"Just because it looks uninhabited doesn't mean there's nothing there." Pidge began slowly, glancing from Allura to Shiro, and then back at the viewport.
"You're right, Pidge, but how can we know if we can't see through that space dust?"
Lance interjected, sitting upright.
The Paladins, plus two, looked out at the planet before them, a pinkish-purple, with huge glittering clouds of space dust blocking their sensors.
"One of us can go down in a single lion and do a quick sweep, before heading just outside the clouds and reaching the rest of the ship. Based on what that person finds, we can make more of a plan from there." Pidge pushed their glasses back up their nose, quickly typing something into a formula they'd designed on their computer.
"It's not a horrible idea, but I would rather that more than one person goes down...what are you doing?" Shiro noticed Pidge's rapid-fire typing only after he started speaking.
"Running through an algorithm for which lion is best suited for this...and...it's Green."
Pidge seemed surprised, chewing the inside of their lip as they thought. "I'm okay with that, I can probably scan the environment better from down there anyway...and you're right, more than one person should go."
Pidge closed their computer and tucked it under their arm, standing easily. "Is that what we wanna do?" They asked, looking to Allura first, then the other Paladins.
"I think it's a good idea. Maybe Green's scanners can get a better reading under the clouds."
Allura nodded along as Shiro spoke.
"Take someone with you." She said softly, glancing to Shiro. He noticed, but shook his head almost imperceptibly.
"Alright, Keith, arm buddy, you're up." Pidge called, swiping their helmet up.
Keith jumped out of his seat, bumping his fist against Pidge's extended one.
"You got it."
Hunk watched Shiro stiffen and Lance rub the back of his neck as Pidge and Keith left the room.
"'Arm buddies'?" He asked the quiet room.
"Must be new." Lance responded stiffly.
"I'm glad they're getting along more." Shiro responded, less stiff, but he was staring intently at the viewport.
Coran hummed knowingly, and turned back to his control panel without a word.
