IN THE FLESH
Episode 98
Part F

 

Voyager's bridge. Seven: "They're charging weapons." Janeway: "Do the same." Tuvok: "We're being hailed." Janeway, as Boothby's image appears on the main viewscreen: "Mr Boothby."

Boothby, on viewscreen: "Captain Janeway." Janeway: "Good to see you after all these years. Enjoying the Delta Quadrant?" Boothby, on viewscreen: "Don't get sassy with me, young lady. This re-creation may be Starfleet but our weapons are far more sophisticated. I can destroy your vessel with a single command. Run along now." Janeway: "I'm not going anywhere. Not until you return my First Officer AND give me a damn good explanation for what you're doing in our galaxy. I've targetted your re-creation with Borg nanoprobes and we're willing to use them if you force us to."

Boothby, on viewscreen: "Don't try to rattle my cage. I'll disable your tactical systems before you-"

Janeway: "The last time our species engaged in battle you suffered heavy casualties. Are you willing to take that chance again? An armed conflict isn't going to solve our problems. We could go on making threats, spying on each other, risking a war between our species, or we could try a more direct approach."

Boothby, on viewscreen: "What do you have in mind? " Janeway: "How about a class reunion?" Boothby is puzzled. So is Paris.

The meeting, held in Voyager's Briefing Room, is not going well. Boothby: "Targ manure. United Federation of Planets, tolerance for all species, the Prime Directive - targ manure every word of it." Tuvok: "Your metaphor is colourful but inaccurate."

Boothby sits down. "Vulcan logic - add that to the list."

Janeway: "Obviously you've studied a Starfleet database. You must've learned something about our history. We adhere to our Directives." Bullock: "High-minded ideals are one thing but your actions tell a very different story. You infiltrated our recreation, captured and killed one of our people." Janeway: "I told you he took his own life."

Bullock: "You created biological weapons to infect our species. You are allies with the Borg." Janeway: "No."

Boothby: "There's a drone sitting at this very table. Look at her, all gussied up to look like a human being."

Seven: "I am no longer part of the Collective." Boothby: "Once a Borg, always a Borg." Janeway: "Seven of Nine is a member of this crew." Bullock, in an aside to Boothby: "The Borg are irrelevant. It's the humans who are a threat."

Chakotay to Janeway: "They think the Federation's a hostile invasion force, out to destroy their species." Janeway replies to him: "I see."

Janeway to Boothby: "So you're planning a pre-emptive strike against Earth." Boothby: "Maybe I am." Janeway: "You realise I can't let that happen." Boothby: "Go ahead, fire your damn nanoprobes. Blow our recreation to high heavens. There are a dozen more scattered throughout the Quadrant. You'll never find them all." Janeway: "What if I told you that Starfleet isn't planning an invasion, that no one on Earth has even heard of you?" Boothby: "I'd say you were lying." Janeway: "Have another look at that Federation database of yours. You'll see there's no mention of your realm."

Bullock: "Immaterial. Any information regarding our species has no doubt been classified by Starfleet Intelligence." Janeway: "Good point. You know, we could keep this paranoid debate going all day. You have no reason to trust us and we have no reason to trust you." Boothby: "Hear, hear." He, Archer and Bullock stand up, ready to leave. "I knew this 'reunion' would be a fiasco. Admiral-"

Janeway: "Seven, disarm the warheads." Seven: "Captain-" Janeway: "Do it." Seven goes over to the wall monitor, calls up the weapon system and disarms the warheads.

Boothby: "What are you trying to prove, young lady?" Janeway: "One of us has to take their finger off the trigger. It might as well be me." Bullock signals to Archer who goes over the wall monitor to examine the interface and verify the humans' action.

Archer: "Their weapons are offline." Bullock: "It's a trick."

Janeway: "Our defences are down. What will you do now. Blow Voyager to high heavens or will you keep talking?" Boothby: "Humans, you've got a flair for the dramatic, I'll give you that. You want to keep talking? Fine by me. But no more beating around the bush. Now what do you want from us? The truth, Captain." Janeway: "Voyager is alone in the Delta Quadrant. We haven't been in contact with Earth for over four years." Boothby: "Explain why you attacked our realm hand in hand with the Borg."

Janeway: "At the time we didn't realise the Borg had started the war against you. We forged a temporary alliance with them because we thought you were the threat." Seven: "'Your galaxy will be purged.' Sound familiar?"

Bullock: "We were only trying to defend ourselves." Tuvok: "If that's true why are you still in our galaxy. Your conflict with the Borg ended over a year ago."

Janeway: "Why re-create Starfleet, masquerade as humans? It looks to me like you're the ones planning an invasion. The truth?" Bullock to Boothby: "Don't answer her. She's manipulating us."

Archer: "If you won't answer, I will." Bullock: "Commander!" Archer ignores him. To the humans: "Our mission is to infiltrate your home world, to place operatives at the highest levels of Starfleet, monitor your military installations. It's a reconnaissance mission, nothing more."

Chakotay to Janeway: "We should listen to her. They're being driven by fear just like we are." He turns to Archer: "Unless everything you said on our date was just an act." Archer: "It wasn't."

Bullock: "Enough! We must not negotiate with these creatures!" Boothby: "Sit down, Admiral!" Bullock: "Sir?" Boothby: "I said sit down, or I'll knock you right on your human butt."

Bullock to Boothby and Archer: "You've been seduced by them, both of you."

Archer: "I've had a chance to see through human eyes and I'm beginning to wonder. Are they really so violent? What if we're wrong?"

Bullock: "We can't risk trusting them!" Archer: "You'd rather risk another war?"

Boothby to Chakotay: "Keep talking, son." Chakotay: "Archer's right. We've got to set aside our preconceptions about each other. Granted, our species didn't meet under the best of circumstances, but maybe we can make first contact again. Maybe this time we'll get it right." Boothby to Archer: "You believe in this fellow?" Archer to Boothby: "Yes."

Boothby to Janeway: "There would have to be a few ground rules." Janeway: "Name them." Boothby: "First off, I want to take a look at that nanoprobe technology. It scares the hell out of me." Janeway: "Alright, but I'll need some tactical information in return, your genetic alteration techniques for a start." Boothby: "I'm sure something can be arranged. You on board, Admiral?" Admiral Bullock nods. "Good enough for me."

Chakotay and Archer look at each other, pleased at the outcome.