Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001): Season 7, Episode 21 - Friendship One - full transcript

For the first time in six years Voyager gets a mission from Starfleet Command. Retreive the 21st century probe Friendship One from a nearby planet.

We, the people of Earth,

greet you in a spirit
of peace and humility.

As we venture out
of our solar system,

we hope to earn the trust
and friendship of other worlds.

Can you reduce the interference?

I'm trying.

What is it?

I don't know.

Distance?

It just entered the atmosphere.

They evolved from dinosaurs?



Hadrosaurs, to be precise.

Their ancestors settled
in the Delta Quadrant

20 million years ago.

The Voth, the Kobali,
the Vaadwaur.

You've made first contact
with more species

than any captain
since James Kirk.

It helps being
the only Starfleet ship

within 30,000 light-years.

You are being too humble.

From the first time you spoke up
in my classroom,

I knew you'd go far.

A little farther
than I expected, Professor.

I have my Admiral hat
on today, Kathryn,

and I didn't call
just to catch up.



Starfleet has a mission for you.

We, the people of Earth

greet you in a spirit
of peace and humility.

As we venture out
of our solar system,

we hope to earn the trust
and friendship of other worlds.

Friendship I.

I had to memorize
that recording in third grade.

Me, too.

I even built a model
of the probe.

Then this should look familiar.

It was launched in 2067.

Just four years
after Zefram Cochrane

tested his first warp engine.

What was it designed to do?

Reach out to other species.

Pave the way for all
the manned missions

that would follow.

They packed it
with information--

translation matrices,

scientific
and culture databases.

Computer chip designs,

instructions for
building transceivers.

It's practically
a how-to manual.

If the Borg had intercepted
this probe,

humanity would have been
assimilated centuries ago.

Our ancestors had no
idea what was out here.

This must have been before
your Prime Directive.

It was before Starfleet existed.

In any case, we lost contact
with the probe 130 years ago.

But its last-known
coordinates...

Let me guess.

We're in the neighborhood.

Starfleet's mapped out
a search grid.

It'll take us
a little off course,

but if the probe
is still intact,

and we're lucky enough
to find it,

we'll be retrieving
a little piece of history.

Captain's Log, Stardate 5477 5.4.

We've been searching
for five days

without any sign of the probe,

but we're not about
to disappoint Starfleet

on our first official assignment
in seven years.

Nothing in Grid 295.

Mr. Paris.

Moving on.

We should try
skipping ahead a little

to Grid 310.

I stayed up all night

re-extrapolating
the probe's trajectory.

I've compensated for
solar winds, ionic interference,

and a few local anomalies
Starfleet wouldn't

know about.

Alter course to Grid 310.

Trying to impress
the Starfleet brass?

Just doing my job.

I'm detecting
a titanium signature

that matches
the probe's parameters.

Location?

A planet two light-years away.

Confirmed.

Good job, Harry.

The readings are coming
from the northern subcontinent.

Can you localize them?

There are high levels
of antimatter radiation

in the atmosphere, scattering
the probe's signature.

Any life signs?

None.

Assemble an away team

and take the Flyer
down for a closer look.

You seem to be in a good mood,
Doctor.

Just excited to be doing my part

for our first official
mission, Mr. Carey.

An inoculation a day
keeps the radiation away.

I took a look at those
atmospheric readings.

Thermal eddies,
gravimetric shear.

You're going to need
your best pilot.

Are you volunteering?

Well, if the Doc can spare me.

I'll muddle through.

If you're here
for your fetal resonance scan,

you're a day early.

I'm here for my inoculation.

You are not going
on this mission.

Chakotay said he needed
an engineer.

He's already got one.

Now he's got two.

Will you excuse us?

Any bets on this one?

My money's on B'Elanna.

It's been months

since I've been
on an away mission.

Then try the holodeck.
The Flyer is full.

You can make room.

Neelix doesn't have to go.

He's not six months pregnant.

Being pregnant doesn't
make me an invalid.

No, it doesn't,

but there's a toxic atmosphere
down there,

and you're breathing for two.

All right, you win.

But if we have another baby,
you carry it,

and I'll go
on the away missions.

It's a deal.

Sorry for the bumpy ride.

We'll be clearing
the stratosphere

in about a minute.

I had a cousin who used
to transport disulfides

from a gas giant.

He claimed
to love the turbulence.

Of course, disulfides
are known to cause delusions.

Hang on.

I thought it was uninhabited.

There's nothing alive
down there now.

Radiation levels
are at 6,000 isorems.

I've localized the signature
to a three-kilometer radius.

Transfer the coordinates
to the helm.

When we find the probe,
we'll beam it to the cargo hold.

That may not be easy
with all this radiation.

We'd better bring
transport enhancers.

Set us down, Tom.

Yes, sir.

Gently, please.

I should have brought
a holo-camera,

so I could show B'Elanna
she's not missing anything.

Can you believe
she actually wanted

to come with us?

When my wife was pregnant,

she didn't want
to be coddled, either.

And she's not half Klingon.

Oh, maybe it's us.

Something about

fatherhood seems
to regress the male psyche

a few thousand years.

Tom, be careful.

It's a toy.

Like a music box.

Vivaldi.

I'm getting something.

90 meters this way.

Souvenir.

Commander, I'm detecting
an antimatter signature ahead.

Looks like missile silos.

Paris to Chakotay.

Go ahead.

We've got a reading
that could be the probe.

It's inside a cave.

Keep us posted.

The warhead is still active.

It wouldn't have taken
many of these

to trigger a nuclear winter.

People must have
taken shelter here.

Well, it makes sense.

The magnesite in these caves

would have provided
partial shielding

from the radiation.

Over here!

What'd you find?

Some kind of control room...
or laboratory.

Laboratory?

Lots of diagnostic equipment.

Looks like it was salvaged
from a junk heap.

Or scavenged from the ruins.

Particle scanners,

circuit analyzers...

Most of it's still functional.

They were working on something.

This is what we came for.

Whoever lived here
must have been studying it.

The datacore is still intact.

Start setting up
the transport enhancers.

Paris to Chakotay.

Go ahead.

We found the probe.

Well, pieces of it, anyway.

We're getting ready to beam it
back up to the Flyer.

We'll meet you there.

Hello?

Is someone there?

The tricorder isn't
reading any life signs.

Don't move.

You okay?

Delta Flyer to Paris.

Chakotay to away team.
Respond.

They're antimatter weapons.

Shields are off-line.

What are you doing?

Getting us out of here.

What about the others?

We can't do them any good
if we're dead.

We'll come back for them.

Look, you're making
a mistake...

Leave them alone!

Who are you?

I'm Lieutenant Tom Paris.

We're from the Federation
Starship Voyager.

What are these?

They're transport enhancers.

We were going to use them
to retrieve our probe.

Your probe?

Too bad you didn't come
for it sooner.

You would have saved us
a lot of suffering.

We still can't
contact the others

or get a fix
on their life signs.

Why didn't we detect
the aliens?

I don't know.

Whoever they are, they
have antimatter weapons.

Antimatter?

Bridge to Captain Janeway.

Go ahead.

We are being hailed
from the surface.

The away team?

No.

This is Captain Kathryn Janeway.

Who am I speaking with?

My name is Verin.

Your crewmen are my prisoners.

Why? We haven't done
anything to harm you.

You committed genocide.

I think there's been
a misunderstanding.

We arrived here just...

You're from Earth?

Yes.

Then you're going to pay
for what your people did to us.

I'm sorry, I don't know
what you're talking about.

We're not as naive

as you seem to think
we are, Captain, not anymore.

What is it you want?

I want you
to get us off this planet.

Find us a new home.

Release my crewmen and
we can talk about it.

No more talking.

Your people won't be safe
until mine are.

Listen, I don't
respond well to threats.

And I don't want to kill anyone,

but I will
if you don't cooperate.

You have three hours

to begin evacuating us.

Start scanning
for the nearest M-Class planet.

You intend to meet his demands?

I'm just keeping
my options open.

You're with me.

I've analyzed his garment.

It's lined with magnesite.

A makeshift environmental suit.

Unfortunately, the protection
it offers is limited.

His tissues are saturated
with antimatter radiation.

It explains why we couldn't
detect his life signs.

They're virtually
indistinguishable

from the environment.

Now that we know that,

maybe we can adjust our
sensors to detect them.

Let's wake him.

What were you doing
aboard our shuttle?

Trying to undo the damage
you caused.

If you're referring to what's
happened on your planet,

we had nothing to do with it.

Your people sent the probe...

...didn't they?

Our ancestors sent it
300 years ago,

to make contact
with other species.

They did
a little more than that.

Am I your prisoner?

No. You're suffering

from prolonged
radiation exposure.

I can treat you.

You can?

I believe I can.

In exchange for what?

Nothing.

I have a wife, friends.

We might be able
to help them, too,

but not while our crewmen
are being held hostage.

You said you were trying
to undo the damage we caused.

What did you mean by that?

I was aboard your shuttle

looking for technology

that might help us
neutralize the radiation.

We saw missiles on the surface.

Was the destruction
caused by war?

Those missiles were built
for defense.

They were never launched.

Then what accounts
for the devastation?

A containment failure
in our power grid.

Once the antimatter
was released,

it destroyed everything.

I'm sorry, but I still don't see
how we're responsible.

Before the probe,

my people never conceived
of anything like antimatter.

"We offer this information
freely with the hope

that one day
we will stand on your soil

and extend our hands
in friendship."

I'm sure you recognize
those words.

The recording from the probe.

Your people sent us technology
that they knew would destroy us.

I don't understand.

We didn't either at first,

but we had decades
to think about it,

and now it seems so obvious.

You send us new technology,
encourage us to use it,

and then you wait for us
to obliterate ourselves.

Why would we do that?

Because it's easier
than invading us.

Do you really believe
we'd contaminate a world

we intended to conquer?

I'm a scientist.

I believe what I see.

And today, I saw your people
standing on our soil

just as you promised,

and they were wearing
equipment that protected them

from the radiation,
because they knew

exactly what to expect.

If you were in my position,
what would you believe?

He might have a concussion.

I need the medkit from my pack.

I was told not
to let you use your equipment.

When's your baby due?

My wife's pregnant, too.

We're expecting a little girl
in a couple of months.

How do you know it's a girl?

Well, we have technology

that allows us
to examine the fetus.

She has my eyes

and her mother's cranial ridges.

Is this your first?

No.

Oh.

Boys? Girls?

Two boys and a girl.

What are their names?

They were all stillborn.

I'm sorry.

You're... a doctor?

No, I'm just a medic.

But we have the best doctor
in the Quadrant back on Voyager.

He might be able to help...

I shouldn't be talking to you.

Our current coordinates
and the nearest M-Class planet--

132 light-years away.

At maximum warp,

that's about two months
round trip.

How many people are
we talking about?

If these sensor modifications
are correct,

about 5,500.

It would take
at least 17 trips--

almost three years--
to complete the relocation.

We've made sacrifices
to help people before.

What about Tom and the others?

Are they supposed
to rot down there

until this relocation's
finished?

I don't think
Verin's going to let go

of his only bargaining chips.

Then we may have to use force.

Not until we've exhausted
every other option.

These people believe
that we're violent.

I'm not going to do anything
to reinforce that belief,

unless it becomes
absolutely necessary.

I've extracted the nanoprobes.

I'll begin reprogramming them.

Nanoprobes?

Microscopic machines.

Hopefully they'll help us
repair your damaged tissue.

You said you extracted them.

From where?

My bloodstream.

They maintain
my cybernetic implants.

Nanoprobes, cybernetic implants.

Are others
on your crew like you?

No, I'm... unique.

You certainly are.

I need a word with your patient.

You told me you've been
looking for ways

to neutralize the radiation.

All my life.

Tell me about your work.

Lieutenant?

I'm okay.

My stomach's
just a little queasy.

Our inoculations
must be wearing off.

I thought these caves
were naturally shielded.

They're no substitute
for an environmental suit.

These people have lived here
all their lives

without environmental suits.

These people have lived here
without much of anything.

-Hello.
-Hello.

It's all right.
We're not going to hurt you.

What's your name?

Yun.

Uh, mine's Tom.

This is Joe and Neelix.

You're not like them.

We're different species,
but they're my friends.

They say you're going
to take us on your ship

and find us a new home.

I'm sure our Captain
is trying to help you.

Neelix...
where's our "souvenir"?

In my pack.

Uh, excuse me.

Um, we'd like
to give her something.

It's in the equipment bag.

It's a toy.

That could be a weapon.

It's harmless.

These men are dangerous.

I want you to stay away
from them.

Understood?

Well, so much
for making friends.

Mr. Verin?

What are you doing?

My job.

I'm Voyager's Ambassador,
remember?

Can I have a word with you?

Just between us...

I understand why you
don't trust humans.

Then why are you with them?

They're not so bad once
you get to know them.

When I first met them,

I thought they were arrogant,
self-righteous.

I suppose
you're going to tell me

you've changed your mind.

Well, not completely.

I still think
they take themselves

far too seriously
for my taste...

but one thing they don't do
is harm other people.

Are you blind?

No, I see very clearly
what's happened to you,

and I'd like to help.

How?

My Captain listens to me.

I can speak to her
on your behalf,

help her understand
your situation.

What do you know
about our "situation"?

I know what
you've been through.

My planet was destroyed
by a weapon

called a metreon cascade.

Hundreds of thousands
of people were killed...

including my family.

How did you survive?

I was on a neighboring planet
when the weapon was detonated.

I went back with a rescue team,
but there was no one left.

I'm sorry about what happened
to your family...

but don't compare your life
to mine.

The nearest suitable planet
is simply too far away,

so I'd like to propose
an alternative.

There is no alternative.

Please, hear me out.

We have one of your people
aboard, a Mr. Otrin.

He has some interesting ideas

about counteracting
the radiation.

Otrin has too many ideas.

I think his theories have merit.

What he's lacked until now
is the means to carry them out.

If you release the hostages,
we can work together.

There's a good chance

we could undo some of the damage
to your environment.

This isn't a negotiation.

You don't seem to understand.

It would take years to evacuate
the entire planet.

So instead,
you once again offer us

the benefits of your technology.

What I'm offering you
is a realistic alternative.

If I release the hostages,

what's to prevent you
from leaving or attacking us?

Look, I know you've suffered,
and I know you don't trust us.

You haven't given me
any reason to.

Then why don't we start
with a small step?

You return one of the hostages,

and I'll send you a supply
of food and medicine.

You... what's your name?

Joe Carey.

Set up your...
transport enhancers.

I'm sorry... Mr. Carey.

Sorry?

Your crewman's ready, Captain.

Transport him to Sick Bay.

Hey, what the hell
are you doing?!

Tom?

Sick Bay to Bridge.

They've killed Lieutenant Carey.

If you think murdering
one of my crewmen

is going to make me
more receptive to your demands,

you're mistaken.

Don't force me
to kill anyone else.

All right.
I'll evacuate your people,

but our transporters
aren't designed

to accommodate large groups.

We'll need time to modify them.

We'll be ready within the hour.

If you're not...

I understand.

My ready room.

You have radiation poisoning.

This will make you feel better.

Thank you.

Why are you helping us?

Your child's going
to need a father...

isn't she?

The first phase
of your therapy is complete.

How do you feel?

I can breathe more easily.

Your lungs were damaged
by the radiation.

The nanoprobes
are repairing them.

It's incredible.

If we could manufacture
more of these,

we might be able
to treat everyone.

Unfortunately, Mr. Verin
has refused our help.

Did you expect him to cooperate?

His behavior is irrational.

To you, maybe,

but you haven't
lived like we have.

No, but that doesn't mean

that we're responsible
for what's happened here.

You can't deny
your people sent the probe.

They made
an error in judgment.

They failed to anticipate

the consequences
of their actions,

but they never meant
to destroy your world.

Human culture has evolved,
learned from its mistakes.

So can yours.

Even if I believed you,
Verin never would.

Then your people may need
a change of leadership,

someone more open to new ideas.

I'm not a leader.

But you're a scientist,

someone who can see a problem
and envision a solution.

The same definition
could apply to a leader.

Doesn't seem fair, does it?

My daughter...
she'll have food,

medical care,
everything she needs.

What's wrong?

We need help.

It's the baby.

It's too soon.

Let him help me.

Can you?

I think so,
but I'll need my medkit.

Inform Verin.

I'm losing the heartbeat.

Oh, no!

What are you doing?

Speeding up the contractions.

Their ship's returned.

Send out patrols.

Double the guard
at the entrance.

I've got him!

He's not breathing.

Cardio-stimulator.

Three millijoules.

Now.

Don't move.

I'll take him to Verin.

Find the others.

This way. Move!

Increase the charge
to five millijoules.

Again.

I'm reading a heartbeat.

Oh!

You have a son.

Oh.

One of the patrols
took another prisoner.

Put him with the others.

We need to get him to Voyager.

He stays here.

Mr. Tuvok?

Your Captain was foolish enough
to think she could rescue you.

Instead, she's given me
another hostage.

Doc?

When you need to infiltrate
a toxic environment,

it helps to be a hologram.

Prepare the transport enhancers.

Tuvok to Chakotay.

We've secured the hostages.

Good work.

Chakotay to Delta Flyer.

Two to beam out.

Thank you.

Now, Mr. Paris.

Your baby won't survive
without treatment.

I promise we'll bring him back.

Take good care of him.

I will.

Tuvok to Voyager.

Five to beam up.

Cute little fellow, isn't he?

He's already
responding to treatment.

Once he's stabilized,

we'll transport him
to the surface,

and send along some food
and medical supplies.

We're leaving?

As soon as I report
to Starfleet.

Captain.

Once the baby's back
in that environment,

he's just going
to get sick again.

I'm sorry, we can't keep
him from his mother.

I'm not suggesting that.

You told those people

that we might be able to
neutralize the radiation.

Was that true?

Yes, but they didn't
want our help.

I can't force it on them.

Maybe you should.

If we help them without
asking anything in return,

it'll prove
they're wrong about us.

You're forgetting something.

They killed Mr. Carey.

I'm not about to risk
any more lives

to help murderers.

Captain, it was one man
who killed Carey.

If you saw how they were living,
how desperate they are...

I'm not saying we should
ignore what happened,

but humans did play a part
in their suffering.

Intentional or not,

that probe had a terrible
impact on these people.

If there's anything we can
do to make up for that now,

we at least have to try.

I've adjusted
the radiation levels

to match the conditions
on the surface.

Watch.

An isolytic chain reaction.

It recombines
the nucleonic particles

in the atmosphere.

How do we apply your methods
on a planetary scale?

Atmospheric processors
are one possibility.

Too bad we don't have a corps
of engineers to build them.

What if we encased
the catalytic agent

in photon torpedoes,

used the concussive force
to start the reaction?

It would require

multiple detonations
at a low altitude,

but I believe it could work.

Captain, an isolitic reaction
of that magnitude

would expand exponentially.

Your ship might not survive.

We'll have to modify
our shields,

reinforce structural integrity.

Well, let's get started.

He's beautiful.

And they can give us enough
medicine to treat everyone.

Can they rebuild our cities?

Bring back the people who died?

They're offering to help,

and this time
no one's coercing them.

We can't trust these people.

They just sent armed men
to attack us.

They only wanted
to rescue their hostages.

Who knows what they wanted?

You're being irrational.

What's irrational
is cooperating with the enemy.

Look at my child.

They said
that they would treat him,

and they kept their word.

Shield modifications on line.

Torpedoes?

Ready.

Hail them.

Listen to me.

Otrin, we're ready to begin.

Understood.

Good luck.

Tom, take us down.

We're 10,000 meters
into the troposphere.

Fire the first sequence.

They're attacking us!

It's only the shock wave
from the detonations.

No.

Shields?

Holding at 18 percent.

Are you going to stand there
while he helps them destroy us?

What are you doing?

Fighting back.

Captain, they're opening
missile silos.

They're targeting Voyager.

At 18 percent, our
shields won't withstand

an antimatter explosion.

We should return to orbit.

Not yet.

Fire the next sequence.

You can't launch those missiles!

Hold him!

Stop!

What are you doing?

I won't let you ruin our
only chance for survival.

You'd kill me?

To save my child...

yes.

Get that weapon away from her.

No... sir.

I've kept you alive...

all of you!

And we're grateful for that.

But survival
isn't enough anymore.

Are you in command now?

If I have to be.

Everyone,

come outside! Hurry!

All right, come on.

What's going on?

Bring him.

This way.

It's beautiful.

Captain's Log, supplemental.

We've retrieved Friendship I

and resumed our course
to the Alpha Quadrant,

but the success of our mission
had a very high price.

Impressive, isn't it?

The detail's amazing.

Carey spent months
working on it.

He used to joke
that it wouldn't be finished

by the time
we got back to Earth.

He only had one nacelle to go.

We were able to download
the probe's memory core.

We'll transmit the telemetry
in the next datastream.

I think about our ancestors...

thousands of years

wondering if they were alone
in the universe,

finally discovering
they weren't.

You can't blame them
for wanting to reach out,

see how many other species
were out there

asking the same questions.

The urge to explore
is pretty powerful.

But it can't justify
the loss of lives...

whether it's millions...

or just one.