 | The shuttlecraft carrying Tuvok, Neelix and Sklar is buffeted on its mission to take a rescue team to the planet surface. They have to shout to make themselves heard above the noise.
Tuvok: "Altitude 15 kilometres. Velocity mach 2.1. Entering the upper troposphere." Neelix turns in his seat and calls to the passenger. "Mr Sklar, are you alright?" Sklar: "I'm an exo-geologist. I prefer working underground." Neelix: "We'll be landing shortly. Try to relax." He turns back to the control console. |
 | The shuttlecraft is rocked violently.
Sklar: "What's happening?" Tuvok: "We're entering a layer of electro-dynamic turbulence. Full power to thrusters." Neelix: "Thrusters aren't responding." Tuvok: "Attempting to level our descent." |
 | Neelix: "We're losing main power!"
Tuvok: "I'll have to land the shuttle manually. Brace for impact!" |
 | On Voyager's bridge, Kim reports to Chakotay: "Commander, I've lost contact with Tuvok's shuttle.
Chakotay: "Hail them." Kim: "No response." Chakotay: "Notify Lieutenant Paris and the others we may have a team down." |
| The comm. signal sounds. "Torres to bridge."
Chakotay, via comms: "Go ahead." Torres, who is in the Science Lab, reports via comms: "We've beamed aboard a piece of the debris." Chakotay, via comms: "I'll be right there." |  |
 | Chakotay leaves for the Science Lab, and invites the Ambassador to join him: "Ambassador?" |
 | Tuvok has managed to land the shuttlecraft but it was a rough landing. He wakens from unconsciousness, woken by a loud banging on the shuttlecraft's door at the rear. As he gets up and goes to open the door, he passes Neelix and Sklar who are also recovering after also being knocked out. |
 | Neelix still feels woozy as he and Sklar watch while Tuvok stands by the door as it opens. |  |
 | There are two men outside, trying to protect themselves against the weather. They clamber into the shuttlecraft.
Tuvok recognises and greets one of them: "Dr Vatm." Vatm sits down. "I heard what sounded like a ship crashing. I came looking for you." He indicates his companion. "This is Hanjuan. He's a miner at the nearby galicite excavation. He heard your ship too." Tuvok: "Have you seen any other vessels like ours?" Vatm: "No, just you." |
 | Sklar goes and sits next to Vatm. "Doctor, you said you had information on the composition of the asteroids. What is it?"
Vatm: "That data is classified. I can only speak to the Ambassador." |
 "You may also speak to me." | Tuvok: "You may also speak to me. Your Ambassador sent us to find you."
Vatm: "No. I prefer to wait." Sklar: "Doctor, we almost died trying to get that information! Tell us." Vatm: "Be silent, Sklar!" Neelix: "Now, gentlemen, there's no point in arguing. Right now we have to get this shuttle off the ground." |
 | Tuvok: "Unfortunately that will not be possible. All primary systems are offline. Warp drive and impulse engines have been destroyed. I suggest we repair the com system and send a distress call."
Hanjuan: "How long will that take?" Tuvok: "Several hours at least." Sklar: "We don't have several hours. When the next asteroid hits it could destroy this entire region. We have to get out of here soon!" Tuvok: "I assure you we're doing everything we can." |
 | Tuvok: "Mr Neelix, please go outside and inspect the toroidal antenna. I need to know if any of the signal relays were damaged."
Neelix: "If they were, I can try to repair them." Tuvok: "A damage report will be sufficient." Neelix: "I've been studying with Lieutenant Torres. She gave me a full orientation on shuttlecraft systems-" Tuvok interrupts, his patience tested: "The damage report, Mr Neelix." Neelix: "Aye, sir." |
 |
 | Tuvok swivels his chair round to face the others: "In the meantime, I suggest everyone try to remain calm. Allowing anxiety to overcome you will only hinder the efficiency of our efforts."
Neelix tells them, referring to Tuvok: "He's really a very pleasant fellow once you get to know him. And intelligent. I'm sure he'll have the com system up and running-" Tuvok: "Neelix!" Neelix: "On my way." |
 | Outside the shuttlecraft, Neelix uses a tricorder to take scans of the toroidal antenna, but he notices an object in the distance. He knows what it is, has an idea and hurries back into the shuttlecraft. |  |
 | Inside Hanjuan is demanding of Vatm: "Why won't you share the data now-"
Neelix: "Excuse me, Mr Tuvok." Tuvok: "You couldn't have finished already." Neelix: "Not exactly. What I mean to say is: I know I'm here to observe and I don't mean to step out of line, but I think I've observed a way out of here." Hanjuan: "Where?" Neelix: "I saw what appeared to be an orbital tether anchored nearby." Vatm: "Yes, we use those to lift cargo from the surface to the orbital supply stations." Neelix: "May I assume it uses magnetic leverage to lift the carriage?" Vatm: "Yes." Tuvok: "What is your point?" Neelix: "What if we use that carriage to climb the tether?" Sklar: "That tether's over 300 kilometres long. It takes 12 hours to reach the station." Neelix: "Well, we wouldn't have to go all the way to the station. We just have to leave the ionosphere. Once we get above all this interference we can contact Voyager; they'll beam us aboard." Vatm: "We've already considered that option. The carriage was damaged on the last impact. The induction coils are offline." Neelix: "Maybe we can replace the coils with attitude control thrusters from the shuttle. It'd take a little creative mechanics but I think we can do it. I spent two years on a tether maintenance team on Rinax. The principles are undoubtably the same!" Tuvok gets up and walks toward the shuttlecraft exit as he considers. He turns and states: "Our probability of being detected by Voyager or the rescue teams is greatest if we remain here." Sklar: "What if they don't find us in time?" Hanjuan: "He's right," indicating Sklar. "We should try the tether. It's better than sitting here, waiting to be buried in dust!" Neelix to Tuvok: "I've helped rebuild a dozen mag-lev carriages. Give me a chance to get that one working. If I can't we'll come back and wait for the others." Tuvok: "Very well." Neelix: "You won't regret this, Lieutenant." He turns to the others: "We need to get to the base of the tether!" |
 | The group enter the station and turn the lights on. Neelix examines the console. He says: "I think we can integrate our thrusters into the induction matrix, but we'll need to-" |  |
 | He stops, his attention drawn to cooking pots and a plate of food nearby. He picks up the plate and comments: "Looks like somebody's been here recently." |  |
 | Suddenly the plate goes flying as a a woman comes up behind Neelix and seizes hold of him, putting a large knife to his throat as she holds him hostage.
As the others turn, she orders: "Get away or I'll kill him!" Tuvok aims his phaser at her. She shouts: "Drop your weapon! Now!" Tuvok throws the phaser aside. |
 |
 | The woman tells them: "This is my shelter! These are my supplies!" |
 | Tuvok: "We have no interest in your supplies. We are here to use the carriage to get to safety." |
 | Hanjuan tells her: "He's telling you the truth. We'll take you with us."
Woman: "The carriage is damaged." Neelix: "Yes, we know - the induction coils. But we brought equipment to replace them." |
 | Vatm to the woman: "We know it's been difficult. This catastrophe has taken its toll on everyone. But you've got to believe us. We only want to get off the surface."
Woman: "What, what about the oxygen converters? They've been damaged too. They can't produce enough air for six people." Neelix: "Maybe we can augment the converters. We've brought along some equipment that might do the trick." Woman: "I don't have enough rations for everyone. Don't expect me to share." Neelix: "If I can fix the tether, no one will need your rations. We have a starship in orbit. They'll beam us aboard once we leave the ionosphere." She lowers her knife and lets him go. |
 | Neelix turns and says to her: "If I'm not mistaken, it sounds like you know a thing or two about tethers as well."
Woman: "Not really, I'm a foundry worker." Neelix: "Good. We could use someone with metallurgical knowledge. Let's get to work." |
 | Neelix tells Tuvok: "Have faith, Mr Vulcan. We'll be tether-borne in no time." |
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