Silver Vale, known officially as the Lunar Colony, was Earth's first-response sentinel, a city of resilience forged from lunar regolith and ingenuity. Strategically located in the Moon's Sea of Tranquility, its foundations were more than practical—they were historical. Beneath its fortified dome lay the colossal assault Zord known as Serpentera, its serpentine form embedded deep within the moonrock. The Alliance's excavation efforts, initiated years after Red was presumed KIA, had transformed the colony into a dual-purpose bastion: a city prepared for war and a hub of technological reclamation.
Massive railguns lined Silver Vale's outer rim, their sleek barrels concealed beneath retractable basalt panels until needed. These weapons, capable of targeting and dismantling enemy ships before they reached Earth's atmosphere, formed the city's outermost line of defense. Beneath them, shield generators hummed faintly, projecting an invisible dome over the colony, while hangars nestled into the Moon's crust housed squadrons of fighters and support vessels ready for deployment.
Despite its formidable arsenal, Silver Vale was more than a weapon. Its domes contained thriving parks of lunar flora, bioluminescent plants casting soft, natural light across paths where scientists, pilots, and engineers walked side by side. Transparent walkways stretched above the bustling concourse, connecting observation towers and tactical outposts.
Red disembarked from the transport with a measured stride, her boots clacking softly against the polished stone floor. She was dressed in military casual attire—a tailored crimson-accented jacket over charcoal slacks, with sturdy boots that hinted at the readiness beneath her composed demeanor. Her hair was tied back neatly, a reflection of her unyielding focus.
The bustling main concourse stretched before her, alive with motion. Pilots in flight suits hurried toward their hangars, engineers hauled crystalline conduits into workshops, and data analysts huddled over portable holo-tables. Above, the transparent dome offered a view of Earth's blue-green radiance hanging low on the horizon, a stark reminder of the fragility Silver Vale was built to protect.
"Aegis," Red said under her breath, her tone even but firm. "Confirm Kassens' location."
Her AI companion's voice hummed to life, steady and precise. "General Kassens is in the observation chamber overseeing Serpentera's vault. Shield grid status remains at 96% operational capacity. Fighter squadrons are completing readiness drills. No delays flagged except for a minor targeting recalibration in Railgun Array Three."
Red's jaw tightened. "A known issue, or something new?"
"New. Incident report filed by Squadron Leader Kepler. Details indicate brief synchronization lag with the primary targeting algorithm. Current mitigation protocols are in place."
"Keep me updated," Red replied. She exhaled slowly, casting her gaze toward the fortified dome in the distance, where excavation lights flickered like fireflies against the rugged lunar surface. Serpentera. The name itself carried a weight she hadn't anticipated facing today.
Before the Ceres mission, Serpentera had been nothing more than a forgotten relic in the Command Center archives—a weapon of immense power buried under layers of bureaucracy and secrecy. Now, years after the Alliance had initiated its excavation and repair, it had become a potential ace in their fight against the Elvanurus. If it could be controlled.
As she approached the lift that would take her to the observation chamber, Red adjusted the cuffs of her jacket, her fingers brushing against the worn fabric. The silence of Silver Vale pressed against her ears, broken only by the occasional hum of shield generators and the faint chatter of personnel. She stepped into the lift, and the doors closed with a quiet hiss.
The ascent was smooth, the hum of anti-gravitational mechanisms a constant backdrop. Aegis filled the silence with tactical updates. "Additional note: excavation progress on Serpentera's primary control interface is at 72%. Engineering teams project a functional framework within six months if current schedules hold."
"Six months isn't good enough," Red muttered. "If the Elvanurus hit before then, we'll need every advantage we can get."
"I agree. However, activating Serpentera prematurely risks destabilizing both the Zord and the surrounding infrastructure. The engineering teams are cautious for good reason."
The lift slowed to a halt, and the doors slid open to reveal the observation chamber. Red stepped forward, her gaze immediately drawn to the panoramic view of the excavation site below. The fortified dome over Serpentera glimmered faintly, its lattice of energy conduits casting a pale glow across the lunar surface. Beyond it, the distant Earth loomed, half-shadowed, a silent witness to their preparations.
General Kassens stood near the holo-table at the center of the room, his hands clasped behind his back. The crisp lines of his dark uniform accentuated the rigidity of his posture, and his expression was unreadable as he studied the shifting schematics of Serpentera.
Without turning, he said, his voice low and commanding, "Red, I trust you didn't call me here to admire the view."
The hum of the observation chamber's systems underscored the tension in the room. Red stood firm, her fingers gripping the edge of the holo-table, her jaw tight as she stared across at General Kassens. The blue glow of Serpentera's holographic frame bathed them both in an eerie light, amplifying the sharp lines of his face. Despite the familial bond they shared, there was no softness in his expression. His arms were crossed, his stance radiating authority, and his silence pressed her to speak.
"I went to FrostSpire," she began, her voice low but controlled. "I sought out Zophram."
Kassens' brow furrowed slightly, his arms tightening. "You went to FrostSpire," he repeated, his tone edged with disbelief. "Without informing anyone?"
"I didn't need permission," she said sharply. "I needed answers."
"And you thought you'd find them with Zophram?" he asked, his voice calm but edged with skepticism. "The man whose methods you've openly criticized in your reports since your return?"
"That's why I went," she replied evenly. "Because I don't trust him. But he's connected to everything—our team, the Alliance, the Elvanurus. If anyone had the answers, it was him."
Kassens remained silent for a moment, his sharp gaze unwavering. "And what did he tell you?"
Red hesitated, the memory of FrostSpire's icy corridors flashing vividly in her mind. Despite being the most isolated mega-city on Earth, FrostSpire buzzed with quiet, disciplined activity. The city's Spartan design—functional, minimalistic—reflected its harsh Antarctic environment. But it wasn't lifeless. Engineers, researchers, and families moved through its narrow streets and insulated buildings, their breath visible in the chill. The isolation was palpable, but so was the determination.
She forced herself to focus, her hands tightening on the table. "He told me he's an Elvanurus," she said finally.
The General's expression darkened, his brow furrowing deeply. "An Elvanurus," he repeated flatly. "The same Zophram who's overseen the rehabilitation of tens of thousands of children since Countdown? The man who's helped soldiers with PTSD reintegrate into society and active duty? That Zophram?"
"Yes," Red replied, her voice steady. "That Zophram."
Kassens shook his head, his tone hardening. "You're accusing the head of Alliance psychiatry—a man whose work is not only well-documented but transformative—of being part of the enemy we've spent decades fighting?"
"I'm not accusing him," she countered. "I'm telling you what he said."
He folded his arms tighter, his voice calm but sharp. "Margaret, Zophram's methods are designed to poke and prod for weaknesses and create outbursts. He pushes boundaries with suggestion, not manipulation. His work—especially with the children of Alphabet—is the reason we've reclaimed so much of what we lost. The man you're describing doesn't match the man I've worked with for years."
Red's jaw tightened. "I know what he's done. And I know what he said. He didn't just tell me, General—he showed me."
Her gaze bore into his, unflinching. "He was sculpting a swan out of ice. It was delicate, intricate. I could see every detail—the feathers, the curve of its neck. But then he changed it. The sculpture ignited, its wings stretching wide, glowing with blue fire. It became a phoenix, alive and screaming. I felt the heat, heard the cry. It wasn't just some illusion."
She paused, exhaling sharply as she steadied herself. "And then I blinked, and I wasn't in FrostSpire anymore. I was standing outside the Command Center in California. No memory of leaving. No record in Aegis' logs. Nothing."
Kassens' brow furrowed further, his gaze narrowing. "You're certain this wasn't some kind of neural simulation? A glitch in your connection with Aegis?"
"It wasn't a glitch," she snapped. "It was real. It was deliberate."
The General's voice remained measured, though his tone carried a skeptical edge. "Zophram's methods are well-documented. He probes, Margaret. He suggests, challenges, unsettles. That's what makes him effective. But that doesn't make him an Elvanurus."
Red straightened, her voice cold. "Then explain Blue. Explain why Zophram ordered him placed in the Ranger Isolation Vault."
Kassens stiffened slightly, his arms dropping as his expression darkened further. "What about Blue?"
"He admitted it," she said sharply. "Zophram put Blue in the vault. He called it a crucible—a death. He said it was the only way to prepare him for what's coming. Two weeks, completely isolated, cut off from everything. That's not treatment, General. That's cruelty."
Kassens' tone sharpened, his voice rising slightly. "The vault is operational knowledge, Margaret. It's designed to contain Ranger-class threats. If Zophram ordered Blue placed there, it was because he believed Blue was a danger—to the Alliance, to Earth, or to himself. Zophram doesn't make those decisions lightly."
"And you didn't question it?" Red demanded, her frustration boiling over. "You didn't think to intervene?"
"Medical personnel have complete authority in matters of physical, emotional, and psychological health," Kassens replied firmly. "And don't forget—Blue was accused of treason. If Zophram placed him in the vault, it was because he believed it was the only option."
Red froze at his words, her gaze narrowing. "Treason?" she repeated, her voice dropping, sharp and cold. "Zophram told me he was overruled—by the Alliance, by the military. He said he didn't want Blue in that vault at all."
Kassens' expression shifted, his brow furrowing slightly. "Overruled?" he repeated, his tone edged with disbelief. "That's not how it works. Medical calls are absolute—Zophram had the authority, and he knew it."
Red's jaw tightened, her mind racing. The pieces didn't fit. Either Zophram was lying to her, or there was more to the story than she'd realized. Her voice turned cold, cutting through the growing tension. "So which is it, General? Was he lying to me, or are you in the dark, too?"
For a moment, the room fell into silence, the weight of her accusation thick between them. Finally, Kassens exhaled, his tone low but firm. "I'll look into it," he said reluctantly. "But tread carefully, Margaret. Zophram isn't someone you provoke lightly."
Her lips pressed into a thin line, her expression unreadable. "I didn't come here to provoke him, General. I came here to stop him."
The silence between them lingered, weighted with unspoken tension. General Kassens straightened, his sharp gaze shifting toward the dimly lit wall behind him.
"I'm glad you had the chance to see Serpentera up close," he began, his voice laced with an almost reverent undertone.
Red tilted her head, impatience flashing briefly across her expression. "That's not why I'm here, General."
Instead of responding, Kassens pressed a button on the conference desk. With a soft metallic hiss, the darkened wall slid open, revealing a massive viewport. The room flooded with light, and beyond the glass loomed Serpentera, its gargantuan form coiled like a dormant colossus. Red's breath caught for a moment despite herself.
The Zord was immense, its sheer scale overwhelming. Its segmented body shimmered faintly under the glare of industrial lights, ancient rune-like markings etched into its surface. Engineers swarmed around its towering limbs and angular head, their lights flickering like fireflies against the Zord's imposing mass. The entire bay seemed dwarfed by its presence.
Kassens allowed the moment to stretch before breaking the silence. "That," he said, gesturing toward the colossal Zord, "is the most powerful weapon we've ever encountered. And if we're lucky, it will be the key to saving Earth."
Red's eyes lingered on Serpentera's jagged maw and aggressive design. "The archives call it Serpentera," Kassens continued, his tone measured.
She crossed her arms, her skepticism clear. "And what do the archives say about what it's capable of?"
Kassens' expression hardened. "Not much. The Command Center's records are fractured at best. But we do know its power." He hesitated, then added, "Even the Rangers of the 1990s couldn't destroy it. At best, they drained its power reserves and forced a retreat."
Turning to the viewport, his voice took on a steely edge. "Serpentera can obliterate entire Elvanurus fleets. It can annihilate their combat mechs in a single strike and dismantle their staging areas before deployment. Its size alone makes it nearly impervious to conventional weaponry, and its offensive capabilities are unmatched. Once its flight systems are restored, it will have the speed to respond to threats anywhere in the alliance within minutes."
Red's jaw tightened. "All the more reason to leave it buried, or destroy it outright."
Kassens' gaze turned grim. "We don't have that luxury. The Elvanurus fleet isn't just stirring—it's preparing to escape. After a decade of stalemate, they won't settle for occupation. They'll demand a blood price."
As Kassens spoke, Red's thoughts drifted to her encounter with Zophram. His admission that he was an Elvanurus still haunted her. Now, staring at Serpentera, the possibility that it was of Elvanurus design gnawed at her. They had never displayed vehicles of this scale or destructive power before. If this Zord was indeed Zophram's creation… the implications chilled her.
"What about its power supply?" she asked, her tone cautious but probing. "The archives made it clear its energy requirements are beyond anything we've ever encountered."
"They were," Kassens acknowledged. "But we've solved that. Outside the Sea of Tranquility, we uncovered an old Cog manufacturing plant from the Machine Empire. Its Neo-Plutonium Core was dormant but intact. Our engineers have retrofitted it into Serpentera."
Red's brow furrowed. "And you're confident it will work?"
"The installation is complete," Kassens said. "But we're proceeding cautiously. Right now, we're only able to draw about 20% of the core's total energy—enough for limited systems, but far from full functionality. We're increasing output incrementally to avoid catastrophic failures while repairing damaged circuitry."
Red's unease deepened as her gaze returned to the massive Zord. Zophram's calm, cryptic demeanor replayed in her mind. If Serpentera was truly linked to the Elvanurus… it was a risk she couldn't ignore.
"Look at those runes, General," she said, her voice firm. "Some of them resemble Elvanurus designs. What if they're tied to it? What if they can control it?"
Kassens' expression darkened slightly. "That's why we're taking every precaution."
"And what if that's not enough?" Red pressed, her tone sharper now. "Zords sometimes have a will of their own. What happens if Serpentera turns on us? Or if the Elvanurus have their own weapons of this scale?"
Kassens exhaled heavily, his voice carrying a rare vulnerability. "That's why I need you on board, Margaret. You understand the risks better than anyone. But tell me this: if not Serpentera, then what?"
Red hesitated, her silence prompting him to step closer. "I'm not one to heap praise on Rangers," Kassens admitted, his tone softening. "But having you back? It's a miracle. You get results. But even miracles have limits. How do five Rangers hold the line against an entire fleet?" He gestured toward Serpentera. "This is how we even the odds."
Red crossed her arms, her gaze unwavering as it rested on the Zord. "We've struggled to keep our Zords functional during heavy combat. Maintenance alone has nearly grounded us before. And you think we can keep that monstrosity operational?" She gestured toward Serpentera's sprawling form. "It's not just a weapon, General. It's a force of nature."
Kassens nodded gravely. "Which is why I need your expertise."