“First Officer’s Log, Stardate 58060.27. The USS Brain A. Olinski is entering the Belogi system in order to search for the whereabouts of the USS Sierra. As a precaution we are slowing to one tenth impulse speed and letting Ric and his pilots fly ahead to determine if the ‘safe path’ through the system is as safe as its supposed to be.”

Jason Harn took his hand off the button on the armrest and gazed around the bridge, trying to go over anything he might have missed. He was perfectly aware that he probably overthinking things, but with lives on the line that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. As a matter of fact, he realized that there was one thing he had missed. “Mister Balfor, can you detect the Sierra’s neutrino trail?”

All starships left a trail of neutrinos behind them although the 24th century starship left such a small amount as to be almost negligible. Anything could erase the trail, from the gravity of nearby celestial bodies, to cosmic radiation, to a squadron of fighters being launched to search for subspace mines. And Ric’s squadron was literally seconds away from launching.

Jason Harn, aCO, wondering if he messed up