and elderly scientist in what appeared to be a lab coat and his assistant Igan.
From out of the many dimly lit caverns which traveled throughout the artificial subterranean structure walked the tall and majestic Adol the Great, the mission commander in a dark cape and scarf that masked his face.
Holding his black wand, he sat in his throne's seat and looked back and forth at his servants.
"As I understand it, for the first time in the history of our efforts, one of your cyborgs were defeated, Pleadia. Explain yourself."
"Master," he subordinately spoke, "the unexpected arrival of the battle team on Earth easily overpowered my masterpiece of genetic engineering because Cyborg VacMan was not designed for combat."
"Surely, this group of warriors cannot single handedly prevent us from ruling Earth," Ginara protested. "This may be some Earthling trick we were unaware of! If so, we should manage to disable this last-ditch attempt at resistance."
"This is only a temporarily obstacle but once we learn more about this Galaxy Task Force, the Astrorangers will be defeated," Pleadia announced. "I have brought with us on our journey to Pluto a selection of cybo-eggs featuring the most highly-efficient cyborg warriors ever engineered."
"I expect you to assist in the combat, Tortan," Adol told him. "We must focus our battle on the area known as Los Angeles to draw out these heros and kill them as soon as possible."
Tortan nodded. "Acknowledged."
"Pleadia's cyborgs can be aided by the power of your Matter Manipulation Wand," Igan said. "Once grown to enormous size, our new enemies will be incapable of defeating the most novice Cyborg."
Adol nodded. "Proceed, but do not slack, Pleadia. I will not be responsible for saving your creations from their self-arranged doom," Adol said.
Pleadia bowed his head again. "I understand."
The Astroranger SpaceBase, an opal, globe shaped satellite, stayed within synchronous orbit with the dark-side of the Earth's moon. Inside, the top floor marked Deck A on the floor featured a wall showing an active matrix color monitor with five work stations on the left and right with the whole chamber illuminated by the entire ceiling. Sheratan, Australis and Nashiran stand together in their Uton uniforms from Terrania while Commander Leto walked in front of them, approaching the main viewer and computer console.
"So, Leto," Nashiran said, "you have devised a means of high-speed transportation for us other than those rudimentary land polluters?"
"Go easy on 'em," Australis said, "They have electric cars now."
"Yeah, but, will they use 'em?" Sheratan said.
Leto grew impatient. "Ahem. In answer to you, Nashiran, these are nothing of the sort."
Nashiran crossed his arms and said, "So then what is this all about then?"
"Australis, you should know about these," Commander Leto replied. "Let me give you a little history on what this is all about." Commander Leto walked to one work station where a plastic pad from with graphics on four arrow keys on the right and an on/off switch on the left was. He turned it on and read from it. "About 145 years ago, the Uton Department of Defense thought that the Genesis Gem was the only thing powerful enough to energize the Giant Manned Artificial-Intelligence Vehicles." Commander Leto showed them a picture of some of the blueprints and their size in terms of massive proportion. "Five years later these GAIVs became Team-GAIVs which unite into a fighting robot. It took them 61 years before plans, funds, crew, construction, testing and perfection made them ready for service."
"I could imagine--these things are massive," Nashiran said.
"Yes and they proved their invaluable usefulness 28 years later when the Civil War broke out."
"Yeah, I remember hearing stories about that while I was in training," Sheratan said. "I thought Australis would never make it back from that war."
"The Gatalib Monarchy almost won too," Australis said. Commander Leto scrolled down on his text pad displaying images of drawings appeared.
"Australis will pilot the Command Shuttle. This space ship is capable of attaining Mach 5 at sub-atmospheric flight. It is armed with omnidirectional laser banks, rocket launchers plus a cargo-hold and towing-beam." Commander Leto changed images showing a NASA Shuttle-like vehicle.
"Sheratan, you will have the highly maneuverable Combat Shuttle. This is a light weight, compact Space Shuttle capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 7 with rockets, laser cannons and remote graviton shield fields. Nashiran, you will fly the Solar Shuttle."
"Where do they get these names?" Nashiran pondered.
"...it resembles the Earth-made Saturn 5 Rocket that put a human on the moon for the first time. SolarShuttle can hit Mach 9 but TurboShuttle, piloted by Messuta can reach speeds in excess of Mach 8 for a longer period of time and is loaded with rockets. And finally, the RescueShuttle flown by Lotia is similar to your CombatShuttle, Sheratan--only that it is somewhat slower but has better shields due to less defenses. It needs that room for cargo incase she most tow damaged vehicles or take onboard the injured."
Australis shook his head, "Somehow, I doubt the near 5 billion people on this planet can be entirely protected by RescueShuttle or all of the fleet by itself. I mean--there's bound to be some casualties."
"That's why it is vitally important to stop the hostile alien forces there in America because, other than China, that _is_ the most heavily populated and most developed country in the world. If they take over that land, they will economically destroy entire planet," Commander Leto warned. "And because since we are aware of the tactical advantage through that sphere-shaped battle cruiser the alien race sent to Earth, we can to match them with the most powerful mechanical retaliation we have. AstroMan."
That morning at Los Angeles Police Department, Headquarters--Parker Center, Detective Kathy Sanchez walked back into the office with Detective Frank Mahoney on the telephone. "...Thanks, Rick."
"What was that all about?" Kathy asked. Mahoney sighed and looked onto his desk as he sorted his papers. "Nothing much, just Rick telling me about the case he's investigating."
Kathy started sorting her half of the desk's papers. "Slow day, huh?"
"How do you mean?"
"Well anytime you've got time to burn on listening to some other guy's leads, we must have very little to work on today," Kathy said with a grin.
"It was actually kind of relevant," Frank countered. "Those five people that just blew into town yesterday now suddenly have jobs all over the place, cellular phone access, _Internet_ access."
Kathy continued to sort papers. "Perhaps they're covertly working for the Federal Government."
"So how come when we checked there, we turned up with nothing?" Frank asked mysteriously.
"Because we didn't," Kathy said. "Get Rick working on that. I've got more important news for us."
Frank looked unconcerned. "Oh?"
"I got an anonymous tip from a witness to say that he saw activity of some sort regarding that metallic sphere," Kathy answered. "What's funny is that the national guard has said nothing and THEY are the ones monitoring it."
"So what? Did you check it out?"
"As far as I could," Kathy replied. "I think we should go out there and find out what that thing's story is. I think it's all too coincidental that both it and these five guys just happen to show up all at the same time."
"Especially when it was five martial artists who beat up the things that came out of that craft," Frank added. "I mean, assault rifles didn't scratch 'em."
"Yeah, I know."
"But Kathy, as much as I'd like to help you, we're not on that case. We're trying to find out if these four guys and and this one gal is a fugitive from the law," Frank said.
"It's still our job to close this case; even if it means proving that they're not a fugitive from the law, but maybe something worse." Kathy explained.
Frank nodded in agreement. "Okay; but how are we going to get there before the day ends?"
"If we get driving now, we can be there at 1:30 P.M.," Kathy said. "And I think that once we figure out what's going on out there, we will have all the answers we need without alerting Hanson to our investigation unnecessarily."
On Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, one of the stylish buildings in the well known community was a talent agency on the corner of the block with glass doors facing the receptionist's booth. Inside of the lobby there, Amy's eyes remained affixed to her desk as she argued with someone on the telephone. "Yes, sir, I am aware of your crisis, however, I can assure you that I delivered the message and Mr. Hancock will reach you at his earliest opportunity." Ron, in a blue Union Express uniform carried a small parcel and thick manilla envelope as he entered.
"Well, you're complaining to the wrong person, sir; I don't know what you're talking about now if you will just hold for just a moment, I'm sure Mr. Hancock will be with you," Amy insisted. Ron stopped for a moment to watch Amy work behind her desk.
"All right then," Amy replied, "you're welcome sir--thank you for call . . ." she took the receiver away from her ear and continued with, "...ing. (Nice way to hang up.)" Amy shook her head and then looked up at Ron who smiled at her taking to her job so quickly.
"Ron! Hi!" Amy cheerfully said. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Ron walked up to her booth and replied, "Neither did I. By the way, the security checks I went through were insane. All ordered by the Governor. The sheriff was looking for bombs, guns and even electronic listening devices."
"Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to take blood."
"Looks like the next step," Ron replied. "Anyway--what do you think?" he asked while stepping back; Ron turned around, showing off his uniform.
Amy shrugged while shaking her head. "Uh, I don't know."
"Again, I don't either but I like what I do and they put me in these clothes make me look cool," Ron said; Amy laughed.
"I can't believe it," Ron said.
Amy grinned, "Lucky for you, I had to charge the credit card Hanson gave me when he gave us all our I.D. and stuff so I could purchase my work clothes. Mail order only, the malls are all closed until the state of emergency is basically over."
"I'm not surprised--it's like the only business that's still moving is essentials like mail," Ron mentioned, "thank goodness. Anyway, I've got a package here for a, uh, Richard Hancock..."
Amy nodded. "That's right--I'm supposed to sign for that."
"Okay, here you go," Ron told her while giving her his electronic signature log to sign on.
Amy took it and signed with the plastic light pen. "Okay, done."
"Great, thanks," Ron said while taking back his heavy device. "All right Amy, you take it easy."
"Bye, Ron," Amy said. Ron waved as he left and the sound of busy traffic was suddenly heard when pushing open the glass doors. Meanwhile, Amy had stood up and walked around into the hallway behind the wall.
On one of the doors in the hallway, a name plate reading: AGENT -- RICHARD HANCOCK was joined by her fist knocking below the sign.
"Come in," said a young sounding man in the office. Amy pushed on the door handle, letting herself in as a middle-aged man with combed, dark brown hair and moustache wearing a suit at approximately 240 pounds finished filling out some forms. "Ah, Amy--good to see you."
"I'm glad you're pleased, Mr. Hancock" she said while smiling. "But you saw me when I came in around three hours ago." He gasp-chuckled and stood up. "Well, it's always nice to see you." Amy looked completely confused.
"So, I see you have a package for me."
"Yes, it seems to be from B. Leech?"
"Ah, Mr. Ambrosio wanted to make sure I got this directly to him. She and I had been conversing recently over getting her a new part."
"Well, I suppose that's what talent agencies do." Richard reached over and grabbed the thick envelope. "Let's see that there."
"Sure," she said while extending her arm to give him the package.
"Say, you know," Richard said as he discarded the package to his desk and sat down again. "I've been meaning to talk to you whenever we should have a moment to ourselves."
"Well, I am sure that a person with your position is always so busy so I would imagine being hectic should be comfortable," Amy said attempting to bring his point out into the open.
"Yes, it is, ordinarily. (Have a seat.) When I interviewed you to work here, I found the atmosphere all too formal," Richard said as he stood up and walked over to Amy. "I wanted to speak to you about things more--oh, I don't know. (How shall I said it), leisurely." Amy sat down as she watched him closely. "Is that so?"
"It is so! I like you because you're efficient and you seem like the type that would never let me down and I should know because, in the business that I am in, you can spot different types of people a mile away, let me tell ya."
"I see, sir. So, how does this apply to you wanting to talk to me alone?"
"Well, without privacy, it can be difficult to, um, verbalize, what it is that I would like to say in a more intimate environment," Richard said as he kneeled down before Amy. "And as you said, normally, I'm used to a hectic, distracted lifestyle. However, I wanted to have a chance to spend some time getting to know you better," Richard said as he took her hand into his and placed it on her knee.
Amy looked at his hand on her knee. "Well, I'm flattered sir."
"Well, good. I'm glad. Because, see, there is a reason I want to get to know you better," Richard stood up and walked over to the window. "I feel that someone of your potential--someone who can go far beyond the call of your ordinary duties can provide services to important people. And those important people would be then willing to give you a little extra push up the business ladder."
Amy raised an eyebrow. "Important people such as yourself sir."
Richard placed a cigarette in his mouth. "Merely as an example of course," he said, almost blatantly lying. "You see, Amy, women who take good care of them selves have something exceptionally special about them. Know what I mean?"
"I fail to understand your point, I'm sorry."
"That's okay," Richard replied while opening the window some, "it's always hard to go into these matters because of all the business with being politically correct and all, but--Amy, you have to understand that it's okay to use your skills, your talents and everything that you've got to get what you want to get out of life."
"Mr. Hancock, why are you coming to me with all of this?"
Richard took a deep breath and looked away from her. "Amy, I'm a very lonely man. I was married for 17 years and I got divorced three years ago," Richard said dramatically as he removed a cigarette lighter. Amy nodded and looked away to the carpet-covered floor. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hancock."
"No no," he said correcting her. "Call me Richard."
"Okay--Richard," Amy said with much suspicion in her tone.
"Do you know how it has been over the past three years? I work all day, I come home, I eat, give my kid's money to go to the mall with their friends and go to bed alone," he said while igniting his cigarette. Richard took puff and blew it out the window. "I don't want to go to bed alone anymore." Amy remained solid and still as she listened and watched him intently.
"And most importantly, for you--I think that you can help me out; no--help us both out. In a big way."
ACT II:
Near Barnsdall Art Park, Amy pedaled her bicycle through the city while wavering from side to side from struggling with her pink body suit and white stretch pants. "Damn it, I should've asked for a tighter fit." She was looking for somewhere to eat lunch but wasn't searching too hard because Amy had some things on her mind. Like why her co-workers were so divided when she gave them the so-called hypothetical situation that she'd be confronted with. While all the men said that Miss X should forget about Joe Boss and ignore his request, the women were bloodthirsty and said she should sue, Amy though; why? Amy was curious and asked herself because as wrong as his actions were, it was more important to her to realize what caused his behavior beyond the simple fact of the matter of it happening. Without knowing the reason, there can never be a resolution, Amy thought to herself.
As she pedaled closer to Barnsdall Art Park, Amy stopped at a news stand and saw the tabloid magazines. Headlines reading, "Alien Invasion! A Plot To Destroy the World!"
"You ever notice how those colored kung fu types show up at the exact same times those aliens show up?" said a newsstand patron.
"Yeah, man, I heard that," the salesman replied. "You'd think they were working together."
"It's like a set up," the patron said.
"I bet'cha their all aliens," an elderly lady said. Amy was in shock as she overheard these comments when she then noticed horse mounted police on practically every corner. Bicycle cops stopping to join them and practically a parade of motorcycle and automobile police as well.
"My god, it's like a police state!" Amy pedaled on. Approaching Barnsdall Art Park, she heard helicopters overhead.
As the small distant planet Pluto remained in the silent vacuum of space, Pleadia was occupied at his workstation within a laboratory designed similarly to the main cavern. Stone walls with the chamber lit by torches mounted upon the walls only advanced equipment stood in this dim, brown tinted area. The main workstation was a unique console with trackballs in the terminal and a circular pad on its top surface featuring a green grid for projecting holographic images. Connected to 1/4" jacks were headsets for their eyes for up-close viewing. On the walls were many charts and diagrams featuring the design and lay out of Armaton Soldiers, Cyborg Warriors, Human Beings, Nazitans and other blueprints near view screens, communication panels and finally an iron door that protected a chest. This freezer-like container would house his collection of cybernetic creatures reduced to egg form to be hatch on their trip to Earth at ten times the speed of light. The form of an egg was chosen because, for Nazitan technology, only something so small as an egg can be transported so fast.
On the wall 90 degrees from this chest was a circular hatch where the eggs would be shot into space and encased in a special auto-propulsion force field so that it may safely enter Earth's atmosphere while the transit time enables the remote-controlled cybernetic creature to hatch. In front of it sat Pleadia himself who cautiously paged down through green, non-roman text on a black display upon his terminal.
"I better choose one that is more sturdy than the last cyborg," Pleadia noted to himself out loud. He approached the cybo-egg chest and opened the door releasing a fog from the deep cold used to maintain the freshness of each creature placed in this suspended animation. Inside of the white, back-lit cabinet was a rack holding large, spotted green eggs. He removed one and walked over to the hatch built into the wall and opened the door.
Pleadia placed the egg on a circular rack to hold it, closed the door and locked the latch. Returning to his workstation, Pleadia pressed various buttons on the control board as a the window on the hatch door glows green.
In outer space, a dot of a bright yellow light flashed on the surface of Pluto when suddenly, a meteorite-like sphere was propelled out of the planet's orbit.
Inside of Pleadia's laboratory, Igan walked into the chamber while Pleadia monitored the trajectory of his latest cyborg as it headed for Earth.
"Ah, Igan. Witness my great creation arriving to its destiny. I formulated this creature from the planet Netroid's Xilophac species from the far side of the Milky Way. That race was so savage. I cannot wait to control this beast's implants using my cerebral remote controller."
"You _do_ enjoy your work, don't you?"
"Why shouldn't I? My peers will never come close to this and after all of the social abuse I took from the popular ones, my long hours and sleepless nights will pay off once I solely am responsible for taking over massive civilization such as Earth's."
In Barnsdall Art Park, Amy rolled to a stop near a tree and got off her bicycle. She'd given up on lunch while chaining it to a tree. She sighed as she just couldn't quite figure it out but then she chuckled to herself. "Heh, knowing Sheratan, he'd probably right him off as a sicko pervert and kick his ass." She wandered away while sighing, "I've got to talk to this guy about this. Find out what's compelled him to behave so crassly."
Overhead--beneath the tree leaves, black, rubber-skinned automatons with iron skeletons and blade-tipped rifles in their gloved hands had leaped into the sky and somersaulted out of sight in opposite directions.
Amy had become instantly surrounded by Armaton Soldiers which had pointed their rifles at her while running through the leaf-covered grass. Shocked, Amy jumped back and put up her fists. "Oh no!" She glanced at her right fist where her zircon Genesis gem-stoned ring repeatedly glowed. "Heh, now it tells me."
Agressively, an Armaton attacked Amy with its weapon.
She used her hands in the Libra scales position to block to rifles before standing on one leg and kicking both in the ribs with another foot.
Another soldier jumped in and swung its bladed rifle at Amy and after she ducked, the girl's raised fist blocked the weapon's returning strike.
Amy used the full extent of her stretch pants to high-kick the sword and reverse-roundhouse the android in the back of the head and the black warrior flipped feet over head onto its back.
Amy looked to behind herself and complained. "Not more!" Indeed, soldiers had zig-zag ran after her. Amy brought up both clenched fists, using her arms' muscles to summon all of her strength before leaping into the air.
Overhead, the two white sneakers Amy wore kicked in the two Armaton's chests before she had fully somersaulted backwards onto her feet.
When the two soldiers fell, Amy struck her Venusian pose shouting, "Libra Scales Ankle Tackle!" Able to perform the manuever in the spandex bodysuit she wore, Amy leaped into the air.
An Armaton looked up and saw Amy somersaulting overhead. She'd come up with her legs spread wide apart as she came forth.
As Amy came down on the Armaton, it's neck was gripped by her ankles while she let her body fall back.
Amy stood on her hands and used her abdominal muscles to pull the soldier into the air before sending it tumbling into the grass behind her.
After standing up off of her hands, bright flashes of light surrounded her when sparks exploded from bolts of light hitting the ground. Amy screamed and leaped away from the white cloud of smoke.
When she hit the grass, Amy rolled over several times until she used her leg to stop herself. Coughing and gasping, Amy braced her chest. "What was that?" Amy looked up through the smoldering grass and nearly jumped back when she saw a winged, metallic humanoid with a blue, horse's head. Cyborg Regurgitor featured a spiked dragon's tail and talon-styled claws while the sharpness of the horn in its forehead was apparent by how bright it shined in the light.
Amy stood up and saw her Genesis Gem glow even brighter. "Late again! Better get that fixed." The Armaton soldiers were lined up beside Cyborg Regurgitor while the creature itself continued to groan and moan.
"But I'll fix it later." Amy stood with her legs together and arms ready shouting, "Genesis Gem!" Her left fist was on her hip while her right fist was held up. "AstroCharge!" she shouted before thrusting her fist ahead.
The jewel on the golden ring began to glow brightly and, in a flash of light, the pink Astroranger appeared in the park.
VenusAstro put her arms out into a T formation.
"Lotia!" she shouted as she made her arms into a cross then forming a circle on her right side. "Venus!"
Cyborg Regurgitor charged ahead with its horn plunging forth. VenusAstro jumped out of the way. VenusAstro turned around to roundhouse Regurgitor's head. The cyborg was unaffected by the kick as it jabbed its horned head into VenusAstro's chest as sparks blew from the impact VenusAstro fell into the ground and then got up again. "Why didn't that work?"
Cyborg Regurgitor turned around and lashed Amy's chest with it's spiked tail as sparks exploded from her chest. VenusAstro turned around and fell into the ground rolling out trying to get up but failing.
A L.A.P.D. car drove along the Interstate 15 highway with Kathy Sanchez driving Frank Mahoney. Kathy looked confused as she spotted no traffic anywhere. Mahoney pointed to the large dormant sphere lying in the desert.
"Here it is." Kathy changes lanes to take the off-ramp from the highway. In the desert, the UFO sat in the sandy dust as M-16 rifles were found lying about and abandoned jeeps surrounding the sphere were soon joined by the police car. Kathy put the car into park and turned off the ignition as she looked around. Frank got out of the car and also saw the abandoned weapons and vehicles.
"I thought there would be more security here from the Federal Government," Kathy said as she unbuckled her seat belt. "Something weird is going on here."
"Obviously. There is no reason nobody would be here with all of this stuff lying around here," Frank replied as Kathy joined him.
"So, what do we expect to find here, Kathy?"
"I don't know," Kathy said as she walked closer to it. "I thought we might take a look, see what we can see and figure out what we can put together."
"Well, you never know what this thing can do so be careful," Frank said.
"I will, Frank." The two detectives examined the dark metallic sphere.
"I couldn't believe all those Air Force jets couldn't beat this thing when all of a sudden, here it is."
"It could be on auto pilot, there has been no activity inside or outside of this thing since it landed here," Kathy said as she knocked on the solid hull.
"Good point. I wonder how this thing flies?"
"I don't know, I guess that... What the hell!" Kathy shouted as suddenly her foot was caught in the sand. Frank turned around. "Kathy?!"
"I'm stuck, Frank!!"
"Hang on, I'll get you out of there," Frank shouted as he ran to her side and pulled her leg out of the sand. "That is _strong_!" Kathy fell to her bottom and tried to pull back. "Frank, help!" Frank finally pulled her foot out of the ground as both of them fell back. "What the hell was that?" Kathy looked at her bare foot as her shoe was evidently sucked under the ground. "I don't know, but whatever it was, it..." The ground rumbled as Frank tried to stand up. "Oh no..." The ground turned the sand as she started slowly sinking.
"Help!!" Kathy called out. Frank fell over but managed to catch her wrists as he tried hard to pull her out. Kathy's legs and waist were already inside of the ground as the rest of her was being drawn in quickly.
"I'm being sucked inside the ground!" Frank pondered if this is what had happened to the soldiers guarding the ship as he pulled back. "I can't hold on, it's too strong!"
"Hang in there!!" suddenly she was drawn under the ground as it re-solidified. "No!" Frank said. Frank took his cellular phone from his coat-pocket and dialed three numbers.
"911 Emergency, this is Operator 47" the operator said over his phone.
"This is Detective Frank Mahoney of Los Angeles police department, we're approximately 20 miles from the Californian border along the Interstate 15 Highway. I think my partner is trapped underground!"
The view of Earth from the moon in outer space was obstructed by the shiny opal-colored globe-shaped space station that cloaked itself in the moon's dark side. Aboard the SpaceBase--Nashiran, Australis and Sheratan, the senior Astrorangers were just leaving when there were suddenly two warning bells and yellow hues of light appeared on the four corners of the walls. On every station, bars of yellow had lit up.
"We have a yellow alert on sector 7-G," Commander Leto reported after attending one of the five consoles on the right wall.
Australis stopped and walked up beside him. "What does that mean?"
Leto shook his head. "The tracking scope is trying to get a lock on the object's coordinates based on the trajectory that it had upon entering the Earth's atmosphere."
"What object?" Nashiran asked.
Commander Leto looked at him and replied, "I've programmed the computers to detect anything entering the Earth's atmosphere that isn't man made by humans."
"So you think this is an alien?" Sheratan asked.
Leto nodded. "Possibly. Once the tracking scope locates it, I will be able to get a full spectrum analysis that will be dumped to a constant digital video log recorder."
"Messuta mentioned that," Nashiran replied. "It's got eight different layers on which visual representations of sensor readings can be placed. Track 1 is basically what can be seen by the naked eye but Track 8 goes so deep, it can analyze the nature of subatomic activity."
"Found it," Commander Leto said. "Scanning the object now, we'll have visual in two seconds." Two beeps come from the console indicating the telescopic sensors found it. "Look at the main viewer."
Sheratan turned his head and watched the main viewer and an overhead view had zoomed in on VenusAstro side kicking Cyborg Regurgitor back and then reverse-round housing over its head. The blue horse-headed creature turned around, whipping its spiked tail across the chest, sparking from her uniform in the process.
"It's another cybernetic mutation," Australis said.
"So those aliens didn't go anywhere after all," Nashiran said. "What a mission; I wish I had some idea of who these beings are and what they are capable of."
Sheratan stepped closer to the control panel as he ended the satellite feed of the battle on earth. "It doesn't matter. We are going to have to keep fighting them until they go away."
"Try to get as much information about this foe as possible," Leto said. "There is no way we can beat it and others of its kind without it."
"We'll do our best," Nashiran said. Australis and Sheratan affirmatively nodded.
"Good luck." They all gathered together and lined up from left, Australis, Sheratan to Nashiran on the right.
"Genesis Gem!" they all shouted with their left fists on their hips and right fist pointed up.
"AstroCharge!" they shouted as they thrusted their fists in front of themselves. The jewel on the golden ring began to glow brightly as the white-after glow blackened out the scene.
In front of a red grided background, white beam of light rolled back and forth across a black silhouette of Sheratan leaving him in a shiny red full-body jump suit with a white arrow-head design upon his chest. Accompanied by a black-visor masked helmet, silver belt, white gloves and boots with a golden star on his circular belt buckle.
Black silhouettes of Australis and Nashiran were both seen before the white bar of light scanned across their bodies. They were molecularly showered with the same uniform in green and black colors before they disappeared into a flash of white light.
To VenusAstro, it looked as if Cyborg Regurgitor had been running after her in slow motion as it prepared its jaws and claws for a deadly feast. In the sky--the red, green and black Astrorangers somersaulted overhead and out of sight one after the other in opposite directions.
In total, six boots crashed into Regurgitor's face. In the sky, it's blue, scaly body was already in midair while curling over en route into a tree. After the cyborg flew into the bark, Regurgitor dropped out of sight.
VenusAstro was still on the ground as the three rangers ran up to her and helped her stand.
"Lotia!" SaturnAstro shouted. "What happened?"
"In three words," she replied to the black Astroranger, "I was attacked."
MarsAstro shook his red-helmeted head. "Great, then she knows as much as we do." All of a sudden, the white Astroranger had somersaulted through the sky overhead until he flew out of sight.
Landing in front of the Astroranger on one knee and both arms out, he turned around and assumed his Mercurian battle posture.
"'bout time you showed up," SaturnAstro said.
The white Astroranger turned his head look at him as he came out of his position. "Save it, Nash--I couldn't just leave my delivery truck on the freeway. I came as soon as I heard Leto call my cell phone."
"GUYS!" shouted VenusAstro as soon as she shoved her masked face between the two of them. "That thing is coming to!" The pink Astroranger pointed to the monster that flexed its arms.
A bolt of lightning struck the ground as all the rangers turned around to see Tortan, the samurai Nazitan warrior appear in the park.
"Now what?" MarsAstro asked after looking around.
"Greetings, warriors. I am Tortan of the Nazitan Intergalactic Empire and these are my Armaton Soldiers. Who might you be?"
"Galaxy Task Force Astrorangers of the Uton Planetary Empire," VenusAstro announced with pride. "What are you doing here?"
"I am here to assist in Cyborg Regurgitor's assimilation of Earth's impressive population of nearly six billion into our own for the purpose of Adol the Great's mission to save the Nazitan's from extinction," Tortan said while the Astrorangers stood ready for action. "And now, you are the only thing to stand into Lord Vahora's plans for this planet," Tortan said as he drew his sword.
"Celestial Weapons!" the rangers shouted in unison with their fists drawn. MarsAstro drew his FireSword before JupiterAstro's ThunderBow appeared in his fist. MercuryAstro's Power Staff appeared in his fists prior to the Sonic Boomerang appearing in VenusAstro's grip. SaturnAstro's Battle Scythe materialized within his fist before changing battle stances.
"Charge!" MarsAstro commanded.
"On guard, Astro Rangers," Tortan said as he ran after the Astrorangers.
MarsAstro jumped in, striking down with his sword but was knocked clear by Tortan swinging blade. MercuryAstro ran in to attack with his staff but he stumbled past Tortan when his sword knocked away the white Astroranger's weapon.
Then, JupiterAstro jumped in but was punched and tumbled off to the side.
Tortan struck down but SaturnAstro and VenusAstro blocked him with the black BattleScythe and pink Sonic Boomerang.
Tortan withdrew his sword and sliced up between the Astroranger's weapons to separate them so they retreated.
MercuryAstro came back around the other way but, Tortan swung his sword against the white Astroranger's abs and sparks to broke out of his shiny uniform.
After he flipped forward off his feet and onto his back, MercuryAstro rolled away.
MarsAstro and SaturnAstro double-attacked Tortan on his left and his right while Tortan used his sword to block their weapons.
Again, Tortan removed his sword and cut upwards to separate them before striking down both SaturnAstro and then MarsAstro with sparks blowing both Astrorangers down.
VenusAstro locked her Boomerang with Tortan's sword but Tortan pushed back she turned around and fell into the ground rolling away.
Tortan turned around and stood back as he laughed and pointed. "That was hardly challenging, now you shall sample my blade!" Tortan horizontally positioned his sword as he ran his gloved hand the length of the blade turning it the bright color of fire. Pointing the sword at the Astrorangers caused the light to shoot off of his powerful sword.
The beam slammed into the ground in front of the Astrorangers, producing a massive explosion to blow them off their feet before twisting over and falling.
Underneath the surface of Pluto--Adol the Great observed Tortan sword fight with the Astrorangers while sitting within his iron clad throne. Adol sighed behind his scarf-masked face. "I believe that now is the time we should get rid of the aggravation of these heros and take them to Mars."
"I will have Pleadia prepare the transfer," Igan said as he was about to leave.
"No, I will do it. I need them somewhere, where we can study them in case there are more Astrorangers," Adol said.
Igan looked behind himself. "Why not take them into outer space?"
"And waste the opportunity to learn about them? What if there are more of them?" Adol proposed. "Think, Igan. To dispose of them would be a waste of a perfect opportunity to remove them of their last defense to stop us from ruling Earth." Seated in his throne, Adol stood up and approached his crystal ball.
"By the powers invested in me by Lord Vahora and the Nazitan Intergalactic Empire of the Dark Solar System, take them to an alternate dimension of Mars," Adol said as he waved his hands over the crystal ball generating arcs of energy between his fingers and the surface of the globe.
On Earth in Barnsdall Art Park, the Astrorangers stood up again while Tortan took his sword upside down into his left and and put his fist on his chest. "Time for me to return to my mate Ginara as we watch your end."
"No!" MarsAstro protested. Suddenly arcs of lightening struck the ground as the environment's scenery sharply warped randomly out of proportion.
"What's going on?!" VenusAstro demanded to know. MercuryAstro looked into the sky to see dark clouds rolling in with lightning flashing within them. "I don't know, but I've got a pretty good clue that it wont be good."
The Astroranger SpaceBase, an opal globe shaped satellite, stayed in synchronous orbit with the dark-side of the Earth's moon. On the top deck, Commander Leto watched the battle on Earth on the main viewer as suddenly he saw the lighting flicker on screen. "What in the world is going on down there?" he asked out-loud as he typed away at one of the workstations.
"Subatomic manipulation? From Pluto? This thing is messing with their subatomic vibrational signatures and it seems to be dropping in rate."
At the park, the ground rocked like an earthquake as the light flickering became brighter. The Astrorangers stumbled around as Tortan took leave of the scene with his Armaton soldiers.
"Brace yourself, team," SaturnAstro said. The team suddenly disappeared into one of the blackouts.
Suddenly, on a desert with a red tinted sky, a strobe-light like flashing occurred as the arcs of light stemmed from the ground into the sky. The Galaxy Task Force appeared in the next flash, suddenly dropping slowly to the ground.
"_What_ was that?" VenusAstro asked, pulling herself up.
JupiterAstro looked around. "Somehow we got transported away from where we were but I don't know how." Suddenly a deep growling and snarling is heard growing louder in volume.
SaturnAstro's head quickly turned as he saw Cyborg Regurgitor standing before them all. "Oh no."
"Regurgitor!" JupiterAstro said. Suddenly a laughing echoed all around them when they looked into the sky to see Adol, Pleadia, Igan, Tortan and Ginara's image fade into the orange sky.
"Welcome to the alter dimension of Mars, battle team. Here is where you shall fight to your death," Adol said.
"Who are you!?" MercuryAstro asked.
"I am Adol the Great, mission commander of the Nazitan forces in this solar system."
"When we get rid of this thing, we're going to track you down and flush you out," MarsAstro shouted.
"If you survive. Goodbye, warriors," said Adol as their image disappeared.
"Oh we are in trouble now," SaturnAstro said.
VenusAstro gripped her fist beneath her chin. "How do we get out of here?!"
"Where IS here??" MarsAstro asked.
JupiterAstro shook his head. "I don't know, but if we don't find out soon, it's only a matter of time before that walking can-opener rips us all apart." Each of them looked ahead, preparing themselves for combat for they had no escape. On the reddish sand and rock powered ground, the blue Cyborg Regurgitor took its first step forward...
TO BE CONTINUED
In next week's episode of Galaxy Task Force Astroranger. . .
The Five Astroshuttles unite to become AstroMan as Adol the Great energizes Pleadia's Regurgitor robot beast into Titan-Cyborg Regurgitor. Can the Astrorangers escape the wasteland of Mars' sub-dimension and save Kathy from the UFO set to self destruct? All in episode #4, "Fly! The Machines"