Training Mission
Posted on November 20th, 1997 by John Keane

John took a step, he could feel his foot sink slightly in the wet ground. He positioned himself next to a large plant, giving himself some cover. This position would offer him a good vantage piont to what was the only river crossing in the area.

The mist in the air stuck to his face like glue, there was no escaping it this close to the river. He removed the rag he had in a pouch on his pant leg. He wiped away the swet from his face and returned the rag to it’s pouch.

John heard a whistle from the small transmitter in his ear.

John thought better of speaking, but was rather sure that his voice would not travel because of the noise from the river.

“Keane. Go.” he said in a soft vioce.

“John, we are in position on the northern end of the passage. All’s clear.”

“OK. Make sure that you all have a good line of sight on the passage. He should be coming through soon. Stay alert.”

“Understood. Sezak out.”

John reached to his side and removed an object about the size of a tricorder. He pressed a small pad on the top. Silently the object transformed, the two matching sides on the back slid forward revealing a hand grip like that of a phaser. A front panel opened and two photo cells extended. On the top of the device a small panel back to exposing a black panel. The hole transformation taking only two seconds.

John grinned and gripped the handle of the device. The device came to life. About three inches from the top of the device a 3D holographic display appeared. He reached up and touched holoscreen floating above the device. The screen widened and displayed a topographical map of the area. John smiled, he now had a three dimensional represention of the land for a five mile radius.

Using his finger and touch the area of the map that marked his position. The image shifted into a closeup of the area and displayed information about the temperature, terrain, and possible lifesigns. John noted the 9 lifesigns that made up the team. The device flashed indicating that it was now linked to the other 8 devices in the area.

John touched the holo again and the device zoomed back out to display a one kilometer area. He looked past the holo to the river below him. He watched the edge of the wood along the opposite bank, there was no movement. Then a small flash, next to one of the rock along the edge of the water. “I got you now.”
Keane touched the holo and directed his scans in the area of the flash. He was able to detect a slight phase differental in the air around the rock. John touched the screen agian, sending the information to the other devices. He watches his team started to move in around the scanned area. Using his thumb he tapped a small button on the side of the handle. The holo blink away. Replaced by a small red dot that floated in the air, and a small colored line along the bottom.

John read the display, ‘Phaser Armed: Yeild: 20% Power: %100’ John moved along the line of large plants that were providing him cover. Off to his right he caught a glimps of Sezak and Wells moving silently in the same direction. Soon John was in the brush along the river. The other side still appeared quite, but he knew they were out there.

“John to Sezak. Move to cover the area off to the right. We can’t let them get through.”

“Aye.” was Sezak’s quick response.

Then John saw the flash, this time next to a bush on the other side. He knew it had to be them. John raised his device, aligned the dot and fired. The phased energy stream hit the bush causing it to catch fire. At the same instant John saw the halo-outline of a figure moving away from the bush, the halo clearly giving away the postion of the attacker. Wells and Sezak saw the halo and moved to close in. A phaser shot wizzed just over john’s head, “Yep, their there.” John said as he ducked and started moving to a new location.

Suddenly the forest erupted into a swarm of phaser fire from both sides of the river. John raised his weapon again and fired in the direction of the last phaser shot from the other side.

There was a flash, and Commander Stecker was standing near the river, visible to all. Stecker had to smile, he’d not seen Stecker move so fast the entire time he’d known her. Her shield took a single shot and failed as she diving into the brush for cover. Sezak, Wells, and the newly joining Akira lined the river. Each one engaging shadows and returning fire.

From what John was able to determine from the return shots, they had suceeded in catching the others before they were able to cross the river.

John glanced at the river. Noting the only place to cross was by way of several large rocks that extended the entire lenght of the river. That was where they’d try and cross. Quickly he move back and after gaining more cover, darted throught the woods for the crossing.

He slid up next to a tree and leaned around for a glance at the crossing which was now only fifteen feet away.

John’s comm chirped. “Go.”

“Wells is down, along with Harper” announced Sezak. “They are going to be making an attempt to cross any second.

“Roger. Out.”

John leaned back around the tree to look once again at the crossing. John watched as water splashed up around one of the rock closer to his side. A halo formed just above the water, another clear indicator of the cloaked figure.

‘Here they come.’ John thought.

John lowered and fired hitting someone. They’re cloak flickered and John watched as Lt Forest fell into the river. Across the river John saw Stecker emerge from the brush and dart for the rocks. Phaser fire honned in on her as she ran. One struck her square and she stopped. Bowed and sat on the ground.

“John to Team. There’s only two left.”

John got no response.

“Sezak?”

Still nothing.

“Wy’on. You there?”

Nothing.

John’s device chirped.

He spun and aimed, but there was nothing there.

John traced the brush, looking for anything that would indicate where his target was. A phaser blast struck John in the chest, knocking him into the tree behind him.. and then to the ground. Still on all fours John caughed and looked up. The plants in front of him parted as if the wind was moving them aside. There was a hum, and Captain Blackthorne shimmered into view.

John smiled, “Ok, You win.” He slowly stood.

“Hello Keane. You ok?”

“Yes Sir. You just hit my pride.”

“Kang’s around here somewhere?”

Hearing a noise, he turned to see Kang walk up. “Hello Keane. Captain.”

John smiled as he noticed Sezak and Akira walking behind the Commander. “He got ya huh?” “Yeah. But not before I was able to disable his cloak. The shield saved him.” barked Harper in protest.

Kang smiled and added a saluting nod to the Captain, “Good thing I got them, my system’s down.”

“Gentlemen. Ladies. This exercise is complete.” He announced to the entire forest. “Computer End Program.”

The forest shift disappeared replaced by the yellow and black grids of the holodeck.

“I’d like a report from everyone. Please include your evaluations of the PSAC-D’s and ATD’s.”

Keane stepped up to Sezak and Kang.

“Ensign, Lt, I think that we need to somehow modulate the shields, I was able to see flashes as the shields came in contact with the water and the plants. That could be deadly on the real Away mission.”

“Agreed. I was able to see the samething.” added Sezak.

“We’ll start the reconfiguring soon. I’d like to read the reports first.” returned Kang.

“Yes sir.” John nodded.

“Hey John. These ATD’s are great. I was able to see the entire area. Their range is much greater then the Tricorder.”

John look down at his ATD. He pressed the button on the top and the device folded backup. He replaced it in his waist holder. “Yeah there’s pretty nice.”

“Yeah, but these PAC-D’s were able to hide us from them.”

“The personal sheild/cloaks gave you an advantage. But they’re still to unstable for AT clearance. I’ll need to keep working on them.”

“I agree John, keep working on them.” smiled Kang as he started for the door.

From the holodeck enterance Keane heard Kang’s vioce, “Please have your equipment turned into the Armory by 1800. That should give you plenty of time to check them out while your compiling your reports.”
And with that the crew started to file out of the room.

John smiled as he heard the squishing steps of Commander Stecker.