Helena stepped on to the bridge and relieved Bixby at the helm. She looked at the officer covering the science station. “Cpt Renault wants us to move to a closer orbit to try and get better readings of the surface. We discovered natives on the surface. They were apparently missed by the probes. He wants to see if we can get better readings.”

Helena set the corridnates for a synchronis orbit above their landing site and soon the ship’s thrusters were felt as she maneuvered the ship into orbit. They could go into a lower orbit if necessary, for a little while at least.

Laursen, pilot