Just started reading this today, but I'm going to get in as much as I can before I have to leave for work. I don't really need to do the dishes, right? ;)
Loved this line:
"It's not that I would have had a blast having to take orders from someone else--yes, that look again, why am I here when I could be at Starfleet, bored as hell, I get that a lot from you--but at least I'd be doing something."
And Spock explaining things to Phillips... I can only hope they were written explanations.