I agree, I really want to see an Honor/Detweiler showdown, but from what I've read Weber had the entire series worked out before he started On Basilisk Station. I've generally found that people who plan like that lack a little in flexibility, but it might just be a case that Honor takes a back seat for a couple of books because other things need to happen.
Edit:
Shadow of Victory is parallel to Rising Thunder, or even leads up to it, continuing from Shadow of Freedom. I was so disappointed that Ive stopped part way through and started reading Mr Midshipman Hornblower instead.