Nicholas 'Nick' Locarno

Initially sincere in his grief over Joshua’s death, but quickly shifting to a calculated, pressuring demeanor as he seeks to ensure Wesley’s compliance with the squadron’s cover-up. His emotional state is a mix of genuine loss and strategic manipulation.

Controlled and calculating; his surface sympathy for Joshua’s death masks a deeper concern for maintaining the squadron’s cover-up, and his interaction with Wesley is a strategic move to ensure compliance before the inquiry.

Implied to be tense and defensive (though not shown). Boothby’s mention of his name carries a note of subtle disapproval, suggesting that Locarno’s actions—while understandable—are ultimately reckless and dangerous.

Confident and poised on the surface, but with an undercurrent of urgency. He is fully invested in maintaining the squadron’s unity, using emotional appeals to head off potential dissent. His calm demeanor belies the high stakes he faces: the inquiry could unravel everything he’s built.

Confident in his ability to control the narrative, but internally conflicted about framing Joshua as the cause of the accident.

Calmly confident on the surface, but internally tense as he navigates the lies. His performance is meticulously crafted to elicit sympathy, but his true emotions are guarded, revealing only what serves his goals.

Feigned remorse masking cold calculation—Locarno is fully aware of the deception he is perpetuating, but he justifies it as necessary to protect Nova Squadron’s reputation and his own future. His emotional state is a performance, designed to elicit sympathy while ensuring the cadets remain loyal to his narrative.

Calculating and determined, masking his deception with earnestness and camaraderie to achieve his goal of protecting the squadron and his own future.

Calculating and determined, masking his own guilt behind a facade of earnest leadership. His emotional appeals are performative, designed to exploit Wesley’s desire for belonging and fear of isolation. Beneath the surface, there’s a flicker of desperation—he knows this is a make-or-break moment for the squadron’s survival.

Locarno projects a facade of earnest concern, masking his ambition with a veneer of camaraderie. His emotional state is calculated—he is passionate but controlled, knowing precisely how to exploit Wesley’s guilt and loyalty to achieve his goals. Beneath the surface, his ambition drives every word, revealing his true motivation: the survival and glory of Nova Squadron at any cost.

Shocked and defensive, with a simmering anger beneath the surface. His pride is wounded, and he is grappling with the realization that his leadership has led the squadron into this crisis.

Implied to be confident and self-assured, but also potentially oblivious to the consequences of his leadership. His emotional state is a mix of pride in his team’s achievements and an unspoken disregard for the rules that could put them in danger.

Implied to be confident in his leadership but potentially blind to the moral consequences of his actions, driven by a desire to maintain the team’s prestige at all costs.

Implied to be confident in his leadership and the team’s devotion, though his actions reveal a dangerous disregard for consequences.

Not directly observable, but inferred as confident and unrepentant, given his ambition and defiance of Starfleet's rules. His absence in the scene highlights his indirect but powerful influence over Wesley's actions.

Not directly observable, but implied to be confident and unrepentant—consistent with his earlier depiction as someone who ‘wields strong influence’ and ‘prioritizes squadron unity.’ His absence in the scene underscores his hold over Wesley, even from afar.

Not directly observable, but inferred as defiant and unrepentant—his actions have set Wesley on a collision course with Starfleet's principles, and his absence underscores the moral vacuum his ambition has created.

Initially concerned and authoritative, but rapidly escalating to anger, bitterness, and desperation. His emotional state is a volatile mix of fear (of being exposed), resentment (toward Wesley’s defiance), and hurt (at the fracture of their friendship).

A volatile mix of concern, anger, and betrayal—Locarno’s emotional state oscillates between calculated control and explosive frustration. His bitterness toward Wesley’s ‘betrayal’ masks his own guilt and fear of the consequences if the truth comes out.

Coldly defiant with underlying fury—he’s angry at Wesley for breaking the code, but his primary emotion is a stubborn refusal to accept blame. There’s a sense of betrayal, but also a perverse pride in his own unyielding stance. He’s not just protecting himself; he’s protecting the idea of the squadron, even if it’s built on lies.

A volatile mix of anger, fear, and resentment—his silence is not indifference, but a calculated refusal to participate in the unraveling of the squadron's lies.

Coldly resolute—Locarno’s emotional state is one of icy determination. He is not shaken by Wesley’s confession; if anything, he is angered by the betrayal. His denial is not fear but pride, a refusal to let the squadron’s legacy be tarnished. He believes his loyalty to the team justifies his lie, and his silence afterward is a gauntlet thrown down: he will not be the one to break.

Not directly observable, but inferred as resolute and self-sacrificing, reflecting his commitment to protecting his team.

Not directly observable, but inferred as a quiet, paternal satisfaction in seeing Wesley confront his moral failings.

Not directly observable, but inferred as a mix of defiance, regret, and a twisted sense of honor in his sacrifice.