Starfleet Academy Flight Range (Near Saturn)

Cadets fly Nova Squadron ships in precise close formations across this orbital expanse near Saturn, the gas giant's swirling bands filling cockpit views. High-stakes maneuvers demand split-second control; Wesley's team attempts the forbidden Kolvoord Starburst, leading to collision that rips vessels apart in explosive debris. Joshua Albert dies in the wreckage, the void's silence broken only by distress calls. Picard recounts the inherent risks to Beverly, framing the range as a proving ground where ambition meets deadly consequence, fueling Wesley's looming moral crisis over loyalty and truth.