L'ak is revealed to be a Breen. This is a race of aliens who were introduced in Star Trek:TNG and most prominently in Star Trek:DS9. They come from a frozen world and must wear refrigeration suits to survive in environments that humans live in. That doesn't seem to apply anymore.
When brainstorming ideas to widen the aperture, Rhys suggests swapping out the photon torpedo payload with antimatter. The photon torpedo payload is antimatter.
After being struck by L'ak in the flashback, Moll tells him that she's "met Bolians with meaner left hooks." The strike he gave her was a backhand, not a hook.