STRIKE Team Omega

Chapter 58: The Showdown in the Mess Hall

It was a tense April afternoon, and the Omega had just returned from a dangerous mission. The group was still dressed in their combat gear, stained with mud, dust, and dried blood. The silence along the Triskelion corridor was heavy, filled with the sound of military boots echoing across the floor. All of John's men were alive, but they had barely escaped with their lives, and that was just barely.

As they made their way to the mess hall, the tension between the team members was palpable. The mission had been a success only in technical terms. They had completed the objective, but because of Jasper Sitwell's arrogance and shortsightedness, one of John's men almost didn't make it back.

John stood at the head of his team, his face set like stone. His piercing gaze made it clear that he wasn't done with this situation, and his teammates knew he was about to do something about it. No one said a word as they made their way to the mess hall, where they knew Sitwell would be.

As they entered the mess hall, the lively atmosphere of other agents chatting and eating fell into an almost immediate silence. Clint, Maria, Natasha, and several others were present, and they soon noticed the entrance of the Omega team. The physical state of the team, with dirty combat gear and grim faces, was a clear sign that something had gone terribly wrong with the mission.

Sitwell was sitting casually at one of the tables, laughing with a few other agents, completely oblivious to the seething anger that was approaching. When John saw him, it was as if a fuse had been lit. His fists clenched at his sides, and his firm steps took him straight to Sitwell.

Murmurs began to run through the mess hall. All the agents could feel the tension in the air, watching with curiosity and apprehension.

Clint raised an eyebrow, exchanging glances with Natasha, both of them sensing that something was about to happen. John stopped in front of Sitwell, his shadow falling over the agent. Sitwell looked up, still smiling, but the smile quickly disappeared when he saw John's expression.

"Sitwell," John's voice was low, but filled with restrained anger. "Get up." Sitwell, surprised by the approach and the cold tone, blinked a few times before answering.

"What... what's going on, Hawke?" he asked, not understanding the gravity of the situation.

John wasted no time. Without warning, he grabbed Sitwell's jacket and lifted him from the chair with a sudden movement. The sound of fabric being pulled and chairs scraping across the floor echoed through the room. Sitwell's eyes widened, and the murmurs in the mess hall ceased completely, giving way to a thick, charged silence.

"You almost killed one of my men today, Sitwell," John growled, his words sharp and full of fury. He held Sitwell in the air, his gaze fixed on the shorter agent's face, who was beginning to sweat.

"Wait... what are you talking about?" — Sitwell stammered, trying to maintain his composure. — The mission was a success. I was just following protocol.

John snorted, his patience quickly fading.

"A success?" he repeated, with a bitter laugh. "It was sheer luck and skill on my team that no one died. Your arrogance and poor judgment nearly cost one of my men his life. You ignored all the tactical information I gave you, acted on your own, and it nearly destroyed us."

With each word John said, Sitwell seemed to shrink further in his stance. The agent's face flushed with shame and fear, but he still tried to justify his actions.

"I… I thought it was the best approach…" Sitwell began, but John interrupted him, raising his voice for the first time.

"You thought wrong!" He gave Sitwell a slight shake, making the man lose his balance. "You have no idea what it means to be in the field, risking your life and the lives of others." — John clenched his fist, his eyes flashing with anger. — You will never again jeopardize the life of anyone on my team because of your arrogance. Do we understand each other?

The entire cafeteria watched in tense silence. Everyone could see that Sitwell had made a grave mistake, and John's anger was more than justified. Clint, in the background, crossed his arms, watching the scene with a serious expression, while Natasha, at his side, seemed to analyze John with her attentive eyes. Maria remained impassive, but her eyes were fixed on the confrontation, understanding that this situation could not be swept under the rug.

Sitwell, seeing that there was no way to escape John's wrath, finally gave in.

"Yes... yes, we understand," he stammered, clearly intimidated by John's massive presence.

John released Sitwell, pushing him back slightly. Sitwell stumbled, almost falling, but quickly recovered, running his hands over his crumpled jacket. He was clearly embarrassed and humiliated, especially with all the eyes on him.

"Next time, you listen, Sitwell." If I say it's a bad idea, it's because I know what I'm talking about. — John took a step back, but his eyes were still fixed on Sitwell. — And if anyone on my team gets hurt because of your incompetence again, I'll make sure you never set foot in a field operation again."

Sitwell, completely dejected, nodded without saying anything else. He knew he had crossed the line and that there was no way to challenge John in this situation.

John turned around, his firm steps echoing through the silent cafeteria. He walked past Clint, Maria and Natasha, all still watching with tense expressions. Maria nodded discreetly, signaling that she understood and that the situation would be addressed formally later.

When John and his team finally left the cafeteria, the buzz of the agents slowly returned, with whispered conversations about what had just happened. A few curious looks followed John and his team as they left, but no one dared to say anything.

Clint exchanged a look with Natasha, who arched an eyebrow.

"Well, I wouldn't want to be in Sitwell's shoes right now," Clint commented with a slight smile.

Natasha nodded in agreement.

"John's right. Sitwell was reckless. If someone from Omega had died, it would have been a disaster for S.H.I.E.L.D. And for John... well, he wouldn't forgive that so easily." She spoke seriously, understanding the depth of John's loyalty to his team.

Clint nodded.

"He did what he had to do. You don't mess around with lives in the field. Especially lives he's responsible for." Maria, still nearby, finally let out a sigh and approached Clint and Natasha.

"This will have repercussions, but... John was right. Sitwell will need to be held accountable for this." Maria commented, watching Sitwell from afar, still trying to compose herself.

The day at the Triskelion continued, but the echoes of John and Sitwell's confrontation would long resonate. For Strike Team Omega, there was a clear line: loyalty among team members was unshakable, and anyone who jeopardized that trust would pay the price.

Chapter 59: Repercussions

The day after the confrontation between John Hawke and Jasper Sitwell, the Triskelion was in a state of silent turmoil. The incident in the cafeteria, which had been witnessed by many agents, quickly spread through the halls, fueling rumors and discreet conversations in every corner of S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. Trainee agents, analysts, field operatives, and even mission handlers talked about what had happened, creating an aura of tension and curiosity around John and his team.

In the agents' break room, a small group gathered around a coffee table. Victoria Hand, a veteran agent known for her seriousness, was among those discussing the event. With her were Melinda May, Bobbie Morse, and two other Level 6 agents who were in training for promotion.

"So, did you hear about what happened yesterday afternoon?" Victoria asked, looking around the group. Her expression was curious, but also cautious. Situations like that always had repercussions within S.H.I.E.L.D.

Bobbie, always quick to give her opinion, shook her head and spoke in an amused tone:

"I heard John grabbed Sitwell by the collar and lifted him off the ground. I didn't know he was that angry... but then again, Sitwell is well known for being an arrogant guy." She laughed, but there was a tone of approval in her voice.

Melinda May, with her arms crossed and her face expressionless, watched the conversation carefully. She knew how the battlefield shaped men like John, and her reaction, although intense, was no surprise to someone like May, who had also been through many critical situations.

"Sitwell is lucky he didn't get his ass kicked," May commented calmly. "If it had been me in John's place, maybe things would have ended differently. He almost lost a man because of that idiot's arrogance." The other two agents, still relatively new to the organization, looked surprised and unsure how to react to what they had heard. One of them, a man with short hair and a nervous expression, spoke timidly:

"But Sitwell is one of the oldest handlers in S.H.I.E.L.D., right? He's always involved in the big missions. I didn't think someone like John would confront a superior like that." Victoria leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, and looked directly at the young agent.

"That's because you still don't understand how things work here," she said, a hint of hardness in her voice. "John's not just any agent. He's the leader of Strike Team Omega. When you're at the level of command that he is, and you carry the weight of so many lives, you do whatever it takes to protect your team. And if Sitwell put the life of one of John's men in danger because of arrogance or miscalculation, then he deserved the confrontation."

Bobbie nodded, tossing her blond hair back.

"John is right to be furious. Omega has a reputation to uphold, and any mistake could cost lives. Sitwell may be good with paperwork and planning, but he doesn't understand what it's like to be in the field like Omega does." His voice was firm, and his respect for John was evident.

While the conversation in the break room continued, in another part of the Triskelion, in the training area, Clint and Natasha were discussing the incident. They had both been present in the mess hall and witnessed John's outburst.

"I've never seen John this angry before," Clint commented as he pulled an arrow from his quiver and aimed it at a distant target. "He's usually the type to keep his cool, even in the worst situations."

Natasha, beside Clint, was disassembling and reassembling a pistol with meticulous precision. She didn't look up as she replied,

"He was on edge. Sitwell put lives on the line, and John is protective of his team. It's one of the reasons Omega is so successful." He takes care of his own.

Clint fired the arrow, which flew perfectly to the center of the target, before looking at Natasha with a sideways smile.

"What if it had been you? Would you have done the same thing?"

Natasha raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

"If someone on my team was put in danger because of a command error, yes, I would have done the same. And I think you would too, Barton."

Clint laughed lightly.

"Yeah, probably. But do you think that's going to cause bigger problems? I mean, confronting Sitwell in front of everyone wasn't exactly... subtle."

Natasha finally looked at him, her eyes cold, but with a hint of curiosity.

"John did what he had to do. S.H.I.E.L.D. has rules, but it also has its exceptions. Fury knows that, and that's why he trusts John so much. Sitwell may be a thorn in his side, but I doubt this will go beyond a scolding."

Later that day, as John walked through the halls of the Triskelion, he noticed the stares of the other agents. Some greeted him with more respect than usual, others avoided eye contact, but everyone knew about the incident. This, in a way, further elevated his already imposing reputation. Omega was seen as a mythical, almost supernatural group, and John, being the super soldier that he was, was the ultimate symbol of that status.

John entered the training room and saw Maria near the screens, going through some reports. When she noticed his presence, she turned and crossed her arms, arching an eyebrow.

"So, you decided to pull Sitwell up by the collar in front of half the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents?" Maria's voice was full of irony, but her eyes showed a certain approval.

John shrugged, unapologetically.

"He put one of my men in danger, Maria. I won't let that go."

Maria nodded, understanding. "I know. And frankly, most agents agree with you. Sitwell is arrogant and underestimates what it means to be in the field. But you know Fury won't like the way you handled this."

John looked at her, emotionless.

"Fury can say whatever he wants, but I protect my team. And if that means confronting someone who doesn't understand the field, then so be it."

Maria studied John for a moment before sighing.

"Just… try to keep things more under control next time. Sitwell has his connections, and you don't need political enemies within S.H.I.E.L.D."

John nodded slightly, but the anger was still there, just beneath the surface. He knew he had done the right thing, and no one was going to convince him otherwise.

Across the hall, Nick Fury watched the scene through the Triskelion's security cameras. He knew the confrontation in the cafeteria would create waves within the organization, but he also knew that men like John Hawke were rare. Fury trusted him, and he trusted that, when all was said and done, John's loyalty to his team was unshakable. Sitwell, on the other hand, would have to learn a lesson from this.

Fury smirked. S.H.I.E.L.D. needed men like John, who acted not only with their heads, but with their hearts. After all, in an organization where secrets and betrayals were common, loyalty and the instinct to protect were the most powerful weapons.

Chapter 60: The Warning

The lights of the Triskelion glowed in the distance, reflecting off the dark river and creating an unsettling glow. While many S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were deep into their night shifts or enjoying their downtime, an invisible tension hung over the complex. The confrontation between John and Sitwell in the mess hall just a few days earlier had set off a chain of events that now put John in the crosshairs of forces more influential than he could have imagined.

In the aftermath of the confrontation, Sitwell, publicly humiliated and resentful, had not let the situation rest. He knew John was dangerous, not only physically, but also in terms of his influence within S.H.I.E.L.D. The leader of Strike Team Omega had a legendary reputation, something Sitwell could never match.

Determined to protect his position and exact revenge, he made a decision that could change his fortunes. It was then that Sitwell took the matter to Secretary Alexander Pierce, the powerful man who stood behind the scenes at S.H.I.E.L.D., pulling the strings like a chess master.

Pierce was Nick Fury's direct boss, and someone Sitwell had a connection with. He knew Pierce could use his influence to put pressure on John and possibly even remove him from field operations. That afternoon, in Pierce's office, Sitwell recounted the incident in a way that cast John as the irrational aggressor, someone who had no respect for hierarchy or chain of command.

"Secretary Pierce," Sitwell said, his tone controlled but betraying an underlying nervousness. "Hawke went too far. He disrespected me in front of the entire team. That kind of behavior jeopardizes morale and discipline within S.H.I.E.L.D. If he's left unchecked, this could escalate. We need to do something."

Pierce, sitting behind his mahogany desk, listened calmly as his fingers drummed the smooth surface of the table. His cool eyes scanned Sitwell, in no hurry to respond.

"John Hawke," he murmured thoughtfully. "The super soldier. He's been… a valuable asset. But no one is above authority, even a man like him. I can put a stop to him, Sitwell. If you're right about this threat, I can put him under surveillance."

Sitwell nodded, feeling victorious but at the same time anxious with John's shadow always hanging over him.

"I think that would be the best decision, Secretary. We need to maintain order, or this kind of behavior will spread."

Pierce nodded and promised that he would take action. However, what Sitwell didn't know was that John had been aware of Sitwell's move since the moment he had met with Pierce.

John's keen instinct for danger and political manipulation had warned him of what was coming. He knew that confronting Pierce directly could jeopardize his standing within S.H.I.E.L.D. and put his team at risk.

That night, as the clock ticked past two in the morning, John was on the move. Using his infiltration skills and years of training as an elite soldier, he made his way to Jasper Sitwell's home, located in a low-key neighborhood far from the Triskelion. Sitwell kept a modest home to avoid attracting attention, but that wasn't enough to hide from someone like John.

John had planned everything meticulously. He knew that a direct confrontation would be counterproductive. Besides, he didn't want to involve anyone else in his dispute with Sitwell. He would do this the old-fashioned way: a warning, a clear message, something only Sitwell would understand. Dressed in dark clothing and moving silently through the alleys, John used his infiltration training to approach the house.

He knew that Sitwell's home had minimal security, relying on simple alarms and external cameras. John quickly disabled the alarms with a device he had learned to use on missions, and climbed the side wall until he reached an open window on the second floor. Entering the house, he moved silently through the hallways, observing his surroundings with precision. There were no sounds, except for the faint sound of Sitwell's breathing coming from the bedroom.

John was not there to cause harm or worse, but to deliver a warning that Sitwell would never forget. John entered the bathroom in Sitwell's bedroom and, with the steam from the shower still present, began to write on the mirror. Using his finger, he wrote in large, clear letters:

"Some things are best left between two men. Think carefully before you try anything again."

After writing the message, John looked around, satisfied with his work. He knew that Sitwell would wake up and see the message, and that he would understand exactly what it meant. There would be no proof that John had been there, but the psychological impact would be profound.

Leaving the house the same way he had entered, John moved like a shadow, disappearing into the night without a trace. The mission was complete. Now it remained to be seen how Sitwell would react.

The next morning, when Sitwell woke up and entered the bathroom, he froze when he saw the words on the mirror. His eyes widened in horror as he understood the message. The message was clear, direct, and terrifying. John had been here, in his home, undetected. And now, Sitwell knew that any action against John would have consequences.

He tried to remain calm, but adrenaline surged through his body. He knew that confronting John or trying to report him would be futile. He had no proof. Only the implicit threat and the certainty that John would do anything to protect his team and his honor. Still shaken, he dressed quickly and went straight to his office at the Triskelion, where he would meet Alexander Pierce.

Sitwell sat across from the secretary, visibly nervous. Pierce raised an eyebrow at Sitwell's anxious demeanor.

"What's wrong, Sitwell? You seem tense," Pierce said, his voice as cool and measured as ever.

Sitwell swallowed hard and tried to maintain his composure.

"Secretary Pierce, about that incident with John Hawke… I think it may have been a… misunderstanding. There's no need for extreme measures." His voice was shaky, betraying the fear he felt.

Pierce frowned, surprised by Sitwell's change in tone.

"A misunderstanding? That's not what you told me before, Sitwell." His voice was harder now, suspicious.

Sitwell shook his head quickly.

"Yes, I was wrong. I think I overreacted. John was just… defending his team. There's no need to put any additional pressure on him."

Pierce was silent for a moment, watching Sitwell with a piercing gaze. He could tell something had happened, but he knew he wouldn't get any more information directly from Sitwell. However, if even Jasper was backing down, Pierce decided to let the matter drop for now.

"Very well, Sitwell, if you say it was a misunderstanding, I'll take your word for it." But his tone made it clear that he still suspected something.

As Sitwell walked out of Pierce's office, he breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that, for now at least, he was safe. But he also knew that John Hawke was a dangerous man, someone who should not be provoked again.

And so, John's silent warning had worked.

Support me if you like this stories 

[email protected]/SHADOWGHOST07 

Just replace the @ with an a