Picard begins investigating the mystery of Dahj as well as what her very existence means to the Federation. Without Starfleet's support, Picard is left leaning on others for help, including Dr. Agnes Jurati and an estranged former colleague, Raffi Musiker. Meanwhile, hidden enemies are also interested in where Picard's search for the truth about Dahj will lead.

Patrick Stewart (Jean-Luc Picard)
Alison Pill (Dr. Agnes Jurati)
Isa Briones (Dr. Soji Asha)
Michelle Hurd (Raffi Musiker)
Harry Treadaway (Narek)

David Paymer (Dr. Moritz Benayoun)
Jamie McShane (Zhaban)
Tamlyn Tomita (Commodore Oh)
Orla Brady (Laris)
David Carzell (Caler)
Wendy Davis (Dr. Kabath)
Chelsea Harris (Dr. Naáshala Kunamadéstifee)
Peyton List (Lt. Narissa Rizzo)
Ann Magnuson (Admiral Kirsten Clancy)
Marti Matulis (Checkpoint Supervisor)

Chaka Desilva (Burley Fuelie)
Alex Diehl (F8)
Kate Fuglei (Kvetchy Fuelie)
Harrison Grant (Ensign)
Anthony R. Jones (Pincus)
Paul Keely (Philosophical Fuelie)
Jason Liles (Noiro)
Meghan Lewis (Picard Computer/Planitia Computer Voice)
Brit Manor (Tough Fuelie)
Zachary James Rukavina (XB/Nameless)
Douglas Tait (Tellarite)

• This is the first appearance of regular cast member Michelle Hurd (Raffi Musiker). Raffi Musiker assisted Picard during the Romulan evacuation mission. According to the Picard—Countdown graphic novel, they served aboard the U.S.S. Verity NCC-97000.
  
• This episode opens with the synthetic attack on Mars and the Utopia Plantia Shipyards in 2385. Android F8 (who resembles Data/B4 in skin tone and eye color) appears to have some sort of glitch before he lowers the base's shields and then kills the fuel crew before killing himself.
  
• The androids have their designation stamped on their foreheads. They were created by Bruce Maddox and the Daystrom Institute based on B4's matrix. As Guinan warned Picard in the Maddox episode "The Measure of a Man", the androids appear to be used as a disposable workforce.
  
• At the Romulan Reclamation Site, Soji and the scientists work for the Borg Artifact Research Institute and are cataloging the XBs, the ex-Borg drones.
  
• The Romulans refer to the Borg cube as The Artifact, and the site falls under the jursdiction of the Romulan Free State.
  
• Dr. Moritz Benayoun previously served on the U.S.S. Stargazer NCC-2893 under Picard. He clears Picard for space travel, but notes an irregularity in his brain. Though unspoken, it is likely the onset of Irumodic Syndrome as seen in the TNG series finale "All Good Things...".
  
• Lt. Rizzo is a Romulan in human disguise, and is the older sister of Narek.