Preparations

Second Lieutenant Jack Truman was pressed up against the corridor wall on Deck 13. He was making his way towards the Security Office to get to the weapons locker, to get some more weapons. Jack was dressed in the standard Starfleet Marine combat armour, consisting of a particle weapon resistant chest plate, back plate, shoulder plates, and helmet. He was also wearing an engineering/technical incursion supply backpack, which was full of technical goodies.

Second Lieutenant Robbie Gleason was right behind him in the same Starfleet Marine garb. He on the other hand, was wearing a standard issue field medic backpack. A compression rifle was slung under his right arm. The same went for Jack as well. Both Jack and Robbie had small microphones coming out of their helmets for communication. Jack was about ten yards ahead of Robbie, around the corner heading down another section of corridor. Their sweep of Deck 13 was nearly complete. All they had to do was get to the Security Office now for their sweep to be complete.

"Talk to me Jack." Robbie said through his microphone. He was plastered against another corridor wall on Deck 13.

[Nothing here Robbie.] Jack replied. His voice resounded through the helmets internal comm system. [Come on forward.]

Robbie motioned ahead to a group of medical and science officers that were behind him. They had liberated them from a science lab held hostage by a group of Barien incursionists. The group of officers moved forward and around the corner to be greeted by Jack Truman. He directed the group into the cleared out security office. Robbie brought up the rear, moving into the office. Jack checked both directions, then moved in last, locking the doors behind them.

Robbie then spoke into his microphone on the "unit wide" channel. "Captain Phanan, we're going to need the combination to the small arms and large arms lockers in the Main Security Office."

Captain Phanan was on Deck 12 with a small group of security personnel from Toran's security teams. They had nearly completed their sweep of the Deck. Jon spoke into his helmet microphone. "Authorisation is Gamma Echo 361."

"Aye sir." Robbie walked over to the lockers and entered the activation codes. The panels slid open revealing Type II phasers and compression rifles. Each of the medical and science officers armed themselves with some sort of phaser and then Robbie closed the lockers back up, locking them. Jack took over attaching a small piece of machinery to the panel. The device scrambled the access code to the lockers. Only a person with an encryption defragmenter would be able to open the lockers again. Once the device was done, Jack detached it from the panel, and put it back in a small "pocket" on one of his shoulder panels.

"Listen up everyone. The Bariens have taken control of Engineering and some of the lower decks. We're moving all personnel into the saucer section where we've isolated the command functions. We must be very wary of the corridors and rooms down here, since this deck isn't completely secured yet. Don't worry about having Bariens transport right in front of you either. We've scrambled and locked out transporter systems onboard the ship. The main way to go is through the main decks. The Jefferies tubes have been sealed off with Level 10 force fields, so don't think of using them. Any questions ?"

Jack looked around. None of the medical or science officers raised their hands or spoke up. "All right then, let's get going. I'll take the front with Crewman Jackson. Second Lieutenant Gleason will rear with Yeoman Darrien. Let's go."

Jack moved towards the security office door, and entered the command code. The door opened, and Jack peered out around down either end of the corridor. Nothing. They then moved forward. The medical and science officers followed, and Robbie and Darrien brought up the rear. Robbie closed the door, and placed the same type of device Jack had used on the weapons lockers on the door. The doors closed, and the command codes were then scrambled. They then followed the rest of the group, always watching behind them.

The group finally came upon the very forward part of the deck. The security sweep was finished and Deck 13 was secure. With a boost from two of the medical officers, Jack was lifted upwards and he opened a roof panel on the deck. The door swung open to reveal Deck 12. Jack then had them boost him up onto Deck 12. He grabbed his compression rifle and looked around. Nothing. He then reached down, and with a boost from another officer, pulled a member of a medical team through the floor panel on Deck 12 onto Deck 12 its self. The medical officer then tossed a Type II phaser through the panel, and Jack handed it to the medical officer. Eventually, everyone was off of Deck 13 and onto Deck 12. Taking a last look around, Robbie tossed his compression rifle up to a waiting Jack Truman. Jack then reached down, waiting for Robbie's hands. Robbie jumped, and Jack got a hold of him. He then hauled Robbie up through the floor panel, and they then closed it off. Then, speaking into his microphone, Jack said, "Mission accomplished sir. Medical and Science teams from Science Lab 3 evacuated."

[Understood, good job. Computer, end program.] With that, the medical and science teams disappeared, along with the corridors onboard the ship. They were replaced with the same black and yellow grid as with most regular holodecks. Captain Phanan walked over, dressed in the full Starfleet Marine combat gear, holding a mock compression rifle.

"Good work gentlemen. You've successfully evacuated a large group of people through unsecured territory. That, and you didn't loose a single person. Good work indeed."

"Thank you sir." The two Second Lieutenants answered in unison.

"All right, enough training for today. Get changed out of your gear. You two can return to normal duties."

"Aye sir," Jack Truman responded.

"Sir, permission to speak freely ?" Robbie asked.

"Go ahead."

"Why weren't there any enemy Bariens in the simulation ? I thought the ship was taken over."

Jon replied, "Gleason, there isn't always going to be hostiles in hostile territory. You did, however, get to take out those guards in front of Science Lab 3, didn't you ?"

"Yes sir," Robbie replied.

"And you did do that without being seen didn't you ?"

"Yes sir." He replied again.

"So, then why are you complaining ?"

"Well sir..." Robbie started."....I just thought there would be more of them, that's all."

"Completely understandable. I was like you when I was younger. Always expecting more and more hostiles when there weren't any more. Just remember that you'll always get your fair share. However, don't go looking for them. Let them come to you."

"Understood sir." Robbie replied.

"Good. Dismissed."

"Aye sir!" both Jack and Robbie yelled out in unison. Both of them made their way out of the holodeck. Jon stayed behind, removing his armour and taking off some of his gear.

Just as Jack and Robbie were about to reach the door, they opened, and Commander Harris made his way into the room. Both Jack and Robbie stood to the side at attention, and held a salute until Harris passed. They both then went on their ways. Harris looked over his shoulder at the two, watching as they left. He wasn't used to having crew members move to the side and salute him as he passed. He then walked up to Jon.

"Captain Phanan, might I have a word with you ?"

Jon stood upright, and saluted Harris. "Of course sir."

"Geez, would you stop doing that ?" Harris said, nearly fed up.

"Sorry Commander, I've just been training with my Marines, teaching them to always salute a superior officer. It's the way we do it in the Marines."

"So I've noticed." Commander Harris looked at the gear strewn across the holodeck floor. "Any way, I assume that your Marines and the rest of the security personnel are up to speed with intership combat ?"

"Yes sir, they're as ready as they're going to be. For some, this seemed like a refresher course. To others, it seemed like this was the first time doing this. I don't know how Commander Toran runs his security teams, but I'm going to whip these boys into shape."

Harris grinned. "I'm sure Toran will be glad to hear that you think that he does sub-par work when training his security personnel. Keep me posted on your progress. I don't want any Bariens running around this ship."

"Aye sir." Jon said, saluting. "I'll get right on a report."

Harris nodded, and made his way out of the Holodeck. Jon gathered up his gear and made his way to his quarters. One thing that Jon hated was paperwork, however, in times like these it was necessary. *Might as well do it and get it over with.* Jon thought to himself. With that, he left the holodeck.