Chapter 14
The Challenger appeared out of warp and rendezvous with a large fleet of various starships with a star base 375 type station in orbit around a green planet with the starships either maintaining orbit or sat out in space. Michael, “Give us a wide birth from the rest of the fleet. We don’t want to be clustered with a large group.”, helm, “Aye sir.”, Tu, “Sir I have a transmission from Starbase 123 that Admiral Grosh is having a meeting with all the ships captains in five minutes.”, Michael left his seat and proceeded to the turbo lift, Michael, “Gross you have the bridge.”, Gross, “Aye sir.”, and the turbo lift door closed. The Challenger maintained position away from the rest of the fleet but with a Federation class starship holding position off the port aft. Michael, Gross, Arsenal, Crow and the rest of the department heads entered the conference room with a viewing window in the back showing the right warp nacle and space beyond as they sat. Michael, “I had a meeting with Admiral Grosh and he...”, the boy and girl from the emergency pod came in still in their blue uniforms taking Michael by surprise as they sat before him, girl, “Sorry if we are late, we haven’t been in a ship like this before.”, Michael, “Would you mind introduce yourselves cause we looked on the Starfleet and Zhargosia database and there is no record of you both anywhere.”, girl, “My name is Petra Arkanian, this is Andrew Wiggin but you may call him Ender.”, silence, Ender, “I guess you have not heard about what I have done.”, Petra (looked at him), “Ender stop punishing yourself, you had no idea...”, Ender, “But I should have instead of killing them all and destroying their planet!”, Michael and the others looked a little surprised and stiffened, Michael, “Uh would you mind explaining about killing them and destroying a planet?”, Petra, “Our home was under the threat of the Formics and Ender led me and four others to defeat them and we ended up destroying their home planet to defeat them as it was our only option.”, Ender, “It...”, Michael, “Let’s talk about the rest of it later. Doctor are they cleared to attend this meeting?”, Crow, “They are, plus according to reports from security they don’t have anything or are not considered dangerous except for a small wrapped package that looked like an egg or...”, Ender immediately stood up, Ender, “Where is she?! I need her back!”, Michael and the others looked confused, Michael, “Explain the she and what is it.”, Ender, “It is the Hive Queen in her larva state and she is entrusted to me to rebuild their race as she is the only one left!”, Michael, “Then the Hive Queen should be given to Starfleet Command so they can take care of her till she is born.”, Ender, “No you don’t understand! I am entrusted to her to find her a new planet to call home cause once she is born and breeds she lays over a hundred Formics at a time and the planet has to be habitable and abandoned in order for them not to find other worlds because their home is overcrowded.”, Crow, “The Hive Queen is now in the hands with the Biolab examining it.”, Michael, “Once they scan it and if they confirm what you say is true then we will return it to you.”, Ender, “Thank You sir.”, Michael (annoyed), “Now if I can go on with this meeting.”, Ender sat apologetically, Michael, “I had a meeting with Admiral Grosh and right now there are 54 starships both Federation and Zhargosia that have assembled including us.”, low whistle sound, Michael, “Yeah, that’s a lot of eggs in one basket but there are over a hundred ships varying from light cruisers to battleships that are poised to strike the Talos star group and two other nearby systems that would put Galactor and Gabriel in the position to strike the densely populated star systems within the Federation.” Gross, “With al due respect sir but how are 54 starships suppose to compete against a hundred plus ships either equal or more powerful than us?”, Michael, “That’s exactly what one of the captain’s brought up and the admiral said we are not going to wait and strike them head on, we are going to strike first and with mobile suits and Iron Defenders attached to each ship.”, Michael went into further detail and once the meeting was over with they were dismissed.
Arsenal remained behind with Ender and Petra as Michael stayed, Michael, “This better not be another complaint.”, Arsenal, “Found pilot for VerKa. Ender and Petra.”, Michael, “So you two have piloted mobile suits before?”, Ender and Petra looked a little embarrassed, Petra, “Not pilot but we commanded large groups of fighters and won every simulation and the one battle.”, Michael (frustrated), “Then it sounds you are only qualified to command the Iron Defenders!”, Arsenal, “Able to access the pod’s computer and find brief history of both. Ender is qualified to pilot once taught.”, Petra (confused), “Excuse me but what did you say?”, Michael, “Don’t worry he has a speech problem and can’t talk long sentences. He said Ender is qualified to be taught how to pilot the VerKa.”, Ender, “I am not going to kill again!”, Petra, “Ender...”, Michael, “Boy you may not know this but we are on the verge of war if not annillation and I was once one of them. The people that are invading have a strong devotion to due as they are told and they would not hesitate to kill if given the order. So if you have a conscious for these people and believe they can be reasoned with you are dead wrong.”, Ender, “But I do not want to become my brother.”, Petra, “Ender this is different. He hurts people just for enjoyment, you are doing this to stop these people that are like Peter. Please Ender, do it. If not for them, then for me.”, she held his hands and turned to face him, Petra, “Please Ender.”, silence as he looked down then faced Michael with confidence, Ender, “Captain, I will pilot the VerKa.”, once Michael left he went straight to his cabin and found Chloe sitting up on the bed playing a game on a portable player as Michael changed, Michael, “You look rather calm.”, silence except gaming noise from the player, Michael, “Are you worried about Galactor and Gabriel?”, still silence, Michael, “Maybe I should ask Petra out on a date. I’m sure she won’t mind if I stayed in her quarters for tonight.”, Chloe looked up at him dumbfounded, Chloe, “What?”, Michael roared with laughter, Michael, “You must love that game you are playing.”, Chloe, “Oh, yeah it’s addicting.”, and she continued playing, Michael, “Let’s play another game.”, and he tackled her down on the bed as she laughed.