Star Trek: Discovery (2017–…): Season 4, Episode 9 - Rubicon - full transcript

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 weapon
capable of destroying it.

If we detonate this weapon,

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 killing

if we do nothing.

Power source that controls
that device?

I need it to go home.

Book, no.

In order to build
an isolytic weapon,

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.

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.

Not as much isolynium in here
as I thought.

Wil it be enough?

Federation banned it
for good reason.

A little goes a long way.

Is it enough to destroy the DMA?

And then some.

Careful.

Careful...

And we have ourselves a weapon.

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.

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.

Well...

I really thought it would
make a difference

if he knew it wasn't an attack.

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

It would seem he has left us
with no choice.

To say that this wasn't easy

would be an insult
to understatement.

The optics, the complexities.

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?

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?

Captain.

Commander Nhan?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Whatever one's opinions,

we all have our orders.

Hey, look who's back.

You're Federation Security now?

- Damn.
- 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.

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 weapon.

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.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

Status report.

Book's ship is inside a cavity
4,000 meters in.

No sensors or security
around the outside perimeter.

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.

Bringing Book's ship
on screen, Captain.

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.

3,000 meters and closing.

Book will be locked up for life.

He stole classified tech.

He's about
to use an isolytic weapon.

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 attack?

I'm not saying
we should attack. But...

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.

Protective shielding deployed.

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.

Commander Rhys, prepare
the signal discriminator.

Are you good?

Captain, something's not right.

- Disco Two, report!

Saru?

Something is on the shuttle,
Captain.

Like, all over the shuttle.

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!

Understood, Captain.

Commander Bryce,
get us back to Discovery.

I'm trying, sir.

You need to stop it!
They'll be killed!

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!

- 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.

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.

Hull breach imminent.

- Saru!
- We are trying, Captain.

Come on. Get out of there.

Can you get a lock now?

I'm working on it, Captain.

The shuttle's breaking apart.

- Owosekun?
- Almost got them.

Is everyone all right?

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.

Did everyone make it off
in time?

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

I have a job to do.

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.

♪ ♪

- Shields up.

And let's find that controller
before they do.

If we beat them to it,
what then?

How do you plan on stopping them
from using their weapon?

Figuring that out
is next on my list.

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.
- 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 weapon.

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 explosion sets off
the isolytic weapon,

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.

On it.

We should call the admiral.

Let's do it together.

- Any sign of the controller?
- Not yet.

And with all the interference,

our cloak keeps going
in and out.

Listen. About the shuttle...

They almost died.

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 weapon.
- 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.

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 shot.
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 40%.

- 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 20 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,
1-8 mark 4.

- Aye, Captain.
- Here comes the blast.

Now!

Take us into that dark matter
dust cloud,

20 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.

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.

That's it, Captain--

the DMA controller.

Give us a closer look.

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.

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.

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 firing

on that controller at any cost.

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.

Stamets, let Zora take over.

I need you to jump.

It's genius. The controller.

This is going to work.

What we're doing
is really going to work.

Is the weapon loaded?

On your mark.

- Warning.

Proximity alert.

Damn it. They found us,
and they're blocking our shot.

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!

Stamets, get ready
to jump again.

Detmer, stay between him
and that controller.

- Do not let them
get a clean shot.
- Aye, Captain.

You had a shot
at the controller.

You should have taken it.

We have one weapon.
We can't afford to miss.

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

Shields down to 50%, Captain.

- 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 shooting at us.

- 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 firing another round
of warning shots,

then we jump again. Get ready.

Damn it! Enough!

No!

That was a full spread
of quantum torpedoes.

Shields down to 20%.

Give the order
or I will, Captain.

There is no way Book was
responsible for that attack.

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.

Captain, we've finished
our calculations.

It should take 154 hours--
about a full week--

before the DMA gets
all the boronite in this area

and jumps again.

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?

115.

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 view screen?

I was thinking more
fly a shuttle

in front of his view screen.

If they try to launch
their weapon, 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.

We are standing by, Captain.

Commander Rhys is locked
on target.

Understood.

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

We came here
to put a stop to the DMA.

Shuttle, identify yourself.

Book, it's me.

Michael.

Commander Rhys, stand by.

Aye, Commander.

You haven't been answering
our hails.

Been a little busy.

Impressive maneuvering,
by the way.

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 threat.

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.

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.

Thank you.

Discovery,

I'm on my way back.

Cancel black alert.

Book and Tarka
are standing down.

Prepare for them in shuttle bay.

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!

- Captain,

they lowered
the disruption field.

I'm reading
a transporter signature.

And a massive tachyon surge
inside the DMA controller.

Michael, Tarka beamed the weapon
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.

Come.

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.

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.

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.

Mr. Saru,

you're requested
on the bridge immediately.

Thank you, Doctor,

for that... unexpected candor.

Is everything all right,
Captain?

The USS Mitchell
is monitoring

the area
where the DMA was located.

They just sent this.

A new DMA has appeared?

In the exact same place.

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

We just made first contact.

Captioning sponsored by
CBS