Book's ship launches from Discovery's bay, carrying Book and Burnham to a planet's surface where Burnham offers the inhabitants dilithium as a gift to open relations with the Federation.

It doesn't go well and the inhabitants attack them in a misunderstood effort to rescue Grudge, a captive monarch.

Pinned down but not hit by the attacking horde, Burnham theorizes that their satellites aren't working and asks the crew to fix that for them. Stamets and Adira figure out what purpose the satellites serve. Discovery sends DOT drones with dilithium to repair the satellites.

Once the satellites are repaired, the inhabitants' flight paths stabilize and they land. Book and Burnham reach his ship, beam the rest of the dilithium over, and depart.

Back on the bridge, the Emperor hails Burnham and asks why she would give them the dilithium after they attacked her. She responds that the Federation is here to help. No strings attached.

On Kaminar, Su'Kal addresses Kelpians and Ba'ul regarding the use of the Federation's dilithium. Saru is addressed as the Great Elder and asked for his advice.

He reminds them that their home isn't just the planet they live on but the universe of which they are a part.

On the Discovery, Book is leaving for his nephew's ceremony while Burnham prepares to introduce the Federation's president at the re-launch of Starfleet Academy. She is conflicted about the responsibility.

She addresses the Academy class of new cadets and then introduces the president who points out the Archer Space Dock as part of her speech about Starfleet's renewed mission of scientific exploration.

In the after event soiree, Burnham seeks out Tilly to talk about how she's feeling after everything that happened with Osyraa.

Burnham is called to Admiral Vance where they review a holographic distress call. Discovery is deployed to help and the President decides to join them.

When they arrive at the station in distress, they find it spinning out of control.

On Kwejian, Book takes part in his nephew's initiation into the Pact.

After the ceremony, there is a disturbance that frightens the birds away.

On the Discovery, they make contact with the commander who outlines their needs and describes the impact that damaged the station. Burnham and her team muster a plan.

Adira will be on the away mission and they enter the bridge with Gray giving them a pep talk.

Adira and Tilly beam over to the station and begin helping out.

Just after thrusters are working again, debris impact the Discovery and the station.

Owosekun identifies the debris as frozen methane. Burnham extends the ship's shields to protect the station.

As more debris begins to impact, Burnham orders an evacuation of the station. When debris jams the escape vessel, Burnham prepares to take a worker bee vehicle over to clear it. The President questions her decision. Burnham follows through.

On Kaminar, Saru and Su'Kal talk about Saru missing Michael and Discovery. Su'Kal urges him to return to Starfleet.

Burnham's worker bee is damaged by debris impact before she can clear the debris on the escape vessel. The station commander pulls a weapon on Tilly when she tries to stop him from taking his crew to a deck with no life support.

The President addresses the commander, distracting him with talk of his homeworld. It buys Burnham enough time to manually clear the debris. The crew board, leaving the commander, Adira, and Tilly behind for the next trip.

On Kwejian, Book can't find what spooked the birds. He rises out of the planet's atmosphere and witnesses the moon's explosion.

Tilly, Adira, and the commander board the shuttle and they barely make it on board Discovery before shields fail and the ship jumps

In the aftermath, the commander is found dead, crushed by debris.

The President visits Burnham in her ready room. She references the Kobayashi Maru and tells Burnham she was looking for a potential captain for the next prototype ship. She deems Burnham unready for that position.

Book's ship arrives on autopilot. He asks them to take him back to Kwejian but Owosekun finds nothing at the coordinates.

Widening the search radius, they find the planet disintegrating hundred of thousands of kilometers away.