“I have the bridge, aye,” Accari said distractedly from the OPS station. Celesta backtracked to her office and logged back into her terminal just as the channel request icon lit up.

“Captain Lee,” she nodded when the video resolved. The New York was flying six thousand kilometers astern of the Icarus so the video quality was flawless with zero lag. “What can I do for you?”

“Captain Wright,” Lee said. “I’ve received unofficial word that Admiral Wilton will be ordering a movement soon. But … that’s not why I wanted to talk to you before we got underway.”

“Oh?” Celesta asked carefully.

“I wanted to apologize, ma’am, for my behavior when you met us at the dock on the Platform.” Lee seemed to squirm in his seat. “Regardless of what scuttlebutt I’d picked up about being replaced, I had no call for such unprofessional behavior. I’ve been an admirer of yours since the Battle of Nuovo Patria.”

“No apologies needed for dirty looks, Captain.” Celesta had to try hard not to smile. “If only that were the worst thing that was hurled my way from other officers. I know you were given the New York as a provisionary spot during CENTCOM’s restructuring, but if you’re a captain that’s worth a damn you’ll want a chance to fight for your seat. The Brooklands was a major player in the war … I think you’ve earned a right to prove yourself.”

Lee opened his mouth to say something and then just nodded his head. “Thank you, Captain,” he said after a momentary pause. “I just wanted to clear the air before we broke orbit. Thank you. New York out.” The channel closed and Celesta leaned back to contemplate the odd exchange.

Captain Lee had been the CO of the TCS Brooklands during the war, a Seventh Fleet heavy missile cruiser. He’d been involved in many battles and had performed his task with a sort of calm efficiency, but when CENTCOM had tried to put him on the bridge of the Icarus when her first CO was relieved for cause Captain Wolfe had declared Lee unfit for destroyer duty. Instead, he’d pushed hard to have his XO, Commander Wright, named as the interim CO of the Icarus and, in the spirit of expediency, CENTCOM gave ground.