Hologram Janeway introduces herself and discovers this crew isn't Starfleet. She pegs them as cadets and Dal runs with it, asking her to explain the Federation and Starfleet to them, as a refresher.

When she offers to plot a course for them, Dal declines, asking her instead to help them get to a remote red spot on the stellar map, despite Janeway's caution.

When the others ask why they aren't heading for Federation space, Dal tells them that he's not willing to exchange The Diviner's tyranny for another tyrant. While Dal, Zero, and Murf take Gwyn to the brig, Rok-Tahk and Jankom Pog go exploring.

Zero isn't able to read Gwyn's mind, similarly blocked as when he tried to read the mind of The Diviner.

On Tars Lamora, Drednok reports that the uprisings of the Unwanted have been subdued. The Diviner is fitted in an armored suited and prepares to pursue the Protostar and Gwyn. He orders the Unwanted to be forced to mine more ore in order to exhaust them so they can't revolt again.

Rok and Pog find the mess hall and Janeway shows them how to use the replicators. Rok orders the food she was fed in the mines because it's all she knows.

Dal, Murf, and Zero find the living quarters. While Murf and Zero settle into bunks, Dal finds the captain's suite.

Rok brings a bowl of food to Gwyn in the brig. She asks why Gwyn never did anything to help them. Gwyn's excuse is that she thought they were criminals.

Pog and Zero examine the double warp core of the Protostar. As they wonder over an unknown part of the engine, a red alert begins to sound.

The red spot on the stellar map turns out to be a collapsing star and the Protostar is being sucked into the phenomenon. Janeway offers to help them out of the situation but Dal dismisses her.

In giving his orders, Dal diverts all power to impulse engines which opens up the brig's containment field, so Gwyn can walk out.

Dal orders all bulk freight ejected to lighten their load and this includes the escape pods Gwyn is trying to access. The computer offers to build her a shuttle in the shuttle bay and she accepts, running for the shuttle bay.

Dal realizes Gwyn got out and orders Rok to find her. Zero notices the vehicle replicator is draining power in the shuttle bay.

Rok tries to take Gwyn into custody. Gwyn deactivates artificial gravity which causes everyone to free float.

Dal finally calls on Janeway for help.

After restoring the artificial gravity and recapturing Gwyn, Zero hypothesizes they can steer into the collapsing red giant and ride the shock wave of its collapse out of danger.

Seeing that they're disheartened, Janeway observes that they are a crew with potential which cheers them up. They ask her for more guidance and training.

On Tars Lamora, The Diviner launches his tower and cloaks his planet as he sets out to find Gwyn and the Protostar.