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Conducting a surveillance mission
of an alien structure, Chakotay finds himself on Earth at
Starfleet Headquarters. He is surrounded by aliens posing as
humans, and strikes up a conversation with one of the women,
Commander Valerie Archer. Later, when Chakotay and Tuvok are on
their way back to the Delta Flyer, an alien Ensign tries to
detain them for being in a restricted area. Unwilling to risk
their cover being blown, they beam him back to Voyager.
When Janeway questions him, the
Ensign kills himself by releasing a toxin into his bloodstream.
The Doctor triggers a genetic reversion, and the body on the
biobed turns into a Species 8472 alien. Analysis of their ship's
structure shows the aliens are using a combination of
holographic projection and particle synthesis to recreate Earth
and Starfleet Headquarters. The crew surmises it is being used
as a training ground for invasion of the Alpha Quadrant.
Seven of Nine discovers Species 8472 has adapted to Borg
nanoprobes. As she works to modify them, Chakotay, Paris and Kim
take the Delta Flyer back to the Earth simulation so Chakotay
can keep a date planned with Archer. He plans to use her to find
out more about the mission against the Federation. After
Chakotay leaves her quarters, Archer analyzes a DNA sample and
discovers that he is human. Once security is alerted, Chakotay
is taken into custody.
Paris and Kim notify Janeway of what has happened and pilot
their shuttle back to Voyager. The Captain sets a course for the
alien ship, and is armed with modified nanoprobes but is
unwilling to use them unless provoked. When she threatens the
habitat leader — who is in the body of Starfleet groundskeeper
Boothby — with the Borg nanoprobes, he agrees to a meeting.
With both sides gathered to discuss their differences, Janeway
and Boothby find there is room for negotiation. Judging from
Voyager's collaboration with the Borg against them, Species 8472
believed humans were a hostile force planning an invasion.
Janeway explains that her crew did not know at the time that the
Borg had started the war with their species; Archer then reveals
that their Earth simulation is only a reconnaissance mission.
They feared humans as much as the Voyager crew feared them.
After agreeing to share technology as a first step toward peace
between their species, the 8472 beings return to fluidic space,
and Voyager continues on its journey home. |
