A visiting instructor arrives at the Academy and uses an unorthodox method to help the cadets process the emotions of recent trauma. At the same time, a cadet faces an unexpected challenge that will alter the trajectory of her life forever.

Holly Hunter (Captain Nahla Ake)
Sandro Rosta (Cadet Caleb Mir)
Karim Diané (Cadet Jay-Den Kraag)
Kerrice Brooks (Cadet SAM)
George Hawkins (Cadet Darem Reymi)
Bella Shepard (Cadet Genesis Lythe)
Zoë Steiner (Cadet Tarima Sadal)
Brit Marling (Main Computer voice)
Stephen Colbert (Digital Dean of Students voice)
Tig Notaro (Commander Jett Reno)
Robert Picardo (The Doctor)

Mary Wiseman (Lt. Sylvia Tilly)
Chiwetel Ejiofor (Maker)

Romeo Carere (Cadet Ocam Sadal)

Sophia Wynter (Child SAM)

• Tarima has returned after recovering from her coma. She has been transferred from the War College to Starfleet Academy.
  
• SAM's glitches have increased, so the Doctor and Ake take her back to Kasq for repairs. To repair her, they reboot her and she spends two Earth weeks (17 Kasq years) growing up with the Doctor as her father. She retains both copies of her memories.
  
• Mary Wiseman returns as Sylvia Tilly from Star Trek: Discovery. She is teaching theater to the cadets recovering from the U.S.S. Miyazaki incident.