Family Time

Posted on 2025, Mon Aug 25th, @ 10:10pm by Rear Admiral Jacob Hawks Esq, SMH PMV & Vice Admiral Jack Reacher Jr & Captain Maxwell Culver & Captain Kate Reacher & Cadet Junior Grade Tess Reacher & Civilian Katie Reacher

1,323 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 2 "Demons of the Past, Friends of the Future" - USS Halo
Location: Star Base 113 - Flag Officer Family Quarters
Timeline: 2402 - 4 Days Till Mission Start

Tess and Katie were in their room playing Kal-toh, and Tess was a superb player, while Katie was always trying to outsmart her. James was asleep, taking a nap, while Jack and Kate were busy making dinner, but they also had a special guest coming as well.

Hawks chimed the door. Jacob and Jack had been acquaintances for over 15 years, ever since Reacher had served as Hawks' CTO on the Concord in the mid-80s. But in the past 3 months, they had rekindled a friendship. Jack has risen through the ranks at a quicker pace than Jake in the past decade, and Hawks didn't mind; he was happy having a ship and being able to help out by serving in the additional role as the TF Ops officer.

TF17 was one of the largest in the fleet at around 180 ships operating essentially independently in their area of the Federation. In reality, his job was more like serving as a Fleet Ops O rather than a task force. But as long as they let him keep the Bonnie, he'd be happy. Kate came to the door and welcomed Hawks in.

"Oh, hey Jake, how have you been? Jack is just in the kitchen right now, we weren't expecting you for another hour or so.' Kate said.

Hawks waltzed into their suit. "Been doing alright, except for the paperwork your husband's got me doing," he said with a grin.

Kate laughed. "Well, that's what happens when you work for Jack. Please come in. Dinner is almost ready. Jack is making his famous seasoned steak. Tess and Katie are playing Kal-toh." As if on cue, Katie was heard getting angry.

"How did you win again!!! Dang it!"

Jack was then heard laughing from the Kitchen area. Kate smirked. "She tries every time, And Always fails, but keeps going till she gets it right. Sounds familiar, don't it?"

Jake smiled, "I think we can all see a little bit of ourselves in that outlook...How ya doing in ther,e Jack, what kinna poison are you whipping up for us in there?" He hollered to his CO.

"Good old real Earth Steak, had it shipped in a day or so after we got back," Jack replied.

Captain Maxwell Culver had only just arrived on station. The Somersby, the Reliant II class starship recently attached to Triton Seabase, had been much tighter than he had expected. Not quite as spartan as the Defiant class, but it was barely a step up.

A quick shower, shave, and toothbrushing had done a world of good, but he still felt that old human term - jet lag. He also hated interrupting anyone’s off-duty time, but the staff of SB 113 seemed almost ready to drag him to the Admiral’s quarters if he didn’t just show up himself. They probably didn’t want to deal with V’trel’s time crunch. The Romulan was very…pushy, for want of a better word, when he wanted to be.

Still, Max adjusted his combadge, pulled down his duty jacket, and ran his fingers through his hair before touching the announce chime.

Jack didn't remember if he had invited anyone, so he answered the door himself. "What seems to be the problem, Captain?" Reacher asked.

Max immediately felt apprehensive. “Captain Maxwell Culver, sir. I was directed to your quarters by the senior staff. I’ve got a Romulan friend, V’trel’s, very high-fever governmental administrator. He’s rather insistent that I get underway with a supply mission, but I require your authorization.” Max stupidly thrust out the PADD he carried.

“Wouldn’t have bothered you, sir, during your time off, but I was all but shoved out of Operations and directed here. My apologies. I can go and wait until tomorrow.”

"No, No, Come in, Stay for dinner," Jack motioned for him to enter. "I will deal with V’trel’s wrath if you're late, Kate! Jacob! Set another plate, got another guest!"

“Oh!” Max exclaimed, finding his feet moving forward, perhaps driven by his stomach and brain conspiring against better judgment. “Thank you, Admiral. Please,” he paused as he tucked the PADD away, “call me Max. I wasn’t expecting a family dinner. It’s been a while,” he admitted, a smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. If he were anything like his mother, he would have ‘crow’s feet’ as he approached a thousand years old. As is, most people wanted to know how a twenty-five-year-old was a Starfleet Captain.

Kate walked around the table and smiled at Max. "Welcome! Can I get you anything to drink?"

Hawks was at the replicator ordering himself a Root Beer, and lingered there, figuring he would grab the new guest's drink and save Kate the trouble. Hawks raised his frosty mug in a salute to the newcomer as they entered.

“Iced tea, with a lemon wedge, if you don’t mind,” Max answered. It was one of the few drinks from his time on Earth that he’d favoured. Well, that and black, hot coffee.

Kate quickly got into the fridge. "You're lucky, I just made some a little bit ago, Tess enjoys Fresh, authentic tea."

Katie peeked out of the bedroom with Tess right behind her. Tess then stepped around and walked right up to Jacob. "Who are you?"

"You dont remember me? You called me Uncle back when you were 3 years old? I was the first one to take you swimming in the ocean on Risa. Hawks put his drink down and put on a pouty face, hurt that she didn't remember him.

"Uncle....Jake!" She said excitedly. And then hugged Hawks.

"How are you doing, Katie?" Jake said as Katie was still standing in the bedroom doorway.

"I'm okay, Uncle Jake. I got a B on my history exam last week. And it's your fault."

'What? How's it my fault? I helped you study for it while I was waiting to meet with your Dad.' Jake said defensively. He had seen Katie a few times in the past few months but hadn't seen Tess for a few years.

"Exactly, Uncle Jake. Exactly, " Katie said with a hint of a grin.


"So, Boys, How do y'all like your steak?" Jack asked as he went back to the stove.

Hawks walked over to the sofa with his drink and had a seat. "Medium-medium well, but not leather boss," Hawks replied.

"Funny, if you wanted leather so badly should have let Kate cook it," Jack said with a laugh.

Kate smacked him aside the arm. "Yeah, I might have fucked up our first date dinner, but I had no idea you cooked!"

Hawks ignored the comment...if he got leather after specifically not asking for it, he would request a transfer on the spot, on principle alone. "So, Maxwell was it? You're with TF18, right?"

"Temporarily attached yes" Culver replied.

20 Mins Later

After eating, and the dishes were done, everyone was in the living room. Katie/Tess was reading, Kate was holding James, and Jack was drinking coffee.

Hawks had resumed his seat on their couch facing the large windows out into space, and was flitting through a padd. "Oh, great, new routine intel update from command, they say watch out for rogue Tal Shiar and S31 elements operating in former Romulan space(it was now technically Federation space)...like obviously, duh..." lets out a sigh, he was not talking to anyone in particular, just talking while he read as one is apt to do.

"You shocked? Lovell has been running around like a chicken without a head. Rumor has it, He didn't even know about the Romulans joining till the fucking Accords were signed." Jack told Hawks.

"Which is Odd, Even for the President," Kate added.

"Meanwhile we're out here at the pointy end, and have to deal with the consequences." Hawks said.

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