(September 9) In Star Trek Communicator Braga says, "The opening episode will introduce two new alien races. One is a race notorious for dumping its antimatter waste wherever it can. We're doing a story about a species that has evolved in complete darkness, sort of the space-faring equivalent of deep sea creatures."

(August 16) According to Sci-Fi tv magazine, in this episode, Voyager encounters a large "void" of space, forcing travel without contact from other worlds or beings. The entire crew experiences cabin fever, and Captain Janeway begins doubting her decision to take Voyager home.

Kate Mulgrew suggested at a convention that Janeway will come close to losing it in this episode. (According to Star Trek News.)

According to comments made by Brannon Braga on AOL, the season premiere will feature cool new aliens and a crisis of captaincy for Janeway. Will explore themes from the pilot.

The Night Aliens, who have reflective silver eyes and are invisible unless you shine light on them. "We're trying to push the envelope," Braga says. "We're tired of seeing aliens with funny foreheads." (In USA Today)

The science fiction holo-program "Cap'n Proton" debuts in this episode. While Paris plays the hero, Cap'n Proton, Seven of Nine will be his secretary Constance Trueheart and Harry appears as his sidekick. Dr. Chaotica is played by a guest actor.

The program sees Paris in the role of the heroic ROCKETEER-style superhero, Captain Proton, ... the recurring holodeck adventure will see Paris challenged by his arch enemy Dr.Chaotica. (According to dreamwatch, Issue September 1998)

"Picardo does have a funny moment in the opening scene of the season, set on the holodeck in a 1930's-style black and white sci-fi movie serial. 'Talk about Buck Rogers! It turns out to be a holodeck program that Tom Paris, who's always been kind of a 20th century hobbyist, is fooling around with - visions of what the future would be - so he's cast himself in this romantic retro program as Captain Proton. It's all in black and white until the doctor enters in full color, complaining that Tom is now three minutes into his scheduled time to practice a duet from Don Carlo!'" ( Another Universe's Mania Magazine's article on Robert Picardo "A Microchip Off the Old Block" by Michelle Erica Green.)

October 21, 1998

It's a Seven of Nine story where we'll see a new form of Borg life written by Bryan Fuller.

(Bryan Fuller referring to Seven) "You can expect slow, but steady development. We'll see the beginning of that in this show. Actually, you do see her first smile."

According to dreamwatch, Drone also features the return of Species 8472, which executive producer Brannon Braga had stated would return in the fifth season.

The new Borg drone is being described as being from the 29th century as it is the product of Seven's nanoprobes assimilating the Doctor's holo-emmitter, which was obtained from that era in "Future's End". Seven of Nine becomes very protective of that Drone, which has no interest in assimilation. However, the 24th century Borg Collective become aware of the existence of the futuristic drone and come looking for it, leaving it up to Janeway to protect Seven and the Doctor's "child" from the Collective. (According to Star Trek News.)

Bob: "Well, in episode 2 ["Drone"] Seven of Nine and I have an offspring together. Unfortunately, it's from a transporter accident rather than the traditional way of parenting which I am slightly disappointed about." (From Entertainment Tonight Online.)

And when Voyager's producers asked him this season whether Picardo wanted to be turned into a Borg during an episode where a transporter malfunction causes Seven of Nine's Borg implants to interface with the Doctor's holographic emitter, "I reacted with extreme lukewarm response - the expression 'Been There, Done That' leaps to my mind." (Another Universe's Mania Magazine's.)

A Torres episode.

After finding out she lost her Maquis friends in the episode "Hunters", B'Elanna finds that she cannot deal with the emotions that are building up inside her and becomes distraught. To help her forget those she will never see again, B'Elanna begins taking more and more risks with her life and becomes dependent on the excitement and pain she experiences from her risks. She will constantly be covering for herself and these risks (often repairing the fractured bones herself that she gets from turning the safeties off on holoprograms she uses). It is B'Elanna who we will see in the sonic shower. (According to Roxann Dawson at her last convention Novacon 98, Tyson's Corner, Va., July 25 and 26 1998.)

(Shows October 28) Extreme Risk: Torres erratic behavior, which includes orbital skydiving, begins to alarm her crewmates; meanwhile Lt. Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) finishes the Delta Flyer, his 24th-century "hot rod"vessel that combines Borg and Starfleet designs.

"Extreme Risk" - Voyager somehow acquires a new type of shuttlecraft, the Delta Flyer, in order to combat a new agressive alien species. Torres gets to make the first flight of the ship. This episode will also include the first ever view of a sonic shower. (From Transwarp 44.)

Robert Duncan McNeill said that this was a dark episode in which B'Elanna will come to terms with her Klingon heritage. He also said that she does some "self-destructive things."

Robert: "The plan this year for Tom and B'Elanna is not to focus on the relationship as such unless it's part of a bigger story. Their intention for the relationship this year is to find really interesting stories for the characters, and if there's an opportunity to let the relationship enhance the story, then we'll deal with it."

"We just filmed an episode where B'Elanna is dealing with some self-destructive behavior, and we had a great scene where it was really about that. It's more interesting to see the dance that people do in relationships where they don't talk about exactly how they're feeling." ( Another Universe Mania Magazine)

"Voyager faces a battle of time when they face aliens while trying to construct a new shuttlecraft."

(September 3) "And not only that, we will also see her (Roxann) do an orbital skydive. One had been filmed for Star Trek: Generations but was cut from the film. (According to Star Trek News.)

It's been much discussed, but this season, viewers will get their first peek at Voyager members taking a sonic shower. "It's real loud," Braga says. "A bath in sound waves."

(August 13) Kate Mulgrew expressed in Another Universe Mania Magazine : "Roxann has just finished the most wonderful episode - Brannon wrote an episode for that character which is about clinical depression, which was so gorgeous, I cried. In no way did the story suffer, there was a wonderful B plot and a horrible alien and all that, but we really got to see B'Elanna, and Roxann really was gorgeous in it."

Sounds like a replay of when she was in Starfleet Academy and she did something very similar. (Pathways)

"It is believed she inflicts damage to herself, and the shower scene will give us an opportunity to see the bruises and cuts she has inflicted upon herself." (According to MajCullah's Star Trek Voyager Page.) I had made the same assumption and had posted it on August 1, and received this response: "Your speculation already confirmed NIM - Miles" (on TrekWeb's Com) this is the only reference that I found and it was dated August 1 also.

Written by Nicholas Sagan. Is a Chakotay show, featuring a top-secret guest star.

(Shows November 4) In The Flesh: Voyager discovers Species 8472 has constructed a simulation of Starfleet headquarters in San Francisco so they can practice posing as humans in their first step of an invasion of Earth. Boothby: Ray Walston. Archer: Kate Vernon. Ensign Gentry: Zach Galligan. Adm. Bullock: Tucker Smallwood. Janeway: Kate Mulgrew. Chakotay: Robert Beltran. Torres: Roxann Dawson. Paris: Robert Duncan McNeill.(According to TV Guide.)

(August 12) Star Trek News says: The crew encounters a medieval civilization who views Species 8472 as demonic gods. (Probably rumor)

Brannon Braga on AOL has confirmed that Boothby from TNG's "The First Duty" (the gardener to whom Captain Picard asked about Wesley and Nick Locarno played by Robert Duncan McNeill) appears this season (and it is believed he is in this episode) but "he's not what he seems to be".

Brannon Braga has also mentioned in an online chat that Species 8472 would be seen again this season. Again it was believed that this would be that episode.

(August 9, 1998) Will it be another alien race that has studied Earth and made holorecordings of Starfleet Command which will be used to attack Earth? And will Voyager find the recordings and while investigating them, will Chakotay fall in love with a holographic character played by Kate Vernon? Will Boothby appear in this episode?

Mike Jonas says the guest star is probably actress Kate Vernon. (Confirmed according to dreamwatch.) (From MikeJonas' Secret Transmissions.)

As Voyager searches for the Delta Flyer and its missing crew, including Paris, Tuvok and Ensign Wildman, Neelix tries to amuse Wildman's daughter with a holonovel featuring a creature called Flotter (Wallace Langham).
Naomi: Scarlett Pomers. Wildman: Nancy Hower. Paris: Robert Duncan McNeill. Tuvok: Tim Russ. Trevis: Justin Lewis. Neelix: Ethan Phillips. .(According to TV Guide.)

Roxann mentioned the new shuttle and that Tom is piloting it when it crashes for the first time. (Novacon 98, Tyson's Corner, Va., July 25-26 1998)

(Thanks to Gilly for photo and who was very helpful from ORB Message Board.)
"It's fifteen years later, and we learn that some time ago, Voyager made it to the Alpha Quadrant, using slipstream technology! One catch, though: everyone's dead except for Kim and Chakotay, who have spent the past decade and a half trying to deal with their fate. Eventually, Kim finds a way to use the Delta Flyer and Borg technology that could hopefully send a message back in time to Seven of Nine so she can stop Voyager from using the slipstream drive and thus save their lives and alter the timeline...." (From MikeJonas' Secret Transmissions.)

Geordi LaForge appears briefly as the Starfleet Officer sent to apprehend future Chakotay and Kim and warn them of the consequences of trying to alter the timeline. (From MikeJonas' Secret Transmissions.)

Ex. Producer Brannon Braga has promised an "homage" to Voyager's beginnings.

According to LeVar Burton last Sunday [August 2] at the SF Convention, he'll be directing Voyager's 100th episode and do a cameo as Captain Geordi LeForge of the galaxy class starship USS Challenger. His character has aged 15 years since ST 9. (posted by Raymond V on TrekWeb's Bulletin Board on August 4.)

According to The Universe, we will see Harry Kim 15 years older, and "he will be a much harder man."
(At a convention Garrett Wang "gave some details about new Voyager episodes. He said that one episode would show how Harry Kim looks like 15 years in the future. There was also confirmation of Ray Walston's Boothby being in an upcoming episode.

Roxann Dawson said there was a rumor on the set that the slipstream may return. Involves the Voyager crew again experimenting with slipstream technology. The ship crashes into an ice planet. According to her, the whole crew dies and is then brought back to life.

Picture belongs to Paramount Pictures. (Added August 12.)

(Added August 14) (From a close-up article in Star Trek Continuum) "The atmosphere was festive as the cast and crew took a break from filming this landmark episode entitled "Timeless" to stop and reflect on the past five years.

"Roxann Dawson ("B'Elanna Torres") related the time passage to the 100th episode itself. 'It doesn't feel like 5 years. I feel like it's this episode 'Timeless' except we started 5 years ago, and we woke up, and it's NOW and I can't believe it… Except we aren't frozen!'

"The entire cast was on hand for the celebration, as well as most of the crew, since this was literally in the middle of a workday. Jeri Ryan ("Seven of Nine") admitted to feeling a little misplaced in the celebration. 'Well, since this is only my 33rd episode, I feel like I'm crashing the party!'

Picture belongs to Paramount Pictures. (Added August 15.) "LeVar Burton, who is directing this landmark episode, compared the event to a similar celebration for Star Trek: The Next Generation, 'It's great! I think the fact that this cast and the feeling that they have for each other reminds me so much of the fun that we had when we made our show.'

"After over an hour of festivities, Director LeVar Burton good-naturedly encouraged party guests to clear the stage so he and his cast could get back to the business at hand -- filming this milestone episode!

"Look for " Timeless" on UPN this November."

(Added picture September 23.) (Added information September 6) "Seven goes schizophrenic ... when she is affected by an alien weapon designed to disrupt the Borg; she takes on the personalities of some of the individuals that the Borg have assimilated over the years (and that's a lot of individuals)." The B-story deals with Naomi Wildman wanting to be a member of the senior staff, and shadowing Seven of Nine to that end." (From MikeJonas' Secret Transmissions.)

(Added September4) In this new episode, called "Infinite Regress," Naomi returns. This time, she is determined to be made a commanding officer of Voyager... not when she grows up... NOW!!! She tries to perfect herself so that Captain Janeway (her hero) will make her an officer. In order to perfect herself, she begins "observing" Seven of Nine (in other words, she more or less stalks her). Although her role in this episode isn't as big as in the original episode she shot (entitled "Once Upon a Time") it still looks to be very cute and entertaining. I guess you could say Scarlett plays the comic relief in an otherwise very serious episode."This info is courtesy of Emily Lynn Batson, who runs The Official Scarlett Pomers Page. Scarlett is the young actress who'll be playing Naomi in "Once Upon a Time" and this episode.

TV Gen: The Doctor (Robert Picardo) accesses another holographic physician to help him deal with an alien organism that has attached itself to Torres, but the new doctor is patterned after a Cardassian war criminal. Dr. Moset: David Clennon. Tabor: Jad Mager

Doc: "I have my first really big episode beginning tomorrow, in the first show that I really carry as the Doctor. It's a dramatic show. And the idea is that if Dr. Mengele had been one of the doctors that my program was based on. Part of my database of information came from a doctor who used unscrupulous and unethical means of making medical discovery, so it's really a show about 'do the means taint the information itself'. It's a very interesting story. One of my closest friends, David Clennon, will be playing this doctor and it will be the first time we've worked together since Joe Dante's 'Matinee.'" (From Entertainment Tonight Online.)

"An injured, sluglike alien joins itself with Torres, and to save both, the Doctor creates a medical hologram based on a Cardassian doctor who was an expert in these things (apparently, the Doctor accessing the Cardassian's knowledge in his database isn't enough) to work on B'Elanna, against her protests (ya know, the old Maquis-Cardie thing). Her fears aren't unfounded, as it turns out, as the Cardassian holo-doctor begins to use some unusual and unethical methods to try and save her...." (From MikeJonas' Secret Transmissions.)

TV Gen: Inhabitants of a strange ocean world ask Voyager to help them determine why they are losing water volume. When Paris discovers it's because of their industry, they deny the problem. Jenny: Alissa Kramer. Prefect: Benjamin Livingston. Megan: Heidi Kramer. Riga: Willie Garson.

(Added August 28) In Ethan Phillip's chat on August 27 at Star Trek Continuum:

Cleopatra asks:

What is the name of the episode now being filmed?

Ethan Phillips:

The name of the episode is "Down Deep" directed by Rick Kolbe.

(August 19) Voyager encounters a planet made almost entirely of water, so they send down the Delta Flyer (which can go underwater) to investigate this scientific improbability. Our heroes find the device that makes the water planet possible, as well as hostile residents and giant ocean-dwelling monsters a la "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." (From MikeJonas' Secret Transmissions.)

A Janeway/Tuvok episode (focusing primarily on Janeway). Voyager goes through the space of a powerful alien race who persecute people with telepathic powers. Not only does Voyager wind up providing transport to some telepathic refugees, but Tuvok and the other Vulcans on board have to go into hiding as well.

At the beginning of the episode, Voyager has been disabled and is totally defenceless. Janeway forms a relationship with the leader of the aliens (until she realises they're evil), who board Voyager and begin meticulous scans of the ship. The refugees are hiding on the ship in some sort of degrading transporter pattern.

• Kate Mulgrew: "My favorite episode to date has been shot but not aired. But may I say in confidence -- something I suppose one does not say on the Internet -- it would be The Refugee overseen by our executive producer, and impeccably, and joyfully executed."
  

Vorik is also in it, along with one or two other new Vulcans. Is said to guest star Lauren Hill.
(According to WebTrek)

A Tuvok episode and he doesn't go into pon farr. Voyager goes through the space of a powerful alien race who persecute people with telepathic powers. Not only does Voyager wind up providing transport to some telepathic refugees, but Tuvok and the other Vulcans on board have to go into hiding as well.(From MikeJonas' Secret Transmissions and his last as of October 6, 1998.)

(Added 10-18-98)Written by Joe Menosky. Scarlett has booked a third episode of Star Trek: Voyager. It features the Doctor. Most of Scarlett's interaction is with the Doctor. The Official Scarlett Pomers Page. Scarlett is the young actress who'll be playing Naomi in "Once Upon a Time," "Infinite Regress," and this episode.

When a crewmember dies the Doctor takes it upon himself to preserve everyone's image for posterity, running around with a holo-imager. But something happens... his memories are being altered, and his program manipulated. His new hobby of holo-imaging (24th century photography) apparently holds the clue.

She's being taught by the Doctor in lieu of school). (According to WebTrek.)

Paris' "Captain Proton" holographic novel is mistaken by aliens to be a real threat, so they take Voyager's controls off-line, forcing Janeway to assume the holonovel character of Arachnia, Queen of the Spider People. Dr. Chaotica: Martin Rayner. Lonzak: Nicholas Worth. Alien One: Jim Krestalude. Robot: Tarik Ergin. TVgen

An alien race that exists only in "photonic space" make first contact. Unfortunately, the person they make that contact with is the evil Dr. Chaotica, from the Captain Proton holodeck program. They think the Captain Proton program is real and the rest of Voyager is fake. They wind up battling Chaotica, and find themselves needing the help of Voyager's crew to defeat him.

This is a holodeck-centered episode conjured up to make up for the temporary lack of a bridge set after the fire. Tuvok is a key character in this storyline, juxtaposed with Paris. The story is said to be very humorous. Apparently at one point Chaotica falls in love with Seven, and stages a wedding. The entire show will be in black and white. (According to WebTrek.)

Written by Nick Sagan & Bryan Fuller.
UPN pulled another switch with Voyager's air schedule this season. "Gravity" was originally intended as the first show of the New Year but has been pushed back in to Sweeps. A Tuvok story. Tuvok, Chakotay and Paris land on a planet, located at the bottom of a gravity well, where they meet an alien woman (Lori Petty), who has been stranded on the planet for roughly fourteen years during which time she had to survive by fighting off sand people. While down there, the woman develops an infatuation with Tuvok. Voyager's attempts to retrieve the team are hampered by the fact that the planet exists in an accelerated temporal state, such that one hour on Voyager is three days for the team below. Tuvok has a close but non-intimate relationship with a woman in this episode and it explores facets of his character more fully. Lori Petty guest stars, presumably as Tuvok's love-- er, "intellectual" interest. This episode deals with a lot of Vulcan philosophy. According to Star Trek News.

Tuvok, Tom and the Doctor are trapped on a hostile planet. Tuvok gets close (but non-romantically) to an alien woman (played by Lori Petty).
Tim Russ said: "We just finished a heavy episode for Tuvok which involves a relationship with an alien woman. It's not an intimate relationship, but it is a close relationship. You get a chance to peek at flashback scenes within the story that give you an idea of what he felt when he was younger, before he became fully involved in the Vulcan philosophy. You get a chance to see what lies beneath (Tuvok's) surface." Written by Bryan Fuller & Nicholas Sagan. (According to WebTrek.)

(Added November 3)Borg, Seven and Naomi story! Scarlett Pomers is back for her fourth performance as Naomi Wildman. Scarlett will be needed for eleven days for this episode and she even turned down a role in a Disney movie called "Can of Worms" to keep this engagement. Check out the story at Star Trek Voyager Scarlett Pomers Page

(Added November 29) Voyager encounters what is apparently a wormhole leading back to the Alpha Quadrant, however it turns out this phenomenon is actually a unique space dwelling predator intent on luring Voyager in and consuming the crew. In order to pacify the crew, the monster uses false communiques from home to put them into some form of Blissful state. The Doctor, Naomi and Seven (who are all unaffected) manage to contact an alien vessel whose occupants (with a Captain Ahab-type figure played by Morgan Sheppard) have been mercilessly hunting this creature, and break the crew from their helpless state of being before it's too late. (According to WebTrek.)

TV Gen: Jeri Ryan - Seven of Nine on Star Trek: Voyager

Can you spill anything about the episode?

Well, this came about because fans have been clamoring to see the Borg Queen again ever since First Contact. That was the first and last time they encountered the Queen. So she comes back and contacts Seven of Nine and basically blackmails her into coming back into the collective to save Voyager. It's a wonderful story, with the relationship between Seven and Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) played against the relationship between Seven and the Queen. It's this nice little triangle. It's almost like meeting your birth mother and your adoptive mother. The struggle is really interesting.

(added 11-23-98) "This is the first installment of the much talked-about and much anticipated two part episode about the Borg. Scarlett will be on the set working this week [November 23], but filming will stop on Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday." --Star Trek Voyager Scarlett Pomers Page.
(Added 12-6-98) Scarlett Pomers will be appearing in both parts. She has much more screen time in part two than she does in part one. In part one, she is once again with Jeri Ryan.

Exec. Producer Brannon Braga has promised a Borg two-parter to begin the February sweeps. The Borg come back (through the time device seen in "Timeless") to reassimilate Seven (for her unique experiences) and they will succeed! The Borg Queen ([previously] played by Alice Krige) will return in this episode! The episode apparently also involves Voyager finding an old sphere or something like that. It's been rumoured that the Borg want Seven back and that for a while they will succeed! (According to WebTrek.)

HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- STAR TREK: VOYAGER, Paramount Network Television's multiple Emmy-Award winning series for UPN, has begun production on a unique two-hour episode. This special telefilm, entitled "Dark Frontier," will air during February sweeps on UPN.

"Dark Frontier" follows the epic struggle between Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and the Borg Queen for control of Seven of Nine. The story begins with a 24th century heist, as the crew of Voyager attempts to infiltrate a Borg vessel to steal their advanced technology. The plan goes awry and Seven of Nine is reassimilated by the Borg. The episode will also take us back 20 years to meet Seven of Nine's family and see how they were assimilated. "Dark Frontier" was written by Brannon Braga and Joe Menosky.

"Dark Frontier" marks the return of the evil Borg Queen, who made her first appearance in Paramount's blockbuster feature film "Star Trek: First Contact." The role will be played by Susanna Thompson ("The Ghosts of Mississippi," "Little Giants").

(added February 11)Finding the woman he can't live without becomes a nightmare for Kim when an affair with an alien leaves them biologically dependent on each other for survival. Musetta Vander and Charles Rocket guest star. TV Guide Online

(Added February 19) Without Starfleet medical clearance and in violation of interspecies protocol, Ensign Harry Kim has a passionate love affair with an exotic alien explorer, Derran Tal of the Varro species. But the escapade puts both the Voyager crew and the Varro species in Jeopardy when Kim and Tal become biochemically interdependent.

Harry and Tal become sort of chemically bonded after their sexual encounter. It is a natural occurence for her species, and it goes away with time.

Harry doesn't really get sick, it is more akin to a Ponn Farr type scenario. The species that the woman he is intimate belongs to "glow" after intimate encounters and this is spread to Harry. The experience between them is a bonding experience which links the two. After they are separated, Harry starts experiencing withdrawal symptoms. This is complicated by the fact that Harry's alien girlfriend comes from a xenophobic species. (According to WebTrek.)

(Added February 9) Ensign Kim has an unusual romance with a beautiful alien dissident seeking escape from another ship which she has been sabotaging. Harry, however, catches a strange virus after being intimate with her! Due to his condition, his skin will glow. Harry gets a spine and defies the captain's orders!(According to WebTrek.)

(Added November 23)Harry catches a strange virus after being intimate with an alien! Written by Kenneth Biller. Directed by David Livingston.
(According to WebTrek.)

(Added February 9) If you didn't think that Favorite Son was quite enough, there is another episode in which Harry faces a sexual situation and faces dire consequences. This time he contracts a disease from an encounter with an alien woman. Harry doesn't really get sick, it is more akin to a Ponn Farr type scenario. The species that the woman he is intimate belongs to "glow" after intimate encounters and this is spread to Harry. The experience between them is a bonding experience which links the two. After they are separated, Harry starts experiencing withdrawal symptoms. This is complicated by the fact that Harry's alien girlfriend comes from a xenophobic species. When will he ever learn? :-) According to Star Trek News.

(Picture from TGL AND Star Trek Monthly Magazine April 99 issue) From The Great Link:

Guest Stars : Ray Walston as Boothby

Thanks to the April 99 issue of Star Trek Monthly Magazine:

Trapped in a chaotic area of space, Voyager’s only means of escape is if Chakotay can communicate with the race of aliens who live there.

(Picture from TGL AND Star Trek Monthly Magazine April 99 issue) We discover that Chakotay was in a boxing ring on the holodeck when the ring became distorted and he was knocked unconscious, causing him to hallucinate about the boxing ring. The Doctor discovered that a hidden genetic disorder had been triggered in the commander.

Meanwhile, Voyager had come upon a damaged alien ship, its crew members having suffered the same condition as Chakotay. The First Officer went on a vision quest, where he again returned to the boxing ring.

Back in the present, Chakotay awakes, realising that the aliens have been trying to give him instructions for how to get back to normal space. Chakotay is unable to understand the instructions, however, and attempts to contact them again, thinking back to his Vision Quest, in which members of his crew attempted to prevent him from taking part in the fight. His quest soon led him back to the boxing ring, but the Doctor stopped him before he could take part in the fight..

(Picture from TGL AND Star Trek Monthly Magazine) Back in the present, the crew discover that an alien signal is being sent via a nucleotide resonance frequency to Chakotay, and send him back to the ring to communicate with the aliens. This time, the fight begins, but when Chakotay nears his opponent, he realises there is nothing inside his hood but chaotic space. The alien communicates with Chakotay, finally giving him the instructions for how to return to normal space clearly, and Chakotay is able to make the realignments himself, helping the ship out of chaotic space and thereby out of danger..

A Chakotay episode. Story by Michael Taylor. Teleplay by Joe Menosky. According to dreamwatch this will be a different kind of vision quest.

(Added March 12, 1999) In the grip of a delusion, Chakotay believes that he's a hotshot prizefighter on a collision course with the sector's champion boxer. Ray Walston and Carlos Palomino guest star. TV Guide Online

(Added November 18, 1998 )"Speaking of which, there's been a lot more action on Voyager this season."

"You're right. And I relish the moments when I can use my whole body, instead of just working in an extreme close-up. In fact, I just finished an episode where I box on the Holodeck. My opponent is an alien. But I'm afraid there's not much more I can say about that right now." -- TV Gen

A Chakotay episode, in which a mental illness allows him to have some insight on an alien culture. Chakotay will be seen boxing. According to Star Trek News.

(Added February 19)An alien invades Chakotay's boxing holodeck program. Robert Beltran: "I trained for three or four days to look at least a little convincing, because I’d never boxed before. You (will see) Chakotay training to unwind, which (is) something new we (learn) about him."

Chakotay develops somesort of mental illness which holds the key to an alien secret.

Voyager enters a patch of "chaotic space," and Chakotay goes on a vision quest which eventually takes him into... boxing!?

According to Visual Effects Supervisor Ron B. Moore (not to be confused with DS9 writer Ron D. Moore!!), we should look for some really weird aliens, possibly CGI creatures, in this show: "I would like to do more really weird aliens. And a show I'm doing right now is going to allow me to touch on it. Look for, The Fight."(According to WebTrek.)

(Picture from WebTrek)

(Added April 11 from Star Trek: The Magazine) And we've seen the Tom/B'Elanna romance continue, despite its ups and downs, and the fact that B'Elanna is one of the most tortured souls aboard. She had a major personal crisis in "Extreme Risk," and showed her Klingon strength of character was fully intact in 'Nothing Human,'... And she'll be confronting her inner conflicts once more before the end of the season. "When we go aboard the Malon freighter," says Brannon, "that's a B'Elanna episode. She confronts her deep anger and rage, and it all happens in this toxic environment, which is in some way a visual metaphor for her emotional state. It's very strong, very intense, very violent."

"Neelix is going to go with B'Elanna onto the Malon ship. I wanted to show him in kind of a heroic action-related role. He's able to deal with this toxic waste, because he served on a similar vessel before, and then he has another very funny storyline [Someone To Watch Over Me] coming up, in which he has to watch over an ambassador."

Voyager encounters another Malon garbage scow that is damaged and is about to blow-- while it's cargo waste, if destroyed, threatens to destroy an entire sector. It's somewhat unusual that the Malon would be making an appearance again given Voyager's quantum slipstream leap in "Timeless". According to Star Trek News.

Juggernaut, written by Bryan Fuller, Nicky Sagan and Ken Biller. This seems to be the title for the Species 8472 (again).... It *may* (but equally may not) air as the season finale (According to Vulcan Cafe).

(Added 2-15-99)At a convention, Robert Picardo (EMH) stated that this episode was derived from independent ideas from both the actor and the producers. Seven's use in this (and other) episodes has been to fill the void created by Kes' absence. One scene to look out for is a slow dance between the two characters. Picardo says the episode's ending is touching and one the fans will enjoy. Guest stars "Kids in the Hall" veteran Scott Thompson as a boozy alien ambassador whom Neelix must keep out of trouble.(According to WebTrek.)

(Added 2-7-99)From February 4 Star Trek Continuum Chat:

Ethan Phillips:

We just finished a show with Robbie McNeil (directing) He is turning out to be exceptional in that department. But honestly, every director I work with I find professional and gifted.

(Added 2-4-99)"Actually, we're shooting an episode right now where I have my first date," Jeri Ryan hinted. Seven of Nine and Robert Picardo's holographic Doctor character "have sort of a Pygmalion thing going," she said. "I think it's going to be really cute."-- TV Gen

(Added 2-4-99)Directed by Robert Duncan McNeill
A Doctor/Seven episode, in which the Doctor falls in love with Seven of Nine and wants to have a relationship with her. According to Star Trek News.

(Added 2-1-99) Another episode involving the Borg in some way and directed by actor Robert Duncan McNeil (Tom Paris). The title is tentative.(According to WebTrek.)
Directed by Robert Duncan McNeil.

WebTrek

• (Added May 6, 1999)The Spoilers (complete snyposis)are no longer at Warp 11, but are still at WebTrek with updates added and credit given to Warp 11.

TV Guide

• Captain Braxton of the 29th-century Timeship Relativity contacts Seven of Nine as part of an investigation into the eventual destruction of Voyager in a mystery that spans five centuries.

TV Quest

• (Added May 1, 1999)A 29th-century captain sends Seven of Nine back in time to find those responsible for destroying Janeway's ship.

Director:


• Nick Eastman
  

Guest Cast:

• Bruce McGill
  
• Dakin Matthews
  
• Jay Karnes
  

Writers:


• Nick Sagan
  
• Bryan Fuller
  
• Michael Taylor

Warp 11

• (Added April 12, 1999)
  Warp 11 has a complete synopsis (act by act) if you want to be completely spoiled!

The Official Josh Clark Fan Club Home Page

LT. CAREY RETURNS TO VOYAGER!!!!!!

• (Added April 14, 1999) Yes, you read that right! On Thursday, February 18th, our own Josh Clark was back in uniform, back on the set and back to playing Lt. Joe Carey! At present, the return was just for this episode, but, hey, it's a start!

Star Trek News

• (Added March 3, 1999 )

  Carey Set to Return

  
  

  Voyager's renewed attention to the "little people" within it's crew this season (The Wildmans, the Delaneys have all recieved renewed attention this year) has stretched to Carey, the recurring Engineer played by Josh Clark who hasn't been seen since season one's "State of Flux" (although he was mentioned in season three's "Before and After"). He is said to be in the episode currently filming.

Star Trek News

• (Added February 19) Seven of Nine is taken in to the past by 29th century Starfleet to disable a temporal time bomb that is hiding in Voyager's past. Her Borg implants allow her to find and disable the bomb which is hiding slightly out of phase with normal time. *** The Doctor and Seven sing a duet of "You are My Sunshine" in this episode.***

(Added February 22) Starfleet takes Seven to a time when Voyager is still in drydocks over Earth. To conceal her identity, Seven has to wear a Starfleet uniform and must attempt to conceal her Borg implants.

Web Trek

Voyager responds to an automated distress signal, and it turns out to be the bomb, which is "sentient" and feels it can only be satisfied if it blows up. Through some discovery, Voyager learns they can implant the personality of the bomb into the Doctor: they try to give the intellegence a body. It takes over the Doctor, holds Torres and Kim hostage, and threatens to destroy the ship if Janeway doesn't help him complete his mission (blow up some alien thing). Kim finds out that the launch was a mistake, but the bomb doesn't want to hear about it. He just wants to blow up his target.


Directed by John Kretchmer.

From Sci-Fi World

(Added March 16, 1999) The Equinox was not pulled in by the Caretaker. In fact, Captain Ransom asks Janeway who the Caretaker is.

The USS Equinox is the name of the federation ship. The ship is Nova Class and is crewed by Burke, Ransom, Noah Lessing and Gilmore.

Vulcan Cafe

(Added March 14) Voyager runs into another federation ship that was also pulled to the Delta quad by the Caretaker. However, it is a science vessel with far fewer people on board, and they have basically thrown the Prime Directive out the window in order to find any way possible to get home. Supposedly, they have learned some way to harness energy from a previously unseen alien race to power their ship to speed them home, however the process kills the aliens - but the science vessel crew doesn't care. The crew apparently removed the docs ethical sub-routines so that he would figure out a way to suck the juice out of the aliens. At some point the evil doc gets switched with the good doc, but nobody knows it, and that is the basis of episode #25, Warhead. Brannon Braga confirms Doctor story in "Warhead" (03/13/99)

Star Trek News

(Added March 7) The Malon return again. An away team consisting of Neelix, Chakotay and Torres have to divert a Malon freighter in to a star before it spills it's waste. The main Malon in this episode is named Dremck. (Maybe he's the cousin of Emck from "Night".) Not to be confused with Juggernaut, which seems to have a similar plot.

Official Scarlett Pomers Homepage

(Added May 20, 1999) Scarlett makes a brief appearance on Voyager's fifth season finale. She worked with Robert Beltran and Robert Picardo on her scene. She has already been asked to return next season.

(Added May 11, 1999) Scarlett worked on the season finale of Voyager, entitled Equinox.

(Added April 19, 1999) The Official Scarlett Pomers Homepage states for Season Finale (no info available). Since she only lists shows she is in, she probably will be in this episode.

From WebTrek.

(Added April 26, 1999) John Savitch of "The Thin Red Line" stars as the Captain of another Federation ship. Janeway and the crew think they have found a kindred spirit, but in reality, this other ship is using Janeway and her crew to get piece of technology from an alien nation. In the process, this Federation ship kidnaps a couple of our crew members. Will Janeway be able to rescue them?

(Added April 19, 1999) This episode is currently undergoing some reshoots. The B plot -- involving the Doctor being replaced by the Equinox' EMH who's ethical sub-routines have been removed to figure out a way to suck the energy out of the aliens -- is being dumped since it was believed to be too similar to "Warhead." The new scenes will, for the most part, center around Tom Paris.


• Written by Brannon Braga & Joe Menosky.
  
• Directed by David Livingston.

Mostly a Janeway/Chakotay/Tuvok show. The aliens from "Warhead" show up. Janeway negotiates with a friendlier faction to see if they'll bring the Voyager home to save the day, and there lies the cliffhanger.

The aliens were originally intended to be Species 8472 but after that secret had been blown Brannon Braga decided to change the story and replace them by new aliens. Braga says he wants the new aliens to give the kids nightmares.

The Equinox is on the run from the aliens who are appearing on the ship through fissures. The USS Equinox has also encountered the Kazon. Max Burke, the First Officer, used to be B'Elanna's boyfriend at the academy and gave her the nickname BLT. Tom becomes jealous of Burke. This is also going to round off the season's arc about B'Elanna coming apart at the seams after the massacre of the Maquis.

From Sci-Fi World.

(Added 2-16-99)The Equinox was not pulled in by the Caretaker. In fact, Captain Ransom asks Janeway who the Caretaker is.

(Added 2-15-99)Part One of Two. The aliens from "Warhead" arrive, and they are not a happy bunch. This leads to a cliffhanging ending to the season...

Note that I'm not sure if this is learned here, or in the previous episode "Warhead". The USS Equinox is on the run from the aliens who are appearing on the ship through fissures. The Equinox encountered the Kazon at one point. Max Burke, the First Officer, used to be B'Elanna's boyfriend at the academy and gave her the nickname BLT. Tom becomes jealous of Burke.

This episode no longer has anything to do with Species 8472. The radical change in the plotline also suggests that Voyager probably will not be going home just yet. (Sci-Fi World and Warp 11)

From the Vulcan Cafe:

(Added April 26, 1999) What are the extra sceens in Equinox?
Some walk 'n talk in a corridor and Astrometrics
Who is in these scenes?
...Jeri [Ryan], Robert [Picardo] and some Equinox folks

Then, in the finale, the aliens which had been talked about in the previous episode aliens show up, . . . . , and lead us into the cliffhanger for the season. . .
By the way- Brannon Braga wants the new aliens to "give 9 year old audience members nightmares".

From Star Trek News.

(Added March 7) Written by Brannon Braga & Joe Menosky
A cliffhanger that starts filming Wednesday, March 10. Rumored to deal with Species 8472.