Stardate 1308.9: The Discovery arrives to aid the USS Gagarin in a battle against Klingon ships that are equipped with the new invisibility screens based on the "Ship of the Dead". The Gagarin, however, is destroyed, just like the Hoover and the Muroc briefly before. Saru, Tyler and Burnham explore the planet Pahvo with its unique natural communication network that extends into space. They hope that the planetary transmitter can be tuned in a way to render cloaked Klingon ships visible. On the "Ship of the Dead", L'Rell vows allegiance to Kol, the new leader of the Klingons. She proposes to help interrogate an obstinate prisoner, Admiral Cornwell. L'Rell, however, reveals to Cornwell that she is going to defect. The two proceed towards the shuttlebay but run into Kol. L'Rell claims that Cornwell took her weapon and tried to escape. She fights with Cornwell and wins, telling Kol she would dispose of the dead body. L'Rell, however, discovers the desecrated bodies of warriors she knew, and swears revenge to Kol. On Pahvo, Saru contacts the planets' non-corporeal inhabitants, and learns that the whole planet is one lifeform. Under the influence of the Pahvans, Saru destroys Tyler's and Burnham's communicators and tells them that he has found his peace on the planet and wishes to stay. Tyler distracts Saru so Burnham can proceed to the natural transmitter in order to contact Discovery. Saru catches up with her and attempts to destroy the Starfleet transmitter that Burnham has connected to the structure. The Pahvans interfere, sending Ash Tyler to stop the violent Saru. The three officers are beamed up to the Discovery. On the Klingon ship, Kol pretends to accept L'Rell's pledge for allegiance but then his people come and drag her away for her attempt to deceive Kol. Although Burnham was under the impression that the transmitter on Pahvo was set to disrupt the Klingon invisibility screens, the Pahvans send out a massive signal to the Federation and the Klingons. Under the assumption that the Klingons see this as an invitation to attack the defenseless planet, the Discovery prepares for a fight.

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