Nahuli remains at the isolated diagnostic bridge, hands on read-only controls as the trace projects across the forward sensor blister. The corridor narrows while the relay shadow degrades.
Ranuko
Carrier phase is slipping three percent every second. I can preserve the origin estimate, but the observation position will soon become a probability spread.
Lahani
Amber Wing has maneuvering margin for one careful survey turn, not a pursuit burn. We can inspect the corridor without surrendering the clean return lane.
Saven leans toward the barrier display, comparing the projected vector with the capsule’s degraded guidance records. The match is partial, strongest where the wake bends around the shadow.
Saven
That bend is not natural drift. Something held station beyond the corridor, then used the wake’s distortion to hide its transmission angle.
Ranuko
The shadow is collapsing now. I can freeze the last geometry, but a live search would require opening sensors toward the unregistered position.
Lahani
I can hold us at the corridor mouth while you decide. Kiryati is still on Avalon, and no one else is aboard to cover a larger risk.
✓ Quest Accepted
Locate the observer beyond the corridor
“What is our weapons officer doing not being with us?”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +0)
Nahuli
What is our weapons officer doing not being with us?
The question passes through the bridge speakers and into the isolated diagnostic bay. Beyond the corridor display, Avalon remains only a fading navigation reference.
Lahani
Kiryati stayed in Avalon’s service bay with emitter three. She is completing its final calibration and cooldown before the local technicians release it.
Ranuko
The emitter is still isolated from Avalon’s systems and Amber Wing’s network. Kiryati has physical control of the test equipment, with no remote pathway available.
Lahani
She also agreed to document the calibration results and supervise its storage. Leaving before that work is complete would forfeit the service slot and the local acceptance record.
Ranuko brings up Kiryati’s last authenticated status: emitter three stable, cooling cycle active, calibration data recording. The report carries no distress flag or request for assistance.
Ranuko
She is doing the work only she is currently positioned to finish. Once the emitter is cleared, she can rejoin us or arrange transport from Avalon.
“That's jury rigged mil-tech for you. Weapons class three. Still, it doesnt take long to get those cleared for a ship like ours. Anyway. Boost the sensors.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Engineering, rolled +0)
Nahuli diverts reserve power through the sensor bus, bypassing the aging automatic gain limiter with a controlled manual profile. Amber Wing’s forward arrays brighten across the display.
The boosted sensors resolve the corridor mouth in layered detail: drifting particulates, thermal gradients, relay-shadow distortion, and a faint structural reflection beyond the known beacon grid.
Ranuko
Enhanced sweep is active. The origin estimate is no longer a broad spread. I have a stable observation volume beyond the corridor’s far edge.
Lahani
I can hold this position while the arrays work. The clean return lane remains intact, and the sensor load is staying within our reserve.
A narrow return echoes through the amplified data, too regular for debris and too cold for an active drive plume. It outlines a compact object holding station behind the relay shadow.
Saven
That is not natural drift. Something is parked there, using the corridor’s distortion as cover. I never had enough resolution to see it.
Ranuko
Confirmed: one concealed object, passive profile, no weapon discharge, and no command signal. Its position is now recorded before the shadow collapses further.
Quest Complete
Locate the observer beyond the corridor
Skill Upgrade: Security Systems Superb→Legendary