As the ship approaches the hypersphere of Species 10-C, the Discovery receives no response to any hails. Linguist Hirai suggests to compose a message from replicated hydrocarbons as they were sampled on 10-C's former homeworld. DOTs are deployed to deliver that message directly to the surface of the hypersphere. The DOTs and then Discovery itself become encased into an orb and pulled into the hypersphere. Book's ship is still attached to the Discovery, with Reno as a prisoner. Tarka locates the power source of the DMA and devises a plan to break out of the orb, using warp plasma from the Discovery that General Ndoye is meant to release. Reno, however, recognizes that Tarka's plan would cause the hyperfield implode and leave a subspace rift near Earth that may be just as deadly as the DMA. On the Discovery, a team has assembled in the shuttlebay because 10-C is showing light signals. But just sending the same signals back does not result in any progress, as 10-C apparently expects an answer. With the help of Detmer, Nilsson and Christopher, the experts find out that the light patterns serve to decode the structure of the molecules, which contain mathematical equations. Hirai concludes that the equations are an auxiliary language to establish communication. They compile and send a meaningful answer. A smaller orb with a breathable atmosphere appears in the shuttlebay. Rillak, Burnham, Saru and T'Rina decide to enter, whereas Ndoye prefers to stay behind because she secretly pursues her backup plan. On a replica of the Discovery bridge that was probably created by 10-C so they would feel comfortable, the away team has just succeeded to convey the message that the DMA means terror to them. But when Ndoye contacts Book, Tarka has already disabled him and signals her to release the plasma. Book's ship breaks free, leaving the Discovery behind in the orb and causing 10-C to end the negotiations. It is discovered only now that Reno has not been on the ship for hours because Tarka managed to deceive Zora's sensors. Using an improvised communicator, Reno contacts the ship, saying that Tarka is going for the power source, which will end up in a disaster...

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