Last Time
Last time on Star Trek Discovery, Captain Burnham took a team to the planetoid close to Species Ten-C’s hyperfield to try to learn as much as they could. What they found out was that the species used various hydrocarbons to express emotions. Sixteen different formats were harvested from the planet. Terror, Love, Sadness, Curiosity and peacefulness among others were discovered. It is hoped that they will be able to use the peacefulness hydrocarbon to communicate with Ten-C and get them to stop the DMA. Meanwhile, Book and Tarka arranged to block Zora from detecting his ship as he clings to Discovery’s hull. But along the way of their plan, they ran into a hitch. Commander Reno discovered Tarka after he planted his blocking device. He was forced to subdue her and take her aboard Book’s ship. Just another obstacle on the way to dealing with “Species Ten-C.”
We Come in Peace
The first part of the mission is to load the “peacefulness” hydrocarbons into multiple mechanical DOTS. The plan is to let Species Ten-C know that Discovery comes in peace. Then it will be their move. Unfortunately, their move was to make an appendage like arm and suck all the Dots into the surface of the sphere. Captain Burnham, erring on the side of caution, orders Discovery to break away. Too late and an even larger appendage reaches out and sucks the ship into the sphere as well. Well, that could have gone better. Regardless, other than most systems being down, they were unharmed. Since they were not going anywhere at the moment, the first contact group met to discuss options. Mr. Suru speculated on what Ten-C was attempting to do. President T’Rina retorted that speculation would not help, they needed answers. OUCH! Suru shot down by his perspective Bae.
A Welcoming Gift
Burnham suggested they follow an age-old tradition in First Contact situations. They present a gift. In this case, some Boronite, like the DMA is mining. While there is some concern about their gift being misinterpreted, Michael interjects it is the one thing they know that Species Ten-C requires. So, it is decided to present a gift to them and see what the response will be. General Ndoye still thinks that they should be using the big stick approach first and THEN perhaps use diplomacy. Considering Earth is one of the planets in the direct path of the DMA, it is understandable she feels that way. Which explains why she is passing on information to Book.
Hurt Equals Bad Choices
In the meantime, Book’s ship was having the same problems as Discovery. As he worked on that, Tarka was attempting to find a way penetrate the sphere so he could access the DMA’s power supply. From her “cell” Commander Reno watches Tarka as closely as she can from a distance. She is suspicious of Tarka and expresses this to Book. In fact, she is surprised that he would choose to partner with him. He told her he respected Tarka’s feeling of loss about his friend. Reno told him about her wife and her inability to let her go. People make bad decisions when they are hurting. Book acknowledges this, but he also knows she is trying to “work” him. Reno also acknowledges this but reminds him, it doesn’t mean she’s wrong.
More than Information
Back on Discovery, their gift has garnered a response, and a visit to their shuttle bay. The first contact contingent goes down to greet them. But the communication process will take time and the Universal Translators will be of no assistance. Not what General Ndoye wants to hear. She breaks away from the group in order to tell Book of their progress or lack thereof. Tarka tells them that it will not matter as he has found a way to break through the sphere. But it will require Ndoye’s physical assistance. It was one thing to pass on information, it was another to breach a starship’s systems. Book tells her that if they succeed, the DMA will be stopped, and Earth will be safe. But they cannot do it without her help. She reluctantly agrees to assist when the time comes.
Finding a Key
As the Contact team brainstorms, Mr. Suru suggests that it required many various perspectives on the planetoid to realize what the hydrocarbons were. Perhaps, this situation also required that. Burnham called for her bridge team to get their thoughts. They interjected that perhaps the hydrocarbons and the lights combined were a form of communication. If read properly, it could show the order of which their message should be read. A key to deciphering their message. Zora made 3D models of both the lights that Ten-C had sent and the Hydrocarbon molecules. When turned, they lined up, the lights followed a discernable pattern. Zora began analyzing this new data while Burnham thanked her Bridge Crew for their insights. They were a step closer.
Pain Makes People Blind
Tarka was making preparations to free Book’s ship and penetrate Ten-C’s Sphere. Reno called Book over to her asking for another piece of black licorice. She had been asking him to make some for her since she was taken. But this time, she asked him to hand it to her instead of passing it through the force field she was behind. “Be a gentleman and hand it to me, like the lady I am.” He did so and she grabbed his hand. She told him that Tarka’s plan will cause an implosion that would destroy anything inside the Sphere. Plus, the effects of the explosion will destroy Earth just as quickly as the DMA. Book didn’t believe her. She was just trying to get him to release her. But Reno told Book to ask Tarka for his calculations. They won’t make any sense. But the look on his face will show plenty. It’s as she told him. “Pain makes people blind.”
Vulcan Psychology
Back on Discovery, Zora has analyzed the combined hydrocarbon and lights and converted it to a mathematical solution. Dr. Hirai believes he can use this to send Species Ten-C a message that shows that Discovery understands what they are trying to do. To reach back to them. As Zora and Dr. Hirai work on the problem, Michael talks to Suru. He confides in her that President T’Rina’s off-hand statement earlier confused him. He thought they were getting along well. Burnham advised him not to take it to heart. Vulcans were like that. They tended to overcompensate in public, to make it appear they are in control. Her stepfather Sarek used to do it to her all the time. Suru appreciated her clarification. Besides, they had more important issues to deal with.
Tarka’s Lie
After talking to Reno, Book decided to go with the direct approach, basically confronting Tarka about what would result from his plan to cut through the sphere. In other words, he called Tarka a LIAR! He didn’t deny it, explaining that he was protecting Book from the truth. Book would have none of it. The idea was to stop the DMA without putting anyone else at risk. That was what they had agreed to. Since that would not be the case, Book was going to put a stop to it. But he hadn’t counted on Tarka’s upgraded ship defenses as a weapon. Every time Book attempts to intervene, a force field knocks him across the room…HARD! Tarka tells him to stop. To stand down. That he’s doesn’t want this. But Book is as stubborn as Burnham, and he tries again, only to blasted back again and again. Tarka drags Book to Reno’s forcefield, depositing him inside it and reactivating it. Reno was right and is a damn smart lady.
A Chance to Continue Communication
After Dr. Hirai and Zora send their new message, the Ten-C respond back to them. They have started to communicate. They also send a sphere like object to the shuttle bay. It is projecting the peacefulness hydrocarbon and has a breathable atmosphere inside it. Soon, doors appear as if welcoming them inside. Michael believes that they are wanting to continue their “conversation.” President Rillak volunteers to go inside the craft. She invites Burnham and Suru to accompany her. She asks that Dr. Hirai remain on Discovery. If something were to go wrong, he could continue diplomacy without them. Rillak also welcomed President T’Rina and General Odoye to come along. T’Rina accepted this invitation to advocate for her planet. Odoye however, said that she trusted Rillak to advocate for Earth. Besides, she had a job to do for Tarka and Book. Well, really only Tarka. But she didn’t know that.
Doubts and Fears
As President Rillak and her team prepared to enter the alien sphere, Captain Burnham took Suru aside to talk. She had so many doubts and fears about Species Ten-C. Ones that she could not dare display to the crew. She realizes that Ten-C had all the advantages in this meeting, and she really wasn’t sure how it would all turn out. Suru assured her that it was natural to have these concerns, but as leaders, they needed to accept them and move past them. However, he did a learn a technique from Mr. Tarka that helped him to cope at times. Yelling. He demonstrated it to Michael. Suru’s yell sounded very much like Chewbacca. Then it was Michael’s turn. She started out somewhat passive but gained intensity as Suru joined her. Strangely enough, it did help. Although Book’s cat Grunge didn’t enjoy it much. However, it was good for Burnham and Suru to prepare them for the mission ahead.
A Comfortable Environment
Back in Engineering, Dr. Culber was trying to locate Commander Reno. Zora was showing her there, but no one had seen her. Culber noticed something under one of the grates. It was Reno’s comm badge. Zora reported that the badge was reporting biometrics even though Reno wasn’t wearing it. She would analyze the badge to see what the malfunction was. In the meantime, President Rillak, Burnham, Suru, and President T’Rina entered the sphere. It immediately disappeared from the shuttle bay. Upon entering, the party found themselves on a simulation of Discovery’s bridge. Michael hypothesized that Ten-C was trying to make a comfortable environment for their visitors. No sooner than they realized that they had lost contact with Discovery, a device appeared on the bridge. It appeared to be an isolytic weapon resembling that which Tarka used to destroy the original DMA. However, this one was not armed.
Odoye Does Her Task
The team considered what the device was meant to convey. Was it a threat or was it a gift like their boronite? As Suru analyzes the device, he realizes that it is a message using the curiosity hydrocarbons. Inquiring why they put the isolytic weapon into the DMA. Suru surmises that Species Ten-C might not realize the damage that the DMA has caused. They must find a way to communicate this to Ten-C. After deciding to stay on Discovery, General Odoye signals what she assumes is Book and Tarka. She informs them that the sphere that Captain Burnham and the rest entered disappeared. They had no idea where they are and when they might come back. Book heard this and told Tarka to tell her to stand down. To give diplomacy a chance. But Tarka instead sent a message saying that because they have no way of knowing the team’s status, he was ready to implement his plan. General Odoye did her part, not knowing what was actually happening on Book’s ship.
One Step Forward, One Step Back
On the sphere, the team decides to send a message that conveys their fear of the DMA. DMA plus “US” equals TERROR. Suru encodes the message and sends it. They respond almost immediately with a message that implies their sympathy for their situation. They appear to have empathy. With empathy, comes the better opportunity for further discussion. However, while this positive news is happening, Dr. Culber, Zora, Nadira and Commander Stamets are trying to figure out the missing Commander Reno mystery. Zora indicates that a maintenance panel had been opened recently although no work had been scheduled. Adira opens the panel and finds the device that blocked Zora from detecting Book’s ship. She immediately detects it, but it is too late. Tarka has initiated the sphere burn to allow Books ship to penetrate the sphere. In a few moments they are through the sphere.
Reno’s Message
This is just as Suru is getting ready to send the message about the DMA. Before he can send it, after detecting Tarka’s activity, Species Ten-C sends the first contact crew back to the shuttle bay. Once it was reported what happened with Book’s ship, they know why they were sent back. The sphere’s defenses had been breached. As Captain Burnham goes to the bridge, on Book’s ship, Commander Reno explains that she has a way to communicate with Discovery. She had concealed a communicator chip before Tarka had stunned her. Using the licorice that Book had been supplying her with, she used the acid that it creates when dissolved to conduct electricity. All she needs is Book’s access codes to send a message (did I mention that Reno was sharp.) She tells Discovery that if Tarka completes his plan, the resulting implosion will destroy the Ten-C, the DMA and Discovery as well. In addition, the toxic waste left behind will impact Earth, destroying it as well. They need to be stopped. At ALL COST!
Thoughts
Newsflash!! Ruan Tarka is a self-centered, reckless man with no consideration about anything but himself. This has been apparent since the character was introduced but was emphasized in SPADES in this episode. As much as I love Book, he was completely fooled by Tarka and now this impending disaster is as much on him as Tarka. We can also throw General Odoye into the responsible pile. Her desire to take action against the DMA might have destroyed Earth just as well as the DMA would have. So, plenty of guilt to go around. The sad part was that the First Contact team was making real progress with Ten-C. Now they will have to somehow rebuild that trust. And with only four hours before the DMA starts to effect Earth, they are running out of time.
Let’s hear it for Tig Nataro as Commander Reno who was given some nice moments in this episode. Not only did she prove that Reno is as smart as they come, but she also revealed some insights into the character with her story about her wife. You can’t go wrong in letting Tig rule the screen. It is also always a pleasure to see Sonequa Martin-Green and Doug Jones interact as Burnham and Suru. Sometimes, a little screaming goes a long way. Besides, he can always use Michael’s insights into the Vulcan psyche as Suru pursues President T’Rina. Those Ni’Var women are complicated.
So, we have four hours until the DMA impacts Earth, providing Tarka doesn’t beat the DMA to it and destroy Earth himself. Will Discovery locate Book’s ship in time? What will transpire with General Odoye once her duplicity is revealed? A drama filled entry with an opportunity for Tig Nataro to shine makes for an excellent episode that is leading to an impending epic conclusion. Star Trek Discovery can be seen on Paramount Plus with new episodes on Thursdays.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 50 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove head first over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 18 year old boy with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
