“This is coming out whether you want it to or not. It’s what you’d call inevitability. Now, here’s how this can play out: You can go down to the planet with me and we’ll present this data to the President together, or I’ll have you arrested and I’ll tell him myself. Either way he has to be involved. I was willing to let this slide when it was a semi-interesting science project, but now ships and people are at risk because of your inaction. That I won’t tolerate.”

“Why give me the first option at all?” Marcum asked, no longer pretending to be ignorant of Prometheus.

“Let’s be clear: I don’t like you. I think you’re a slimy, back-stabbing, opportunistic piece of shit … but that doesn’t necessarily make you any different than anyone who would replace you,” Pike said. “Something about flag officers with ambition and serious character defects goes hand-in-hand, it would seem. Don’t think I haven’t forgotten about you opening fire on the Ares when Wolfe discovered The Ark while we were in a fight for our lives out on the Frontier.

“But you are a realist and a master strategist. As much as it kills me to say this, removing you would harm the Fleet and it looks like that’s something we can’t afford right now. You and Wellington have managed to drag us into another war we’re not ready for and you’ll do more good here than in a prison cell.”

Pike watched the conflict play across Marcum’s face. He’d actually intended to walk in and have the team of NOVAs he had waiting outside come in and take the admiral into custody and march him back out to the Broadhead in restraints. But the more he thought it through, the more he realized the damage to the morale of Starfleet he’d cause just for a few moments of sweet revenge.

“When do you want to do this?” Marcum finally asked. “And who’s going to lead the meeting?”

“Within the next two hours, and you can do the talking,” Pike said. “Wolfe sent us both the same message, even though it was addressed to you, so we’re on the same page.”

“Wolfe,” Marcum said as if the name caused him physical pain.

“Don’t be too hard on the director, Admiral,” Pike shrugged. “He’s not a great follower of orders but I don’t think we can deny his loyalty or his results. We’ll take my ship down to the surface. I’ll give you an hour to make yourself presentable.” Without waiting for an answer, Pike stood and walked out of the office, closing the door behind him.