Valen: "The anomaly is a closed structure, encased by an inert layer of subspace. Matter and energy can't penetrate it." Janeway: "Our ship certainly penetrated it when we were pulled in." Valen: "By the funnels. But they only pull matter in one direction - into the Void." Tuvok: "Have you explored the entire anomaly?" Valen: "There's nothing to explore. But it's big. We've calculated the outer circumference at approximately nine light-years, but we've never been able to breach it." Chakotay: "How long have you been here?" Valen: "More than five years." Janeway: "There must be a way to escape." Valen: "New arrivals are always thinking about escape." Janeway: "We have a sophisticated starship. Maybe if we work together we can find a way out. Valen: "You're being naive. No one ever gets out." Seven: "We may be able to devise a new approach." Valen: "Many have tried. All they did was waste resources that could've kept them alive longer. Don't be foolish. I can help you." Chakotay: "How?" Valen: "The only source of food and energy comes from new ships that are drawn in. If you want to survive here you'll have to compete for their resources." Janeway: "And I suppose you can help us do that." Valen: "I have tactical data on some of the more dangerous predators." Janeway: "But you want somehing in return." Valen: "My scans show you have photon torpedoes." Janeway: "I'm sorry, we don't trade weapons." Valen: "Why not?" Janeway: "Because we have no way of knowing what they'll be used for, plundering innocent ships for example." Valen: "Wait a few weeks until your resources start to run out. Morality won't keep your life support systems running." Janeway: "I'm sorry, General. There are some compromises I won't make."

General Valen is an Annarian, but this is not mentioned on the tv screen.

Janeway and Chakotay enter Main Engineering. Janeway: "Report, Lieutenant." Torres: "We're using power at almost ten times the usual rate." Chakotay: "While we're standing still?" Torres: "The same graviton forces that pulled us into the anomaly seem to be draining the warp core. At this rate our deuterium will be gone in about ten days." Janeway: "Shut down all non-essential systems." She turns to leave. Chakotay: "Where are you going?" Janeway: "To find a way out of here."

A meeting of senior staff is held in the Briefing Room, which takes place in almost total darkness due to the shortage of power.

Janeway: "If nothing else, we learned some things that will help us next time."
Paris: "With all due respect, Captain, we don't even have warp drive any more."
Torres: "I may be able to get it back online, but we still need deuterium to keep our basic systems running."
Chakotay: "How long will our reserves last?"
Torres: "If we shut down life support on all but a few decks; deactivate Astrometrics, turbolifts; ration replicator use - maybe a week?"
Neelix: "I used to make a living scavenging for supplies. Let me take one of the shuttles. I might be able to find deuterium on one of those abandoned ships."
Tuvok: "A shuttle would be too easy a target."
Janeway: "I appreciate the offer, Neelix, but we're safer if we stay together."
Seven: "The shuttles may be useful in another capacity."
Janeway: "We could use their warp-cores to augment power on Voyager."
Chakotay: "We're still going to need more deuterium."
Janeway: "Let's track down the ship that raided us and get back what they stole."
Tuvok: "We should do it quickly. I've detected a number of vessels monitoring us."
Paris: "The vultures are circling."
Janeway rebukes him sharply: "Vultures eat the dead, Mr Paris. We're not dead yet."

the red alert light, part of the Bridge's ceiling lights; at red alert, red lights flash

Voyager has tracked the ship which raided them. Tuvok: "The vessel's in visual range." Janeway: "Shields. On screen." But they see the ship that raided them is wrecked and burning. Kim: "Looks like somebody got to them before we did." Tuvok, reading scans: "No lifesigns." Janeway: "Whoever did this probably has our deuterium." Chakotay: "Is there anything left aboard that ship worth salvaging?" Kim: "Their technology and supplies have been picked clean." Seven is at the secondary tactical station and is checking her scanners. "Not everything of value has been taken. The warp core has been removed but the casing that protected it is intact. It's composed of tricesium." Kim: "We can convert it into a power source." Janeway: "Every little bit helps." She orders: "Lock onto the core casing and beam it to the cargo bay."

Torres and Seven go to the cargobay. As they hurry along the corridor, they discuss the best use for the additional power they hope to attain.
Seven: "With the additional power we could reactivate the Astrometrics Lab."
Torres: "I can think of some better uses."
Seven: "For example?"
Torres, sarcastically: "Oh, I don't know - making sure there's air to breathe?"

Janeway visits Sickbay to meet the alien found by Torres and Seven. He is hiding under the main biobed, busy eating. As Janeway approaches he scurries away and huddles, clearly frightened. Janeway: "How is he?" Doctor: "His injury doesn't seem serious but he won't let me close enough to treat him." Janeway to the alien: "My name's Captain Janeway. You're safe here." The alien scurries further away. Doctor: "I've tried communicating with him. He doesn't appear to have any verbal skills." Janeway: "Do we know how he got on board?" Seven: "I believe he was transported along with the core casing." Janeway: "We should have picked up his lifesigns." Seven: "I'm trying to determine why we didn't detect him." Janeway: "That vessel he was on had no atmosphere. How did he survive?" Doctor: "My scans show he can conserve oxygen. He has unusually large lung capacity, and a voracious appetite." Janeway: "Do you think that ship was his home?" Doctor: "Maybe. But we can't send him back. He can't survive without oxygen indefinitely." Janeway: "We'll run scans for other members of his species. But until we can find a safe place for him let's make him as comfortable as possible." The alien gathers enough courage to approach. He mimes eating. Seven understands that he is hungry and orders: "Computer, replicate a portion of nutritional supplements from my daily allotment."

Voyager tracks Valen and makes contact. Valen, on viewscreen: "I knew I'd see you again. I expect you've reconsidered my proposal." Janeway: "We're not here to trade. We're here to take back what belongs to us."

Valen, on viewscreen: "I don't know what you mean." Chakotay: "Our scans indicate that you have some of our food, one of our consoles and a large quantity of our deuterium." Valen, on viewscreen: "We didn't take any of that from you." Janeway: "No. Apparently you killed the crew of another ship and took it from them. We want it back." Valen, on viewscreen: "That's not the way things work here." Janeway: "Either you give it back or we'll take it." Valen does not reply but simply closes contact. Kim: "He's powering his engines." Janeway: "Target his shields and fire."

	Voyager's phasers drop Valen's shields. Janeway: "Lock onto whatever belongs to us and transport it to the cargobay."
	Seven: "I'm detecting large quantities of food on his supply deck." Paris: "Maybe we should take it while we have the chance." Janeway: "Is it ours?" Seven: "No, but our own reserves are running out." Paris: "Valen wouldn't hesitate to take it from us." Janeway: "No, he wouldn't. We've got what's ours. Reverse course."

 

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