|
When a Hirogen ship containing one
erratic life sign is found adrift, Janeway sends an away team to
investigate. They bring back a wounded Hirogen to sickbay and
report that the species is obviously comprised of hunters.
Skeletal remains found on the ship show that their entire
existence is based on the hunt of prey as both food and prized
possessions. Now, however, something is hunting them.
Insistent that he be returned
to his ship, the Hirogen explains that he had just captured an
alien when it broke free and attacked him. He is anxious to
continue the hunt, and Janeway assures him that she beamed him
to sickbay to treat his wounds. When Tuvok and Kim investigate
structural damage to Voyager's hull, they find an intruder has
entered the ship. A blood sample left at the scene shows it is a
member of the highly dangerous Species 8472. The crew is put on
intruder alert, but the alien has already entered engineering
and attacks Torres.
The Hirogen informs Janeway that if he is not allowed to
continue hunting the alien, he will tell his approaching ships
to destroy Voyager. Knowing from their previous encounter that
Species 8472 is susceptible to Borg nanoprobes, Tuvok and Seven
of Nine load phasers with them and track the alien. They soon
corner the wounded intruder and plan to stun him. When the
Hirogen begins firing his weapon against orders, Tuvok turns his
phaser on him.
Paris and Seven discover that Species 8472 boarded Voyager to
attempt to open a singularity. Through telepathic contact with
Tuvok, the alien explains that his ship was damaged during
conflict with the Borg. He has been trapped alone, wounded and
hunted by the Hirogen, and he just wants to get home. Although
the Hirogen threatens that the crew will be slaughtered if the
alien isn't surrendered to him, Janeway asks Seven to open a
singularity. Seven refuses to help the alien escape and is
confined to the cargo bay until the mission is over.
As the approaching ships fire on Voyager, forcefields go
off-line and the Hirogen escapes from sickbay. When the alien
becomes agitated, Janeway tells Seven to give it more Borg
nanoprobes. As she complies, the Hirogen approaches and orders
Seven to step aside, allowing him to continue his hunt of the
prey. Just then, the alien breaks through the forcefield. As it
struggles with the Hirogen, Seven taps into transport controls
and beams them to one of the ships. The Hirogen immediately
cease firing and leave the area at warp speed. As a consequence
for her actions against the Captain's command, Seven's duties on
Voyager are restricted.
 |
