Karen Denali

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Lieutenant Karen Denali was chief science officer of the Oberth-class starship USS Chimera in the mid-24th century. (Star Trek: Outpost)

Starfleet career

Prior to her arrival Deep Space Three, Lieutenant Karen Denali was a Junior Science Officer with a PhD in Astrospectography aboard the Miranda class science vessel USS Remington. She, along with her colleague, Lt N'Kana had finished their survey of the Venderis Nebula and had been invited to speak at the Astrophysics Symposium at Mars University. Her closest friend onboard was the Second Officer, then Lieutenant Gregory Torkelson. When he recieved the news that he had been promoted to Lieutenant Commander, and reassigned to Deep Space Three as Station Executive Officer, and Captain of the sole starship stationed there, the Oberth class USS Chimera, Denali was the first person he told. After Karen found out, she brought a bottle of 2237 Scotch she won from the engineer on the Ru-Tang. As they shared a parting drink, Greg asked if she would be interested in coming along. In no unceratin terms, she declined, stating no uncertain terms that she had her own career to think about.

It came as a complete shock when the Remington's CO, Captain Russell Steele told her she had been reassigned to Torkelson's ship, she was furious. "I'm not going to follow him across the galaxy like some Meruvian puppy!" Captain Steele tried to calm her down, but she merely shot back, "I am calmly thinking of all the pain I'm going to inflict on my dear friend who can't live without me so much he's ruining my life!"

Her distress at being taken from an assignment, combined with the deteriorated state of DS3 and Chimera caused Karen to openly lament the sorry state of the Station and the Chimera, not only to Chief of Engineering LT Jennifer Forrestal, but also Engineer Jack Graves and other senior staff. Her complaints were instantly regretted, but the damage was done.

Her first mission created new difficulties for Karen. Prior to her departure from the Remington, She had requested transfer onto the command track, with a temporary posting to Second Officer. All of that was sidetracked following her transfer. With Chimera's mission to transport Ambassador Nemon to the Planet Melnora, along with LT Exler beaming down to the surface, Denali found herself taking orders from the ship's Second Officer, Ensign Owen Kyle. When her bitter attitude towards the bridge situation became too pronounced, Kyle gave her a choice after pulling her into the ready room. Either return to her station, and be the officer he knew her to be, or leave the bridge and let him get someone to take her place.

With her peers

Lieutenant Jennifer Forrestal

Following Denali's arrival on DS3, Chimera was departing immediately to assist LT Exler, Dr Winston and Goshen aboard Goshen's Antarean shuttle Successful Negotiations. LCDR Torkelson told her, "You're not going, LT Denali. Report to DS3 immediately." He also told her told locate Lieutenant Jennifer Forrestal for assistance. She caught up with her in the observation lounge, watching the Chimera depart. As thery struck up a conversation, she casually remarked, "That's my new posting. A battered ship, made up of scavenged parts, based at a forgotten station thats probably been botched together with salvaged junk too." When Forrestal revealed she was the Chief Engineer of the Station, Denali remarked, to herself, "Chief of Engineering? Way to go, Karen! You just alienated another member of the station staff!"

The two women were forced together during the incident with the Sovreignty, when the aide to the ship captain mistakenly identified Denali as a physician. Refusing to allow the error to be corrected, both Admiral Thomas and Captain Buchanan ordered Denali to impersonate an M.D., and for Forrestal to assist, over Dr Breetal's protests. In spite of the obstacles, they were able to complete the task, though not to the satisfaction of ship captain.

Forrestal did broach the subject of LT Denali with Torkelson, and he assured her that he would not allow his relationship with Karen to compromise his position as Executive Officer.

Lieutenant Renova Exler

Karen first met Lieutenant Renova Exler following the return of Chimera following the ship's second battle with the Solar Winds. Their first real chance to talk came when Karen was escorting the Betazoid Ambassador, Briz Nemon following the blow-up in sick bay. They ran in into Exler and Chief Burt Knox while they were in the middle of a heated arguement. Despite Ambassador Nemon's (unwelcome) intervention, Exler decided that since Chief Knox wasn't going to listen, she would find LCDR Torkelson. she told Karen, "If you happen to see your boyfriend before I do ............" Denali protested "He's not my boyfriend! He's a nice guy, just a little awkward socially. He's someone who needs . . a big sister." Exler replied, "Ooh. Ouch. I'm sure he'd love to hear that." Denali replied, "I've been very up front with him." Contrary to her difficulties with Ensign Kyle, Denali didn't appear to have any issues with LT Exler's command authority.

Ensign Owen Kyle

In her first mission as Chief Science Officer aboard the Chimera, Denali chafed at being the subordinate of the Second Officer, Ensign Owen Kyle. There were a couple of reasons for this. Prior to her departure from the Remmington, Karen had started on the command track, replacing Gregory Torkelson as Second Officer. Her natural abrasiveness caused her to be borderline insubordinate towards Kyle. Kyle pulled her from her science station to talk with her in the ready room. "It really bothers you, dosen't it? Taking orders from an Ensign?" Denali replied, "I do outrank you!" he replied,"But you don't have the experience I have with this crew, this ship, or this area of space or in command! You're a scientist, not a line officer!" she shot back, "I was starting out on the command track just before I was reassigned out here. Just one more thing that was yanked away from me!" He countered, "I'd be bitter about that too, But then you should understand lieutenant, that the attitude you're displaying on the bridge is detrimental to the cohesion and morale of the crew, such as it is! . . . . but becoming _that_ officer, the one who makes everyone around them miserable, the one who can empty the lounge just by walking in, the one who is passed over, not because of ability, but because of attitude isn't going to do you any good. I know this situation isn't ideal, but out here on the frontier, we work with what we've got. I may not have the pips on my collar you do, but LT Exler left me in charge. If you can't accept that, I will excuse you from the bridge. Now I'll give you two minutes alone to make your decision. When you walk out that door, I expect you to either take your station, and act like the officer you are, or continue walking into the turbolift, and allow me to get someone else to do your job."

Dr Rachel Winston

Karen Denali first met Dr Rachel Winston at the welcome home party at DS3 following the Chimera's victory over the Solar Winds. It was there she accidentally revealed Greg Torkelson's nickname of "Tork" to LT Renova Exler and the Doctor. It wasn't until she reported to the Station sick bay for her physical exam. Dr Winston was on duty. Denali conceded that she'd been avoiding the crew of Chimera because if she got to know them she might like them, beacuse she didn't want to be there, on the station. Winston deduced that there was one part of her that wanted to return to her old life on the Remmington, and another that tapped into her natural curiousity regarding the pinchot expanse. Denali replied, "How could you know what I'm feeling? How could anyone know what I'm feeling? Heck, I don't even know how I'm feeling!"

With her superiors

Admiral Bartholomew Thomas

Initially, it was Admiral Bartholomew Thomas' plan to send Karen Denali to the Chimera as a "peace offering" to LCDR Torkelson following their row at the Admiral's reception. By the time she arrived, he needed something more. He solicited her help in being his eyes on the station. Denali protested that she wouldn't spy on her shipmates. The Admiral countered that all he wanted was to be on top of what was happening on the station, even when he was absent. He had a "plan" for the station.

Lieutenant Commander Gregory Torkelson

Karen Denali was serving with then Lieutenant Gregory Torkelson on the Miranda class Science Vessel USS Remmington. He was the Ship's Second Officer, she was a junior Science Officer. They were close friends. The two of them made a visit to Axanar IV, though in the words of Torkelson, He "cannot be held responsible for what happened there." When he received his orders to the Chimera, it was Karen that saw him off with a bottle of 2237 Scotch that she won from the engineer on the RuTang. When Karen received her orders to the Chimera, she believed Greg was responsible for her reassignment. As a result, when they were reuinited at DS3, her reaction was colder than cryonitrium. Her chilly behavior thawed slightly after Admiral Thomas told her what really happened.

Memorable Quotes

"How dare he! I have a life of my own! I'm not going to follow him across the galaxy like some Meruvian puppy!"

" I am calmly thinking of all the pain I'm going to inflict on my dear friend who can't live without me so much that he's ruining my life!"

"He's not my boyfriend! He's a nice guy, just a little awkward socially. He's someone who needs a big sister."

"I was starting out on the command track just before I was reassigned out here. Just one more thing that was yanked away from me."

"I knew him, once. Pretty well, I thought. It seems like a long time ago."

"That's my new posting. A battered ship, made up of scavenged parts, based at a forgotten station thats probably been botched together with salvaged junk too."

Background

Karen Denali is played by Deborah Adams in all her appearances in Star Trek: Outpost.