Voyager cruising in deep space.

In the Messhall, Paris and Torres are enjoying discussing their experiences in the holonovel. Paris: "So by the time I got around to joining Chakotay's little band of rebels-" Torres makes an interested noise: "Uh-hah." Paris: "-he was so suspicious of my motives that he assigned me to lubricate the warp plasma manifolds." Torres: "You should've tried going along with the mutiny from the beginning. It's much more fun." Paris: "Oh believe me, next time I will."

Neelix approaches them. "I couldn't help overhearing that you were talking about the new holonovel. I tried sending an encoded message to Captain Janeway's shuttle, to warn her about the mutiny. But Chakotay caught me, phasered me, end of program. Next time, I'm going to pretend to go along with the conspirators and then stage a counterstrike."
Paris to Torres: "Um, er, I thought we were going to keep this our little secret."
Torres: "Don't look at me. I didn't tell him."
Neelix: "I heard about it from the Doctor."
Paris: "The Doctor?"
Torres: "Er, I might've let it slip while I was running his weekly diagnostic."
Paris comments sarcastically: "Oh, great." He goes on: "Who else knows about it?"
Neelix: "Don't worry about me. My lips are sealed."

Kim comes up to them. "So what's this Ayala tells me about a new holonovel?" Paris: "Get in line, Harry."

"Lieutenant Paris' personal log, stardate 50953.4. I've decided to take B'Elanna's advice and replay the holonovel, this time as a full-fledged member of Chakotay's team of mutineers. I hope it turns out better than before."

In the holonovel, Holo-Chakotay is at the secondary tactical station.

Holo-Seska enters. He asks her: "Where the hell are those warp engines?" Holo-Seska: "They're still offline. We can't seem to get the dilithium matrix re-initialised." Holo-Chakotay complains: "It's been two days." Holo-Seska: "Don't worry. B'Elanna's on it."

Holo-Chakotay, to Paris at security/tactical: "Run a full security sweep. Something tells me there's more to this engine problem than a faulty dilithium matrix." Paris: "Think we've got a saboteur on board?"

Holo-Seska: "There's a ship approaching, bearing 216 mark 33. It's Janeway's shuttle." Holo-Chakotay: "Open a channel." He faces the viewscreen as the com. link is established.

Holo-Chakotay: "Hello, Kathryn. How did it go with the Rukani?"

Holo-Janeway: "You're out of uniform, Commander." Holo-Chakotay: "There've been a few changes since you've been gone." Holo-Janeway: "So I've heard. You think I don't have any friends left on Voyager?" Holo-Chakotay: "Apparently you do, but I'll find them." Holo-Janeway: "And then what? Will you kill them or just put them off the ship?" Holo-Chakotay: "Nobody has to die here today." Holo-Janeway: "I thought you were a man of your word, Chakotay. I guess I was mistaken."

Holo-Chakotay: "I'm sorry it had to come to this, but the crew believes that I can get them home faster than you can." Holo-Paris: "That's going to be a little difficult without warp engines, isn't it?" Holo-Chakotay: "Our warp drive may be temporarily offline, but our weapons systems are fully operational." Paris: "They're powering phasers." Holo-Chakotay: "Kathryn, don't try to be a hero. I've been reasonable so far. I'll allow you to keep the shuttle. I'll even transport you some extra provisions. But if you don't stand down, I will destroy your shuttle." Holo-Janeway: "You've just threatened the wrong woman, Chakotay."

She ends contact and opens fire. Holo-Chakotay: "What does she think she's going to accomplish?"

Holo-Seska: "We can obliterate them in one shot." Holo-Chakotay: "Not 'til I give the order. Re-open a channel."

Paris: "I don't know how, but they've disabled our shields. We're completely vulnerable." Holo-Chakotay: "Target their warp core, and fire!" The shuttlecraft explodes! Holo-Seska: "I always said Janeway was a fool."

Holo-computer: "Intruder alert on deck 8." Paris: "It's Paris and Janeway." Holo-Chakotay: "Janeway's no fool. She tricked us into destroying her shuttle then transported over while the shields were down." Holo-Seska: "She's trying to free the prisoners." Holo-Chakotay to Holo-Seska: "You've got the Bridge." To Paris: "You're with me." Paris and Holo-Chakotay move to the turbolift."

In the Brig, Holo-Janeway has overcome the Maquis guard and is working the controls at the console to try and lower the forcefield and free Holo-Tuvok and Holo-Kim.

Holo-Chakotay charges in through the door. He sees her and shouts: "Get away from that panel!"

Holo-Janeway fires her phaser rifle at him, hitting him and wounding him but although he is in pain from the wound he manages to fire his phaser at her.

Holo-Janeway takes a full direct phaser hit, and falls.

Holo-Paris enters and aims a phaser at Paris, ordering: "Drop it." Paris, somewhat startled to see the hologram of himself, aims his phaser at the other.

At that moment the holoprogram stops....

....the holographic simulation of the Brig disappears, including all the holocharacters. This leaves Paris alone in the empty holodeck. He orders: "Computer, resume program." Computer: "The holographic simulation has ended." Paris: "Well, start it up again, right where we left off." He takes up position. Computer: "Unable to comply." Paris: "Why not?" Computer: "Additional narrative parameters have not been programmed."

Paris: "Are you saying there's no more story?" Computer: "Affirmative." Paris: "This is someone's idea of a practical joke, right?" Computer: "Please rephrase the question." Knowing there is no point trying to question the computer further, Paris is left feeling frustrated.

Paris and Torres are at an access panel in the Holodeck. Torres: "There. I've bypassed the security override. Try it now." Paris: "Computer, identify the author of holographic program entitled Insurrection Alpha." Computer: "That information is classified." Torres: "I've tried every decryption protocol I can think of. Whoever wrote this is good." Paris: "Not to mention sadistic. I can't believe we've been left hanging like this." Neelix enters. holodeck doors Neelix asks them: "Any luck?" When they indicate no: "Me neither. I've discreetly questioned everybody I thought I could trust. Either nobody knows or nobody's talking." Paris: "Remember the Good Old Days, when it was impossible to keep a secret on a ship this small?"

In Voyager's Briefing Room, a senior staff meeting has been taking place and is coming to a close. Janeway: "Well, if that takes care of our official agenda, there's another matter I'd like to discuss. Commander Chakotay informs me there's a new holonovel. It's become quite popular among the crew." Chakotay: "It's been accessed 47 times by 33 different crewmembers." Janeway: "I don't suppose anyone here is familiar with what we're talking about?" Torres: "Erm, actually, er, Captain, I'm the one who found in the ancillary database." Paris: "I've been running it too." Chakotay: "Has anybody else?" Hesitantly, like guilty schoolboys, Neelix and Kim raise their hands. Janeway: "I understand that the author of this little opus has chosen to remain anonymous, perhaps because of the controversial nature of the story which depicts Commander Chakotay as the leader of a Maquis mutiny." Chakotay looks amused. "Well, now that the cat's out of the bag, I want each of you to talk to your staff, and find out who our anonymous author is." Tuvok: "That won't be necessary, Captain. I am the author of the program in question." Paris is surprised: "You, Tuvok?" Janeway is surprised and impressed: "I never knew you had literary aspirations." Neelix: "Not to mention talent. What a story!" Tuvok: "I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding. The program is not a holonovel. It is a tactical training scenario. When you first invited the Maquis to join our crew, I believed that mutiny was a very real possibility. With that in mind, I began to write a training program for junior security officers, to prepare them for such an eventuality." Paris: "But you never finished it." Tuvok: "No. As the two crews began to work together I concluded that the threat of an insurrection was increasingly unlikely. I realised the program itself might exacerbate the very conflict I sought to avoid. Therefore I deleted the scenario, or so I believed." Janeway: "Apparently you didn't allow for B'Elanna's exceptional skills." Tuvok: "Nor her somewhat excessive curiosity. I apologise for my carelessness, Captain." Paris: "Forget your carelessness. What you should be apologising for is leaving us all hanging by a thread. You've got to finish the story!" Tuvok: "On the contrary, Mr Paris, the program has the potential to incite animosity among the crew and must be permanently deleted. I have no doubt the Captain concurs." Janeway: "With all due respect, Mr Tuvok, loosen up." He is taken aback. "You may have intended this program to be a tactical training tool, but it looks to me like it's turned into a bit of harmless fun." Tuvok: "As the Captain of this ship, surely you must-" Janeway: "I am more than just a captain, I'm the leader of a community, and communities need entertainment, culture, creative outlets. Since we're not exactly privy to every new piece of music or holonovel that's written back home, I think it's only natural that we should start creating our own." Chakotay: "Besides, Tuvok, if the crew doesn't get an ending, you may have a real mutiny on your hands." They all, except Tuvok, laugh at his joke. Paris: "If Tuvok doesn't want to finish the story, I volunteer." Torres: "Oh?" Paris explains: "I've always wanted to write a holonovel. I think I could make it pretty exciting." Janeway: "Good. Then it's settled." Light-heartedly: "I for one can't wait to see if Captain Janeway manages to outwit the conspirators." The meeting ends.