P5404 - Bodycam Footage #1

Posted on Sun Jul 26th, 2026 @ 7:30am by Captain Samuel Woolheater

Mission: Interlude
Location: Marine Detachment - Deck 32 - Training Facilities
Timeline: Earlier
1366 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

STARFLEET MARINE CORPS BODYCAM SYSTEM - BOOTLOADER

PROJECT.....SENTINEL

MODEL.......MBC-7A

PART NO.....MBC-7A-4412

S/N.........SFMC-2150-118-32971

MFG DATE....2398.142

MFR.........ARES UNIVERSAL SYSTEMS

FW..........v6.24.91

HUD.........TAC-HUD 4.7

CERT........SFMC MDMP

SPEC........429.7 / 505.3(b)(3)

............577.6(a) / 707.4(d-g)

SELF TEST........PASS

OPTICS...........PASS

AUDIO............PASS

LINK.............PASS

BIO..............PASS

...//...

INITIALIZING.....PASS

NETWORK SYNC.....PASS

USER AUTH........PASS

SYSTEM...........ONLINE

> EVERY MARINE A WITNESS.

LICENSED FOR SFMC SERVICE USE

// // PROJECT: S E N T I N E L // //

BODYCAM.............P5404

TIMECODE............SYNCED

RECORDING...........ACTIVE ●

==================================================

STARFLEET MARINE CORPS BODYCAM

==================================================

BODYCAM........P5404

MARINE.........WOOLHEATER, S. // CAPT

UNIT...........62ND CO "SPARTANS"

BILLET.........XO, MARDET

VESSEL.........NCC-89000 - USS ELYSIUM

STARDATE.......75563.6

MISSION........03:17:42

RECORD.........00:00:00

STATUS.........REC ●

A/V&TEL........ONLINE

NET............TACTICAL

LOC............DECK 32 // MARINE TRAINING FACILITIES

BIO............NORMAL

==================================================

The image flickered to life for a fraction of a second before stabilizing. Automatic exposure compensated for the bright overhead lighting as the camera swayed gently with Samuel Woolheater's confident stride across the training bay. Every few steps, the swing of his arms brought flashes of tattooed forearms into the lower edge of the frame. Deck 32 was already alive. To the left, three Marines in PT gear wrestled a cargo pallet loaded with ammunition crates toward the indoor range, one of them loudly insisting he wasn't lost while the other two assured him he absolutely was. Beyond them, a weapons instructor stood behind a firing lane, correcting a corporal's stance with a sharp tap against the Marine's elbow.

"Relax your shoulders."

A burst of compressed air echoed from somewhere deeper in the bay as another squad cycled through breaching drills. The distinctive smell of machine oil, ozone and recently cleaned phaser rifles seemed to hang permanently in the compartment. Across the room, two lance corporals argued over the proper way to pack a reconnaissance rucksack.

"That's upside down," one said.

"It is not," the other countered.

"It literally says THIS SIDE UP."

"It means the box."

"It means you."

Without missing a beat, the duty sergeant looked up from his datapad. "It means both of you shut up."

The argument ended immediately. Sam extended his left hand in a thumbs-up toward the duty sergeant.

"You tell 'em, Sergeant." The two exchanged a quick high five in passing.

A pair of Marines carrying collapsible drones squeezed past Samuel. One gave a respectful nod as they passed. "Morning, sir."

"Morning." Samuel replied as his Georgia drawl was evident.

The camera settled on the broad back of a young Romulan recruit waiting beside an equipment bench. His combat harness still carried factory creases. The webbing was pristine, as if it had only recently come out of the packaging. Magazine pouches, medical kit and utility gear hung from the vest, but half of it had been assembled in the wrong places. Nothing dangerous...just the unmistakable work of someone still learning.

Samuel stopped in front of him.

"Marine!"

The recruit straightened instinctively.

"On your feet!"

The Romulan recruit sprang upright, nearly upsetting the bench behind him.

Samuel didn't raise his voice again. He simply reached over, unclipped one of the magazine pouches, rotated it, and fastened it back into place. His hands moved with the practiced speed of someone who had adjusted his own equipment thousands of times before. He stepped back and gave the harness another quick inspection. "There."

The recruit looked down at his vest. "I thought it went there."

Samuel gave the pouch a light tap with the back of his hand. "It does now."

Sam stepped back and gave the harness another once-over before his eyes settled on the small black housing clipped high on the recruit's shoulder. The Romulan noticed him looking. "...Sir?"

Sam reached up and tapped the camera mounted on his own kit. "Remember to check the Bodycam battery every shift. Every deployment. Just do it. Know your Bodycam number. You might get called by it to get a better view. I'm P5404."

The recruit tilted his head. "I've been meaning to ask."

Another tap. "What about it?"

"Why do we wear them?" Sam was quiet for a moment. He looked around the training bay. Marines were checking rifles, adjusting web gear, arguing over who had forgotten batteries for a drone.

Around them, the rhythm of the training bay continued uninterrupted. Finally he answered. "People think they're here because Command doesn't trust Marines."

The recruit nodded slowly. "I assumed that."

Sam looked him in the eye, "They're wrong."

Sam rested one hand against the camera mounted to his harness.

"This thing has saved careers."

The recruit frowned.

"It's proven Marines followed their Rules of Engagement. It's shown investigators what actually happened. It's trained the next generation."

Sam paused.

"Sometimes..."

Another beat.

"...it's the last thing a family ever sees."

"So...It's not about watching us."

Sam nodded once. Grinned, "Oh...they're watching alright. Remember to turn it off before you take a piss." Sam slapped the Romulan Marine recruit on the shoulder, "C'mon now..." He started walking toward the obstacle course. The recruit hurried to catch up. After several steps he looked over again.

"So why's yours called P5404?" Sam glanced sideways. "Just the number they assigned to me. That's all. The bodycam isn't a gotcha tool. I think of it like...like...it's another Marine. It watches our backs when no one else can."

Another beat and Sam grinned back. "You really are Romulan aren't you?"

The younger Romulan soldier nodded, "That should be evident."

Sam snickered, "Oh...we are gonna have fun to-day!"

Samuel laughed, turned toward the obstacle course and started walking. The camera bobbed with each step. The Romulan recruit hurried to catch up. Ahead, another instructor's whistle echoed across the bay. The morning's training had only just begun.

[END FOOTAGE ROLL #1]

[OFF:]

Captain Samuel Woolheater, SFMC
Executive Officer, Marine Detachment
Sniper / Infantry Officer
Precision Fires & Recon Division
62nd Company "Spartans"
=/\= USS Elysium NCC-89000 =/\=