"Downtime" (Two)

[Wax™]

"Downtime"

UNSC Training Ground, mess hall C-63

Epsilon Eridani System, Planet Reach

0600 Hours, Friday, May 18, 2531

The early morning Reach sunrise blasted through the windows and hall's of the busy mess hall. Scattered throughout the mess hall sitting on the rows of benches in small groups, groggy men and women chowed down on their breakfast and chatter among one another. Standing off to the sides of the large room with either hand's clasped behind their backs or clip boards drawn, uniformed drill instructors quietly observed the soldiers as they finished their meals and chatted with each other.

This was the best the UNSC had to offer?

To the DI's or anyone else who looked upon the men, they didn't look like anything special, in fact they just looked like any ordinary GI, Yet many of the Marines and ODST's sitting here stuffing their faces filled with grub and other assorted flavors of shitty rations were seasoned combat veterans, men who knew how to fight and take down the Covenant and live to tell the tale, the men that sat at these tables were to take part in an experiment to form an elite task force comprised of the best men the United Nations Space Command had to offer, at this very moment ONI was devising some sort of scheme to release propaganda into the inner colonies, letting them know all hope was not yet lost, the boost of morale was well needed if it worked, the bigger question was, were these men still sharp on edge?

After today's exercises, they would find out for sure.

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NOTE: You are as of the moment, unarmed and have no NPC's with you for this RP, just your main character(s). Take this time to get into character a bit and mingle with other players. Training will start once a good number of people have posted.

(BTW: Yes I got this idea from Commando )

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Captain Travis 'TJ' Jenkins

UNSC Training Ground, Mess Hall, C-63

Sat on one of many benches throughout the mess hall, specifically on one that was used by most of the Company and Platoon commanders, Jenkins slid his spoon along a spot in his metal serving tray and picked up a splodge of oat meal, lifting it to eye level he shook his head softly and sighed before sliding it into his mouth with a distasteful look, twelve years at max in the marines and oat meal to him still tasted like a log of shit.

"This stuff is disgusting..."

The early morning wasn't a total waste of time, unlike any of the other men in this room Jenkins actually knew what was to come in the near future since he was in charge of the training event, also they had served him with bacon on his tray so that was also good, he took up a crispy slice of bacon and smiled taking in the aroma of the cooked meat before stuffing the food into his mouth, smiling as he listens to the soft crunch in his mouth.

"Hey... John..." Gestures to a man sitting across from him with his forehead.

"...What you got there?" He said quirking a brow and looking to the mans tray. "...Anything good?"

[Deleted]

First Lieutenant John Killinger

The Lieutenant looked at the Captain as he ate a piece of bacon. Killinger, lucky as he was, wasn't lucky enough to get one of the lasagna rations that they were handing out. Instead, he got baked beans and corn. Instead of eating it on a platter or trey, he ate it right out of the bag it came in. To him, it tasted better colder then it did heated up.

"What you got there.. Anything good?" The Captain asked. John looked at his hand, and with his middle finger and ring finder, he held four pieces of bacon. He placed the ration on the table and quickly munched away at the bacon, shortly after finishing he responded. "Not anymore." He said with a chuckle, then tossed his last piece of bacon towards his company commander.

Fleet Admiral Eric Klix

"These guys are supposed to be the best of the best, right?" The Admiral asked. One of the ONi agents nodded. "And this... Captain Jenkins will be leading this exercise?" The Admiral fumbled around with some papers, and a Personal Data Pad. "Yes sir." The same agent replied. "If you read his Career Service File, he is more then fit to lead the training." The ONi agent said.

The Fleet Admiral turned right around to face the man. Face to face, the Admiral lowered his eyes. "I'm not stupid. I've read the reports. ONi is trying to make an elite task force. Well let me tell you something son, if these men are going to be serving on my ship, I get to pick them." The Admiral said. The ONi agent looked intimidated. "Yessir." The man simply responded, then begun to protest. The Admiral shot a glance over at the man, and the agent reconsidered.

The Fleet Admiral wouldn't have it any other way. The Admiral had picked every single person on his vessel. That wasn't about to change. He'd agreed on the terms of the deal with ONi. He had to give the Task Force updated equipment, weapons and an entire deck with a section of a hanger for themselves. It wasn't so much that the Fleet Admiral's Cruiser didn't have the room, it was the fact that if all these fine soldiers ever died in an operation, some of the best would die. The Admiral believed this would cost the UNSC something.

[Wax™]

Captain Travis 'TJ' Jenkins

UNSC Training Ground, Mess Hall, C-63

"Not anymore." Said his Platoon Commander as he ate away at most of his bacon ration, with a grin Jenkins lifted a hand and extended his middle finger with a small grin before grabbing the last piece of bacon tossed over to him. "Smart ass..."

Jenkins looked away with a smile, John was a good bloke, funny and tough off the field, twice as funny on the field, Jenkins smiled at some passing memories as he looked to the Drill Instructors scattered around the Hall, Jenkins then stopped as he looked to at an elderly officer standing beside what looked like another drill instructor, little did he know one was an ONI officer and the other Admiral Eric Klix, Jenkins knew who the man was but certainly not at first glance, he wasn't one to remember navy personal.

"John..." He looked to his platoon commander before lifting himself a little out of his seat. "...You seen Natalie? She sitting at another table today or something?" He looks back to the Admiral who he had yet to identify at the time. "...Also... Who's the old timer?" He said making sure the man could not see his lips as he jerked a thumb in the Admiral's direction.

[SuperCommando]

Aug 12, 2012 6:43:58 GMT -6 Wax™ said:

(BTW: Yes I got this idea from Commando )

;D

[Martial Virtue]

Lieutenant Colonel Adrienne Jackson

[/center]

Reveille was early as always, although Lieutenant Colonel Jackson certainly wasn’t in a position to complain. Having been born and raised on Reach, she couldn’t argue with her current billet, even if it was just temporary for pre-deployment training. She was grateful for any extra time the Corps deemed fit to allow her with her family. Although she was pretty far up in the ranks and pushing forty, her kids were still young, and she wanted to be there for as many of their milestones as she could. She missed them and their father way too much when she was gone.

But she was here now, and happy for it. Unlike the vast majority of Marines and Navy personnel present here today, Adrienne was able to wake up every morning in her own bed instead of the barracks, and go home every night to her husband Sam and their twins. It wasn’t easy, balancing family and a successful career in the Marines, but through a mix of dumb luck, a lot of hard work, and a good deal of patience, Jackson had managed it okay. She hoped the training today would go by quick so she could spend whatever was left of the afternoon or evening with Evan and Erin, her and Sam’s five-year-olds. Adrienne knew better than most that the time to leave for the next mission would come sooner than expected.

The senior Marine officer present sat at a table in the back with some other high-ranking personnel, picking at her food and generally keeping to herself at the moment. She’d managed to wake Sam up just early enough for them to have coffee together before she left to come onto base, but it’d been a little rushed and he’d been too sleepy to form more than a few coherent words. Jackson smiled to herself as she sipped the far nastier version of caffeinated liquid the mess hall served. Thirteen years of marriage to a Marine officer hadn’t changed Sam’s internal clock much. He still hated getting up early, which made his gesture this morning all the more sweet. At least he’d tried. Adrienne often thought a man like Sam was more than she deserved.

Tired of gnawing on the crap the mess served for breakfast, Lieutenant Colonel Jackson stood from her table then and pushed the contents of her tray in the trash. She checked her watch, then pulled her datapad from the cargo pocket of her battledress pants. It was Captain Travis Jenkins, one of her own battalion’s company commanders, who would lead the training exercises today. Adrienne nodded to herself, satisfied, and took one last drink from her coffee cup. She walked over to one of the automated drink dispensers for a refill – her third cup of the morning – and then walked over to where Echo Company’s commander was sitting.

Jackson came up behind him and tapped him lightly on the shoulder. “Good morning, Captain. Got everything ready for the day’s events?”

First Lieutenant Natalie Cooper

[/center]

Much to her mild frustration, Cooper was one of the last Marines in line for chow this morning, which meant she got the dregs of the already unnecessarily foul food the mess doled out to its military personnel. Natalie figured it was best to not ask what the hell was on her plate – if those puffy yellow blobs really were eggs, or if the sausage was made of actual meat – and just decided to eat it up as quickly as she could before training began. She was already going to have much less time to chow than everyone else, and she was starved.

The young first lieutenant looked around the hall as soon as her tray had been filled for a spot to eat, but the place was pretty packed. She was starting to wonder if she’d have to eat standing up when she heard familiar voices coming from the next table.

“Hey, John,” a man asked. Cooper recognized it as her company commander, Captain Jenkins. “What you got there? Anything good?"

"Not anymore,” Lieutenant Killinger replied.

"Smart ass,” Natalie heard Jenkins shoot back. Then he said, “John. You seen Natalie? She sitting at another table today or something?"

Natalie grinned as she walked up, tray in hand. “Lieutenant Cooper, sir, in the flesh. Can I sit?”

Cooper didn’t wait for a response; she was famished. She took a seat beside Killinger, nodded to him in greeting, and started to chow down on her meal. That was when their battalion commander showed up.

[Deleted]

First Lieutenant John Killinger

"Also.. Who is the old timer?" Jenkins asked. The Lieutenant looked over at the Fleet Admiral and kept a straight face. According to the Lieutenants data-pad, he was 50 on the dot. Deciding to be a smart ass, the Lieutenant replied. "He looks younger then you!" He said chuckling. "Naw, it's Fleet Admiral Klix. Look again at him..." The Lieutenant replied, as he looked over at Cooper that just sat down. "Mornin', Coops." Killinger said.

As his fellow platoon leader started eating, John's hand slowly crept forward and reached one of the pieces of bacon the other Lieutenant had on her trey. He came away with a single piece, and laughed. "You can have one too." He said grinning, as he gave back the piece he had just stolen.

“Good morning, Captain. Got everything ready for the day’s events?” A Lieutenant Colonel spoke to Jenkins about the training ahead. The Lieutenant nodded, and picked up his ration. He didn't see anyone else stand and salute, despite her being in uniform. Then again, this was kind of a formal event. No one was saluting the Fleet Admiral or higher ranking officers.

[Wax™]

Captain Travis 'TJ' Jenkins

UNSC Training Ground, Mess Hall, C-63

“Lieutenant Cooper, sir, in the flesh. Can I sit?” Looked up at Cooper and smiled as she took a seat straight after asking, Jenkins turned his head away and back to face John as he explained who the old timer was. "Naw, it's Fleet Admiral Klix. Look again at him..." John responded before turning to Cooper and talking to her, Jenkins turned his head back around and looked to the Admiral hoping he wasn't looking in the same direction. "Huh... So it is..."

He stared at the Admiral for a little longer before turning back to his tray and looked to his two Platoon Commanders across from him before he was interrupted from his thoughts by a voice coming over his shoulder. “Good morning, Captain. Got everything ready for the day’s events?” Jenkins turned his head and spotted his Battalion Commander, Adrienne Jackson, instantly picking himself up to his feet he stepped behind the bench and nodded, facing the Lieutenant Colonel head on.

"Lieutenant Colonel... Ma'am" He said with a soft smile, he had always admired the Colonel.

"Yes ma'am... Everything is ready for the training exercises, in whole I believe we have three full length exercises... I should probably get to the training ground for the first event..." He turned to face John Killinger. "John... In twenty, thirty minutes I want you and Natalie to alert everyone it is ten minutes to touch off, get into full kit... -Without- weapons, and make their way to the training course south of the base? Got it?"

[Martial Virtue]

First Lieutenant Natalie Cooper

[/center]

"Mornin', Coops,” Lieutenant Killinger said to her as she began devouring her meal. With a stuffed face, the young lieutenant paused just long enough to reply to her friend.

“It’s ‘Coop’, Killinger, and only my husband ever calls me that.” She speared more of the eggs on her plate with her fork, a slight smile still on her face. “But since it’s you, I’ll let you call me that, too.”

Cooper wasn’t sure if he’d heard, since before she knew it, her fellow platoon leader was handing a piece of bacon from her own tray back to her.

"You can have one too," he said.

“Gee, thanks. You know, you could just ask the mess sergeant for more bacon next time,” Natalie replied around a mouthful of food.

She grinned to herself. She wondered what she must look like now, but she didn’t care. She was a Marine. She knew hunger. So sometimes, in the rare moments she was in garrison instead of the field and with a full plate of chow rather than nothing, she ate like she’d been raised by a pack of ravenous wolves instead of people. And that suited her just fine.

Lieutenant Colonel Adrienne Jackson

[/center]

Before Adrienne had a chance to tell him otherwise, Captain Jenkins stood and saluted her.

"Lieutenant Colonel... Ma'am,” he said. “Yes ma'am... Everything is ready for the training exercises, in whole I believe we have three full length exercises... I should probably get to the training ground for the first event."

“At ease, Captain,” Jackson said, returning the salute. “This is just a training session, so you don’t need the full formalities today. But yes, you probably should get started soon. It’s after 0600 already.” The battalion commander folded her arms across her chest. “I’ll keep an eye on the activities while everything gets underway. I may alter some things if there’s an issue with time, but other than that, they’re all yours today, Jenkins. Good luck.”

First Lieutenant Natalie Cooper

[/center]

Natalie had just finished the food on her plate when Captain Jenkins turned back to her and Killinger, since he was done talking to the lieutenant colonel now.

"John... In twenty, thirty minutes I want you and Natalie to alert everyone it is ten minutes to touch off, get into full kit... -Without- weapons, and make their way to the training course south of the base? Got it?"

Cooper nodded as she tossed the remainder of what was on her tray into the trash, quickly washing it all down with a sip of hot coffee. After throwing that away, too, she gave her company commander a brisk salute. “Yes, sir. We’ll be ready.”

[Deleted]

First Lieutenant Killinger

Killinger was shot down. Only her husband, huh? He thought. She said he could call her that too, but family was family, and John understood that better then anyone around here. Hell, he could leave the barracks right now to go see his wife. Killinger glanced at his ring on his right hand and wondered how she was doing.

"John... In twenty, thirty minutes I want you and Natalie to alert everyone it is ten minutes to touch off, get into full kit... -Without- weapons, and make their way to the training course south of the base? Got it?" Jenkins said.

The Lieutenant nodded, "Yessir." He said as he watched Cooper clear of her trey. The Lieutenant looked down and realized that it was actually just shit he was eating, with flavoring. "Fucking centuries have past, and they STILL haven't found a better recipe." Killinger chuckled. "They should hire my wife." He said with a straight face. A marine chuckled somewhere. "Yeah, Kill. In your dreams." A Marine replied. Killinger didn't know where. "HEY!... She is in my dreams. Only mine." He replied back, getting up.

He walked over to the trash Cooper was at, and tossed his food down it too. "I understand, Cooper. If that's what your husband calls you, I will let it remain like that. I understand marriage." Killinger said, wiggling his right hand fingers around. The golden ring shinned a dull gloss in the lighting.

[Martial Virtue]

First Lieutenant Natalie Cooper

Cooper overheard Killinger's exchange with another Marine about his wife and tried hard not to choke on the last of her coffee that she'd just thrown out. She wanted to laugh but didn't risk the hot liquid going down the wrong pipe. Her fellow platoon leader looked at her after he rose from the table.

"I understand, Cooper," he replied. "If that's what your husband calls you, I will let it remain like that. I understand marriage." Killinger flashed her his wedding ring then, and Natalie chuckled.

"Looks like we've got a matching pair, but not together," she said. "You're lucky you're near your spouse, Kill. My husband's currently on deployment in the Outer Colonies, providing close-air support for the ground-pounders like us out there." She let out a rueful sigh, but in a joking way. "That means I get to abstain until he comes back. So if I turn into a total bitch at some point between now and then, now you know why."

[Deleted]

"Looks like we've got a matching pair, but not together.. You're lucky you're near your spouse, Kill. My husband's currently on deployment in the Outer Colonies, providing close-air support for the ground-pounders like us out there." Cooper said. "That means I get to abstain until he comes back. So if I turn into a total bitch at some point between now and then, now you know why." Cooper added.

Killinger shrugged. "At least your in a loyal relationship." The Lieutenant said. "I am too, but I know a lot of unlucky guys and girls out there that never got the same treatment in the Core that we have." Killinger added, thought for a moment and put his hand on Cooper's shoulder. "I don't care if you're a bitch to me, as long as we are good, I'm fine." He said with a smile, and removed his hand. He really didn't care, as long as a friendship wasn't ruined.

"Yeah, Kill. She's in my dreams too." The same marine said, but this time Killinger had seen the speaker. He swiftly and silently moved towards him, and stood right behind the Corporal in his platoon. "And damn is she fin-" The Corporal stopped as he noticed Killinger's shadow on the table, and turned around. The Corporal swallowed the rock that formed in his throat.

"If you ever do that again Marine, I'll shove my boot so far down your ass it will take a Naval warship to pull it out!" Killinger growled. The Corporal nodded. "Yessir..." - Killinger turned and walked away. He was serious when it came to his wife. Any marine that cracked a joke, or even insinuated doing anything physically with his wife, they meet the First Lieutenant face to face.

He turned to return but stopped before heading back to Cooper as the small of bacon filled the Lieutenants nostrils. "Hey, Mess Sergeant." The Lieutenant asked. "Sir? Can I help you?" The man replied. "How much bacon is left?" The Lieutenant asked. The Mess Sergeant lifted a silver cover, and only a few pieces of bacon remained on the trey. The Sergeant smiled. "Officers get an extra piece." He said with a grin. He handed Killinger a piece of bacon. The Lieutenant nodded in approvement. "This is why I like you, gunny."

He moved back to Cooper. "I hate it when Marines think it's fine to crack a sexual joke. Irks me right off." The Lieutenant said, as he split the piece of bacon in half. "And don't get me started when they start to disrespect females." Killinger said in a lower tone. He handed half of the bacon he broke to Cooper and ate his, finished his coffee and checked his watch. Eight more minutes...

[Martial Virtue]

"I hate it when Marines think it's fine to crack a sexual joke. Irks me right off,” Killinger said. "And don't get me started when they start to disrespect females."

Cooper waved him off. “It’s okay. I’ve never had any problems. ‘Course that might be because I’m an officer, and already married, although like you said, I haven’t seen that stop some people.” She shrugged. “To each their own. I know where I stand with that stuff. There’s only one man I love, the only one I want, and he’s not here. So I’ll keep to myself until he is.”

Her friend handed her yet another piece of bacon that he’d scrounged from the mess sergeant. Natalie took it with a small, amused shake of her head, and slowly chewed on it, suddenly too deep in thought to enjoy the flavor. She really did miss Willis. She hoped he was safe and doing okay as he helped his fellow Marines on the ground. They’d only been married a year, as long as they’d both been commissioned, but they’d been together for five years now – since they’d been seventeen. Before the Corps and even at the Naval Academy here on Reach that they’d graduated from, they’d been inseparable. This wasn’t the first time their military duties had forced them apart, but it never seemed to get easier.

Cooper sighed, ready to get started on the day’s activities to take her mind off things. She turned to Killinger. “So? Think we should get to it a little early? I don’t know about you, but I left my armor and gear in the barracks. I barely rolled out of my rack in time for chow this morning.”

[llau]

Colonel Damon Thompson

He woke up before sunrise, and went out for a morning jog before heading inside the mess hall to get something to eat.

"Something to eat...?" He muttered to himself.

He peered at the MRE's, silently wishing for real food, but his stomach growled caused him to suck it up and deal with it. He picked up a few MRE's packs and some water to drink and placed them on his tray, and then walked over to find a place to sit down and eat.

[Deleted]

First Lieutenant Killinger

“So? Think we should get to it a little early? I don’t know about you, but I left my armor and gear in the barracks. I barely rolled out of my rack in time for chow this morning.” Cooper said. Killinger nodded. "Yeah, everything I have is still in my foot locker at the officers bunk." Killinger replied, and since he was an officer, he should lead by example rather then wait.

He moved forward and out the open doors of the mess hall. He crossed the courtyard and stopped to admire the scenery in the back ground. It always got him, always. It brought a morale boost to the First Lieutenant to look at something like that and fight for it, because the Covenant didn't stop at just killing humans, they destroyed entire planets.

Killinger entered the officer's bunk and noticed a new face. The Second Lieutenant sat on his bunk and rubbed his hands together. "Nervous, Marine?" Killinger asked. The Second Lieutenant turned around and started to salute before Killinger intercepted the hand with his hand. "This is a formal event." Killinger said. The young officer, no older then Killinger and Cooper themselves, had to be fresh out of officer training.

If he was here for this, it meant he was sharp and the UNSC thought he was one of the best officers. "Where you from, Marine?" Killinger asked, as he opened his footlocker and placed all his gear on his bunk. "Sir, I'm from here. Born and raised." The man replied. Killinger nodded in acceptance. "Gather your gear, no weapon." Killinger said. The Second Lieutenant did just that, and the conversation fell to an abrupt end as the quiet shuffle and snaps of armor planting and clothing filled the O-Bunk.

As soon as Killinger was finished, he looked at a picture tapped to the roof of his foot locker. He smiled, knelled and brushed his hand over the small picture meant for wallets back in the old centuries. He got up and strapped in his last piece of armor, a shin planting. Next he rolled up his uniforms shirt just past his elbows, and secured them so they wouldn't fall.

Killinger preferred the fourth set of armor the UNSC issued to Marines and Army troopers. He also rolled up his sleeves past his elbows, and dis-regarded the elbow armor. Killinger understood it was a weak point, but he also believed he performed better with the BR-55 with-out it.

"Alright.. Show time?" Killinger said to no one in specific.

Fleet Admiral Klix

The Fleet Admiral excused himself away from the ONi agent. He noticed the Colonel take a seat and start eating. Eric peaked at his watch, he was a little late... The event would be starting any minute now. He looked over to Captain Jenkins as he stood by a Lieutenant Colonel. The Admiral recognized her, she was leading the Marines of the "Task Force" that the Fleet Admiral had accepted into his ship, and the Colonel he was walking towards was the ODST commander.

The Fleet Admiral had read both CSV Files, and they were both impressive commanders. Regardless, before the Admiral had time to think he found himself in front of the Colonel. "Mind if I take a seat, son?" The Admiral asked.

It was a trick question, the Fleet Admiral had already took a seat by the time "son" had exited his mouth. "And I'm not punning your name, either, Thompson." The Admiral added with a chuckle, then turned serious.

"I wanted to meet the leader of the ODST's for this new task force. I've read your CSV. Are you up to the job, Colonel?" The Fleet Admiral asked, referencing to leading the ODST's on this new task force.

[David]

Sergeant Tom Baker

After a glorious six hours of sleep, Tom rolled over onto his side, blinked and looked at the sunrise coming up. It was a great day to be alive.

Rolling out of bed, Tom gingerly put his feet on the floor and then stood up, cracking his back as he did. He wasn’t on duty at the moment and didn’t have anything pressing until 09:00 that morning. He could afford to take his time.

After doing his Morning routine of the Triple S variety, He made his way to the mess hall where the smell of pre-cooked bacon assailed his nose and got his juices going. He was never picky about food. As long as it was edible and had a semblance of flavour, he was ok with that.

Picking up a tray, he went to the self serve area and helped himself to some eggs and bacon with some blackened toast and a nice warm cup of coffee, Army Style. Bitter and grainy, Tom loved the stuff.

Helping himself to some condiments for his meal, he noticed that there were some other early risers in the group. Walking around, he hoped to catch someones eye to see if he could dine with someone instead of sitting by himself.

[llau]

Thompson looked up after taking a few bites of his meal at Admiral Klix when the older man took a seat. When the Admiral sat across from him, the Colonel gave him a respectful nod.

“Admiral,” he chuckled lightly. “I know, sir. I’m used to it.” He smirked briefly, took a quick drink and sat the glass down and listened to what the man wanted to talk about.

"I wanted to meet the leader of the ODST's for this new task force. I've read your CSV. Are you up to the job, Colonel?" The Fleet Admiral asked, referencing to leading the ODST's on this new task force.

Thompson gazed intently at him. “You’ve read my CSV. I’m always up for the job, sir. I'll lead my troops and get the job done, no matter how difficult it is, Admiral.”

[David]

Looking around the room, No one seemed to catch his eye, so Tom shrugged and lugged his tray to a table in the corner and plopped down on the chair.

Grabbing his knife and fork, Tom started eating his breakfast. Eggs were a bit rubbery but the bacon was always nice. No matter how cold or crunchy it was. The toast was a bit bitter but a bit of marmalade seemed to remedy that very quickly.

After he was done with his food, Tom sat back and slowly sipped his coffee. This was part of a ritual that began long ago with his father. They would have a cup of coffee on the deck and watch the sun finish rising. It was a peaceful time that Tom never took for granted.

After Tom was finished, he put his dishes back on his tray and sat back for a bit. This was another thing he liked to do. It allowed him to clear his mind for the day.

[unguided]

2nd Lieutenant Robert Richard McRill

The upside to being a marine-

Getting to go to sleep after an assignment. Being trained in an innumerable amount of ways to kill a man or alien definitely had it's perks. A typical morning in the corps for Robert was just getting started.

5:30 AM rolled around, and it was time to wake up. McRill rubbed a hand across his forehead before pulling the covers off of himself. He swung his legs sideways and off the left side of the bed. Rolling his shoulders, he groaned himself awake. Taking a look around the room, he sighed with displeasure before looking over his shoulder.

At one point in time, there would have been another lying on the other side of that bed. The metaphorical imprint of her there remained in his mind, the undisturbed pillow lacking the depressed shape from a baseball resting on it cut into his brain. He forced himself away from the thought and off of the bed. It wasn't time to feel sorry for himself or grieve what he'd lost. It was time to get the day moving.

It didn't take long for him to throw on a grey T-shirt, some black sweat pants and a pair of boots. He exited the room and stepped out into the hallway, shutting the door behind him.

The silence was eerie. He assumed everyone was in the mess hall getting some breakfast. He went straight for the door, opening it and feeling the cool morning air settle across his face. There was barely any light from the rising Sun as he stepped off and made his way towards the mess hall.

Each step was just more time that Robert was putting between himself and his bunk. Maybe another assignment would come up soon, maybe something would have need of his talents and skills.
But alas, he finished his walk and entered to get some food.

"Time for breakfast."

[hollowsaber]

Corporal Jake Furrow Planet Reach, UNSC Training Ground Mess Hall C-63

With a long sigh, Furrow sat up from the firing range and stared down at the target. Another long night that was, and with ten empty clips beside his rifle that were once full of blanks, Furrow felt accomplished. Holes littered the four targets downrange, all of the shots being tucked around where the heart would be, along with the head. The ODST cracked his neck and flexed his back to get the kinks out as he looked around himself for anyone else at the range. Earlier, there were four other Marines shooting, but all had gone to the the mess hall it seemed.

Furrow could hear the chatter from the building and thought about staying at the range for a bit longer. Yet, the grumbling in his stomach overruled that thought. He needed food, and if he didn’t get any, his body would be pissed at him. Another short sigh escaped Furrow’s lips as he gathered up the empty clips. He carried them to the bin and dropped them all in.

Snagging up his rifle, Furrow carried it with him back to his barracks then lay it carefully on the floor beside his bed. Locking out the bipod and flicking the safety on, Furrow left the weapon behind, along with his helmet, and headed for the mess hall.

When he pushed the door to the building open, Furrow took a quick look around to get his bearings in the room. He looked to see where the ODSTs were, where the Marines were, along with the Navy and other personnel. Then he found his prize. Slithering between the tables, Furrow made his way to where the food was and quickly gathered up some fruit and a bowl of soup. His stomach didn’t stuff food down like a machine, and it only took a little to sustain him for several hours.

Lifting his tray off the slide, Furrow looked about the room once more before moving off to the side and towards a half empty-table. Sitting opposite its current occupants, Furrow set down his tray and closed his eyes for a second. Looking down at his forearm, he gave a small prayer to his family for watching over him. Food would fill his stomach, but the emptiness in his heart would never be filled... Not since his family was stolen from him.

Furrow turned his arm over and eased the thoughts in his mind, lifting his frown to a straight-line to keep questions from coming his way as he started to eat.

[Deleted]

First Lieutenant Killinger

The Lieutenant returned to the mess hall, but in complete battle uniform, armor and everything, but his weapons. He looked around and noticed most of the Marines had almost all finished eating. Nodding in satisfaction, one of the Marines looked at the First Lieutenant. "Why are you in full gear, sir?" The girl asked, before realizing what was about to happen. "Oh hell no. They always do this. Give us a good meal then make us run just to puke it all back out. What's the point in eating." The female said, in a annoyed tone. "Marine, you need energy for what is about to happen. I suggest you eat the rest of your meal and get into full combat gear." The Lieutenant said. The Private forked down the rest of her eggs and replied; "Yessir."

The Lieutenant looked at his watch, just a few more minutes...

Fleet Admiral Eric Klix

“You’ve read my CSV. I’m always up for the job, sir. I'll lead my troops and get the job done, no matter how difficult it is, Admiral.” The Colonel replied. The Admiral chuckled a little as he grabbed a note from his uniforms chest pocket. "Well then, I'm glad I have such a worthy ODST leader." He quickly read over the piece of paper he had printed. "I do have one question for you, Colonel. It says you've been in a 'aggressive dispute' with the Lieutenant Colonel over there." The Admiral said, hooking his thumb over his shoulder in the general direction. "I just wanted to ask if this will be a problem, but I'm assuming you two have patched up the rough areas." The Admiral added as he handed over the unfolded report.

The Admiral pulled out a silver container no bigger then ones used for alcohol, and opened it. Inside were four nicely positioned cigars. He pulled two out. "I like to have one of these before I head back to a ship, since lighting consumables like this on a vessel is against regulations." The Admiral joked, as he placed the cigar in front of the Colonel and lit his, carefully blowing the smoke away from both men. The cigar tasted more sweeter then normal.

First Lieutenant Killinger

"OKAY MARINES!" Killinger screamed to get every-ones attention. Most of the Marines stopped at looked at him. The Lieutenant waited for another minute, and begun to speak at a quieter volume rather then screaming. "I've been ordered to get all your asses in full combat gear! I want that done on the double!" Killinger spoke in a authoritative tone. "Leave your weapons alone, and report back here and wait further orders from Captain Jenkins." Killinger added; "Get at it, Marines!"

[David]

Sergeant Tom Baker

After his contemplative morning ritual, Tom was about to get up when he saw a 1st Lt. walk into the mess hall in his full combat gear.

Oh Christ. Here we go... thought Tom, rolling his eyes.

[yellow]I've been ordered to get all your asses in full combat gear! I want that done on the double! Leave your weapons alone, and report back here and wait further orders from Captain Jenkins. GET AT IT MARINES" Barked the 1st. LT.[/yellow]

Jumping up, Tom hurredly dumped his tray in the dish pit area and ran back to his quarters double time.

Scrambling, Tom put on his protective armour and combat gear. Before he went back out to the mess hall, he put his fingers to his lips and then to a picture of his secret crush and squad mate. Then, shaking his head, he ran out into the hall way and back to the mess hall, gathering with the other marines.

[unguided]

Robert walked the half-dozen steps to the area where the food was, his eyes noting the chewing gum stuck underneath the table. McRill was glad the maintenance guys weren't responsible for the more important parts of military life, best to leave that stuff to the pros, he mused.The breakfast rush was tapering off, and after he scanned the variety of edibles, he started to pile on the food. Five minutes later, McRill sat down with five pieces of bacon, some pancakes, two hash browns, some scrambled eggs, and a cup of coffee.

Robert stretched his arms out, curling his fingers around the small styrofoam cup and took a hash brown from his tray and began to pick at it, putting the small morsels in his mouth in slow, detached movements. Robert wasn't really hungry, maybe it was the weather or perhaps he just wasn't feeling like himself.

Then he heard the First Lieutenant's booming voice...

I've been ordered to get all your asses in full combat gear! I want that done on the double! Leave your weapons alone, and report back here and wait further orders from Captain Jenkins. GET AT IT MARINES" Barked the 1st. LT.

Robert bit his lip as he ran off to get dressed in his combat gear, neglecting to throw away his unfinished breakfast. He got dressed and hurried off to meet the others.

[Wax™]

Captain Travis 'TJ' Jenkins

"OKAY MARINES!"

Heard from all the way down the hall, it was obvious who the voice belonged too, First Lieutenant Killinger, Jenkins smiled and lifted his gaze from his datapad as he came past one of the entrances to the mess hall, looking inside as John breifed the marines.

"I've been ordered to get all your asses in full combat gear! I want that done on the double! Leave your weapons alone, and report back here and wait further orders from Captain Jenkins."

Jenkins smiled and instead of moving into the mess hall, he continued walking down the long corridor and down the east side of the hall, inspecting his data-pad he looked at the event's he had planned for today's training exercise, or that he had been asked to plan from the higher ups, it was still unclear why they had chosen Jenkins to create a training exercise out of all the other marines in the core.

"Hey Captain... Shouldn't you be in the mess hall?"

Jenkins stopped and perked his head up at the familiar voice, he turned his body to the left and nodded at a man behind the service desk of the armory, Jenkins turned off his datapad and stowed it in the left pocket of his cargo pants, Jenkins was in full combat gear, he had smoke grenades, flash bangs, flares, everything except his weapon, he leant forward and leant around the service area of the armory.

"Yeah... Hey Cecil... You got any dummy grenades?"

"Got what Sir?"

"Deactivated grenades... You got any?"

"Yeah... Sure Sir, one moment..."

Cecil moved away from the counter and pulled out a step ladder, putting it down infront of one of the many shelves he climbed the ladder and pulled a dummy grenade from a crate at the top, on his way down kicking the step ladder aside and making his way back to the counter, placing the harmless peice of ordanance on the bench.

"That all Captain?" He said tapping the counter lightly.

"Give me a TTR round too... Just one... Also is all the gear stowed away at the end of the obstacle course?"

"Sure is Sir..." The man paused and made his way below the counter, rustled a few things around before handing over a single TTR round in case. "...Here you are Sir"

"Thanks Cecil..." Jenkins picked up and stowed the grenade away, taking the TTR round in hand and nodding to the man. "...See you around..."

"...You too Captain!"

The man yelled out as Jenkins turned his body and began to walk slowly back to the mess hall, hand's behind his back with one hand clasping the other's wrist he whistled as he made his way down the hall, a few marines running here and there, some in their fatigues others already in their combat gear, Jenkins turned into the mess hall and smiled at the half empty, half full room of armored marines, Jenkins found a place beside John and bumped his shoulder, moving his hands from behind him he clasped his wrist with the opposing hand before him.

"Thank you for that John... I see half of them are already here... The rest of the slack bastards I assume are on their way..." He said turning his head to the left and looking to the left at a series of marines, on in particular that he recognized Sergeant Tom Baker, who he had seen once before, unlike some of the marines in the area, Jenkins was wearing the ARMY standard issue battle armor, but the modified version for marines, he was wearing the hard olive shin plates, that wrapped around his entire lower leg almost to the boot, as well as the shoulder pads and body peice, wearing the standard ARMY, desert camo BDU underneath it all too.

Jenkins looked left and right again, removing a cap from his right pocket on his cargo pants, he slid it over his freshly cut hair, cut not even two days ago, straightening it out and bending the front around his eye's a little to keep the morning sun out, he stepped forward and up onto the bench of one of the many eating tables, lifting on boot onto the actual table it's self.

"Good morning Men..." He said in a respectful manner, with high volume so everyone could hear him. "...Good to see most of you are all here on time and the rest are still picking their asses up..." He said looking to the door of the mess as a few more soldiers scurried in. "Today... We will be doing a series of activities... Three major ones in total, since you have finished your grub let me begin..." He paused and lifted himself fully onto the table so everyone could see him, pacing very slowly across it.
"Activity number one... Is the large obstacle course and climbing frame north of the training center... At the very top of the highest platform, there is a box filled with red pieces of cloth... You are all to race across the course as fast as you can, retrieve a band, slide it onto your right or left arm, then make you way as fast as possible to the bottom and finish of the course… This IS a race… But not against each other… Against the clock… Be aware there will be a few DI’s on the course trying to prevent you from reaching the top.”

Jenkins paused for a few moments and stopped pacing so as to look at the reaction of the marines.

“Activity number two… Just before the tree line of the large forest by the finish north of the obstacle course… There are crates filled with MA37, M6C Magnums and BR55’s, as well as smoke and flash grenades… Beside them are a couple of crates filled with your ammo… Today you will be firing these…” He lifted up the TTR round in his hand. “A TTR… Tactical Training Round… Which I trust you all know what they do… You will be battling against the DI’s that you see surrounded around you now… As well as others who litter the course, their TTR’s will be filled with blue paint, and they will be marked with blue arm bands… Yours of course… Red… Be aware, these men are highly trained and will not hesitate to take you down even in close quarters… Make sure you check your surroundings too… As well as the trees”

Paused another moment to cough, lifting a hand and rubbing his throat a little.

“Ahem… Now… Activity number three… Once you have taken out all DI’s… Which there is a grand total of around fifteen I believe… You will do a two mile run, starting from a trail at the edge of the western side of the forest, that brings you back around to the obstacle course… We will then have our final exercise… On the pugil pit…”

Jenkins stopped and sucked in a breath, looking at all the faces which are and should be looking up at him, waiting to see if anyone had any questions.

“If there are no questions to be asked… You can all make your way to the course…”

He nodded and lowered his voice, as he turned around and gestured John forward.

“I will be expecting you and Natalie to be doing these activities too...”

[hollowsaber]

Corporal Jake Furrow Planet Reach, UNSC Training Ground Mess Hall C-63 ~ Activity One; Obstacle Course

At first, Furrow didn’t have a clue what was going on. After he finished eating, the ODST had closed his eyes to take a short nap, even if it was only a few minutes. He was up all night shooting his rifle and practicing, so the Trooper was exhausted. Yet, when he noticed everyone scattering and darting out of the Hall, he felt as awake as ever. He didn’t stand, but watched from his corner of the room as the room emptied nearly half-way.

Then another man appeared; it was Captain Jenkins of the Marines. Looks like he had some plans for them so he perked his ears. The knowledge that Furrow heard about the Obstacle course made him sigh and groan a little, and he tossed his empty silverware and plates into the trash before placing his tray with the others. As the man finished, Furrow immediately strode through the crowd, passed the COs, and to the front door. He’d waste no time with the others, and knew everything he needed to know. It was training time.

Furrow made sure he was first out the door, and shook his tired eyes open wide. Stepping into the heat and morning light, his lungs filled with oxygen as he kicked his pace up to a jog. Straight for the training grounds, Furrow watched as some others still scrambled for their battle gear. The Trooper shook his head and moved a little faster as he sighted the training grounds, and the first course.

It was fairly large and looked intricate from the distance. DIs were already set up, and Furrow flexed his jaw in thought as he began to think of the quickest way up. His eyes scanned and rescanned the course, picking apart different combinations of ways up and to the goal. It was a trek, and no path was one-hundred percent clear. The quickest path was also the most guarded, making it the least likely to be the best choice. Yet it didn’t take long for Furrow to find another way up. With a sleek grin, the Trooper slowed his jog and stopped at the starting line.

His heart pulsed and adrenaline rushed as his tired body fully awakened. Ready for war, the Trooper erased the smirk and fixed his eyes on the target, then traced his vision back down the path he’d take, all the way back to his feet. Flexing his hands, he sighted the way up again and finally took a deep breath, waiting for the signal...

[Deleted]

First Lieutenant Killinger

The Lieutenant grinned. "You expect anything different, sir?" The Lieutenant excused himself as he jogged over to the obstacle course, enjoying the scenery as he ran past. Being an officer, he wanted to be the first one to complete the course. Despite himself being physically fit, he knew it was going to a challenge. Despite the negative thoughts, the Lieutenant believed himself up for the challenge.

As soon as he arrived at the course, he analyzed it quickly and thoroughly. It was tight and balance would play a big part in completing the course. It was littered with platforms, Drill Instructors and pieces to the course that would be tricky to complete. Killinger slowly whistled, his body type and muscles would surely make it hard. But, being an officer and a determined one at that he needed to at least complete the course and come in the top five. In fact, he preferred a few Marines to come in front of him. If you where always first, people expected to much from you.

The Lieutenant stepped forward and entered into a sprint, until he reached the first platform and horizontally pitched beam. Killinger stopped and entered a job as soon as he reached the platform, and came to a walk as soon as his foot reached the starting section of the beam. Killinger whistled, no going back now. He took a quick glance around and noticed that there was no webbing to catch falling soldiers, instead a massive pool of water below the base structure, with padding around the hard points so no one got completely injured. The obstacle course was dangerous, and could even be deadly.

As the Lieutenant made his way to the first platform, he slowed down. The next part, a vertical rope from one platform to the next, would be very tricky. "Hey! Get off the course! Clock hasn't started yet!" A Drill Instructor from the next platform screamed. "Do your job and stop me then." Killinger replied as he carefully but quickly traversed the webbing. He came to a stop on the second platform, and dozens more to go. The Drill instructor balanced his way down a beam and stopped himself at the next platform.

The next part was a "bridge" tied to rope, hanging from the support beams slightly above it. Complex design, but the Lieutenant was determined. "Want me to do my job, alright. Come at me, sir." - The Lieutenant grinned, happy that the DI would play his game with him. John stepped onto the first piece of the bridge, and almost lost his balance is it wobbled and steadied. "Shit.." He said under his breath, looking down at the water.

He slowly crossed over, careful to keep his balance on the bridge as the independent pieces swung around, trying to cause the Lieutenant to lose his balance and plummet into the watery failure. The Drill instructor stood in his way, grinning. Killinger let out a low chuckle. He reached the end of the bridge and stepped onto the platform. Like Killinger had expected, the Drill Instructor tried to tackle him. With a swift side-step, the DI stumbled forward, and went head over heals off the platform. "FUCK YOU!" He screamed, followed by a loud splosh as the man made contact with the water.

Killinger laughed, "When you get too aggressive, your mind focuses on one thing. Being aggressive. Stay calm, and you'll get a lot more people that way!" He said in a mocking tone as the man fell. The next course was a swinging portion of the course. The Lieutenant grabbed the first bar, but his hand refused to cooperate and decided to sweat up on the Lieutenant at the wrong moment.

In between a swing, the Lieutenant fell, and impacted the water with a resounding smack as the water collided with the Marine, and his full combat uniform. "NOW THAT...." The Lieutenant screamed. "Is fun." He added, laughing.

He swam back to the starting point, and noticed another Marine at the starting line. The ODST looked calm, and determined. It was a ODST, his name tag read Corporal Furrow. The Lieutenant nodded as he shook some of the water out of his shin armor plating. "Captain." Killinger said, not knowing the the Captain was around. "Course is fun." He added, spitting out some of the water that managed to enter his mouth. "But you need to work on the chlorine substance that's in that water." He chuckled.

"Start the clock?"

[David]

Sergeant Tom Baker

After the Captain had given the marines their marching orders, Tom was glad he had gone and prepped up ahead of some of the slackers, some were still yawning and rubbing their eyes when they were back. Some hadn't even had breakfast.

Walking out of the mess, Tom made his way to the training course where the events were to take place. Flexing his fingers in anticipation, Tom wondered what kind of force the DI's would use. He knew some of them would be merciless and dog them until they had no fight left.

Shaking his head, Tom cleared his thoughts as he stepped out into the sunlight, The cool fresh oxygen stimulated his senses, the smell of the woods around and the grass all served to energize Tom.

Walking up to the course, Tom looked around. He saw a LT. screwing around on the course before the clock had started.

Smirking, Tom crossed his arms across his chest and eyed the LT meaningfully when he clambered out of the water. He then observed him conversing with [yellow]Corporal Furrow[/yellow]

Marching up to them, Tom grinned his easy grin and said "So? Hows the water"