The trial gets underway, and Prosecutor Orak calls his first witness — Duras, the former captain of the battle cruiser Bortas. After a skirmish with Enterprise, Duras was demoted to second weapons officer. Duras explains that Enterprise was harboring Klingon fugitives, and he asked Archer to surrender them to the Bortas. Duras insists that the captain was very aggressive, and ordered an attack on the Bortas. Archer is appalled by Duras' account and wants a chance to explain himself, but Kolos tells him to keep silent. Orak notes that Archer was clearly the aggressor in the matter, and that the captain was obviously conspiring to disgrace Duras and incite a rebellion. In short, says Orak, Archer is an enemy of the Klingon Empire. Archer insists that Duras' account of events isn't correct, but once again, Kolos refuses to respond to the accusations.

Later, Kolos visits Archer in his cell — he's spoken to the magistrate, who is willing to offer Archer a deal. If the captain will give up the location of the fugitives, his life will be spared. Archer, however, doesn't believe the fugitives are guilty of anything, and refuses. Archer insists that he be allowed to defend himself, and expresses outrage the Kolos isn't willing to do more in order to attain justice. Kolos explains that he became an advocate many years ago, when things were different. Times have changed, and he feels that he's too old to change the rules. Archer accuses him of being afraid, shaming the honorable Klingon.

A short time later, Kolos seems to have a change of heart, and presents Archer's case with flair. He even convinces the magistrate to allow Archer to give his own version of the events. Archer describes finding a vessel with a small group of aliens aboard, many of them barely clinging to life. The crew brought the refugees onboard Enterprise, offering them food and medical assistance. The refugees explained that they were "annexed" by the Klingon Empire, only to be stripped of their resources and abandoned when they requested aid. When Duras showed up with the Bortas, Archer was reluctant to turn the refugees in. He tried to reason with Duras and negotiate a diplomatic outcome, but the Klingon captain wouldn't listen and the Bortas fired on Enterprise.

As Archer recounts his story, Kolos feels the trial turning in his favor. He offers further evidence that Archer is not an enemy of the Klingon Empire — after all, the captain has helped the Empire in the past. He exposed a Suliban plot to divide the Empire and later rescued a Klingon Raptor. Kolos' defense is convincing enough that the magistrate agrees to spare Archer's life. However, he sentences the captain to life in the dilithium mines on the penal colony of Rura Penthe. When Kolos objects to the sentence, the magistrate sentences him to a year on the colony.

On Rura Penthe, Archer and Kolos work side by side in the frigid mines. The duo is surprised when Archer's crewmates show up to rescue the captain — T'Pol managed to find a few Klingon officials to bribe. Archer asks Kolos to come with them, but he refuses. Kolos reveals that Archer has made an impression on him — he wants to restore honor to the Klingon people, but he cannot do that as a fugitive. As Archer and his crewmates escape, Kolos returns to work in the mines. Perhaps one day, he can help his people to a better future.