Unexpected

Posted on 2025, Sun Oct 19th, @ 12:58am by Vice Admiral Jack Reacher Jr & Rear Admiral Jacob Hawks Esq, SMH PMV
Edited on on 2025, Thu Oct 30th, @ 11:34pm

902 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 2: Pillars of the Theater - USS Vigilance, Star Base 113
Location: SB 113 Reachers Office
Timeline: Day 7

Reacher was at his desk when the Hawks came in without even chimjng. Jacob had asked the computer where Jack was and then came straight to his COs office from the runabout hangar.

"Jack, what fuck happened? You're facing a felony assault charge brother. This is not good."

Reacher leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, jaw set. The bruise on his knuckles still faintly red — a reminder of the Andorian’s jaw.

“Yeah, I figured that was gonna come across someone’s desk sooner or later,” he muttered, voice low but carrying that dry, California drawl he’d never shaken from his LAPD days. “And before you say it — yeah, I hit him. One clean shot. Deserved every damn bit of it.”

He exhaled sharply through his nose, leaning forward. “You weren’t there, Jacob. The Zytchin reps were running their mouths, the Andorian kept talking over everyone like he was running the Federation, and their security thug decided to put a hand on me when I stood to leave. I warned him — twice.” He held up two fingers, shaking his head. “You know me. I don’t start fights. But I damn sure end them.”

Reacher rubbed his temple, trying to push down the pounding frustration. “Hell, I spent seven years with LAPD SWAT before Starfleet — and even they had more discipline than those blue-skinned bureaucrats.”

He gave a humorless chuckle. “You’d think after all this time, I’d have learned to keep my mouth shut in a diplomatic setting. But, hey — at least I didn’t draw my phaser this time. That’s growth, right?”

He looked up at Jacob, a faint smirk cutting through the tension. “So… what’s Command saying? Am I about to be shipped off to a penal colony, or do I get to finish my coffee first?”

"Nah, you're fine for now its just an investigation. If JAG files charges then you can start to worry. But ill be honest boss I watched the security footage. I dont show show you warning him twice. It shows him gently touching you're arm in a gesture of assistance as you moved your chair, then you clocked him. Did anyone in that room here you warn him twice?" Hawks said.

Reacher’s brow twitched as Hawks finished speaking. He leaned back in his chair again, that slow, dangerous kind of movement that usually came before a storm.

“Oh, so now we’re trusting the holocams over me?” he said, voice low and tight. “Yeah, I know what it shows, Jacob. Doesn’t show the part where that blue bastard kept calling me ‘Starfleet trash’ under his breath every time the Prime Minister tried to speak, does it? Doesn’t catch tone, doesn’t catch context — just frames per second.”

He pushed his chair back, rising to his feet, pacing behind his desk. “You think I’d just cold-cock a guy for touching my damn arm? C’mon, brother. You know me better than that.”

Reacher stopped pacing, turning sharply toward Hawks. “And yeah, I warned him. Maybe not loud enough for the whole damn room to hear — because I wasn’t trying to make it a scene. I told him twice, plain and clear: ‘Back off.’ He didn’t. End of story.”

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling heavily, then gave a short, humorless laugh. “Figures though. Diplomatic summit, high-level officials, one bad angle on a holo feed — and suddenly, I’m the monster. Starfleet Command’s probably already prepping their PR spin.”

He looked back up at Hawks, his tone shifting — dry humor threading through the tension. “So, what’s next? You gonna tell me to take anger management again? I swear, last time I had to sit through that Vulcan instructor’s lecture on emotional restraint, I nearly put him through a bulkhead.”

Hawks half laughed "I mean. I wasn't going to reccomend that...but since you mentioned it. I got you back, but a witness that heard something would come in real handy is all I'm saying....anyway, we should get going Queens arriving soon. Its gonna be a busy first day back for me..." Hawks said.

Reacher gave a small smirk at that, the tension finally bleeding off his shoulders.

“Yeah, yeah,” he said, waving a hand dismissively as he moved around the desk to grab his jacket. “A witness, huh? Maybe I’ll see if the Prime Minister’s assistant remembers me telling him to back off. Assuming she’s not still pretending she didn’t enjoy watching him eat the floor.”

He paused, tugging the jacket on. “And the Queen’s arriving? Oh, perfect. Diplomatic incident one minute, royal welcoming committee the next. Starbase 113 sure knows how to keep things interesting.”

Reacher gave Hawks a sidelong look as they headed for the door. “You know, Jacob, I’m starting to think this base has it out for me. Every time I sit down to handle paperwork, someone walks in with bad news or a visiting dignitary.”

He grinned now, a flash of that old LAPD swagger creeping through. “But hey—welcome back, by the way. You’re just in time for the circus.”

"Oh jees, if i wanted to be in the circus I woulda learned to juggle boss." Hawks chuckled as they departed for the meeting. At this point he'd settle for a week without a crisis.

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