The bridge is quiet except for navigation fans and the low pulse of Amber Wing’s committed Drift course. Lahani’s manual fallback plot glows beside the automated route.
Lahani
Review the margins with me before departure preparations begin. I left the fuel reserve, return burn, and observation window deliberately unresolved.
The route crosses the conditional corridor only if its central gradient settles below the verified threshold. Beacon Seven remains passive, recorded but not trusted.
Lahani
The automated course reaches the first stable interval sooner. My plot arrives later, with more fuel margin and a cleaner abort if the corridor shifts.
Beyond the bridge, Ranuko coordinates final equipment loading with Riyanu and Nikayo. Medical isolation hardware and laboratory shielding are secured first, while optional fittings remain behind.
Ranuko
The cargo plan is ready, but Kiryati is still in Avalon’s service bay with emitter three. She will stay behind until calibration and cooldown are complete.
Lahani
Once we choose the margins, I can lock the departure sequence. Until then, the ship stays on the safe side of the window.
✓ Quest Accepted
Establish medical and laboratory workspaces
“I review the cargo plan and confirm the medical and laboratory essentials are secured.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled -2)
Nahuli moves through the cargo plan line by line, matching each crate to its bay, utility requirement, and handling restriction. Medical isolation hardware and laboratory shielding are secured aboard.
He verifies sterilizable surfaces, secure medical storage, refrigeration, shielded sample lockers, and the laboratory instrument bench against Ranuko’s manifest. Every essential item has a physical location and restraint.
Ranuko
Confirmed. The essentials are loaded, tagged, and separated from propulsion, weapons, and the isolated assistant layer.
Riyanu
The isolation unit and medical refrigeration are intact. I can begin a proper setup once we reach the next safe berth.
Nikayo
The shielding arrived with its calibration records. The sample lockers and instrument bench are protected from vibration and contamination.
The review exposes one concrete cost: optional fittings were left behind, and the remaining cargo leaves only a narrow reserve beneath the planned mass margin. Ranuko marks the omission for later purchase.
Lahani
Then the important work is aboard. I will lock the cargo record and hold departure until the Drift window meets our safer margin.
Secure Lahani’s agreement on the safer Drift departure margins
+ New Item Acquired
Medical Isolation Unit
+ New Item Acquired
Medical Refrigeration
+ New Item Acquired
Laboratory Shielding
+ New Item Acquired
Sterilizable Surfaces
+ New Item Acquired
Medical Storage
+ New Item Acquired
Shielded Sample Lockers
+ New Item Acquired
Instrument Bench