At first, it appears that diplomacy between humans and Baasians can finally get underway after the defeat of Rev. Graves at the Inquiries. But cancer soon defeats the Baasians' leader, Cossaki, leaving the less-trusting Fretta in charge. Drasher is also nominated to join the High Council, to her own dread.

Things get even worse when a Baasian guard is killed by a Taliban suicide bomber who charges into the Gate as Charlie Schwitters and Clover leave Spain after a short visit. Knowing that she is the target of the Taliban's hostility toward the Baasians, Taza helps the Baasians bring Farouk, the Taliban leader who sent the bomber, to justice.

The final blow to human/Baasian diplomacy occurs in the Nevada desert, where an explosion was caused by Baasian technology, caused not by the Baasians but by Teller Munitions! An outraged Captain Mrovinta hunts down Teller CEO Ronald Gold for tampering with the same type of weapon that killed her home planet, Baas.

Seeing that Earth leadership isn't changing its deceitful, destructive ways, Fretta cancels diplomatic relations. Charlie does what he can to patch things up between the two species, convincing Fretta to at least have cultural, if not political, diplomacy.

After the Baasians leave Earth indefinitely, their former human guests must face the challenges of getting re-introduced to their own planet.