The Marine Barracks aboard the Ajax are where the 152nd Special
Operations Group "B" platoon sleep, eat, and train.Better known as just "the Marines", their barracks occupy nearly the whole of deck 11, and contain, amongst other things, a tactical environment simulator ("Tacdeck"), a very extensive armory, and the living area and quarters of the Ajax's 26 assigned Marines. The Marines constitute not only a backup to the Ajax's own Security department, but also a department of their own. They are carried primarily to enable the Ajax to act as a fast-transport vehicle for the Marines, to any part of known space within a month. Similar detachments are carried on many other Starfleet vessels, spreading out the Starfleet Marine Corps (SFMC) coverage, and enabling well-trained ground troops to be deployed anywhere within days.
The Tacdeck on deck 11 is a standard holodeck, modified to better simulate target enemies, weapons, and their effects. It is large enough to fit the entire detachment or 26 in, with a 6' action radius around each Marine. Any known weapon or lifeform can be simulated, and many different behavior patterns are programmed into each individual lifeform. The Tacdeck is also very good at simulating buildings and open spaces alike, so building assaults and long-range fire can be practiced.
"B" platoon's armory is
extremely extensive and well protected. A shipwide state of yellow alert has to be
declared before the maglocks on the doors will even allow themselves to be activated. Only
Marines and personnel holding security levels Alpha-one and above can open the 3"
thick door. At present, the armory contains:21 Quantum disruptors 8 Type X Phaser cannons 3 Sniper Phaser rifles with 3-46x targeting scopes 50 Photon satchel bombs
- EQUIPMENT PER MARINE - 1 Type II Phaser 5 Photon grenades 2 combat knives 1 long range commbadge Type III SFMC body armor 1 emergency transporter locator beacon
The Marines are split into two squads of 13 men each: Alpha squad and Beta squad. Each squad is split into two fire teams of 6 Marines each: Charlie team and Delta team. Each squad has a commander, the Marine CO commands Alpha squad, and the Marine XO commands Beta squad. Each Marine has an operational partner, commonly called an "oppo". This makes for 3 sets of oppos in each fire team, with the squad commander attaching himself to whichever oppo set he wishes. Oppos eat, sleep and train together, and without exception become intimate friends. This is essential for the field when each Marine needs to know that the person covering his back is one he can trust his life to.
The Marine barracks is fortifiable, moreso even than the Main Bridge. It has the ability to be heremetically sealed with supplies for up to 3 weeks, and all of the doors and walls are armored. The purpose of this is to allow the barracks to act as a last-stand point for the crew, should they have to repel boarders.
There is a sort of love-hate relationship between Marines and Starfleet crew. Marines almost unanimously believe that all "Fleeters" are cowardly, despite continuing evidence that they are in fact, not. Most Starfleet crew members, especially those un / lucky enough to have a detachment on board their ship, think that all Marines are gung-ho, trigger happy morons, whose singular vocabulary consists of the word "Ooh-RAH", which isn't even a word.
In reality those intelligent, lucky and brave enough to be in the Starfleet Marine Corps are very well trained upholders of the founding principles of the Federation.