View source for The Lightning Rangers

[[File:Lightning Rangers Flag.png|thumb|349x349px|This is the flag of the Lightning Rangers, which debuted during '''[[The Endless War for The Eternal Throne]]'''.]]

== Summary ==
This squad composed of the most powerful warriors from all cat kind, known as '''The Lightning Rangers''' (translated from old Hopspeak) were a small group formed by several races across the Universe. United as one elite group, the Rangers used to fight as a neutral, then antagonistic faction against '''[[Sop]]''', '''[[Hop]]''' and the '''Infinite Empire'''. Every member has supernatural control over (and even the power to summon) lightning, storms, rain and harnessed cosmic electricity.

Their intent was to destroy "godly" entities such as deities, their avatars, Infinite Ones and cosmic beings like '''[[Hop]]''' & '''[[Blackstar]]'''.

== Members ==
'''Note''': Any name with "quotations" is an alias, and not the true given or legal name of the being in question.
* '''[[Milo]]''' (current de facto leader, physically the strongest member of the group, MIA)
* '''Zapurry "Zap"''' '''Leppard''' (notable for speed and close quarter combat abilities, next strongest member to Milo, MIA)
* '''"Meau'''" (gifted alchemist and herbalist that creates combat supplies, MIA)
* '''"Muse"''' (gifted with technology and weaponry, MIA)
* '''"Cookie"''' (gifted with great power in the metaphysical sense, MIA)
* '''[[Whisker Dofur]]''' (gifted with lightning powers capable of destroying entire celestial bodies, defeated by Sop)
* '''[[Heaven Lovepurr]]''' (twin of Whisker, with similar power, defeated by Sop)

== Flag ==

=== Use ===
Their flag was painted onto ships and their uniforms during '''[[The Endless War for The Eternal Throne]]'''. 

=== Design ===
The five shapes in the top represent all living members of the faction. Each color is relative to the fur color (race) of that member. Each shape has a different number of sides, representing an unknown quality. The amount of sides (from 1-5) does not appear to correlate with rank, age or their powers.

The lightning bolt on the bottom is to represent their powers, but also the dual tone color reflects the two defeated members of the team that they lost. Color not only representing lightning itself, but also the fur color of the two cats that fell in battle.

== History ==

=== Discovery ===
Sop and Hop first encountered this race of fluffy people during Hop's early training. Travelling abroad, their personal vessel was knocked out of faster-than-light travel by a powerful electrical force. Hop, using his strength, pushed the ship to a nearby space station and crash-landed there. The abandoned (likely just vacant) station served as the setting for the remained of the encounter. 

Attempting to signal for help, the communications of their ship was interfered, unable to work. As Sop and his son began alternative cries for help, the sudden arrival of an unknown group arrived from a cosmic bolt of lightning. Sop made introductions with a peaceful universal greeting, when the strangers began to suddenly pace around the pair and attack. Hop broke composure and began to counterattack in aggravation. A prolonged skirmish ensured, where Sop was met by the strongest members pinning him down as Hop flailed against the others. Fearing that their sheer power was greater than their own, Sop broke free and threw Hop into far space, only for him to be knocked back into the station by their speedster, Zap. 

Surrounded and afraid, the two fought the seven, destroying their ship and a majority of the station. Whisker and Heaven pinned Hop down and began to charge an electric blast of extreme power. In pure rage, Sop was able to break the necks of two of the cats before they did so, freeing his son and continuing the fight.

A follow-up vessel trailing the father-son pair exited hyperspeed near the station and observed the battle below. They had called in for a fleet to help fight the enemy. As ships poured in, clouding the stars, the Rangers warped away with their electric powers with a violent bolt of energy. Sop ordered his fleet to chase the assailants down. He and Hop were given a new ship, and they continued their Journey.

=== Re-emergence & Defeat ===
The search for the Rangers failed, but their home worlds (containing members of their race that shared all their characteristics) were found, then invaded. Over time the cats began to despise the Hop and stood up against the might of their military many times. Small skirmishes broke out over many orbits.

In the midst of The Endless War for The Eternal Throne, the Rangers appeared from space during several key battles to attack Hoppist and fleshy forces, often to great success. Alone and enraged, Hop beat down and imprisoned the remaining members of the faction by the time he and Sop withdrew, and threatened to send them to doom in a black hole, unless they ordered their own kind to stand down and refuse to fight in the war. Hesitant, their worlds all eventually stood down, fearing their greatest warriors couldn't protect them from even the wrath of the Hops.

=== Prison Break ===
After Sop's Ascension, the prison holding the Rangers on '''Lisho Station''' was broken into by the '''New Sop Order'''. A deal was offered to the Rangers, where they would side against the Grand Sop Army lead by Hop. They refused and fled. The NSO discontinued future persuasions with the Rangers and instead became allies with [[Tuirqo Planetary System|'''Tuirqo''']]. All members are reported missing in action since, and have not been encountered since the breakout. It is likely they live in shame on the far edges of space.

A single reported sighting was confirmed by allied factions, seeing them near the '''[[Starspeed Raceway|SSRW]]''' structure at the universal equator. 

== Abilities and Powers ==
Unlike many races, all individual Rangers harness cosmic power in a similar fashion that Hop, Sop and Buddy with their divine favor. They are capable of gaining metaphysical powers that can often far exceed the bodily capabilities of a normal member of their race. All have the ability to create, control and manipulate lightning energy (called cosmic electricity) with their minds. It is assumed that they only use movement amplifies the output of the shocks, sparks and bolts they wield, such as "throwing" a bolt of lightning to increase its velocity and explosive impact.

They appear to be able to harness electric based technology and take the power away from devices that sealed energy, with no interface for exchanging them, like storage-style batteries. It is by their nature they can use it, as there appears to be no information on training for it, as if it was bestowed by Gop. The might of their powers is strong enough to destroy small moons, planets and flagships with one casual attack. They can amplify their speed and outpace ships accelerating to leave planetary gravity, and destroy them during takeoff, as well as react to high-orbit strikes from satellites, including the Electric Eyes, which are '''prohibited''' from operating near any known conflict involving the Rangers.

The specialists of the group (Meau, Muse and Cookie) are known to be highly capable of reverse engineering (or outright countering) mechanical or technical devices through various means. They are considered masters at avoiding detection through any method other than direct line of sight or intense metaphysical focus, like Sop is capable of.

== Hoppist Orders ==
By the order of Hop, if encountered, do not engage with these criminals! Send for Hop immediately and flee the area. Help will arrive to identify and detain the entities. Knights of Sop are cleared to surround the area but not engage.
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[[Category:Lore]]
[[Category:Hop Lore]]