Lt. Reed and MACO leader Maj. Hayes feud over training drills which disrupts Archer and Phlox's investigation of a rescued alien near a spatial anomaly. The dying alien refuses to disclose his motives for exploring the anomaly. As Archer tries to unravel the mystery surrounding the alien, long-simmering feelings explode between Reed and Hayes. Trip's interest in a pretty MACO corporal sparks a heated exchange with T'Pol, who eventually confesses her feelings for Trip.

The discovery of unhatched Xindi-Insectoid eggs inside a crashed vessel brings out the paternal side of Archer, who alarms the crew with his obsessive determination to save the embryos.