"We are both well aware that your actions should have you facing a Class B court marshal," Vice-Admiral Nathaniel Hawkins stated in his trademark stiff tone, the report from the latest offensive against the Covenant displayed on the palm screen resting on the dark mahogany desk in front of him. Jason looked at the desk, tracing the delicate curves of its grain with his eyes. Real mahogany from Earth. For him, probably a month's salary. Or more. The admiral continued. "You disobeyed direct orders, obtained Class 5 weaponry without proper clearance and, in doing so, endangered the mission and the lives of my men. If you have anything to say in your defense before I submit the necessary petition for your indictment, then by all means, please indulge me."
Most men finding themselves in Jason Majszak's current position would probably have smartly remained silent. The infamous admiral of the Crimson Star Battalion was always willing to see that any disobedient behavior was punished to serve as an example to all those under his command on what not to do. 'Don't piss off Hawkins' was the golden rule that all in the CSB knew and observed religiously. Jason looked at the Admiral, reading the expression on the older man's face as daring him to speak – Jason wasn't one to turn down a challenge.
"Well, since you asked," he responded frankly, crossing his arms across his chest in a light display of contempt, "I see that you have the mission report there in front of you. Out of curiosity, how exactly did District Command list the task completion as?"
"You know what DC said about the mission," Hawkins growled, already sensing where Jason was leading.
"Yes, I know what they said in debriefing, but you have all the official raw data right there," Jason pressed. "I was just wondering what our total casualties were listed as for the operation."
"None," the admiral stated, his speech void of emotion.
"Injuries?" Jason continued.
"Minimal," Hawkins replied.
"Ah yes, and the mission was successful, was it not?"
"It was."
"Well then," Jason concluded, hiding the smug grin that was pulling at the corner of his mouth, "given the fact that this is the first mission you've headed in almost two months to be greenlisted by DC, and, coincidentally, it is the first mission you have headed with the Firefly task force assigned to you, I think you may have a difficult time convincing the council to court marshal the Lieutenant Captain of one of the most successful special forces teams in UNSC history."
Knowing that his bluff had been called, Admiral Hawkins leaned forward towards Jason, addressing him with diplomatic words that were betrayed by the menacing voice in which they were conveyed. "Given your new assignment here in the Crimson Star Battalion, you may not understand how we run things out here on the rim front. You may think that…"
"Oh, trust me, sir," Jason interjected, cutting the admiral off in mid speech. "I know exactly what you expect from the Fireflys. Simply put, it is fortunate for everyone involved that the expectations I hold for my men are much higher." Before the admiral could say another word, Jason followed his disrespectful charge with, "Now if you would excuse me, I have some Class 5 weaponry that I have been instructed to return to the armory." Admiral Hawkins responded with an icy glare that would have made even a Covenant Elite stop dead in its tracks. His crisp salute not reciprocated, Jason turned and exited the admiral's office, feeling Hawkins' eyes burning lasers into the back of his head.