The Enterprise is invaded by Ferengi marauders, who knock out the crew with sleeping gas and pillage the ship for gold, equipment and slaves.

While exploring a planet, Archer and Mayweather accidentally enter a "military zone" and are detained in an internment prison by an alien race called Tandarans, who are at war with the Suliban. While the Enterprise crew's previous encounters with the Suliban have been disastrous, Archer and Mayweather find themselves held with some Suliban detainees who they believe are wrongly imprisoned. This situation leads to a clash of wills between Archer and the Tandaran commandant.