Lt Karen Stendhal - End of act2
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KRN STDL
Mar 2, 2026, 11:54:18 AM (2 days ago) Mar 2
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((Security Area, Deck 2 - USS Eagle-A))
The air in the security area felt thick, vibrating with a low-frequency hum that made the jagged glass shards of Karen’s headache pulse in time with her heartbeat. Every time she blinked, the glare from the containment fields felt like a physical intrusion. She leaned back against the cold bulkhead, her fingers subtly tracing the line of her jaw just to stay grounded.
Through the psychic static still clinging to her mind, the prisoners' emotions hit her in nauseating waves: a volatile mix of righteous fury, cold zealotry, and Zebba’s erratic, high-pitched pouting. It was a chaotic soup of intent that she was still struggling to filter. She watched Drex handle the interrogation with a calm she deeply envied, forcing herself to focus on the steady cadence of his voice to remain anchored in the room. Formality was a luxury she couldn't quite afford right now, but she remained a bruised sentry, watching the Alomians for the slightest ripple of a hidden threat.
Drex: I’ve ordered the bioneural connections on Deck 6 severed, so the damage is now contained to that deck. Your attempt to harm the ship has failed. ::He wasn’t entirely sure the intervention would fully isolate the spread, but if he sounded confident, it might just be convincing enough.::We won’t harm you, but we need information. About the spores and about what is going on on your sacred moon which is about to annihilate your people.
Gnai: How did you get these spores? Did someone give them to you? Did you cultivate them yourselves...?
Octil: Response
Karen gazed on Octil.
Stendhal: ::She lets out a sharp, weary breath, rubbing a thumb against her temple:: "The Commander isn't exaggerating. I can... feel the agitation in the air. Those spores aren't just a religious symbol; they are a biological wildfire.
Zebba: Response
Drex: We don’t have much time for riddles. Your moon is a ticking bomb. How do we stop it?
As Drex’s voice rang out, the protests from the other cells grew louder. Some of the words were unintelligible, but the disdain in their tone was unmistakable. Drex’s eyes flicked toward the other prisoners, trying to read the situation, but it was impossible to tell whether the jeers were directed at him or at the saboteur.
Octil: Response
Stendhal: ::Karen ignores the noise from the other cells, keeping her focus entirely on Octil’s reaction to Drex's 'ticking bomb' comment, she just nodded this time::
Zebba: Response
Drex: You may believe the gods have a plan, I understand this. But what is happening on Ondo will not affect only the moon, it will affect Alomia. You people will not survive. ::He turned looking at all the people in the cells :: Are your gods vengeful? Or do they love you? They created you, and you worshipped them. You still do. And do you think that for the mistakes of a few would they send a cataclysm to destroy you completely?
Gnai: ::to Lt. Cmdr. Drex:: Perhaps this one ::pointing to Octil:: should be removed from the others. Their presence might be influencing what she wants to say.
The Denobulan did not answer immediately. Gnai had a point, but the First Officer was not convinced that separating the group at this stage would offer any real advantage.
Drex: Removing her could be interpreted as coercion. And I won’t have her thinking we’re isolating her to force compliance.
Karen just listened again.
Zebba: Response
Octil: Response
Drex raised his arms slightly in resignation, then let them fall back to his sides. He could not force anyone. The choice to save a planet inhabited by sentient beings was not his to make, nor the Federation’s. They had answered a distress call in good faith, but if that help was no longer wanted, their authority ended there.
The thought of an entire species vanishing from the universe pressed against his chest like a physical weight. It felt wrong to stand by. Wrong to leave. But coercion would be worse. His jaw tightened.
Drex: We came because you asked for help. We will not impose it on you.
Stendhal: ::Karen lets out a sharp, weary breath, her arms crossed tight against the chill of the brig:: Choice is a heavy thing. If you'd rather burn for your 'gods' than live for your people, that’s your prerogative. We’re just the ones holding the fire extinguisher.
Zebba/Gnai: Response
Octil: Response
Drex: I can argue.::A short beat:: I can present options.::Another beat:: I can show you projections of what will happen if nothing is done. But I will not cross the line into forcing your hand.
Stendhal: ::Karen shifts her weight against the bulkhead, her expression tight with the effort of filtering the psychic noise in the room:: He’s giving you the only thing we have left to offer: the truth. If you’re so sure of your 'gods,' then the data shouldn't frighten you. Unless, deep down, you already know what it says.
Zebba/Gnai: Response
Octil: Response
Drex: My responsibility is the safety of my ship and my crew. If your government refuse our assistance, we will respect that decision... and we will depart.
Stendhal: ::She lets out a long, ragged breath, rubbing the bridge of her nose:: It’s a big galaxy, Darling. There are plenty of people out there who actually want to survive the week. If you’re determined to be a martyr for a biological glitch, that’s your business. Personally, I’ve had enough of this 'holy' static for one day.
Zebba/Gnai: Response
Octil: Response
TAGS / Act 2 - End for Karen
-- The air in the security area felt thick, vibrating with a low-frequency hum that made the jagged glass shards of Karen’s headache pulse in time with her heartbeat. Every time she blinked, the glare from the containment fields felt like a physical intrusion. She leaned back against the cold bulkhead, her fingers subtly tracing the line of her jaw just to stay grounded.
Through the psychic static still clinging to her mind, the prisoners' emotions hit her in nauseating waves: a volatile mix of righteous fury, cold zealotry, and Zebba’s erratic, high-pitched pouting. It was a chaotic soup of intent that she was still struggling to filter. She watched Drex handle the interrogation with a calm she deeply envied, forcing herself to focus on the steady cadence of his voice to remain anchored in the room. Formality was a luxury she couldn't quite afford right now, but she remained a bruised sentry, watching the Alomians for the slightest ripple of a hidden threat.
Drex: I’ve ordered the bioneural connections on Deck 6 severed, so the damage is now contained to that deck. Your attempt to harm the ship has failed. ::He wasn’t entirely sure the intervention would fully isolate the spread, but if he sounded confident, it might just be convincing enough.::We won’t harm you, but we need information. About the spores and about what is going on on your sacred moon which is about to annihilate your people.
Gnai: How did you get these spores? Did someone give them to you? Did you cultivate them yourselves...?
Octil: Response
Karen gazed on Octil.
Stendhal: ::She lets out a sharp, weary breath, rubbing a thumb against her temple:: "The Commander isn't exaggerating. I can... feel the agitation in the air. Those spores aren't just a religious symbol; they are a biological wildfire.
Zebba: Response
Drex: We don’t have much time for riddles. Your moon is a ticking bomb. How do we stop it?
As Drex’s voice rang out, the protests from the other cells grew louder. Some of the words were unintelligible, but the disdain in their tone was unmistakable. Drex’s eyes flicked toward the other prisoners, trying to read the situation, but it was impossible to tell whether the jeers were directed at him or at the saboteur.
Octil: Response
Stendhal: ::Karen ignores the noise from the other cells, keeping her focus entirely on Octil’s reaction to Drex's 'ticking bomb' comment, she just nodded this time::
Zebba: Response
Drex: You may believe the gods have a plan, I understand this. But what is happening on Ondo will not affect only the moon, it will affect Alomia. You people will not survive. ::He turned looking at all the people in the cells :: Are your gods vengeful? Or do they love you? They created you, and you worshipped them. You still do. And do you think that for the mistakes of a few would they send a cataclysm to destroy you completely?
Gnai: ::to Lt. Cmdr. Drex:: Perhaps this one ::pointing to Octil:: should be removed from the others. Their presence might be influencing what she wants to say.
The Denobulan did not answer immediately. Gnai had a point, but the First Officer was not convinced that separating the group at this stage would offer any real advantage.
Drex: Removing her could be interpreted as coercion. And I won’t have her thinking we’re isolating her to force compliance.
Karen just listened again.
Zebba: Response
Octil: Response
Drex raised his arms slightly in resignation, then let them fall back to his sides. He could not force anyone. The choice to save a planet inhabited by sentient beings was not his to make, nor the Federation’s. They had answered a distress call in good faith, but if that help was no longer wanted, their authority ended there.
The thought of an entire species vanishing from the universe pressed against his chest like a physical weight. It felt wrong to stand by. Wrong to leave. But coercion would be worse. His jaw tightened.
Drex: We came because you asked for help. We will not impose it on you.
Stendhal: ::Karen lets out a sharp, weary breath, her arms crossed tight against the chill of the brig:: Choice is a heavy thing. If you'd rather burn for your 'gods' than live for your people, that’s your prerogative. We’re just the ones holding the fire extinguisher.
Zebba/Gnai: Response
Octil: Response
Drex: I can argue.::A short beat:: I can present options.::Another beat:: I can show you projections of what will happen if nothing is done. But I will not cross the line into forcing your hand.
Stendhal: ::Karen shifts her weight against the bulkhead, her expression tight with the effort of filtering the psychic noise in the room:: He’s giving you the only thing we have left to offer: the truth. If you’re so sure of your 'gods,' then the data shouldn't frighten you. Unless, deep down, you already know what it says.
Zebba/Gnai: Response
Octil: Response
Drex: My responsibility is the safety of my ship and my crew. If your government refuse our assistance, we will respect that decision... and we will depart.
Stendhal: ::She lets out a long, ragged breath, rubbing the bridge of her nose:: It’s a big galaxy, Darling. There are plenty of people out there who actually want to survive the week. If you’re determined to be a martyr for a biological glitch, that’s your business. Personally, I’ve had enough of this 'holy' static for one day.
Zebba/Gnai: Response
Octil: Response
TAGS / Act 2 - End for Karen
=================================
Lt. Karen Trisha Stendhal
Counselor
USS Eagle
Counselor
USS Eagle
ID: C239604KS0
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