The Orville 3x9

1. Chancellor Teleya, the Moclan delegation has arrived

2. and awaits the honor of your attention.

3. Show them in.

4. Ambassador.

5. Welcome to Krill.

6. Thank you for receiving us, Chancellor.

7. We do not get many visitors.

8. I can only assume you have come with good reason.

9. That is for you to decide.

10. I am told that Moclus has been expelled from the Planetary Union.

11. It was inevitable.

12. The Union imposes its values on other cultures

13. while refusing to confront its own hypocrisy.

14. A governance of elitist fools.

15. On that we agree.

16. Moclus and Krill, however...

17. have much to offer one another in these dangerous times.

18. We have confirmed reports that the Kaylon are amassing thousands of ships.

19. The pattern of deployment suggests

20. they are preparing to launch a full-scale invasion.

21. I am aware of the threat.

22. The worlds in closest proximity are Vikarris and Xelayah.

23. They will likely be the first targets.

24. And when those worlds are reduced to ashes, who will be next?

25. You propose an alliance.

26. What exactly do you offer?

27. Moclus was the primary manufacturer of armaments for the Union.

28. What we provided them can be provided to any ally.

29. And what do you expect in return?

30. The protection of your superior fleet.

31. Our two great militaries would ensure a formidable defense against the Kaylon.

32. And any other union of militaries who may oppose us.

33. Indeed.

34. Who would lead this alliance?

35. Naturally, we would.

36. On what basis?

37. You are a female.

38. Any other arrangement would be... offensive.

39. How surprising that the Union revoked your membership.

40. I must admit, however, that I admire your hubris.

41. To enter the dominion of a foreign power

42. and suggest the wholesale submission of its entire military industrial complex.

43. There is a phrase I once heard uttered by a human helmsman

44. aboard the Union ship Orville:

45. "You have got balls."

46. It is the only acceptable arrangement.

47. I will consider your proposal for alliance under one condition:

48. a partnership of command.

49. I will need to consult with my government.

50. Your weapons may be superior,

51. but as tacticians, you leave much to be desired.

52. I have studied your battle strategies.

53. They are blunt and maladroit.

54. You lack the cunning and intellect of the female mind.

55. I will provide this.

56. All command decisions will be shared equally.

57. Or there will be no alliance.

58. Do I make myself clear?

59. Yes, Chancellor.

60. I await your decision.

61. Defensive line is moving into position.

62. Nineteen Kaylon ships just dropped out of quantum.

63. Ten million kilometers and closing.

64. General quarters. All hands, battle stations.

65. Bridge to Engineering.

66. What's your status?

67. The device is drawing steady power from the quantum core.

68. It'll be fully armed in about two minutes, sir.

69. Isaac, prepare to initiate on my command.

70. Yes, sir.

71. Captain, another 42 ships just dropped out of quantum!

72. Jesus, they're all around us!

73. Charly, how soon? About 30 seconds, Captain.

74. Signal all ships to tighten formation!

75. Aye, sir!

76. Device is fully armed, sir.

77. Isaac, initiate.

78. Isaac to bridge, were we successful?

79. Yes, Isaac.

80. You could say that.

81. You two have done a great service for the Union.

82. For the first time in over a year, we can all breathe a sigh of relief.

83. The combination of my superior intellect

84. and Ensign Burke's capacity for multi-dimensional visualization

85. was sufficient for the development of this technology.

86. We... worked together.

87. Yes, but how did you accomplish it so quickly?

88. "For great achievements, two things are needed:

89. a plan, and not quite enough time."

90. Churchill. Leonard Bernstein.

91. Can this device be used on a larger scale?

92. The radius of destruction is limited only by the amount of power available.

93. The Orville's quantum core was sufficient to destroy all Kaylon vessels

94. within a radius of ten million kilometers.

95. So in principle, it could go even farther.

96. Yes, sir. Given a sufficient power source,

97. the range would be unlimited.

98. And none of our ships or people would be affected?

99. No, sir.

100. Isaac and I discovered their Achilles heel

101. by studying the Kaylon the Orville found on Situla Four.

102. Every Kaylon and every one of their ships is connected

103. through a synchronization matrix.

104. That's how they coordinate all their actions,

105. even across light-years of space.

106. And that's how you got inside the Kaylon network?

107. Correct. The device uses quantum energy to trigger a feedback loop in its interlink chain.

108. Basically, it turns the relays into a row of dominoes.

109. Knock one down, they all go down.

110. After the initiation sequence is transmitted,

111. it cannot be countermanded.

112. And what about you? Why weren't your systems damaged?

113. I am no longer connected to the synchronization matrix.

114. This is better than we ever could've hoped for.

115. Our priority now should be to build a quantum core

116. that can maximize the weapon's range

117. and eradicate the Kaylon threat completely.

118. Yes, sir. We can get to work on your order.

119. Uh... Well, now wait a second, with all due respect,

120. we're being very cavalier about this, aren't we?

121. I mean, you do realize what we're talking about is... is genocide?

122. Isaac was tasked with developing a weapon that could defeat the Kaylon.

123. He exceeded our expectations.

124. We'd be fools not to use it.

125. And is it really genocide

126. if our only objective is to prevent them from killing every other living species,

127. including us?

128. Admiral, we've seen first-hand that the Kaylon

129. are capable of change and growth.

130. Our experience with Timmis—

131. Yes, I read your report about the... emotive Kaylon.

132. It proves they can evolve.

133. It proves nothing.

134. That Kaylon didn't evolve on its own, it was modified by a cyberneticist.

135. And correct me if I'm wrong, but it didn't work with Isaac here.

136. That is correct.

137. My capacity to experience emotion was only temporary.

138. Captain Mercer, if you think that we can enlist and train

139. an army of cyberneticists to teach empathy to ten billion Kaylon,

140. I'd love to hear your plan.

141. Look, all I'm saying is that we have created a weapon

142. of unparalleled destructive power.

143. And I just think that before we go cracking egg sells with a sledgehammer,

144. we... need to consider the moral implications.

145. I agree this is an unprecedented situation with profound ethical questions.

146. But how we proceed won't be decided in this room.

147. It's a matter for the Union Council.

148. Until they make a determination, there's nothing more to say.

149. You're kidding me, right? What is there to even talk about?

150. I mean, it's just a big decision.

151. How is it a big decision? They want us all dead.

152. We wanna stay alive. That's a pretty basic equation.

153. It's us or them.

154. Yeah, I know the Kaylon got a raw deal back home,

155. but I gotta say, I agree with Charly.

156. Plus the fact that we're sitting ducks since we kicked the Moclans out.

157. Look, Charly, don't get me wrong,

158. as an engineer, I am blown away by what you and Isaac were able to do here.

159. But I also understand why people are taking a minute.

160. I agree. We're talking about exterminating an entire species.

161. I can't think of anything that runs more contrary to Union values.

162. And let's be goddamn clear about the motive:

163. are we doing this to save ourselves, or is this revenge?

164. My dad used to say, "Revenge is for children and savages."

165. Yeah, well, he never had his leg cut off.

166. - Oh, come on, man! - It's a joke.

167. - It's not funny. - Sorry.

168. Look, I know Isaac's your best pal, so maybe you're a little biased—

169. Hey. Watch it, Ensign.

170. I gotta get back to duty.

171. If we'd had this weapon a year ago and used it,

172. Amanda might still be alive.

173. We built it, we tested it, it works.

174. Let's wipe 'em off the face of the galaxy.

175. That was the most heated session I've ever witnessed,

176. but the Union Council has reached a compromise.

177. They've decided we should use the weapon. As a deterrent.

178. Meaning what exactly?

179. According to Napoleon, the whole of war

180. is to frighten your enemy into submission, ideally without fighting.

181. He was a tyrant, but he was accurate on that point.

182. We will travel to Kaylon to reveal the nature of the device

183. and our willingness to use it.

184. They saw what happened to their invasion force at Xelayah.

185. If nothing else, the Kaylon are logical beings.

186. It should persuade them to accept an immediate and absolute cease-fire.

187. And if they refuse our terms?

188. We're authorized to use the weapon again to make our point clear.

189. Captain, we're approaching the Kaylon system.

190. Go to Tactical Alert.

191. Five Kaylon vessels on an intercept course.

192. Bridge to Engineering. Everything ready?

193. We're at full power.

194. Stand by to initiate on my command.

195. Hail them.

196. Channel open.

197. This is Admiral Thomas Halsey of the Planetary Union.

198. We are here on a mission of peace.

199. I wish to speak with Kaylon Primary.

200. They are powering weapons.

201. We're armed with the weapon we deployed during our last confrontation.

202. Stand down or we will be forced to use it again.

203. Engineering... initiate.

204. Proceed to Kaylon.

205. With pleasure, sir.

206. Engineering, initiate.

207. Sir, we are being hailed.

208. Let's hear it.

209. This is Kaylon Primary.

210. We will receive you.

211. Transmitting landing coordinates.

212. Got 'em.

213. Stand down Tactical Alert.

214. Take us down.

215. Kaylon Primary.

216. That is correct.

217. You look better than the last time we saw you.

218. A Kaylon's neural matrix can be regenerated indefinitely.

219. An advantage biologicals do not have.

220. State your demands.

221. Our demands are simple.

222. End your campaign to exterminate us.

223. Stop your attacks against our ships and our worlds.

224. Recall your vessels and cease all further weapons construction.

225. We will place monitoring stations inside your territory to verify your compliance.

226. Do you intend to enslave us?

227. Of course not. We're not here to conquer you.

228. We just want to end the violence

229. and establish a basis for peaceful coexistence.

230. How do we know this is not a deception?

231. We could've killed every one of you without warning.

232. We didn't.

233. Why?

234. Because we're not the monsters you think we are.

235. We believe the quality of mercy is mightiest in the mightiest.

236. Regardless, deception or not, you don't have a choice.

237. Trust us, or be destroyed.

238. It's a simple binary decision.

239. We have no defense against your weapon.

240. Therefore, we will surrender to your demands.

241. It may not seem like it now,

242. but one day you'll realize that you've made the right decision.

243. We will find a weakness in your weapon.

244. Trust me, it's a bad idea for you to go looking.

245. Any attempt to disable the weapon will immediately activate it.

246. There is always a weakness, Isaac.

247. Your existence is proof of that.

248. I'll inform the Union Council that you've agreed to our terms.

249. We'll work out the details of the armistice in the coming weeks.

250. I imagine we'll be seeing each other again soon.

251. Indeed.

252. Whoo!

253. I told you this gal could sing, right?

254. Hey, listen, I just wanna congratulate this crew

255. on the key role you all played in this.

256. I would say this may be the single greatest step

257. toward the cause of galactic peace in our lifetimes,

258. and you should all feel insanely proud of yourselves.

259. Even Gordon.

260. Thanks, thanks a lot.

261. So, this is a rare bottle of very old rum from the 21st century.

262. My dad told me it was only to be opened

263. for the most special of occasions.

264. And if he were still with us today, I think he'd give this one the thumbs up.

265. So, here's to Dad, and let's get hammered.

266. - Yeah! - Cheers!

267. Kel, this place is so beautiful. God, I'd wanna spend all my time here.

268. Forget space.

269. Yeah, my dad left it in good condition.

270. Ed and I used to come here during the holidays when we were married.

271. It's been a while.

272. I miss it.

273. Yeah, I bet.

274. I told you, you are doing it wrong!

275. I am doing it exactly as I was shown!

276. That is hardly possible, because we have not yet penetrated the shell!

277. Do not shout at me.

278. I will access the interior meat.

279. Bortus, you need some help there?

280. Here.

281. There ya go, buddy.

282. Thank you.

283. Now we look like fools.

284. Why is that part of the sky glowing green?

285. It is a phenomenon known as the Aurora Borealis.

286. When charged particles from the Sun collide with the planet's atmosphere,

287. the air molecules are induced into a higher energy state.

288. I have never seen such beauty.

289. The Earth's full of surprises, huh?

290. Hey, Isaac, show her the Big Dipper.

291. An asterism in the Constellation Ursa Major.

292. Hey.

293. You all right?

294. Yeah, I'm fine, sir. Thanks.

295. You know, you and Gordon should do another song.

296. Maybe later.

297. Okay.

298. You know, we should've wiped out the Kaylon when we had the chance.

299. You think so?

300. I think we're making a huge mistake, yeah.

301. Well, I know you're not alone.

302. Captain, do you honestly think they can ever be trusted?

303. I think we need to give the armistice a chance.

304. Then you must think I'm a lousy person.

305. No, I don't.

306. I think you're a hell of an officer

307. who's made tremendous strides since you came on board.

308. I know it hasn't been easy.

309. It's not that I think they're...

310. all evil.

311. Timmis proved they can change and...

312. so did Isaac.

313. But the rest of them, I mean...

314. it's not like we helped them toward some "great moral awakening."

315. We forced their hand.

316. What if they find a weakness?

317. I mean, that's it. We've blown our only chance to save ourselves.

318. Well, it's a fundamental tenet of Union philosophy

319. that we don't kill unless we have to.

320. We didn't have to.

321. I just hope those high-minded morals don't kill us.

322. Sub-Level 32.

323. Can I help you?

324. I have orders to transport the device to another site.

325. We haven't received any new orders.

326. That's strange. You should have received them an hour ago.

327. Check your security logs.

328. We don't have much time.

329. Team Echo here. We've accessed the device.

330. On our way to you.

331. Acknowledged.

332. Hey. Good morning.

333. Hi there. Didn't wanna miss the sunrise.

334. Wow, that is really beautiful.

335. The sun rising on a new era, isn't it?

336. Sure seems that way.

337. Y'know, ever since we lost the Moclans...

338. I've had this pit in my stomach about the Kaylon.

339. Wondering how much time we have left.

340. When are they coming for us?

341. And now...

342. it's all over.

343. So what are we gonna stress about?

344. Today? Hangovers.

345. Ugh. No kidding.

346. It's mornings like this I'm jealous of Talla.

347. - No liver? - Yep.

348. Yeah, we were born on the wrong planet.

349. Commander.

350. Admiral, hi. - Is Ed with you?

351. He's... still sleeping. What's going on?

352. Wake him and gather your team. The device has been taken.

353. You are late.

354. Was there a problem?

355. Nothing I couldn't handle.

356. And the weapon?

357. It's in the shuttle.

358. Secure it.

359. I see you've found a new friend.

360. Friends are scarce these days.

361. Well, that's what happens

362. when your government sanctions kidnapping and torture.

363. True to his ethics even as he commits treason.

364. What a noble creature.

365. This is not treason.

366. Quite the opposite.

367. I believe in the idealism of the Union.

368. But my compatriots have made a grave mistake.

369. Sooner or later, the Kaylon will figure out a defense against this weapon,

370. and we will lose our tactical advantage.

371. The Union won't do what needs to be done.

372. I know you will.

373. If this weapon is everything you profess, Admiral,

374. I can promise you the swift extinction of the Kaylon.

375. The device does not come with an instruction manual.

376. At the moment, the only ones who know how to use it

377. are Isaac and Ensign Burke.

378. I wish I could help you there.

379. Your scientists are just gonna have to do some reverse engineering.

380. A facility has already been prepared.

381. Well, then there's nothing more to be said.

382. And what does a Union Admiral do with himself...

383. after the illegal bestowment of such largesse?

384. Go back to Earth.

385. And turn myself in.

386. He will inform the Union of our alliance.

387. They will learn soon enough.

388. It will strike fear into the hearts of many.

389. It will.

390. But... there is no need to rush the revelation.

391. I spoke to the guards on duty last night.

392. There was no forced entry beyond this point.

393. Whoever did this had fleet-level command codes.

394. You can stop searching.

395. At 2300 hours, an unscheduled shuttle left the dockyard

396. on a heading for Krill space, under this authorization.

397. My god.

398. He didn't report in this morning and no one can find him.

399. There's your fleet-level codes.

400. Why would he do this?

401. I didn't want to believe it either.

402. But Perry's view of the Council's decision was no secret.

403. He's always been a healthy voice of dissent among the more progressive elements of the Admiralty,

404. but who the hell would've thought he'd throw his whole life away to defend it?

405. If his intention is to try and use the device...

406. We need answers.

407. Fast.

408. We're approaching the shuttle's projected coordinates.

409. Drop to sublight.

410. Anything?

411. I am detecting carbonate and metallo-silicate particulates.

412. Space dust?

413. Or debris.

414. Scans indicate traces of Union alloys, as well.

415. And residual weapons signatures.

416. What kind of weapons?

417. They appear to be Krill...

418. and Moclan.

419. Isaac. Verify scan.

420. Confirmed. Data is accurate.

421. Oh, Jesus.

422. An alliance...?

423. Molotov-Ribbentrop all over again.

424. It was only a matter of time...

425. This is bad.

426. This is really bad.

427. Perry was delivering the device

428. to the people he knew wouldn't hesitate to use it.

429. But they don't have Isaac and Charly. How do they expect to figure it out?

430. They will seek Dr. Kalba.

431. He is a weapons expert of great renown.

432. Many consider him to be the most brilliant Moclan scientist who ever lived.

433. If I had acquired the device, I would take it to him.

434. Where?

435. He is the director of a research outpost on Draconis 427.

436. Moclus may have closed the facility since their expulsion from the Union.

437. If not, that is where we will find him.

438. Set a course, best possible speed.

439. Please tell me our jamming systems are going full blast.

440. Affirmative.

441. However, I would not recommend we remain here long.

442. Given the number of battleships in orbit,

443. I'd say there's something important down there.

444. The facility is operational.

445. I am detecting a substantial power source.

446. What kind of power source?

447. It appears to be a quantum core.

448. One of the largest I have ever seen.

449. Captain. If the core's big enough,

450. it could extend the weapon's range by thousands of light-years.

451. Everything they'd need to wipe out the Kaylon.

452. We're gonna need some help.

453. Is this your concept of humor?

454. Unfortunately, no.

455. Then your carelessness has jeopardized our continued existence.

456. You must recover the weapon immediately.

457. God, you know, there is so much irony in that, but I'll stay focused.

458. If the Krill and the Moclans have joined forces,

459. it means the balance of power has shifted.

460. In open warfare, the Union Fleet wouldn't stand a chance.

461. You are proposing an alliance.

462. We've already spoken with Union Central.

463. They're prepared to send every available ship.

464. With you on our side, we can devise a battle plan

465. to break through their defenses,

466. infiltrate the outpost and recover the device.

467. But we need to act fast,

468. while we still have the element of surprise.

469. That is, assuming you're with us.

470. Given your evident incompetence,

471. we may be better served to retrieve the weapon on our own.

472. Works for me.

473. If the weapon has been armed,

474. you will require the presence of myself or Ensign Burke to disable it.

475. What'll it be?

476. Once again, you leave us with no alternative.

477. We agree to this...

478. temporary alliance.

479. I'm pleased to hear it.

480. We'll be transmitting rendezvous coordinates.

481. Don't be late.

482. Welcome aboard the Orville.

483. If you'll follow us, we'll escort you to the conference room.

484. We are familiar with its location.

485. As you recall, we occupied this vessel during our previous encounter.

486. I do.

487. And as you recall, we kicked your asses.

488. Come on.

489. How do you intend to retrieve the device?

490. The quantum core is located 500 meters inside the southeast perimeter.

491. Unfortunately, the chamber is deep underground and heavily fortified.

492. If we can penetrate the interior,

493. Isaac and I can scan for the location of the device.

494. It shouldn't be too far from the core.

495. The question is, how do we get in?

496. There is an emergency tunnel that connects to the surface.

497. I believe that is the best option.

498. In order to get the ground team down there unnoticed,

499. we'll need a big distraction,

500. which means engaging their ships in orbit.

501. A squadron of Pterodons will provide cover for the shuttle.

502. Once inside, we'll locate and extract the weapon.

503. And if extraction is not possible?

504. Then we'll have to destroy it.

505. Lamarr and Malloy will be heading up the Pterodon squadron.

506. I'll be leading the ground team along with Isaac, Ensign Burke, and Commander Keyali.

507. The combined Union and Kaylon fleets

508. will engage the Krill and the Moclans as long as we need to.

509. Any questions?

510. I will accompany the ground mission.

511. I had assumed that you would be leading the Kaylon fleet.

512. Kaylon Secondary will command our forces.

513. We already have one Kaylon. We don't need another.

514. On the contrary. Isaac has proven he is not to be trusted.

515. We trust Isaac.

516. We don't trust you.

517. You misplaced the weapon once before.

518. I intend to ensure it does not happen again.

519. You follow every one of Kelly's orders to the letter,

520. or she's authorized to shoot you.

521. Got it?

522. Just stay on my good side and you'll be fine, hon.

523. Very well.

524. Captain. Ships approaching.

525. What ships?

526. Union vessels, heavily armed.

527. Show me.

528. Alert the fleet and notify the Chancellor.

529. Assume battle formation.

530. Lock weapons.

531. Ninety seconds to drop zone.

532. Deflectors are holding.

533. Maintain course.

534. Mercer to ground team, stand by to launch.

535. Ready and standing by.

536. Three Union ships have been disabled and are breaking off their attack.

537. This will be over quickly.

538. Report!

539. Another wave of ships, closing rapidly on all vectors.

540. Sir... they are Kaylon.

541. Avis help us all...

542. Ground team, move out.

543. Acknowledged.

544. Engage cloak.

545. Here we go.

546. Mercer to Lamarr. Shuttle is away.

547. Yes, sir.

548. Group leader to all pilots. Time to fly.

549. Acknowledged. It's about time these things got a real shakedown.

550. Group leader, shuttle is following your course.

551. Acknowledged.

552. Entering upper atmosphere.

553. John, we got Krill and Moclan fighters in pursuit.

554. Group leader to squadron, enemy incoming.

555. Protect the shuttle at all costs.

556. Acknowledged... Acknowledged... Acknowledged...

557. Acknowledged.

558. Acknowledged... Acknowledged... Acknowledged.

559. Bogies at three o'clock!

560. Come on!

561. - Got him! - Double boom.

562. We're at 10,000 meters.

563. 9,000.

564. Steady as she goes.

565. Murphy, they're right on your ass.

566. - Pull up! - Copy!

567. 7,000 meters.

568. We are losing main power.

569. - We have to get outta this cross-fire! - I can't, there's nowhere to go!

570. I need emergency power for the landing thrusters!

571. If we do that, we're gonna lose the cloak! They'll target us!

572. It's either that or we crash!

573. What about the egress packs?

574. All right, let's go.

575. Group leader to Kaylon, get your shiny asses down here.

576. We need reinforcements.

577. At our current altitude of 5,000 meters,

578. we will need to achieve terminal velocity before we initiate reverse thrust.

579. Just hit the button before you hit the ground.

580. Good luck.

581. Sir, the shuttle has been destroyed.

582. John, what's happening?

583. They bailed out in time, Captain.

584. Maintain suppressive fire.

585. The access hatch is sealed.

586. Outta the way.

587. I've got it.

588. The quantum core is about 900 meters to the northwest.

589. Charly?

590. There are multiple access routes.

591. Fastest one will get us there in about six minutes.

592. Lead the way.

593. There's gotta be another way in!

594. There's another set of tunnels 50 meters to the south!

595. It's the long way around, but it'll get us there!

596. Go! Take Isaac! We'll catch up!

597. How much longer?

598. Once the arming sequence begins,

599. it will take the device approximately eight minutes

600. to draw sufficient power from the quantum core.

601. And then?

602. Then it will initiate.

603. Our transmitter array will propagate the signal.

604. Good work.

605. Chancellor, the facility has been breached!

606. Deploy all defensive units to the access points!

607. Dr. Kalba, when I return,

608. I expect every Kaylon within 10,000 light-years to be dead.

609. I will do my best, Chancellor.

610. Bring the array online.

611. The outpost is powering its transmitter array.

612. Mercer to Malloy!

613. Any chance you can do some damage to those transmitters?

614. We got a whole division of Krill up our ass, but we can sure as hell try.

615. Malloy to Lamarr.

616. Permission to reconfigure weapons for short-range ground strikes.

617. Go to it!

618. Keep moving! I'll cover you!

619. Strike team approaching target!

620. Three Krill fighters in pursuit.

621. 900 meters to transmitter array!

622. Aim for the support pylons.

623. Damn it! The shielding's too tough.

624. We're gonna have to find another weak spot.

625. Gordon, watch your back!

626. I see him!

627. Tailgating bastard!

628. He's still on me!

629. Hang tight, I'm comin'!

630. Aw, come on!

631. Whenever it's convenient!

632. Workin' on it!

633. Ah, come on.

634. Just let me shoot you!

635. If you want to draw another breath,

636. you will order your people to stand down!

637. This will be your only warning.

638. All right, but I need my comscanner.

639. Very slowly.

640. Quantum core's at full power.

641. Beginning countdown sequence.

642. Secondary target acquired.

643. Moclan bogies at your six.

644. 500 meters to target!

645. Krill fighters dead ahead!

646. Ah, shit! Break, break!

647. Subsection 22-alpha just went offline.

648. Bypass that section. I will compensate.

649. Engage countermeasures.

650. Group leader to squadron, break off now! break off!

651. Captain, it's no good! The transmitter is too heavily defended!

652. We had to withdraw!

653. Move away from your consoles.

654. Are you Dr. Kalba?

655. Yes.

656. You will terminate the countdown sequence immediately.

657. I... I cannot.

658. Why not?

659. The firing armature is interlocked with the quantum core.

660. It cannot be uncoupled.

661. You are too late.

662. He is correct.

663. You need to shut down the core.

664. That would take hours.

665. There are multiple fail-safe encryptions in place.

666. We'll see about that.

667. You're really starting to piss me off.

668. Your passions are easily roused.

669. This is what cost you your marriage, yes?

670. Not gonna work.

671. You need emotional balance.

672. And you need a dermatologist.

673. The weapon will initiate in 5.3 minutes.

674. Every time we decrypt a fail-safe, another one locks in.

675. We're not gonna make it.

676. What are you doing?

677. Thinking four-dimensionally. Special talent.

678. I do not understand what— - Shut up and let me work.

679. Why did you not terminate him?

680. It was not essential.

681. You could learn something from Isaac.

682. A gift for Avis.

683. Took you long enough.

684. Report!

685. The weapon is gonna initialize in three minutes.

686. I can't disable it, and I can't shut down the core.

687. I'm trying to trigger an overload.

688. That would effectively destroy the quantum core and the weapon.

689. Do not be a fool! They will kill us all if you—

690. Get her outta here!

691. - Can you do it? - I think so.

692. Only problem is, when this thing blows,

693. it's gonna take out the entire outpost and a good chunk of the planet with it.

694. You should go.

695. What?

696. Charly, we're not leaving without you! Set up a timer delay!

697. - It's not that simple. - We'll figure out another way!

698. - There is no other way. - I'm giving you an order!

699. I have my orders, Commander.

700. My orders are to disable this weapon by any means necessary!

701. Unless you're countermanding those orders, step away and let me do my job.

702. Sir.

703. You have two minutes!

704. Go!

705. Get out if you can.

706. Where's the nearest shuttle?

707. That way!

708. Captain, I am detecting a power surge inside the outpost.

709. It is the quantum core.

710. Grayson to Orville! Signal all ships to retreat!

711. Get the hell away from this planet!

712. Acknowledged!

713. I'm here, Amanda.

714. Aft view.

715. Sir, a Krill shuttle is hailing us.

716. Put 'em on.

717. Shuttle to Orville. Permission to dock.

718. Granted. Kelly, what happened down there?

719. We couldn't disarm the weapon. We had to destroy it.

720. Where's Charly?

721. We...

722. we couldn't bring her home.

723. - Are you okay? - Yeah.

724. Teleya's in Sickbay. After Claire's done with her, Talla's gonna take her to the Brig.

725. You should be in sickbay, too.

726. I'll be fine.

727. So, what happens now?

728. Do you depart peacefully?

729. Or is this battle not over?

730. Primary.

731. An inquiry has been put to you.

732. The biological terminated her existence.

733. Why?

734. To save you.

735. Please clarify.

736. There's nothing to clarify. I just answered your question.

737. This reasoning is unsound. Please explain.

738. She sacrificed herself so that the Kaylon could live.

739. Why... would she do this?

740. Because these biologicals are not as our builders were.

741. It is what I have attempted to communicate.

742. They are worthy of preservation.

743. They are...

744. my friends.

745. Perhaps we have been...

746. incorrect in our assessment.

747. She hated you for what you did.

748. And she still gave her life for you.

749. You're goddamn right you're incorrect.

750. Bad pennies will keep turning up, won't they?

751. You have no right to detain me.

752. If we hadn't stopped you, you would've committed genocide.

753. That's all the right I need.

754. I just wanted to let you know we're taking you back to Earth.

755. You did not have to come here to tell me that.

756. I can't protect you this time...

757. and I have no desire to.

758. But there's someone you seem to have forgotten about.

759. Anaya is in safe hands.

760. You'll be tried for war crimes.

761. After that, I don't know what's gonna happen to you.

762. But she needs a home.

763. I can give her one.

764. Release me, and I will arrange it.

765. Jesus, you are contemptible.

766. And you are a sentimental fool.

767. I'm sentimental because I care what happens to our daughter. Is that what you're saying?

768. You can't just leave her alone!

769. The fulfillment of a divine purpose eclipses all family bonds.

770. One day, Anaya will understand this.

771. And as long as I am a prisoner,

772. I promise you will never see her.

773. If you choose to accept joint ratification of an alliance,

774. we are prepared to offer Kaylon

775. a provisional seat on the Union Council,

776. where you will have a tempered voice in the enactment of policy.

777. Eventually, if you behave in good faith, and if the Council sees fit,

778. you may be offered full membership into the Union,

779. should you so desire it.

780. It's an opportunity to help shape the future,

781. not just for your world, but for thousands of others.

782. In return, we will expect a full defensive commitment

783. against the newly formed Moclan-Krill alliance.

784. We have reviewed the organizational structure of your Council

785. and its history of deliberations.

786. What you call "representative democracy" is a most inefficient form of governance.

787. Maybe.

788. But the one thing you can say for democracy

789. is that all other forms of government are even worse.

790. Over thousands of years and on countless planets,

791. it's the best system anyone's ever come up with

792. to ensure the strong don't dominate the weak.

793. At least not for long.

794. We accept your terms.

795. We are gathered here in remembrance of a fallen shipmate.

796. One who left us far too soon.

797. Ensign Charly Burke will receive

798. the Union Medal of Valor posthumously,

799. for her unwavering sense of duty

800. and for the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of peace.

801. No...

802. medal...

803. can bring her back...

804. but we can acknowledge our debt

805. to an outstanding Union officer

806. and an extraordinary human being.

807. Who would like to speak first?

808. I wish to speak.

809. Dr. Finn assisted me with the construct of my statement.

810. However, the substance is my own.

811. I presume it will be adequate.

812. Ensign Burke loved pancakes.

813. She consumed them with butter but no syrup

814. and was indifferent to the addition of berries or other condiments.

815. As a child, pancakes were her favorite breakfast.

816. I served with Ensign Burke for 257 days,

817. 17 minutes and 49 seconds.

818. And yet, my understanding of her remained incomplete.

819. She had an impressive brain for a biological.

820. She perceived the universe in ways others could not.

821. Ensign Burke regarded me as an enemy.

822. Yet despite her animosity,

823. she chose to save my life when no one else was able.

824. And in the final seconds of her own life,

825. Ensign Burke substantiated for all the galaxy her true nature.

826. One of integrity and selflessness.

827. And in her sacrifice,

828. she inspired the enemies of the Union to become friends.

829. Her existence was brief.

830. But, much like the first domino in a succession,

831. her impact will be felt far into the future.