Back on the U.S.S. Discovery, Michael Burnham and the crew are faced with the harsh reality of the war during their absence. In order to move forward, Starfleet must use unconventional tactics and sources to take their next action against the Klingons.

Sonequa Martin-Green (Specialist Michael Burnham)
Doug Jones (Commander Saru)
Shazad Latif (Lt. Ash Tyler)
Anthony Rapp (Lt. Paul Stamets)
Mary Wiseman (Cadet Sylvia Tilly)
Jason Isaacs (Captain Gabriel Lorca)

Michelle Yeoh (Captain Philippa Georgiou)

Jayne Brook (Admiral Katrina Cornwell)
Mary Chieffo (L'Rell)
James Frain (Ambassador Sarek)

Michael Ayres (Transport Officer)
Emily Coutts (Lt. Keyla Detmer)
Raven Dauda (Dr. Tracy Pollard)
Riley Gilchrist (Admiral Shukar)
Julianne Grossman (Discovery Computer)
Harry Judge (Admiral Gorch)
Patrick Kwok-Choon (Lt. Gen Rhys)
Sara Mitich (Lt. Cmdr. Airiam)
Melanie Nicholls-King (Admiral Drake)
Oyin Oladejo (Lt. Joann Owosekun)
Ronnie Rowe Jr. (Lt. Ronald Bryce)

• L'Rell seems to have successfully killed the Voq personality, leaving behind only Tyler.
  
• The I.S.S. Discovery was destroyed by the Klingons after the two ships switched places.
  
• Riley Gilchrist (the Andorian Admiral Shukar) previously appeared as his mirror counterpart in "The Wolf Inside".
  
• U.S.S. Discovery is confirmed through dialog to be a Crossfield-class starship.
  
• Jason Isaacs (Lorca) does not appear in this episode.