Cassidy slipped back into the impressive space that was Astrometrics and gave Vora a hopeful grin.

“Good news?” Vora asked.

Cass nodded. “We’re diverting our course. We just need you to give us some coordinates.”

Zorell gave a slow nod and zoomed the display with their combined search results. Twisting and manipulating the holographic image, she pulled their view deeper into the area where the storm had gone through. “Okay, well, obviously the storm would have cut through a wide area, and we have to now guess where that would have diverted the Tian An Men. If it was Captain Dvorak, I might be able to guess what he’d do, but I don’t know that Captain, so we’re really guessing. But, assuming they would are onions, you have the best knowledge about what might be possible.”

Abrams looked at the image and drew in a slow and deep breath. “My mom is cautious but descisive. Once she makes a decisions, she goes with it until evidence proves another makes more sense.” SHe looked at Vora. “Scientist.”

Vora grinned while her friend continued.

“But mom would do everything to protect the crew. If the situation was potentially bad, she’d opt for the best possible outcome with the limited knowledge they have. Diverting themselves is one thing, but the last reports show they were on course in this direction”-she drew a path with her finger-“ and we can assume they’d want to get back on that path sooner rather than later.”

“So…” Vora mused. “My bet then, given what you’d tell me is to assume they’ve moved in this direction , which narrows down their location to a a couple sectors. But since they didn’t resume their previous course and report the change, we can assume something happened to them between the storm path and their flight plan. I’d start here, and move along in the search. And if we’re joining the search, then the other ships can help grid search the region.”

“Send the initial coordinates to the conn. The captain wants to get underway as soon as possible.”

Zorell nodded and then gazed at her best friend, studying the lines of her worried face. Cass was putting on a brave face, and despite the hope, Vora could tell she couldn’t let go of the anxiety. Knowing Abrams well enough, share reached out and squeezed the woman’s shoulder. “We’re with you in this. You know that, right?”

Cass nodded and smiled gratefully at Vora. “Yes. Steven said as much earlier. I know it and the evidence is there, but…”

“They’re your parents. You just want to know either way,” Vora finished softly.

Another nod. “Maybe I can handle a bad outcome, maybe I can’t, but not knowing is turning my stomachs in knots.”

“You’re a good daughter Cassidy. I think they’ll be grateful to know you cared so much to do anything that was required. Whether it proves necessary in the end or not. I’ll forward the coordinates. Go do what you need to.”

Rather impulsively, Cassidy gave her friend a big hug and them slipped away before anything else could be said. Vora just smiled.

Stepping on to the bridge, Abrams took the security station for the time being, feeling like she needed to be up here. Lieutenant Metz didn’t mind and so she could be here for now. She heard the conn report that they had the new coordinates and the ship moved quickly into a new direction and speed. It would take a little while to get out there, but she wanted to be here when they arrived.

~Zorell and Abrams