The Herala disaster was one of the worst accidents experienced by the Union for nearly a century as all aboard were lost. Named after the ship in question - the fact it happened at all has been the cause of debate ever since. The idea of a Union consciousness exiting Faster Than Light (FTL) into an asteroid field goes against everything the Union stands for from a technological perspective alone. So, when it did happen the chorus of shock spread like wildfire. Naturally there were those who wondered if something nefarious was at play - case in point the mighty ship consciousness was never located, be it debris or an intact form - just the scattered pieces of the vessel. 
 Mari, a Union pilot was on rotation aboard the Herala just prior to the incident. A stoic character she struck up a deep connection with a fellow officer. Still, the flight academy beckoned and despite a suggestion for another rotation - Mari moved to another sector. As someone who didn’t have many friends - losing on...