I don't think the goal was specifically to have Blair go to Earth and testify in the Senate (how could they predict that would even be an option?). They'd gathered evidence that was to be presented to unspecified authorities which included first hand testimony from Blair, Hawk, Eisen and others... but the immediate mission was to stop Tolwyn and the conspiracy.
Aside from the Vesuvius blocking (and ultimately going-to-destroying) the Intrepid, though, everyone thought Tolwyn was *aboard* -- destroying the supercarrier was to prevent Tolwyn from testifying, kill the conspiracy outright and allow the Intrepid crew time to explain what has happened. It was only afterwards that you learn he has escaped in a shuttle and that Blair must hunt him down.
The Vesuvius is not blocking the Intrepid from jumping out of the Sol system. Going by cut scene at this point its chased the St. Helens through the Jump Point and the range has opened enough by the time Intrepid jump in it is probably out of position to even shoot at Intrepid. Given its better acceleration and Tolwyn has an appointment the only way they're getting in a shit kicking contest is if Tolwyn is willing to be even more late and do yet another 180 and Intrepid keeps snapping at his heels.
On the main point nuking Kim Jong-Il might be a expediant way to neutralize a mad man responsible for numerous atrocities, but it doesn't make it right. Let's put this in context of anyone on the Confed side of the equation:
Blair having betrayed the Confederation for the Border Worlds engages in a assasination attempt on the Admiral that held a blood thirsty Senate off for two weeks to thoroughly investigate the situation and insure that war was both justified and necessary by destroying a freshly built exceptionally expensive flagship with the questionable weapons that some of the dissent would argue the Border Worlds did not possess.
Can you seriously argue this action is a good idea from an objective command level standpoint, when they could bypass the Vesuvius with F-107s instead? Again if Tolwyn did not practically explicitly state he was going to let the St. Helens retire this would be a very different matter as it would be either the St. Helens or the Vesuvius.
Actually, he was the
de jure captain -- he was assigned the position after Eisen left.
Wilford, however, was in command of the fleet and the operation and was responsible for ordering the Intrepid to press the battle.
Colonel Blair, Confed Space Forces holds legal rank in the Border World Militia?
The Officer of the Deck is allowed to run the ship while the Captain is off doing other things, but is not the Captain. That position is usually filled by a Naval Officer with the rank of Lieutenant, and is 3 promotion boards short of being made a real Captain. The XO being acting Captain would imply the Captain is not present, which Blair demonstrateably is. Even if this was not the case while one can delegate authority to lesser officers that does not delegate responsibility. A superior officer is responsible for insuring they delegate authority to a person that can do the job and thus ultimately still responsible regardless.
I'm not sure who Wilson is, but I'll use it for convenience.
As Eisen is senior to both Blair and Wilson, why are you flagging him in command of the "fleet" of St. Helen and Intrepid? Eisen orders such coordination as exists between the two as is appropriate for both his rank and seniority.
The 'rubbing' is immediately followed by Tolwyn ordering Seether to *kill* Blair (who is aboard the Intrepid).
You prove the original and secondary point. The implication is that he will allow St. Helens to retire, and if taking out Interpid itself was a priority his F-107 would have been loaded with appropriate ordinance, allowing him to take her out before catching up to Blair with his trick.