Holding Pattern

Posted on 23 Dec 2025 @ 11:29pm by Ensign Mira Quinn

284 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: The Displaced
Location: Shuttle Golau

=/\= Shuttle Golau =/\=

Almost as soon as her shuttle went into warp, Vel started a sensor sweep.

The Arawyn was still there. Still in one piece. 

And so was the Eirian ship.

Another sensor sweep showed her that the lifeform had followed her, and was currently... grazing, for lack of a better word, on the verteron path she had left behind.

So far, so good.

Her communications console beeped quietly and she tapped the controls.  She cleared her throat before answering.  “Shuttle Golau here. Standing by.”

It was the Captain.  “Ensign Zodeil, you are ordered to return to a controlled holding pattern within safe range of the Arawyn. Maintain passive configuration.”

“Acknowledged, Captain. Altering course.”

“Continue passive tracking of the residual trail. No pursuit unless life signs drop, trajectory changes sharply, or shuttle stability degrades.”

“Aye, Captain," Vel responded.  

She signed off the comlink and drew a deep breath.

Dropping out of warp, she came about and started circling, perpendicular to her previous warp path.

She couldn't see the lifeform through the shuttle windows, but she could see it on sensors.  A small point of light that grew bigger as it drew closer.  Trailing wisps of what looked like malformed space.

Of course, 'slowly' in space was still incredibly fast.  Her shuttle's sensors estimated its speed at half impulse.

Mira had said it was a threat to the away team, but the little one didn't look like it was rampaging.   It didn't look scary at all.

As it drew near, she sent the shuttle into warp again, once again seeding the path with verteron particles.

Everything was fine.  Great, even. 

So why didn't she feel good about it?

=/\=

Ens Vel Zodeil
Helm Officer 
USS Arawyn

 

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