Following a harrowing series of away missions, Capt. Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) contemplates the literal meaning of life. Capt. Saru (Doug Jones) interrupts her reverie and together, they reflect upon the magnitude of their mission. While awaiting clearance to depart dry-dock, Capt. Burnham expresses her fondness for Saru on his final day aboard. Before continuing their quest, Capt. Burnham is called to Starfleet Command for a hearing with Capt. Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie).
L-R Sonequa Martin-Green as Burnham and Callum Keith Rennie as Rayner
The hearing serves as a mirror, a point of reference in which Burnham can see her trademark unbridled tenacity of yesteryear reflected plainly in Capt. Rayner. Rayner’s argument for clear, decisive action may not be entirely unwarranted, especially given the circumstances. However, Starfleet’s current and delicate political climate requires a whole lot more grace and finesse than Rayner’s wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am style of diplomacy will allow. As the board takes a recess to discuss Rayner’s fate, Admiral Vance (Oded Fehr) pulls Capt. Burnham aside to inform her that he’s assigned her ex-partner, Cleveland Booker (David Ajala), to assist with finding Moll (Eve Harlow) and L’ak (Elias Toufexis).
As Book and Grudge get settled in their new quarters, Capt. Burnham updates him on the objective – she and Saru will chase the clue on Lyrek while Book stays on DISCO to review Moll and L’ak’s time on Q’Mau. Burnham also informs Book that it is Saru’s last day. He expresses shock that “Action Saru” will be in a bureaucratic position. They share a moment, but Burnham stays on task.
After the titles, Lt. Tilly (Mary Wiseman) and Ensign Tal (Blu del Barrio) brief Captains Burnham and Saru on the planet Lyrek. Together, they explain that Lyrek is actually a Promellian necropolis, with no living humanoid life signs. The captains are informed that they’ll have to walk quite a distance from their transport site to the actual burial grounds due to some strange electromagnetic inference on the surface. Before they beam down, Burnham insists that no one should follow due to the sacred nature of the site.
Ltr: Ensign Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio) and Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman)
Book collaborates with Dr. Culber (Wilson Cruz) in sick bay. Dr. Culber receives Book warmly, inquiring about his mental health. This makes Book visibily uncomfortable and tries to skirt the topic, focusing on learning about Moll and L’ak.
Meanwhile, as Burnham and Saru search for clues on the surface, Burnham muses on his nickname. Burnham inadvertently reveals some sore feelings surrounding Book, but swiftly changes the subject about Saru’s new position. On the ship, Tal and Tilly reflect on the direction of their lives, when a spike in the electromagnetic field on the surface draws their attention.
Ltr: Capt. Saru (Doug Jones) and Capt. Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green)
Burnham and Saru spend most of the remainder of the episode battling the murderous drones of the planet’s security system for their final mission together. They manage to survive and return to Discovery with a new piece to the Progenitor’s puzzle, as well as the location of the next clue: Trill.
With the help of Cmdr. Stamets (Anthony Rapp), Book utilizes some of his courier skills to locate Moll and L’ak. After a brief conversation, Book realizes that he not only knew Moll when she was a child but that she was a student of his mentor, the original Cleavland Booker as well. This gives Book a great deal of pause, and he contemplates the weight of locating the only person whom he could consider family.
Before he departs, Burnham and Saru also ponder the depth of their complex yet beloved friendship, leaving Burnham with the daunting task of finding a worthy replacement. Fortunately for her, a certain stubborn yet righteous Kellerun just lost his captaincy and is in desperate need of something worthwhile of his diligence…