“The War Without, the War Within” is episode fourteen of season one of Star Trek: Discovery.
In the previous episode, “What’s Past Is Prologue”, Mirror Lorca had been killed, Burnham took the emperor with her when she was transported off the Charon and Discovery had returned to its home universe. Nine months after it had left. It looked as if the Klingons had won the war.
Saru enters the transporter room to see Emperor Georgiou, rather to his startlement. She tells him to get on his knees. Slave. Burnham disarms the emperor as she points her weapon at Saru, and explains that Saru is her captain. The emperor mentions that yesterday they dined on the entrails of Saru’s kin and today Burnham seeks his favour. Saru orders the emperor to be transported to quarters and confined for now. Burnham, had told Saru there were no Kelpians; she says she did it in the hopes of sparing him pain. For now, the presence of the emperor is classified.
Saru gets called to sickbay and he wants Burnham to accompany him. She says she could offer a range of excuses as to why she saved the emperor’s life but the truth is she couldn’t bear to watch ger die again. It may be an error in judgement. Saru tells her that no-one else could have done what she did. They have detected some Federation ships at long range but none have answered their hails.
Dr Pollard tells them that Ash Tyler has regained consciousness. Saru explains that an emergency procedure was necessary to excise the Klingon personality and what L’Rell did in “Vaulting Ambition”. They are not sure what state Tyler is in but a familiar face might give encouragement to heal. However, Burnham can’t face Tyler at the moment and leaves.
According to Pollard, Tyler now presents as Ash Tyler and there is no remaining evidence of Voq. As to whether he is human or Klingon; the answer she gives is neither. Or both. They can’t be sure until they understand the procedure that was done. A start would be asking Tyler. Tyler can access Voq’s memories, but it’s like someone else’s life. What was done was intended to allow the Klingons to infiltrate Starfleet Intelligence. Voq was the test case and he submitted willingly. He and L’Rell were the only true believers left and they loved each other. Tyler wants to know if Burnham is okay. He also says he belongs in the brig. Saru states that Voq was responsible, not Tyler. He will have limited privileges, but Saru won’t take his freedom.
On the bridge, a Federation ship is approaching, but it’s ready for combat. A boarding party beams aboard Discovery, led by Sarek and Admiral Cornwell. Cornwell takes over the ship and Sarek performs a mind meld on Saru. He says that Saru is who he appears to be and Discovery has been through an inconceivable ordeal. When Cornwell asks where Lorca is, she’s told he’s dead.
Cornwell doesn’t take who Lorca really was that well. Sarek says that Lorca being an imposter from an alternate universe was not the most obvious conclusion. They had found the wreckage of the Discovery, but that was the Discovery of the alternate universe. The cloak-breaking algorithm has now been distributed to the other ships. Cornwell recaps what has happened on the past nine months. Lots of bad things. Burnham, says the attacks don’t make sense. That’s because the Klingons are not attacking as an empire, but as they have no leader, as 24 separate houses, trying to see who can do the best. Cornwell says they also cannot let the information on what Discovery has been through leave the ship. There would be consequences. Starbase 1 is their last remaining sanctuary and they need to head there. However, they have no spores left, so they have to head there under warp drive. Unfortunately, when they get there, it has fallen to a Klingon house. Cornwell is badly shaken by this.
Tyler gets greeted with utter silence when he enters the mess hall band sits by himself. Tilly, of course, goes and sits with him. Followed by Detmer, and then others. Cornwell seeks out L’Rell for some advice on the Klingons and Burnham does the same with the emperor. As, too, does Sarek. They have a plan, but first they need spores.