How to make an external goto not break a for loop in batch

So I have a script that I'm writing as a pet project that seemed simpler than it turns out to be...I have a for loop that is meant to increment a certain amount of times based on user input but in the for loop, I have a destination statement for a goto earlier in the script. The issue is that when that goto is used it breaks the for and causes the for loop to only provide 1 answer.

Here is the code:

for /l %%x in (1, 1, %player%) do (
:defense
call :defenders
:defense_return
call :colorEcho 0e %operator%
echo.
)

The :defense_return is the culprit but it's neccesary because I'm using %RANDOM% so I need it to reference back to when the %RANDOM% is used or else I just get the same output when I really want 2 different outputs.

here is the defenders block:

:defenders
set /a operator=%random%%%18+1
REM 707th SMB
if %operator%== 1 set operator=Vigil
REM G.R.O.M
if %operator%== 2 set operator=Ela
REM S.D.U
if %operator%== 3 set operator=Lesion
REM G.E.O
if %operator%== 4 set operator=Mira
REM S.A.T
if %operator%== 5 set operator=Echo
REM BOPE
if %operator%== 6 set operator=Caviera
REM Navy Seal
if %operator%== 7 set operator=Valkyrie
REM JTF2
if %operator%== 8 set operator=Frost
REM S.A.S
if %operator%== 9 set operator=Mute
if %operator%== 10 set operator=Smoke
REM SWAT
if %operator%== 11 set operator=Castle
if %operator%== 12 set operator=Pulse
REM GIGN
if %operator%== 13 set operator=Doc
if %operator%== 14 set operator=Rook
REM GSG9
if %operator%== 15 set operator=Jager
if %operator%== 16 set operator=Bandit
REM Spetsnaz
if %operator%== 17 set operator=Tachanka
if %operator%== 18 set operator=Kapkan
goto :defense_return

I really want to make this script work out, but this for loop is causing me issues...Any help is much appreciated!