The 37's : Episode 20 Part H :: EPISODE GUIDES :: Janet's Star Trek Voyager Site

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THE 37'S: Episode 20

Part H

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"Captain's log, stardate 48975.1. Evansville wasn't exaggerating when they said they have a lot to be proud of here. It was an amazing experience, but it's left me a little disturbed."

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Janeway is in her Ready Room, thinking. The door signal sounds. door signal "Come in." standard doors
Chakotay enters and hands over a PADD. "Here's the damage report you asked for."
Janeway: "Thank you."
Chakotay: "Is something wrong, Captain? You seemed a little distracted ever since we came back from the cities. Weren't you impressed?"
Janeway: "A little too impressed."
Chakotay: "What do you mean?"
Janeway: "There's a thriving, sophisticated culture on this planet, of human beings. In some ways, walking around those cities was almost like being back on Earth."
Chakotay: "It was a little eerie. It reminded me of home too."
Janeway: "Evansville has offered to let any of our crew stay."
Chakotay: "What will you do about that?"
Janeway: "Maybe this is one of those decisions that the Captain has to make for the entire ship."
Chakotay: "You may have a problem if a lot of people want to stay."
Janeway: "I know that. But at the same time, I can't take a vote every time there's a major decision to be made. And yet, we're a long way from Starfleet, and a lot of the rules and regulations I've learned to uphold seem distant as well. Am I the only one so intent on getting home? Is it just me? Am I leading the crew on a forlorn mission with no real hope of success?"
Chakotay: "You're not alone. I want to get home too. And there's not a day that goes by when I don't hear someone mention Earth."

Janeway: "The people here have built a new Earth. We could stay - help them build a human civilisation in the Delta Quadrant. Isn't that an exciting prospect? Shouldn't we be grateful for the opportunity they're giving us?"
Chakotay: "It is a tempting prospect. But when I hold it up against the prospect of seeing the sunrise over the Arizona Desert, or swimming in the Gulf of Mexico on a summer's day, there's just no comparison. I want to go home."
Janeway: "We have 152 men and women on this ship. What if half of them decide to stay on the planet? Could we operate Voyager with 75 crewmembers?"
Chakotay: "I doubt it. In fact I don't think we could operate the ship with fewer than a hundred. If too many of the crew choose to stay behind, we could all be stranded here."
Janeway: "Tell all hands to prepare for an annoucement from the Captain at 1400 hours. They deserve to make the choice for themselves."
Chakotay: "Aye, Captain."
He leaves.

After Chakotay leaves, Janeway continues to think as she looks out of the window at the beautiful planet.

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In the Messhall Neelix brings to the table the food he has prepared for the 37's.
Neelix: "Here we are. My research on 20th century Earth is a little thin, but I've done what I can. Pot roast, green beans and something called Jell-O."

Noonan: "You know how to make Jell-O?"
Neelix: "I even put in fruit cocktail."
Noonan: "You don't say."

Farmer: "I don't know about the rest of you, but I've made up my mind. There is land here that goes begging, and I could have a big farm, just like I always dreamed."

Neelix to Nogami, giving him his meal: "And for you: rice, with a little fish. I even replicated some ginger for seasoning."
Nogami to Neelix: "Very nice. Thank you."
Noonan: "I have to admit: life looks a lot better than what we left on Earth."
Nogami: "It's a paradise by comparison. And there are many Japanese here. I could be very happy."

Noonan: "We all could." To Earhart: "Right?"
Earhart: "Just not sure. What about you, Mr Neelix? Have you made your decision?"
Neelix: "Oh yes, indeed. I'm staying right here with Captain Janeway. She'd be lost without me. She's come to depend on me a great deal."
Noonan: "What about the rest of the crew? You think many of them will stay here?"
Neelix: "Oh, I don't think so. At least not many. Well, that is, there's, there's a good chance. But now that you ask, I honestly don't know."

At another table in the Messhall are Torres and Kim.
Torres: "You? You'd stay here on the planet?"
Kim: "I didn't say I was going to. I just said I could understand why people would want to. The people here remind me of home. I haven't felt like that since I left Earth."
Torres: "But you're Starfleet. You've always wanted a life in space."
Kim: "I know, but my whole life on a starship, day after day, with no end in sight? It's not exactly what I had in mind."

Torres: "You're not the first person I've heard talk like this. A lot of people are thinking about staying."
Kim: "What about you? Don't you have some of those feelings?"
Torres: "I'd be lying if I said I didn't."

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Earhart: "Captain, I thought I'd find you here. Am I intruding?"
Janeway: "Not at all. Please join me."
Earhart: "I wanted you to know that the group you brought out of stasis - we've all decided to stay here on the planet."
Janeway sighs. "I understand."

Earhart: "I must admit the thought of travelling through space, maybe even learning to fly this ship, was very appealing to me."
Janeway: "And I looked forward to getting to know you better. I suspect we have a lot in common."
Earhart: "First I didn't know what to do. We talked about it for quite some time. Finally I realised that the people here on this planet are part of us. We're their ancestors in a way. Well, made us feel close to them."
Janeway: "The remarkable thing about the humans on this planet is that evolved very much like the people on Earth. Tens of thousands of light years apart, both civilisations managed to create a world they could be proud of - one where war and poverty simply don't exist. I certainly can't blame you for wanting to be part of it, any more than I can blame members of my crew if they make the same decision."
Earhart: "When will you find out?"
Janeway: "In half an hour. Anyone who wants to stay behind is to report to the cargo bay at 1500 hours."

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	Farmer: "I don't know about the rest of you, but I've made up my mind. There is land here that goes begging, and I could have a big farm, just like I always dreamed."
	Neelix to Nogami, giving him his meal: "And for you: rice, with a little fish. I even replicated some ginger for seasoning." Nogami to Neelix: "Very nice. Thank you." Noonan: "I have to admit: life looks a lot better than what we left on Earth." Nogami: "It's a paradise by comparison. And there are many Japanese here. I could be very happy."
	Noonan: "We all could." To Earhart: "Right?" Earhart: "Just not sure. What about you, Mr Neelix? Have you made your decision?" Neelix: "Oh yes, indeed. I'm staying right here with Captain Janeway. She'd be lost without me. She's come to depend on me a great deal." Noonan: "What about the rest of the crew? You think many of them will stay here?" Neelix: "Oh, I don't think so. At least not many. Well, that is, there's, there's a good chance. But now that you ask, I honestly don't know."
	At another table in the Messhall are Torres and Kim. Torres: "You? You'd stay here on the planet?" Kim: "I didn't say I was going to. I just said I could understand why people would want to. The people here remind me of home. I haven't felt like that since I left Earth." Torres: "But you're Starfleet. You've always wanted a life in space." Kim: "I know, but my whole life on a starship, day after day, with no end in sight? It's not exactly what I had in mind."
	Torres: "You're not the first person I've heard talk like this. A lot of people are thinking about staying." Kim: "What about you? Don't you have some of those feelings?" Torres: "I'd be lying if I said I didn't."