For the past two weeks Voyager has been assisting the crew of the Varro generational ship in repairing their warp drive. To achieve this, Voyager is docked with the Varro ship.

Kim engages in a secret affair with one of the Varro called Derran Tal. Paris sabotages the com system in order to cover Kim's tracks when he contacts her. Kim encodes his transmission to Tal using security protocol Alpha-7.

Tuvok and Neelix discover a Varro male hiding in one of the Jefferies tubes. The stowaway has routed life support to Jefferies tube G-33 Deck 15, a section that is normally uninhabited. The stowaway says he is seeking asylum on Voyager (which is not granted) claiming that many Varro feel imprisoned on their own ship and that there are rumours of a violent movement to leave it. After finding microfractures in Voyager's hull, Seven and Torres discover silicone-based parasites that have migrated from the Varro ship. Scans reveal the parasites are synthetic and believed to be an act of sabotage. After a schematic for the parasite is found on Tal's personal database, she reveals the dissident group is using them to dismantle the Varro ship. The parasites are targeting the linkage between segments, which eventually will break off into separate ships and allow her people to choose whether to stay or go. When Janeway explains the decay will cause decompressive explosions, Tal agrees to slow down the parasites long enough for the ship to be evacuated. The Varro ship experiences structural breaches, and Voyager is unable to separate from it. Minutes before structural collapse, Voyager extends its integrity field around the Varro ship to gain more time for evacuation. Once evacuation is completed, Voyager detaches, and the Varro vessel breaks off into several separate ships.

Voyager attached to the Varro generational ship as its linkages start to go

See also DAMAGE REPORT.

Voyager suffers microfractures in its hull. After finding these microfractures in Voyager's hull, Seven and Torres discover silicone-based parasites that have migrated from the Varro ship. Scans reveal the parasites are synthetic and are believed to be an act of sabotage. After a schematic for the parasite is found on Derran Tal's personal database, she reveals the dissident group is using them to dismantle the Varro ship. The parasites feed on duranium alloy, were replicated several months before, and are targeting the linkage between the segments of the Varro ship, which eventually will break off into separate ships and allow individual Varro to choose whether to stay or go. When Janeway explains the decay will cause decompressive explosions, Tal agrees to slow down the parasites long enough for the ship to be evacuated. The Varro ship suffers structural breaches, and Voyager is unable to separate from it. With only minutes before structural collapse, Janeway agrees to Kim's suggestion to extend Voyager's integrity field around the Varro ship and thereby obtain them more time for the evacuation. Once completed, Voyager detaches, and the Varro vessel breaks off into several separate ships.

The Starfleet Handbook on Personal Relationships is three centimetres thick. It states that: "All Starfleet personnel must obtain authorisation from their commanding officer, as well as clearance from their medical officer, before initiating an intimate relationship with an alien species."

For violating the captain's direct order that away teams should have no personal interaction with the Varro crew, Kim receives a formal reprimand from Janeway. The formal reprimand will appear on his Starfleet service record.