LIVE BROADCAST FROM ADMIRALTY HALL, 2275

The usurper prince began his reign in as provocative a manner as possible. He wanted them to object, and he wanted the objectors the hell out of his fleet.

"This is your new Grand Admiral. Heichiaro Nogura chose me to lead, and I will lead. Firstly, let it be known that by arrangement with the Federation Council, Admiralty Hall is now the sole executive authority within and speaking for Starfleet. Legislative authority shall be divided between the Hall and the so-called Commodity. We retain sole power of Judicial Review."

Let the middling, career-dead Commodores handle the filthy aliens they had sought to mate with willy-nilly. When the Hall had enough people out there, then things could begin, even if Lord Ghidorah's arrival were later than the target date of December 2294. Next, Cartwright attacked their icons.

"We are a fleet together, prevailing together. We have no need of superheroes. We are a herd of stallions, and every horse that rides is together more valuable than the maverick that breaks away to show off its speed. Let our allies and our enemies be aware that the fractious energies stirred up by some will now be redirected into our base, making us stronger instead."

Cartwright swore that he could hear the chatter on Kirk's Bridge, and fought back a grin. At last, he attacked his opponents' very self-image.

"We are immediately replacing the current pastel uniforms with cranberry/maroon tunics and trousers. Let Starfleet be seen as a tide of such uniforms, moving forward as one. This is a new era, and I seriously suggest you all be ready for it."

He cut the transmission on the short speech, and awaited the career-ending messages of protest that would surely come.

"Admiral Bunson---collate the messages and tell me what the subject of interest is. I'll know to hit that button all the more."

The Admiral had her aide fetch the collation, and a grinning Cartwright tried a game.

"They object to my 'inheriting' the Grand Admiralty?"

"Er, no."

"They object to centralization of power?"

"No."

His gaze narrowed.

"Then they object to the undertones of my speech?"

"No, Brock. In fact, there are no objections in these messages."

"No objecti---but our people crafted those hot buttons for a month! What the hell DO they say? What does Kirk's say? He had to respond."

"He did. He wants to know exactly one thing."

Cartwright felt his confidence return. His spin people could make any words Kirk said at the very least damaging--or so he thought.

"Well, what does wonderboy want to know?"

Bunson shrugged.

"He wants to know when they can start ordering the new uniforms. Nobody liked the pastels."

So it was that the new era began on a good note, and the new GA began on an ulcer.