After receiving three new warp injectors by the generous Kreetassans, Enterprise is in need of warp plasma. The Kreetassans give the crew the location of a merchant colony with a deuterium refinery. But after arriving the colonists seem to be very reluctant to trade at all. Enterprise is only able to purchase 200 liters for a ridiculous price and must repair two pumps at the colony. Captain Archer and the crew are beginning to wonder what's going on. The deuterium should have been very profitable, but there's poverty all around. Then Enterprise detects the arrival of a Klingon cruiser.