Summary for Star Trek: Voyager episode
Extreme Risk

Season 5, Episode 3
Stardate: Supplemental

Guest Stars:
Hamilton Camp
Alexander Enberg as "Vorik"

Co-Stars:
Neil Betances as "Holodeck Pilot"
Majel Barrett as "Computer Voice"

Written by: Kenneth Biller

Events:
The episode opens with B'Elanna staring out the back hatch of an orbiting shuttle. A member of the crew is piloting. The shuttle is currently orbiting at 200 km above a planet. B'Elanna orders the shuttle higher.

The crew member points out she could "thermalize" at the current altitude, but B'Elanna persists. She is wearing a suit of futuristic armor, consisting of many small blue-silver squares and black-rubber seals. Her face is impassive.

They level off at 300 km. B'Elanna then orders the computer to disengage safety protocols. The computer warns her that doing so can result in an extreme risk of injury. We now realize she is in a holodeck simulation.

She overrides the protocols and dons the helmet to her suit. She orders the crew member to drop the rear shield and once this is done she leaps out the back hatch of the shuttle.

As she free falls through the atmosphere she is interrupted by Chakotay's call to report to Engineering. With obvious reluctance B'Elanna ends the program.

The scene cuts to B'Elanna walking the halls to Engineering. She meets up with Seven, who comments that she was not aware that protective outfits like B'Elanna's were needed on this mission. B'Elanna explains that the outfit is for her holo-program: orbital skydiving.

Seven updates her on the status of a probe they're about to launch. All systems except telemetry are functioning. Noticing that B'Elanna isn't paying attention, Seven asks her if she is well. B'Elanna says she's not feeling well, and puts Seven in charge of the launch. Seven is surprised at this, and asks if she should call the Doctor. B'Elanna says no and leaves Seven as she heads for her quarters.

The show cuts for opening credits and commercials.

When we return we watch a Maylon freighter (from "Night") tractor Voyager's probe. On the bridge of Voyager Harry detects this and Kathryn opens communication with the Maylon responsible. She orders the Maylon to release their property. The Maylon refuses to respond.

Tom informs her that they are two hours away from the probe. Tuvok suggests using a polaron burst to free the probe from the tractor. Kathryn agrees, and the probe is freed. The probe's course is changed by order of Kathryn, but the Maylon is faster. Kathryn orders the probe into a nearby gas giant, counting on the Borg multi-spatial shielding to protect it from the pressures.

The Maylon ship continues its pursuit into the gas giant and ignores another instruction from Kathryn to break off its pursuit. The Maylon ship is destroyed by the atmosphere of the planet.

The scene cuts to the Briefing room where a senior staff meeting is in progress. Harry explains that the probe is stuck in a liquid layer of the planet's surface and isn't responding to commands. Seven reports that the probe is intact and can be re-used. Chakotay points out they have to be able to get it off the planet.

B'Elanna shows up late. Chakotay explains they're trying to figure out how to get the probe off the planet. He asks B'Elanna if they can use transporters and she says "no". When prompted for more information she explains it's out of range and they can't get close enough.

Tom suggests that since they can't beam it out they'll just have to fly in and pick it up, provoking Tuvok to give one of the memorable lines of the scene:

Tuvok: "Perhaps you weren't paying attention when the Maylon freighter imploded."

Tom suggests they use a new shuttle which he has designed but isn't yet built. The staff generally chuckle over this, as if they've heard this suggestion before several times.

Tom argues that the Class 2 shuttle they've been using is outclassed in the Delta Quadrant and that they've needed something better since they arrived in the Delta Quadrant.

Chakotay explains the opposing view. They don't have the time to design and build a ship from scratch.

But Tom has heard this enough times to have designed the new shuttle. Here are the specs as he describes them:

Delta Flyer:
1. Ultra-aerodynamic contours.
2. Retractable nascelles.
3. Para-metallic hull plating.
4. Uni-matrix shielding (based on Tuvok's design for the multi-spatial probe)
5. Borg-inspired weapons system.

Harry suggests they include iso-magnetic EPS conduits in the plasma manifold to maximize power distribution.

Tuvok agrees that his shield design would work on a ship that size. Tom reassures Chakotay that it could withstand the pressures of the gas giant, and he tells Kathryn he can have it built in a week if he and Harry and Seven and B'Elanna work on it around the clock.

Kathryn agrees and the Delta Flyer project begins.

As the meeting ends Kathryn notices B'Elanna is still sitting, pre-occupied with her own thoughts, as the others leave.

The scene cuts to the holodeck where the design team (Tom, Tuvok, Harry, Seven and B'Elanna) are discussing the prototype design. Hovering in front of them is a scale model generated by the holodeck.

Tom adds "dyna-metric tail fins" to the model to scare opponents into thinking twice before attacking. Tuvok eliminates them because they are purely decorative.

Tuvok: "We are not designing a 'hot rod', Lieutenant."

Seven suggests they continue working on the structural integrity and points out that B'Elanna's suggestion that they use titanium is wrong. Seven suggests tetraburnium alloys instead. B'Elanna, who looks a million miles away, agrees. She then dismisses herself by explaining she's going to review the thruster specifications. Leaving some interesting looks on the remainder of the design team.

The scene cuts to Tom's quarters later in the day. Tom is reviewing a PADD when B'Elanna stops by and drops off the thruster specs. Tom invites her to dinner with a bottle of Burgundy and B'Elanna declines. Tom asks her what's wrong and she says "Nothing". Tom points out that she is behaving like she doesn't care and B'Elanna allows that maybe she doesn't care. Tom reminds her of all the times they've discussed combining his piloting skills and her engineering skills to build a ship. And then he notes she isn't at all enthusiastic.

B'Elanna explains that she's doing her job and Tom interrupts her to point out he isn't her boss and isn't questioning her abilities as a member of the crew. His concern is more personal: he wants to know what's going on. She brushes him off and leaves his quarters.

The scene cuts to B'Elanna walking the halls to the holodeck. When she arrives she is passed by a crew member and she pretends to not be interested in the holodeck. Once the crew member has left the area she summons up one of her programs and overrides the safety protocols.

Inside the program she battles Cardassian warriors in an undergound labyrinth of caves.

The show cuts to commercials.

When it returns we find ourselves on the bridge while Voyager orbits the gas giant. Coming up from the far side of the planet is a Maylon freighter dumping its theta radiation.

The Maylon communicates, warning Voyager away from the planet. Kathryn introduces herself and the Maylon tells her he knows who she is, that she is responsible for the destruction of one of their freighters and the nine crew members of that ship. Kathryn points out that the freighter was trying to steal Voyager's probe and that they ignored Voyager's warning about going near the gas giant.

Controller Vrelck (the Maylon commander) ignores all of this and claims the probe as compensation for their losses. When Chakotay points out the difficulty in getting the probe Vrelck explains his people are experts at salvage operations.

Kathryn counters that they are also experts at salvaging and then warns the Maylon to avoid anything owned by Voyager and to leave orbit. When Vrelck points out that Kathryn is making a serious mistake Kathryn cuts off contact.

Kathryn discusses with Chakotay the Maylon's motive for trying to get the probe. Chakotay points out it uses multi-spatial technology and the Maylon might think they can use it to find new places to dump the theta radiation waste.

The scene cuts to B'Elanna's quarters where a battered and bloodied B'Elanna returns from the holodeck. She uses a piece of medical equipment to heal her wounds and then stares meaningfully into a mirror, mesmerized by her appearance.

The scene cuts to the cafeteria where Neelix is about to close up. He explains that with everyone working on the new shuttle there's less need for the cafeteria.

He asks B'Elanna "name your poison" and she acts as if she's in a daze. Neelix is surprised that she doesn't take advantage of his line to give one of her "scathing, yet affectionate insults" about Neelix's cooking. She apologizes and when asked again what she wants to eat she asks for banana pancakes.

Neelix has never heard of them before. B'Elanna explains that her grandmother used to make them and that they always made her smile.

Neelix leads her to the replicators and orders up a stack of banana pancakes while B'Elanna seats herself.

B'Elanna is very mechanical in this scene. Almost robotic and totally without emotion. She asks Neelix how he is doing, and Neelix tells her that his security studies are going well, that Tuvok praised him by saying he's "Not completely inept".

Neelix has to ask B'Elanna if she's going to try her pancakes, as she just stares into space. B'Elanna takes a bite and Neelix has to ask her whether she likes them or not. B'Elanna responds that they're delicious and then excuses herself saying she has to go back to work.

Neelix looks concerned.

The scene cuts to the two ships in orbit, followed by another cut to the bridge where Kathryn is trying to figure out why the Maylon is still there. Tuvok suggests they might try attacking Voyager after Voyager retrieves the probe, but Kathryn dismisses this idea, believing the Maylon will know that Voyager is prepared for that possibility. She wonders if it is waiting for reinforcements but Chakotay assures her they are the only two ships in the area.

Seven interrupts the discussion by asking Kathryn to report to the Astrometrics lab where she has information on the Maylon.

The scene cuts to the lab, where Seven has used the sensors to spy on the Maylon. She has been able to discover that the Maylon is also building a ship to salvage the probe. What's worse, the Maylon salvage ship will be ready before Voyager's.

The show cuts to commercials.

When it returns we are in the shuttle bay where the Delta Flyer is being built. Kathryn's captain's log reports that they've managed to improve their own delivery schedule to match that of the Maylon.

Various enhancements are discussed by the design team, which now includes Vorik. Tom has used knobs and dials from his "Captain Proton" holoprogram to control some of the Delta Flyer's systems.

Their main concern is over micro-fractures occurring to the hull of the ship during descent into the planet's atmosphere. Abruptly B'Elanna announces she's going to the holodeck to find out whether the micro-fracture problem represents a fatal flaw.

The scene cuts to the holodeck where B'Elanna has a simulation of the Delta Flyer running through the planet's atmosphere. The ship passes its safety ratings and B'Elanna continues the descent. She then overrides the safety protocols and continues her descent while the ship bucks violently. While keeping the simulated shuttle together B'Elanna loses her balance and knocks herself out against a console.

Meanwhile, the Maylon has decided to vent some theta radiation Voyager's way, knocking shields down by 11%. Vrelck offers a threat thinly disguised as an apology and note of concern for Voyager's well-being. Vrelck lets Voyager know that he's two days away from finishing his ship and that he's aware of Voyager's project to build a ship. He advises them to give it up so as to avoid the humiliation of losing.

Kathryn and Chakotay agree to speed up production on the shuttle and to prepare their shields for more theta radiation. A call from Kathryn to B'Elanna goes unanswered and she discovers B'Elanna is in the holodeck. Chakotay is sent to get her.

Meanwhile, in the simulated Delta Flyer, B'Elanna is still unconscious. Chakotay arrives just in time to save her from an imminent hull breech and calls out a medical emergency.

The show cuts to commercials.

The show returns to Sick Bay where B'Elanna is in a patient's smock and the Doctor revives her. She's been out for almost 12 hours. She wants to get back to work but the Doctor has orders to keep her there.

Kathryn shows up and dismisses the doctor. Kathryn lists out the evidence to show that something is wrong with B'Elanna. Kathryn mentions a number of self-treated injuries that went unreported, that a lot of time has been spent on the holodeck over the past few months, that there was no reason to remove the safeties from the holodeck program of the Delta Flyer. B'Elanna essentially brushes all of this off. Finally Kathryn states that she doesn't think B'Elanna is being very honest or forthcoming, and removes her from the project and puts her under the Doctor's care. B'Elanna doesn't care, and that convinces Kathryn that something really is wrong.

The scene cuts to Kathryn's ready room, where she, Tom, and Chakotay are discussing the Delta Flyer. Everything is working well and they can launch as soon as they solve their micro-fracture problem.

Kathryn changes the subject to B'Elanna, asking Tom if he's noticed any changes in B'Elanna recently. Tom hasn't noticed anything except that she won't talk to him recently. They agree that the injuries are arising from her holodeck use and so Chakotay is assigned the task of looking through her programs for a clue about what is happening to her.

The scene cuts to B'Elanna's quarters where she lays on her bed with her eyes open. The door is beeped several times and finally she acknowledges it and Chakotay enters. Apparently the Doctor has permitted her to return to her quarters. She explains the Doctor believes she is suffering from clinical depression. She tries to blow this off as "typical Starfleet" but Chakotay points out that she has been running holodeck programs without the safety protocols. B'Elanna counters that she's run a few programs like that but that they're nothing she can't handle.

Chakotay asks her to show him these programs. That if he sees them perhaps he can explain the situation to Kathryn and everything will work out right. She agrees and the scene cuts to the hallway outside the holodeck.

As B'Elanna reaches for the control panel Chakotay stops her and runs "Torres-Zeta-1". B'Elanna pulls back in shock and Chakotay manhandles her into the holodeck. We are in a series of caves where we can see the reflected flash of weapons fires and hear men screaming and yelling. B'Elanna tries to freeze the program but Chakotay countermands her and they arrive at a room within the caves. A number of dead people lay scattered about.

It turns out these are the Maquis friends of B'Elanna and Chakotay who were killed by the Cardassians with the help of the Dominion. The day after B'Elanna learned of their deaths (my thanks to the person who can recall the name of the episode where this happens) B'Elanna designed a program so she could watch it happen. She ran the program for 47 seconds and from that day on began running the most dangerous holodeck programs with the safety protocols off.

B'Elanna demands to be released and Chakotay seals the exits. She protests but he insists on knowing why she is trying to hurt herself.

He asks her if she's trying to commit suicide. She emphatically denies it. She says that she hasn't felt anything for anyone since she got the news. She doesn't feel anything for Tom or her job or for the dead Maquis. That when she injures herself at least she feels something.

Chakotay tells her its understandable that she wants to postpone her need to grieve because of the pain but that she has to do it sometime. She wants to know why. She says there is no point in feeling anything any more, that she lost her father when she was 6, that she was kicked out of Star Fleet at 19, that she lost her friends in the Maquis when they ended up in the Delta Quadrant, and then Chakotay told her the Maquis were massacred. From her point of view there's no point in caring about anything anymore.

Chakotay assures her that there are people on Voyager who care about her, and who aren't going to let her injure herself in the holodeck. That she needs to find a better way of dealing with the problem. B'Elanna admits she doesn't know how, and Chakotay reassures her they'll find a way together.

At that moment the ship rocks and Kathryn calls for Chakotay because they are under attack. B'Elanna tells Chakotay to go and reluctantly he leaves her on the holodeck.

With an exterior shot we can see the Maylon ship is firing spatial charges at Voyager. On the bridge Tuvok has deduced the shots are a distraction from the launching of the Maylon shuttle.

Kathryn checks in with Tom and discovers the shuttle is ready to launch and that they'll pay attention to the micro-fracture problem but that they need another member of the crew. Kathryn assigns Chakotay.

He's met in the hall by an anxious B'Elanna who wants to take the mission. He dismisses her efforts due to her illness and she insists she can and must do this. Reluctantly, Chakotay agrees and as B'Elanna heads off down the corridor Chakotay smiles and returns to the bridge.

The scene cuts to the back of the Flyer where B'Elanna appears. The crew are a little surprised but pleased that she's joined them. B'Elanna replaces Vorik who leaves the shuttle.

The Flyer's crew is Tom (Pilot), Harry (Operations), Seven (Weapons and Shields), and B'Elanna (Power and Structural Integrity).

The Flyer is launched. Back on the bridge Tuvok reports to Kathryn that it will take the Flyer three minutes to overtake the Maylon shuttle. Chakotay re-appears on the Bridge and smiles at Kathryn.

On board the Flyer the Maylon shuttle is shooting spatial charges, managing to knock out secondary systems. Seven returns fire and manages to damage the Maylon shuttle so it has to leave the area.

As they approach the probe the loss of the secondary systems affects the structural integrity. A hull plate starts buckling inward and B'Elanna grabs her tool kit and attaches a plate to the buckling plate.

This buys her time to set up a forcefield to contain the imminent hull breach.

The shuttle docks with Voyager and on the bridge we learn that the Maylon is busy trying to recover its shuttle which is having trouble escaping the planet's atmosphere.

Voyager warps away from the area.

In a hall Chakotay meets up with B'Elanna, who thanks him for what he's tried to do and promises to break his neck if he ever tries it again. She isn't sure if she's recovered her old charm back but Chakotay thinks she'll heal in time. The scene cuts to the cafeteria where B'Elanna orders a stack of banana pancakes with maple syrup and after taking a bite she smiles and laughs, reassuring us that she is indeed healing.

End of episode.

Personal reflections:

This is another episode where the convenience of removing holodeck safety protocols creates a dangerous situation. In this case, B'Elanna, unable to feel any emotion, tries desperately to feel something by trying every dangerous holo-program with the safety protocols off.

This is obviously an episode about mental health and how easily people can slip through the cracks that society sets up to help people in need of psychological counseling. B'Elanna refuses everyone's help and refuses to talk about her problem and continues to pursue a self-destructive habit in the hopes of feeling something.

It is only by luck that her problem is uncovered in time to save her. And once she is required to face the cause of her pain she finds a new taste for life and a need to help her friends fly the shuttle.

As it is my habit to keep unpleasant statements out of the Story spoiler I'll decline further comment on this episode here. Those who are interested might review the Nit spoiler for this episode.

Thanks for your attention.



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