Episode 3 of Season 2 of "The Rig" kicks off with Rose jolting awake from a harrowing nightmare, her head resting on her cluttered desk. The scientist, Askel, steps into the frame, confessing that his adventures have never ventured to the icy Poles, nor is he a seasoned explorer of treacherous terrains. Nevertheless, he offers some invaluable insight, advising her that a map isn't what she needs; rather, a seasoned guide is the key.
Fulmer, meanwhile, finds himself grappling with the demands of his duties, ultimately collapsing under the strain while monitoring a signal. Magnus springs into action, hastily transporting Fulmer to the med-bay, while Coake becomes increasingly convinced that Fulmer's plight is a direct consequence of tuning into the enigmatic pulse. This belief only fortifies Coake's conviction that Fulmer has become one with the enigmatic entity.
As the medical staff conducts a thorough examination on Fulmer, they find no discernible abnormalities, leaving the doctor at a loss. In a private moment with Rose, Fulmer reveals that he heard not only the pulse but also a cacophony of overlapping voices, hinting at a pivotal clue. Though hesitant to revisit the experience, he confesses to Rose that his presence there is solely due to her. She gently reminds him, "This transcends both you and me," before walking away, leaving him to ponder.
Elsewhere, Kat and Hutton have scoured the camp, leaving no stone unturned in their search for Kacey. However, there remains one unexamined sanctuary – a tent housing the deceased. While Hutton waits anxiously outside, Kat ventures in alone, steeling herself for the grim task ahead.
After a lengthy search, Kat emerges with her answer – Kacey is not among the deceased, offering a glimmer of hope that she might still be alive. Touched by Hutton's heartfelt tale of his family, Kat decides to take matters into her own hands, seeking to uncover the truth hidden behind Pictor's veil of secrecy. Hutton, sharing her desire for transparency, is bound by his agreement with Lennox, forced to adhere to a scripted narrative or face legal repercussions. Among the mourning families is Anna Dunlin, and Lennox warns Hutton to deliver her letters according to the fabricated story or risk losing everything, including facing legal action.
At the same time, Darian York shows up at the Casualty Camp. He apparently insisted on showing, and speaks to Lennox. It’s frosty between the two, and Darian immediately warns her that the board are watching so she needs to be careful and make sure there are no “further complications”. Darian York is a rich kid who is sponging off his parents’ money it seems, so he has a pretty narrow and materialistic view of the world.
Meanwhile, Magnus has managed to work and encrypt the files on the computer. Apparently, the operation at the Stac for deep-sea mining is way bigger than they thought. It’s not just one mining site here but instead, an entire region. It would appear that Pictor are trying to grab as many of the rights as possible – mining, oil, processing – and monopolizing it all when everything goes south.
Rose, of course, believes Lennox is still trying to do the right thing, despite the evidence pointing out she’s not, but Magnus and Harish have checked the details and it would appear that Pictor are shady. We then cut to Lennox who all but confirms she’s with Pictor, although she’s not 100% onboard with the Arctic plan.
While all this is going on, Coake approaches Fulmer and propositions him. He believes he can get the organism out of him and he has a dose of a serum he’s been working on with Pictor that will do just the trick. Fulmer seems to buy into it, and Coake even shows off his little spying operation, with cameras hooked up everywhere. He explains that while Fulmer is connected to the Ancestor, he’s a risk to every mission.
In exchange for this blocker from the Ancestor, Coake wants the data card that Dale Cameron has. Cameron is definitely not in the sharing mood, even with Easter whom he’s grown quite attached to.
Fulmer arrives to confront Cameron, attempting to persuade him with words, convinced that Rose and their allies possess the wherewithal to rectify the situation and dismantle Pictor's regime. Cameron capitulates after Fulmer's brief exhortation, but not before reminding him that any deceit would be swiftly uncovered. Bremner, seeing his chance, lunges at Cameron, intending to neutralize him, but the diver, ever cunning, outsmarts his simplistic ambush and confines him within the mechanical room.
Fulmer entrusts the tape to Coake, little realizing that Cameron has swapped the drives, rendering it a decoy. Coake's fury knows no bounds, propelling him to take matters into his own hands. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew occupies the control room, entranced by a signal they believe emanates from the Ancestor. Askel postulates that it could indeed be the Ancestor's voice, cautioning that engaging with this otherworldly entity demands caution, for they cannot converse with it directly.
Coake storms in to confront Cameron, his animosity palpable. However, his momentary distraction, courtesy of Harish's arrival, proves fatal. Cameron seizes the opening, plunging a blade into Coake's neck. As Coake topples into the water, it seems his fate is sealed.
