Stardate 58496.1: Captain Freeman is proud that her "Project Swing-by" to revisit planets after first contact has been approved of by Admiral Buenamigo. Since Victoria Nuzé, a journalist from FNN, is to accompany the first such mission of the Cerritos to Ornara, Freeman is anxious to leave a good impression, which in her view would be jeopardized by Beckett Mariner. She bans all kinds of fun activities such as the pie eating contest. On Ornara, the population has finally recovered from the drug addiction after a transition phase and doesn't require further assistance. So Freeman decides to head for the nearby planet Brekka to see how the former drug dealers are doing. Victoria keeps interviewing selected members of the crew. But then she is approached by Mariner, which Ransom witnesses, and conducts an interview with her as well. After finishing the recordings, the journalist asks to talk to Freeman and frankly tells her that in her impression the ship and crew are chaotic and irresponsible. Freeman calls Mariner to the ready room and accuses her of ruining the ship's reputation. She transfers her off the Cerritos to the dreaded Starbase 80 immediately. After Mariner has left, the mission continues on Brekka where no one is in the streets. But then the away team is ambushed by the Breen, who have invaded the planet. The Cerritos is attacked by a number of Breen ships that use an energy damping weapon to take down the shields. Just as the enemy prepares to board the defenseless Cerritos, a Starfleet ship appears, destroys some of the attackers and chases the rest of them away. But there is no one aboard. Admiral Buenamigo explains that a prototype of the unmanned Texas class saved the day. When the report by FNN airs, Freeman is taken aback that Mariner actually defended her, whereas the chaotic impression was created in the interviews with other crew members. She attempts to contact her daughter on Starbase 80. But Mariner has resigned and roams the galaxy together with treasure hunter Petra Aberdeen.

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