"Oh, yes. They're a pair of ESA councilmembers of some note," Marcum said. "That piece of shit, Zhang, claims he was part of a small cabal involving the pair who have been the power-backers for Vadim Kohl's private fleet and have been the ones planning the Alliance's aggressive posture towards the Federation along the border region."

"Other than the names, have we gotten anything actionable?"

"I'll fill you in later. Possibly, but it doesn't make a lot of sense, so we're hoping the other's we've captured will provide context. I doubt your aide is someone connected enough to know much about what this so-called cabal is planning."

"Would Perez know? We might be able to link up with him and get the full brief if he doesn't trust the com network," Jackson said.

"I'll see what I can do. Let me worry about that part," Marcum said. "But we'll need to figure out something soon since I doubt—"

"Admiral Wolfe," Ellsworth's voice broke in over the intercom. "My apologies, sir, but we've had another ship enter the system. She's flying a Federation flag, and the ident beacon lists her as the Headhunter-class fast-attack cruiser, Coyote."

Jackson raised an eyebrow at his two guests.

"Captain Ellsworth, this is Captain Barrett from the Nemesis," Barrett spoke up. "She's with us. That's Commander Accari's ship, and I asked him to join us here."

"Where would you like us to vector him?"

"Send him up here, Captain," Jackson said. "This is as good a place as any to rally the taskforce before leaving."

"Aye, sir."

The table grew quiet, and Jackson took the chance to stand and stretch his legs, putting weight on the prosthetic leg to stretch out the muscles of the upper leg. He walked over to the curved front windows and looked out over the ship. From his vantage, he could see the Nemesis's prow parallel to the Saber's, his former ship's burnished silver hull contrasting with his current flagship's dull black finish.

"Wolfe…you're in charge of this show," Marcum said. "The Nemesis is on detached duty to me, so you may as well consider her part of your taskforce. I'm not sure what the Coyote's status is. Barrett?"

"Accari has been given a long leash by CENTCOM," Barrett said. "The Coyote has been ordered to observe available intel on the Bluebird dispatches we get from Fleet and to be in position to counter any Alliance moves."

"You're kidding," Jackson said flatly. "Those are hardly the type of orders to give a junior CO in a small ship like that. Who the hell is running the show at 7^th Fleet right now?"

"Operational command of the 7^th has been kicked up to CENTCOM HQ for now," Barrett said. "The operations chief was removed for cause, but they're being tight-lipped about what that might have been. The office was in utter disarray and no obvious choice for a replacement with you having disappeared. So, for now, the paper pushers at the top are cutting orders, and they have no idea what they're doing."