Moist Vessel

The Cerritos joins a joint mission with the USS Merced to tow a disabled generation ship. The ship carries alien xenoforming material that converts inert matter to organic matter. Freeman gives Mariner the most disliked jobs in an effort to force her to transfer to another ship, but Mariner finds ways to make these tasks enjoyable. Freeman then promotes Mariner to lieutenant, hoping that Mariner will be bored by the increased responsibility and decide to transfer. During the mission, the xenoforming material cripples the Merced and begins xenoforming the Cerritos. Mariner works with Freeman to escape the xenoforming, return the ship to its previous state, and rescue the crew of the Merced. Meanwhile, Tendi's clumsiness prevents Lieutenant O'Connor's spiritual ascension and she pesters him to try apologize.

Summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.