Fabula
S20E13 · Terminus Part 1

Corsairs debate dead ship’s legitimacy

Kari and Olvir board the derelict space liner and immediately clash over its condition: Kari notes eerie discrepancies in the self-running systems and lethal atmosphere reading while Olvir dismisses her concerns, fixated solely on plundering cargo. Their opposing priorities expose a growing fracture in their partnership—one that will force them to confront the ship’s actual horrors and leave them no choice but to seek alliance with the trapped TARDIS crew. This moment plants the seeds for later revelations about the liner’s true purpose and Kari’s desperate realignment. key_dialogue: [ KARI: The whole ship's rigged to run on automatic, yet there's atmosphere. It doesn't fit the briefing at all. OLVIR: So what? We're only here for the cargo. KARI: Would it really surprise you if there weren't any? This ship is dead. ]

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

3

Kari and Olvir enter the bridge, remove their helmets, and examine the equipment, noting the ship's atmosphere doesn't match expectations.

curiosity to skepticism ['bridge']

Kari expresses concern that the ship's systems and atmosphere don't align with their briefing, suggesting something is off.

skepticism to unease

Olvir dismisses Kari's concerns, focusing on their mission to retrieve cargo, while Kari further articulates her unease about the ship's condition.

unease to tension

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

1

Watchful and uneasy, masking urgency with controlled professionalism

Kari moves swiftly across the bridge, performing atmospheric checks and removing her raider helmet to examine the equipment more closely. She questions the ship’s contradictory state and challenges Olvir’s narrow focus with growing suspicion.

Goals in this moment
  • Verify the ship’s true operational status and environmental hazards before proceeding
  • Convince Olvir to prioritize safety over immediate looting
Active beliefs
  • Systematic verification prevents unnecessary risk in unknown environments
  • Discrepancies in briefings often signal hidden dangers
Character traits
methodical skeptical analytical assertive
Follow Kari Olvir's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

2
Urban Hoplite Armor

Both raiders remove their sturdy leather raider helmets upon entering, exposing them to the ship’s compromised atmosphere. Kari’s removal allows her heightened sensory awareness to detect anomalies, while Olvir discards his carelessly, reinforcing his disregard for potential danger.

Before: Worn and functional, fastened securely on the raiders’ …
After: Removed and held or casually discarded on the …
Before: Worn and functional, fastened securely on the raiders’ heads during their approach to the derelict liner.
After: Removed and held or casually discarded on the bridge, no longer serving their protective function.
Abnormal Ship Atmosphere

The liner’s atmosphere, though unnatural and potentially lethal, is initially breathable—an anomaly Kari immediately identifies using her sensor-based instincts. The presence of atmosphere defies logical expectations for a disabled, automated ship, triggering tension and questioning the vessel’s true state.

Before: Undetected anomaly mistaken as normal by standard scans, …
After: Still present, unaltered, but now a subject of …
Before: Undetected anomaly mistaken as normal by standard scans, but revealed under scrutiny—lingering but unchanging.
After: Still present, unaltered, but now a subject of intense scrutiny by Kari.

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Damaged Space Liner Bulkhead

The Terminus space liner’s bridge serves as the primary arena where Kari and Olvir first confront the contradictions of the vessel’s existence. Its sterile, decaying corridors and flickering emergency lighting frame their conflict over priorities. Pulsing machinery and residual heat merge with the stench of overheating insulation, creating a deceptively active tomb.

Atmosphere Clammy and unsettling, thick with the scent of decay and the pulse of faintly glowing …
Function Observation and strategic debate platform central to mission divergence
Symbolism Embodies a dying institutional order clinging to automatic function while life flees
Access Restricted to skilled raiders and technical personnel during boarding
Fluorescent strips flicker in spasmodic pulses casting uneven shadows The air carries a sickly sweet stench overlaid with acrid coolant tang

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What this causes 1

"Kari and Olvir’s boarding of the ship and examination of systems leads to the Doctor’s revelation that the ship is docking with another vessel, shifting the threat from exploration to forced translocation and increased danger."

Raiders seize bridge and force desperate flight
S20E13 · Terminus Part 1

Part of Larger Arcs