Once that happened all Wolfe’s unsavory habits became a constant nuisance. He would habitually disobey direct orders, take Fleet property and personnel wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted on missions that made sense to nobody but him, and the damnable hell of it all was that because he was part lucky, part good, and had killed so many Phage, the civilian oversight of Starfleet would have drummed him out had he even suggested that Wolfe was not only not a hero but should be prosecuted.

Captain Celesta Wright, Wolfe’s former executive officer, seemed to have picked up some of his less-admirable qualities but, like her boss, she was almost untouchable due to her actions near the end of the war. Almost. His blood burned at how casually she had ignored his orders and taken a ship, that had also been ordered to stay put, off to any damn place she pleased and now they had no idea where the Icarus was. For all he knew she’d warped out of the system and was flying off for a vacation. When this was over he’d make sure she never commanded so much as a transfer shuttle for her remaining days in Starfleet.

“Enjoy this last little jaunt, Wright,” he said quietly to himself. “I’ll yank you off the bridge of that ship so fast your head will spin.”

“Sir?”

“It’s nothing, Captain,” Marcum said to Everett. “I’ll get out of your way up here. Let me know if something comes up.”

“Of course, Admiral,” Everett said, almost managing to not look relieved the flag officer was leaving his bridge.

****

“We’re approaching our holding point, boss,” Pike said, leaning back in his seat. “I’m also getting an update that the evacuation of the Senate—sorry, Parliament—is proceeding in an orderly fashion. The four Fourth Fleet cruisers are standing by and the shuttles should be landing momentarily.”

“Pike,” Wellington said in a pained voice, “I don’t have an enormous ego, but do you really think it’s appropriate to call the President of the United Terran Federation boss?”

“I thought it was just the Terran Federation.” Pike ignored the question, not wanting to get into a discussion about Wellington’s ego. “When did we get united?”

“Just fly the damn ship.” Wellington was rubbing the bridge of his nose. “When will we be able to break into the Amsterdam’s secure link?”

“I can do that anytime,” Pike said. “But this does beg the question, why did you send Ambassador Cole back out here when you, as President, are in the system?”