Cupid's Errant Arrow

The Cerritos is helping the USS Vancouver demolish an unstable moon, while Freeman deals with locals who object. Boimler introduces his girlfriend, Lt Barbara Brinson of the Vancouver, and Mariner, convinced she must be an alien impostor, sets out to expose her with a series of increasingly ridiculous tests. Boimler tries to act cool and only embarrasses himself. Rutherford and Tendi, dazzled by the Vancouver's state-of-the-art equipment, compete in an exercise and then learn that they are being transferred there for good. Horrified, they discover that Lt Cdr Docent wanted to escape to their quieter ship, and talk their way back. Mariner's suspicions prove half right: a parasite has latched onto Boimler, and it has been driving the romance. Once it is removed, Barbara ends the relationship but becomes friends with Mariner, and Freeman gets the moon destroyed.