The first mention of a species name is given in green.

The situation surrounding the first Antarian Trans-stellar Rally in 2377 is a delicate one, as it commemorates a new and precarious treaty which effectively ends nearly a century of conflict between four warring factions who disputed the same region of Delta Quadrant space.

The race is hosted by the Antarians. Not just the original warring factions are eligible to enter, but a number of nearby and more distant species apply. The Rally is designed to bring species together in social gatherings before and after the race and thus promote peaceful co-existence, and also to channel any remaining aggressive feelings into the spirit of friendly competition. However, with the memory of the war still fresh, the task of organising the details of the Rally is difficult, and the burden falls upon Antarian ambassador, a man called O'Zaal, who has been appointed the race co-ordinator. His diplomatic skills are stretched to the limit as he attempts to placate all sides before, during and after the race, and he knows that every decision he makes, no matter how trivial, will be seen as symbolic by the differing sides, so that concenessions to one participant risks offending another despite his best efforts to appear neutral Janeway approves of the ideals which the Rally hopes to foster, which are similar in many ways to the values held by the members of the United Federation of Planets, and she readily gives permission for Voyager's crew to make the necessary alterations to the Delta Flyer so that Voyager can be represented in the Rally.

DISRUPTIVE ELEMENTS

Nevertheless there are those intent on destroying the reconciliation process, according to Ambassador O'Zaal, the man charged with organising the Rally: "Groups opposed to the alliance: arms dealers, isolationists, political extremists." The Antarians receive threats but until events in the race itself do not know how seriously to take them.

COMPETING RACES

Two of the most powerful species entering the race are the Aksani and the Chessu, and they still harbour animosity toward each other. O'Zaal promises the honour of hosting the post-race ceremonies to the Chessu but when the Aksani discover this they threaten to withdraw from the race entirely unless they are allowed to host the post-race ceremonies instead. O'Zaal hears this news from his subordinate while aboard USS Voyager, where he approves the Delta Flyer's admission to the race. Overhearing their conversation, Janeway proposes that Voyager, being neutral ground, host the ceremonies instead - as Voyager was not involved in the war O'Zaal cannot be said to be favouring either the Aksani or the Chessu.

Accordingly Neelix prepares a buffet for the social gathering of race pilots and co-pilots before the race. Other competing species are not named, and that of Irina, Joxom and Assan whom the Delta Flyer team meet personally are not named.

Other competing races are the Imhotep and the Terellians. Twelve vessels in all compete in the Rally, but the Chessu have at least two entries. It is likely that Ambassador O'Zaal, in an effort to act impartially, probably allowed their main rivals, the Aksani, a matching number of entries, and possibly allowed the same to other species as well.

the Rally course, portrayed on Voyager's briefing room monitor

THE RALLY COURSE The rally course has three segments over 2.3 billion kilometres long. It includes various obstacles such as K-class anomalies and dwarf star clusters. Not all phenomena are obstacles, however: ship number 3 uses the gravity of a gas giant in the Darla system to boost its speed during the race. The third segment consists of the Mobius Inversion, which contains level 6 subspace distortions and gravimetric shears. Tom Paris tells his co-pilot B'Elanna Torres, "Just think of it as a little wormhole with a big attitude." Tom Paris describes the Mobius Inversion

STAR CHART: Antarian Trans-Stellar Rally

The Rally's requirements for each entrant require two-man crews and each ship is limited to sublight speeds, and all the ships have to use enriched deuterium fuel. The Delta Flyer is not equipped for that but Irina offers to lend a fuel converter.