[male voice in Klingon] They are coming.
Atom by atom...
they will coil around us...
and take all that we are.
There is one way to confront this threat.
By reuniting the 24 warring houses
of our own empire.
We have forgotten the Unforgettable...
the last to unify our tribes:
Kahless.
Together, under one creed...
remain Klingon!
[all shouting] Remain Klingon!
That is why we light our beacon this day.
To assemble our people.
To lock arms against those whose fatal greeting is...
[in English] "We come in peace."
[woman 1] We come in peace. That's why we're here.
-Isn't that the whole idea of Starfleet? -[woman 2] Hey, I taught you that.
[woman 1] Don't trust me, Captain?
[woman 2] I trust you with my life, Commander Burnham.
But it doesn't change the fact that you're lost.
Very lost.
Technically, we would be lost.
How long until that storm comes crashing down on us?
I estimate one hour, 17 minutes, 22 seconds.
Which is why I've made sure we're not lost.
The map says the well's this way, Captain.
This drought's gonna last 89 years.
The Crepusculans are facing extinction as a species.
See those egg sacs?
Those are their offspring.
[captain] They've survived here for over a thousand years, Michael.
[Burnham] If we don't do something, they won't live another thousand hours.
The radiation from a nearby meteor-drilling accident
dried out their water table.
If we get in and out without contact, we can steer clear of General Order 1.
[exhales] And there is the well.
[captain] I stand corrected.
-[Burnham] Ye of little faith. -[captain] Never had a doubt.
Tell me what I need to break through this bedrock.
Point-seven-second field burst at level setting 13.5.
-[thunder crashes in distance] -[low rumbling]
[communicator chirps]
Georgiou to Shenzhou: two to transport.
[thunder crashing nearby]
[Burnham] The storm is faster than I thought.
The ship won't pick up our signatures.
Unless we can contact Lieutenant Saru, we could be trapped here until it's over.
Let's take a walk.
[creature chittering]
[low chittering]
[water splashing]
[Georgiou] Follow my footsteps, Michael. Even lines.
[Burnham] Why? Captain, where are we going?
[Georgiou] It's your turn to trust me, Number One.
[Burnham] Now we're really lost.
We're too small to be seen with the naked eye.
And you can't set a course without a star.
Is it wise to be heading away from the village?
[Georgiou] It's hard to imagine you've served under me for seven years.
I think it's time that we talked about you having your own command.
I'm grateful, Captain.
Though I would be more so if I thought we had any chance
of ever returning to the ship.
Just keep walking, Michael.
What will you do if you are stuck here for 89 years?
[Burnham] A likely scenario, unless we die here in the desert.
But say you lived.
As a xenoanthropologist, I could reveal myself to the natives,
learn their culture, try to fit in, if possible.
And you? What will you do if we're trapped here for 89 years?
That's easy. I'd escape.
[Burnham] These are our footprints.
-You've walked us in a circle. -Not exactly a circle.
[wind rushing]
How did they find us?
I set a star.
[theme music playing]
[Burnham] First officer's log, stardate 1207.3.
On Earth, it's May 11th, 2256, a Sunday.
The crew of the U.S.S. Shenzhou
has been called to the edge of Federation space
to investigate damage done to one of our interstellar relays.
Blast burns around the hull are inconclusive.
Were they caused by an asteroid?
Or was it deliberately destroyed to limit Starfleet communications?
And if so, by whom?
Despite the risks of our mission, I remain optimistic.
It's hard not to be, in the face of such beauty.
In this case, a binary star system.
Around these two suns,
ice, dust, and gasses collide to form the planets
future generations will call home...
a humbling reminder that all life is born from chaos and destruction.
[man] Based on readings,
the relay doesn't appear to have been damaged naturally.
I don't like the look of that.
Well, keep looking.
The comment was figurative. I'm expressing concern.
Finish your scan so you can express facts instead.
The bridge is yours, Mr. Saru.
Yes, Commander.
[classical music plays over speakers]
Yes, Number One?
Your chief science officer is worried.
Something took a bite out of our relay. Saru thinks it was malicious.
Saru's Kelpien. He thinks everything's malicious.
[Burnham chuckles]
What do you think? Any idea what it is?
By all indications, nothing intelligent.
-But? -Starfleet's reputation for tech hygiene
is exemplary.
When a relay goes down, the Federation sends a ship to fix it.
-Someone's trying to get our attention? -If they are, they have.
Lieutenant Saru, what do we have?
Ah. I have taken the initiative of keeping us at maximum scanning distance
in case of anything threatening out there.
Yes, Number One tells me you suspect foul play.
Well, despite the first officer's constant need to dismiss my ideas--
-She apparently agrees with you. -Really?
I'm shocked as well. Ensign Connor.
Agreement between my senior officers.
-Note the date and time. -Noted, Captain.
Is this amount of sarcasm necessary?
Necessary, no. But I do like it.
[Saru] There is something else out there.
-What do you have? -Recalibrating sensors.
[man] Electronic alignment in process.
Scans are being deflected. I'm having trouble locating the source.
So something's out there, but no one can tell where or what it is.
[Saru] Ah, wait, I have it.
-No. Recalibrating. -[Georgiou] Any time now, Mr. Saru.
I have it.
[Georgiou] Magnify.
Is that what damaged our relay?
What am I looking at?
Object of unknown origin.
-Let's get more specific. -I'm unable to bring it into focus.
[Georgiou] Number One?
Range is 2000 kilometers, bearing 358, mark 269.
Roughly 150 meters long, tucked into that accretion disk.
Almost directly below us. It's in a sensor dead zone.
A scattering field is confounding the ship's ability to translate the image.
As science officer,
I can provide a far more concrete and in-depth analysis
than simply reading data off a monitor. But...
considering it's scrambling our optical processors,
how are we going to be able to see it?
Thoughts, Number One?
With such little data, I'd prefer not to speculate.
I will.
It's lurking.
The scattering field it's emitting suggests intent.
We see something we don't understand and instantly cast judgment?
Maybe it's lost.
-Maybe it's afraid to show its whole self. -Hiding.
But maybe hoping to be found.
Here we are speculating.
I... especially recommend we leave it alone.
[Georgiou] I'm not sure we have much choice.
We can't lock on to it.
And we don't have a shuttle maneuverable enough to navigate the ring.
I'll go. All I need is a thruster pack.
With the levels of radiation kicking off those binaries,
she'll have 20 minutes until her DNA starts to unravel like noodles.
"Like noodles."
I'll be back in 19. A flyby.
It seems a waste of resources. What will be gained?
You understand, being afraid of everything means you learn nothing.
There's no opportunity to discover, to explore.
And here I thought we were doing a deep-space relay audit.
You're both right.
-Saru, go with her. -[both] Captain?
Best to keep variables to a minimum. Wouldn't want to put my colleague at risk.
And you, Mr. Saru? Are you equally happy not to be put at risk?
Oh, on any occasion, Captain.
You realize once you reach that scattering field,
you could be cut off from all communication.
We've come all this way, Captain.
It would be irresponsible to leave whatever that is unknown.
Just a flyby.
[computer] Commencing airlock depressurization sequence.
Commander Burnham, this is Ensign Danby Connor.
On behalf of Captain Georgiou, and the crew of the U.S.S. Shenzhou ,
we'd like to welcome you to Flight 819,
with non-stop service to the object of unknown origin.
The temperature is a brisk minus-260 degrees Celsius.
We are forecasting mild debris, but anticipate a smooth ride.
[comm chirps]
This is Commander Burnham.
Commencing reconnaissance mission to field void an unknown object.
Data collection is on and nominal.
All lights are green.
[man] Establishing interlink frequency with Burnham's EV.
Channel clear, and ready to transmit.
Confirming six-second directional thrust for saucer realignment.
[computer] Commencing final pre-launch system checks.
Life support: Nominal.
Oxygen-nitrogen saturation: Nominal.
Air pressure and flow: Nominal.
Communication module: Active.
Filters at 0.01 percent saturation.
-[beeps] -[electronic surges]
[Connor] Pre-flight checklist complete.
Computer, enable igniter.
[computer] Ten seconds to thruster ignition.
Ten, nine, eight,
seven, six, five,
-four, three, two, one. -[powering up]
[breathing heavily]
[laughing]
Body scan online. Heart rate 79 and rising,
BP 130 over 70.
-It's a little elevated for her. -She's having fun.
[woman] Almost to the debris field, Captain.
[Georgiou] Understood.
Michael, watch your time.
- 19 minutes, not a nanosecond longer. -Aye, Captain.
[voice with static] I'm fully aware.
-Boost signal. -Unable to comply.
The scattering field must be interfering with comms.
Mission clock at 17 minutes, 30 seconds.
Interference is starting to degrade resolution.
Routing power to subspace antenna.
Shenzhou, do you copy?
[computer] Distance to object, 1000 kilometers.
Shenzhou , do you copy?
[computer] Implementing course correction.
[breathing heavily]
Hello.
Shenzhou, are you able to see this?
Michael, can you hear me? Acknowledge.
-Michael, can you hear me? Acknowledge. -[Connor] There's too much interference.
Shenzhou, do you copy?
Data collection unit, you there?
-[computer] Internal computer online. -Good.
-Mission time? -[computer] Twelve minutes, 58 seconds.
Plenty of time to take a peek.
Even from this distance, it's clearly not debris.
Twelve minutes and 48 seconds until maximum exposure.
Commander is less than ten meters from the edge of the scattering field.
[Burnham] I can't remember who said sculptures
are crystallized spirituality...
Headlamp.
...but I see what they meant.
This is Burnham in the blind.
I'm above the object, which is old.
Centuries old.
It's difficult to tell if it was constructed or carved.
The only word to effectively describe it is... "wow."
But I'll try to be more precise.
Its surface has the appearance of stone, with an exoskeleton of metal alloy.
Incredibly intricate.
The construction and design are nothing short of astounding.
I wish you could see what I'm seeing.
It is sublime.
It's impossible to discern a practical purpose.
I'm going to land on it, get a closer look.
Nice and easy.
Hold on. My presence has triggered some sort of motion response.
[computer] Mission countdown: ten minutes, 15 seconds.
Warning: Proximity alert.
[Burnham gasps]
Scanning for database recognition.
Iconography confirmed. Klingon.
I'm Commander Burnham...
-of the United Federation of-- -[growls]
[Klingon roars]
Still no sign of Commander Burnham. Mission clock runs out in 15 seconds.
-[man] Still too much interference. -[static burst]
I have Number One. Telemetry only. Blood pressure is 70 and falling.
-She won't make it unless we get her now. -Transporter. Do we have her, Mr. Weeton?
-Pattern integrity's too weak. -Saru, get a lock, boost her signal.
-Captain, there is no signal. -You better get me a signal.
-Remotely fire her jetpack. -[robot] She's offline.
-She's floating free. -Engineering, tractor beam?
Can't get a lock. Running calculations.
The scattering field is still a problem. We can't transport her until she clears.
[woman] She'll soon exhibit symptoms of acute radiation syndrome.
[Connor] She's not gonna last much longer.
Hang on.
[Connor] Commander Burnham, this is Shenzhou. Please respond.
- [alarm beeping] -Commander Burnham?
Commander, please respond.
Shenzhou to Commander Burnham.
Commander, do you read? Please respond.
[male voice in Klingon] Witness our brother, our torchbearer,
killed by the Federation interloper on our sacred beacon.
I see you as you see the end.
Our Torchbearer honors us...
first to die in our crusade for self-preservation.
[all screaming]
Our ancestors welcome our fallen brother, Rejac,
to their Black Fleet.
They fight with us,
as we fight against our enemy.
Remain Klingon!
[all shouting] Remain Klingon!
[indistinct chattering]
[computer] Pupil Burnham.
Pupil Burnham.
[overlapping chatter]
[computer] Klingon social order rests upon?
-Inviolable honor/shame dynamic. -[computer] Correct.
Klingon homeworld, Qo'noS.
-Unwelcoming to the Federation. - Correct.
- Klingon political order. -Twenty-four great houses.
Correct. Location of the most recent Klingon terror raid.
[buzzer beeps]
Unacceptable duration between query and correct response.
Number of survivors at the human-Vulcan science outpost
at Doctari Alpha.
[buzzer beeps]
Unacceptable duration between query and correct response.
Number of survivors at Doctari Alpha.
-No. -[buzzer beeps] Unacceptable response.
- Number of survivors... -Please.
[echoing, overlapping] Number of survivors...
Stop.
Program paused.
Sarek.
I'm sorry. I can do better.
When emotion brings us ghosts from the past,
only logic can root us in the present.
Maybe I can try to learn Vulcan...
to be quicker with my answers.
Your human tongue is not the problem.
It is your human heart.
[gasps]
[man] Good. You're awake.
I was dreaming.
Oh? What about?
Klingons.
How did I get here?
We transported you back aboard three hours ago.
[Burnham] Three hours?
[computer] Antiproton therapy regimen incomplete.
-[man] What are you doing? -Session terminated prematurely.
- Medical emergency. -There's no time.
Wait, the recombination process is nowhere near finished.
I need you back in the chamber.
Do you understand the effect of genetic unspooling?
You don't wanna die that way. Commander!
Binaries are kicking serious QEs up and down the spectrum.
[Connor] Targeting gets hot, but I can't tell what I'm grabbing onto.
-I wanna know what's out there. -Okay, let's go around again.
-By the numbers. -[Burnham] What's going on?
Number One, you should be in sickbay.
What?
-Have they made contact? -Who's "they"?
There are Klingons out there. We need to go to red alert.
[Georgiou] Michael...
Almost no one has seen a Klingon in a hundred years.
I have. One attacked me on that object. Check my helmet cam.
-The footage was corrupted. -[Saru] Sensors show the commander
entered the bridge in an irradiated state.
Without immediate treatment, her condition will certainly be terminal.
He was... warrior caste.
His EV suit bore a Klingon house insignia.
-She also has a grade 3 concussion. -I'm not delusional.
This has nothing to do with a concussion. Philippa...
there are Klingons.
Red alert.
[alarm wailing]
-Tell me what happened. -He ambushed me.
I hit my thruster pack to get away. I knocked him into his blade.
I killed him.
That object could hide a raiding party obscured behind that scattering field.
If there are Klingons in this sector, they may be responsible
for the damage to our relay.
If there are Klingons in this sector, we should withdraw, immediately.
This is Federation space. Retreat is not an option.
Whatever is over there needs to show itself.
If it's hiding Klingons, we've got to flush them out.
Target phase cannons on the object.
We cannot destroy another culture's property on a whim.
I didn't say anything about destroying it.
Let's make them think we're going to attack.
Target the object.
[man] We're locked on.
Something is scanning us.
They've detected our weapon signature.
Wait.
[robot] Impossible.
-[man] No warp signatures detected. -[Georgiou] Then where did they come from?
Mr. Gant, disengage phase cannon targeting.
Number One, get to sickbay.
I need you fixed up and back on the bridge, stat.
Mr. Januzzi, contact Starfleet Command.
Send an encoded message.
Tell them we have engaged the Klingons.
[Januzzi] Unidentified Klingon vessel, this is the starship Shenzhou .
Please, respond.
Unidentified Klingon vessel, this is the starship Shenzhou .
Please, respond.
[in Klingon] All is as it is meant to be.
Who is Rejac's next in line?
I am his brother. Or'Eq.
The honor falls to you to be our new Torchbearer.
With respect...
I find great wisdom in your teachings...
But?
Can you be sure our brothers and sisters will answer your call?
They will because the prophecy commands
all Klingons must come to the light of Kahless
when it shines in the night sky.
Will ships really fly across the galaxy because of a fable?
So, you doubt?
You dishonor...
only yourself.
[male voice] I will light the beacon.
[leader] Speak your name.
Voq.
Son of none.
You have no family blade of your own.
You cannot assume the birthright of a noble house.
You are unworthy.
[Voq] I am worthy.
Not by blood...
but by faith.
I serve the light of Kahless.
I am reborn in his flames.
[leader] I recognize you as one who has lived his life on the outside
and yearns to be part of something bigger than himself.
Some may see the color of your skin as nature's mistake.
I call it a mirror...
for I see myself in you.
[alarm buzzing]
My Lord!
Long-range sensors show the movement, just as you predicted.
Excellent. The time has come.
Take my blade, Voq.
Son of none.
The honor of Torchbearer is yours.
-Light the beacon! -[all chanting] Light the beacon!
[Januzzi] Unidentified Klingon vessel, this is the starship Shenzhou .
Please, respond.
Unidentified Klingon vessel, this is the starship Shenzhou.
Please, respond.
-Any chance they can't hear us? -You're on every subspace channel.
Your orders, Commander.
-Any response? -[Saru] None.
Commander...
there is something I'd like to show you.
Their hull is covered in hollow ornamental metallic pods,
thousands of them, tightly interlocked,
forming a kind of... armor.
Not the most efficient defense.
I suspect its purpose is more symbolic than practical.
They contain Klingon biological material in various states of decay.
Remote dating is wildly divergent.
Some bones date back thousands of years. Others, only hours old.
Their entire ship is covered with coffins.
Commander, the captain listens to you.
Tell her... we must withdraw.
I'm afraid that's no longer possible.
Your world has food chains.
Mine does not.
Our species map is binary. We're either predator or prey.
My people were hunted, bred, farmed...
We are your livestock of old.
We were biologically determined for one purpose, and one purpose alone:
to sense the coming of death.
I sense it coming now.
[Georgiou] The Klingon flagship has a stealth mode.
It's some kind of cloaking screen, unlike anything we've ever seen, Admiral.
There may be more vessels than we know.
We've reached out with every form of greeting Starfleet has.
-They're blocking our hails. -It feels like a setup.
Maybe our relay got too close for Klingon comfort
and they destroyed it to lure us out here.
You remember my first officer, Michael Burnham?
Next time, try not disturbing the property
of a warrior race we've hardly spoken to for a hundred years.
Our only choice now is to navigate this situation
-with as much finesse as possible. -Admiral, if I may...
The ideal outcome for any Klingon interaction is battle.
They're relentlessly hostile, sir.
-It's in their nature. -The Federation and the Klingon empire
have always been on the cold side of war.
We've had only fleeting run-ins with them for a century,
and now you presume to know their motivation,
because it is in their nature?
Considering your background, I'd think you the last person
to make assumptions based on race.
With respect, it would be unwise to confuse race and culture.
The Europa and all fleet vessels within range
will be at your coordinates in two hours. Hold your position.
Do nothing absent provocation. Understood?
Understood.
-[computer] Signal terminated. -[sighs]
That went well.
-What's the mood outside? -Saru is the only one talking.
He strongly believes we should about-face.
There is a space station at Eagle 12, three light-years away.
The Andorian colony at Gamma Hydra is six.
Shenzhou is the only line of defense if the Klingons attack.
Not if. When.
I have to hope that whatever happens here
can serve as a bridge between our civilizations.
That's the diplomat in you talking.
What does the soldier say?
Nothing good.
[Saru] Captain to the bridge.
-Status. -Photonic activity on the Klingon object.
Output is over one billion lumens per square meter.
[Connor] Optical sensors overloaded.
-Bring plasmatic filters online. -[Connor] Rerouting power.
-[Georgiou] Is that a weapon? -Seems to be some sort of signal emitter.
-Where are my filters? -[Connor] They're at 100 percent, Captain.
[high frequency buzzing]
[Januzzi] Initiating emergency shutdown.
Noise is some kind of electromagnetic subspace waveform.
-Narrowing channel range. -Adjusting orientation to minimize.
-Turn it down. -Aye, Captain.
-All the way down. -Acoustics are muted.
That's the ship's superstructure in sympathetic vibration.
-It's a signal pulse. -Is there a message?
This may be the message.
What if they're calling for the same thing we are?
-Backup. -Long-range sensors to the maximum, Saru.
If more Klingons are on the way, I want as much notice as possible.
-Permission to leave the bridge. -Are you kidding?
It's relevant.
Granted.
Ensign, give me a status report, deck by deck.
Aye, Captain.
-Computer. -[computer] Working.
Open dedicated subspace channel 222AA7.
Use of this frequency requires
- diplomatic authorization. -Voiceprint authorize. Burnham...
-Michael. - Confirmed.
Commander Burnham.
Hello, Sarek. I'm happy to see you.
So many years,
and still, you allow emotional considerations
to impede your logic.
They inform my logic.
I need your help.
I assumed the timing of the call was not coincidental.
The quadrant reports a new star.
What have you done there, on the edge of Federation space?
We've encountered the Klingons.
How rare to meet one's own demons in the flesh.
I killed one.
In light of the fact that they killed your parents...
some might think that only fair.
However... if a death was necessary,
I am satisfied it was not yours.
I'm certain you did not call me for emotional solace.
We're facing off.
No fire has been exchanged. But they didn't turn on that beacon
until Starfleet was on its way to our position.
I think they're summoning more of their kind.
An odd proposition given that their empire has been in disarray for generations.
But you are describing something out of the ordinary.
Restraint in the face of conflict.
When a civilization acts in opposition to its instincts,
it may be under the influence of something or someone new.
Great unifiers are few and far between, but they do come.
Often such leaders will need a profound cause
for their followers to rally around.
A war.
Be very careful
that your assumptions are not being driven by your past.
This is isn't about what happened, Sarek. It's what's happening now.
How did the Vulcans achieve diplomatic relations with the Klingons?
That is a solution particular to us.
One cannot assume it would work on a ship commanded by humans.
Sarek...
please.
I caution you...
be considered with how you use this information.
You cannot save lives that have already been lost.
Tell me...
how did you keep the Klingons at bay?
-[Georgiou] Engineering, report. -Internal damage, negative.
Core is 100 percent.
Captain, we have to fire. Hit that ship with everything we've got.
Absolutely not. They haven't powered weapons.
They don't pose an imminent threat.
The Klingon threat is always imminent and inevitable.
-Tactical log's ready. -Thank you.
I'd like to remind you, we're wildly outgunned.
Two hundred and forty years ago, near H'Atoria,
a Vulcan ship crossed into Klingon space.
The Klingons attacked immediately. They destroyed the vessel.
Vulcans don't make the same mistake twice.
From then on, until formal relations were established,
whenever Vulcans crossed paths with Klingons, the Vulcans fired first.
They said hello in a language the Klingons understood.
Violence brought respect. Respect brought peace.
Captain, we have to give the Klingons a Vulcan hello.
If their intention is to attack, balling up our fists won't dissuade them.
It would be logical to take into account my success rate during our years together,
and execute my plan without challenge
before we're dragged into war.
Starfleet doesn't fire first. That's all, Number One.
We have to.
In my ready room. Now.
-Lt. Commander, you have the bridge. -[Saru] Yes, captain.
Computer, privacy.
-Cap-- -How dare you challenge me.
I apologize for my insubordination.
-That kind of talk can destabilize a crew. -Don't underestimate them.
I've overseen their exercises. They're ready for battle.
Battle is not a simulation. It's blood, and screams...
and funerals.
I taught you better. We don't start shooting on a hunch.
And we don't take innocent lives, period.
I understand your history.
My commitment to this course of action is not emotional.
-We target its neck, cut off its head-- -You're still injured.
Thousands of lives will be lost because of failure to act.
Whose lives? Victims of your imaginary war?
Your life, Captain.
Yours.
Stand down, Commander Burnham.
That's an order.
You're right.
I may not be myself.
Easy, Michael.
I'm sorry.
You're relieved, Mr. Saru.
Where is the captain?
I provided her with intel from a source. She's passing it to the admiral.
Weapons. Slot a pair of torpedoes in the tubes,
and compute a firing solution, targeting the neck of that ship.
[Saru] Is the plan to fire on the Klingons?
We have to be ready in case that's what the captain decides.
Are you acting on the captain's orders?
I'm your superior officer. We are in a high-risk scenario.
Question chain of command again, and I'll remove you.
Commander, it's just...
Your breathing has elevated, perspiration's visible.
I fear what you are doing betrays the wishes of our captain.
Target phasers. Take your station, Commander.
-This is mutiny. -Move, Saru. Tactical.
-[Gant] Locked on. -Fire.
[Georgiou] Belay that order.
Captain, please. I'm trying to save you.
I'm trying to save all of you.
[phaser powering up]
Stand down.
Captain. Incoming. Warp signatures detected.
Is it Starfleet?
[alarm wailing]
No.
Those ships are Klingon.
[theme music playing]