Mack Hartford

In the first scene of the series, Mack is shown daydreaming of exotic adventure. That is a good introduction to the character, at least as he is first portrayed: a slightly immature teenager dreaming of adventure while being sheltered by his overprotective father, Andrew Hartford. As the series progresses, Mack both becomes more adult in his attitudes and finally proves himself to his father, who becomes supportive of his role as a Ranger.

In Things Not Said, the entire concept of Mack's character changes radically when it is revealed that he is not human at all, but a humanoid android constructed by Andrew Hartford to be his son. Mack was completely unaware of this fact up until that point. During the remainder of the series he is confused and unsure of his identity, and becomes increasingly hostile towards Andrew, calling him 'Mr. Hartford' and confronting him angrily on occasion. Mack also begins to show a disturbing tendency to act recklessly and without regard for his own survival. Depending on how his actions are interpreted, during the Rangers' final battle Mack either has accepted his condition but nobly sacrifices himself, or he needlessly and suicidally destroys himself in order to destroy Flurious.

In either case, in the end the power of the Corona Aurora transforms Mack into a human being and restores him to life, to his own and everyone else's joy. He is shown in a brief epilog joining his father on his continuing adventures of exploration.

Mack is fond of reading adventure based books and, prior to his career as a Ranger, imagining himself in said adventures. Though he no longer wishes he was in said adventures, he does have an occasional tendency to compare the situations the Rangers encounter with various stories he's read.

Judging by the amount of machinery in the house's main living area, he is also a moderate fan of forms of entertainment such as table football and video games.

• DNA Resequencing - Mack received super strength as a genetic power from the DNA resequencer created by his father. Using his newfound strength, he has lifted many an item, including gigantic boulders, trees, his team, and his butler. The Rangers do not seem to be able to use their genetic powers while transformed, though their morphed outfits give them a boost in strength regardless.

* Overdrive Tracker - Mack and his teammates use the Overdrive Tracker as their morpher. While the cell phone can work as expected, allowing the Rangers to make phone calls, it also contains a multitude of additional features, including morphing functions, remote calling and combining of zords, real-time video commnuication, and a blacklight that can scan the power level of various artifacts.

* **[[proo:weapons#drive_defender|Drive Defender]]** - Mack, along with the rest of his team, uses this weapon as a default sidearm.  The blaster can switch into a sword mode for close combat fighting, and can be modified with the [[proo:weapons#oo_zip_shooter|Zip Shooter]] for more power or zoom functionality.

* **[[proo:weapons#drive_lance|Drive Lance]]** - Mack's individual weapon is an elongated lance.  Normally, the weapon functions more like a sturdy staff, though pulling the gray handle in the middle down will split the claws on top and extend the pike tip.  The weapon resembles a truck’s leaf spring.

* **[[proo:weapons#defender_vest|Defender Vest]] and [[proo:weapons#drill_blaster|Drill Blaster]]** - The Drill Blaster is a powerful, dual stage weapon capable of freezing enemies in cement and then firing a drill tip into their bodies to destroy them.  The Defender Vest is chest armor designed to reduce the recoil resulting in using the Drill Blaster.

* **[[proo:weapons#sentinel_sword|Sentinel Sword]]** - After merging with [[proo:artifacts#excelsior|Excelsior]], the Sentinel Knight was restored to full power, and gained both a physical body capable of combat and the ability to transform into a sword any of the Rangers could wield.  This sword form has exceptional power, and Mack, unmorphed, was able to cleave an enlarged monster in half with it.

• Red Sentinel Ranger - In Things Not Said, Mack gains the ability to use the Sentinel Knight's body as a living Battlizer, with the Knight even able to talk via the chestplate. He wields two blades in this form, and can fire large energy blasts with ease. The finishing move involves trapping the enemy in a giant tornado, jumping in, and cross-slashing them. The technology necessary to use this Battlizer was adapted by Rose from zord tech, and without modifications would've likely killed its human user. As an android, Mack was able to use it unmodified without difficulties.

• Humvee - For land transportation, the Rangers use a Humvee, an ATV, and two motorcycles. Mack and Rose switch off driving the Humvee, while Tyzonn and any civilians with them ride in the back.

* S.H.A.R.C. - For air and sea transportation, the Rangers use the Special Hydro Aero Recon Craft. Generally, Ronny will pilot this vehicle while Mack and the other Rangers ride in the passenger seats in back.

* **[[proo:vehicles#transtek_armor|Transtek Armor]]** - The Transtek Armor is a large four-wheeled vehicle with pincers and multiple lasers, and can transform into a free-standing, walking mech mode.  Mack has called this vehicle by remote to fight, though he never actually piloted it manually.

• Dump Driver - The Dump Driver, DriveMax Zord #1, is Mack's primary zord. This massive dump truck can scoop away debris, and the two halves to the machine's bed can act as grasping arms. The Dump Driver serves as the head, body, and legs of DriveMax Megazord.

* Sonic Streaker - The Sonic Streaker, DriveMax Zord #10, is Mack's secondary zord. This supersonic jet can reach Mach 3 in under 60 seconds, and has a range of laser and missile launchers. The Sonic Streaker serves as the wings and helmet for DriveMax Ultrazord, as well as the body and head for DualDrive Megazord.

• BattleFleet Zord 1 - BattleFleet Zord 1, also known as DriveMax Zord #14, is Mack's tertiary zord. This airborne recon vehicle flies high over the battlefield. BattleFleet Zord 1 serves as the head for BattleFleet Megazord.

* Andrew Hartford - Father, creator of Overdrive powers, and team mentor. While Mack is not openly resentful of his father's overprotective attitude in the first episodes, he obviously feels uncomfortable with it and wants a more equal relationship. Later, Andrew takes a more supportive role and even encourages Mack to continue as Red Ranger when he loses his confidence and wants to give it up. From Things Not Said on, Mack is increasingly hostile towards and resentful of Andrew, presumably both for creating him and for deceiving him by hiding the fact that Mack is an android. He repeatedly calls Andrew 'Mr. Hartford' and on occasion confronts him angrily. In Crown and Punishment, Andrew gives up the Corona jewels to save Mack, after which the two reconcile. In the series epilog, Andrew Hartford and Mack are shown exploring and adventuring together.

• Spencer Spenser - Butler. Throughout the series, Spencer is shown offering emotional support and advice to all the Rangers. Towards Mack he acts almost as a surrogate grandfather or second father, both protecting and advising him. Spencer is also the only other person who knew that Mack is really an android.

* Mack's morphed helmet is visually designed after the helmet of Red Turbo from Kousoku Sentai Turboranger.

• Mack performed three instamorphs over the course of the season: one each in Kick Into Overdrive, Face to Face, and Crown and Punishment.
• Mack's age is listed in his profile at the Jetix website as 18. In actual fact, as explained below, his age is two years. Through most of the series there were hints that there is something special and secret about Mack. Most of these, especially the earlier ones, are easily explained, but taken all together they raised interesting questions.
  1. Kick Into Overdrive pt. I & pt. II : Andrew Hartford's protectiveness of Mack, and his determination that Mack should not become a Ranger. At the end, Spencer tells Andrew that he calibrated the DNA resequencer especially for Mack.
  2. Follow the Ranger : Andrew tells Spencer he's 'still worried about Mack'.
  3. Face to Face pt. II : Andrew asks Spencer if he has noticed anything about Mack, and worries that Mack is unpredictable.
  4. Out of Luck : Andrew comments to Spencer that Mack could not possibly have been affected by luck, good or bad, and says he doesn't want to think of what might happen.
  5. One Gets Away : Spencer comments that Andrew has trusted him with his greatest secret.
  6. One Fine Day : Mack's body is unaffected by Tyzonn's organically transmitted Mercurian energy. Both Andrew and Spencer refer to Mack having been with them for only two years.
  7. Ronny on Empty pt. II : Andrew and Spencer are visibly dismayed by seeing Mack wearing a robot costume at their Halloween party.
  8. Things Not Said : The secret was finally revealed: Mack is not human at all but is an android created by Andrew Hartford two years before and programmed with false memories of a normal childhood.