Category:A-Squad Rangers

The A-Squad Rangers are the first team of S.P.D. Rangers. As such, they are known to the best-of-the-best of the academy. However they went M.I.A. after they were sent off on a mission, thus leaving the protection of Earth to the B-Squad.

History
The A-Squad were the Space Patrol Delta Academy's elite Ranger team, the defenders of Earth. During their early appearances in the series, they only appeared morphed and were sent out to face the newest threat to the planet's safety. However, the A-Squad were actually corrupt; at first, Bridge had sensed "something off" with their aura, but didn't get the chance to find out what. In the episode "Confronted", the A-Squad is sent to the Helix Nebula to defend it from Emperor Gruumm. This however, was a trap, and all contact was lost with them after it was made clear that they were being overwhelmed. They were considered "Missing in Action".

Unknown to the Rangers, the A-Squad survived and defected to Gruumm's side, wanting to be on "the winning team" (as stated in "Endings"). They bided their time, destroying the SPD Gamma 4 base for unknown reasons which gave Kat and Cruger some suspicions of who the attackers were after an interrupted distress communication made by a SPD personnel had startled them (confirmed at conventions and in interviews by the show's producers), before finally faking a crash-land on Gamma-Orion and sending an SOS to have the B-Squad 'find' them alive. The B-Squad Rangers soon became frustrated when Cruger abruptly dismissed them to debrief the A-Squad and they realized that they were once again "the reserves, zord cleanup detail," as Jack Landors put it. After a year of being Earth's main line of defense, they were pushed aside.

However, the A-Squad revealed their true allegiance and kidnapped Commander Cruger. Following this treachery, the B-Squad battled with the A-Squad. Despite the A-Squad initially having the upper hand in combat, the B-Squad managed to overcome them with a combination of smarter battle tactics and S.W.A.T. Mode. Escalating the battle, the A-Squad upped the ante by unleashing their own Megazord, which transformed from Broodwing's drill vehicle. A battle ensued, but when the Delta Command Base was overtaken by Broodwing's forces and transformed into the Delta Command Megazord to destroy the city, the Omegamax Megazord was disabled and the Delta Squad Megazord was destroyed. After the B-Squad had recovered, they recovered the S.W.A.T. flyers from the secret underground zord bay- which only Bridge had known about-, using the S.W.A.T. Megazord to destroy the A-Squad's Megazord, finally defeating them.

The A-Squad was found guilty of treason and were contained by the B-Squad without a further fight. As a consequence of this action, and at the request of B-Squad (who felt that they were B-Squad rather than A-Squad) the A-Squad "ranking" was retired.

In the pages of Jetix Magazine, the A-Squad make an appearance in the S.P.D. comic strip, in the two part "finale" of the strip "Invasion". Here, they are brainwashed by Gruumm as opposed to corrupted, and turn on the S.P.D. defense armada orbiting Earth. They are arrested by the B-Squad with the charges of treason, and are never seen again. Their ranking is given to B-Squad for defeating Gruumm and Omni however, they turn it down and remain the B-Squad instead.

Powers
The full capabilities of the A-Squad are unknown. They are seen to possess the ability to morph instantaneously without using a Morpher of any kind, and their Ranger suits are heavily armored, suggesting greater endurance. Their primary weapons are large and powerful laser cannons, but they do not appear to have anything beyond that. Aside from the Delta Runners, they were shown piloting a Zord that could transform into a drill-based vehicle. It is presumed to be of S.P.D. origin, due to its cockpit design and various "S.P.D." decals; however, its outward appearance, when compared to other S.P.D. zords, suggests it may have been modified heavily.

In terms of fighting ability, they are said to be "the best of the best", able to take down their counterparts easily, focusing on heavy firepower of their weapons; however, once the B-Squad converted to S.W.A.T. Mode and had equal armor and weaponry to the A-Squad, they were able to easily defeat the A-Squad. It has been speculated that the A-Squad underestimated the B-Squad's skills and were caught off-guard.

Suits
The A-Squad suits were kitbashed together from various sources, most recognizably the re-molded helmets from Power Rangers in Space. The updated helmets featured silver around the visors with an S.P.D. logo above the visor and silver vents adorning the top and sides of the helmet. The Black Space Ranger's helmet was repainted green for this series. The actual suit also appears to be color matched motocross padding with black spandex, the same or similar armor being sourced from Power Rangers Lost Galaxy. The lasers appear to be modified airsoft or paintball guns.

There also seems to be a slight similarity between the suits of A-Squad and S.W.A.T. Mode, as both are heavily black armors that give the Rangers large guns for weapons.

Gallery
A-Rangers