HIROGEN : Page 2 : History, network of relay stations and encounters with USS Voyager
| The Hirogen civilisation is ancient, and possesses extremely advanced technology. Some 100,000 years ago, the Hirogen built a far-flung communications net throughout the Delta Quadrant that continues to operate into the 24th century [Message In A Bottle] [Hunters]. USS Voyager encounters a component of the network of relay stations in 2374 and learn that it was built approximately 100,000 years ago, and individual stations relied on an extraordinary power technology using emissions from captured quantum singularities. The stations extend almost all the way to the Alpha Quadrant. Voyager encounters gravimetric forces from the relay station when they are still 2 light-years away and only after Seven extends the range of the Astrometrics Lab sensors is the large network of relay stations detected. |  The network as shown on the main screen of USS Voyager's Astrometrics Lab. another image |
 A Hirogen orders Voyager to cease transmission. His own transmission to Voyager is cut off - Seven reports: "I generated a feedback surge along our sensor link. It was a mild shock. He will recover. He wasn't responding to diplomacy." |
After establishing a sensor link with the nearest relay station, Voyager is able to get readings from the entire network and establishes contact with them in order to send a holographic data stream containing the Doctor's program to USS Prometheus located in the Alpha Quadrant. A Hirogen orders Voyager to sever their link to the network but his order is ignored. [Message In A Bottle] The USS Voyager crew accesses the Hirogen relay system a second time several weeks later. By making a close approach to a relay station, they succeed in downloading a message from Starfleet Command, as well as a number of personal messages addressed to crewmembers from family members and friends. [Hunters]. |
 relay station |
 the shuttlecraft fires a polaron burst at the relay station |
 the relay station after being hit by the polaron burst |
Despite their past history of advanced technology, by the time that USS Voyager's crew encounter the Hirogen in the 24th century, Hirogen society has put nearly all of its energy into increasingly unproductive hunts in increasingly exhausted territories, bringing cultural and scientific advancement to a near standstill [The Killing Game].
| In 2374, as depicted in [Hunters], USS Voyager comes across a drifting spacecraft and beam aboard from it the remains of a dead humanoid who has been gutted. Seven says the Borg came across a vessel containing similar victims but they did not investigate further as it was "irrelevant". They learn later that this is what Hirogen do to their prey after cornering and killing them.
Shortly afterwards Tuvok and Seven approach a Hirogen relay station in a shuttlecraft (as Voyager is rocked about as a result of the relay station's unstable containment field preventing the starship from moving close) in an attempt to download a message from Starfleet relayed through the network. In the shuttlecraft Tuvok and Seven fire a polaron burst to stabilise the relay station's containment field. But a Hirogen ship approaches and scans them by what Tuvok describes as "a nucleonic beam of some kind". Communications, propulsion and weapons systems are lost. The shuttlecraft is seized by a tractor beam and pulled in toward the Hirogen ship. Once the shuttlecraft is captured, the Hirogen ship emits a paralysis beam which stuns Seven and Tuvok to facilitate their capture. Seven says that the Hirogen are a crude species and that only their size makes them formidable. According to Tuvok, the Hirogen are extremely dangerous and they seem to lack any moral centre. Janeway insists on the return of Tuvok and Seven but the Hirogen hunter instead warns that other Hirogen ships are on the way and advises that Voyager runs now. The approaching Hirogen ships heavily outgun Voyager. To try and boost the quantum singularity and destablise the station's containment field, and thus get it to draw in and crush the Hirogen ships, Voyager directs a level 8 anti-thoron burst at the station. The relay station and the Hirogen ship are pulled into the quantum singularity. Tuvok and Seven are beamed back to Voyager before the Hirogen ship is destroyed. To escape being drawn into the quantum singularity Voyager re-routes all available power to the engines, risking a warp core breach. The energy from the quantum singularity creates a massive discharge that disables every one of the stations on the relay network, so there will be no more letters from home, and doubtless the Hirogen will be far from pleased with Voyager. |
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  Seven and Tuvok as captured prey. Note the size of the Hirogen compared to an adult human female and an adult male Vulcan. |
 the relay station, Voyager shuttlecraft and the Hirogen ship are drawn into the quantum singularity |
Shortly afterwards the Voyager crew have an opportunity to examine the inside of a Hirogen ship when they rescue an injured Hirogen, survivor of an attack on the ship's two crew by a member of Species 8472, their prey. The member of Species 8472 has been wounded during the hunt and in flight comes aboard USS Voyager. Seven sees Species 8472 as a threat, while Janeway sees it as an opportunity to show compassion. The Doctor tries to sedate the wounded Hirogen whom USS Voyager has rescued after the member of Species 8472 attacked him and killed his colleague, but the Hirogen immune system neutralises everything. The wounded Hirogen sends a distress call and six more Hirogen ships approach. Diplomacy is not part of the Hirogen lifestyle. The Hirogen does not see the Voyager crew as equals, but just considers them as game. The Hirogen body armour can defeat most hostile environments. The Hirogen severely wounds Species 8472 when he, Chakotay and Paris corner it near deflector control. Seven beams both the creature and the Hirogen onto one of the Hirogen ships where it will no doubt be killed. [Season 4: Prey].
 the surviving Hirogen is treated in Voyager's sickbay |
 the member of Species 8472, wounded while being hunted by the Hirogen, comes aboard Voyager |
 the member of Species 8472 attacks the Hirogen when he resumes the hunt aboard Voyager |
 the member of Species 8472 and the Hirogen are beamed to a Hirogen ship |
In 2374 eighty-five Hirogen capture Voyager and use Voyager's holodecks to set up simulations to "hunt" the Voyager crew. Alpha Hirogen says that the Hirogen way of life has not changed for 1000 years. They have dispersed themselves throughout the quadrant and have become a solitary and isolated race. He believes that in another 1000 years, no one will remember the name Hirogen. Alpha Hirogen tells Janeway the Hirogen are hunting themselves into extinction and that Voyager's holodeck technology could give them a chance to rebuild their civilisation. The Hirogen and Janeway agree to a truce. Although the original Alpha Hirogen is killed, Janeway keeps her promise to him and gives the surviving Hirogen an optronic data core so that they can create holodeck technology on their own ships, and thereby hunt holographic prey instead, and with that the Hirogen leave USS Voyager. [The Killing Game].
 Janeway is forced to assume the persona of a Klingon and fight for her life |
 Hirogen in the World War II simulation |
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| Janeway presents the Hirogen with an optronic data core | |
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