Post 243: Brothers in Arms

Posted on Tue Mar 11th, 2025 @ 11:02pm by Lieutenant Commander Michael McMahon & Lieutenant Peter McMahon & Lieutenant JG Robert McMahon & Ensign Joseph McMahon

471 words; about a 2 minute read

Mission: Secrets

The moment the docking clamps engaged with the transport, Mike McMahon knew his brothers had arrived. He had been waiting—counting the seconds—ever since the report came in that their squadron was inbound from the front. The Synthulan engagement had been brutal, and for days, he had wondered if he would ever see them again.

Now, after their debriefing with Captain Pontmercy, they were finally on their way to him.

Mike paced in the corridor outside the officers’ lounge, arms crossed, jaw tight. He had run through every possible scenario in his head—what to say, what to ask. But as the doors hissed open, and Robert, Joseph, and Peter stepped through, all those thoughts vanished.

Robert was the first to approach. His flight suit was still unzipped at the top, revealing a sweat-damp undershirt, his blond hair a mess. He looked exhausted, but his grin was as cocky as ever.

“Damn, McMahon,” Robert said, clapping Mike on the shoulder. “You look like you’ve been worrying about us.”

Mike smirked, but the tension in his chest didn’t ease. “That’s because I have. Someone has to keep an eye on you idiots.”

Joseph appeared next, his uniform singed along the sleeves, his knuckles still bruised. The youngest McMahon looked worse for wear but carried himself like nothing had happened.

“I hope you’re not about to get all sentimental on us,” Joseph teased. “I didn’t come back from a Synthulan firefight just to get a speech.”

Mike ignored him and pulled him into a tight hug. “You scared the hell out of me, kid.”

Joseph let out a small chuckle, but there was something shaky underneath it. “Yeah… well, we made it.”

And then there was Peter. The eldest of them all—stoic, composed, still in his pristine duty uniform. He had always been the one who followed every protocol, played every rule by the book. For years, there had been a distance between them, not in love, but in understanding.

“Mike,” Peter said with a nod.

Mike returned the nod. “Pete.”

And then Peter stepped forward, hesitated for only a moment, and pulled him into a firm embrace. It was brief, but it was real.

For a moment, all four of them stood there, together again, alive. They had lost their parents to the Synthulans. They had almost lost each other. But tonight, they had survived.

Mike finally exhaled, the weight on his chest loosening just a little. “Come on,” he said, motioning them toward the bar. “First round’s on me.”

Robert grinned. “Damn right it is.”

Joseph laughed. “You’re paying? This really must be a special occasion.”

Even Peter smirked.

As they walked off together, for the first time in a long time, Mike felt like maybe—just maybe—things would be okay.

 

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