Now, these are delicious.
- Leave some for us. - Hey, I'm eating for two.
Great party, Neelix.
- Everybody seems to be enjoying it. - Except the Doc.
Those are for eating, not scanning.
- What are they? - Cheese pirogues.
- Zefram Cochrane's favourite. - They have no nutritional value.
This is a party. Sometimes you have to forget about nutrition.
Include a vitamin supplement when you replicate them.
Replicate? I made them myself.
You've outdone yourselves. I've never celebrated First Contact Day like this.
When I was your age, it just meant a day off school.
- We thought we should make it fun. - You've succeeded.
When is Tuvok making his presentation?
Now is as good a time as any. Captain?
May I have everyone's attention please?
In honour of the 315th anniversary of his ancestors' arrival on Earth,
I've asked Mr Tuvok to recite the first words spoken to humans by a Vulcan.
Commander.
- Is this really necessary? - You promised!
Very well. "Live long and prosper."
And now, some more of Zefram Cochrane's favourite music.
Come on, Mr Vulcan.
- Vulcans do not dance. - It's tradition!
There is no tradition. This ceremony is entirely your invention.
This is an official ship function. Don't make me order you to dance.
I've got some interesting news. Neelix, you might want to hear this.
Sensors have detected several hundred lifesigns 4.9 light years away.
They're Talaxian.
Are we there yet?
The lifesigns are from inside that field.
- From a ship? - We're not detecting vessels.
No response from hails?
Not yet.
I hope they're all right.
They may not have our transmissions.
Can we get any closer?
Voyager's too big to go in there.
We could take the Flyer.
You could have done a few steps.
I am trying to concentrate.
You were afraid.
Absurd.
There were a lot of people watching.
Vulcans don't experience fear.
It's my mission
to get you to dance at least once.
Find a more productive hobby.
Stop it or I'll separate you.
I've localised the lifesigns.
Bearing 108, mark 26.
They are inside a large asteroid.
Inside?
That was a thermalyte explosive,
30.6 km to port.
Another projectile is heading toward us.
Evasive manoeuvres.
We've lost shields.
Propulsion is off-line. We'll have to make an emergency landing.
- Where? - The Talaxians' asteroid.
The surface is covered with craters, ice fields.
We don't have a choice. Hold on.
- Problem? - We've lost contact with the away team.
I also detected unusual energy discharges.
- What kind of discharges? - It's difficult to tell.
They look like thermolytic explosions. Several of them were close to the Flyer.
- Source? - Unknown.
We'll need to send a rescue team.
Try to modify the shields on a shuttle to withstand these explosions.
Stay still.
Don't worry. It's not serious.
- Am I inside the asteroid? - Yes. This is my home.
- Where are my friends? - The aliens who were with you?
They're safe.
- I'd like to see them. - You need to rest.
What were you doing in the asteroid field?
Looking for you.
Well, not you specifically.
But my ship detected Talaxians.
I haven't seen any in years, so...
I'm sorry. I'm Neelix.
Dexa. I had an uncle named Neelix.
- Are there other Talaxians on your ship? - Just me.
- Why are you living with aliens? - They're my friends.
- Did you receive our hails? - Yes.
- Why didn't you respond? - We avoid contact with outsiders.
We were attacked. There were explosions.
- Did you...? - No. We're not violent.
- Who fired at us? - No one fired at you.
Miners use explosive charges to break apart the asteroid
so they can collect minerals from the debris.
- I wish we'd known. - Why were you carrying weapons?
It's standard procedure for an away mission.
- Hello. What's your name? - Brax. What's yours?
- I told you not to come in here. - I wanted to see him.
You're supposed to be helping Oxilon.
He doesn't look dangerous to me.
- You have the wrong idea about us. - I'm not meant to talk to you.
I'd like to see my friends now.
- What are you doing? - I can't let you leave.
- Harry? - Still no response to hails.
Janeway to the shuttlebay. The status of the modifications?
- We'll finish in a few minutes. - Good.
Take an away team and find them.
There's a ship approaching. We're being hailed.
On screen.
- Identify yourselves. - I'm Captain Janeway of Voyager.
Commander Nocona. This is our asteroid field.
- We weren't aware of that. - Now you are.
We lost one of our shuttles inside the field.
- We're sending a rescue team. - The resources belong to us.
We were only trying to make contact with the Talaxians.
- Your interest in them? - One of my crewmen is from Talax.
He was eager to meet his people.
You need permission before sending in a shuttle.
We have a mining operation in progress.
- Does that explain the explosions? - Mining charges.
Please stop using them until we can get our people out.
I'm sorry. We're on a strict deadline. But I'll conduct a search for your crew.
If they need help, we'll provide it.
That's kind of you. But we're prepared to go in and get them ourselves.
I cannot guarantee your safety if you enter the asteroid field.
Stay here. We'll contact you when we find your people.
I don't think you're supposed to be here.
This is my home. You can't tell me what to do.
No, of course not. I just don't want you to get in trouble.
Is that a model ship? What's it called?
How about the Two-Tailed Talchok?
The Fur Fly?
- My ship is called Voyager. - Is it big?
And fast.
Can I see it?
It would be a little difficult to take you there while I'm stuck here.
But if your mother would let me out...
- That's her! - You better hide.
- You won't tell her I'm here? - No. Course not.
Neelix, this is Oxilon, our council regent.
This wasn't exactly the welcome I was expecting.
You're free to go now.
- What about my friends? - They aren't hostile.
They've been treated and asked to leave.
They're aboard your shuttle making repairs. I'll take you there.
Well, now that everything has been cleared up,
maybe we could talk, get to know each other a little.
If you like.
- My friends too? - I'm sorry.
- Why not? - We've learned to keep to ourselves.
If they're not welcome, I'm not staying either.
That's your choice.
I know Oxilon seems overly cautious but we're not used to visitors.
How many of you live here?
Close to 500. Our homes are connected to the central cavern by tunnels.
They allow us to move easily from place to place.
- It must have taken years to build this. - Almost five. It still isn't finished.
- Where did the technology come from? - We arrived with six ships.
We modified their components.
We converted torpedo launchers to blast away rock and excavate tunnels.
These conduits run into the asteroid's core.
We use geothermal energy to melt the ice that covers the outer surface.
It provides us with oxygen and water.
Who'd have imagined all of this inside an asteroid.
Your son seems like a wonderful boy.
How would you know? You only met him for a few seconds.
True. But I'm a quick judge of character.
He came to see you, didn't he?
You can't blame him for being curious.
He's a lot like his father. No fear.
I'd like to meet your husband.
He's dead.
- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... - It's all right. You didn't know.
- Neelix. Are you all right? - I'm fine.
Dexa, this is Lieutenant Paris and Commander Tuvok.
Thanks for bringing him back. We were getting worried.
It was nice to meet you.
So... what can I do to help?
You can give me a hand with this plasma manifold.
How did it go?
They didn't send a welcoming committee but I'm sure they had their reasons.
I guess my expectations were a little high.
I regret it wasn't a fulfilling experience.
That's nice of you but it wasn't a complete waste of time.
I met some of my people again, even if it was a short visit.
Who knows? It's probably the last time I'll ever see another Talaxian.
Good work. Now we need to run a systems...
- Intruder alert. - At least internal sensors are working.
Brax!
- You know him? - We're old friends.
- You said you'd show me Voyager. - Your mother wouldn't approve.
- You won't tell her I was here, will you? - Here?
I have no idea what you're talking about.
I'll be right back.
Three days isn't enough time to dismantle our equipment.
You should have begun when we asked. We can't wait any longer.
Demolition will start whether you're here or not.
- You'd kill us? - We don't want to hurt anyone.
But our patience has run out.
We've only got one ship. There won't be enough room for our belongings.
- It was you who took apart your ships. - You can't do this.
- Don't provoke him! - Where are we to go?
You'll find a home somewhere.
This is our home. You have no right to make us go.
Leave her alone!
Bring him here!
- Don't touch him! - Are you gonna stop me?
You've said what you've come to say. Now I suggest you leave.
You have three days to evacuate.
You can see why we're suspicious of outsiders.
Thank you for protecting the boy, but your actions might make things worse.
- How could they get worse? - Fighting back causes more trouble.
- What does running away do? - It's kept us alive.
Maybe it's time we defended ourselves. Will you help us?
I agree with Oxilon. Fighting isn't the answer.
- But I'll try to help. - How?
We could talk to my captain.
Maybe she can get the miners to agree to let you stay.
Your captain would be willing to do that?
The best thing would be for you to come to Voyager. Talk to her yourself.
- I want to go, too. - Brax.
Why don't you both come? I've seen your home. I'd like you to see mine.
Commander Chakotay, I'd like you to meet Dexa and Brax.
- Welcome to the bridge. - And this is Ensign Kim.
- What's this? - This is an engineering station.
And over there is tactical, and down there is the helm.
And this is the captain's chair.
- Which station's yours? - I don't have a specific... I'm a...
Neelix does too many things to have one station.
He's our ambassador, morale officer...
Trade negotiator. He's the most versatile member of our crew.
Our sensors are extremely precise. We scan for lifesigns light years away.
- That's how we found you. - This may interest you.
- What is it? - Talax.
- You can scan that far away? - No. This is from our database.
It's as beautiful as I remember.
There's the Godo mountain range.
And the Axiana Lakes. That was always one of my favourite places.
Mine too.
Why don't we go back to Talax? We could live there.
It's still controlled by the Haakonians.
They don't treat Talaxians well. That's why we left.
Maybe Neelix could go with us and we could fight them. Take the planet back.
If the negotiations go well, you won't have to go anywhere.
- Next stop, engineering. - The warp core!
- Neelix! - Naomi!
I'm sorry. I forgot all about our game.
It's all right. I know you're busy. I wanted to meet your friends.
Of course. Dexa, Brax, this is my goddaughter, Naomi.
- Hi. - You live on a beautiful ship.
Thanks. Maybe Brax would like to go to the holodeck.
- That's a great idea. - There's a new program.
- "Invaders From The Ninth Dimension". - Sounds scary!
- Very. - What's a holodeck?
Neelix is right. Might be too scary for you.
I'm not afraid. Can I?
You're lucky to have found these people.
- They think a great deal of you. - The feeling's mutual.
To the Axiana Lakes.
- It really is delicious. - I've been saving it for 15 years.
I wasn't sure I'd ever open it.
But tonight seemed like the right occasion.
Would you like some more taga cake?
A little, please.
I haven't had this in years.
I'm glad you like it. It's a family recipe.
You're a good cook.
I haven't seen Brax this happy since his father was alive.
How did he... I'm sorry. You probably don't want to talk about it.
I don't mind. We'd settled on a planet called Phanos.
The government restricted us to a very small area.
Why?
They said it was a quarantine
to protect the population from alien diseases.
But it was just an excuse. They didn't want us mixing with their people.
We didn't have enough land to grow what we needed to feed ourselves.
Oxilon said we'd just have to conserve our resources.
But my husband was tired of being told what to do.
So he started farming outside the restricted zone.
- They didn't like that? - A security patrol confronted him.
He told them he had to provide for his family, that he wasn't afraid of them.
There was a fight. He was killed.
I'm sorry.
After that, we came here.
We thought no one would bother us.
Maybe this time it will be different.
Maybe.
But even if it isn't... thank you for trying.
I should get a good night's sleep if I'm going to be my best at the negotiations.
Neelix...
It's been a wonderful day.
Isn't there enough to mine without destroying their home?
Their home contains more than 30% of the field's ore.
Without that asteroid, the operation isn't worth the expense.
Would you be open to some kind of compensation?
- All we want are the minerals. - And you'd Kill us to get them.
Wait.
The Talaxians have found a way to produce a lot of geothermal energy.
Maybe they could share it with you.
What do you mean, share?
You could convert it into fuel to power your ships.
Their energy isn't compatible with our technology.
- We'd help you make the modifications. - We have quotas to meet.
We don't have time for that.
The future of more than 500 people is at stake here.
Once there was a transporter accident.
Neelix and Tuvok got combined to make a different person.
- Really? - I couldn't make up a story like that.
- Hello, Neelix. - You want to play Kadis-Kot?
Maybe later.
I knew it wouldn't work.
They made a small concession. They've extended the deadline.
You'll have time to dismantle your equipment.
Thanks. But there's too much to take with us.
Captain Janeway will ferry you and your supplies to the nearest M-Class planet.
- Come on, Brax. We're going home. - Why?
We have to pack. Come on.
- You said you were gonna help us. - Brax.
You wanted to see me?
There are five warp-capable species
near the planet where we're taking the Talaxians.
- I'm worried they'd be vulnerable. - They'd be vulnerable anywhere.
Maybe you could help me devise some defence strategies for their new home.
Mr Neelix, they don't seem inclined to defend themselves.
No, I suppose not.
But if they were going to make a stand,
their emotional attachment to their present home might be an asset.
- Are you saying they should stay? - I'm speaking hypothetically.
Hypothetically, if they wanted to defend the asteroid, how would they do it?
They would need to establish some kind of perimeter.
- You mean shields? - Yes.
The miners are monitoring the asteroid.
If the Talaxians erected a shield, they would attempt to stop them.
I suppose so.
Your people would need leadership to defend against attack.
With the captain's permission, you'd provide that leadership?
Certainly not. It would be a violation of the Prime Directive.
And I don't believe I'm the person most qualified to assume that role.
- You mean me? - I am speaking hypothetically.
I couldn't lead those people, Mr Tuvok.
I'm not a fighter.
I'm just a cook who sometimes imagines himself to be a diplomat.
On the contrary, Mr Neelix.
You are much more than that.
You are perhaps the most resourceful individual I have ever known.
I always thought you just tolerated me.
You do have some annoying habits.
However, during your time on Voyager, you've developed many valuable skills,
skills that would serve you well if you decided to assume a leadership role.
- You really think so? - Let me be clear.
I'm not urging you to do anything.
I'm simply saying that I believe that you are more than capable.
- Going somewhere? - Just to see my friends.
You're using your own ship? Why not have Tom take you?
- I don't want to bother anyone. - You're planning something foolish?
Whatever I do, I promise it won't involve Voyager.
That wasn't my question.
I know you have Prime Directive issues.
But I'm not part of the crew. I don't have those constraints.
You're as much a part of this crew as anyone else.
- Are you ordering me not to go? - That depends on what you plan to do.
It's up to the Talaxians.
Safe journey, Mr Neelix.
I know that you have force field emitters.
We could use them to establish a shield grid.
We'd need to deploy a series of them on the asteroid's surface,
along bisecting diameters.
16 emitters should be enough to form a grid.
It would take weeks to dig that many tunnels.
We could modify the emitters
so they could be fired from torpedo tubes on your ship
and planted in the surface.
The miners would attack.
I could provide cover. But we'd have to work quickly.
We could route power to the emitters directly from the core.
- Good idea. - People are going to be hurt.
This is your home!
The miners have no right to force you out.
- I agree. But fighting? - I don't like it either.
But you have to stand up for yourselves.
There might be someone else to terrorise you in the next place.
You know he's right.
No one has worked harder to build this place than you.
Isn't it worth defending?
Wait for my com call.
When the last emitter's in place, start routing power to the grid.
Understood.
You're scared, aren't you?
- You? - Terrified.
- Be careful. - I will,
Oxilon to Neelix, the emitters are loaded. We're ready.
I'll see you soon.
Two more and we're done.
We're moving into position for the next one.
The miners' ship is on an intercept course. Evasive manoeuvres.
- They're targeting our shields. - Focus on your job.
Mr Vulcan, let's see if you were right about me.
- You have to hurry. - Just one more emitter.
Neelix to Oxilon, my weapons are off-line.
We're not in position yet.
You have to get there. They're going to launch another charge.
- Neelix, what are you doing? - Don't worry.
Get ready to bring the grid on-line.
Delta Flyer to Neelix, are you all right?
Fine, Captain. But you shouldn't be here. You're violating the Prime Directive.
We're helping a friend in distress.
Dexa to Neelix, the shield is holding. You did it.
We did it.
Captain's log, stardate 54868.6.
Nocona has given up his attempts to penetrate the Talaxians' shield.
We're giving Mr Neelix time to say a difficult goodbye to his new friends.
- We're grateful for everything. - I'm happy things worked out.
And I'm glad that I could spend some time here... with all of you.
- I'd better go. - Stay here!
He can't, Brax. He has responsibilities on Voyager.
I promise I'll stay in touch as long as I can.
Come in.
Neelix.
- What are you working on? - A report on proto-humanoid cultures.
It's for Commander Chakotay's palaeontology class.
- Need some help? - I'm almost finished.
- Do you have time for Kadis-Kot? - I have to get up early.
I guess you'd better get to sleep then.
Do you want me to tuck you in? Tell you a bedtime story?
You haven't done that in years.
Just think of all the stories you've missed.
Thanks, Neelix, but I can put myself to bed.
I'm not a little girl any more.
I didn't think anyone else stayed up this late.
I wouldn't want you to have coffee all by yourself.
Have a seat.
I've been thinking about something.
It's a little hard to put into words and I haven't really made a decision yet.
And I would never ignore my responsibilities on Voyager.
- Of course not. - I take them very seriously.
I know you do.
I've been thinking about something, too. Maybe you could help me.
I'd be happy to.
It's an idea I'd need to talk to Starfleet Command about.
- It must be important. - It is.
Now that we've established communication with Earth,
Starfleet could use a permanent ambassador in the Delta Quadrant.
This ambassador would have to stay in frequent contact with Voyager.
Certainly.
It would be difficult for me to run this ship without you, Neelix.
But that might be a sacrifice I'd be willing to make
for the greater good of Starfleet.
The assignment would be entirely voluntary.
You wouldn't be interested, would you?
Goodbye. And good luck, Ambassador.
Mr Neelix.
Live long and prosper.