

(written from a Production point of view Real World article

The newly commissioned starship Voyager and a Maquis raider are flung into the far reaches of the remote Delta Quadrant by a powerful entity known as the Caretaker. (Series premiere)

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Summary

Unhappy with a new treaty, Federation Colonists along the Cardassian border have banded together.

Calling themselves "The Maquis," they continue to fight the Cardassians.

Some consider them heroes, but to the governments of the Federation and Cardassia, they are outlaws.

Teaser

Weapons fire streaks through space as a Cardassian warship attacks a much smaller Maquis raider with phasers. The latter ship's crew, led by Chakotay and also including B'Elanna Torres and Tuvok, are struggling to hold their spacecraft together and get the impulse engines' power steady, but as Torres frustratedly implies, the vessel is equipped with only thirty-nine-year-old rebuilt engines. The Cardassian commander, Gul Evek, hails the Maquis ship, ordering them to stand down, but Chakotay defiantly shuts off the transmission. The Maquis crew then deactivate their vessel's weapon systems in order to channel enough power to the engines to reach the Badlands, with the Cardassian warship all the while in close pursuit. Whereas Chakotay's piloting skills are sufficient to avoid the plasma storms in the Badlands, the Cardassian ship is less lucky and is severely damaged. Relieved, Chakotay sets a course for a planet where they can make repairs when a bright flash erupts through the ship; the vessel has passed through a coherent tetryon beam from an unknown source and, despite beginning to move away at full impulse, the ship is intercepted by a huge displacement wave.

Act One

In the Federation Penal Settlement in New Zealand on Earth, several inmates wearing ankle monitors are performing labor. One man's work is interrupted when an authoritative-looking woman in a Starfleet uniform approaches him and asks, "Tom Paris?" The man glances up at her and she introduces herself as Kathryn Janeway. She states that she served with his father on the USS Al-Batani and that she would like to speak with him about a job she wants him to do. He sarcastically replies that he is already doing a job for the Federation, but Janeway says that the Rehab Commission is very pleased with his work and has given her permission to discuss the matter with him. He replies, "Well, then I guess I'm yours."

As they walk together, Janeway informs Paris that she was his father's science officer on the Arias Expedition. Paris comments that she must be good, as his father only accepts the best and brightest. Janeway tells him that her mission is to track down a Maquis vessel that vanished in the Badlands a week previous. Paris advises against it, having never seen a Federation starship that could maneuver through the plasma storms; Janeway retorts by saying that he has never seen USS Voyager.

Paris infers that Janeway's motive is to have him lead the Federation to his former Maquis colleagues. Paris reminds Janeway that because he was only with them a few weeks, he didn't know many of their hiding places. Janeway replies that he knows the territory better than anyone in the Federation. Janeway informs Paris that her chief of security had infiltrated a Maquis ship and had not reported in some time. Paris muses that perhaps it was only the chief of security that disappeared. Janeway reveals that the ship was under the command of Chakotay, a former Starfleet officer.

Paris acknowledges that he knew Chakotay and that the two never got along. Paris says that the point of disagreement was that Chakotay left Starfleet "on principle," to defend his home colony, but he considered Paris a mercenary who joined "whoever would pay [his] bar bills," an accusation to which Paris admits. Paris concludes that he will help track down the Maquis, but asks what he has to gain from the venture. Janeway says that the Federation will help him at his next parole review. Janeway informs him that officially, he'd be a Starfleet observer, to which Paris replies that he's the best pilot Janeway could have. Janeway is firm about Paris' role and once the mission is over he'll be 'cut loose', causing Paris to agree with the rejoinder, "Story of my life."

Tom Paris arrives to Voyager, docked at Deep Space 9, via a shuttle, piloted by a Betazoid female pilot, Lieutenant Stadi. Now clad in a fresh Starfleet uniform, Paris walks up to her. Stadi focuses on flying the craft, but she livens up to Paris a little as he turns on the charm. He says that Stadi is changing his mind about Betazoids, because he always thought that they were warm and sensual. Stadi says that she can be warm and sensual, but Paris replies that she can, but just not to him. The conversation shifts as a sleek vessel comes into view at one of DS9's docking pylons. Stadi proudly identifies it as their ship, the Voyager. She states that the ship is of the Intrepid-class, has a new variable warp nacelle configuration, giving it a sustainable cruising speed of warp 9.975; it has fifteen decks and a crew complement of 141. It is also equipped with bio-neural circuitry. Paris inquires as to the circuitry, and as she flies around Voyager towards the shuttlebay, she informs Paris that the bio-neural circuitry speeds up response time in the ship's computer.

Meanwhile, on board Deep Space 9, Quark is trying to sell bright, rare crystals to a young Starfleet ensign seated in his bar. He tries to politely tell Quark he is not interested and says cadets were warned about Ferengi at the Academy. Upon hearing this, Quark feigns being upset that the Federation is spreading lies about the Ferengi and that he will make a formal protest to the Federation Council. Quark asks for the young ensign's name for the report, to which he replies, "Kim, Harry Kim." Kim backs downs and offers to buy the whole tray of crystals in an effort to smooth things over. As Quark brings over the crystals and begins to negotiate, Paris interrupts and tells Ensign Kim that the crystals Quark is trying to sell him can be found on virtually any planet in the system and can be bought for little or nothing. Now knowing that Quark was trying to rip him off, Ensign Kim leaves with Tom Paris who says, "Didn't they warn you about Ferengi at the Academy?"

Paris and Kim enter sickbay aboard Voyager and report to the chief medical officer. When Paris identifies himself, the doctor comments, "Ah, yes. The observer." When Paris comments that he seems to be observing some kind of problem now, the doctor says that he was a surgeon on Caldik Prime when Paris was stationed there, though they never met. He says Paris' medical records from his previous posting have arrived and that the captain had asked if he were on board, saying that he should check in with her. Kim, sensing a tense situation, says that he hasn't yet paid his respects to the captain, either. The doctor says that perhaps it would be a good thing for a new operations officer to do. After they leave sickbay, Kim asks Paris what the story is between him and the CMO. Paris responds that he's gotten tired of telling it and that he's sure someone will be happy to tell him.

Meanwhile, Captain Janeway is in her ready room talking to her fiancé, Mark Johnson, on her desktop monitor about her dog, who turns out to be pregnant. Janeway insists that the dog stays with him, leading him to reply, "Is this another 'love me, love my dog' demand?", to which Janeway quickly replies, "Yes." Janeway says they will be leaving as soon as she approves the system status reports. Johnson says he won't bother her anymore, leading Janeway to get on her knees in front of the terminal and says, "You never bother me, except the way I love to be bothered. Understand?" Saying that she'll see him in a few weeks, Janeway quickly asks Johnson to pick up her dog's doggie bed, which Johnson then says he already did – an hour ago.

After the connection closes, the door chimes. Paris and Kim enter. Janeway welcomes them aboard Voyager, to which Kim replies with a stiff, "Thank you, sir," standing at full attention, causing Paris to look at him curiously. Telling the nervous ensign to stand "at ease, before you sprain something," she lets him know that protocol aside, she doesn't like being addressed as "sir," to which Kim responds, "I'm sorry… ma'am." Janeway smiles and says that ma'am is acceptable in a crunch, but that she prefers "captain." She tells them they are getting ready to leave and she shows them to the bridge. Walking out onto the bridge, she introduces them to her first officer, Lieutenant Commander Cavit, who exchanges a hearty handshake with Kim and one with Paris reluctantly and only after Paris extends his hand first. Janeway shows Kim to the operations station and asks if he would like to take over. Kim responds, "Yes, ma'am," to which she replies, "It's not crunch time yet, Mr. Kim. I'll let you know when."

At a nod from Janeway, the first officer instructs Lt. Stadi to lay in their course and clear departure with Operations. After Stadi confirms this, they complete the pre-launch sequence and prepare for launch, which Janeway orders with "Engage." The dorsal light of the ship comes on, illuminating the ship's registration, and the ship departs.

Act Two

With the ship under way, Paris heads down to the mess hall for some hot tomato soup. As he is ordering the soup from the replicator, he notices that Voyager's chief medical officer and Commander Cavit are looking at him with judgmental eyes, while talking to Kim at a nearby table. As Paris makes his way over to Kim's table, Cavit and the CMO make a hasty departure. When Paris finally sits down, he says to Kim, "There. You see, I told you it wouldn't take long." Paris then begins to tell Kim that it was true that he caused an accident which led to the deaths of three Starfleet officers and that he falsified reports. What led him to turn himself in and tell the truth despite the fact that he would have gotten away with it otherwise, Paris sarcastically remarks that it took "the three dead officers to come in the middle of the night and (teach) me the true meaning of Christmas.". Paris therefore confessed everything, and was promptly discharged from service… upon which, looking for a fight, he joined the Maquis and was arrested during his very first assignment for them. Paris gets up to leave and says that he knows that Cavit and the CMO told him to stay away from him and that he should listen to them. As Paris walks away, Kim replies "I don't need anyone to choose my friends for me." As a curious Paris regards Kim following this statement, Captain Janeway summons them both to the bridge to inform them that the ship has reached the Badlands.

Voyager enters the volatile region. Janeway, Cavit, and Ensign Rollins are crowded around the tactical station trying to ascertain where the Maquis ship would be. With some assistance from Paris, the ship begins to head in. Shortly after, Ensign Kim's sensors read that a coherent tetryon beam is scanning the ship. Janeway asks Kim if he can identify the source of the beam, but he cannot. The sensors then find out that a displacement wave is quickly moving towards the ship. Cavit suggests that they may be able to disperse the wave with a graviton particle field. Janeway orders that it be done. It is later found that the field had no effect on the wave. Janeway orders Stadi to move the ship away from the wave at full impulse. However, the ship is unable to outrun it and the wave collides with Voyager.

After the ship has been released from the wave, it has suffered heavy damage. Janeway comes to and checks Cavit's pulse, only to find that he is dead. Stadi also did not survive after Paris checks Stadi's pulse. Janeway asks where they are. Kim gets the viewscreen working, but the Badlands are gone – there's only empty space and an enormous array. Kim replies that if his sensors are working perfectly, they are over 70,000 light years from the Badlands… Voyager has been transported to the Delta Quadrant, the other side of the galaxy.

Act Three

As the crew begins to make repairs, Voyager finds the Maquis ship, but scans show that there is nobody aboard it and attempts to hail the array are unsuccessful. Just then, engineering contacts the bridge and informs Janeway that the chief engineer was also killed and that the ship is facing a possible warp core breach. Janeway heads down to engineering to help and orders Kim to see what the situation is in sickbay leaving Rollins to assume command of the bridge. Paris heads down with Kim as well. Adding to the list of casualties, Paris sees that the CMO and the entire medical staff were killed. Janeway makes it to engineering and finds out that there is a microfracture in the warp core and that a breach is imminent. In order to save the ship, Janeway orders the lock down of the magnetic constrictor and Lieutenant Joseph Carey warns Janeway that they may not be able to initialize the dilithium reaction and that it would make warp drive impossible. Janeway sees that there are not many other alternatives and orders that it be done nevertheless. At the same time, Harry Kim orders the computer to activate Voyager's Emergency Medical Hologram, a holographic doctor designed as a supplement to the medical staff. The EMH appears, giving his default statement: "Please state the nature of the medical emergency." Kim replies that the ship's doctor is dead and that the hologram is the only medical officer on board the ship since the entire medical staff was killed too. The Doctor informs Kim and Paris that, as he is only intended to be used on a short-term basis, a replacement will be needed as soon as possible. Paris then informs the EMH that he will be stuck with them for a while. The EMH then begins treating crewmembers, showing himself to be very efficient but also very brusque and lacking any kind of bedside manner.

Meanwhile, down in engineering, the warp core breach appears to have been averted. Janeway then orders that the magnetic constrictor be engaged. The pressure begins to stabilize. Just then, the ship is being scanned and people begin to disappear. Eventually, everyone disappears with the exception of the Doctor. Strangely enough, the crew finds themselves on a farm, with wheat and cattle. Soon after, a middle aged woman emerges from the farmhouse named "Aunt Adah" and asks the crew to come up to the house for some lemonade and sugar cookies. Janeway says that the crew shouldn't be fooled, since they have only been transported a hundred kilometers from Voyager and that they are actually inside the array with Ensign Kim confirming that everything around them are holograms. The crew is greeted by holographic projections of lively southerners, including a man playing a banjo, who encourage them to make themselves at home.

Act Four

Janeway orders that Kim and Paris find the holographic projector. As Kim scans with his tricorder, he finds strange readings coming from a barn.

A holographic projection of an attractive southern girl tries to pull Kim and Paris away from the barn, but is unsuccessful. Kim finds Vulcan and Human bio-signs in an unknown location. The southerners get a lot less friendly and start to attack Kim and Paris due to their curiosity. Janeway gets Kim's signal from his combadge and takes the crew she has with her to the barn. They arrive, to find Paris and Kim being threatened with a pitchfork by Aunt Adah. She says that she hoped the crew would do things the easy way but she sees that that will not work. A giant door opens to reveal the missing Maquis crew, all unconscious and restrained. The Voyager crew are soon subjected to the same painful genetic tests.

Three days later the Voyager crew is returned to their ship, as well as with the Maquis on the Val Jean. When Tom Paris emerges in sickbay (with the Doctor, having been left alone for the last three days, demanding to know what happened) after being returned, he notices that Harry Kim did not return with them. Janeway calls up the computer to search for Kim, but it confirms he is not on board and is the only crewmember missing. Janeway asks Rollins to hail the Val Jean to see if Kim was accidentally transported there, but Chakotay says that he was not and that they also are missing a crewman of their own, their engineer B'Elanna Torres. Janeway asks that Chakotay beam aboard the Voyager so they can discuss what to do. Chakotay turns to Tuvok and agrees. Moments later, Chakotay, Tuvok, and Maquis security guard Ayala beam on board. Janeway then reveals that Tuvok is a Federation undercover operative, and Tuvok confirms that his mission was to gain intelligence on Maquis activity before delivering the crew of the Val Jean to Starfleet. Chakotay is at once angry about this, but then he sees that Tom Paris is on the bridge. After remarking that, while Tuvok was doing his duty as a Starfleet officer, Paris only does things that benefit himself, he is ready to attack him, but Janeway asks him to treat Paris as he would with any other member of her crew. Though reluctant to do so, Chakotay agrees with her. Tuvok explains that he believes there is only a single lifeform on the array, and the testing they all went through was an examination. Janeway decides to lead a team over to the array in order to retrieve their missing people and be returned to the Alpha Quadrant. Paris requests to join the away team, promising Janeway that it has nothing to do with Chakotay; rather he doesn't want to see anything bad happen to Kim

Janeway, along with Chakotay and Paris return to the so called farm (this time armed with phaser rifles) and demand answers about their missing crewmen who are no longer on the array. The only person there is the old man playing the banjo. The man says that Janeway and the rest of the crew don't have what he needs, but Janeway isn't the least concerned about this but wants the missing officers returned and for both crews to be returned to the Alpha Quadrant. The man refuses to tell her what he's done with the crew, and although he understands why they're angry and sympathizes, he tells them that Kim and Torres might have what he needs, as he must "honor a debt that can never be repaid" but his search has not been going well. Janeway then offers to help, but the old man tells her she can't, and that there's not enough time left before he suddenly returns everyone to Voyager.

Kim and Torres awaken in what appears to be a hospital room and notice growths on their arms and neck. Torres tries to escape, but two doctors come in and sedate her.

The crew determines that the energy pulses that the array is firing towards the fifth planet of a nearby system might have been used to transport Kim and Torres there so they set a course. Tuvok later reports to Janeway in her ready room that the pulses emitted from the ray have been steadily getting faster. Meanwhile, Janeway has been studying the planet where the Array's pulses are being sent: while it meets all the other requirements of an M Class planet there are no nucleogenic particles in the atmosphere, meaning it is incapable of producing rain and has left the planet as a desert. Tuvok tells Janeway that she needs rest, as she recalls that Harry Kim's mother contacted her after he'd left Earth since he'd forgotten his clarinet and wanted to know if she had time to send it, Harry having been a member of the Juilliard Youth Symphony. After noting that she barely knew the young ensign, just as she barely knows any of her crew and that she really should take the time to, Janeway promises she'll get Kim and Torres back and get everyone home. Tuvok points out that the crew needs a captain that is not exhausted, and Janeway thanks him telling him that she's missed his counsel. She tells him that his family miss him, and tells her friend that she'll get him back to them.

Act Five

While on the way to the fifth planet in the system where the energy pulses are being sent, Voyager encounters a small cargo ship inside a debris field, commanded by a Talaxian named Neelix. At first, Neelix thinks that Voyager might be wanting to take a piece of the debris field, but Captain Janeway assures him that they will do nothing of the sort, upon which the Talaxian's demeanor noticeably and immediately improves. Janeway then asks if he knows where the missing officers of Voyager and the Val Jean might have gone. Neelix suspects that they may have been taken to the Ocampan homeworld, to a city located deep beneath the planet's surface. Neelix offers to guide Voyager to the planet in exchange for water and Janeway agrees. Neelix is beamed aboard (marveling at the technology, which is new to him); Tuvok greets him and is embraced by the irrepressible Talaxian.

Torres and Kim awaken once more and are greeted by an Ocampan doctor who tells them that they were sent here to protect their own people from their "illness". He takes them to the food dispensers, which are provided by the Caretaker, who built their entire underground construct when the surface of their planet turned into a desert. He also reveals that, unfortunately, other aliens with this "disease" that were brought to the Ocampa did not survive.

Act Six

Voyager finally makes its way to the planet. Upon arriving, Tuvok is sent to fetch Neelix from his quarters, where he finds the Talaxian has helped himself to a mountain of food from the replicator and is noisily enjoying a bath. After welcoming 'Mr Vulcan', Neelix prepares to head down to the planet and suggests where they might begin looking for Kim and Torres as well as recommending bringing water for barter. He then asks if the replicator makes clothes, and Tuvok replies yes… but then makes a point, when asked, of telling Neelix that it will not make him a Starfleet uniform. Janeway, Paris, Chakotay, Neelix, and Tuvok beam down and are immediately captured by a group of Kazon-Ogla, a rogue faction in the Delta Quadrant.

For some assistance and since the Kazon desperately need water, Janeway arranges for huge canisters of water to be beamed down in exchange for some answers. She asks where those Ocampa might be, and the Kazon leader, Jabin points to a battered Ocampan woman and says, "she is an Ocampa." As Jabin continues, he explains that the array is used by the Caretaker who provides the Ocampa with everything they need. Jabin has been torturing Kes to find a way into the Ocampan underground complex, but she does not give an answer. Around this time Neelix tries to barter with Jabin for the release of Kes in exchange for the water as well. Jabin refuses and Neelix grabs him and warns the surrounding Kazon to drop their weapons or he will kill him. The rest of the crew gets their weapons back and shoot at the enormous water containers. With the Kazon distracted with the water spilling out onto the ground quickly, Janeway contacts Voyager to beam them up. Soon after, the crew realizes that Neelix and Kes are lovers.

Meanwhile, Torres and Kim are still being held against their will by the Ocampa. They try to devise a way out when a young Ocampa nurse comes up to them and tells them about secret passageways to the surface. But, she says that there are meters of solid rock to get through and even with the proper tools, it may take days or even weeks to get through. Ever determined, Kim and Torres ask for her help.

While Kes is being tended to by The Doctor, Janeway asks if there is any way to get to their crew members. Kes replies that she escaped through a tunnel underground, but now, the passageway she came out of is sealed by solid rock and they won't be able to get through. Janeway assures they will be able to with their transporter technology. Kes then says that there are breaches in the tunnels which will help them get through. They beam to the surface where Kes reunites with her people, who are telepathic, but she defies them by helping the crew rescue their friends.

Act Seven

Kim and Torres manage to escape, meanwhile the pulses from the array stop and the array re-positions itself and begins firing weapons at the surface in order to seal the conduits leading down to the facility. This action allows Tuvok to come to a conclusion for what is going on… the Caretaker is dying. Asked to explain his reasoning, Tuvok explains that the Caretaker has given the Ocampa enough energy to last for five years before sealing the conduits meaning he will no longer be continuing as Caretaker. Chakotay suggests that he may not be dying, but just leaving but Tuvok counters this by explaining that it's doubtful the Caretaker would just leave after providing for the Ocampa for a thousand years… the "debt that can never be repaid" is a debt to them. Also his references to "not enough time" meant that he knew he was going to die. Janeway realizes that if the Caretaker dies, the crew may be stranded in the Delta Quadrant. The crew decide they need to find Torres and Kim and splits up.

Soon after, Tom Paris, Neelix and Kes find Kim and Torres. They go to the passageway to the surface, and eventually get past the barrier. Kes, Kim, and Torres beam to Voyager; Paris and Neelix remain behind to help the others. They find them, but Chakotay, who had broken a leg, nearly dies when the metal staircase he is on breaks apart. Paris goes back for him and saves his life, thus proving Paris' loyalty. Later, the crew is all beamed aboard and Janeway sets a course back to the array.

Act Eight

As the Kazon arrive at the array intending to take control, Janeway (who allows Paris to take the helm) and Tuvok beam over and come to realize the old man playing the banjo is, in fact, the Caretaker. The Caretaker explains that he can't send the crew home as he barely has the strength to complete his work… sealing the conduits before he dies. He knows that he has to in order to stop the Kazon from stealing the Ocampa's water and killing them. However, the Caretaker regretfully states that in a few years it won't matter as when the energy runs out the Ocampa will be forced to surface where they'll die anyway. Janeway realizes that something the Caretaker did turned the planet into a desert… that is the debt that can never be repaid. The Caretaker explains that his species were explorers from another galaxy, however their technology damaged Ocampa's atmosphere. In order to right this wrong, the Caretaker remained behind with a female counterpart, who abandoned her post in order to explore the galaxy. Before his death, he wanted to find someone who could take over from him. To that end, he has been abducting ships from across the galaxy in order to find someone he could procreate with, so the Ocampa would be taken care of. Janeway reassures him that, as explorers too, they've met species who have managed to overcome all kinds of adversity without a Caretaker; the Ocampa will manage to somehow survive without him. The Caretaker reveals that, in order to stop the Kazon from taking the array, he has activated the self-destruct despite the fact this will leave the crew stranded in the Delta Quadrant.

Meanwhile, the battle between the Kazon and the two Alpha Quadrant ships intensifies. Eventually, in order to take some of the pressure off Voyager, Chakotay transports his crew to the Starfleet vessel. He then pilots the Val Jean to ram into the main Kazon ship just before transporting to Voyager himself, destroying the fighter and sending the Kazon crashing into the array, damaging it.

Inside the array, the holographic simulation fails revealing the array's true layout. The Caretaker, now in his natural form, tells Janeway that the self-destruct system was damaged so now the array won't be destroyed. The Caretaker then finally dies, and in his final words states that if Kazon take the array, they will annihilate the Ocampa.

Janeway is now left with a difficult decision. Should she use the array to return to the Alpha Quadrant and let it fall into Kazon hands or destroy the array, as the Caretaker wanted at the cost of a way home? Tuvok reminds his captain that any action taken to protect the Ocampa will affect the balance of power in this region of space; they would have to comply with the Prime Directive. But Janeway questions the validity of the Prime Directive in this situation because, regardless of whether they chose to become involved in the affairs of the Ocampa or the Kazon, they are involved nonetheless. She and Tuvok beam back to Voyager when they discover that a Kazon fleet has arrived at the array. Janeway finally makes her decision and asks Tuvok to prepare tricobalt devices to destroy the array. B'Elanna Torres loudly argues that they will never be able to get home, but Chakotay bluntly overrules her, acknowledging Janeway as the Captain. Janeway then orders Tuvok to fire and the tricobalt devices destroy the array, leaving no debris. After this, Jabin contacts Voyager and tells them that they have made an enemy this day. The Kazon ships withdraw.

Paris is later summoned to Janeway's ready room, where she tells him that due to the circumstances she's asked the Maquis to join the crew given their own ship is destroyed. She has also asked Chakotay, given that he was previously in Starfleet, to be her first officer and ensures Paris doesn't have a problem with that, especially since he'll have to report to him given the fact he is being made conn officer permanently. Paris is surprised and grateful as Janeway gives him a field commission of lieutenant, only sorry that his father doesn't know. Paris promises he'll find out when the ship gets home. After this, Neelix and Kes ask Janeway if they could join the crew. After saying that Voyager is not a passenger ship, Neelix convinces Janeway that he will be able to be a guide for the crew through the Delta Quadrant. Kes assures Janeway that they want to be a part of the crew's journey back to Earth. Janeway agrees.

After bringing the two crews together on the bridge (the Maquis now wearing Starfleet uniforms), Janeway tells the assembled officers that, as Voyager is the only Federation ship in the Delta Quadrant, they will carry forward Starfleet's mandate of exploring new worlds and meeting new species and she also informs that both crews are going to work together in order to survive as she and Chakotay have agreed that this will be one Starfleet crew. However, she maintains that, even though the return trip would take 75 years at maximum speeds, Voyager's primary mission is to return to Federation space. They hopefully will find anomalies, wormholes, spatial rifts or technology that will shorten their journey back home to the Alpha Quadrant. With that in place, Captain Janeway orders Lieutenant Paris to "set a course… for home." Thus, Voyager's 75-year journey back home to the Alpha Quadrant begins.

Log entries

" Captain's log, stardate 48315.6. We've traced the energy pulses from the array to the fifth planet of the neighboring system and believe they may have been used in some fashion to transport Kim and Torres to the planet's surface. "

" "Captain's log, supplemental. The Maquis ship and Voyager have encountered a debris field where sensors have detected a small vessel. One humanoid lifeform is on board."

Memorable quotes

"Damage report!"

- Chakotay, with the first spoken words of the series



"Be creative!"

"How am I supposed to be creative with a thirty-nine-year-old rebuilt engine?!"

- Chakotay and B'Elanna Torres, under fire from Gul Evek's warship



"Gul Evek must feel daring today."

- Chakotay, remarking on Evek's willingness to pursue the Maquis fighter into the Badlands



"Officially, you'd be a Starfleet observer during the mission."

"'Observer'?! Oh, hell. I'm the best pilot you could have!"

"You'll be an observer. When it's over, you're cut loose."

"The story of my life."

- Kathryn Janeway and Tom Paris



"Do you always fly at women at warp speed, Mister Paris?"

"Only when they're in visual range."

- Stadi and Paris



"It's been my special pleasure to see many new officers like yourself come through these portals. Your parents must be very proud, my boy."

- Quark, introducing himself to Harry Kim



"Quite recently, I acquired these Lobi crystals from a very strange creature called a Morn."

"We were warned about the Ferengi at the Academy."

"Warned about Ferengi, were you?"

"That's right."

"Slurs… about my people at Starfleet Academy!"

- Harry Kim and Quark



"What do I get for my trouble? Scurrilous insults! Well, somebody's gonna hear about this. What's your name, son?"

"My… name?"

"You have one, I presume?"

"Kim, Harry Kim."

- Quark and Harry Kim



"Didn't they warn you about Ferengi at the Academy?"

- Paris, after rescuing Harry Kim from Quark's scheme



"Oh, yes: the… 'observer.'"

"That's me. As a matter of fact, I seem to be observing some kind of problem right now… doctor."

- Voyager's original chief medical officer and Tom Paris



"She's with child! I can't leave her in a kennel while I'm…"

"Is this another 'love me, love my dog' demand?"

"Yes."

"How could I ever refuse you?"

"Thanks, honey."

- Kathryn Janeway and Mark Johnson



"You never bother me, except the way I love to be bothered."

- Kathryn Janeway, to Mark Johnson



"See you in a few weeks…"

- Kathryn Janeway, to Mark Johnson



"Mister Kim… at ease, before you sprain something."

- Captain Janeway to Harry Kim



"'Ma'am' is acceptable in a crunch, but I prefer 'captain.'"

- Kathryn Janeway to Harry Kim



"Yes, ma'am."

"It's not crunch time yet, Mister Kim. I'll let you know when."

- Harry Kim and Captain Janeway



"Hot, plain, tomato soup!"

- Tom Paris, becoming exasperated with a food replicator



"Fourteen varieties and they can't even get hot, plain, tomato soup right!"

- Tom Paris' reaction to tasting the soup



"The ghosts of those three dead officers came to me in the middle of the night and told me the true meaning of Christmas."

- Tom Paris telling Harry Kim about how his own feelings of guilt led him to confess



"I don't need anyone to choose my friends for me."

- Harry Kim to Tom Paris



"Brace for impact."

- Captain Janeway's final words before Voyager is thrown into the Delta Quadrant



"Captain, there's something out there!"

"I need a better description than that, Mister Kim!"

- Harry Kim and Kathryn Janeway



"Captain, if these sensors are working, we're over seventy thousand light years from where we were. We're on the other side of the galaxy."

- Harry Kim to Captain Janeway, announcing Voyager's arrival in the Delta Quadrant



"Please state the nature of the medical emergency."

- The Doctor's first line



"Tricorder… Medical tricorder."

- The Doctor, requesting a medical tricorder from Harry Kim



"A replacement must be requested as soon as possible; I am programmed only as a short-term emergency supplement to the medical team."

"Well, we may be stuck with you for a while, Doc."

- The Doctor and Tom Paris, after Voyager arrives in the Delta Quadrant



"Now just make yourselves right at home. The neighbors should be here any minute. Oh, why, here they are!"

Aunt Adah, ignoring Janeway having introduced herself



"Corn on the cob?"

Aunt Adah, said multiple times in her attempts to welcome the Starfleet officers from Voyager



"I'm sorry if we put you out."

Aunt Adah, said twice in quick succession to Voyager's Starfleet contingent



"Paris, she's only a hologram."

"No reason to be rude!"

- Harry Kim and Tom Paris, in regards to the daughter hologram



"I'm not ready for you yet!"

- The daughter hologram, puppeteered by the Caretaker, trying to shoo Paris and Kim away from the holographic generator



"Very well. Since no-one seems to care for any corn, we'll have to proceed ahead of schedule."

- Aunt Adah, accepting the curiosity of Voyager's Starfleet crew members



"At least the Vulcan was doing his duty as a Starfleet officer, but you, you betrayed us for what? Freedom from prison? Latinum? What was your price this time?!"

- Chakotay to Paris



"Oh, why have you come back? You don't have what I need!"

- The Caretaker, to the Voyager away team



"Oh, well, now. Aren't you contentious for a minor bipedal species?"

"This 'minor bipedal species' doesn't take kindly to being abducted."

- The Caretaker and Janeway



"I don't have enough time. Not enough time!"

- The Caretaker to the Voyager away team, discarding both them and the idea of sending their ship back to the Alpha Quadrant



"I never seem to have the chance to get to know any of them. I have to, um… I have to take more time to do that. It's a fine crew, and I've gotta get them home."

- Janeway to Tuvok, regarding Voyager's crew



"That would not be an accurate perception, captain. Vulcans do not worry."

"They… miss you."

"As I do them."

- Tuvok and Janeway, concerning the former's family



"Since you're not interested in my debris, well… I'm delighted to know you!"

- Neelix



"A very impressive title! I have no idea what it means, but it sounds very impressive."

- Neelix, in reference to Captain Janeway's credentials



"Sounds as though you've heard this story before."

"Sadly, yes, thousands of times. Well, hundreds of times. Maybe fifty times."

- Janeway and Neelix, concerning the Caretaker's multiple crew abductions



"There's really very little that you could offer me. Unless…"

"Yes?"

"Unless, of course… you had… water?"

"If you help us find our missing crewmembers, you can have all the water you want."

- Neelix and Janeway, negotiating



"Astonishing! You Federations are obviously an advanced culture."

"The Federation is made up of many cultures. I am Vulcan."

"Neelix. Good to meet you!"

- Neelix and Tuvok, as the former arrives aboard Voyager and embraces the latter in a bear hug



"Interesting… What… what exactly… (He chuckles) What exactly does all this… all this do?"

"I assure you that everything in this room has a specific function. However, it would take several hours to explain it all. I suggest we proceed to your quarters. (Pause) Perhaps you would care for a bath."

"A what?"

- Tuvok and Neelix, when Neelix first boards Voyager



"Sir?"

"Ah, Mister Vulcan. Come in, come in, please."

- Tuvok and Neelix, while the latter enjoys a bath



"Do these, uh, replicators make clothing as well?"

"Yes."

"Will it make me a uniform like yours?"

"No. It most certainly will not."

- Neelix and Tuvok



"The Kazon-Ogla? Who are the Kazon-Ogla?!"

- Janeway, upon first hearing about the Kazon



"I must speak with your maje, the ever-wise Jabin."

- Neelix, asking the Kazon subordinates to speak with their leader



"Dearest, didn't I promise to save you?"

- Neelix asking a rhetorical question of Kes, revealing that they are lovers



"If I save your butt, your life belongs to me. Isn't that some kind of Indian custom?"

"Wrong tribe."

"I don't believe you. You'd rather die than let me be the one to rescue you?"

"Fine, be a fool. If I have to die, at least I'll get the pleasure of watching you go with me."

"Isn't there some Indian trick where you can turn yourself into a bird and fly us out of here?"

"You're too heavy."

- Paris and Chakotay



"Is the crew always this difficult?"

"I don't know, Doc. It's my first mission."

- The Doctor and Kim



"Doesn't anyone know how to turn off the program when they leave?"

- The Doctor



"Well… you're nothing if not persistent."

- The Caretaker to Janeway, laughing and seeing she has come aboard his array for the third time



"We're explorers from another galaxy, but we had no idea that our technology would be so destructive to their atmosphere. Two of us were chosen to stay behind and care for them."

"There's another like you here?"

"Not anymore. No, no. She… she went off to look for more interesting places."

- The Caretaker and Janeway, discussing the second Caretaker and the duty of caring for the Ocampa



"Did you ever consider allowing the Ocampa to care for themselves?"

"Oh, they're children!"

"Children have to grow up."

- Janeway and The Caretaker



"Tell one of your cracker-jack Starfleet transporter chiefs to keep a lock on me."

- Chakotay



"Stand by to transport!"

"Wait! Now!!"

- Paris and Chakotay, arranging the latter's rescue from his Maquis raider in the nick of time



"Now, this installation will not be destroyed. But it must be. The Kazon must not be allowed to gain control of it. They will annihilate the Ocampa."

- The Caretaker's final words



"Captain, any action we take to protect the Ocampa would affect the balance of power in this system. The Prime Directive would seem to apply."

"Would it? We never asked to be involved, Tuvok. But we are. We are."

- Tuvok and Janeway



"We'll have to find another way home."

- Janeway to Torres, deciding to destroy the Caretaker's array, Voyager's only then-evident way home



"Who is she to be making these decisions for all of us?"

"She's the captain."

- Torres and Chakotay



"You have made an enemy today."

- Jabin's only words to Captain Janeway when he contacts Voyager for the last time



"I've entered into the ship's log, on this date, that I'm granting a field commission of lieutenant to Thomas Eugene Paris. Congratulations."

- Kathryn Janeway, promoting Tom Paris



"Whatever you need is what I have to offer. You need a guide? I'm your guide. You need supplies? I know where to procure them. I have friends among races you don't even know exist. You need a cook? Oh, you haven't lived until you've tasted my angla'bosque. It will be my job to anticipate your needs before you know you have them. And I anticipate your first need… will be me."

"Captain, we both want very much to be a part of your journey."

- Neelix's and Kes' pitch to Captain Janeway



"We're alone, in an uncharted part of the galaxy. We've already made some friends here, and some enemies. We have no idea of the dangers we're going to face, but one thing is clear. Both crews are going to have to work together if we're to survive. That's why Commander Chakotay and I have agreed that this should be one crew: a Starfleet crew. And as the only Starfleet vessel assigned to the Delta Quadrant, we'll continue to follow our directive to seek out new worlds and explore space. But our primary goal is clear. Even at maximum speeds, it would take seventy-five years to reach the Federation, but I'm not willing to settle for that. There's another entity like the Caretaker out there somewhere, who has the ability to get us there a lot faster. We'll be looking for her, and we'll be looking for wormholes, spatial rifts, or new technologies to help us. Somewhere, along this journey, we'll find a way back. Mister Paris, set a course… for home."

- Captain Kathryn Janeway's speech during their journey through the Delta Quadrant

Background information

Writing the pilot

Story

"There is an area of space that is like the Bermuda Triangle: ships tend to disappear there, for unknown reasons. But we learn that it's being used as the 'Badlands' – a hiding place for daring bad guys. We are sent in to capture a ship of these bad guys. To that end, we procure the services of a former, fallen Starfleet officer who jumps at the chance to redeem himself and who is made the Tactical Officer of the ship. "We enter the Badlands and find the bad guy ship. During our efforts to tractor it, something happens in the anomaly, and we are ﬂung through an incredible array of effects and come out of it in deep deep deep space. We are still tethered to the bad guy ship – but something's weird about it. It's empty, or aged, or shot up. How did that happen? And where's the crew? "We soon realize that we're so far from Federation space that it would take fifty years or so to fly back. What are we to do? Search for a world where we might assimilate? Keep chasing the bad guys? Why? Our orders are somewhat meaningless – there's no more 'Starfleet' as far as we're concerned. We can't even send messages. Why bother? "Our first instinct is to try to find out how we got flung out here, and if we can get flung back again. But there's no information, no clues – except the bad guy ship, strangely deserted. We investigate it, and decide we'd better find those two guys. They might, through their experience in coming through, have some idea what's happened and how to get back. "We're able to track them to the planet of the Mayflys, and find they've been taken prisoner by the Crips – a gang which, in conflict with two other gangs, competes for territory in this region of space. During this time we encounter our Mayfly and another of her species – an older one, near the end of a brief life span. "Our adventure allows us to rescue the bad guys from the Crips, and we end up with them, and the Mayfly, on board. But the rescue has incurred the wrath of the Crips and we must extricate ourselves from them. One possibility: we forge a truce, or understanding with them – only to learn that in doing so we have ensured the enmity of the Bloods, who swear to eliminate us. "Ultimately, we make the decision to head home. Some may never get there… but it's the journey, the decision, which matters. During this time the two bad guys will have shown themselves to be helpful, and are offered uniforms and positions on the ship. The Science Officer accepts; the Assistant Engineer refuses to don a uniform, but reluctantly accepts a job rather than be bored to death. "We will continue to do what Starfleet does – explore and investigate – and whoever makes it back will arrive with a wealth of knowledge to enrich the cultural coffers of the Federation. We will live responsibly, living up to expectations, even though no one's there to make sure we do, because it's the right thing." (A Vision of the Future - Star Trek: Voyager, pp. 190-191)

Beat outline and script

Michael Piller was ready to start trying to draft the script for this pilot episode by early March 1994. Though hectically busy at the time, Piller, Rick Berman, and Jeri Taylor knew this episode had to be a spectacularly high-quality production. If it wasn't, it was hard to imagine how the series and the new network UPN, which was depending on Star Trek: Voyager being a success, could recover. The fact that none of the previous Star Trek pilot episodes had been weak put extra pressure on the makers of this episode, especially Piller. It was in this environment that he started writing the script for the installment, which was still untitled. ( A Vision of the Future - Star Trek: Voyager , pp. 223 & 228)

being a success, could recover. The fact that none of the previous pilot episodes had been weak put extra pressure on the makers of this episode, especially Piller. It was in this environment that he started writing the script for the installment, which was still untitled. ( , pp. 223 & 228) Before a complete draft of the script could be written, the producers had to structure this feature-length episode into ten separate acts, before delineating the main scenes in each act. Breaking this story into its constituent parts involved multiple lengthy meetings over a long process which proceeded through March 1994 and into the next month. By mid-April, the consequently produced "beat outline" was more-or-less fixed. (A Vision of the Future - Star Trek: Voyager, p. 229) As of 13 April, the first three acts of the outline read:

"TEASER "1. INT. MAQUIS SHIP "On the run from Cardassians. Est. Chakotay B'Elanna and Tuvok – they proceed into Badlands. Run into strange beam – white out. "ACT ONE "1. EXT. CONSTRUCTION SITE – PENAL COLONY "Paris is working as carpenter. Sex beat [i.e., a scene containing sexual overtones] with supervisor. Janeway arrives – she makes offer.

"2. EXT. PARK "Janeway lays out deal. Some back story on Paris he accepts.

"3. EXT. SPACE "Shuttle approaches DS9.

"4. INT. SHUTTLE "Paris and pilot see Voyager for the first time.

"5. INT. DS9 "Paris enters Quark's – see Kim being scammed by Quark. Rescues him.

"6. INT. DS9 AIRLOCK CORRIDOR "Paris and Kim exit turbolift chatting about Kim's first posting, but he knows all about this class ship.

"7. INT. VOYAGER – CORRIDOR "Kim directs Paris.

"8. INT. SICKBAY "Kim and Paris meet the doctor – has attitude toward Paris.

"9. INT. READY ROOM "Janeway talks to boyfriend on monitor. Paris and Kim enter – she takes them to…

"10. INT. BRIDGE "She assigns Kim to Ops. Set a course.

"11. EXT. SPACE "Voyager departs. " ACT TWO "1. INT. PARIS' QUARTERS "He chats with father – exits to…

"2. INT. OFFICER'S MESS "Paris enters, sees Kim with doctor and others. They leave. Paris tells Kim backstory. Kim says, 'I choose my own friends.' Call from the bridge – approaching Badlands.

"3. INT. BRIDGE "They enter Badlands. Follow trace of Maquis – maneuver through holes. Get swept up by ion beam.

"4. EXT. SPACE "Big optical effect.

"5. INT. BRIDGE "Lots of dead and wounded – Where are we? Reveal array on viewscreen.

"6. EXT. SPACE "Voyager array and Maquis ship. " ACT THREE "1. INT. BRIDGE "Est. edge of galaxy. Maquis ship dead in space. Some TECH about array – call from engineering – chief dead. Core breach in progress. No response in sickbay. Paris and Kim go there to assist. Janeway heads for engineering. " INTERCUT "2. INT. ENGINEERING "Janeway coping with crisis.

"3. INT. SICKBAY "Paris and Kim overwhelmed – doctor is dead. They summon EMP Zimmerman [i.e., The Doctor]. As crisis ends, optical effect wipes sets. All disappear except Zimmerman.

"4. INT. ARRAY – ISOLATION CELLS "Old man arrives chatting greetings. Janeway demands explanation – he ignores her." (A Vision of the Future - Star Trek: Voyager, pp. 230-232)

"Our story works, I believe, but it is all real in 24th Century terms – it never leaves the baseline universe as we know it. In fact, it never goes into the UNKNOWN. The fix may be simple. Here's the idea I came up with: what if the inside of the Array isn't test tubes and probes. What if, when we're transported off Voyager, we find ourselves suddenly on the Heather on the Hill from Brigadoon, beautiful people coming to greet us, embrace us… or on the beach of Bora Bora with naked Polynesians coming to greet us… or it's the Orientals from Shogun… or some other earth-like metaphor for voyagers who've landed on strange shores. If the entity can create himself as an old man and a bagpipe, he can create an entire environment from his data bank scans, can't he? So, it seems briefly like an idyllic environment we've come to… the entity in some appropriate guise, tells us relax, I don't mean you any harm, but Janeway knows better not to trust what she sees… Tuvok says it's a hologram… The Polynesian natives, if we go that way, are putting leis around our neck, dancing the dances to the drums and it's hard not to get caught up in this if you're Kim or Paris. It's almost like we were in an old 19th Century whaling ship thrown off course by a hurricane, says Kim. But quickly, the idyllic setting becomes dangerous… not exactly sure how… but instead of probes, some optical zapping might occur, (looking for something more subtle, indigenous to test for this DNA particle)… then one laughing native girl pulls Kim into the bushes as native girls are wont to do… but as he expects carnal delights, he winds up being grabbed by an optical beast and disappears. "Problems occur: how do we show the entire crew of Voyager has been taken to this wondrous environment… (yes, Captain, the rest of them are just over the ridge) (matte shot on the beach maybe?) (a cast of hundreds?) How do we ﬁnd the Maquis? Maybe we never get to the test for the DNA particle in this sequence – maybe Tuvok uses a tricorder to track down the source of the holographic generator, stumbles into the real world where the Maquis are on ice… which sets off a melee and we're all zapped into unconsciousness right there on the beach. And when we wake up we're back on the ship, more confused than ever. So, the result is – we will never actually see the interior of the Array except for that Maquis on ice moment which might be a matte shot with a few close-ups of the Maquis we know. Every time we go to the Array, we go to this environment. We'd have to lose the tubes… well, let me take that back… maybe they reveal in the very last sequence as he's dying, the signal that he's dead, is the dissolution of the fantasy environment and they reveal that he's an ooze monster. This probably only adds another million to the budget. But it only affects about twenty pages or so – maybe only ten in a substantial way. Anything here, guys?" ([6]; A Vision of the Future - Star Trek: Voyager, pp. 233-235)

Cast and characters

Casting the pilot

Creating the pilot

The cast wasn't given much opportunity to gel prior to the filming of this episode. Noted Garrett Wang, " There wasn't much time to get together and say, 'Hey, where are you from?' That came along the way. " ( Starlog , issue #222, p. 79)

" ( , issue #222, p. 79) Early in the making of the episode, the cast felt under a great deal of pressure because expectations for the new series were high. " Those first days were like, 'I've got to get this scene right, I've got to make it play,' " Tim Russ recalled. " The anxiety factor that was built into it for all of us was the fact that 'You've got the part,' but we also knew that in the first week of shooting, they're either going to tweak that performance or they're going to replace it. If anything was going to happen, it was going to happen in that first week. You weren't guaranteed until you got on film, someone saw you in dailies and gave you a thumbs-up. That's when you know you're home, so the anxiety factor had to do with that. " Robert Beltran added, " The only real pressure came from whether or not we were going to live up to our predecessors. Over the years, the Star Trek shows have all been great successes, so we had a lot to live up to [….] So I think we were all apprehensive about whether or not we would measure up to our predecessors. " ( Star Trek Monthly issue 20, pp. 26-27 & 31)

" Tim Russ recalled. " " Robert Beltran added, " Star Trek [….] " ( issue 20, pp. 26-27 & 31) Despite the extreme pressure, the cast was determined to make this episode as good as it could be. " We all wanted the pilot to be successful, " Tim Russ reflected. " We wanted the job, and certainly didn't want the show to go down, so we all knew we were going to pitch in. " ( Star Trek Monthly issue 20, p. 31)

" Tim Russ reflected. " " ( issue 20, p. 31) A few scenes from this episode were originally shot with Geneviève Bujold as Captain Janeway. ( The First Captain: Bujold , VOY Season 1 DVD special features) During Bujold's tenure, there wasn't a lot of communication between her and the rest of the cast, because she chose to rush back to her trailer whenever she wasn't required for the filming. " There was no on-set camaraderie going on, " noted Garrett Wang. ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 27, No. 4/5, p. 39) Bujold's eventual departure particularly disappointed Robert Beltran, who had agreed to do the show partly because he'd been eager to work with her. ( The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years , p. 575)

, VOY Season 1 DVD special features) During Bujold's tenure, there wasn't a lot of communication between her and the rest of the cast, because she chose to rush back to her trailer whenever she wasn't required for the filming. " " noted Garrett Wang. ( , Vol. 27, No. 4/5, p. 39) Bujold's eventual departure particularly disappointed Robert Beltran, who had agreed to do the show partly because he'd been eager to work with her. ( , p. 575) During the filming of this episode, the cast united into a tenacious group. " This cast of characters just came together as an ensemble when Kate [Mulgrew] came on, " observed Michael Piller. " It's as simple as that. Once the power, once the anchor was in place, once the chain of command, if you will, was clear, everybody knew where their positions were in relationship to this captain. " ( Cinefantastique , Vol. 27, No. 4/5, p. 38)

[Mulgrew] " observed Michael Piller. " " ( , Vol. 27, No. 4/5, p. 38) With the role of Captain Janeway having been recast, the other series regulars grew more confident that they would be able to measure up to their predecessors. Explained Robert Beltran, " When they cast Kate [Mulgrew] as the captain, we all became very hopeful that we could keep up the tradition because we knew we had such a good cast. " ( Star Trek Monthly issue 20, p. 26)

" ( issue 20, p. 26) Robert Beltran was ultimately pleased by how the cast eventually joined forces to make the episode. He later enthused, " The cast came together like magic. " ( The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years , p. 585) Beltran elaborated, " The camaraderie sort of just fell into place. That's probably due to the producers, who must have been aiming for that kind of chemistry when they cast us. " Beltran found that the quickness with which the cast gelled made the episode fun to do. ( Star Trek Monthly issue 20, pp. 27 & 34)

" ( , p. 585) Beltran elaborated, " " Beltran found that the quickness with which the cast gelled made the episode fun to do. ( issue 20, pp. 27 & 34) Robert Duncan McNeill and Kate Mulgrew were likewise pleased with how well the cast integrated during the episode's making. Towards the end of the installment's production, McNeill commented, " We were both amazed at the great ensemble that has been put together. We've quickly become a family and bonded with a sense of joy and fun on this set. " ( OMNI , Vol. 17, No. 5, pp. 39-40 & 43) In retrospect, he elaborated, " In 'The Caretaker' [sic] there was a certain chemistry that our cast had that I'd never felt before in a series. A lot of people say, 'When you're on a hit series you can feel it right away,' and I really sensed that with this cast. " McNeill also referred to the integration of the cast as having given the episode a kind of "magical quality." ( TV Zone , issue 80, p. 36)

" ( , Vol. 17, No. 5, pp. 39-40 & 43) In retrospect, he elaborated, " [sic] " McNeill also referred to the integration of the cast as having given the episode a kind of "magical quality." ( , issue 80, p. 36) The making of this installment facilitated the start of a friendship between Kate Mulgrew and Robert Duncan McNeill. "Because our trailers were set off from everyone else's, she and I shared a lot of our own sorts of neuroses and paranoias during the filming of that first episode," stated McNeill. "We got a chance to bond in a really nice way." (TV Zone, issue 80, p. 36)

Contemplating the pilot

Cast reappearances

Proceeding with pre-production

Sets and filming locations

Production

Entering production

Continuing without a captain

Resuming with the recast captain

Once the Janeway role was recast with Kate Mulgrew in the part, the filming could recommence. " As soon as we had hair situations worked out and uniform situations worked out, within a week we were shooting again, " stated Rick Berman. ( The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years , p. 576) Whereas the episode had entered production on Tuesday 6 September 1994, Mulgrew didn't arrive for filming until Monday 19 September. ( Star Trek Magazine issue 152, p. 24)

" stated Rick Berman. ( , p. 576) Whereas the episode had entered production on Tuesday 6 September 1994, Mulgrew didn't arrive for filming until Monday 19 September. ( issue 152, p. 24) Even following the casting of Kate Mulgrew, bitter emotions remained for a short time. "There was a little bit of ugliness," explained Rick Berman, "between the studio and Geneviève's management, I'm not sure who, because of all the expense involved in her realizing, after so many people had given her warning, that she couldn't do this." (Star Trek Magazine issue 179, p. 27) Berman also recollected, "The studio was so angry because we had to shut down and it cost a lot of money. They threatened to sue her, which was terrible – and, of course, they never did." What happened was that Bujold's agent called Paramount and concluded negotiations with the studio, as neither party had been happy up to then. "It actually paid for the loss of the first three days," Tom Mazza remarked, "because the first three days were lost in terms of those scenes with her." (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, p. 576) Berman observed that the tensions between Paramount and Bujold's management "all went away and everything was fine." (Star Trek Magazine issue 179, p. 27)

Additional filming

Final production statistics

Post-production

Readying post-production

Because the process of designing the Caretaker's array went on for months, it seemed, for a while, that the episode's post-production elements might not be completed in time to be inserted into the installment so that its January airdate could be met. If this turned out to be the case, the post-production staff would be blamed "for not getting the job done." ( A Vision of the Future - Star Trek: Voyager , p. 257)

, p. 257) Post-production elements still needed to be prepared during June, July and August 1994. As a result, Producer Peter Lauritson and Wendy Neuss, on the first floor of Paramount's Cooper Building, were busy with readying the post-production requirements for this episode, such as visual effects and elements to be added to the soundtrack. Lauritson had to ensure all facets of the installment's post-production would be ready so that, after the cast and crew had finished shooting, his department could complete the episode in time for its planned air date in January 1995. (A Vision of the Future - Star Trek: Voyager, pp. 281, 284 & 285)

Visual effects

Music

Editing

Completing post-production

Whereas the shooting company took a break from filming during the Christmas hiatus from 22 December 1994 to 3 January 1995 (during production on later first season installment " Ex Post Facto "), many staff members, especially in the post-production department, got no break for Christmas 1994 because there was simply too much left to do to prepare for the series premiere. Those who remained at work in order to proceed with this episode's post-production included Dan Curry (with Christmas Day being his only day off), Wendy Neuss (cutting short plans she had made with her boyfriend), David Stipes, and their PAs. The final version of the episode was due to be delivered to Paramount by 10 January 1995. Somehow, the installment was finished on time and submitted to Paramount on schedule. (A Vision of the Future - Star Trek: Voyager, pp. 335-336, 345)

Subsequent edits

This series premiere was initially aired as a single, two-hour long, feature-length episode. In syndication, however, the episode was edited into two one-hour parts. The following scenes were cut for time: Paris flirting with Lieutenant Stadi aboard the shuttle. Snippets of the scene of Harry Kim and Quark at the bar. Kim being pierced by the needle aboard the Caretaker's array and screaming in pain. Kes guiding them through an opening in a dangerous force field. Jabin's hail to Janeway at the end of the battle.

The order of certain scenes was changed in order to end Part I at the end of Act Four.

Reception

Aftermath

Continuity

Video and DVD releases

UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 1.1, catalog number VHR 4200, 26 June 1995

The catalogue number for this volume is out of sync with the rest of season 1, likely because of its special nature as the pilot episode.

Starring

Also starring

Guest stars

And

Co-stars

Uncredited co-stars

Stunt doubles

Stand-ins

References

47; 2446; abduction; ability; acceleration; Al-Batani, USS; Alpha Quadrant; amusement; angla'bosque; Arias Expedition; Badlands; Bajoran system; bar bill; barter; bath tub; Baxial; bench; Betazoid; bio-neural circuitry; birdhouse; bodyguard; Bolian tomato soup; Caldik Prime; Caldik Prime accident casualties; Cardassia; Cardassians; Cardassian border; caretaker; Caretaker's array; Christmas; Christmas Carol, A; clarinet; class M; cobalt; cognitive ability; collision course; combadge; compression phaser rifle; concussion; conference room; cormaline; corn; corn on the cob; cufflinks; debris; Deep Space 9; Delta Quadrant; density; desert; deviled egg; dilithium; displacement wave; duck; Earth; elders; Emergency Medical Hologram (aka Emergency Holographic Doctor); enemy; entity; explorer; Federation; Federation Council; Ferengi; food dispenser; food processor; food replicator; Fourth Order; friend; G-type star system; galaxy; Galor-class; generation; good luck charm; graviton; holographic generator; holographic projection; horse; idea; impulse generator; interval; Intrepid-class; joke; Juilliard Youth Symphony; Kazon; Kazon carrier vessel; Kazon Collective; Kazon fighter; Kazon-Ogla; kennel; Kim, John; Kim, Mary; Klingon; Koladan diamond; laser tool; lek; lemonade; lesion; level 3 diagnostic; Lobi crystal; logic; magnetic constrictor; Maje; Maquis; Maquis raider; medical tricorder; mess hall; meter; microfracture; microscope; mile; Milky Way Galaxy; mind; Mollie; Moriya system; moss; NCC-71325; NCC-71325 shuttlecraft; Nacene; New Zealand; New Zealand Penal Settlement; nucleogenic particle; nutritional supplement; observer; Ocampa; Ocampa (planet); Ocampan; Ocampan surface city; Ocampan underground city; "Old Sneezy"; onion; operations officer; outlaw; outmeet review; Paris, Owen; passenger ship; path; patient; percussive injury; phaser type-1; phenomenon; pilot error; pitcher; pitchfork; planetary surface scan; plasma flare; plasma phenomenon; plasma storm; pond; porch; porch swing; potato; Prime Directive; Quark's; rebel; red alert; root cellar; rug; sand scrub; science officer; second; security anklet; security barrier; senior officer; short range scan; sickbay; slur; spatial rift; spoon; sporocystian lifeform; sprain; Starfleet; Starfleet Academy; state of the art; statue; story; sugar cookie; surrender; survival strategies; Talaxian; Terikof belt; tetryon; theodolite; tomato soup; towel; tractor beam; transport sensor; transporter; transporter chief; transporter lock; Transporter Room 2; trianoline; tribe; tri-cobalt device; tricorder; Type 6 shuttlecraft; Val Jean; vessel; Vetar; visiting hours; Volnar colony; Voyager, USS; Voyager dedication plaque; Voyager's chief engineer; waiting room; Warming, The; warp core; warp factor; water; welcoming bee; wormhole; Zakarian

Other references

Unreferenced material

Kairus III



