Today, everyone on DS9 with a window or a PADD got to watch the Defiant pull a rogue asteroid away from the station.
Few people moved from their watching positions. Halls were near-empty of movement, with clusters of people gathered around each window. Restaurants and shops stood full but not busy; even Quark’s Bar was uncharacteristically quiet. Station Security and the day shift workers were the only people moving, and even they shot glances out the windows when they could.
Watching the asteroid get closer and closer, everyone got really tense. Most of the Klingons became brusque. People started making jokes and laughing nervously. Many Bajorans and quite a few others used meditation techniques or breathing rituals. The Vedeks were kept busy chanting and praying and guiding the anxious.
There was a murmur when the Defiant moved from its ready position. When it latched onto the asteroid, Deep Space Nine held our breath. If the asteroid broke, it would certainly put several holes in the station. But the tractor beam held, and the Defiant pulled it gracefully around the station and out of sight into a stable orbit again, and everyone relaxed and started chatting and dispersed to get lunch or find a friend or get back to work.
