Admiral Vance demands answers to how Tarka was able to steal the new spore drive. He is informed his authorization was used.

President Rillak wants answers too. She doesn't want Burnham to lead the effort to bring Book back. She orders Vance to head the effort to detain Tarka and Book. She sends Burnham and Discovery to gather data on Species 10-C.

Tarka needs 24 hours to build the weapon. Book points out that they're publicly wanted criminals now. Tarka reveals he still needs an isolineum source.

Vance seeks Burnham out. He shares his backstory with Tarka and wonders what is driving the genius. He orders Burnham to find a way to stop them from starting a war.

Burnham checks in with Stamets and Saru. Stamets confers with Zora who confirms sphere data records that indicate there was a civilization near the 10-C coordinates, the Stilth, who may have extra-galactic stellar surveys that would prove useful.

Burnham believes an old friend on Parathia will be able to help them get information from the Stilth.

Saru realizes Burnham's going to Parathia to pursue Book.

Book brings Tarka into a sketchy casino run by a guy named Haas and warns him not to talk. They pony up the latinum but Haas takes it to settle an old debt and won't deal until they have more.

Book offers to find the cheaters in the casino for him in return for the isolineum.

Burnham takes Owosekun into the casino with her. As they enter the planet's atmosphere, they are attacked by a water dragon which appears to swallow them but turns out to be a hologram.

Haas greets her and she asks about the Stilth surveys. When she asks about isolineum, he mentions there's another bidder. Owosekun figures out it's Book.

Book puts Tarka on the trail of a possible cheater and Tarka takes off. Burnham approaches Book when he's alone. She offers him an out but he's not open to it because he believes in Tarka's cause.

Burnham tells Owosekun they need to be able to outbid Book. Owo's got a plan.

Stamets finds Culber cleaning their quarters. Culber blames himself for Book's actions. Stamets talks him down.

Owo enters the fight ring. She loses her first match, insists on a rematch. Odds are now 10:1

Book tries to get Tarka to hurry up on finding the cheaters in the casino so they can get the isolineum and leave. Book realizes the guy they're tailing is a changeling.

Owo's lost another match but wants to go again. Odds are 45:1. Burnham puts their latinum on Owo.

Owosekun crushes her opponent.

The opponent and his manager try to take their winnings. Book assists them in taking them out and then asks for help with the changeling. They put the changeling on the run and Tarka traps them.

Haas calls it a tie between Book and Burnham. He brings in another interested party and then demands they all play a poker game for the isolineum.

Book and Burnham work together to beat the other two. Owosekun and Tarka talk as they watch.

Burnham tries one more time to appeal to Book. He bets everything and she meets it. Book wins the hand and the isolineum.

The President calls Burnham to task for losing the isolineum and Book and Tarka. Burnham reveals she always knew she'd lose the poker game but that she'd planted a tracker on the isolineum so they can track Book and Tarka.

Stamets reports what they found in the stellar surveys about the 10-C coordinates.

Burnham hypothesizes that the DMA is mining an element needed for Species 10-C to power their hyper field: boronite.

Rillak orders Tarka and Book stopped at all costs.