04x09 - Rubicon

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Star Trek: Discovery". Aired: September 2017 to present.*
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The crew of USS Discovery explores new worlds and civilizations.
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04x09 - Rubicon

Post by bunniefuu »

Previously on Star Trek: Discovery...

You're losing sight of the real problem.

The Anomaly. I took what I learned

about the device at
the center of the DMA

and designed this, a w*apon
capable of destroying it.

If we detonate this w*apon,

we cannot control the
message we're sending.

If we make first contact peacefully,

carefully, we can.

And I understand the
appeal of Tarka's plan.

But communication and diplomacy,
this is why the Federation

has lasted for so long.

It'll save more lives in the long run.

All we know for sure is that
the DMA will keep k*lling

if we do nothing.

Power source that controls that device?

I need it to go home.

Book, no.

In order to build an isolytic w*apon,

Tarka needs isolynium.

That's a black-market element

that is not easy to track down.

I planted a tracker.

The signal can be detected
from multiple sectors away.

VANCE: If the DMA is
their mining equipment,

I can only imagine what
their weapons are like.

And if their power supply is threatened,

it will almost certainly
be seen as a hostile act.

Booker and Tarka must be stopped.

I know.

BOOK: Not as much isolynium
in here as I thought.

Wil it be enough?

TARKA: Federation banned
it for good reason.

A little goes a long way.

BOOK: Is it enough to destroy the DMA?

TARKA: And then some.

Careful.

Careful...

And we have ourselves a w*apon.

How long till it's ready?

Five or six hours.

I need to calibrate
to destroy the DMA controller

but protect the internal power source.

As long as I can generate
a null-space bubble

within the isolytic detonation field,

the power source should be fine.

Just... speed it up.

She'll understand, once this is over.

They all will.

We're not gonna lose
anyone else to that thing.

(DOOR CHIMES)

Come.

- Captain?
- Finally got a response from Book.

It's encrypted, so it can't be traced.

I thought you should see it.

Michael.

Hey.

I went through all the data you sent.

Makes sense the DMA could be
some kind of mining device

and all that's happened
is collateral damage.

But even if this is true,

it doesn't change how many lives
have been lost.

How many more will be lost if
we don't do something right now.

The DMA could move again at any time.

We just can't afford to wait.

I love you, Michael.

I wish there was a way to find
a middle ground on this, but...

I just don't see it.

I'm sorry.

Goodbye.

SARU: Well...

I really thought it
would make a difference

if he knew it wasn't an att*ck.

Now, if we don't stop them,
that could be what comes next.

It would seem he has
left us with no choice.

VANCE: To say that this wasn't easy

would be an insult to understatement.

The optics, the complexities.

BURNHAM: Sir,

am I able to lead this mission or not?

Are you sure that that's what you want?

It is.

Well, President Rillak had
quite a lot to say about this.

But she does understand
that Discovery is the only ship

capable of reaching Mr. Booker on time,

and no one knows him better than you.

I also reminded her
that you have never let me down.

Thank you, sir.

Don't thank me yet.

The president remains concerned

that if things don't go smoothly,

you might be too emotionally compromised

to make the hard call.

I have the same concern,
so I'm going to send

another officer with you.

Someone who will be empowered
to step in, if needed,

and issue the necessary orders

with the full backing of my authority.

With respect, Admiral,

that-that is Captain Saru's job.

He, too, is close to Book, is he not?

(EXHALES)

I understand this is awkward, Captain.

May I ask who the officer is?

A friendly face,

which I hope will make
it easier on everyone.

Commander, will you please join us?

(DOORS WHOOSH OPEN)

Captain.

Commander Nhan?

(LAUGHS SOFTLY)

- It's good to see you.
- You, too.

BURNHAM: Uh, sir, I-I have to say,

if the concern is my connection to Book,

Nhan and I go way back.

I'm aware. But she's also a Barzan.

And there's a reason
so many of her world

serve in the security forces.

Duty above all.

I'll give you two a minute.

NHAN: I, uh...

I'd only met Book in passing,

but he sounds like a good man.

I'm sorry it's come to this.

Thank you for that, Nhan.

So, when did you join
Federation Security?

I thought you were
still living on Barzan.

I was, but after completing
the seed-vault mission,

I ended up not staying too long.

Hmm.

Upgraded my breathers, though.

- Real eyes, real you.
- Mm-hmm.

Were you able to find your family line

and connect with them?

Uh, yeah.

Didn't work out.

And Security asked me
to lead a cleanup task force

against the Emerald Chain.

Covert ops. I couldn't tell anyone.

I read the reports.

Bloody skirmishes in the outer sectors.

This isn't the way I
wanted to come back.

But I figured, better me
than someone you don't know.

I'm glad it's you.

Mr. Saru.

I hope I'm not disturbing you.

Not at all. It is always
a pleasure to hear from you.

Well, I wonder if I may ask a favor.

On Ni'Var, I joined you in
a thresh-tor kashek meditation.

I found it greatly helpful
in settling my mind.

I could use such help now.

Of course.

Your hands.

Breathe deeply.

You are having difficulty focusing.

(SARU SIGHS)

I am distracted, yes.

The mission to stop Mr. Booker

will be a most unfortunate
undertaking.

Indeed it will.

But I sense that is not all.

You are insightful, as ever.

My ward, Su'Kal.

He is deeply worried about the Anomaly.

I do not know how to comfort him.

Ah, of course, at such a dire time,

these personal feelings
are of little import.

Such feelings are always of import.

May I suggest,

when formal meditation
proves challenging,

I find the peaceful
routines of daily life

and the joyful connection therein

can help reestablish inner balance.

A walk, perhaps, or a-a shared
meal between friends.

I would be pleased to join you,
if you'd like.

I w... I will, uh, consider that.

Thank you, Madam President.

Of course.

Good luck, Mr. Saru.

(EXHALES)

The captain is on her way.
Let us prepare for departure.

I can't believe we're
actually doing this.

Book hasn't exactly given us
much of an option.

He thinks he's doing the right
thing. A lot of people agree.

SARU: Whatever one's opinions,

we all have our orders.

Hey, look who's back.

(LAUGHS)

You're Federation Security now?

- Damn.
- NILSSON: You look great.

It's so good to see you.

This is a wonderful surprise, Commander.

Thank you, sir. I've
really missed all of you.

And feel free to ignore me.
I'm just observing.

Seeing how the pros do it.

No, they should know.

Commander Nhan is here because
of my personal connection

to this mission.

We need to stop Book and Tarka,
and she's going to help

make sure the job is done right.

I would have made
the same choice

if I were
in the admiral's shoes.

(EXHALES) This isn't an easy mission.

Not for any of us.

But it is critical that we succeed.

Commander Owosekun, on screen.

The tracker in Book's ship
tells us that they're here,

hiding in this uninhabited rogue planet.

We believe they're
finishing construction

on the isolytic w*apon.

We'll have the element of surprise.

We need to use it well.
If they manage to jump

into the DMA before we detain them,

pursuit will become much more dangerous.

Black alert.

Activate cloak.

Let's fly.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(ORIGINAL STAR TREK THEME PLAYS)

BURNHAM: Status report.

DETMER: Book's ship is inside
a cavity , meters in.

RHYS: No sensors or security
around the outside perimeter.

BURNHAM: Okay.

Let's get into position.

Take us as close as you can, Commander.

Aye, Captain. Coming in.

Stopping in three, two...

... one.

We're ready.

RHYS: Bringing Book's
ship on screen, Captain.

BURNHAM: Mr. Saru, Commander
Nhan, in my ready room.

Have Dr. Culber join.

Book's ship has a built-in
security disruption field,

so we can't beam directly on board,

but a cloaked shuttle can slip in

close to this maintenance hatch.

That'll be our entry point.

Respectfully, I'm not sure you
should be leading this mission.

I wasn't planning to.
Mr. Saru will be taking point.

Dr. Culber will be joining
with Commander Rhys,

- and Commander Bryce will pilot.
- What about

Bryce's work for Dr. Kovich?

We still need to make first contact.

I'll have Zora keep looking
for communication frequencies

that can pass through
the Galactic Barrier.

Then Commander Bryce will
have plenty to analyze

when he gets back from the mission.

- Mr. Saru, please take her through it.
- Of course, Captain.

We will use a multi-phasic
signal discriminator to override

external proximity sensors
and gain entrance

before Mr. Booker and Tarka
are notified of our arrival.

Once we make our way to the bridge,

Dr. Culber will help deescalate

the situation so we may take the ship.

Book is acting out of anger and grief.

He's doing what he thinks is right,

but he's not unreasonable.

Tarka's the wild card here.

We will have our phasers
with us, but set to stun.

Only to be used if necessity requires.

I know you'll make the right call.

Be safe.

BRYCE: , meters and closing.

RHYS: Book will be locked up for life.

He stole classified tech.

He's about to use an isolytic w*apon.

Because the Federation
isn't acting fast enough.

You don't know what it's like
to lose everything.

What do you want us to do,
launch an att*ck?

RHYS: I'm not saying we
should att*ck. But...

BRYCE: Stop comparing pain, man.

- You have no idea.
- Gentlemen,

you are here to execute your orders,

however you may feel about them,
or one another in this moment.

Listen, this is tough for everyone.

And we all have different views
on what Book's done,

but we're here to fix this,

and that's what we're gonna do.

Together. Okay?

Thank you, Dr. Culber.

Prepare the shuttle
for docking, Commander Rhys.

Commander Bryce, take us in.

- Aye, Mr. Saru.
- Aye, Mr. Saru.

SHUTTLE COMPUTER: Protective
shielding deployed.

BRYCE: We're now at full stop

two meters from the maintenance hatch.

Engaging airlock field.

Commander Owosekun, isolate the
shuttle's cloaking signature.

Aye, Captain.

The shuttle's soft dock
is complete, Captain.

No response from Booker's
proximity sensors.

They don't seem to know we're here.

Proceed, Mr. Saru.

SARU: Commander Rhys, prepare
the signal discriminator.

Are you good?

(ALARM BLARING)

Captain, something's not right.

- (SOFT, SKITTERING SOUND)
- BURNHAM: Disco Two, report!

Saru?

Something is on the shuttle, Captain.

(ALARM BLARING)

Like, all over the shuttle.

(ALARM SOUNDING)

I've never heard an alarm
like this on my ship.

It's our new defense system.

It's just a little
something I threw together

on our way to Porathia.

Without telling me?

We were buying banned weapons tech

from an underworld market.

It's an intrusion warning.

It's one of Discovery's shuttles.

Michael must've slipped
a tracker on the isolynium.

Did you know his ship could do that?

No. Commander Owosekun,
can you beam them back?

I can't. Too much interference
from the disruption field.

- I'm losing comms, Captain.
- Saru, you need to abort!

SARU: Understood, Captain.

Commander Bryce, get
us back to Discovery.

I'm trying, sir.

You need to stop it! They'll be k*lled!

I designed the system to be autonomous.

They'll be dead before I can

even reprogram the first layer.

Come on! We've got to do something!

We're stuck! I-I can't disengage!

(LOUD THUDDING)

SHUTTLE COMPUTER: Structural
integrity compromised.

Fire an EMP charge through the hull.

Might slow it down enough
for the shuttle to break free.

Got it.

Owosekun, how much
time do they have left?

Hull integrity down to ten percent.

CULBER: Oxygen levels
are dropping, Captain.

Discovery shuttle, ready thrusters

- to blast yourselves free.
- Book?

Captain, there's a
massive electromagnetic

surge coming from Book's ship.

Saru, maximum thrusters!

- Now!
- Go, Mr. Bryce.

SHUTTLE COMPUTER: Hull breach imminent.

- BURNHAM: Saru!
- We are trying, Captain.

Come on. Get out of there.

Can you get a lock now?

I'm working on it, Captain.

DETMER: The shuttle's breaking apart.

- BURNHAM: Owosekun?
- Almost got them.

(GRUNTING)

(PANTING)

(GASPS)

Is everyone all right?

SARU: We are, indeed.

Thank you all for your assistance.

Okay, let's get back to stations.

Commander Bryce, let me know
what you find with Dr. Kovich.

Aye, Captain.

Captain, we just lost
the tracker signal.

It's probably because
they found it. Hail him.

BOOK: Did everyone make it off in time?

- Yes. Book, listen...
- I'm sorry, Michael.

I have a job to do.

OWOSEKUN: They jumped, Captain.

- He's gone.
- Damn it.

They're going to the DMA.

Then so are we.

We cannot allow them
to destroy that controller.

We cannot let our first contact
with Species Ten-C

be an act of aggression.

Not if we want peace.

We have no idea where the controller is.

We don't know what exactly
we'll find when we jump in,

so let's be prepared for anything.

Black alert.

(ALERT BLARING)

♪ ♪

- (ALARM BLARING)
- Shields up.

And let's find that
controller before they do.

If we b*at them to it, what then?

How do you plan on stopping them
from using their w*apon?

Figuring that out is next on my list.

LINUS: Captain, dark matter interference

is greater than expected.

Cloaking will be spotty, at best.

It's impacting shield stability.

Scanning range is limited, as well.

It's like finding a
needle in a haystack,

as my grandma used to say.

Mr. Booker will be facing
similar challenges.

Yes, but he has a head start.

Detmer, plot a grid search pattern.

- Aye, Captain.
- BURNHAM: Owosekun,

scan for the subspace rift
around the DMA controller.

Given its size, it should be easier

to find than the device itself.

Aye, Captain.

Captain, Mr. Saru,

I need to request that
we speak privately.

Commander Nilsson, you have the conn.

My orders were to let you carry
out this tactical operation

without intervening.

If it failed, I was to
give you this briefing.

There's a vulnerability that'll
allow us to disable Book's ship

before they can fire their w*apon.

I know Book's ship. It's airtight.

Not with the prototype
spore drive, it isn't.

If we fire a photon torpedo
at the impulse manifold,

the detonation will
cause a chain reaction,

hit a weak spot in the drive

and destroy the whole thing.

With all the interference here,

we wouldn't be able to beam them out.

Which is why it's a last resort.

If the expl*si*n sets
off the isolytic w*apon,

it could destroy
Discovery in the process.

Not if we can jump away first.

If?

Billions of lives will
be saved either way.

Look, I'm sorry about Book,

and I know the options
aren't pleasant...

It isn't just about Book or Discovery.

The Federation needs that spore drive.

We have to at least consider this.

There's too much at stake.
If there's any other way...

And if you wait too long
to realize there isn't?

That won't happen. And
I will not let you...

I'm authorized

to relieve you of command
and issue the order...

I will not let you take over my ship

- while I safely weigh...
- Please. Please.

If I may.

Dr. Culber offered
some sage advice earlier.

That in times of division,

we identify that upon
which we can agree.

A shared goal, perhaps,
that can lead to compromise.

You're right.

We need to find middle ground

between us, and with Book.

A shared goal.

Engineering.

Stamets.

I'm working fast as I can
to increase the scanning range.

Put Reno on it.
I need you for something else.

Check my logic here.

If you needed something,

you wouldn't stop until
you got it, right?

Or at least until you had no choice

but to move on and look
somewhere else for it.

I... have no idea
what you're talking about.

Boronite.

That's what the DMA is mining,

and they wouldn't leave an area

until the boronite in
that area was exhausted.

So if we scan

for the remaining boronite
in this subsector...

We can calculate the rate of consumption

and predict how much longer
before the DMA jumps again.

Exactly.

Ah, but the, uh, margin of error.

I don't have a large enough sample size.

Work with Zora to build a model
based on what we've got.

If we can get a timetable,
we might be able

to use it to get Book to stand down.

STAMETS: On it.

We should call the admiral.

Let's do it together.

- Any sign of the controller?
- BOOK: Not yet.

And with all the interference,

our cloak keeps going in and out.

Listen. About the shuttle...

They almost d*ed.

I'm sorry.

This mission is ten years
in the making for me.

I need this to work.

And I understand very well
what all this means to you.

With Discovery in the way,

there will come a point

when you have to decide
what's more important...

Your feelings for them,
or stopping the DMA.

Don't go behind my back again.

- Finish the w*apon.
- It is finished.

I asked you five minutes
ago where to load it,

and you were too distracted to hear me.

Torpedo Tube Six.

I'll continue scanning
for the controller.

(CHIMING)

Sensors are picking up an energy spike.

Is it the controller?

I-I can't tell.

It's an object of some kind.

Booker's ship dead ahead!

Ten degrees hard to port!

Aye, Captain.

I knew you were out here somewhere.

We have a sh*t. We could take it.

Or we could burn out Book's scanners,

make it impossible for them
to find the controller.

Rhys, launch a full spread
of sensor-blinding bursts

at Book's ship as we pass,

- maximum energy yield.
- Aye, Captain.

Where did they come from?

She's trying to blind our scanners.

Well done, them.

Scanner function's down to %.

- Can you fix it?
- Yes, but not if they hit us again.

They won't. See the
hydrogen cloud ahead?

We're gonna give them a taste
of their own medicine.

Book just fired something
in the direction

of that hydrogen cloud.

A magnesium charge.

He's going to ignite it in seconds.

- How do you know that?
- We had a run-in with pirates

in Breen space, back in the day.
He pulled the same move.

Detmer, take us toward it.

Captain, with compromised shields,

the heat blast will burn out
our thermal regulators.

We will avoid the blast
if we dive in low,

and that'll blind Book long enough

for us to get out of here.

Detmer, on my mark, full power astern,

adjust course, - mark .

- DETMER: Aye, Captain.
- BURNHAM: Here comes the blast.

Now!

Take us into that dark
matter dust cloud,

degrees off our starboard beam.

Once we're in, resume the grid search.

Aye, Captain.

That was an act of aggression.

He knew whatever damage
would be temporary.

We're not out of options yet.

TARKA: Where'd they go?

The Breen gambit.

- She's got a good memory.
- What does that mean?

And why the hell are you laughing?

There's nothing funny about this.

We don't know where they went.

I'm guessing somewhere
in that dark matter cloud.

This isn't a game, Book.
You're costing us time.

No, I'm saving our asses.
The only thing we've got going

is that I know Michael's
tactics, and I know her crew.

Yeah, maybe you know them too
well. Maybe that's the problem.

Just fix the damn scanner

so we can find the
controller before they do.

Captain, I'm getting
strong sensor contact...

High concentration
of galactic barrier particles.

- It's the subspace rift.
- Great work, Owosekun.

Detmer, set a course.
Stamets, where are we

with that boronite timetable?

We're working as fast as we can.

We're crunching gigaquads of raw data.

Can you crunch faster?

Is there an acceptable
answer other than "yes"?

- No.
- Then yes.

DETMER: That's it, Captain...

The DMA controller.

BURNHAM: Give us a closer look.

NILSSON: The Ten-C don't care, do they?


Churn space, take boronite.

Rinse and repeat.

We will stop them,
and we'll do it the right way.

Won't be long before
Book's here to try his way.

And we'll be ready.

Commander Detmer, bring us in
as close as possible.

I want to put ourselves between
Book's ship and that controller.

And we are going to hold
as long as we possibly can.

Stamets, I need that timetable.

STAMETS: Working on it with Zora.

Just need a little bit longer.

We can't keep playing
cat and mouse forever.

Once they get here, we'll need to make

a decisive move, or they will.

We just need
to stall long enough for Stamets

to get the data I need
to talk Book down.

Getting new data didn't
change his mind before.

Why would it now?

Because he's reasonable,

and he's logical,

and he really doesn't want
to see anyone hurt.

I know he'll give us more time.
I know he will.

We'll just need to know how much.

And what if you're wrong?

Then we can find another way.

We already have another way.

We need to be ready.

Commander Rhys.

This tactical program...

it would destroy Book's ship.

BURNHAM: We're not there yet.

That's a last resort.

We hope to avoid this option...
for everyone's sake.

But my orders are
to prevent them from f*ring

on that controller at any cost.

OWOSEKUN: Sensors are
picking up Booker's ship.

He's coming in fast.

Okay, he'll have to decloak

to get a target lock.

Maintain our cloaking
as best as you can.

Drop it on my mark.

Aye, Captain.

BURNHAM: Stamets, let Zora take over.

I need you to jump.

TARKA: It's genius. The controller.

This is going to work.

What we're doing is
really going to work.

Is the w*apon loaded?

TARKA: On your mark.

- (ALARM SOUNDING)
- SHIP COMPUTER: Warning.

Proximity alert.

Damn it. They found us,
and they're blocking our sh*t.

Can you beam it in?

I'll have to lower the disruption field.

- They'd be able to beam us out.
- Well, go around them.

Jump!

BURNHAM: Stamets, get
ready to jump again.

Detmer, stay between him
and that controller.

- Do not let them get a clean sh*t.
- DETMER: Aye, Captain.

You had a sh*t at the controller.

You should have taken it.

We have one w*apon.
We can't afford to miss.

I'm gonna warn them off.
Target their shields.

Shields down to %, Captain.

- NHAN: Captain...
- He's not trying to hurt us,

just warn us off.

We can argue semantics
all we want, but I think

we can both agree
that Book is sh**ting at us.

(RUMBLING)

- Rhys, return fire.
- Aye, Captain.

So, how long are you planning
on letting them hit us?

She's doing the same thing
we are... warning us off.

Look, I know you love her,

I know you care for her crew,
but this needs to stop.

You want to go to some home
in another universe.

I lost my entire home here.

Don't you dare tell me how to do this.

I'm f*ring another
round of warning sh*ts,

then we jump again. Get ready.

TARKA: Damn it! Enough!

No!

That was a full spread
of quantum torpedoes.

Shields down to %.

Give the order or I will, Captain.

There is no way Book was
responsible for that att*ck.

It doesn't matter. I lost half
my team on my last mission

waiting too long to make a call
I knew needed to be made.

I will not let that happen again.

You said it yourself.
The stakes are too high.

It's time.

I fear she may be right.

(SOUNDS FADE)

(BURNHAM'S BREATHING ECHOES)

STAMETS: Captain, we've
finished our calculations.

It should take hours...
About a full week...

Before the DMA gets
all the boronite in this area

and jumps again.

BURNHAM: Great work.

Lieutenant Christopher,
hail Book's ship.

No response, Captain.

Keep trying. Commander Rhys...

I want you to obey the order

if Commander Nhan gives it.

Mr. Saru, you have the conn.

Commander Nhan, with me.

With your team,
how many lives did you save?

- I don't understand.
- How many?

.

Not too long ago, I made
a choice that saved lives, too.

In the process, I lost others.

As leaders, we see success
or failure, right or wrong,

but it's never that binary. Nothing is.

There is a middle ground here.

And I know that I can
get Book to see it.

I just have to make him look.

What can you do, put on an EV suit

and pound on his viewscreen?

I was thinking more fly a shuttle

in front of his viewscreen.

If they try to launch
their w*apon, we will fire.

You won't survive.

I believe in Book.

But if I'm wrong, if anything happens,

I know you'll save my team.

Your team.

Good luck, Michael.

SARU: We are standing by, Captain.

Commander Rhys is locked on target.

BURNHAM: Understood.

Touch the console again,
and I'll take your hands off.

We came here to put a stop to the DMA.

(COMPUTER CHIMES)

Shuttle, identify yourself.

BURNHAM: Book, it's me.

Michael.

Commander Rhys, stand by.

Aye, Commander.

BURNHAM: You haven't
been answering our hails.

BOOK: Been a little busy.

Impressive maneuvering, by the way.

BURNHAM: You, too.

Book, we can't go on like this.

If we keep digging in
on our own sides,

we'll keep battling each other
and not the real thr*at.

I know you get that.

You said you wished
there was a middle ground?

I do.

I'm sending you new data.

Now, given the rate
the DMA is mining boronite,

we expect it to remain
in this uninhabited area

of space for another week.

No lives will be in
danger during that time.

And what I'm about to propose
is a plan President Rillak

and Admiral Vance both approved.

You stand down for the week,

you come aboard Discovery,

- we hold you there.
- Hold us?

Not in the brig.

Just there, for safety's sake,
and it's just one week.

And the Federation uses
that time to make first contact

and work to convince
whoever created this thing

to withdraw it.

And if that fails,

they'll back your plan
to destroy the controller.

SHIP COMPUTER: Privacy
settings activated.

We can't take this deal.

You lost voting rights
when you fired those torpedoes.

We both have so much at stake here.

You can't just decide to...

It's a viable compromise.

Or it's a lie!

She would say anything
to get you to back off.

I trust Michael. Completely.

And it's the right choice.

I need that power source.
I need to go home.

Book...

Don't do this. Please.

We'll stand down for a week.

BURNHAM: Thank you.

Discovery,

I'm on my way back.

Cancel black alert.

Book and Tarka are standing down.

Prepare for them in shuttle bay.

(EXHALES)

Are you familiar with
the concept "expected utility"?

It's a core tenet of game theory.

A mathematical method to help
determine the optimal move

in a situation where risk is high

and the outcome is unclear.

Such analysis can lead
to unexpected solutions.

Of course, one needs
to be clear-headed

to make the right move.

What are you doing?

- I'm being clear-headed.
- No!

- (SIGHS)
- OWOSEKUN: Captain,

they lowered the disruption field.

I'm reading a transporter signature.

And a massive tachyon surge
inside the DMA controller.

BOOK: Michael, Tarka beamed
the w*apon into the controller.

It'll go off any second!
You have to move!

Can we do anything? Can we stop it?

I do not believe so, Captain.

The detonation will stretch
half a parsec. We need to go.

Not until I know they're safe.

The null-space bubble

will protect the internal
power source, not us.

We're waiting until they jump.

You tried. Let's go.

Damn it. Black alert! Jump! Now!

I understand it was a risk,
but it needed to be done.

And it worked.

Everyone's safe. The DMA's gone.

No more worlds will be destroyed.

You can go back, I can go home.

Once we get the power source...

I just need to find it.

No.

No, it's here. It has to be.

It's not here!

Tarka.

It's powered from the other side
of the wormhole.

Outside the galaxy.

(DOOR CHIMES)

Come.

NHAN: Any word from Book?

I keep hailing.

He won't answer.

What happens now?

We have no idea
how the Ten-C will respond, so,

the admiral's implementing
emergency protocols

in case of retaliation.

We're fast-tracking
the first contact mission.

Commander Bryce is still
looking for ways

to communicate
through the Galactic Barrier.

The rest of us leave tomorrow.

Did you say your goodbyes?

They made me promise
I won't be a stranger.

I'm going to hold you
to that, too. (CHUCKLES)

Please.

Thank you for supporting me...

reaching out to him one last time.

What you said earlier...

How nothing's ever black and white...

I actually did find my family.

Most live in this one village.

So I went to a park there.

There were kids playing
and parents hovering.

Same as my parents did.

I tried to talk to them, but...

there was so much I couldn't say.

That I'm from the past, for starters.

So, I figured, if I couldn't

be fully honest with them...

Like with us? Hmm.

You couldn't tell us
you were back in uniform, so...

All or nothing? That's me.

Anyhow, I think it's time
for me to get okay

with some middle ground.

Hmm.

I'd love to come back
to Discovery one of these days.

- If that's okay?
- Oh, you always have a home here.

Good luck out there.

You, too.

(SIGHS HEAVILY)

CULBER: Mr. Saru.

Long day. How are you holding up?

Ah, as well as could be
expected, all things considered.

I wanted to commend you for your calm

during today's mission.

I only wish we'd found success.

Yeah.

I, uh... considering
what we're dealing with...

Feel silly bringing this up, but

I'm in need of advice
on how best to respond to...

an overture from President T'Rina.

An overture?

She asked me to join her for dinner.

Uh... socially.

- Oh.
- Uh, of course, I cannot,

given the mission at hand,
but I'm unsure how best

to convey that,

even if it were possible,

I would... decline.

We... she and I...

Hail from vastly different cultures.

I already feel pulled
between my commitments

to Kaminar and Starfleet and...

Do you have feelings for her?

I think...

perhaps I do?

With respect, sir,
in my professional opinion,

you're being an idiot.

Connection is always a risk,

but compared to everything else
we're dealing with right now...

I'd say it's one that you can handle.

Mm. Mm.

CHRISTOPHER: Mr. Saru,

you're requested
on the bridge immediately.

Thank you, Doctor,

for that... unexpected candor.

(DOOR WHOOSHES OPEN)

(DOOR WHOOSHES OPEN)

SARU: Is everything all right, Captain?

The USS Mitchell is monitoring

the area where the DMA was located.

They just sent this.

SARU: A new DMA has appeared?

BURNHAM: In the exact same place.

Then, it would seem, like it or not...

We just made first contact.
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