Episode 65 : Distant Origin : PART A

In 2373 Prof. Forra Gegen and his assistant Tova Veer of the (saurian) Voth culture discover the remains of Voyager crewman Hogan on Hanon IV (killed in Basics). They take Hogan's remains back to their ship. Gegen says that the genetic markers clearly show they and the human are related. He deduces that the human was part of a social infrastructure which probably had a ship, and from the molecular structure of the remains of the clothing that they have replication technology.

Gegen to the human skull: "Did your eyes see the planet of our origin, the true home of our race? Was it beautiful? Was it covered by oceans, sand? Were there nine moons above your head, or were there none? He appears to be at a loss for words."

The Distant Origin theory propounds that, rather than being the 'First Race' as per Voth doctrine, the Voth evolved somewhere else in the universe and travelled to this area of space millions of years ago. The 'First Race' theory has been questioned in recent years by Circles of Science and Philosophy and by the common people as well.

	Veer wants to ask the Circle of Archaeology for a research vessel, perhaps a few assistants. Gegen replies that it is not a field expedition; a fleet of ships is required and they must go to the Ministry of Elders. Bone decalcification shows the endotherm died a year ago - the others might be thousands of light years away, so time is running out.
	Gegen: "We're going to set course for the city-ship, present our friend here and let him do the talking."

Gegen tells Minister Odala that the Voth share 47 genetic markers with humans, and that they share the same planet of origin. "To find that planet, our planet, we must find a living member of his kind. We're looking for a race of bipedal endotherms, space-faring but technologically limited."

Have you considered the wider implications of your theory? ... You're suggesting that everything we believe about ourselves, our history, our ancient and rightful claim to this region of space, the authority of this Ministry itself, is a lie." Gegen replies that some views may have to be "re-evaluated." Odala says they will consider his request for an expedition, and ends the interview.

	Gegen to Veer: "I failed to anticipate the level of ignorance I would be facing." He tells Veer to arrange a meeting with the Circle of Exobiology - they have supporters there.
	Gegen's daughter Frola expresses concern for her father.
	Veer tells Gegen they must leave now. He met with the Circle of Exobiology - they are concerned. The Ministry has seized Gegen's research and plan to detain him on the charge Heresy against Doctrine. Gegen realises he has to act alone because his supporters are frightened and will not back him. Gegen tells Veer he must leave as he is at risk but Veer refuses to leave him. Gegen tells him he has run an analysis on the uniform's markings and translated a microscopic identification code. The ship they are looking for is called "USS VOYAGER".
	In their search for Voyager, Gegen and Veer find a combadge and a tricorder.
	At Bahrat's trading station bordering the Nekrit Expanse (featured in [#55 Fair Trade]) Gegen and Veer learn of human travellers and acquire a canister of Voyager's warp plasma. They can now scan space for a matching signature.
	Gegen's ship.

Pictured: Gegen snaps up and eats some insects hovering around the light. Gegen sends a letter to Frola, in which he reports their progress and that the creatures call themselves humans. He tells Veer he knows Veer is attracted to Frola because he has seen the tint of Veer's scales whenever she is around. Their sensors find a match with the plasma signature and find Voyager travelling 90 light years away at warp 6.2 with 148 aboard. They approach Voyager undetected by using spatial displacement to keep their ship out of phase.

Gegen eats up some insects (opens in a new window) (182Kb. Approx. download for 56K modem 35 seconds)

Catching up with Voyager, Gegen decides they will not contact the humans at first but merely observe. Using personal cloaking devices, Gegen and Veer transport to Voyager. Veer says he was not expecting the smell. Gegen replies, "They are mammals, after all." Gegen downloads the ship's database.

Gegen: "Male and female interacting. Let's observe." Paris to Torres: "Tonight you pay up. Holodeck 2. Klingon martial arts program. No getting out of it this time." Veer to Gegen: "Courting behaviour?" Gegen to Veer: "Note how the female through her faint antagonism encourages the male in his attempt to mate."

On the Bridge, watching Janeway giving orders, Veer observes that the social structure has "clear differences in status and rank, perhaps a matriarchy."

	Kim detects spatial fluctuations on the Bridge, highly localised with modulating phase variance, some kind of cloaking technology. Janeway orders all stop and an intruder alert, and Tuvok erects a level ten containment field around the Bridge. Gegen and Veer try to leave but they cannot leave the ship. Kim detects that the lifeforms have left the Bridge and are in the Messhall.
	Janeway to Chakotay's force: "Adjust hand-phasers to a dispersion frequency of 1.85 gigahertz. That should disrupt their cloaking technology."