Fire.
The asteroid is fragmenting, but still on a collision course with the planet.
Target the fragments.
That asteroid should have been vaporised. What happened?
We shouldn't be seeing fragments more than a centimetre in diameter.
Ambassador, I was right. This isn't going to work.
Yesterday we tried to vaporise two asteroids, but they struck the surface.
I've destroyed most of the debris apart from two of the fragments.
They have already entered the upper atmosphere.
The debris impacted on the largest continent. 500 km from the southern tip.
The Central Desert.
That region isn't heavily populated.
Cratering, atmospheric shockwaves
and large concentrations of dust.
- How long until the next asteroid hits? - Six hours.
Can you give us an idea of its trajectory?
Same continent.
This time the eastern coastal region.
Our largest colonies are there.
Over 5000 citizens.
Captain, we appreciate your efforts,
but it's time to consider evacuation.
There are 12 more asteroids heading our way.
How can we destroy them all?
Incoming hail from the surface, from a heavily damaged area.
On screen.
I've analysed the debris
and discovered that the asteroids are not what they seem.
They are composed of artificial materials.
I must meet with you immediately.
I've lost the transmission.
Location?
I can't find them.
That was Dr Vatm, our most prominent astrophysicist.
Could he have found something important?
I don't know what that discovery could be.
Can we send a shuttle down through that turbulence?
It would be a rough ride, but it's possible.
We should evacuate the colony.
We haven't time to evacuate the people.
I won't give up, not now.
Captain, I'm asking for your help again,
but I won't ask you to risk your crew.
In for a penny, in for a pound.
Excuse me?
It's a human expression. It means we're not leaving you now.
Assemble rescue teams. We'll send three shuttles to find Dr Vatm.
B'Elanna, beam aboard a sample of debris from that asteroid
to see why it wasn't vaporised.
I'll study the data we've collected. I'll be in my ready room.
I need analeptic compounds.
- Are you ill? - No. I feel quite vigorous.
I requested a place on the rescue team and the captain said yes.
I thought I'd bring along some extra medical supplies.
We have some analeptic compounds in the bio-lab.
- May I suggest a tranquilliser? - No, I'll be fine.
I'm a little apprehensive. I've been assigned to Lieutenant Tuvok's team.
- I can't seem to please him. - Vulcans are difficult to impress.
Mr Tuvok seldom acknowledges my brilliance.
A word of advice. Try to restrain your enthusiasm.
You're there to observe and learn.
That's good advice, Doctor.
Altitude 15 kilometres. Velocity Mach 2.1.
Entering the upper troposphere.
- Mr Sklar, are you all right? - I prefer working on the ground.
We'll be landing shortly. Try to relax.
What's happening?
We're entering a layer of electrodynamic turbulence. Full power to thrusters.
- Thrusters aren't responding. - Attempting to level our descent.
- We're losing main power. - I will have to land manually.
- I've lost contact with the shuttle. - Hail them.
No response.
Notify Lieutenant Paris. We may have a team down.
- Torres to Bridge. - Go ahead.
We've beamed aboard some debris.
I'll be right there. Ambassador.
I heard what sounded like a ship crashing. I came looking for you.
This is Hanjuan, a miner at a nearby excavation. He heard the ship, too.
- Have you seen any other vessels? - No, just you.
You said you had information on the asteroids.
It's classified. I can only speak to the Ambassador.
You may also speak to me. Your ambassador sent us to find you.
No, I prefer to wait.
We almost died trying to get that information.
There's no point in arguing. We have to get this shuttle off the ground.
That will not be possible. All systems are off-line.
Engines have been destroyed.
I suggest we repair the com system and send a distress call.
- How long will that take? - Several hours.
We don't have time. When the next asteroid hits, it could destroy the region.
We're doing everything we can. Mr Neelix, please inspect the antenna
to see if any signal relays were damaged.
- I can try to repair them. - A damage report is sufficient.
Lieutenant Torres gave me a full orientation on shuttlecraft systems...
- The damage report, Mr Neelix. - Aye, sir.
In the meantime, I suggest everyone try to remain calm.
Allowing anxiety to overcome you will only hinder our efforts.
He's a pleasant fellow once you get to know him. And intelligent.
I'm sure he'll have the com system... On my way.
Excuse me. Mr Tuvok?
- You couldn't have finished already. - Not exactly.
I know I'm here to observe and I don't mean to step out of line,
but I think I've observed a way out of here.
I saw an orbital tether anchored nearby.
We use those to lift cargo to the orbital supply station.
- It uses magnetic leverage? - Yes.
What is your point?
What if we use it to climb the tether?
It takes 12 hours to reach the station.
We wouldn't go to the station. We'd just have to leave the ionosphere.
Once we get above this interference, Voyager can beam us aboard.
The carriage was damaged. The induction coils are off-line.
Maybe we can replace the coils with altitude control thrusters.
It would take a little creative mechanics, but we can do it.
I spent two years on a tether maintenance team on Rinax.
The principles are the same.
Our probability of being detected by Voyager is greatest if we remain here.
- What if they don't find us in time? - We should try the tether.
It's better than sitting here waiting to be buried in dust.
I've rebuilt a dozen mag-lev carriages. Give me a chance to get it working.
If I can't, we'll come back and wait for the others.
Very well.
You won't regret this, Lieutenant.
We need to get to the base of the tether.
I think we can integrate our thrusters into the induction matrix, but...
It looks like somebody's been here recently.
Get away or I'll kill him!
Drop your weapon! Now!
This is my shelter. These are my supplies.
We have no interest in your supplies. We are here to use the carriage.
- We'll take you with us. - The carriage is damaged.
We know. The induction coils.
We've brought equipment to replace them.
This catastrophe has taken its toll on everyone,
but you have got to believe us. We only want to get off the surface.
The oxygen converters can't produce enough air for six people.
We can augment them.
We've brought some equipment that might do the trick.
I don't have rations for everyone. Don't expect me to share.
If I can fix the tether, no one will need your rations.
We have a starship in orbit. They'll beam us aboard...
It sounds like you know a thing or two about tethers.
Not really. I'm a foundry worker.
Good. We could use someone with metallurgical knowledge.
Let's get to work.
Have faith, Mr Vulcan. We'll be tether-borne in no time.
I've completed the scans. The rock is composed of tryoxene, olivine...
Wait a minute. I'm reading a concentration of triadium.
- Triadium? Isn't that an alloy? - Yes.
B'Elanna, give me a hand with this.
This doesn't look like any asteroid I've ever seen.
It looks like a control node for a guidance system.
I have a feeling these asteroids aren't striking your planet by chance.
Are we ready to bring main power back on-line?
I think so.
The coil bypass is active.
Bypass is holding.
Congratulations, Mr Vulcan. We've done it.
We must still repair the oxygen regenerators and the tether couplings.
Let's get started. I'll check the oxygen supply.
How's it coming, Lillias?
I still can't get this power relay on-line. I'm not an orbital engineer.
Maybe I can help. Let's see.
You need to recalibrate the pressure valve.
Like this.
That should do it.
- We're going to need a name. - A name?
For the mag-lev carriage.
Whenever we finished building a tether on Rinax, we named the carriage.
- Any suggestions? - No.
How about...
Alixia?
My favourite sister. She was always taking me out to explore.
She showed me the Caves of Touth, the equatorial dust shrouds.
Once she even took me hunting for arctic spiders.
Whenever I think of her, I think of adventure.
And this is an adventure she would appreciate.
- What do you think? - Where is your sister now?
She was killed in a war on my homeworld.
- My entire family was lost. - I'm sorry.
I still see each of them, every night.
Before I go to sleep I recall their faces
and share something about my day with each of them.
Tonight I'm going to have quite a lot to tell them.
Thank you.
I have a sister, too.
Three weeks ago after the first impact,
our home was destroyed and we were separated.
I haven't seen her since.
I don't even know if she's alive.
When we get back to Voyager, I'll ask my captain to help you find her.
- Mr Neelix? - Excuse me.
Yes, sir?
Your interpersonal activities are delaying our progress.
What do you mean?
Since we arrived, you have spent much time engaged in idle conversation.
I'm just trying to cheer everyone up.
Your function is to repair this vessel, not boost morale.
This is not the holodeck.
This is a life-threatening situation and your attention should be focused
on our safe return to Voyager.
I'm sorry, sir. I'll finish as fast as I can.
Dr Vatm, what are you doing?
He's opening the launch doors. He's leaving without us!
Please stop!
The tether hasn't been secured.
If he launches now, he'll destabilise the entire cavern.
Wait! Please! Don't leave us here!
Stand aside.
It's too late. The carriage support structure is collapsing.
- Can we launch? - I think so.
Seal that door.
- I despise enclosed spaces. - Hang on!
Velocity 30 kilometres per hour.
Internal pressure 700 millibars. Altitude 800 metres and climbing.
We're losing mag-lev cohesion.
We have to stabilise that otherwise we'll fall.
- We're going to drop? - How do we prevent that?
- Neelix! - Hold on, I'm thinking!
Increasing the velocity should stabilise our ascent.
Increase power to the tether couplings.
Routing power to the tether couplings.
I'll give it more speed.
Velocity 47 kilometres per hour and holding.
Mag-lev cohesion stable.
We're all right.
Good girl, Alixia. I knew you could do it.
- I named the carriage after my sister. - For good luck, no doubt.
We will need it. An oxygen converter has ruptured.
We have to increase output to the other converter or we'll run out of air.
What are our chances?
I'd say they were pretty good.
We did leave ahead of schedule and that could cause a few glitches.
Glitches?
The auto-ascent sequencer is off-line. I'll have to control the ascent manually.
And there is the problem of maintaining pressure.
- I'm detecting fissures in the hull. - We must repair them.
Where is the emergency containment grid?
Containment grid... I'm not quite sure.
You told me you had experience with this technology.
I did. Sort of.
They weren't exactly working carriages. They were more like prototypes.
- Specifically. - They were models.
- But they were extremely detailed. - You built models?
Yes, but they were basically identical to real mag-lev carriages.
I was planning to familiarise myself with the systems on this carriage.
But don't worry. I've got everything under control.
There is little we can do 30 kilometres above the surface.
- What are you doing? - You wanted to leave? Fine.
Then leave.
That is enough. He may be crucial to the survival of your colonies.
- He would have let us die. - That is no justification for murder.
Dr Vatm, why did you try to launch without us?
Does it have to do with the discovery you made?
Answer him! Or I'll throw you out myself.
- Compose yourself, Mr Hanjuan. - Who put you in command?
This rescue mission was authorised by my captain and your ambassador.
Throw Vatm out the door. We could use the extra oxygen.
If you are trying to intimidate me,
I should inform you I possess physical strength many times your...
It is going to be a long and perilous journey.
I will need your full co-operation. Understood?
Mechanical glitches would seem to be the least of our problems.
We've completed our third survey.
There's no sign or Dr Vatm or Tuvok and his rescue team.
A dust storm is heading your way. Head due north within the hour.
Acknowledged.
I'm getting more readings on the approaching asteroid.
It's huge and moving faster than the others.
- Time to impact? - Approximately two hours.
Doctor, I'm going to inject you with a tri-ox compound.
It will help to oxygenate your blood.
- I've prepared an injection... - Yes, I know. I heard you.
It won't be painful, will it?
No. It is a simple subdermal transfer.
Good. I despise needles.
Any progress with the converters?
We were unable to salvage the damaged tank,
but Lillias is working on the functioning one.
If she can't, we'll all suffocate.
It is illogical to dwell on situations beyond your control.
It will only heighten your anxiety, which is heightened enough.
Well, thank you for the reassurance.
How is everybody?
Suffering the initial stages of carbon dioxide poisoning.
And you?
My lungs are capable of respirating in an extremely thin atmosphere.
If we can't fix this air supply, you may have to pilot this thing.
I'd better show you how to use the ascent thrusters.
They must be kept at a minimum temperature.
- What are you doing? - Get away.
I've got to get out. Let me out.
- Let go of me. I need it. - So now he wants to leave.
- Let him. - You don't understand.
- There's something out there. - What is out there?
The roof.
He's going into shock.
He's dead.
Can you revive him?
His cardiopulmonary tissues are deteriorating.
- From lack of oxygen? - No.
I believe he was murdered.
- Murdered? How? - Poisoning.
His water supply has been contaminated with a lydroxide corrosive.
That's the coolant used in the tether couplings.
It might have been an accident.
The coolant system is sealed and there is no lydroxide on board.
Now we have a choice between death by suffocation or by poisoning.
I will conduct an investigation once we return.
For now, we must focus on survival.
Again you take command, again you decide our fate.
- How do we know you didn't kill him? - I have no motive.
It would be the same as ours. Revenge.
I am Vulcan. I do not succumb to emotion.
- We should stop the carriage. - Why?
Something Dr Vatm said about getting up on the roof.
Dr Vatm was delirious from lack of oxygen.
He attempted to go outside. It would have killed him and possibly all of us.
He was desperate. We should find out what he was talking about.
If we stop the carriage, we'll risk losing mag-lev cohesion again.
- I've got a funny feeling about this. - I am not interested in your feeling.
You're not listening to what I'm saying.
He said he needed whatever's up there. What if it can help us?
I will not debate this with you. Pilot the craft.
You're going to listen to me!
You are distraught. There is little point in furthering this discussion.
You're the one being emotional!
You hide it, but the truth is you're filled with contempt and sarcasm.
- You are mistaken. - No, he's not.
I see it every time you talk to Neelix. You're condescending.
I have no feelings toward Mr Neelix.
That's what I'm talking about. You have no feelings for me.
But you have feelings against me.
You've made it obvious that you have no respect for me.
I've tolerated it. You know why?
Because you are smarter than I am, Tuvok, and more logical,
and stronger and superior in almost every way.
And I admire you. But you don't have any instincts, any gut feelings.
And you don't understand people.
But non-Vulcans have feelings and I've got to listen to mine.
We need to get up on that roof and find out what the doctor was talking about.
- I disagree. - Fine!
But I'm the only one who can pilot this vessel.
We're not going anywhere till someone goes up on that roof.
You leave me little choice.
All right then. One of us needs to go outside.
- I'm not going out there. - Don't even think about me.
- I'm willing to... - I will go.
I am the logical one to make the egress.
I can breathe the rarefied atmosphere.
You don't know what you're looking for.
I'm looking for Mr Neelix's instinct. Perhaps it will be marked.
It's strange, but I really like him.
I just wish the feeling were mutual.
- Tuvok to Neelix. - Go ahead.
I have found a data storage device in the internal circuitry.
It appears to contain information about an alien starship.
I will need to remove it for further examination.
Be careful up there. If you can't remove it, don't.
Sklar, what are you doing?
Where's Tuvok?
Mr Tuvok returned to the surface.
Get this carriage moving. Now!
- He can't. He's hurt. - Back away.
Get up.
Get up!
We're going to have to figure out how to fly this vessel.
- The asteroid is within visual range. - Let's see it.
There's a large crew complement. At least two thousand.
They remodulated their shields to fool our sensors.
- We're being hailed. - On screen.
The Etanian Order claims this territory. You will withdraw.
This planet belongs to the Nezu. They have colonies here.
- You are not Nezu. - I'm a friend of theirs.
I'm not going anywhere until you've lowered your weapons.
You would be willing to die for them?
A loyal friend... and a foolish one.
They'll be here in under ten minutes, Captain.
Battle stations.
If we don't move soon, the tether couplings will snap.
- We'll lose mag-lev cohesion. - Then get us moving.
- There's the accelerator control. - Too dangerous.
You, go outside and check the couplings.
The only person who knows how to pilot this ship is Neelix.
- Keep trying. - I'm doing my best.
Come on!
I'm glad you're all right.
I was able to grab hold of an induction coil and climb to safety.
Thank you, Mr Neelix.
What?
I said thank you, for opening the door.
Don't mention it.
- We know now who killed Dr Vatm. - Why did he kill him?
The storage device contains information about a starship.
Weapons, warp drive, shield modulations.
Sklar did not want us to find it.
You have a concussion.
I'm afraid my understanding of Talaxian physiology is limited.
I cannot treat you.
I don't know how to do this. We'll lose cohesion any minute.
Neelix, we need you.
- I don't think I can do it. - You must.
I can barely keep my eyes open.
Do it... for Alixia.
She would be proud of you.
I'm glad to see your interpersonal skills are improving.
You're learning how to motivate people.
Speed 45 kilometres per hour.
The ship is charging weapons.
Full power to the shields. Ready phasers.
- Shields down to 85%. - Return fire.
We can't penetrate their shields.
Hang on. We're breaking through the ionosphere.
Engaging induction dampers.
We did it.
We made it!
- Tuvok to Voyager. - Are you all right?
- Yes, Captain. - Prepare to beam aboard.
Shields down to 23%. Structural integrity is failing.
This data device contains information about the enemy vessel,
including their shield modulation.
Adjust our phasers to match. Target their primary reactor.
- Ready. - Fire at will.
Direct hit. Their reactor is off-line.
- They're remodulating their shields. - Target their weapons array. Fire!
Their weapons have been destroyed.
They're retreating, Captain.
What happened to you down there? Where's Sklar?
Mr Sklar...
returned to the surface.
I've just come from a staff briefing.
The people who attacked your colonies call themselves the Etanian Order.
They have a unique way of invading other worlds.
They create what appears to be a natural disaster.
In your case, an asteroid bombardment.
Once the population has evacuated, they stake their claim.
But they didn't expect Voyager to intervene
and arrived before our colonies evacuated.
- Exactly. - What about Dr Vatm?
He found out about the Order
and was collecting information about their technology.
He knew that one of your colonists was a traitor,
feeding your government false information about the asteroids.
But he didn't know that it was Sklar. He didn't know who to trust.
That's why he tried to hide the data storage device on the roof.
The damage to our world could have been much worse.
Thank you.
I received word from the Ambassador. Your sister has been found.
Tell her I said hello.
Mr Neelix,
I have submitted my mission report to the captain.
I have given you a commendation for your endurance and bravery.
- I'm honoured. - Your instincts were correct.
However, one day your intuition will fail
and you will understand that logic is primary above all else.
Instinct is simply another term for serendipity.
And one day, Mr Vulcan, I'll get you to trust your gut.
- That is doubtful. - We'll see.
Your attempts have yet to succeed.
You have to get in that last word.
I am simply responding to your erroneous statement.
Something tells me you hate to lose an argument.
- Losing is irrelevant. - See what I mean?
No, I do not.