Archer persuades Xindi weapon-designer, Degra, to examine evidence of the plot to pit the Xindi against Earth to prove humanity is not his enemy. When Archer demonstrates they've been manipulated, Degra offers to attempt to delay the launch of their superweapon. Meanwhile, the crew mourns their lost mates, with Trip still coming to terms with his sister's death and wrestling with the recent death of a subordinate. T'Pol confronts her substance addiction to trellium-D.

Enterprise arrives at the location of the Xindi Council, and with Degra's help and Hoshi translating, Archer makes his plea before the five Xindi races. Archer must prove that the Sphere Builders have been lying and Humanity is not their enemy. While the Primates and Arboreals are already aware of the truth, convincing the other three races will not be easy. The Reptilians and Insectoids refuse to even listen to Archer. Meanwhile, seeing a diminished number of successful timelines with Earth destroyed, the Sphere-Builders arrange a secret meeting with the Reptilians. They seize the Xindi weapon and launch it, protected by five Insectoid ships. Elsewhere, T'Pol and Reed lead a mission inside a Sphere to retrieve its memory core for information about the Sphere network inhabiting the Expanse.