Some thoughts, in no particular order:

* The way the battle for Tau Ceti was handled was different. Normally when we get to Big Fight Scene/Episode we tend to follow the leads into the scrum, whereas here we really don't for half or more of the story. We see the scrum (it seemed anyway) mostly second or third-hand via news reports and reactions from characters on B6. It's an interesting change of pace.

* Akio seems to be getting all his ducks in a row, which is alarming but considering that that's usually when everything goes to hell for him I'm not too alarmed. I have endless faith in Akio's ability to fuck himself over at the vital moment. :)

* For long-time viewers this ought to be familiar in the vague outlines. The countdown clock for Day of Infamy and the Federation Civil War just started with Billy Clark's ascension to the purple.

* A hypothesis: The attack on Tau Ceti came completely out of nowhere with none of the usual diplomatic posturing or sabre-rattling expected from belligerent nations, on the same day most of the Federation's executive branch dies in a starship accident. A paranoid might claim that someone needed to keep the IPO's heavy hitters busy enough to not arrive on the scene and start an independent investigation before anyone else.

* So Anakin's got himself a Right Hand of $Noun now. If he and Hellboy fistbump, what happens? It'd be either 'nothing' or 'something really bad/awesome.'

* So Nanami 'exceeded instructions,' eh? That's a phrase that's loaded with import but doesn't tell us a goddamn thing. Nicely played. I wonder what it means in truth... and if we'll ever find out.

* You know, with the Invid thing I finally get where Kaname's little mental infodumps come from. That just occurred to me.

* All in all, looking forward to seeing where this goes next as the Black Rose gets more proactive and Clark starts dismantling everything good and decent about the Federation.

--
Mr. Fnord, just thinking aloud.