This is a subplot I want to introduce into my Lightning Force campaign.
I don’t remember this concept really being explored in depth in any of the Americanized Rangers series. Beast Morphers had Grid Battle Force. RPM had remnants of a military fighting Venjix. Does SPD count? Kinda? Maybe?
I’ve always thought it would be interesting if the US Army took an interest in the Morphing Grid. How would Gosei or Zordon handle it? (Don’t get me started on Alpha 5. There’s a reason my series has Alpha 4.) I see a couple of things potentially happening.
So much potential or a mighty potential for conflict.
Supposing Zordon or whichever Ranger leader said yes to the General’s offer to have the Rangers team up with the military. At which time the Rangers go through Boot Camp and Special Forces Training. Their weapons and Zords get militarized into fighting machines. Everything gets a new paint job. (Red, Pink and Yellow are now gone as Ranger colors…)
Think about how cool military Zords would be. Tank, APC, Attack Helicopter, Jet, and Patrol Boat Zords. Maybe even a Battleship Zord? (Carrier Zord like Pyramidas?) The potential firepower would be insane. We’re pretty much talking Transformers at this point. Not to mention what the military would do with a working teleportation system. <Shudder.>
It gets crazier yet. Now the military has access to a team of nigh-unstoppable commandos to carry out secret ops anywhere in the world. Their new weapons and gear are enhanced by their Ranger armor and abilities. Soon, every major military in the world is trying to tap into the Morphing Grid.
This is where it gets really dark.
So we now have these teenagers that have been trained to kill on command. I mean, blowing up Putties is one thing, sure. But live human beings that have no affiliation to Rita or any other baddies? That’s grim.
Not only that, but killing other humans pretty much violates everything the Grid stands for. Not to mention the notion that a lot of Japanese entertainment has been pretty much against gun violence since WW2. That’s why Rangers usually go in for melee tactics and martial arts every chance they get in the TV series. Yes, Zords and even the Rangers themselves tend to be armed to the gills with ranged firepower. Do they use it very often? Nope.
Right there is where Zordon, Gosei or whomever, possibly the Grid itself would say, “No” to any offer to have the Rangers join the military. Sure, the Rangers will go fight kaiju and other monster threats. The Power Rangers are heroes at their core, not soldiers. Alas, that would leave the military with the other, less subtle option which I will discuss in another article.
Jeff's Game Box 