Star Trek: Discovery (2017) s01e15 Episode Script
Will You Take My Hand?
1 [SPEAKING KLINGON.]
Yesterday we dined on the entrails of his brethren.
And today you seek his favor? Transport our visitor to guest quarters on deck three.
- SARU: Tyler? - Is she alive? SARU: Specialist Burnham has returned safely.
[SPEAKS KLINGON.]
- Can I? - Focus on your recovery.
When I look at you now, I see Voqâs eyes.
I see him.
There is irony here, of course.
The man you fell in love with was a Klingon.
Do not regret loving someone, Michael.
I need you to tell me.
How did you defeat the Klingon Empire? The Klingons are like cancer cells: to root them out, you must destroy the tumor at its source.
A Klingon attack is imminent.
They are gathering forces to launch a strike on this whole system.
We need to take it to them.
At 2100 hours, the USS Discovery will jump to the Klingon homeworld.
Allow me to introduce you to the person who will chart your course to QoânoS.
Captain Philippa Georgiou.
[INDISTINCT COMMS CHATTER.]
[SPEAKS KLINGON.]
[COMMS CHATTER CONTINUES IN KLINGON.]
[INDISTINCT COMMS CHATTER BURNHAM: On the eve of battle, on a cold and windless night, an old general turned to a young soldier.
"Tomorrow," said the master, "you will know fear.
" The young soldier, who had not yet experienced the agony of war, looked at the general with quizzical eyes.
"How will I know fear if I do not know what it looks like?" The general replied, "You will know fear" because it speaks very fast "and it speaks very loud.
" Status.
Helm? Bearing 94 mark 21, 12 light-years - from Klingon homeworld - Do not show respect by referring to that green dot as "homeworld.
" Klingons are animals, and they donât have homes.
Call it QoânoS, or "the enemy planet.
" Ops? Shields holding at 100%.
- Our scans show - I have little interest in what weâre scanning.
I care whatâs scanning us.
Communications? Discovery is running dark, Captain.
My favorite way to run.
BURNHAM: If that is how fear acts, recognizing it is easy.
But as the young soldier considered the generalâs advice, she asked the question facing us now: "Once I know fear, how do I defeat it?" Specialist, uh, I would appreciate your help with a glitch in the optical-data network.
She does not embody Federation ideals, and weâre supposed to follow her orders? The Federation put her here.
Burnham.
I did not give you permission to leave your station.
Whatâs wrong? Are you scared, Number One? Where Iâm from, thereâs a saying: "Scared Kelpien makes for tough Kelpien.
" Have you gotten tough since we served together on the Shenzhou, Mr.
Saru? Affirmative, Captain.
Very tough.
So much so that many find me simply unpalatable.
Hmm.
I donât know about that.
Where are you from, Captain? That saying, about Kelpiens, is so apt, having experienced it firsthand.
I wonder where it originated.
Donât be silly, Michael.
You know I grew up in Malaysia.
But where, exactly? I went there with you once, but I canât remember the name.
Pulau Langkawi.
Right.
Those beautiful beaches.
Indeed.
Letâs take a walk.
[DOOR WHOOSHES OPEN.]
GEORGIOU: Try to expose me again and Iâll lock you in the brig.
If Starfleet recruited a Terran to lead the mission, they are desperate.
The Federation had a problem.
I offered them a solution in exchange for my freedom.
And whatâs so bad about desperation? You were desperate when you begged me to reveal how my empire beat the Klingons.
You instigate valiantly, then second-guess.
Iâve now read about your actions on the eve of the war.
You know your problem? No follow-through.
You should have killed my counterpart in her ready room, attacked the Klingons, and then been a hero.
Tell me the real plan.
Never do that again.
Your Federation is losing.
The Klingon armada is already headed toward your homeworld.
My knowledge is giving you a fighting chance.
Are you with me or against me? [DOOR WHOOSHES OPEN.]
With you.
Captain.
[ORIGINAL STAR TREK THEME PLAYS.]
You? How? Our Lord pierced your heart.
House TâKuvma feasted on your flesh.
You have the wrong Philippa Georgiou.
Either way, I can tell you require seasoning.
My home.
There are seven chimneys on QoânoS which lead into a dormant volcano system.
Of these, which is the best for a landing party to reach on foot? I will tell you nothing.
This war ends when we crush you.
United under TâKuvmaâs call.
This war may rage on, but your war Your great dream of Klingon unification Itâs already lost.
You both talk too much.
[GRUNTS.]
- Computer.
- No! Reactivate containment field.
Control to my voice.
Tell me where my party should land.
[HISSES.]
[YELLS.]
[COUGHS.]
Where? [LâRELL ROARS.]
[GASPING.]
[COUGHING.]
[LAUGHING.]
You have already lost.
- Enough! - [COUGHING.]
[SIGHS.]
Thereâs another way.
GEORGIOU: Admiral Cornwell briefed me on this half-breed.
I can see, from a strategic standpoint, its value as a weapon.
But as itâs Klingon, it has been neutered.
It is benign.
Useless to them, yet tarnished to the Federation, so what good is it to either side? He has access to the Klingonâs memories.
All I can see is a who-knows-what playing with a string.
This is a bowline, it doesnât run.
It doesnât slip.
Itâs the first thing I learned as a kid that made me me.
It ties me to my past.
Who I am.
Voqâs life, his memories Theyâre here, too.
Always with me.
Iâm willing to share his knowledge.
Not for you.
But for Starfleet.
Do you want my help or not? What do you know about the surface of QoânoS? The plan is to use a drone with rock-penetrating surveillance systems to map the surface and identify military targets, in preparation for a future full-scale attack.
Unfortunately, the cave Discovery will hide in isnât connected to the planetâs dormant volcanoes.
In order for the mapping drone to work, it has to be introduced into one of these.
As youâre aware, information regarding QoânoS is virtually non-existent.
Weâre depending on black market surveys acquired by the Vulcans over a century ago.
This chimneyâs in the High Council chamber of the First City.
All high-bred arrogance, that place.
This oneâs now flooded by the River Skral.
Here.
This is your best bet.
The safest access point for the drone.
Centuries ago, when the caldera was active, these vents were shrines.
Live sacrifices were thrown in to honor Molor.
When Kahless defeated Molor, those temples were abandoned, built over.
Uh, the ones that remained were shielded to make them impossible to find with sensors.
Youâll have to transport down there and do the legwork yourself.
Whatâs there now? The land was given to the Orions, who built an embassy outpost over the ruins.
In my world, the Orions are delinquents, pirates, - slave traders.
- Itâs not much different in ours.
Excellent.
He will accompany us and help us sniff out what weâre after.
Will that be a problem? - No.
- No.
Captain.
I looked over the crew manifest.
Thereâs somebody else I want with us.
Enter.
I am so pleased to see you, Tilly.
Thank you.
I have heard And read so much about you.
Michael can attest, Iâm always asking about Captain Georgiou.
Seeing your face reminds me of the great fun the two of us had.
Subjugating the Betazoids.
Wiping out Mintaka III.
- Oh, sheâs not - No.
So sheâs from Mm.
Youâre the Terran emperor.
Donât do that.
You look so much like her.
Younger, maybe.
But all that killing ages a person.
These are hideous, of course.
[CHUCKLES.]
: I know.
What is happening? She requested you, for the landing party.
Oh.
But just so y-youâre clear, I-I am not the same person I was in your universe.
Donât be so sure, Killy.
You will have the honor of carrying the mapping drone.
Go to quarters.
Dress as lowlifes.
We need items to trade so as to seem legitimate.
Gabriel must have found something interesting lying around in this universe.
You gonna be okay down there? You donât need to worry about me.
Ready, Lieutenant Stamets? STAMETS: First, an alternate universe, now a Klingon cave on a hundred-year-old map.
Ready as can be, Mr.
Saru.
Black alert.
- To QoânoS, please.
- Aye, Captain.
COMPUTER: Black alert.
Black alert.
Shields holding.
Stabilizer beams are compensating for the planetâs gravitational pull.
Am I good or what? We are aboard and steady.
You are clear to transport.
Energize.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
TILLY: Not a lot of humans around here.
Except the dregs from our race.
TYLER: Exactly.
The Orions here arenât likely to trust us or give up any information.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
Keep walking, Federation.
No one wants you here.
Tilly.
Insult her again, and your nose is gonna be able to sniff the back of your head.
Weâre here to make a deal.
GEORGIOU: Show her the stash.
Tell her what sheâs looking at.
Nausicaan disruptor pistols.
Latest spec.
Paralithium cell with beam and a pulse firing mode.
Polyalloy casings, making it all but invisible to security screeners.
2,000 darseks.
Letâs see what else you got.
All this arms dealing has my appetite up.
Anyone else hungry? Anyone? Michael? - Greetings.
- Two, please.
- What is that? - I have no idea.
Iâm not actually hungry I wanted to talk to you.
I intuited.
Do you have any idea what she might be up to? No.
All we can do is watch her like a hawk, and make sure she stays on mission.
Iâve, um I realize how hard this must be for you.
But I got your back.
Thank you.
What is that? - Delicious.
- Itâs a space whale.
Gormagander? Enough distractions.
Weâre not here for bread and circuses.
On second thought, the circus is where weâll start.
[SPITS.]
[SYNCOPATED PERCUSSION PLAYS.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
- So, what should we, um - Shh! GEORGIOU: I knew your whole universe couldnât be boring.
[CLICKS TONGUE.]
Use this.
Weâll be more effective if we split up, buy information.
Whatever gets us to that shrine.
Hmm.
How much for a little me time? Over there.
Bring your friend.
No, no, that, uh, t very generous.
I think Iâll Iâm just gonna stay out here.
Sheâs not for you.
Guard the drone.
[KLINGONS LAUGH, GROWL.]
TYLER: Maybe these guys can lead us to the shrine.
BURNHAM: If theyâll talk to us.
TYLER: The game is called tâSang.
Translates to "obliterate them.
" - You know how to play? - I think I do.
And I think Iâm good at it.
I mean, Voq was good at it.
He was a decent gambler He felt the numbers always fell his way, as if the universe was making up for his bad luck with everything else.
Like what? He was born with a rare mutation that made his skin translucent white.
The others considered him a freak of nature.
[FEMALE SPEAKS KLINGON.]
- [KLINGONS LAUGHING.]
- [TYLER SHOUTS.]
[SHOUTS.]
Join me? Oh, thank you.
Smoke? Oh, that, uh, thatâs so sweet.
No, thank you.
I have, um, I have a very narrow esophagus.
Itâs, uh, strange but true, so thatâs bad for that - Iâm not-Iâm not trying to be rude - Get her out.
You know what? I-I would love some.
Just a little bit.
[CHUCKLES.]
Inhale.
Mmm.
Do you think, um [SLURRING.]
: do you think I got [GIGGLES.]
I got nothing.
None of them know about an ancient shrine.
You won everyone over quickly.
A human speaking Klingon is amusing to them.
Might as well be a dog on waterskis.
Is that an old Klingon saying? No, I I just made it up.
I I like to waterski.
Yeah, you have a boat.
I remember.
You raced out of there pretty quick.
You all right? I never told you about my parents.
What happened to them.
No.
I mean, I Iâve heard things.
I never wanted to push.
They were stationed at a human-Vulcan science outpost at Doctari Alpha.
[SIGHS.]
My mom and dad had planned a family vacation to Mars.
But I begged them to stay for three more days so I could witness a nearby star go supernova.
Then the Klingons attacked.
My dad tried to barricade the kitchen door while my mom hid me in a cabinet.
And I couldnât see, but I could hear everything.
They killed my dad first.
That was quick.
They took longer with my mom.
And when it was over, they sat down.
At our table.
Ate dinner.
Our dinner.
And they were talking and laughing.
And just now, all that laughter How could you not hate them? And me, for what Iâve become? It would be so much simpler if I could.
I look around here and I just I see people living their lives.
Maybe itâs not normal to us, but in their own way, ordinary.
The emperor was wrong.
This is a home.
And if we give the Federation targets to attack, it wonât ever be the same.
I can see both sides.
Literally.
The side Iâve chosen is where you stand, where itâs possible to feel compassion and sympathy for your enemy.
But I can guarantee no-no Klingon ever felt that way toward you.
You did.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
You see that? Pouring an extra drink.
Setting it on fire.
Thatâs a step specific to the followers of Molor.
Thereâs a decent chance they know about that shrine.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION.]
Mm.
Did you enjoy yourself? Did you? I learned so many new things.
We shouldnât charge you.
But we have to charge you.
Perhaps if you teach me something new, it will be fair trade.
[PANTING.]
Where is the shrine of Molor? Hey, stop! Hey, stop.
Shame on you.
You were asleep.
Iâm Orion.
What did, uh, we inhale, it my mouth tastes like sulfur and-and ash.
Volcanic vapor, straight from the source.
Yeah, but not really, right? âCause all the volcanoes here are extinct.
Oh, no.
Theyâre alive.
Then howâs the drone gonna get down there? The heat will destroy it.
Give me that.
[GASPS.]
Oh, shit, that is not a drone.
Tilly to Burnham.
Go ahead, Tilly.
First of all, um, so, Iâm very high, uh, but you need to listen to me.
There are active volcanoes right beneath us right now and the drone, also, thatâs not a drone.
Itâs a, itâs a like a hydro bomb.
We keep them on the Discovery - so we can reco - What did you say about a hydro bomb? Tilly? Cadet, respond.
I know where to find the shrine.
Whatâs wrong? Itâs Tilly.
A hydro bomb? What kind of damage can it do? Detonate it into an active volcanic system, itâs just - apocalyptic.
- A phreatic eruption: water flashes into steam and triggers a massive explosion.
Landmasses directly over the reaction center will be vaporized.
- Oh - Ash will fill the atmosphere.
Within weeks, QoânoS will be uninhabitable.
This was the plan all along.
- Burnham to Discovery.
- Go ahead, Burnham.
Georgiou is about to instigate a catastrophic natural disaster on QoânoS.
She may already be in the shrine.
- Can you get a transporter lock on her? - SARU: Affirmative.
However, beaming her out is not an option.
The shrineâs shields make it unsafe for biological transport.
What about the bomb? Can you get the bomb? SARU: We are too late.
The signal is fading.
We must contact Starfleet.
Saru, I think sheâs following Starfleetâs orders.
I need to talk to Admiral Cornwell.
Is this how Starfleet wins the war? Genocide? You want to do this here? Fine.
Terms of atrocity are convenient after the fact.
The Klingons are on the verge of wiping out the Federation.
Yes.
But ask yourself: why did you put this mission in the hands of a Terran and why the secrecy? Itâs because you know itâs not who we are.
It very soon will be.
We do not have the luxury of principles.
That is all we have, Admiral.
A year ago I stood alone.
I believed that our survival was more important than our principles.
I was wrong.
Do we need a mutiny today to prove who we are? We are Starfleet.
What is it youâre suggesting? BURNHAM: Change of plans.
Really? [SCOFFS.]
Says who? Deactivate the detonator, Philippa.
Your freedom is still granted, hereâs the proof.
[CHUCKLES.]
You talked them out of it, didnât you? Of planetary slaughter? Yes.
Oh, donât be so dramatic.
When I did this in my universe, it didnât wipe out the Klingons.
A decent number should be able to save themselves.
Plus, theyâll have an advantage.
No Terran ships firing on them as they try to escape.
- Turn it off.
- Has it ever occurred to you that I was doing this for you? By ending the war, Iâd set you free from the guilt and pain you carry because of it.
Not buying it.
[SCOFFS.]
Worth a try.
You really are nothing like my Georgiou, are you? No.
And I never have been.
Sheâs dead, Michael.
There are no second chances.
No, I suppose not.
I do like you.
Why not join me? The bomb is in position.
We have the detonator.
Starfleet and Klingon alike will be at our mercy.
I had much the same thought.
Give it to me.
[WEAPON POWERS UP.]
Take your freedom in exchange for the detonator.
Or try to escape my ship and its crew and be hunted by the Federation for the rest of your days.
[CHUCKLES.]
You think your Federation scares me? Not particularly.
But the only way youâre gonna get past me is to kill me.
So youâll have to watch me die again.
And did I mention being hunted for the rest of your days? - Ugh.
- [WEAPON POWERS DOWN.]
The detonator is coded to my bioprint.
Would you like it recoded to yours? Not to mine, no.
All clear.
What is this? This is the place the Federation crushed the Klingons.
We planted a bomb in the heart of your homeworld.
QoânoS will be destroyed.
You bring me here to gloat? No.
To offer you an alternative.
Klingons respond to strength.
Use the fate of QoânoS to bend them to your will.
Preserve your civilization rather than watch it be destroyed.
But I am no one.
TYLER: You once told Voq that you didnât want the mantle of leadership.
Itâs time for you to leave the shadows.
Iâll leave you to it, then.
Be good, Philippa.
Or youâll come for me? Make sure I donât have to.
[SNORING.]
Isik for your thoughts.
I always wanted to find out what one was.
I never did.
LâRell has arranged for a transport to a Mókai ship.
Theyâre in for a surprise.
Itâs not the human way to make a message heard, but itâs the Klingon way.
Iâm going with her.
Itâs true, what the emperor said.
Iâm no good for either side.
I But maybe I can be good for both.
Iâve never been great at good-byes.
Neither am I.
Iâve had too many of them.
Michael.
In spite of everything that happened to you, your capacity to love literally saved my life.
Iâm gonna miss looking at you.
I see you, Ash.
In your eyes.
Only you.
Thank-thank you.
[CRYING.]
Burnham to Discovery.
One to transport.
[LAUGHTER.]
BURNHAM: Earth, Andor, Tellar, Vulcan.
Every planet of the Federation has made the odyssey out of darkness into light.
So too have the Klingons.
The war is over.
There were triumphs.
Victories of spirit.
Courage beyond reason.
But make no mistake.
These were bleak times.
Times we cannot repeat.
Times we cannot forget.
Isik for your thoughts.
Whatâs an isik, anyway? Oh, I donât know.
Itâs something my mother used to say to me.
Thank you for coming.
Iâm glad to see you.
Is everything okay? When I was growing up, you told me not to forget my humanity.
I didnât know what that meant.
I didnât how to do it, I didnât know why I would even want to.
I get it now.
So thank you.
For not giving up on me.
Thatâs what mothers do.
Michael.
Father.
SAREK: What the Federation chose to do on QoânoS was unprincipled, and I had a part in it.
The Klingons made it clear they would fight us to extinction.
You were desperate to save us.
I know the feeling all too well.
And yet, you were able to find another way.
I am not alone in finding your commitment to Starfleetâs ideals commendable.
I asked if I may give it to you.
Your record has been expunged, your pardon by the president of the Federation is official.
Commander Burnham.
The Federation is as grateful to you as I am to my daughter.
Your mother will stay in Paris for a few days.
I will travel with Discovery to Vulcan.
You are picking up your new captain there.
Iâm glad weâll be making that journey together.
We are no longer on the eve of battle.
Even so, I come to ask myself the same question that young soldier asked the general all those years ago: "How do I defeat fear?" The generalâs answer: the only way to defeat fear is to tell it "no.
" No.
We will not take shortcuts on the path to righteousness.
No.
We will not break the rules that protect us from our basest instincts.
No.
We will not allow desperation to destroy moral authority.
I am guilty of all these things.
Some say that in life, there are no second chances.
Experience tells me that this is true.
But we can only look forward.
We have to be torchbearers, casting the light so we may see our path to lasting peace.
We will continue exploring, discovering new worlds, new civilizations.
Yes.
That is the United Federation of Planets.
CORNWELL: Today, we honor Ensign Sylvia Tilly.
Accepted into Starfleet Command Training Program.
Yes.
That is Starfleet.
CORNWELL: Lieutenant Commander Paul Stamets.
Medical Officer Hugh Culber.
Yes.
That is who we are.
CORNWELL: Commander Saru.
First Kelpien to receive the Medal of Honor.
And who we will always be.
[CHEERING.]
MALE: Bravo! [CHEERING CONTINUES.]
TILLY: Never been to Vulcan before.
BURNHAM: Well, if thereâs time, Iâll show you around.
Itâs strange that weâre not jumping to Vulcan.
Well, Starfleet has committed to finding a non-human interface.
Until that happens Iâm happy to go the old-fashioned way.
Captain on the bridge.
Acting captain.
Please take your stations.
You may consult with Science Officer Burnham later.
Thank you, Mr.
Saru, for permitting me this small indulgence.
I never tire of seeing home.
Of course.
Lieutenant Detmer, have we cleared the Sol system? - Yes, Captain.
- Set course for Vulcan, and engage at maximum warp.
Aye, sir.
MALE: Realign communications array [MALE CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY.]
Incoming transmission.
From whom? Iâm having trouble identifying it.
But itâs a priority-one distress call.
Identify the source, please.
Iâm getting a Federation ID code.
I-Itâs choppy.
Trying to clean it up, sir.
Helm, slow us down.
Dropping us out of warp now, sir.
This is Captain Saru of the Federation Starship Discovery.
Please identify yourselves.
[ELECTRONIC STATIC, DISTORTED SPEAKING.]
Hailâs from Captain Pike, sir.
Itâs the USS Enterprise.
[ORIGINAL STAR TREK THEME PLAYS.]
Yesterday we dined on the entrails of his brethren.
And today you seek his favor? Transport our visitor to guest quarters on deck three.
- SARU: Tyler? - Is she alive? SARU: Specialist Burnham has returned safely.
[SPEAKS KLINGON.]
- Can I? - Focus on your recovery.
When I look at you now, I see Voqâs eyes.
I see him.
There is irony here, of course.
The man you fell in love with was a Klingon.
Do not regret loving someone, Michael.
I need you to tell me.
How did you defeat the Klingon Empire? The Klingons are like cancer cells: to root them out, you must destroy the tumor at its source.
A Klingon attack is imminent.
They are gathering forces to launch a strike on this whole system.
We need to take it to them.
At 2100 hours, the USS Discovery will jump to the Klingon homeworld.
Allow me to introduce you to the person who will chart your course to QoânoS.
Captain Philippa Georgiou.
[INDISTINCT COMMS CHATTER.]
[SPEAKS KLINGON.]
[COMMS CHATTER CONTINUES IN KLINGON.]
[INDISTINCT COMMS CHATTER BURNHAM: On the eve of battle, on a cold and windless night, an old general turned to a young soldier.
"Tomorrow," said the master, "you will know fear.
" The young soldier, who had not yet experienced the agony of war, looked at the general with quizzical eyes.
"How will I know fear if I do not know what it looks like?" The general replied, "You will know fear" because it speaks very fast "and it speaks very loud.
" Status.
Helm? Bearing 94 mark 21, 12 light-years - from Klingon homeworld - Do not show respect by referring to that green dot as "homeworld.
" Klingons are animals, and they donât have homes.
Call it QoânoS, or "the enemy planet.
" Ops? Shields holding at 100%.
- Our scans show - I have little interest in what weâre scanning.
I care whatâs scanning us.
Communications? Discovery is running dark, Captain.
My favorite way to run.
BURNHAM: If that is how fear acts, recognizing it is easy.
But as the young soldier considered the generalâs advice, she asked the question facing us now: "Once I know fear, how do I defeat it?" Specialist, uh, I would appreciate your help with a glitch in the optical-data network.
She does not embody Federation ideals, and weâre supposed to follow her orders? The Federation put her here.
Burnham.
I did not give you permission to leave your station.
Whatâs wrong? Are you scared, Number One? Where Iâm from, thereâs a saying: "Scared Kelpien makes for tough Kelpien.
" Have you gotten tough since we served together on the Shenzhou, Mr.
Saru? Affirmative, Captain.
Very tough.
So much so that many find me simply unpalatable.
Hmm.
I donât know about that.
Where are you from, Captain? That saying, about Kelpiens, is so apt, having experienced it firsthand.
I wonder where it originated.
Donât be silly, Michael.
You know I grew up in Malaysia.
But where, exactly? I went there with you once, but I canât remember the name.
Pulau Langkawi.
Right.
Those beautiful beaches.
Indeed.
Letâs take a walk.
[DOOR WHOOSHES OPEN.]
GEORGIOU: Try to expose me again and Iâll lock you in the brig.
If Starfleet recruited a Terran to lead the mission, they are desperate.
The Federation had a problem.
I offered them a solution in exchange for my freedom.
And whatâs so bad about desperation? You were desperate when you begged me to reveal how my empire beat the Klingons.
You instigate valiantly, then second-guess.
Iâve now read about your actions on the eve of the war.
You know your problem? No follow-through.
You should have killed my counterpart in her ready room, attacked the Klingons, and then been a hero.
Tell me the real plan.
Never do that again.
Your Federation is losing.
The Klingon armada is already headed toward your homeworld.
My knowledge is giving you a fighting chance.
Are you with me or against me? [DOOR WHOOSHES OPEN.]
With you.
Captain.
[ORIGINAL STAR TREK THEME PLAYS.]
You? How? Our Lord pierced your heart.
House TâKuvma feasted on your flesh.
You have the wrong Philippa Georgiou.
Either way, I can tell you require seasoning.
My home.
There are seven chimneys on QoânoS which lead into a dormant volcano system.
Of these, which is the best for a landing party to reach on foot? I will tell you nothing.
This war ends when we crush you.
United under TâKuvmaâs call.
This war may rage on, but your war Your great dream of Klingon unification Itâs already lost.
You both talk too much.
[GRUNTS.]
- Computer.
- No! Reactivate containment field.
Control to my voice.
Tell me where my party should land.
[HISSES.]
[YELLS.]
[COUGHS.]
Where? [LâRELL ROARS.]
[GASPING.]
[COUGHING.]
[LAUGHING.]
You have already lost.
- Enough! - [COUGHING.]
[SIGHS.]
Thereâs another way.
GEORGIOU: Admiral Cornwell briefed me on this half-breed.
I can see, from a strategic standpoint, its value as a weapon.
But as itâs Klingon, it has been neutered.
It is benign.
Useless to them, yet tarnished to the Federation, so what good is it to either side? He has access to the Klingonâs memories.
All I can see is a who-knows-what playing with a string.
This is a bowline, it doesnât run.
It doesnât slip.
Itâs the first thing I learned as a kid that made me me.
It ties me to my past.
Who I am.
Voqâs life, his memories Theyâre here, too.
Always with me.
Iâm willing to share his knowledge.
Not for you.
But for Starfleet.
Do you want my help or not? What do you know about the surface of QoânoS? The plan is to use a drone with rock-penetrating surveillance systems to map the surface and identify military targets, in preparation for a future full-scale attack.
Unfortunately, the cave Discovery will hide in isnât connected to the planetâs dormant volcanoes.
In order for the mapping drone to work, it has to be introduced into one of these.
As youâre aware, information regarding QoânoS is virtually non-existent.
Weâre depending on black market surveys acquired by the Vulcans over a century ago.
This chimneyâs in the High Council chamber of the First City.
All high-bred arrogance, that place.
This oneâs now flooded by the River Skral.
Here.
This is your best bet.
The safest access point for the drone.
Centuries ago, when the caldera was active, these vents were shrines.
Live sacrifices were thrown in to honor Molor.
When Kahless defeated Molor, those temples were abandoned, built over.
Uh, the ones that remained were shielded to make them impossible to find with sensors.
Youâll have to transport down there and do the legwork yourself.
Whatâs there now? The land was given to the Orions, who built an embassy outpost over the ruins.
In my world, the Orions are delinquents, pirates, - slave traders.
- Itâs not much different in ours.
Excellent.
He will accompany us and help us sniff out what weâre after.
Will that be a problem? - No.
- No.
Captain.
I looked over the crew manifest.
Thereâs somebody else I want with us.
Enter.
I am so pleased to see you, Tilly.
Thank you.
I have heard And read so much about you.
Michael can attest, Iâm always asking about Captain Georgiou.
Seeing your face reminds me of the great fun the two of us had.
Subjugating the Betazoids.
Wiping out Mintaka III.
- Oh, sheâs not - No.
So sheâs from Mm.
Youâre the Terran emperor.
Donât do that.
You look so much like her.
Younger, maybe.
But all that killing ages a person.
These are hideous, of course.
[CHUCKLES.]
: I know.
What is happening? She requested you, for the landing party.
Oh.
But just so y-youâre clear, I-I am not the same person I was in your universe.
Donât be so sure, Killy.
You will have the honor of carrying the mapping drone.
Go to quarters.
Dress as lowlifes.
We need items to trade so as to seem legitimate.
Gabriel must have found something interesting lying around in this universe.
You gonna be okay down there? You donât need to worry about me.
Ready, Lieutenant Stamets? STAMETS: First, an alternate universe, now a Klingon cave on a hundred-year-old map.
Ready as can be, Mr.
Saru.
Black alert.
- To QoânoS, please.
- Aye, Captain.
COMPUTER: Black alert.
Black alert.
Shields holding.
Stabilizer beams are compensating for the planetâs gravitational pull.
Am I good or what? We are aboard and steady.
You are clear to transport.
Energize.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
TILLY: Not a lot of humans around here.
Except the dregs from our race.
TYLER: Exactly.
The Orions here arenât likely to trust us or give up any information.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
Keep walking, Federation.
No one wants you here.
Tilly.
Insult her again, and your nose is gonna be able to sniff the back of your head.
Weâre here to make a deal.
GEORGIOU: Show her the stash.
Tell her what sheâs looking at.
Nausicaan disruptor pistols.
Latest spec.
Paralithium cell with beam and a pulse firing mode.
Polyalloy casings, making it all but invisible to security screeners.
2,000 darseks.
Letâs see what else you got.
All this arms dealing has my appetite up.
Anyone else hungry? Anyone? Michael? - Greetings.
- Two, please.
- What is that? - I have no idea.
Iâm not actually hungry I wanted to talk to you.
I intuited.
Do you have any idea what she might be up to? No.
All we can do is watch her like a hawk, and make sure she stays on mission.
Iâve, um I realize how hard this must be for you.
But I got your back.
Thank you.
What is that? - Delicious.
- Itâs a space whale.
Gormagander? Enough distractions.
Weâre not here for bread and circuses.
On second thought, the circus is where weâll start.
[SPITS.]
[SYNCOPATED PERCUSSION PLAYS.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
- So, what should we, um - Shh! GEORGIOU: I knew your whole universe couldnât be boring.
[CLICKS TONGUE.]
Use this.
Weâll be more effective if we split up, buy information.
Whatever gets us to that shrine.
Hmm.
How much for a little me time? Over there.
Bring your friend.
No, no, that, uh, t very generous.
I think Iâll Iâm just gonna stay out here.
Sheâs not for you.
Guard the drone.
[KLINGONS LAUGH, GROWL.]
TYLER: Maybe these guys can lead us to the shrine.
BURNHAM: If theyâll talk to us.
TYLER: The game is called tâSang.
Translates to "obliterate them.
" - You know how to play? - I think I do.
And I think Iâm good at it.
I mean, Voq was good at it.
He was a decent gambler He felt the numbers always fell his way, as if the universe was making up for his bad luck with everything else.
Like what? He was born with a rare mutation that made his skin translucent white.
The others considered him a freak of nature.
[FEMALE SPEAKS KLINGON.]
- [KLINGONS LAUGHING.]
- [TYLER SHOUTS.]
[SHOUTS.]
Join me? Oh, thank you.
Smoke? Oh, that, uh, thatâs so sweet.
No, thank you.
I have, um, I have a very narrow esophagus.
Itâs, uh, strange but true, so thatâs bad for that - Iâm not-Iâm not trying to be rude - Get her out.
You know what? I-I would love some.
Just a little bit.
[CHUCKLES.]
Inhale.
Mmm.
Do you think, um [SLURRING.]
: do you think I got [GIGGLES.]
I got nothing.
None of them know about an ancient shrine.
You won everyone over quickly.
A human speaking Klingon is amusing to them.
Might as well be a dog on waterskis.
Is that an old Klingon saying? No, I I just made it up.
I I like to waterski.
Yeah, you have a boat.
I remember.
You raced out of there pretty quick.
You all right? I never told you about my parents.
What happened to them.
No.
I mean, I Iâve heard things.
I never wanted to push.
They were stationed at a human-Vulcan science outpost at Doctari Alpha.
[SIGHS.]
My mom and dad had planned a family vacation to Mars.
But I begged them to stay for three more days so I could witness a nearby star go supernova.
Then the Klingons attacked.
My dad tried to barricade the kitchen door while my mom hid me in a cabinet.
And I couldnât see, but I could hear everything.
They killed my dad first.
That was quick.
They took longer with my mom.
And when it was over, they sat down.
At our table.
Ate dinner.
Our dinner.
And they were talking and laughing.
And just now, all that laughter How could you not hate them? And me, for what Iâve become? It would be so much simpler if I could.
I look around here and I just I see people living their lives.
Maybe itâs not normal to us, but in their own way, ordinary.
The emperor was wrong.
This is a home.
And if we give the Federation targets to attack, it wonât ever be the same.
I can see both sides.
Literally.
The side Iâve chosen is where you stand, where itâs possible to feel compassion and sympathy for your enemy.
But I can guarantee no-no Klingon ever felt that way toward you.
You did.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
You see that? Pouring an extra drink.
Setting it on fire.
Thatâs a step specific to the followers of Molor.
Thereâs a decent chance they know about that shrine.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION.]
Mm.
Did you enjoy yourself? Did you? I learned so many new things.
We shouldnât charge you.
But we have to charge you.
Perhaps if you teach me something new, it will be fair trade.
[PANTING.]
Where is the shrine of Molor? Hey, stop! Hey, stop.
Shame on you.
You were asleep.
Iâm Orion.
What did, uh, we inhale, it my mouth tastes like sulfur and-and ash.
Volcanic vapor, straight from the source.
Yeah, but not really, right? âCause all the volcanoes here are extinct.
Oh, no.
Theyâre alive.
Then howâs the drone gonna get down there? The heat will destroy it.
Give me that.
[GASPS.]
Oh, shit, that is not a drone.
Tilly to Burnham.
Go ahead, Tilly.
First of all, um, so, Iâm very high, uh, but you need to listen to me.
There are active volcanoes right beneath us right now and the drone, also, thatâs not a drone.
Itâs a, itâs a like a hydro bomb.
We keep them on the Discovery - so we can reco - What did you say about a hydro bomb? Tilly? Cadet, respond.
I know where to find the shrine.
Whatâs wrong? Itâs Tilly.
A hydro bomb? What kind of damage can it do? Detonate it into an active volcanic system, itâs just - apocalyptic.
- A phreatic eruption: water flashes into steam and triggers a massive explosion.
Landmasses directly over the reaction center will be vaporized.
- Oh - Ash will fill the atmosphere.
Within weeks, QoânoS will be uninhabitable.
This was the plan all along.
- Burnham to Discovery.
- Go ahead, Burnham.
Georgiou is about to instigate a catastrophic natural disaster on QoânoS.
She may already be in the shrine.
- Can you get a transporter lock on her? - SARU: Affirmative.
However, beaming her out is not an option.
The shrineâs shields make it unsafe for biological transport.
What about the bomb? Can you get the bomb? SARU: We are too late.
The signal is fading.
We must contact Starfleet.
Saru, I think sheâs following Starfleetâs orders.
I need to talk to Admiral Cornwell.
Is this how Starfleet wins the war? Genocide? You want to do this here? Fine.
Terms of atrocity are convenient after the fact.
The Klingons are on the verge of wiping out the Federation.
Yes.
But ask yourself: why did you put this mission in the hands of a Terran and why the secrecy? Itâs because you know itâs not who we are.
It very soon will be.
We do not have the luxury of principles.
That is all we have, Admiral.
A year ago I stood alone.
I believed that our survival was more important than our principles.
I was wrong.
Do we need a mutiny today to prove who we are? We are Starfleet.
What is it youâre suggesting? BURNHAM: Change of plans.
Really? [SCOFFS.]
Says who? Deactivate the detonator, Philippa.
Your freedom is still granted, hereâs the proof.
[CHUCKLES.]
You talked them out of it, didnât you? Of planetary slaughter? Yes.
Oh, donât be so dramatic.
When I did this in my universe, it didnât wipe out the Klingons.
A decent number should be able to save themselves.
Plus, theyâll have an advantage.
No Terran ships firing on them as they try to escape.
- Turn it off.
- Has it ever occurred to you that I was doing this for you? By ending the war, Iâd set you free from the guilt and pain you carry because of it.
Not buying it.
[SCOFFS.]
Worth a try.
You really are nothing like my Georgiou, are you? No.
And I never have been.
Sheâs dead, Michael.
There are no second chances.
No, I suppose not.
I do like you.
Why not join me? The bomb is in position.
We have the detonator.
Starfleet and Klingon alike will be at our mercy.
I had much the same thought.
Give it to me.
[WEAPON POWERS UP.]
Take your freedom in exchange for the detonator.
Or try to escape my ship and its crew and be hunted by the Federation for the rest of your days.
[CHUCKLES.]
You think your Federation scares me? Not particularly.
But the only way youâre gonna get past me is to kill me.
So youâll have to watch me die again.
And did I mention being hunted for the rest of your days? - Ugh.
- [WEAPON POWERS DOWN.]
The detonator is coded to my bioprint.
Would you like it recoded to yours? Not to mine, no.
All clear.
What is this? This is the place the Federation crushed the Klingons.
We planted a bomb in the heart of your homeworld.
QoânoS will be destroyed.
You bring me here to gloat? No.
To offer you an alternative.
Klingons respond to strength.
Use the fate of QoânoS to bend them to your will.
Preserve your civilization rather than watch it be destroyed.
But I am no one.
TYLER: You once told Voq that you didnât want the mantle of leadership.
Itâs time for you to leave the shadows.
Iâll leave you to it, then.
Be good, Philippa.
Or youâll come for me? Make sure I donât have to.
[SNORING.]
Isik for your thoughts.
I always wanted to find out what one was.
I never did.
LâRell has arranged for a transport to a Mókai ship.
Theyâre in for a surprise.
Itâs not the human way to make a message heard, but itâs the Klingon way.
Iâm going with her.
Itâs true, what the emperor said.
Iâm no good for either side.
I But maybe I can be good for both.
Iâve never been great at good-byes.
Neither am I.
Iâve had too many of them.
Michael.
In spite of everything that happened to you, your capacity to love literally saved my life.
Iâm gonna miss looking at you.
I see you, Ash.
In your eyes.
Only you.
Thank-thank you.
[CRYING.]
Burnham to Discovery.
One to transport.
[LAUGHTER.]
BURNHAM: Earth, Andor, Tellar, Vulcan.
Every planet of the Federation has made the odyssey out of darkness into light.
So too have the Klingons.
The war is over.
There were triumphs.
Victories of spirit.
Courage beyond reason.
But make no mistake.
These were bleak times.
Times we cannot repeat.
Times we cannot forget.
Isik for your thoughts.
Whatâs an isik, anyway? Oh, I donât know.
Itâs something my mother used to say to me.
Thank you for coming.
Iâm glad to see you.
Is everything okay? When I was growing up, you told me not to forget my humanity.
I didnât know what that meant.
I didnât how to do it, I didnât know why I would even want to.
I get it now.
So thank you.
For not giving up on me.
Thatâs what mothers do.
Michael.
Father.
SAREK: What the Federation chose to do on QoânoS was unprincipled, and I had a part in it.
The Klingons made it clear they would fight us to extinction.
You were desperate to save us.
I know the feeling all too well.
And yet, you were able to find another way.
I am not alone in finding your commitment to Starfleetâs ideals commendable.
I asked if I may give it to you.
Your record has been expunged, your pardon by the president of the Federation is official.
Commander Burnham.
The Federation is as grateful to you as I am to my daughter.
Your mother will stay in Paris for a few days.
I will travel with Discovery to Vulcan.
You are picking up your new captain there.
Iâm glad weâll be making that journey together.
We are no longer on the eve of battle.
Even so, I come to ask myself the same question that young soldier asked the general all those years ago: "How do I defeat fear?" The generalâs answer: the only way to defeat fear is to tell it "no.
" No.
We will not take shortcuts on the path to righteousness.
No.
We will not break the rules that protect us from our basest instincts.
No.
We will not allow desperation to destroy moral authority.
I am guilty of all these things.
Some say that in life, there are no second chances.
Experience tells me that this is true.
But we can only look forward.
We have to be torchbearers, casting the light so we may see our path to lasting peace.
We will continue exploring, discovering new worlds, new civilizations.
Yes.
That is the United Federation of Planets.
CORNWELL: Today, we honor Ensign Sylvia Tilly.
Accepted into Starfleet Command Training Program.
Yes.
That is Starfleet.
CORNWELL: Lieutenant Commander Paul Stamets.
Medical Officer Hugh Culber.
Yes.
That is who we are.
CORNWELL: Commander Saru.
First Kelpien to receive the Medal of Honor.
And who we will always be.
[CHEERING.]
MALE: Bravo! [CHEERING CONTINUES.]
TILLY: Never been to Vulcan before.
BURNHAM: Well, if thereâs time, Iâll show you around.
Itâs strange that weâre not jumping to Vulcan.
Well, Starfleet has committed to finding a non-human interface.
Until that happens Iâm happy to go the old-fashioned way.
Captain on the bridge.
Acting captain.
Please take your stations.
You may consult with Science Officer Burnham later.
Thank you, Mr.
Saru, for permitting me this small indulgence.
I never tire of seeing home.
Of course.
Lieutenant Detmer, have we cleared the Sol system? - Yes, Captain.
- Set course for Vulcan, and engage at maximum warp.
Aye, sir.
MALE: Realign communications array [MALE CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY.]
Incoming transmission.
From whom? Iâm having trouble identifying it.
But itâs a priority-one distress call.
Identify the source, please.
Iâm getting a Federation ID code.
I-Itâs choppy.
Trying to clean it up, sir.
Helm, slow us down.
Dropping us out of warp now, sir.
This is Captain Saru of the Federation Starship Discovery.
Please identify yourselves.
[ELECTRONIC STATIC, DISTORTED SPEAKING.]
Hailâs from Captain Pike, sir.
Itâs the USS Enterprise.
[ORIGINAL STAR TREK THEME PLAYS.]