Side-Trek Revelations

Posted on Thu Jan 22nd, 2026 @ 2:34pm by Ensign Aidan "A.J." Reid
Edited on on Thu Jan 22nd, 2026 @ 2:36pm

778 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Not All Orders Are Easy
Location: AJ Reid's Quarters
Timeline: 0700 hours

Aj bounced a rubber ball against the bulkhead with rhythmic precision, catching it in his palm before launching it again. "Aerial Tappin'," he drawled into the subspace channel, his thick Jamaican accent rolling through the words like distant thunder. The viewscreen flickered with the stern visage of a Starfleet Admiral—her silver-blonde hair pulled into a regulation bun, her weathered face bearing the dignified lines of decades of command, her posture ramrod straight despite her years. Aj's dark eyes narrowed as he caught the ball mid-bounce. "De Lieutenant Commander, she been on Risa when de Washington crew takin' shore leave. I got de proof right here, y'understand? So why you tellin' me to back off dis investigation my department put me on?"

The Admiral's face hardened to granite. "Her name is Tapping. And you've just lost what little authority you had left, Officer. Not assistant chief, anymore—you've been downgraded as of 0700 hours. Lieutenant Junior Grade Kono will be informed that Dalton is taking your position as Assistant Chief of Intelligence." She leaned forward, voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Your borderline insubordination ends now. Is that perfectly clear?"

The Admiral's stern face flickered on the subspace monitor, her jaw clenched tight as granite. Ensign Reid watched, bewildered, as Aj's weathered features relaxed into an easy smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes – the smile of a man who'd seen this game played a thousand times before.

"Admiral," Aj drawled, his thick accent rolling through the cabin like distant subspace quantum threads. "I and I been 'round dis block dwenty-fie years now, seen more stepped-on toes dan a dance hall after midnight." He leaned back, broad shoulders relaxed against his chair. "We both know what gwaan here, an’ I accept your decision with all respect due." His dark eyes never wavered from hers. "My report? It gwine disappear from Starfleet Records faster dan rain in de desert, with some fancy talk 'bout 'Security Efforts' why it can't come back." He chuckled, a sound like smooth rum. "Dis dance? I know every step."

With deliberate slowness, Aj set aside his bouncing ball and lifted a bikini top, the name 'Tapping' clearly visible on its strap. "Dis more important dan some simple investigation, innit? It reach to you personal-like, something never travel up de proper chain." His voice dropped lower, but gained steel. "Dat's why you threaten I for doing good work. But hear me now – my superior still gwine know I hit your wall. Where she take it?" He spread his calloused hands. "Her decision entirely, no matter how you try knock down a man for finding de rotten coconut hanging in your pretty palm tree."

"Perhaps we can reach an accommodation regarding your position if—" The Admiral's words died as AJ's hand sliced through the air, cutting off her image on the viewscreen.

"What done is done, Admiral," AJ said, his Jamaican lilt softening the steel beneath. "You relieved me of my position, and dat paper trail is de only ting I need. Shows dis conversation happened, yuh see? Already registered it in de system myself." He leaned closer to the screen, voice dropping to a confidential tone. "Was de least I could do, being nothing but a humble Ensign in intelligence."

The Admiral's face froze in a mask of authority, but her eyes widened slightly, pupils dilating with the first flickers of fear. Her jaw tightened as she realized her miscalculation—this wasn't some green junior officer she could intimidate. AJ's smile never reached his calculating eyes as he watched comprehension dawn across her features. She had played her hand, and only now understood she'd been outmaneuvered from the start.

The Admiral's weathered face creased with a calculated frown. "I assume you'd be willin' to overlook certain... unfortunate details about your demotion if I were to entertain these questions of yours?"

AJ's eyes glinted like polished obsidian as he leaned forward, his high-and-tight hair catching the light. He steepled his fingers beneath his chin, lips curving into a satisfied smile.

"Ya see, dat's just de beginnin', Admiral," he replied, his Jamaican lilt rolling through the sterile office. "Maybe ya can explain why nobody mention another Starfleet vessel orbitin' Risa alongside de Washington? Why Agent Tappin' dere at all? And don't feed me no story 'bout coincidence when her swimwear wash up right outside me Intelligence Chief's door, mon."

"Fine. You'll get your damn briefing at fifteen hundred hours," she snapped, fingers drumming against the console. Her jaw tightened as she added, "But this stays between us. Understood?" The transmission cut off with a sharp click before Aj could even acknowledge, leaving only static in its wake.

 

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