Secrets Revealed (Part One of Three)

Jon Phanan sat in solitude in his small office adjacent to his quarters. Second Lieutenant's Erindor J'Lan and Jack Truman had been in earlier in the day to request the shore leave time they thought they "rightfully deserved." After careful consideration and a reminder to the two of the situation they had gotten into in the holodeck the week before the two quickly reconsidered, and left his office. Jon couldn't help but grin at the two as they left his office. It was a long story, one that he'd have to remember and use over and over again.

Just as he began to finish some work, the door chime went off in his office. "Enter," Jon called out. The door opened to reveal Counsellor Sierra Devore.

"Do you have a few moments open Major ? I'd like to talk with you."

"Of course Counsellor Devore. Please take a seat." Jon partially rose, extending his hand to one of the chairs in front of his small desk.

"Thank you," Sierra replied smiling. She took a seat, and glanced around the room. There were a few plaques displaying a few awards, along with holo-images of Jon with presumably friends, family, and fellow Marines. She looked and saw a picture of himself with Gunnery Sergeant Sharpe, Second Lieutenants Truman and J'Lan, Corporal Barnes, Private Patterson, and a few others of the squad on the Leviathan, all in fatigues with phaser rifles in hand. They all had solemn looks on their faces, along with mud and dirt. The group was standing on a small hill overlooking what was left of the battlefield on Limerus IX. The image was taken only moments after the end of the battle, and the group would be heading up to the Leviathan-A shortly afterwards. "Major, I've always meant to ask you about your past. Well, both Marc and myself."

"Counsellor"

"Please, Sierra."

"Lieutenant Devore." Jon said, trying to almost reach a compromise. One thing that he never really liked doing was talking informally with Starfleet Officers. With his fellow Marines, the group could call each other by their first names, and get along well. However, when it came to Starfleet, it always seemed that there was an invisible gap which separated the two branches of service. "I filed a complete report upon boarding the Leviathan about my past on the Utopia. I do not see why this is necessary."

"Humor me." Sierra said, smiling warmly. "Please ?"

Jon let out a sigh and sat back in his chair, closing his eyes. "I can still smell the traces of metal in the air flowing through the never before used environmental systems. Who would've thought me? A Marine onboard a Federation starship....."

Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards : March 29, 2383

"Roll Call !" Bellowed out a burly Colonel. The Colonel stood well over six feet tall, and was in his mid to late forties. His eyes were set deep in his head, with thick black eyebrows above them. His squared off jaw along with his jet black hair with small streaks of gray at the temples inspired both admiration and fear out of this older Marine. "Captain Jenson !"

"Here sir !" Captain Jenson was the stereotypical Marine. His blond hair had the same crew cut that he received at boot camp. His uniform contained all of the proper insignia, and his boots had a shininess that would rival that of latinum.

"Fredrickson !" The Colonel looked up from his Padd.

"Present sir !" Fredrickson was a tough as nails officer. Growing up in the slums of New Berlin, Fredrickson had the mentality of a pitbull when it came to the enemy.

"Phanan !"

"Here sir !" The younger Jon Phanan snapped to attention.

The Colonel looked over his PADD and then the three officers. "Very well. I am Colonel Smith, leader of this company. Gentlemen, you are my platoon leaders. You should be honoured to be a part of this company. A Company of the Third Battalion, First Division of the Third Army has a long standing tradition of being some of the toughest sons a'bitches in the Marine Corps. You will be kissing my feet by the time your done on this ship." He grinned wryly and then continued. "I'd also like to take this time to inform you that C Company of the same division is on this ship with us, and I'll be damned to be outdone by them. All I want you to do is keep up with me. If you can't do that, that strange sensation you'll feel in the seat of your pants, will be my boot in your ass !"

There was some laughter from the assembled group of Marine Captains. Colonel Smith then continued. "You all have been hand picked to be on this cruise. The ship you will be boarding in a few moments is the USS Utopia. It's a Norway class vessel that has been modified with some sort'a special propulsion device. However, that's not important. The important thing is, is that we have been tasked, along with C Company to perform a special mission. You will attend a special briefing tomorrow morning at 06:00 on the topic. For now, get yourselves situated on the ship. Here are your quarter assignments along with list of personnel that will be under your command." Colonel Smith handed each of the three Padds containing the necessary information. "Dismissed."

The three Marines stood as ease as their CO left the room. "Boy, am I glad that's over," Jenson started. He looked out of the gallery window at the USS Utopia. "This guy has to be about a hundred times worse then Gallgher."

"Are you kidding ?" Fredrickson asked. "Gallgher was worse then this guy. Don't you remember the Orion Drill March ?" Fredrickson shook his head. "What do you think Phanan ?"

Jon looked at his fellow officers. The three served together on multiple occasions. They're last time together was their assignment just previous to this one with the infamous Colonel Gallgher of the Eighth Marine Corps. Known for his "discipline marches." Serving under him was almost a death sentence to privates. However, if you survived under him, you would be eternally grateful for the lessons you learned. Although Smith didn't exactly have the best reputation either...

"I'm going to have to wait and see." Jon replied. "See what this guy's all about first."

"Well, hopefully not as bad as Gallgher." Fredrickson added. The three picked up their dufflebags, and made their way through the airlock.