She watched his face closely and didn't say anything about what it was all but shouting. Listened to his words and tried to pick the easiest path back to her ship. She shook her head at his question, sending her hair swaying, but it wasn't in denial.

"Until we find what we're looking for. Our solar system is in a pocket of dead space. It took us forever to find a drive advanced enough to get us out in something that wouldn't take generations of travel. All of our habitable planets are overcrowded because there was no where else to go. Even our moons, like the one I grew up on. Its not at crisis stage, not yet. But its not far from it either. If we go home without finding planets to settle..." she trailed off, moved a shoulder. "So we don't go home. Not until we've found what we need. Somewhere safe and clear. Showing up in the middle of a dying war - its made things a little bit trickier."

The smile she offered him was small, a bit wry. An entire solar system was riding on her shoulders as well as her team's. It took some balancing. Very light, she touched his arm with just the tips of her fingers, a press before she pulled them back.

"Maybe you could start wherever you're going with us." She turned her head to look at him, wanting to see the offer in her eyes so he'd understand she meant it. "We've got room and its a good place to start, an exploration vessel, if you're looking for something. We've kind of gotten into the habit of picking up people as we go. So you know its an option, if you're looking for them."

Then she gestured. Risked it.

"My ship's right over that ridge. Can you mange the climb or would it be easier to circle around it?"