Star Trek: Voyager s05e09 Episode Script
Thirty Days
Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris, l hereby reduce you to the rank of Ensign.
And l sentence you to 30 days solitary confinement.
Take Ensign Paris to the brig.
l know the way.
Brig.
One two three Staying in shape? Oh, yeah.
l do it every time l'm in jail.
Well, l hope all that exercise gave you an appetite.
Leola root stew again? That's the third time this week.
Can't you just replicate me a pizza? Sorry, Tom.
Basic nutrition only.
Captain's orders.
Ah, bread and water, huh? Let's have it.
l got you the padd you asked for.
Oh thanks.
So did you ask the warden about those holodeck privileges? Uh, she said, and l quote: ''Tell Mr.
Paris this is punishment, not shore leave.
'' lt was worth a try.
Well see you next meal.
Wait, leaving already? Uh, pull up a chair.
Stay awhile.
Sorry.
No nonessential conversation with the prisoner.
Do the words ''cruel and unusual'' mean anything to her? l'm telling you, Neelix, the inmates are getting restless.
She's going to have a full-blown prison riot on her hands.
Begin letter.
Dear Father pause and erase.
Begin.
To Admiral Paris pause and erase.
Begin.
Hey, Dad Long time, no see.
Chances are you'll never receive this letter but in case you do, there's a few things l wanted to say.
First of all bad news.
Um l'm in jail again.
Wait! Keep listening.
Don't turn this off.
l want you to know how l ended up in here because it's not what you think.
lt all started on a morning l was doing something you would find a complete waste of time.
Captain Proton to Buster Kincaid.
l've destroyed Dr.
Chaotica's mind control machine and l'm on my way back to the spaceship.
Hello, Proton.
Who is this? An old friend.
Make that two old friends.
The Twin Mistresses of Evil l should have known.
l'm afraid your trusty sidekick is indisposed at the moment.
Don't worry about me, Captain.
l can handle myself.
We'll see about that.
Bring me the brain probe.
The what? The brain probe, you insolent fool.
Oh, right.
Your wish is my command.
Sorry, Harry.
No problem.
Torture me all you want, Demonica.
l'll never crack.
Oh, but you will.
By the time we're through with you, you'll be begging to tell us everything you know.
You'll be our puppet.
Our slave.
Great.
You're doing great.
You're done for, Demonica.
Malicia.
She's Demonica.
Whatever.
You two are going to jail for a very long time.
-Ooh.
-Ooh.
Move it, toots.
He's so brave.
lt's a shame we'll have to kill him.
l've got everything under control, Proton.
Shouldn't you be getting back to headquarters? And leave you at the mercy of these two? Come on, Tom.
l'm just getting to the good part.
Senior officers, report to the Bridge.
l guess the good part will have to wait.
Any progress on those star charts? l'll have them to you by 1400.
be done yesterday.
l'm sorry, Tom.
The sensor array went off-line.
Seven of Nine will have it up and running this morning.
You need some help? l'm not on duty again till tomorrow morning.
No, l don't want to spoil your day off.
Oh, l don't mind.
Thanks, anyway.
See you later, Lieutenant.
Buster.
Bye.
l think Jenny really likes you.
Yeah, l know.
l thought the feeling was mutual.
How many times do l have to tell you? l like Megan, but she won't give me the time of day.
What is the difference? You can't be serious.
They're the Delaney sisters, Harry.
They're twins.
Are you kidding? They're nothing alike.
Jenny's aggressive, and sometimes annoying, but Megan-- she's quiet, artistic and she's got that cute little dimple in her right cheek.
Jenny doesn't have the dimple? No dimple.
Hmm.
Bridge.
Well, you've done it again, Harry.
What? Fallen for the unattainable woman.
First it was a hologram, then a Borg, and now, the wrong twin.
At least l'm consistent.
Sorry to interrupt your fun, gentlemen, but long-range sensors have picked up something interesting.
A concentrated mass of oxygen and hydrogen.
Lots of animal and plant life.
An M-Class planet? No.
That's the interesting part.
We're entering visual range.
On screen.
What is it? lt's an ocean.
According to these readings, it's bigger than the Atlantic and Pacific combined.
What's holding it together? Looks like there's some sort of a containment field keeping it from dissipating.
Take us in closer, Tom.
Are those starships or submarines? Open a channel.
This is Captain Janeway of the Starship Voyager.
Please identify yourselves.
They are powering weapons.
Shields.
Red Alert.
Shields holding.
No damage.
Should l return fire? Not yet.
Voyager to approaching vessels.
We have no hostile intentions.
They're maintaining their course.
Target the lead ship and take out their weapons.
Direct hit.
They're hailing.
l guess we got their attention.
On screen.
l'm Deputy Consul Burkus of the Monean Maritime Sovereignty.
You violated our space.
Withdraw or we'll resume firing.
Consul, we could have destroyed your ships, but we didn't.
We have no interest in a fight.
Then why are you here? Because we're explorers and we're fascinated by your ocean, and we'd like to learn more about it and your people, if you'd be willing.
And if we are not? We'll be disappointed, but we'll leave you alone.
Your ship's impressive.
Well, l'd be happy to give you a tour.
Forgive our vigilance, Captain.
Over the years, my government has had to protect our ocean from more than one hostile species.
l understand.
We're also very protective of our own natural resources.
about new cultures.
Yours sounds particularly fascinating.
And this is Voyager's command center.
Feel free to have a look around.
l'm curious, Consul.
Have your people always lived here? Our ancestors were nomadic.
They only discovered the waters 300 years ago.
l'll bet they were as stunned as we were to find this huge ball of water floating in space.
Yes.
Mister? Paris.
Tom Paris.
My First Officer, Commander Chakotay.
They realized they could farm sea vegetation, extract oxygen from the ocean for their ships create a permanent home.
What's your population? More than 80,000.
And you all live underwater? Lieutenant, we do have other business to attend to.
Mr.
Tuvok, escort our guests to the briefing room.
Care to join us, Mr.
Paris? How could you tell? Do you still live aboard your ships? We've built an industrial infrastructure and undersea dwellings, but yes, most of our people still choose to live as our ancestors did.
Any idea how the ocean came into existence? ln my experience, it's a unique phenomenon.
Riga? There are several theories.
Our clerics teach that the ocean was a divine gift from the creators to protect and sustain us, but, in my opinion, the most plausible explanation is that the ocean formed naturally, much the same way that a gas giant does.
Makes sense.
Unfortunately, our limited knowledge of the phenomenon has created a few problems.
What do you mean? l'm not sure this is an appropriate topic.
But they might be able to help us.
We'll do anything we can.
The ocean's losing containment.
Hydro-volume has decreased more than seven percent in the last year alone.
Any idea what's causing it? No.
To make a thorough study, we'd need to explore the ocean's center where l believe the gravitational currents are fluctuating.
But that's more than 600 kilometers deep.
Our best research vessel can only go 100 kilometers.
Beyond that, the pressure's too great.
Well, we could take you there.
Captain? l had no idea you were such an old salt.
When l saw that ocean today, it reminded me of the first time l read Jules Verne.
Mmm! l must have read it l was obsessed with stories about the ocean.
All of my friends were busy with their holo-programs.
l had my head buried in Captains Courageous, Moby Dick So your interest in history includes the 19th century, as well.
Ancient sailing ships were always my first love.
l had it all planned.
Finish high school, join the Federation Naval Patrol but my father had other ideas.
You'd think Admiral Paris might have understood his son's passion.
Hmm As far as he was concerned, the only ship l was going to serve on had to have a Starfleet insignia on it.
So now you have an opportunity to make up for lost time.
Captain with a few simple thruster modifications to the Delta Flyer, she will be seaworthy in no time.
Good.
lt'd take at least a week to make the necessary modifications to Voyager.
Then it's my mission? Bon voyage.
And so, l thought to myself, who better than Harry to be my first mate? First mate? Oh sailor talk.
You'll get the hang of it.
Ah.
l'm telling you, Harry, l have been dreaming about something like this for as long as l can remember.
Correct me if l'm wrong, but there is a mission involved here, right? Of course! But there's no law that says we can't have a little fun along the way.
Ah, bosun.
Ready to shove off? What are you talking about, Lieutenant? Call me Skipper.
Sailor talk.
You'll get used to it.
l think not.
Hull and thruster reinforcements are complete.
Ah, that's what l wanted to hear.
Oh, excuse me.
Am l in the right place? Welcome aboard.
l see you like to travel light.
These are my instruments for measuring depth, pressure, currents We will not need them.
This vessel is equipped with a complete sensor array.
-Oh.
-Uh, it's okay.
You can store your gear in the hold.
to the surface.
lmmersion shielding? Active.
Anchors aweigh.
Those structures, what are they? lt's our main oxygen refinery and desalination plant.
Corrosion resistant alloys, variable-density ballast an efficient design.
That means she's impressed.
We're very proud of what we've built here.
l can see why.
Come in.
l'm afraid we have some disturbing news.
Oh? We've run a computer simulation to determine the rate of dissipation.
lt's worse than Mr.
Riga thought.
According to our estimates, the ocean could experience a complete loss of containment in less than five years.
l'm sorry.
Your calculations could be wrong.
l know it sounds grim, but there may be some way to stop the process.
And if there isn't? You might have to consider evacuating.
l'm supposed to go back and explain this to 47 regional sovereigns? They'll pass their first unanimous resolution calling for my head.
l can imagine how difficult this must be for you but you will have to tell them.
Perhaps but l'll wait until your Delta Flyer returns.
Maybe they'll find something tangible.
We're at a depth of 560 kilometers.
What was that? The hull contracting.
Rerouting additional power to structural integrity.
Nothing to worry about.
l'm detecting multiphasic energy discharges, bearing 021 mark 6.
Range: 12 kilometers.
A structure.
At this depth? Adjusting course.
l can't see anything.
Give me forward illumination, Harry.
What is it? lt's generating massive amounts of artificial gravity.
Looks like some kind of field reactor.
lf it's malfunctioning, that would explain the loss of hydro-volume.
Maybe it can be repaired.
lt looks ancient.
Well, if these readings are right, it's at least 100,000 years old.
We've no records of any previous inhabitants.
Who built it? Where did they go? Looks like the reactor is controlled by a core computer.
l'll try to upload the database and get some answers.
lnitiate the interface.
Upload in progress.
What's happening? We've got a visitor.
What was it?! You're the one that lives here.
You tell us.
No one's ever been this far down before.
We don't know anything about marine life at these depths.
You are about to have the opportunity to make a detailed study.
The creature's emitting biothermic discharges.
lt's like some kind of electric eel.
Only a hell of a lot bigger.
And significantly more powerful.
That last discharge exceeded 500,000 volts.
The shields are fried, Tom.
You might want to think about getting us out of here.
Thrusters are off-line.
Targeting forward phasers.
No, you can't kill it.
l do not intend to.
Unfortunately, the creature does not seem to be of a similar opinion.
How's that upload coming? Another couple of minutes.
Firing phasers.
l think we only made him madder.
The creature is retreating.
We've got a breach! l'm on it.
propulsion off-line, water pouring into the cabin lt was like something out of one of those Jules Verne stories you used to read me when l was a kid.
Red Alert! All hands to battle stations.
Hey, what about me? lf we're in trouble, we need our best pilot at the helm.
You can't just leave me here! Five ships? And they just opened fire without warning? -Mm-hmm.
-Oh How did we get away? Apparently, Ensign Culhane confused the enemy with a brilliant series of evasive maneuvers.
l hear Captain Janeway is considering him for Chief Conn Officer.
Oh, yeah? Well, you just tell the Captain that Culhane's brilliant maneuvers almost knocked me unconscious.
You'd think he'd never flown a shuttle, much less a starship.
There we are.
That's it? Aren't you going to run a neurological scan? Maybe l should be granted a medical reprieve.
Your injury was what Naomi Wildman refers to as a boo-boo.
Come on, Doc.
You don't understand what it's like being down here all day, every day.
l'm going crazy.
Correct me if l'm wrong, but isn't that the idea? No, seriously, Doc, you might want to take me down to Sick Bay for a full psychiatric evaluation.
Three or four days of observation at least.
See you in 20 days.
Doc! Resume recording.
Okay, Dad, where were we? Ah, right.
We had just sprung a leak.
Nothing like a cold shower to wake up the senses.
Structural integrity is weakening.
We've lost communications, shields, propulsion.
We can reduce our density by venting plasma and transporting all nonessential equipment off the ship.
lt will take time, but we will eventually rise to the surface.
l think we should stay.
Stay? l'm not about to be scared off by a few damaged systems.
Tom, don't you think maybe you're carrying this Captains Courageous thing a little too far? Look it's a good bet that the reactor's malfunctioning.
Now, we're only going to get one shot at fixing it.
You want to leave, fine.
Give me an environmental suit and you can pick me up after you've repaired the Flyer.
You're going for a swim? Are you crazy? You have a better idea? Well we already managed to interface with the reactor's computer.
Maybe we can make the repairs, maybe we can't, but l'm not leaving you down here alone.
What about you two? l'll stay.
Seven? lt is in my nature to comply with the collective.
l'm detecting a breach in the containment field.
Any way we can seal it? We might try reinforcing the field with a deflector beam.
Do it.
Try hailing the Delta Flyer again.
Nothing.
What do you think's happened? They may be too deep to receive a transmission.
They may have had an accident.
-lt's possible.
-Possible? Captain, l'll need a better explanation than that.
What am l supposed to tell the Council? Clarify something for me.
Are you more concerned about the lives of the people on that shuttle or your political career? What's that? A gravimetric discharge.
The reactor's core is unstable.
You'd be unstable, too, if you were as old as this thing.
Age has nothing to do with it.
The reactor's diverting massive amounts of power to its structural integrity field, power normally reserved for oceanic containment.
That would explain why containment is weakening.
Looks like the density of the water's been increasing over the past few years.
lt seems the reactor's just trying to keep itself from being crushed.
Can we initiate a power transfer, stabilize the core? l believe so, but it would be a temporary solution.
lt's better than nothing.
Captain, full containment has just been re-established.
The deflector beam.
Negative.
The ocean appears to have been stabilized from within.
lt looks like our team has succeeded.
l'm picking up an object on a slow ascent.
lt's the Flyer.
You found something? l've been studying the generator's database.
You're not going to believe this, but apparently, your ocean used to be part of a landmass.
Really? As far as l can tell, it was part of a planetary ecosystem inhabited by a very advanced civilization.
What happened to them? That's a good question.
All l know is they launched this reactor into orbit.
They used some kind of elaborate kinetic transfer system to draw the water and everything in it up to the reactor.
Extraordinary.
Why would anyone want to move an entire ocean? Maybe there was some kind of disaster on the planet, or maybe it was just an experiment.
That must have been a massive undertaking.
Took them almost 200 years.
l wonder what they'd think if they knew we settled here and built another civilization.
Actually, l think they'd be pretty concerned.
Oh? This field reactor that they designed-- it's a pretty amazing piece of technology-- durable l don't think it's responsible for the loss of containment.
But as soon as we made the recalibration, the water stabilized.
l don't see what else it could be.
Riga, your mining operations are destroying the ocean.
You'll never get into Starfleet Academy by playing with toys.
Do your homework.
Are you listening to me, Thomas? Thomas Eugene Paris, l hereby reduce you to the rank of Ensign.
And l sentence you to 30 years in solitary confinement.
Go to your room, young man.
That's an order.
Stay there and think about what l've said.
Tom Tom Tom, wake up.
Bad dream? Oh You could say that.
You know, you look like hell.
Thanks.
How'd you get past the guard? The Vulcan neck pinch.
Come to spring me? Well, the Captain finally gave me permission to visit, but l've only got a few minutes.
That's big of her.
How are you doing? Oh, 30 days? No problem.
How's B'Elanna? She misses you.
Yeah.
l know the feeling.
So, what have you been doing to pass the time? Thinking and thinking.
Trying not to think.
Actually, l started recording a letter to my father.
Really? Yeah.
For some reason, l l wanted to explain to him how l ended up in here.
l didn't want him to think Well, anyway, l realized how ridiculous it was.
You should finish it.
Give me one good reason.
Maybe he'll hear it someday.
Doubtful.
You'll feel better getting it off your chest.
Are you bucking for ship's counselor, Harry? What are you going to do, delete the letter? That would be pointless.
At least l'm consistent.
Tom Thanks for the visit, Harry.
See you in 14.
What was it you once told me? That your father used to say you never finished anything? Resume recording.
So, we told Consul Burkus about the alien field reactor and how his oxygen refineries were destroying it.
He took the news pretty well at first.
The Council's very grateful for your help, Captain.
They've asked me to request the shield and thruster schematics for your Delta Flyer.
We're hoping to design a probe that'll allow us to monitor the containment generator.
Lieutenant Torres will give you everything you need.
l've also drawn up some designs for an oxygen replication system.
lt'll allow you to create free oxygen without extricating it from the water.
lt won't solve your problems overnight, but it's a start.
l'm sure it'll be very helpful.
Our oxygen extraction levels are still dangerously high.
l'm going to recommend shutting down refineries four, five and six.
We'll take it under advisement.
Well Captain, l wish you a safe journey.
Well, we have a few more suggestions, if you'd like to hear them.
Please pass them along to Mr.
Riga.
He'll include them in his report.
l'm curious.
Who's going to read that report? lt will be given to the subcommittees on life support and agriculture.
Excuse me, Consul, l'm not sure you understand the magnitude of the crisis.
What you're suggesting could take months.
Thank you, Mr.
Riga.
You should listen to him.
lf you don't make some serious changes around here soon, that ocean won't be here much longer.
As l said, we understand his concerns.
Do you? lt seems to me like you're just trying to sidestep the issue and send us on our way.
With all due respect, who are you to tell us what to do with our ocean? With all due respect, it's not your ocean.
Lieutenant.
lt's all right, Captain.
l'd like to respond, but not as a diplomat as a Monean.
You came here claiming you wanted to learn about our way of life, and now, having spent three days here, you're suggesting we abandon it.
We have an expression-- brine in the veins.
Tell him what it means.
lt's used to describe someone who has a special connection to the waters.
My family has lived here for ten generations.
We protected this ocean, cultivated it, lived in harmony with the animals that inhabit it.
Can you say the same? l didn't think so.
Good day, Captain.
We can't just let this go.
What do you want me to do? Of course.
The almighty Prime Directive.
Would you please excuse us, Lieutenant.
See you later.
l know you're upset, Lieutenant, but when you're in a room with me, you check that attitude at the door.
Understood? Captain We can't expect an entire society to change because we think they should.
-Then you agree with me.
-Yes.
And we gave them the help they asked for.
We told them what we know.
Now it's up to them to do what they think is appropriate.
You heard that consul.
They're not going to do a damn thing.
Maybe not, but that's their prerogative.
-Captain -End of discussion, Lieutenant.
At 1400 hours, we'll resume a course for the Alpha Quadrant.
ls that clear? ls that clear? As a bell.
Hey.
Here to stamp out intergalactic evil? lt's funny.
What? l went on this mission expecting to play out a childhood fantasy, but along the way, when l realized that ocean would just be gone one day it started to matter to me.
Sounds pretty stupid, huh? No.
No, it sounds like you've found yourself a cause.
l never thought of myself as a cause kind of guy.
Well, for what it's worth, l'm proud of you.
Thanks.
But Captain Proton's not going to be able to save the day this time, is he? What about Tom Paris? Council Chamber, please.
Riga You're dismissed, crewman.
l want you to tell me honestly-- what do you think's going to happen now? l think the bureaucracy isn't going to make more than token changes.
lsn't there anything else you can do? l don't see how.
Other than taking the oxygen refineries off-line.
What would happen-- hypothetically-- if someone were to shut down the refineries? Well, l suppose they'd have to be rebuilt.
Yeah, and they'd probably be more willing to redesign them while they're at it.
lf nothing else, it would grab their attention.
Are you suggesting? l'm just asking questions because l'm not supposed to get involved in the internal affairs of alien worlds unless, of course, someone makes a direct request.
lf you can get me down there, l'd be willing to do it.
You'd be risking your life.
l know.
Captain, there has just been an unauthorized launch from Shuttle Bay 1-- the Delta Flyer.
Tom.
Hail him.
No response.
Try a tractor beam.
We're out of range.
We're being hailed, Captain.
lt's Consul Burkus.
Your shuttlecraft has violated our borders.
l demand an explanation.
Mr.
Paris is acting without authorization.
To what end? According to our scans, Mr.
Riga is with him.
l have to assume they intend to take some sort of radical action to protect the ocean.
Then l presume you intend to take radical action to stop them.
Warning.
Hull pressure approaching critical.
We're going down too fast.
lt's the only way we can outrun your ships.
Janeway to Paris.
Return to Voyager immediately.
l'm sorry, Captain.
l can't do that.
Lieutenant, you are disobeying a direct order.
l know.
He cut us off.
What the hell are they up to? Looks like they're heading directly beneath the industrial complex.
Can we reach them with phasers? Unadvisable.
lt would create a hydro-dynamic shock wave.
What about an old-fashioned depth charge? lt should be possible to modify a photon torpedo.
We could program it to detonate once it's in proximity to the Delta Flyer.
Do it.
The torpedo is ready, Captain.
However, the Delta Flyer has submerged below our targeting range.
Consul Burkus, hailing again.
On screen.
Our refinery workers have been given five minutes to clear the structure.
Was this the kind of evacuation you had in mind, Captain? Can you get them out in time? Yes, but Do it.
l'll find a way to protect your refinery.
End transmission.
Captain! He descended to avoid attack.
lf my calculations are correct, he will have to come back up to a depth of 2,000 meters to strike his target.
Giving us a window of opportunity.
Precisely.
Captain, this is Tom we're talking about.
We're not going to open fire, are we? As far as l'm concerned, he forfeited his status as a protected member of this crew the second he launched that shuttle.
How long till we reach our target? He's started his ascent.
Hail him.
Go ahead.
Lieutenant Paris, this is your final warning.
He's not responding.
Arm the torpedo.
Are you sure you want to go through with this? You? l've taken you this far.
We better arm that missile.
Missile armed.
Stand down, Mr.
Paris, or l will open fire.
Still no answer.
Time.
Ten seconds.
Nine Eight seven six Five four three Two one.
Fire.
Fire! The Flyer has been disabled.
Their missile? Deflected.
Captain's Log, Stardate 52179.
4.
After salvaging the Delta Flyer, we've resumed our course toward the Alpha Quadrant.
l now have to turn my attention to a matter of discipline.
Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris, you are guilty of insubordination, unauthorized use of a spacecraft, reckless endangerment and conduct unbecoming an officer.
Do you have anything to say? Riga needed my help.
ln doing so, you disobeyed my direct orders.
Yes, ma'am.
You violated the protocols that govern this crew.
Yes, ma'am.
You nearly caused an armed conflict with the Moneans.
And frankly, you're lucky to be standing here right now.
l would have destroyed your shuttle if necessary.
Yes, ma'am.
Permission to speak freely.
Riga's people weren't going to listen.
They were going to ignore our warnings.
You don't know that.
Riga knew, and l was the only one who could help them.
l understand your passion, but passion alone doesn't give you the right to take matters into your own hands.
Four years ago, l released you from prison and gave you a fresh start.
Until now, you've been a fine officer.
Your service on this ship has been exemplary.
l really believed you were past this kind of conduct.
l've never been very good at playing by the rules.
That doesn't mean that serving under your command hasn't changed me-- for the better.
At least this time, l broke the rules for a reason, for something l believed in.
l admire your principles, Tom, but l can't ignore what you've done.
l hereby reduce you to the rank of Ensign.
And l sentence you to 30 days solitary confinement.
Take Ensign Paris to the brig.
l know the way.
Rise and shine, Ensign.
Your 30 days have been served.
You may want to shave first.
Yes, sir.
Torres to Paris.
Go ahead.
Rumor has it that you're free for dinner.
Gee, l don't know.
Are you sure you want to be seen associating with an ex-con? My quarters, 0700.
That's an order, Ensign.
Yes, ma'am.
Resume recording.
Well, l'm out now and back to my duties.
l honestly don't know if l'll ever understand you or what went wrong between us, but l hope this letter helps you understand me a little better.
Computer, file letter in my personal database and transmit when we're within range of Earth.
And l sentence you to 30 days solitary confinement.
Take Ensign Paris to the brig.
l know the way.
Brig.
One two three Staying in shape? Oh, yeah.
l do it every time l'm in jail.
Well, l hope all that exercise gave you an appetite.
Leola root stew again? That's the third time this week.
Can't you just replicate me a pizza? Sorry, Tom.
Basic nutrition only.
Captain's orders.
Ah, bread and water, huh? Let's have it.
l got you the padd you asked for.
Oh thanks.
So did you ask the warden about those holodeck privileges? Uh, she said, and l quote: ''Tell Mr.
Paris this is punishment, not shore leave.
'' lt was worth a try.
Well see you next meal.
Wait, leaving already? Uh, pull up a chair.
Stay awhile.
Sorry.
No nonessential conversation with the prisoner.
Do the words ''cruel and unusual'' mean anything to her? l'm telling you, Neelix, the inmates are getting restless.
She's going to have a full-blown prison riot on her hands.
Begin letter.
Dear Father pause and erase.
Begin.
To Admiral Paris pause and erase.
Begin.
Hey, Dad Long time, no see.
Chances are you'll never receive this letter but in case you do, there's a few things l wanted to say.
First of all bad news.
Um l'm in jail again.
Wait! Keep listening.
Don't turn this off.
l want you to know how l ended up in here because it's not what you think.
lt all started on a morning l was doing something you would find a complete waste of time.
Captain Proton to Buster Kincaid.
l've destroyed Dr.
Chaotica's mind control machine and l'm on my way back to the spaceship.
Hello, Proton.
Who is this? An old friend.
Make that two old friends.
The Twin Mistresses of Evil l should have known.
l'm afraid your trusty sidekick is indisposed at the moment.
Don't worry about me, Captain.
l can handle myself.
We'll see about that.
Bring me the brain probe.
The what? The brain probe, you insolent fool.
Oh, right.
Your wish is my command.
Sorry, Harry.
No problem.
Torture me all you want, Demonica.
l'll never crack.
Oh, but you will.
By the time we're through with you, you'll be begging to tell us everything you know.
You'll be our puppet.
Our slave.
Great.
You're doing great.
You're done for, Demonica.
Malicia.
She's Demonica.
Whatever.
You two are going to jail for a very long time.
-Ooh.
-Ooh.
Move it, toots.
He's so brave.
lt's a shame we'll have to kill him.
l've got everything under control, Proton.
Shouldn't you be getting back to headquarters? And leave you at the mercy of these two? Come on, Tom.
l'm just getting to the good part.
Senior officers, report to the Bridge.
l guess the good part will have to wait.
Any progress on those star charts? l'll have them to you by 1400.
be done yesterday.
l'm sorry, Tom.
The sensor array went off-line.
Seven of Nine will have it up and running this morning.
You need some help? l'm not on duty again till tomorrow morning.
No, l don't want to spoil your day off.
Oh, l don't mind.
Thanks, anyway.
See you later, Lieutenant.
Buster.
Bye.
l think Jenny really likes you.
Yeah, l know.
l thought the feeling was mutual.
How many times do l have to tell you? l like Megan, but she won't give me the time of day.
What is the difference? You can't be serious.
They're the Delaney sisters, Harry.
They're twins.
Are you kidding? They're nothing alike.
Jenny's aggressive, and sometimes annoying, but Megan-- she's quiet, artistic and she's got that cute little dimple in her right cheek.
Jenny doesn't have the dimple? No dimple.
Hmm.
Bridge.
Well, you've done it again, Harry.
What? Fallen for the unattainable woman.
First it was a hologram, then a Borg, and now, the wrong twin.
At least l'm consistent.
Sorry to interrupt your fun, gentlemen, but long-range sensors have picked up something interesting.
A concentrated mass of oxygen and hydrogen.
Lots of animal and plant life.
An M-Class planet? No.
That's the interesting part.
We're entering visual range.
On screen.
What is it? lt's an ocean.
According to these readings, it's bigger than the Atlantic and Pacific combined.
What's holding it together? Looks like there's some sort of a containment field keeping it from dissipating.
Take us in closer, Tom.
Are those starships or submarines? Open a channel.
This is Captain Janeway of the Starship Voyager.
Please identify yourselves.
They are powering weapons.
Shields.
Red Alert.
Shields holding.
No damage.
Should l return fire? Not yet.
Voyager to approaching vessels.
We have no hostile intentions.
They're maintaining their course.
Target the lead ship and take out their weapons.
Direct hit.
They're hailing.
l guess we got their attention.
On screen.
l'm Deputy Consul Burkus of the Monean Maritime Sovereignty.
You violated our space.
Withdraw or we'll resume firing.
Consul, we could have destroyed your ships, but we didn't.
We have no interest in a fight.
Then why are you here? Because we're explorers and we're fascinated by your ocean, and we'd like to learn more about it and your people, if you'd be willing.
And if we are not? We'll be disappointed, but we'll leave you alone.
Your ship's impressive.
Well, l'd be happy to give you a tour.
Forgive our vigilance, Captain.
Over the years, my government has had to protect our ocean from more than one hostile species.
l understand.
We're also very protective of our own natural resources.
about new cultures.
Yours sounds particularly fascinating.
And this is Voyager's command center.
Feel free to have a look around.
l'm curious, Consul.
Have your people always lived here? Our ancestors were nomadic.
They only discovered the waters 300 years ago.
l'll bet they were as stunned as we were to find this huge ball of water floating in space.
Yes.
Mister? Paris.
Tom Paris.
My First Officer, Commander Chakotay.
They realized they could farm sea vegetation, extract oxygen from the ocean for their ships create a permanent home.
What's your population? More than 80,000.
And you all live underwater? Lieutenant, we do have other business to attend to.
Mr.
Tuvok, escort our guests to the briefing room.
Care to join us, Mr.
Paris? How could you tell? Do you still live aboard your ships? We've built an industrial infrastructure and undersea dwellings, but yes, most of our people still choose to live as our ancestors did.
Any idea how the ocean came into existence? ln my experience, it's a unique phenomenon.
Riga? There are several theories.
Our clerics teach that the ocean was a divine gift from the creators to protect and sustain us, but, in my opinion, the most plausible explanation is that the ocean formed naturally, much the same way that a gas giant does.
Makes sense.
Unfortunately, our limited knowledge of the phenomenon has created a few problems.
What do you mean? l'm not sure this is an appropriate topic.
But they might be able to help us.
We'll do anything we can.
The ocean's losing containment.
Hydro-volume has decreased more than seven percent in the last year alone.
Any idea what's causing it? No.
To make a thorough study, we'd need to explore the ocean's center where l believe the gravitational currents are fluctuating.
But that's more than 600 kilometers deep.
Our best research vessel can only go 100 kilometers.
Beyond that, the pressure's too great.
Well, we could take you there.
Captain? l had no idea you were such an old salt.
When l saw that ocean today, it reminded me of the first time l read Jules Verne.
Mmm! l must have read it l was obsessed with stories about the ocean.
All of my friends were busy with their holo-programs.
l had my head buried in Captains Courageous, Moby Dick So your interest in history includes the 19th century, as well.
Ancient sailing ships were always my first love.
l had it all planned.
Finish high school, join the Federation Naval Patrol but my father had other ideas.
You'd think Admiral Paris might have understood his son's passion.
Hmm As far as he was concerned, the only ship l was going to serve on had to have a Starfleet insignia on it.
So now you have an opportunity to make up for lost time.
Captain with a few simple thruster modifications to the Delta Flyer, she will be seaworthy in no time.
Good.
lt'd take at least a week to make the necessary modifications to Voyager.
Then it's my mission? Bon voyage.
And so, l thought to myself, who better than Harry to be my first mate? First mate? Oh sailor talk.
You'll get the hang of it.
Ah.
l'm telling you, Harry, l have been dreaming about something like this for as long as l can remember.
Correct me if l'm wrong, but there is a mission involved here, right? Of course! But there's no law that says we can't have a little fun along the way.
Ah, bosun.
Ready to shove off? What are you talking about, Lieutenant? Call me Skipper.
Sailor talk.
You'll get used to it.
l think not.
Hull and thruster reinforcements are complete.
Ah, that's what l wanted to hear.
Oh, excuse me.
Am l in the right place? Welcome aboard.
l see you like to travel light.
These are my instruments for measuring depth, pressure, currents We will not need them.
This vessel is equipped with a complete sensor array.
-Oh.
-Uh, it's okay.
You can store your gear in the hold.
to the surface.
lmmersion shielding? Active.
Anchors aweigh.
Those structures, what are they? lt's our main oxygen refinery and desalination plant.
Corrosion resistant alloys, variable-density ballast an efficient design.
That means she's impressed.
We're very proud of what we've built here.
l can see why.
Come in.
l'm afraid we have some disturbing news.
Oh? We've run a computer simulation to determine the rate of dissipation.
lt's worse than Mr.
Riga thought.
According to our estimates, the ocean could experience a complete loss of containment in less than five years.
l'm sorry.
Your calculations could be wrong.
l know it sounds grim, but there may be some way to stop the process.
And if there isn't? You might have to consider evacuating.
l'm supposed to go back and explain this to 47 regional sovereigns? They'll pass their first unanimous resolution calling for my head.
l can imagine how difficult this must be for you but you will have to tell them.
Perhaps but l'll wait until your Delta Flyer returns.
Maybe they'll find something tangible.
We're at a depth of 560 kilometers.
What was that? The hull contracting.
Rerouting additional power to structural integrity.
Nothing to worry about.
l'm detecting multiphasic energy discharges, bearing 021 mark 6.
Range: 12 kilometers.
A structure.
At this depth? Adjusting course.
l can't see anything.
Give me forward illumination, Harry.
What is it? lt's generating massive amounts of artificial gravity.
Looks like some kind of field reactor.
lf it's malfunctioning, that would explain the loss of hydro-volume.
Maybe it can be repaired.
lt looks ancient.
Well, if these readings are right, it's at least 100,000 years old.
We've no records of any previous inhabitants.
Who built it? Where did they go? Looks like the reactor is controlled by a core computer.
l'll try to upload the database and get some answers.
lnitiate the interface.
Upload in progress.
What's happening? We've got a visitor.
What was it?! You're the one that lives here.
You tell us.
No one's ever been this far down before.
We don't know anything about marine life at these depths.
You are about to have the opportunity to make a detailed study.
The creature's emitting biothermic discharges.
lt's like some kind of electric eel.
Only a hell of a lot bigger.
And significantly more powerful.
That last discharge exceeded 500,000 volts.
The shields are fried, Tom.
You might want to think about getting us out of here.
Thrusters are off-line.
Targeting forward phasers.
No, you can't kill it.
l do not intend to.
Unfortunately, the creature does not seem to be of a similar opinion.
How's that upload coming? Another couple of minutes.
Firing phasers.
l think we only made him madder.
The creature is retreating.
We've got a breach! l'm on it.
propulsion off-line, water pouring into the cabin lt was like something out of one of those Jules Verne stories you used to read me when l was a kid.
Red Alert! All hands to battle stations.
Hey, what about me? lf we're in trouble, we need our best pilot at the helm.
You can't just leave me here! Five ships? And they just opened fire without warning? -Mm-hmm.
-Oh How did we get away? Apparently, Ensign Culhane confused the enemy with a brilliant series of evasive maneuvers.
l hear Captain Janeway is considering him for Chief Conn Officer.
Oh, yeah? Well, you just tell the Captain that Culhane's brilliant maneuvers almost knocked me unconscious.
You'd think he'd never flown a shuttle, much less a starship.
There we are.
That's it? Aren't you going to run a neurological scan? Maybe l should be granted a medical reprieve.
Your injury was what Naomi Wildman refers to as a boo-boo.
Come on, Doc.
You don't understand what it's like being down here all day, every day.
l'm going crazy.
Correct me if l'm wrong, but isn't that the idea? No, seriously, Doc, you might want to take me down to Sick Bay for a full psychiatric evaluation.
Three or four days of observation at least.
See you in 20 days.
Doc! Resume recording.
Okay, Dad, where were we? Ah, right.
We had just sprung a leak.
Nothing like a cold shower to wake up the senses.
Structural integrity is weakening.
We've lost communications, shields, propulsion.
We can reduce our density by venting plasma and transporting all nonessential equipment off the ship.
lt will take time, but we will eventually rise to the surface.
l think we should stay.
Stay? l'm not about to be scared off by a few damaged systems.
Tom, don't you think maybe you're carrying this Captains Courageous thing a little too far? Look it's a good bet that the reactor's malfunctioning.
Now, we're only going to get one shot at fixing it.
You want to leave, fine.
Give me an environmental suit and you can pick me up after you've repaired the Flyer.
You're going for a swim? Are you crazy? You have a better idea? Well we already managed to interface with the reactor's computer.
Maybe we can make the repairs, maybe we can't, but l'm not leaving you down here alone.
What about you two? l'll stay.
Seven? lt is in my nature to comply with the collective.
l'm detecting a breach in the containment field.
Any way we can seal it? We might try reinforcing the field with a deflector beam.
Do it.
Try hailing the Delta Flyer again.
Nothing.
What do you think's happened? They may be too deep to receive a transmission.
They may have had an accident.
-lt's possible.
-Possible? Captain, l'll need a better explanation than that.
What am l supposed to tell the Council? Clarify something for me.
Are you more concerned about the lives of the people on that shuttle or your political career? What's that? A gravimetric discharge.
The reactor's core is unstable.
You'd be unstable, too, if you were as old as this thing.
Age has nothing to do with it.
The reactor's diverting massive amounts of power to its structural integrity field, power normally reserved for oceanic containment.
That would explain why containment is weakening.
Looks like the density of the water's been increasing over the past few years.
lt seems the reactor's just trying to keep itself from being crushed.
Can we initiate a power transfer, stabilize the core? l believe so, but it would be a temporary solution.
lt's better than nothing.
Captain, full containment has just been re-established.
The deflector beam.
Negative.
The ocean appears to have been stabilized from within.
lt looks like our team has succeeded.
l'm picking up an object on a slow ascent.
lt's the Flyer.
You found something? l've been studying the generator's database.
You're not going to believe this, but apparently, your ocean used to be part of a landmass.
Really? As far as l can tell, it was part of a planetary ecosystem inhabited by a very advanced civilization.
What happened to them? That's a good question.
All l know is they launched this reactor into orbit.
They used some kind of elaborate kinetic transfer system to draw the water and everything in it up to the reactor.
Extraordinary.
Why would anyone want to move an entire ocean? Maybe there was some kind of disaster on the planet, or maybe it was just an experiment.
That must have been a massive undertaking.
Took them almost 200 years.
l wonder what they'd think if they knew we settled here and built another civilization.
Actually, l think they'd be pretty concerned.
Oh? This field reactor that they designed-- it's a pretty amazing piece of technology-- durable l don't think it's responsible for the loss of containment.
But as soon as we made the recalibration, the water stabilized.
l don't see what else it could be.
Riga, your mining operations are destroying the ocean.
You'll never get into Starfleet Academy by playing with toys.
Do your homework.
Are you listening to me, Thomas? Thomas Eugene Paris, l hereby reduce you to the rank of Ensign.
And l sentence you to 30 years in solitary confinement.
Go to your room, young man.
That's an order.
Stay there and think about what l've said.
Tom Tom Tom, wake up.
Bad dream? Oh You could say that.
You know, you look like hell.
Thanks.
How'd you get past the guard? The Vulcan neck pinch.
Come to spring me? Well, the Captain finally gave me permission to visit, but l've only got a few minutes.
That's big of her.
How are you doing? Oh, 30 days? No problem.
How's B'Elanna? She misses you.
Yeah.
l know the feeling.
So, what have you been doing to pass the time? Thinking and thinking.
Trying not to think.
Actually, l started recording a letter to my father.
Really? Yeah.
For some reason, l l wanted to explain to him how l ended up in here.
l didn't want him to think Well, anyway, l realized how ridiculous it was.
You should finish it.
Give me one good reason.
Maybe he'll hear it someday.
Doubtful.
You'll feel better getting it off your chest.
Are you bucking for ship's counselor, Harry? What are you going to do, delete the letter? That would be pointless.
At least l'm consistent.
Tom Thanks for the visit, Harry.
See you in 14.
What was it you once told me? That your father used to say you never finished anything? Resume recording.
So, we told Consul Burkus about the alien field reactor and how his oxygen refineries were destroying it.
He took the news pretty well at first.
The Council's very grateful for your help, Captain.
They've asked me to request the shield and thruster schematics for your Delta Flyer.
We're hoping to design a probe that'll allow us to monitor the containment generator.
Lieutenant Torres will give you everything you need.
l've also drawn up some designs for an oxygen replication system.
lt'll allow you to create free oxygen without extricating it from the water.
lt won't solve your problems overnight, but it's a start.
l'm sure it'll be very helpful.
Our oxygen extraction levels are still dangerously high.
l'm going to recommend shutting down refineries four, five and six.
We'll take it under advisement.
Well Captain, l wish you a safe journey.
Well, we have a few more suggestions, if you'd like to hear them.
Please pass them along to Mr.
Riga.
He'll include them in his report.
l'm curious.
Who's going to read that report? lt will be given to the subcommittees on life support and agriculture.
Excuse me, Consul, l'm not sure you understand the magnitude of the crisis.
What you're suggesting could take months.
Thank you, Mr.
Riga.
You should listen to him.
lf you don't make some serious changes around here soon, that ocean won't be here much longer.
As l said, we understand his concerns.
Do you? lt seems to me like you're just trying to sidestep the issue and send us on our way.
With all due respect, who are you to tell us what to do with our ocean? With all due respect, it's not your ocean.
Lieutenant.
lt's all right, Captain.
l'd like to respond, but not as a diplomat as a Monean.
You came here claiming you wanted to learn about our way of life, and now, having spent three days here, you're suggesting we abandon it.
We have an expression-- brine in the veins.
Tell him what it means.
lt's used to describe someone who has a special connection to the waters.
My family has lived here for ten generations.
We protected this ocean, cultivated it, lived in harmony with the animals that inhabit it.
Can you say the same? l didn't think so.
Good day, Captain.
We can't just let this go.
What do you want me to do? Of course.
The almighty Prime Directive.
Would you please excuse us, Lieutenant.
See you later.
l know you're upset, Lieutenant, but when you're in a room with me, you check that attitude at the door.
Understood? Captain We can't expect an entire society to change because we think they should.
-Then you agree with me.
-Yes.
And we gave them the help they asked for.
We told them what we know.
Now it's up to them to do what they think is appropriate.
You heard that consul.
They're not going to do a damn thing.
Maybe not, but that's their prerogative.
-Captain -End of discussion, Lieutenant.
At 1400 hours, we'll resume a course for the Alpha Quadrant.
ls that clear? ls that clear? As a bell.
Hey.
Here to stamp out intergalactic evil? lt's funny.
What? l went on this mission expecting to play out a childhood fantasy, but along the way, when l realized that ocean would just be gone one day it started to matter to me.
Sounds pretty stupid, huh? No.
No, it sounds like you've found yourself a cause.
l never thought of myself as a cause kind of guy.
Well, for what it's worth, l'm proud of you.
Thanks.
But Captain Proton's not going to be able to save the day this time, is he? What about Tom Paris? Council Chamber, please.
Riga You're dismissed, crewman.
l want you to tell me honestly-- what do you think's going to happen now? l think the bureaucracy isn't going to make more than token changes.
lsn't there anything else you can do? l don't see how.
Other than taking the oxygen refineries off-line.
What would happen-- hypothetically-- if someone were to shut down the refineries? Well, l suppose they'd have to be rebuilt.
Yeah, and they'd probably be more willing to redesign them while they're at it.
lf nothing else, it would grab their attention.
Are you suggesting? l'm just asking questions because l'm not supposed to get involved in the internal affairs of alien worlds unless, of course, someone makes a direct request.
lf you can get me down there, l'd be willing to do it.
You'd be risking your life.
l know.
Captain, there has just been an unauthorized launch from Shuttle Bay 1-- the Delta Flyer.
Tom.
Hail him.
No response.
Try a tractor beam.
We're out of range.
We're being hailed, Captain.
lt's Consul Burkus.
Your shuttlecraft has violated our borders.
l demand an explanation.
Mr.
Paris is acting without authorization.
To what end? According to our scans, Mr.
Riga is with him.
l have to assume they intend to take some sort of radical action to protect the ocean.
Then l presume you intend to take radical action to stop them.
Warning.
Hull pressure approaching critical.
We're going down too fast.
lt's the only way we can outrun your ships.
Janeway to Paris.
Return to Voyager immediately.
l'm sorry, Captain.
l can't do that.
Lieutenant, you are disobeying a direct order.
l know.
He cut us off.
What the hell are they up to? Looks like they're heading directly beneath the industrial complex.
Can we reach them with phasers? Unadvisable.
lt would create a hydro-dynamic shock wave.
What about an old-fashioned depth charge? lt should be possible to modify a photon torpedo.
We could program it to detonate once it's in proximity to the Delta Flyer.
Do it.
The torpedo is ready, Captain.
However, the Delta Flyer has submerged below our targeting range.
Consul Burkus, hailing again.
On screen.
Our refinery workers have been given five minutes to clear the structure.
Was this the kind of evacuation you had in mind, Captain? Can you get them out in time? Yes, but Do it.
l'll find a way to protect your refinery.
End transmission.
Captain! He descended to avoid attack.
lf my calculations are correct, he will have to come back up to a depth of 2,000 meters to strike his target.
Giving us a window of opportunity.
Precisely.
Captain, this is Tom we're talking about.
We're not going to open fire, are we? As far as l'm concerned, he forfeited his status as a protected member of this crew the second he launched that shuttle.
How long till we reach our target? He's started his ascent.
Hail him.
Go ahead.
Lieutenant Paris, this is your final warning.
He's not responding.
Arm the torpedo.
Are you sure you want to go through with this? You? l've taken you this far.
We better arm that missile.
Missile armed.
Stand down, Mr.
Paris, or l will open fire.
Still no answer.
Time.
Ten seconds.
Nine Eight seven six Five four three Two one.
Fire.
Fire! The Flyer has been disabled.
Their missile? Deflected.
Captain's Log, Stardate 52179.
4.
After salvaging the Delta Flyer, we've resumed our course toward the Alpha Quadrant.
l now have to turn my attention to a matter of discipline.
Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris, you are guilty of insubordination, unauthorized use of a spacecraft, reckless endangerment and conduct unbecoming an officer.
Do you have anything to say? Riga needed my help.
ln doing so, you disobeyed my direct orders.
Yes, ma'am.
You violated the protocols that govern this crew.
Yes, ma'am.
You nearly caused an armed conflict with the Moneans.
And frankly, you're lucky to be standing here right now.
l would have destroyed your shuttle if necessary.
Yes, ma'am.
Permission to speak freely.
Riga's people weren't going to listen.
They were going to ignore our warnings.
You don't know that.
Riga knew, and l was the only one who could help them.
l understand your passion, but passion alone doesn't give you the right to take matters into your own hands.
Four years ago, l released you from prison and gave you a fresh start.
Until now, you've been a fine officer.
Your service on this ship has been exemplary.
l really believed you were past this kind of conduct.
l've never been very good at playing by the rules.
That doesn't mean that serving under your command hasn't changed me-- for the better.
At least this time, l broke the rules for a reason, for something l believed in.
l admire your principles, Tom, but l can't ignore what you've done.
l hereby reduce you to the rank of Ensign.
And l sentence you to 30 days solitary confinement.
Take Ensign Paris to the brig.
l know the way.
Rise and shine, Ensign.
Your 30 days have been served.
You may want to shave first.
Yes, sir.
Torres to Paris.
Go ahead.
Rumor has it that you're free for dinner.
Gee, l don't know.
Are you sure you want to be seen associating with an ex-con? My quarters, 0700.
That's an order, Ensign.
Yes, ma'am.
Resume recording.
Well, l'm out now and back to my duties.
l honestly don't know if l'll ever understand you or what went wrong between us, but l hope this letter helps you understand me a little better.
Computer, file letter in my personal database and transmit when we're within range of Earth.