Bridge. Kim: "Captain, I'm picking up the trail again. New heading 196 mark 4." Paris: "I'm on it." Janeway: "This course is erratic. Are you sure we're following a single warp trail?" Tuvok: "Perhaps the missile's navigational system is malfunctioning. It's been operating for over a year, far longer than it was designed to function."
	Torres: "No, this is deliberate. It's following one of the evasive patterns I programmed into it. It must've observed us following."
	Kim: "I think I've got it on long-range sensors." Torres: "No, that's only a sensor echo. Dreadnought's programmed to deflect its image for up to 100 kilometres from its true location. The next time you get a heading, look for a brief surge in neutrino emissions within a 100,000 kilometre radius - that'll be the real thing." Kim: "Got it. Elevated neutrino emissions, locking co-ordinates. It's within visual range."
	Chakotay: "On screen."
	Torres: "Its targetting scanners have been activated." Janeway sees Chakotay's worried expression: "What's wrong?" Chakotay: "It's not supposed to do that until it's locked on to its final target."

Torres: "It's heading for a planet in a system over 10 light-years away. At its current speed, it'll get there in about 3 weeks."
Chakotay: "The planet is Class M. I'm reading several heavily populated areas."

USS Voyager follows Dreadnought.

In his quarters, Crewman Michael Jonas, unknown to anyone else aboard USS Voyager, is using a secret method to be in contact with an officer of the Kazon-Nistrim. Jonas uses a portable computer to communicate secretly with the Kazon. Jonas: "Seska will want to know about this Cardassian missile immediately." Lorrum: "Mr Jonas, your enthusiasm is appreciated. But I would prefer to know more about it before I bring it to Maje Culluh's attention." Jonas: "If I could just talk to Seska-" Lorrum: "As I explained, I have now been assigned to be your control." Jonas: "Look, has she been made aware of how much I've been helping you?" Lorrum: "What the Maje chooses to share with her is none of my concern. But you are in good hands, my friend. Now tell me more about this weapon your ship has found." Jonas: "Look, all you need to tell Seska is that this missile is better armed than the entire Kazon-Nistrim sect." Lorrum: "That's very interesting. What more can you tell me that I can bring to Maje-" Jonas' equipment signals an alert. Urgently he tells Lorrum: "Someone's about to make a subspace transmission. They may be able to detect our comlink. I have to terminate." He ends contact.

On Voyager's bridge, Janeway has established contact with the senior official of Rakosa V. Janeway: "My name is Kathryn Janeway, captain of the Federation starship Voyager." Official: "First Minister Kellan, Captain. What is it you want?" Janeway: "Our scans of your world suggest that you have long-range tracking abilities." Kellan: "We have been observing your course for the last two days." Janeway: "Have you also been able to detect the missile on a parallel course off our starboard bow?" Kellan: "We haven't been able to identify what it is, but yes." Janeway: "You have the right to know, First Minister, that this missile is carrying a warhead with a significant destructive force-" Kellan: "Is this some sort of threat, Captain?" Janeway: "On the contrary, we want to help." Kellan: "I find that hard to believe. Your reputation precedes you, Captain. We've been told that you've threatened many races since your arrival in this Quadrant." Janeway: "First Minister, we're aware the Kazon have been telling that to people. They'd like to prevent us making allies. I assure you: you've been misled." Kellan: "And yet, here you are, sending this missile toward us." Janeway: "The missile arrived from our Quadrant due to a very unusual accident. We haven't been able to determine yet why it chose Rakosa as its target, but my chief engineer is preparing to disarm it before it reaches you." Kellan: "Perhaps you are telling me this in order to delay our defensive response." Janeway: "I could've maintained communications silence and not given you any warning at all." Kellan: "That's true. Nevertheless, be aware that I am placing our defence force on alert." Janeway: "I'd do the same in your place." Kellan: "We will be watching your progress closely." Contact ends.

USS Voyager's transporter duty officer activates the transporter controls. (pop-up window)	Janeway signals Torres who is awaiting transportation. "Janeway to Torres. How soon will you be ready to transport?" Torres: "Dreadnought's shields have responded to my codes. I'm ready now." Janeway: "Proceed." Torres tells the transporter duty officer: "Energise."
	Torres beams aboard Dreadnought, to be greeted by Dreadnought's computer which, as she mentioned to Paris earlier, has her voice. Dreadnought: "Authorised entry detected. Initiating DNA scan. B'Elanna Torres confirmed. Hello, B'Elanna. Your last systems access was on stardate 47582. Current date is 49447. Time 08:40 hours. Did you sleep well last night?"
	Torres: "Not so well, to tell you the truth." She goes to a computer control console. "Activate programmer interface." The interface activates. Dreadnought: "Your presence was not anticipated during the mission. Please explain." Torres: "Something's gone wrong with your programming, Dreadnought. Display targetting schematic." Dreadnought: "A self-diagnostic has been conducted every 14 hours. No malfunctions have been detected."
	Torres: "Maybe there's something wrong with your diagnostic systems too. Identify target." Dreadnought: "Aschelan V." Torres: "What targetting parameters are you using?!" Dreadnought: "Size, radiothermic signature, atmospheric composition, relative-" Torres: "Enough. Dreadnought, you're nowhere near Aschelan V." Dreadnought: "Based on available data, you are mistaken, B'Elanna."
	Torres: "Let me check out your navigational systems." Dreadnought: "Access to primary navigational systems is denied at stage 3 alert status." Torres: "That was my idea, wasn't it." Dreadnought: "Affirmative."
	Torres: "Ok. We'll have to go at this a different way, won't we." She accesses a small panel with an engineering tool taken from her portable engineering kit.

She talks to Dreadnought while she makes an adjustment to Dreadnought's internal circuitry. Torres: "Dreadnought, do you know what happened to you the day after your last systems access?" Dreadnought: "Please be more specific." Torres: "Did you encounter a coherent tetryon beam?" Dreadnought: "Confirmed. All attempts to avoid the phenomenon failed." Torres: "That beam carried you into the Delta Quadrant. I'm not surprised it damaged your sensors. Dreadnought, re-initialise your navigational systems. Computer!" Dreadnought: "Re-initialisation sequence is complete." Torres: "Ok. Now verify our current position." Dreadnought: "Based on relative position to known astronomical markers this vessel is currently located in the Delta Quadrant." Torres: "And is Aschelan V located in the Delta Quadrant?" Dreadnought: "Negative." Torres: "Then reconfirm your target lock." Dreadnought: "Unable to verify. Standing down from stage 3. Target lock has been deactivated. Re-establishing stage 4."

Janeway signals Torres. "Janeway to Torres." Torres: "Go ahead, Captain." Janeway: "We're showing a shut-down of all your engines. Can you confirm that?" Torres: "That and more. I'll be ready to transport back in a few minutes." Janeway: "Acknowledged. Good work, B'Elanna. Janeway out." Torres puts back the access panel. "Dreadnought, return to stage 5. Initiate power-save program." Dreadnought: "Acknowledged. Good night, B'Elanna." Torres: "Sweet dreams." Torres beams back to USS Voyager.

Captain's Ready Room. Chakotay: "The Dreadnought's quantum torpedoes could be modified to be compatible with our launchers." Janeway: "What about its engine components?" Torres: "Easily converted to Starfleet specs. We'll have spare parts for years." Chakotay: "We should also download some files from the computer core." Janeway: "B'Elanna, you can begin the salvage operation first thing- The comm. signal sounds. comms. signal "Paris to Janeway." Janeway: "Yes, Lieutenant." Paris: "The missile just took off. It's going into warp." Janeway: "Stay with it, Tom."

As Janeway, Chakotay and Torres hurry onto the Bridge, Paris reports: "Engaging warp drive." Torres: "This isn't possible! When I left it was completely shut down." Chakotay: "We're back on a heading to Rakosa V." Paris: "It's increasing speed to warp 9." Chakotay: "At this rate it'll reach the planet in 51 hours."

Thanks to Feeble Minds for the animated star background (tweaked by me).