Look.
And you said they were incompatible.
You have confirmed the genetic structure?
An entirely new species.
I'm gonna name it after you. The Tuvok Orchid.
That is an honour you should reserve for yourself.
- You gave this species life. - And you gave me life.
All of this is because of you.
Because of the meld.
The meld introduced you to my interest in floriculture,
but you have embraced it entirely on your own,
and discovered a unique talent within yourself.
I used to think the only talent I had was a talent for killing.
Please. It's my way of saying thank you.
Very well. I accept.
Tuvok, I want to do something for the ship.
I'm not asking you to let me out of confinement.
But if I could just... contribute somehow.
What could you contribute from your quarters?
I might adapt some of the genetic engineering techniques
I've developed for the orchids
to make the airponic vegetable garden more productive.
Your attitude is admirable. I will discuss it with the Captain.
Do you think she'll agree?
We'll see. Now, shall we begin?
Notice your mind working -
how it plans for the future, visits the past.
Notice those thoughts and set them aside.
Turn your attention to the white light that is your breath.
We're being hailed on a subspace frequency.
- Are there ships in the vicinity? - Negative. Tracking the source.
It's coming from an unmanned buoy, coordinates 140, mark 317.
It looks like a Kazon signal, Captain.
Take us out of warp. Open a channel.
Chakotay, they're going to take your son.
When Culluh saw the baby... I hear them coming.
When he saw the baby wasn't his...
Please Chakotay, help us. Not for me, for your son.
I told you to stay out of here.
No, please don't. Don't take him! I beg you. No!
This is not my responsibility! She can't expect...
She knew how you'd react
when you saw your son in danger.
I have a duty to this crew. I can't just go looking for the child.
I wouldn't let you go into a Kazon-Nistrim stronghold alone.
If we do this, we do it together.
Seska would know that, too.
Do you think it's a trap?
Do I think Seska is capable of manipulating you and me with this?
Oh, yes.
It was time for her to deliver,
and that baby looked Cardassian and human.
I'm sure Culluh's pride was wounded when the child wasn't his.
It makes sense. It might all be true.
The safest thing is to ignore this message and resume our course.
I'm not going to resume our course yet.
I want you to think about it.
This has to be your decision.
If you choose to go after him,
I know I speak for the entire crew, Starfleet and Maquis alike,
when I say we'll stand behind you.
A-koo-chee-moya.
We are far from the sacred places of our grandfathers.
We are far from the bones of my people.
But I ask, on this day of sorrow and uncertainty,
that the wisdom of my father find me
and help me understand my dilemma.
Speak to me, Father. Speak to me in my dreams.
I've never seen you so troubled, Chakotay.
I have a son, Father.
A son, Chakotay?
This is the reason for your despair?
Was he born with two arms and two legs and a heart that beats?
- Yes, but... - Then it's a cause for celebration.
You will make a fine father.
You needn't worry.
I'm not sure I'm willing to be a father to him.
- Not willing? - He was born without my consent.
I had no part in it.
No part in it? It's been a long time, so forgive me,
but it seems that I had to play a part before your mother could conceive.
My DNA was taken from me,
used by a woman to impregnate herself without my permission.
I see.
You're trying to decide whether you should accept the child in your heart.
- It's more than that. - But it must begin with that!
How do you take a child into your heart who is forced upon you by deception?
He knows nothing of deception.
He is innocent.
Centuries ago, when the women of our tribe were raped by white conquerors,
many gave birth to their children, and we did not reject them.
They were accepted by the tribe.
One was a direct ancestor of ours, Chakotay.
His name was Ce Acatl.
He became a great leader of our people.
Here is a man who was given life without his mother's consent.
Are you so different from her?
And is your child so different from Ce Acatl?
- No. - Hm.
He is your son, Chakotay.
And he is a child of our people.
I've been in touch with the Talaxian mining colony on Prema ll.
They'll come to our assistance if we run into trouble.
That's good for about 40 hours if we average warp 2.
- Then we're out of their com range. - It's nice to know we have friends.
I recommend a full diagnostic of our tactical array.
Agreed. But I want more.
I want to anticipate a trap, and I want a few tricks up our sleeves.
I could program the deflector grid so it looks like help is on the way.
I'll show you what I mean. Excuse me, Doctor.
- Echo displacement. - Exactly.
This is how we'd look to the enemy's sensors.
If we generate multiple decoy images like these,
the Kazon would think that ships are coming toward us.
That's a good start. It should distract them for a while.
But what else can we do if we're intercepted?
If you don't mind, I do have something to add.
Thank you.
I hesitate to offer suggestions in a field that is not my area of expertise.
Your suggestions are always welcome.
Really? Then expect several more on a variety of matters in the near future.
Right now I suggest that we also create a holographic illusion of friendly ships.
Doctor, we can't even figure out how to project you into this room.
How are we supposed to create holographic ships in space?
My program is far more sophisticated than your average hologram.
Projecting the illusion of a large object is an ancient magicians' trick.
We'll just do it with mirrors.
Mr Paris's "humour" notwithstanding, that is precisely what I would suggest -
installing holo-emitters along the hull
with parabolic mirrors to enlarge the images as they are reflected into space.
We're gonna use up a lot of our power reserves.
If these ships can fool the Kazon, it's worth it.
But if the Kazon scan the holograms,
they will realise there are no life signs, no power signatures.
We can't fool them for long, but maybe long enough.
It's an advantage and we'll need every advantage we can get.
Work with the Doctor on it, B'Elanna.
Minimise power to all systems. I don't want to show up on Kazon scanners.
Locate the warp signature from Culluh's ship and set a course to follow.
Excuse me, but there is one more thing.
Thank you.
It's not Culluh's ship.
Slow to impulse. Set an intercept course.
- What's the nature of the distress? - We just got a signal.
Let's go to Red Alert.
- Visual range. - On screen.
Showing one life sign, adult Kazon male. He's in critical condition.
Sickbay, prepare to receive an emergency transport.
Commander. Mr Tuvok, you have the bridge. Remain at Red Alert.
His hip is broken. Severe bronchial inflammation.
He inhaled noxious gases in the shuttle. 40 milligrams pulmozine.
I know this man. His name's Teirna. He's one of Seska's aides.
She had him work me over when I was on their ship.
Seska is dead.
Seska thought she could manipulate the maje. She bragged about it to me.
But this time, she was wrong.
We had just launched the buoy with the message for you.
Then they came for her. They cut her throat as Culluh watched.
He ordered them to execute me, but I bribed a guard to get me to a shuttle.
As soon as he saw it leaving, Culluh opened fire,
destroyed my life support systems.
He left me in space to die.
What about the child?
Taken to the Gema IV colony to be raised as a servant.
We'll need your help getting to the Gema System.
You're going after him? This ship, alone?
I want nothing to do with this. I'm not taking you into Nistrim space.
You don't have much of a choice.
What's his prognosis?
He'll be on his feet in a day or two but we need to keep an eye on him.
He's had a nasty concussion,
spinal cord trauma and a polycythemia, the cause of which I've yet to discover.
It's an abnormal increase in the number of red blood cells.
Run an autonomic response analysis when I question him.
You still won't know if he's telling the truth.
An ARA depends on making a comparison with the known response.
Anyone from the Alpha Quadrant, I could help you,
but not with any of the new species of the Delta Quadrant.
It may help you to know that if we'd arrived an hour later,
he would have been dead from his injuries.
The molecular variance residual is evidence of Kazon disruptor blasts,
so at least that part of his story seems to be true.
And nitrogen tetroxide fumes were in the cabin.
If all this was part of a scheme, he had to be willing to breathe poison.
Have you found anything that would cast doubt on his story?
No.
I still don't trust him.
The trip would take six days at warp 2.
Four days if we simply went across the Tenarus cluster.
You would encounter the Nistrim fleet before a day passed.
Anyone who knows this part of space will tell you the same thing.
It so happens that I do know this part of space, my Kazon friend.
I'm just testing your honesty.
- The route he suggests is safer. - Of course it's safer.
I don't want to run into Culluh any more than you do.
We could avoid him if you gave us the Nistrim defence net command codes.
Computer, display tactical overview of our current course.
Enter code sequence 491170 Culluh.
Mr Paris, adjust our course to avoid the defence net.
That is not an end to the danger.
We are heading into an area of space
populated by Kazon factions that are loyal to no one.
They will attack without provocation.
Vessel approaching, coordinates 314, mark 21.
- Signature is Kazon. - Red Alert.
- Configuration of the ship? - A small raider.
It is not a significant threat but it is powering up its weapon systems.
Shields are holding.
Return fire.
The raider is breaking off its attack.
Minor damage to secondary command processors on deck 12.
EPS power supplies and isolinear controllers are off-line.
Begin repairs. Any other sign of Kazon ships, Lieutenant?
Nothing on long-range sensors. The raider is retreating.
We should have a couple of hours.
We can use them. Stand down Red Alert.
We're about to go beyond the com range of the Talaxian colony.
Just thought you'd like to know.
Thank you, Lieutenant. Maintain current course.
I haven't forgotten, Mr Tuvok. Very well. This seems as good a time as any.
- Captain. - Mr Suder.
Please. Please come in. Won't you sit down?
Excuse the mess. I wasn't expecting company.
Can I get you some tea? Have you had lunch?
Nothing, thanks. Lieutenant Tuvok has told me about your progress.
Has he? Well, I'm... I'm very grateful to him, Captain.
I still have a lot to learn but he is an excellent tutor.
- When we started... - The Captain's time is limited.
What?
- Oh. Of course. - I have explained your proposal.
I'd like to know more. What would be involved?
Yes, yes. Let me show you.
I've had very encouraging results with a new gene splicing technique.
I created a targeted restriction enzyme to facilitate the hybrid.
And you feel you could experiment on our airponic crops here?
Absolutely. I would make this an airponic laboratory.
I would just need are a few plants, chemicals and equipment.
- Chemicals and equipment? - Nothing dangerous. I prepared a list.
It's interesting. I'll discuss it with Kes and Tuvok and get back to you.
I've already discussed it with Kes and she is very interested.
- I'll think about it. - If you're worried you can't trust me...
- Mr Tuvok has assured me... - I want to do something for the ship.
- I understand, Mr Suder. - Then give me an answer!
Mr Suder.
I just want to do something for the ship.
Excuse me.
Captain's log, supplemental.
None of the Kazon attacks have caused serious damage,
but the starboard ventral has been hit each time, complicating repairs.
You are making an adequate recovery.
But I simply cannot understand this lingering polycythemia.
The medical record you gave us does not indicate any prior blood disorders.
Do you know if your parents ever...
My parents were killed in a Trabe attack shortly after I was born.
I see. Well, we'll need to monitor this condition for a while.
It might be due to some chemical imbalance,
possibly the result of the toxins you inhaled while on the shuttle.
You're welcome.
- Feeling better? - I'm sure I'll make a complete recovery
just in time for the Gema colony's defence force to destroy us.
You're still not optimistic about our chances?
We've repelled the attacks so far.
Attacks? When there's a real Nistrim attack, you'll know it.
You still have pride in the Nistrim, don't you?
Even after what they did to you.
I saw that pride in your eyes when you beat me while I was tied to a chair.
And I can see it in your eyes now, and that scares the hell out of me.
You must scare easily, Federation.
Every Kazon attack seems to focus on our starboard ventral.
- Think that might be a pattern? - I wouldn't know.
If it is, and you've been lying to us...
Commander Chakotay! Not in my sickbay. Please.
- Firing phasers. - Increase speed to one-half impulse.
They're coming at our starboard ventral again.
We'll sustain more damage to the secondary command processors.
Warning. Fires have been detected on decks 12 and 15, sections A-4 to C-18.
- Control units are responding. - Don't expose our starboard ventral.
- I'm doing my best. - Continuous fire, starboard phasers.
- They're withdrawing, Captain. - Stand down Red Alert.
- Mr Kim. - Deck 12 is in shambles.
We can't do repairs before they attack again.
The secondary command processors are nonfunctional.
We're looking at two days' work if we're not attacked again.
Why would these Kazon factions all have the same agenda?
Why would that focus on a nonessential area of the ship?
It feels like we're being pecked by ducks.
We can't just wait and see.
I agree. It's time to re-examine our game plan. Reverse course.
Mr Teirna should be restricted to quarters.
Acknowledged.
Dinner time, Mr Suder. We have a fine leola root soup tonight.
I'm not hungry.
Red Alert. I'm afraid we have to go.
I'll leave it here...
just in case.
- How many do you count? - Eight large Kazon carrier vessels.
They showed up after we reversed course.
- Time to intercept? - Eight minutes.
Their attack formation is a classic Cardassian echelon.
Curious. They have left us with an obvious avenue of escape.
You're right, it is curious. Too curious for me.
I don't know what's down that avenue of escape but I'll choose my own way.
- Set a course to meet their lead ship. - Aye, Captain.
Battle stations.
- Time to intercept? - Three minutes, ten seconds,
- give or take a photon torpedo. - Mr Kim?
- Echo displacement ready. - Send in the cavalry.
Activating deflector grid.
They should be seeing ten ships with Talaxian signatures.
- Four of the ships breaking formation. - They're changing course.
- They took the bait. - That only leaves four.
- Better odds. - Two minutes to intercept.
- Janeway to Torres. - We're ready down here.
We can create three Talaxian ships whenever you want to.
In about a minute and a half. Stand by.
We should try one last systems check.
You've done it twice.
We should have boosted the power input to the hologenerators.
The defence systems will need all the auxiliary power we have.
We might try a preliminary...
It will work. Everything will be fine. I'm not worried.
Here we go.
They are detonating torpedoes.
- Shields are holding. No damage. - Hold your fire.
We don't have torpedoes to waste.
- 30 seconds to intercept. - Take us out of warp.
- Engaging impulse engines. - Power to all weapon systems.
Kazon vessel 10,000 kilometres off our starboard bow.
- 6,000 kilometres. - Not yet.
- 5,000, 3,000, 2,000... - Now.
Initiating evasive manoeuvres.
- Two more Kazon ships approaching. - Shields at 90%.
- Torres, initiate holoprograms. - Acknowledged. Energising.
That's two, and here's number three.
Help! Man overboard!
Doctor, are you there? Are you all right?
I told you we should have run one last systems check.
Four Kazon ships ahead but they're dividing their fire.
- The holograms are working. - Ready photons.
- Torpedoes loaded. - Take us about.
- We want a good angle on that ship. - Coming about, 141, mark 20.
Fire photon number one.
Full starboard roll, evasive manoeuvres, Lambda sequence. Fire.
Shields at 85% and holding. Minor damage on deck 14.
- Come about to 143, mark 060. - Coming about.
Ready photons, dispersal pattern Sierra. Fire.
Massive discharge on deck 8. We've lost a primary plasma conduit.
- Teirna's quarters. - Damage control teams to deck 8.
Power failures all over the ship.
We've lost power to the holodeck grid. I can't restore it.
- B'Elanna, are you all right? - Yes.
But our reactant's injector controls were hit. Stand by.
All three Kazon ships are firing on us now.
Shields at 70%. Starboard targeting scanners are off-line.
Evasive manoeuvres, Mr Paris. Gamma sequence.
- I need warp power. - We can't go to warp.
The containment field generator has been damaged.
Captain, I can go back and bring the Talaxians to help us.
Chakotay, take the conn. Good luck, Lieutenant.
- Shuttle is clear. So far, so good. - Give him lots of cover fire.
Voyager to Paris.
Please respond. Tom, can you hear me?
I've lost contact with the shuttle.
- Navigational array is off-line. - We've lost power to forward phasers.
Shields at 30%. They're buckling.
- Report. - Impulse engines are off-line.
We're being boarded, Captain.
Phaser fights reported on decks 5, 6, 7...
- Security to decks 5 to 7. - Begin evacuation.
Janeway to computer. Initiate self-destruct sequence.
Authorisation, Janeway Pi-110. Set at ten minutes.
Unable to initiate sequence due to damaged command processors.
- Stay where you are. - Don't move.
Hold your fire.
Get down there! You! Move!
- I want to speak to Maje Culluh. - Easily arranged.
Hello, everyone.
What do you think of your son, Chakotay?
He has your eyes, don't you think?
Not too human, though. You all have weak foreheads.
May he never know the contempt his father has for his mother.
I can assure you of that, Commander.
I intend to take him for my own son.
A man who would violate a woman under his command doesn't deserve a son.
- Is that what she told you? - He will be trained as a Nistrim askara.
Already he has helped us win the greatest battle in our history.
I'd like to discuss what happens now.
You'll be given no more respect than any Kazon woman.
I will tell you when you may speak.
Allow my crew to live. They were following my orders.
You're even worse than she is.
What is it about the women from your quadrant?
She contradicts me in front of the senior askara.
My own woman, disputing her maje in front of others.
This is your fault. You've let your women get out of control.
You know you have my deepest respect, Maje.
Somebody turn on the lights.
Order the repair crews to begin work immediately.
I want to leave for the Hanon System as soon as possible.
- What's in the Hanon System? - Your new home.
Take them to a cargo bay. The whole crew.
Check all quarters.
Move.
Goodbye, Chakotay.
I'll take good care of our son.
Are you hungry, my brave little boy?
- Move it! - Oh, God!
- Keep moving! - You! Move it along!
- This is outrageous! - Shut up!
You! Get up! Move!
Computer, activate medical holographic recall. Set for 12 hours. Mark.
Check every room.
- In here. - What's that?
The sensor repairs are complete.
We have accounted for all but two of the Federation crew.
- There's also a shuttle missing. - We destroyed a shuttle.
Has that been confirmed?
Fine. Send out search parties. Confirm the shuttle was destroyed.
And tell them to check for a recent warp trail.
Stand by to engage atmospheric thrusters.
Prepare for landing.
Activate the viewscreen.
Extend landing struts.
Ready environmental controls!
Disengage engines.
Secure thruster exhaust.
A fitting end for a people who would not share their technology.
Let's see if you manage to survive without it.
All right. Let's go. We've got to find water and shelter.
We'll divide the crew into teams. Each of you will be a team leader.
Make it clear that we expect to be rescued
and our job is to survive until help arrives.
Is it likely that someone will find us?
You're the morale officer. You give me an answer.
- Help is on the way! - Maybe Tom's shuttle got through.
It's very important that this crew be given a sense of hope.
Our top priority is drinking water. Second is shelter.
A clearing with a protected side.
Food, fuel. Basic survival requirements.
And anything that can be used as a tool or a weapon.
- We'll reconvene in two hours. - Start dividing the crew.
We don't have much daylight left.
We'll spread the teams out to see what we have to work with.
Chakotay, Torres, you're with me. Alpha team here.
- Beta team, this way. - Gamma team.
Delta team with me.
The planet seems to be seismically active.
It's an M-Class planet in a Pliocene stage of evolution.
Comparable to Earth several million years ago.
Captain.