Eager to visit the deep-space colony of a race called the Paraagans, Captain Archer leads an away team toward the surface of an alien planet. While piloting the shuttlepod into the atmosphere, Reed proceeds cautiously as he follows the Paraagan landing protocols precisely, a necessity due to the high concentration of the volatile gas tetrazine at a certain altitude. He closes the shuttlepod's plasma vents as instructed (exhaust plasma being the only thing hot enough to ignite the tetrazine), but just then the shuttlepod is rocked by a deafening explosion, and a massive shockwave scorches the planet beneath them. After getting back to Enterprise safely, the distraught team learns the colony of 3600 people has been obliterated, and tries to figure out what happened. Reed is absolutely certain both plasma ducts were closed without malfunction, but Archer orders an investigation while he braces himself to report the incident to Admiral Forrest. While the crew continues its analysis and Archer deals with intense feelings of guilt, Forrest convenes an emergency meeting of the Command Council. He later informs Archer that Enterprise is to return home, and a Vulcan ship will rendezvous with them in three days to pick up T'Pol and Dr. Phlox.

Springfield is in the midst of a heat wave. The nuclear plant is at capacity and when one of its crack employees, Homer Simpson, plugs in just one appliance too many, the city has a blackout. Looting begins and the police are ineffective. In an attempt to try doing something right for a change, Homer starts his own security company to help keep order. Chief Wiggum finds himself without a job, when Mayor Quimby decides that "Spring Shield" security should become the city's new police force. Homer shuts down one of Fat Tony's operations and with that crime is non-existent. Fat Tony makes a public announcement that he is going to gun down Homer if he isn't out of town by tomorrow at noon. Homer appeals for help, only no one of importance offers to help. The following day, Fat Tony and New Jersey associates a la The Sopranos go to the Simpson home. Shots ring out, effectively wounding Fat Tony and friends. Homer decides to give his badge to the next person he sees, which happens to be Clancy Wiggum. He comments that's the way he got the job in the past, he also disavows any knowledge of the shots; but we know who the shooter is, it's Maggie Simpson.

Bartlet has a life-or-death decision to make regarding the known foreign diplomat terrorist, and thinks on it while attending a charity event where Governor Robert Ritchie is also in attendance. Meanwhile, C.J. and Donovan come to an understanding regarding their flirtation; Josh and Amy's relationship is threatened when they take opposite stances on a piece of key legislation; and as the search for a replacement for the late Mrs. Landingham continues, Charlie recommends Deborah Fiderer, a former White House secretary.

A tenement building explodes and the lone victim is Joseph Haden. The building was rent controlled and there had been a tenant strike, so the police initially suspect arson. But the landlord doesn't have insurance, ruling out their arson theory, and the medical examiner discovers that Haden's neck was broken and he was tied up before the explosion happened. Trying to figure out Haden is even more difficult. He didn't appear to have a family or a girlfriend and never got any substantial mail. He worked at the Jiffy Job service station making minimum wage, yet had $90,000 in the bank. Briscoe and Green do some more digging and find out that Haden was using an alias, and his real name was Yusuf Haddad.

Coming Soon...