By that time the signal, coming in from the jump range buoy at the speed of light, was four hours old. The Pell Central computers generated a predicted course based on data changing by the split second, a path outlined in ordinary green. The first projection supposed an abrupt drop in velocity well out from Pell's Star.
Suddenly the huge display changed, bloomed with colors from red to blue, based on the last three courses and velocities that ship had used coming into Pell on that vector . . . and projected into the sun.
It made a bright, broad display across the ordinarily routine, direct path listings. It alarmed the newest technicians and sent hands reaching towards reset toggles. Merchanters didn't dive that close, that fast, toward the sun.
That ship had. Once. Years ago. That fact was still in the computer record and no one had purged it from files.
(Finity's End, C. J. Cherryh)
