- Secretary- General of the United Nations Rikki Stormgren hears his assistant, one Pieter Van Ryberg, enter the room.
- Pieter informs Stormgren that Wainwright is coming with a procession. They watch as said procession trounces down the street with about three thousand people, parade style.
- Stormgren thinks about how Karellen must be watching them.
- Wainwright informs Stormgren that his purpose is to lodge a formal complaint protesting the Federation's scheme. He mentions five million people in every country have signed his petition—making it about half as popular as any decent LoL Cat.
- The two discuss the Overlords and Supervisor Karellen's plans for Earth. Stormgren thinks Karellen's plans have been, and will continue to be, peace, but Wainwright believes humans should be free to reach that peace themselves.
- He also takes issue with Karellen and the Overlords not showing themselves to the people of Earth. Because, what's up with that noise?
- Doing the time warp now. We go back to the point where the ships begin appearing over Earth's major cities—New York, London, Paris, Moscow… you know, the typical alien-invasion fodder.
- On the sixth day, Karellen broadcast a message to Earth, and when Karellen finishes speaking, it is obvious that humanity has a new master.
- One nation attacks the Overlords with a nuclear missile, but it might as well have been a potato gun. When South Africa refuses to end discriminatory practices (a.k.a. apartheid), Karellen goes all Mr. Burns and blocks out the sun.
- Stormgren boards a vessel that takes him to Karellen's ship.
- Inside a little conference room, Stormgren sits before a view screen, unable to see Karellen.
- The two discuss Wainwright's interview. Karellen remains firm that it is not time for humanity to see his form. Stormgren counters by pointing out that if he has nothing to hide, then, um, don't hide it.
- Karellen states it is not yet time. Conversation over.
- Back on Earth, Van Ryberg shares his theories on Karellen and the Overlords; Stormgren feels his ideas are too ingenious to be true.
- We learn Overlords remain aloof from human affairs yet have managed to bring peace to mankind all the same. There are also hints that, unbeknownst to the world, the alien visitors are "shepherding mankind" (2.107) toward a mysterious future.