A few days later a the royal palace.....
"Celestia why do we have to have this meeting at the castle?" said Luna while trying to loosen her collar.
"This is merely a formality Luna, and would you please stop undoing your tie!" Celestia's magic grabbed Luna's tie and straighten it out. "Also I was asked to be present at the meeting so I asked them if they would like to have it at the castle instead."
Luna grumbled. "So it's your fault that I have to wear this fancy attire." Celestia gave Luna a smile then looked at the door.
"He's here." she said with a low voice. "Now Luna if you're going to cut a deal like last time make absolutely sure you know what you're getting at. I can only help out so many times."
"Don't worry sister. Theirs not going to be a deal, We're only here to discuss and that's it." Once she finished her sentence the doors to the room opened and a pony wearing a suit carried himself to the table where Luna and Celestia were waiting.
The stallion pulled out his briefcase and rested it on the table. When he sat down he sounded very annoyed. "I'm very sorry your majesties, but we are going to have to make this meeting short. I have an business emergency to attended to."
"We understand chairman." Celestia sympathized.
"Now most of this meeting will be directed to princess Luna but as you recall I wanted you to be present as well," he nodded his head toward Celestia. "The matter at hoof I wish to discuss are the whereabouts of the Stargate team SE-1."
Luna gulped. "I knew this wasn't going to be a normal board meeting."
The suited pony continued. "Now princess Luna we understand that you have been reconstructing the SE-1 team, how is that progressing?"
Luna spoke with confidence. "I believe that so far SE-1 has very capable ponies, but however I'm still looking for a few more members to fill the last two spots. I already have some ponies in mind actually."
"That's actually specifically what I wanted to talk about; SE-1's members." The chairman pulled out from his briefcase a couple of files, one of which Luna recognized. "2nd Lieutenant Lightning Dust." The chairman read off the folder. "I understand that she was your first choice for SE-1."
"Yes she was." Luna responded.
"Then why princess," The chairman pulled out a list and slid it across the table. "-did you not select any of these Wonder-Bolts?" Luna looked over the list. She knew the names, they were some of the top Wonder-Bolts of multiple classes. She even remembered awarding some of them honor medals herself. "Is their a reason for this General?
Luna looked at Celestia, who looked back at her. "Don't look at me, this is your meeting General."
Luna looked at the list and then to the chairman "You see the Lieutenant.....shes....got it."
The chairman looked confused. "Shes got it?" he opened up her file. "As far as I can tell based on her record she should be kicked out of the academy, and never be allowed to join any Wonder-Bolt association, especially the Stargate program!"
"Isn't that a little too harsh?" Celestia inquired.
"We're talking about sending in her to other worlds; where she will be representing Equestria. If she can't be respectable here then we can't send her off-world!"
"Why do you assume that she is the exactly the same as when she started at the academy?" Luna asked. "And as far as the council is concerned," Luna crumpled up the list of Wonder-Bolts and threw it at the chairman. "You have no say about Lightning Dust. She is my first choice, so whether she goes or not is up to me and not you." "I think I already went too far!" Luna thought.
"I know General I was merely expressing the councils concerns with your choice." he looked angry as he picked up the crumpled list and finished his sentence.
"What a lair!" Luna thought. "I bet it's just him who doesn't want Lightning Dust leaving! What is his issue?"
"On the other hoof," he picked up the other file. "Lets discuss this second choice." Luna tried to look at the file but their was no name on it. " So you've asked the infamous Flash Flyer to return to the Stargate program? Is that the wisest choice you're making now?"
"What do you mean.....?" Luna leaned over the table.
"I mean a mission to destroy what could be Equestria's greatest enemy and Flash just suddenly disappears. I would think that would make him untrustworthy, wouldn't you agree?"
"Flash left because he was a tad pissed off at you and the council, but we all knew his time at the program was on his terms and we've compromised from there. There was nothing to stop him from leaving. And besides what could possibly be wrong with him that you would bring his past up?"
"An excellent question Head-General. What could be wrong with him?" he held up the unnamed file. "This is a civilian file. It keeps track of things any normal citizen of Equestria would have, bills, records, flight permits. But here.." he pulled out a sheet of paper that was covered in black lines. "Here are some of the things that doctors believe could very well effect him and the immediate public, and they all relate to the Stargate."
Celestia commented. "Chairman that was well around 15 years ago. Flash has had no medical conditions as a result and has had a well adjusted normal life since leaving from the program." She started to think the chairman was trying to push a certain agenda that her and Luna might not agree to.
The chairman waved the blackened paper. "So you think he'll be fine if he were to gate travel again?"
"Absolutely." said Celestia with a cool voice. "And might I add that I have decided to make him my first choice as well."
The chairman paused and looked at the papers. He sat up with an idea and began looking through his briefcase until he pulled out a book. He flipped through a few pages few until he stopped on a particular one and cleared his throat. "In regarding to the formation of Stargate teams. The princesses may place one pony of their choosing on any team they please, however if they should be on the same team. Those hoof-picked by the princesses will ether be separated into different teams or formed into a sole partnership squad." He closed the book. "Well your highnesses what do intend to do?"
Luna completely forgot about the manual. It was all the rules and regulations suited for the Stargate program. She was put into a corner, on one hoof she could send the two in together, or risk getting them sent back to their previous jobs. She had to give an answer or nopony was going to use the Stargate. "I'll decide to ta-"
"We'll send them as a partners." Celestia said while looking at Luna.
The chairman looked at the two and started to pack his things. "Very well if that's what you want to do, then carry on." He stood up. "Have a nice day princesses," he then turned to Luna. "-and good luck to you General." And with that chairman left the room.
"Celestia what are doing!?" Luna spoke out to Celestia. "I was gonna handle him myself!"
"Luna if Flash can prove that he can handle himself out there then the council can't keep him off the program and I won't have to make him my first choice, understand?" Luna nodded. "Our planet hasn't changed that much over the past 15 years so the same could go for the Changelings. This mission should be easy and we'll have nothing to worry about."
"Well if that's the case, then excuse me." Luna pushed herself away from the table and left the room.
"Where are going?" Celestia asked.
"To make two phone calls." Luna called back.