The **flagship** of the **Hub Systems Joint Fleet Delegation**, the *Star Envoy*, slowly docked at the *Steel Dove*'s airlock. The moment the pressure seal disengaged, the lead officer removed his helmet, revealing a short crop of silver-white hair. "**Claud von Reinhardt**, Commander of the Seventh Fleet, Hub Systems." He delivered a crisp interstellar military salute, his piercing gaze sweeping across the welcoming party. "It's an honor to finally meet Captain Ellara — and under such… unexpected circumstances." Ellara smiled slightly, returning the salute. "Welcome aboard the *Steel Dove*, Commander Claud. I assume age and gender are irrelevant when it comes to battlefield capability?" A faint chuckle escaped one of Claud's aides — immediately silenced by a sharp glare from his superior. The moment the bio-chamber door slid open, murmurs of astonishment rippled through the delegation. Under simulated sunlight, dozens of golden sunflowers gently swayed in zero gravity. "This… this is sheer waste of warship space!" Claud frowned. "Every cubic centimeter of a *Severity*-class vessel should be dedicated to weaponry or armor!" A young female officer couldn't help stepping closer for a better look. "Are these genetically modified strains? They can survive cosmic radiation?" "**Lieutenant Luna!**" Claud snapped. "Remember your position." "Yes," Kirah replied calmly, ignoring the rising tension. "They're post-modification space-adapted variants. Photosynthetic efficiency improved by 40%, and they efficiently filter carbon dioxide inside the ship." Inside the main control room, holographic projections displayed the *Steel Dove*'s structural schematics. Kirah was explaining the upgraded propulsion system. "…thus, we redirected 12% of the main cannon's energy output into the shield systems, increasing cabin impact absorption efficiency…" "This is absurd!" Blake, the delegation's chief engineer, slammed his hand on the table. "The *Severity* class was designed for maximum firepower! You're crippling the ship!" In the observation deck, the officers from the Hub Systems watched in stunned silence as the *Steel Dove* performed an astonishing maneuver. It completed a combat turn at incredible speed, locking all eight main cannons onto a distant target simultaneously. "Fire!" Scarlet beams struck the target's engine core with pinpoint accuracy — yet, miraculously, no chain reaction followed. Even more shocking, the *Steel Dove* deployed rescue pods almost instantly, closing in on the "damaged" target vessel. Later that night, Ellara stood alone in the bio-chamber, tending to the sunflowers. The soft hiss of the sliding door made her turn around. "Commander Claud? Still not resting at this hour?" The tall officer stood awkwardly at the entrance. "I… wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier." On the day of departure, the entire crew of the *Steel Dove* lined up to bid farewell. General von Strauss shook Ellara's hand firmly. "You've changed how we see war, Captain." As the delegation's shuttle prepared for launch, Claud suddenly turned back, delivering a perfect military salute. Ellara clearly saw the faintest smile playing at the corner of his lips. At the center of the bio-chamber, a new addition had appeared — a precision climate-controlled case housing a strange plant that shimmered faintly in the dim light. Attached to it was a small card: **"Stellar Orchid — from the Hub Systems. Blooms even in the harshest conditions."** The *Steel Dove* drifted into the vast starfield, its hull gleaming coldly in the void, yet carrying within it the warmth of something far greater. In the endless cosmos, a new story — one of war and peace — was only beginning.
