Fight for the Future Part II
Posted on Sun Oct 5th, 2025 @ 8:28am by Lieutenant Junior Grade Jack Hunter
Edited on on Mon Oct 6th, 2025 @ 4:42pm
1,215 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
All Our Yesterdays
Location: USS Aquarius
Timeline: Five Days Prior to Arrival at Empok Nor
Radek groaned, rolled onto his side, and started to get up. Jack couldn’t believe it and didn’t know what to do next.
Jack got up as well and stepped back. He had nothing left for this fight, but he held his ground and was ready for whatever came.
As Radek got up and readied his death blow, the doors to the Cargo Bay doors opened. The ship’s Executive Officer, Marine CO, four security officers and two marine guards, both as big as Radek, walked in. Armed.
Commander Liora Sovan, Executive Officer of the USS Aquarius, stood her ground. The tall, sharp-featured Vulcan swept her cold eyes across the room, her gaze heavy with disapproval.
Behind her, Major Santiago, the Marine Commanding Officer, wore a scowl fierce enough to melt duranium. Flanking the two senior officers were two towering marines, their arms crossed and postures rigid and four orange-uniformed security guards with side arms.
The crowd began to break apart. No one wanted to get caught in the fallout of what was clearly about to become a disciplinary nightmare. They shuffled past the command officers, heads low, like kids fleeing the scene of a high school brawl.
Jack Hunter remained in the center of the ring facing his new audience, his breath still heavy, knuckles still stinging from the last blow.
Radek stopped any further movement and knew who entered the room. He turned to face them. Blood dripped from his split lip onto the deck, his face a mess of swelling and bruises.
“Front and center, both of you,” Commander Sovan ordered, her voice sharp and unforgiving.
Jack gathered himself in front of Sovan and Santiago. He stood tall, wiping the sweat and blood from his brow. He knew he was in trouble. This, of course was not the Starfleet way, and he knew there will be a price to pay for it. But he didn’t regret it. Not for a second.
Radek also stood upright, swiping a hand across his mouth to smear the blood away. His eyes flickered to Sovan and then to the Major, but the smug grin remained plastered on his face.
“Explain this.” Sovan ordered. Her gaze flickered from Jack to Radek.
Before Jack could speak, Radek chuckled, his voice thick with mockery. “Just a friendly little match, Commander. Right, Jack?”
Jack’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. There was no point in saying anything. The truth wouldn’t help here.
Major Santiago folded his arms. The two marines behind him shifted slightly, their presence intimidating without a word spoken. “What I see,” Santiago said slowly, “is two members of the crew engaging in unauthorized combat and stirring up a damn spectacle.”
Radek and Jack didn’t say a word.
Major Santiago's eyes scanned the room and that’s when he saw him. Brill, standing near the far wall, almost cowering in the shadows, as if hoping he could melt into the background. The young ensign looked like a cornered animal. His shoulders hunched, arms folded tightly over his chest, his eyes wide with guilt and anxiety.
Santiago's scowl deepened. The rumors he’d been hearing about Radek’s bullying hadn’t gone unnoticed, and now everything was starting to make sense. He glanced at Brill, then back at Radek, the pieces clicked together.
Sovan’s cold gaze followed Santiago's landing on Brill. “Ensign,” she said, her tone precise and controlled, “Do you have anything to add?”
Brill froze, visibly torn between fear and duty. The few people left in the room turned to him, and also waited for an answer. His gaze flickered between Jack and Radek, his throat working as if the words were stuck. Finally, after a long, heavy pause, he took a deep breath and stepped forward, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Radek’s been… targeting me. He’s been shoving me around, humiliating me, sometimes in front of others.” Brill’s voice wavered slightly, but he pressed on. “I didn’t say anything because I thought it would make things worse. But Lieutenant Hunter...he… he stood up for me.”
Radek’s smirk faltered slightly, but he rolled his shoulders and attempted to look unaffected.
Commander Sovan regarded Brill with a cool, assessing gaze. “Thank you, Ensign,” she said with a slight nod. “You are dismissed.”
The young ensign turned and slipped out of the cargo bay, his shoulders a little straighter than they had been when he entered.
Sovan turned her attention back to Radek, her expression as unreadable as ever. “Captain Radek, bullying and harassment have no place on this ship.”
Major Santiago, still standing with his arms crossed, gave a low growl. The two marines behind him remained still, their gazes fixed on Radek, adding silent weight to his authority. “You’re a Marine. You’re supposed to protect, not intimidate.”
Radek opened his mouth to protest, but the Major silenced him with a glare sharp enough to cut through bulkheads.
“Radek, you’re confined to quarters until further notice,” the Major barked. “I’ll decide your punishment once I’ve finished reviewing the reports. And trust me, it won’t be pretty.”
Radek's jaw twitched, but he knew better than to argue. With a stiff nod, he turned to the two marines of equal weight and height to escort him out of the cargo bay. He shot Jack one last glare before disappearing out of the room, his bruised pride as evident as the swelling on his face.
With Radek gone, Commander Sovan turned to Jack.
“Lieutenant Hunter,” she said, “your loyalty to your team is commendable. Your method, however, is not.”
Jack knew better than to argue. He remained at attention.
“You will receive an official reprimand,” Sovan continued. “Violence in this way is not how we solve conflicts on this ship.”
Jack gave a curt nod. “Understood, Commander.”
She held his gaze for a moment longer, as if weighing his intentions against protocol. Then, with a slight nod, she turned on her heel and addressed two of the guards. “Escort Lieutenant Hunter to the brig until further notice."
Jack headed for the door. The security guards followed.
Jax was waiting just outside the cargo bay, leaning casually against the wall with his arms crossed.
As Jack passed, Jax gave him a sly grin.
“You’re a damn fool, Hunter,” Jax said, falling into step next to him as he and the security guards made their way toward the brig.
“Yeah,” Jack muttered, rubbing his sore ribs. “But I’m a fool with principles.”
Jax chuckled, clapping Jack on the back. “Don’t worry. I’ll cover for you while you’re cooling your heels in the brig.”
Jack smirked. “Appreciate it.”
Jack entered the turbolift. Two security guards flanked both sides as the doors hissed closed.
A Post By
Lieutenant Junior Grade Jack Hunter
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer, USS Pioneer
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