The Orville is assigned to pick up and transport a Moclan engineer and his partner. The visitors are not who they seem and are carrying something secret.

In the school, Topa treats his female classmates badly and Bortus and Klyden are informed by the teacher. In their quarters, they quarrel about Moclan traditional values. Mercer contacts Bortus about the visiting Moclans possibly using the ship's power grid for unknown purposes.

When Bortus checks in with them, they reveal they have a Moclan girl child hidden in a stasis case which is what is drawing the power. He keeps their secret but brings Topa to see the infant.

After the Moclans leave, the presence of the female infant is revealed to the senior crew and Mercer insists on pursuing the Moclans to be sure they didn't kidnap the child.

When they find the ship, it is on a planet hidden in a nebula. The planet is completely inhabited by female Moclans. The leader, Heveena, prepares immediately to evacuate but Mercer convinces her to apply for independent statehood under the Planetary Union.

When the petition is made before the Planetary Union Council, the Moclan delegation threatens to leave the Union if the female Moclan planet is granted membership.

Back at the sanctuary planet, the Orville stands guard when a Moclan battle cruiser comes to "observe" the planet.

Mercer pleads with the admirals to defend the colony.

The Moclans launch shuttles to the colony's surface with the intention of capturing the female Moclans. Grayson and Bortus follow while Keyali commands the Orville into a fight with the battle cruiser.

The Council and Moclans accept a temporary agreement and the colony is safe for the time being.