I’ll be the Red Ranger -
Chapter 147 – Debriefing
- Oliver -
Although Oliver's recovery had been remarkably swift, he still needed to remain in the hospital for another week under observation. During this period, he tried to use the NET as much as possible to keep up with the war and the fires raging within the Empire. However, it was difficult to glean much from public information alone.
From what he could gather, the tenth wave had come to a halt. Both humans and Orks had suffered significant casualties at Half Wall. The Orks didn't seem to expect that their Titans would be annihilated.
‘Also, they lost the Elves,’ Oliver thought. ‘One way or another, they seemed valuable to the Orks, which must have impacted them.’
Once he was discharged, a few soldiers accompanied him back to Pallas. He still had to undergo the mission debriefing, and until then, they were taking every possible precaution to know where he was at all times.
‘Not that these soldiers could stop me if I wanted to leave,’ Oliver mused as he observed them beside him. In truth, they'd been quite friendly with him, especially after he'd received a medal for his actions on the frontline. He was seen as a symbol of the Empire's success.
Wherever Oliver went, he could hear the newfound respect.
"Sir, congratulations on your mission."
"Thank you very much for your service."
"It's a shame you couldn't receive the medal in person."
Even so, Oliver was nervous about the debriefing.
‘Katherine, Isabella, and Alan will have to wait until I get back,’ Oliver thought as he walked from his home in Pallas to the rail station.
He had to go to one of the Ranger Operations headquarters, where they were expecting him.
‘There's no point in going to York right now anyway; John isn't there. I’ll see Katherine and Isabella when he's back,’ Oliver planned as he continued on his way.
‘Alan is better off waiting until he's out of the hospital, too.’ Although his injuries weren't severe, he had to be hospitalized for some time due to the explosion during the ceremony.
As Oliver stepped off the train at the station, he found himself in the administrative center of Pallas. Unlike the research area, the buildings seemed more serious, with more people walking around with their armor partially activated.
Everyone seemed to have somewhere urgent to be, walking briskly through the streets, entering and exiting buildings.
‘Is it always like this, or is it because of our current state?’ Oliver wondered, but he had no way of knowing the answer.
Oliver stepped into one of the colossal buildings that dominated the skyline. It was one of the few buildings that stretched so high that it appeared to connect with the opposing end of the vast orbital platform.
Riding the lift to the fifty-seventh floor, Oliver felt a slight tension knotting in his stomach. As the doors slid open with a quiet hiss, he was greeted by a group of officers waiting near the entrance to a series of conference rooms.
"Mr. Oliver. They're expecting you in room two," one of the officials said, gesturing down the corridor. The officers flanked him subtly, their presence a silent escort as he proceeded. Oliver couldn't shake the feeling that he was under scrutiny; their eyes followed his every move, assessing.
When he reached the designated door, he took a steadying breath before pressing the panel to enter. The door slid open smoothly, revealing a modest room furnished with several tables and a large wall covered in interactive displays and writing boards. It felt more like a strategic planning room than an interrogation chamber.
Two individuals awaited him inside, seated and engaged in quiet conversation. The first was immediately recognizable: Wiz, one of the few who still wore traditional glasses over his sharp eyes. His white beard gave him a distinguished, almost scholarly appearance.
To Wiz's left was another man Oliver recognized from a recent broadcast—the general who had bestowed medals. 'That was... Stewart?' Oliver thought, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his mind.
As Oliver stepped through the doorway, General Stewart ceased speaking and turned his gaze upon him. The general's eyes were keen, appraising him with a thoroughness that made Oliver's pulse quicken.
'There's no way they know I'm the Green Ranger, right?' Oliver's thoughts stirred with unease. 'They won't ask to see the Crystals in my gauntlet, will they?'
"Please, have a seat, Oliver," Wiz said, gesturing to the chair on his right. His tone was cordial but carried an undercurrent of seriousness.
"Leave us," Stewart ordered the accompanying officials and soldiers without taking his eyes off Oliver.
"Yes, sir," they replied in unison, filing out of the room and closing the door behind them.
"Oliver, you haven't had the opportunity to meet directly, but this is General Stewart," Wiz began, indicating the man beside him. "He is part of a special division that deals directly with matters concerning the Emperor."
"It's an honor to meet you, sir," Oliver said, rising slightly to deliver a respectful salute before seating himself again. Despite his composed exterior, a swirl of confusion and apprehension stirred within him at the general's unexpected presence.
"Given that the mission you were on has become of utmost importance to the Empire, he will participate in the debriefing," Wiz explained.
Oliver nodded, his mind racing through the possibilities. 'Just stick to the official report,' he reminded himself. 'Don't give them any reason to suspect anything.'
"Very well," Wiz continued, his gaze steady. "To begin, I need you to recount the entire mission from the start."
Oliver took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts. He could feel General Stewart's eyes fixed on him, measuring every nuance of his expression. The weight of the moment settled upon him like a tangible force.
Oliver began his explanation from the moment they arrived in Olympus, detailing the planning process, the Rangers involved, and the moment they departed from the Half Wall.
None of the generals interrupted as he recounted the events. Oliver then described the departure from the Half Wall, their encounter with the Blights, and, ultimately, the Rangers' betrayal.
"So, you managed to eliminate a Yellow Ranger with more experience than you?" Stewart questioned.
"Yes, but it was sheer luck, sir. He expected me to freeze up, take no action, or that my attack would be weak because I’m a Blue Ranger," Oliver replied, attempting to provide as much detail as possible.
"How is that possible?" Stewart asked.
Oliver didn’t want to mention the Trial Tower but decided to share only what was required. "I trained with one of the Yellow Rangers, who taught me a technique that temporarily increases my physical abilities by overloading parts of my body with Energy."
Stewart nodded in understanding. If there were any other emotions on his face, unfortunately, Oliver couldn’t discern them.
Then, Oliver began recounting the parts no one else knew—the moment he got separated from Chloe, the Yellow Ranger who had been on the mission with him. He described what he observed at the Ork base, the magic being performed, and the moment the Titans began advancing.
This was the part he had prepared for over the past few days: how to recount what happened in the hangar.
Oliver explained that he had arrived at the hangar, where he fought some Orks but failed against the Red Ork. However, the Orks had been transporting beasts and creatures. By releasing them, the beasts turned on their captors, eliminating the Red Ork before fleeing the scene.
‘Not a lie, but not completely true.’ Oliver thought.
Oliver then explained that he waited for rescue until the Pink Rangers eventually picked him up.
Wiz posed several more questions about the structure of the Ork base, delving into the specifics of the ceremony that had brought a Titan to life. He seemed genuinely interested in every minute detail Oliver could recall—the layout of the ritual site, the symbols etched into the ground, the chants echoed by the Orks. Throughout the debriefing, General Stewart remained mostly silent, his sharp eyes fixed intently on Oliver. It was clear he was more interested in analyzing Oliver's demeanor than the particulars of his testimony.
At times, Oliver could catch a few glances exchanged between Wiz and Stewart. He wasn’t quite sure what they meant—whether he had been approved or if there was still distrust—but he didn’t feel good about it.
"I believe that concludes your debriefing, Oliver," Wiz finally said, setting down his tablet. "Do you have any questions for us?"
Oliver hesitated briefly before speaking. "Sir, how are Rangers Chloe and Emma?" The concern was evident in his voice. He hadn't had the chance to help them during the mission and hadn't heard any updates on their fate.
Wiz offered a reassuring nod. "The same rescue team that extracted you also managed to find both of them alive in the forest. We were able to recover the bodies of the other Rangers as well." He paused before adding, "Emma is currently on leave. She'll need time to recover psychologically before returning to active duty—if she chooses to. Chloe has already rejoined the Yellow Rangers at their base."
Relief washed over Oliver. "Thank you, sir," he said sincerely, preparing to stand.
"One more thing, Oliver," Wiz interjected, gesturing for him to remain seated. "Have you been keeping up with the events of the past few weeks?"
"Yes, sir," Oliver replied. He knew exactly what the general was referring to—the attacks orchestrated by the Children of the Past were impossible to ignore.
"Good," Wiz continued. "That will make this conversation easier." He exchanged a brief glance with General Stewart before proceeding. "After extensive discussions, we've decided to assemble specialized teams to undertake an infiltration mission. Given the circumstances, your name has been put forward for consideration."
Oliver felt his stomach drop. ‘An infiltration mission?’ he thought, a mixture of apprehension and disbelief swirling inside him. The prospect was daunting—it would be a significant escalation in responsibility and danger. Moreover, he hadn't even completed his basic training.
"Because you're also a Nameless," Wiz explained, "it will be easier for you to integrate without drawing unnecessary attention. You'll be able to move among them more freely."
For a moment, Oliver was speechless. He glanced at General Stewart, whose expression remained inscrutable, his gaze steady.
"B-but sir," Oliver stammered, finding his voice. "I still need to complete my basic training." He hoped they would see reason, that they would understand he wasn't ready for such a high-stakes assignment.
Wiz regarded him calmly. "Rest assured, this isn't an immediate deployment," he said. "There will be a six-month preparation period. That's part of the reason General Stewart is here. You'll be undergoing intensive training with the Sixth Division."
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