Janet's Star Trek Voyager Site

episode title
Part D

A space capsule is launched from the planet surface. It contains two astronauts, one female (the mission commander) and one male (pilot) (whose name we learn later is Gotana-Retz).
Gotana-Retz: "Orbital One to Launch Control. We're ready to ignite second stage propellants."
Launch Control: "Proceed."
audio clip
The acceleration pushes them back in their seats.
Gotana-Retz: "Second stage propellants depleted."
Commander: "Final stage. Ready."
Gotana-Retz: "Ready to ignite final stage propellants." There is no response from Launch Control. "Launch Control, we are waiting your command to proceed." But they hear a strange high-pitched noise. "What was that?"
Commander: "There's nothing wrong with the transponder."
Gotana-Retz: "Orbital One to Launch Control. We're not receiving your orders."
Commander: "Everything else is working perfectly. Ignite the final stage. We have to proceed with the mission."
Gotana-Retz: "Final stage propellants depleted."
Commander: "Initiate deceleration thrusters."
Gotana-Retz: "Thrusters active."
Commander: "Watch your pitch angle."
Gotana-Retz: "Correcting."
Commander: "Distance check?"
Gotana-Retz: "We're in rendezvous range."
Commander: "Rendezvous sequence. Locked in."
Gotana-Retz: "Moving into final position."
Commander: "Distance check?"
Gotana-Retz: "We're within scanning range."
Commander: "Let's take a look."
They see the Skyship through the window. They are the first of their planet to visit it.
Gotana-Retz: "The scans won't penetrate their hull."
Commander: "I guess we'll have to go inside."
Gotana-Retz: "We're not authorised to do that."
Commander: "Our orders were to learn as much as possible about the Skyship. That's my intention. I saw something that looked like a transfer point. It might be a place we can dock. Move in closer."
Having successfully docked Orbital One and entered the Skyship, the commander and Gotana-Retz reach the main parts of the ship through the Jefferies tube network. At once point she clutches herself, suffering a pain, and says, "Wait, wait."
Gotana-Retz: "Are you alright?"
She replies: "A little disoriented. Let's keep going."

They make their way through the ship. They have to force doors open manually. They are amazed to see the Skyship's crewmembers apparently going about their duties - but are ignoring the strangers and also they are standing absolutely motionless!

Gotana-Retz: "I don't understand."

The commander touches Torres' hand. "Her skin feels warm!"
They walk down a corridor, passing various motionless crewmembers, including one who looks as if they are entering the corridor from a door.
Commander: "It might be some sort of metabolic stasis, but then why do they just look like they're going about their business?"
Gotana-Retz: "This isn't right, but we shouldn't be here. We were never meant to be here."
Commander: "Try and stay calm."
Gotana-Retz: "We've seen enough. Please, we have to leave."
Commander: "You're the best pilot we have. That's why you're on this mission. This is no different from flying your favourite-"
Gotana-Retz: "It's different."
Commander: "Can't argue with that. Another few minutes, then we'll go back."
They find a plan of the Skyship displayed on a wall monitor.
The Commander points to a place on the diagram: "This looks like their command centre."
They force open the doors of the Bridge and enter.

They see the Bridge crew motionless, like the other crew personnel they have seen. Likewise, no one on the Bridge sees them. Neelix is pouring Janeway a cup of coffee - the liquid seems to hang motionless in the air!

Gotana-Retz: "This is not metabolic stasis."
Commander: "Could the laws of physics be different here?"
Gotana-Retz: "Maybe they're just a little slower."
Suddenly the pain that the commander suffered before intensifies. He asks, "What's wrong?" but then feels the same pain too, and they both collapse, unconscious.
At that exact moment, the two astronauts pass into the same timeframe being experienced by Voyager's crew, and they are seen. Janeway hurriedly puts down her cup.
Tuvok broadcasts: "Intruder alert. Security team to deck 1.
Kim: "Captain, I'm picking up a ship at docking port 1. It just appeared there.
A crewmember, Neelix and Janeway bend over the prostrate bodies of the two strangers. Janeway calls Sickbay: "Bridge to Sickbay. Medical emergency."

Sickbay.
Janeway: "What can you tell me?"
Doctor: "The transition to our timeframe was a little rough for them. I'm afraid his colleague didn't make it."
Janeway: "How is he?"
Doctor: "Recovering. Lucky for him I'm as good as his family doctor. After three years of poring over their medical journals I know as much about their physiology as I do yours." He injects the patient. audio: hypospray injectionhypospray injection
Slowly the patient regains consciousness.
Doctor to the patient: "Easy."
Gotana-Retz: "Where's Trina?"
Janeway: "She didn't survive the transition. I'm very sorry."
Gotana-Retz: "Transition? To your timeframe?"
Janeway: "You understand what's happened to you?"
Gotana-Retz: "I'm beginning to."
Janeway: "Voyager exists in the same space time as the rest of the galaxy. Your planet is different."
Gotana-Retz: "So you really haven't been watching us for centuries?"
Janeway: "Actually, we just got here. And we're hoping you can help us find a way to leave."