A Place to Breathe
Posted on 11 Jan 2026 @ 2:45am by Alura Ryn & Captain Sabrina Corbin & Senior Chief Petty Officer Elias Merrick
873 words; about a 4 minute read
Mission:
Lathira Shoreleave
Location: USS Arawyn
The ready room was bright with ship’s daylight, the overhead panels set to a clean, steady spectrum that kept the space alert rather than contemplative. Beyond the viewport, the stars held their sharp focus as the Arawyn cruised on a smooth, unremarkable heading. On the surface, the ship looked exactly as it should. Inside, Sabrina Corbin knew better.
She stood at the desk when the door chimed.
“Enter.”
Elias Merrick stepped in first, padd already in hand, posture attentive without stiffness. Alura Ryn followed him, energy contained but unmistakable, eyes already scanning the room and Sabrina’s stance with practiced intuition.
“Thank you both for coming,” Sabrina said. “This will not take long, but it matters.”
Alura smiled faintly. “Those are usually the ones that do.”
Merrick inclined his head and took a seat, Alura dropping into the chair beside him with easy familiarity. Sabrina remained standing.
“We are not a new crew anymore,” she began. “But we are still a young one. And in the span of our early assignments, we have encountered more uncertainty, ethical strain, and emotional weight than most crews see spread over years.”
Neither of them argued. Alura’s expression softened immediately, warmth giving way to recognition.
“They have handled it,” Sabrina continued. “They have handled it well. But carrying something well does not mean it does not leave marks.”
Merrick nodded once. “Sustained pressure, even when managed competently, accumulates.”
“Yes,” Sabrina said. “And I am not interested in waiting until it shows up in places we cannot afford.”
She activated the main display. Lathira IV bloomed into view, blue seas and amber coastlines filling the ready room with light.
Alura’s reaction was instant. “Oh,” she breathed, eyes widening. “Captain, that is… very good.”
“The Tide Gardens,” Sabrina said. “A full week. Rotational shore leave. Departments covered, duty maintained, but with enough time built in that everyone who wants to go planetside can actually do so without rushing or guilt.”
Merrick’s fingers moved quickly across his padd. “A week gives flexibility. Proper overlap. No sense of borrowing time from someone else.”
“And it gives people time to actually settle,” Alura added. “Three days just to unclench. A few more to remember what it feels like to enjoy something without watching the clock.”
Sabrina nodded. “Exactly.”
She paused, then added, deliberately, “And before either of you ask, yes. I intend to take time off as well.”
That got their full attention.
Alura’s smile spread, genuine and bright. “Good.”
Merrick glanced up, a trace of approval in his expression. “That will matter to them.”
“I know,” Sabrina said. “And I am not saying it as a gesture. I chose Lathira because I want to go. Because I want to sit somewhere quiet and warm and not have to be the center of a decision for a few days. If I am asking this of the crew, I will model it.”
Alura laughed softly. “That might be the most persuasive argument you could make.”
Merrick nodded. “It also frames this as leadership, not permission.”
“That is the intent,” Sabrina replied.
She moved to sit at last, folding her hands loosely in front of her. “I want the announcement to come from me, but I want both of you shaping it. Elias, I need a draft that covers scheduling, expectations, and operational continuity. Clear, calm, and without sounding like we are justifying the choice.”
“Understood,” Merrick said. “I will keep it grounded and accessible.”
“Alura,” Sabrina continued, “I want your voice in how we describe the Gardens. What makes them restorative. What makes them feel safe for people who are used to being needed.”
Alura nodded, already thinking. “I can do that. I will focus on invitation, not obligation. Choice matters.”
“And I want both drafts soon,” Sabrina added. “I will review them and share them with the XO before we finalize anything. This needs to be aligned at the command level before it goes out.”
Merrick made a note. “Timeline?”
“Within the day,” Sabrina said. “If possible.”
“That is workable,” Merrick replied.
Alura leaned back slightly, studying Sabrina with a thoughtful smile. “You know what I like about this?” she said. “You are not treating rest as something earned after suffering. You are treating it as something maintained alongside duty.”
Sabrina’s expression softened, just a fraction. “If we only allow breathing after the damage is done, we are already behind.”
The meeting wound down with an ease that had not been present when it began. Merrick gathered his padd, purpose clear. Alura lingered a moment longer, eyes flicking once to the image of Lathira IV still glowing on the display.
“They are going to remember this,” she said quietly. “Not as a break. As a moment where their captain chose them.”
Sabrina nodded. “That is the point.”
When the door closed behind them, the ready room remained bright and steady, the ship continuing on as if nothing had shifted. Sabrina stood alone, looking at the planet rotating calmly on the screen.
A week. Not an escape. A pause, chosen deliberately.
And one she fully intended to take.
Captain Sabrina Corbin
Commanding Officer
USS Arawyn
SChiefPO Elias Merrick
Yeoman
USS Arawyn
Alura Ryn
MWR Director
USS Arawyn
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