Gabriel was shoved onto the bridge by Saru's hand. Burnham tagged along behind the two men with her eyes drilled on Gabriel. Through her facade, Tilly noticed the look of fury while sitting on the console across from Richter. Gabriel looked around the bridge seeing only the faintest of colors between the blinding light. Saru guided Gabriel to the center of the bridge. Burnham was like a bottle ready to go off as she swayed her shoulders from side to side finding a strategic position. Gabriel was forced down to his knees.
"Fleet wide hail," Burnham snapped.
In a series of clicks, the Rogue Klingon appeared.
"Here is your leader," Burnham said.
Gabriel looked up feeling the hard, sharp fingers of Saru digging in.
"If you don't surrender to the Federation now, history will judge you as cowards. This war is capable of destroying a entire generation until no one is left," Burnham said. "We will capture each and every one of your leaders every time they are replaced. I am willing to play this game but I believe you're not."
Gabriel shook his head.
"We're not," came the reply, as Gabriel's look of horror grew.
"We are willing to escort you to a safe haven," Burnham said.
"That is unnecessary, Captain Burnham," the politely mannered Klingon replied. "we go with our honor."
"Klingon warp signatures have appeared," Owosekun said.
"That's my back up," Gabriel said.
"I expect you make this surrender official," Burnham said. "Discovery out."
The screen turned to black.
"Captain, the Klingons are offering their service," Richter said.
"Tell them to stand down until the order of surrendering is fleet wide," Burnham said, as her eyes looked down toward the imposter. "We will be returning to Starbase 1 after I have a discussion with your navigator."
Gabriel looked up toward her in confusion.
"Captain," Richer said. "You want to see this."
"Put it up," Burnham said, turning away.
The Klingon's figure appeared in a blue light.
"-the Rogue Klingon force has lost its leader for the second time. Our numbers are dwindling, we have suffered heavy casualties. We have lost our way and need to become . . ." the Klingon lowered her head. "Great again." Her hands were clasped in front of her lap. "We have been dishonorable and un-Klingon continuing a war. As second in command, we surrender to the Federation and accept any punishment by our counterparts on Qo'Nos. We deserve the punishment being handed to us. We are. . . not Klingon."
The Klingon's head shamefully lowered and the hologram flickered away.
"It's over," Saru said, in a unsure tone placing a hand on the back end of the chair.
"It's over," Burnham said, watching the two Klingon vessels warp away. "we won."
A wave of relief crashed through the bridge, from officer to officer. Tilly came over to the side of Burnham then reached her hand out. Burnham grabbed Tilly's larger pink, warm hand giving it a good squeeze. Saru looked down toward the imposter. Gabriel was defeated sitting there on the center of the bridge, seeing stark differences everywhere that were in the thousands. He squinted looking up then down toward the dark floor. Owosekun and Detmer shared smiles. Rhys looked over toward his fellow officers and leaned back into the chair.
"Richter, hail the starbase and ask if they need any medical attention for their injured," Burnham said. "Inform them that our sick bay is standing by." Burnham turned toward Saru. "Commander Saru, you have the bridge. Lieutenant Styler and Ensign Bra'heze, escort him to the brig." She came over to the chair then pressed on a button. "Bridge to sick bay."
"Sick bay here," Soval voice came over.
"Prepare sickbay for incoming wounded," Burnham said, looking off toward the starbase that was burning. She looked down toward the screen on the arm rest. "we will be here for some time."
"Alright," Soval said. "I'll get the staff ready."
"Bridge out," Burnham said, then went after the turbo lift with Tilly by her side. She turned around and faced the fake Lorca. Burnham stared back at the squinting man. "You are not Gabriel Lorca."
"I am Gabriel Lorca," Gabriel said. "You know that."
Burnham opened her mind as Tilly looked over toward her.
We might still have a chance-
"We have no chance," Burnham said, watching the look of horror become intense. "Not at all."
She leaned back then grabbed onto the leveler and the doors closed on her. Burnham placed her back against the wall. Tilly reached out grabbing Burnham into a hug. Burnham closed her eyes, clinging onto Tilly's uniform. All the anger and bitterness about seeing her second captain's skin misused fell off replaced by comfort. Tilly cupped her hands around Burnham's cheeks with a soft look back toward the acting captain.
"I never doubted you," Tilly said.
Then they pressed their foreheads together and a small, soft smile grew on Burnham's face.
