In [#169 Homestead], the Delta Flyer conveys Neelix and others to a Talaxian settlement, and later comes to Neelix's rescue there.

Voyager's sensors detect Talaxian lifesigns a few light-years away, which of course is of particular interest to Neelix who is a Talaxian. Paris, Tuvok and Neelix take the the Delta Flyer and track the lifesigns to the interior of a large asteroid. Before they can establish contact, the Delta Flyer is suddenly caught in an explosion. Shields and main propulsion goes offline, forcing them to make an emergency crashlanding.

the Delta Flyer in the asteroid field

the Delta Flyer is caught in an as yet unexplained explosion

pictures from the crash sequence:

When Neelix regains consciousness he meets an attractive Talaxian woman called Dexa. He learns that 500 Talaxians live inside the asteroid which they have excavated and developed by disassembing their ships and utilising its technology. The explosion that caught the Delta Flyer came from miners using charges to break apart asteroids to obtain mineral resources.

On Voyager the crew is preparing a rescue mission when Commander Nocona, the leader of the miners, hails them. He warns them to stay out of the asteroid field and says his people will search for the missing Voyager crew.

Neelix rejoins Paris and Tuvok in the Delta Flyer to return to Voyager, which they have now repaired.

the Delta Flyer inside the asteroid, now repaired except for internal sensors

When repairs are complete an intruder alert reveals that Brax, Dexa's young son, has stowed away in the aft compartment, specifically in the mesh-fronted locker in which environmental suits are kept.

a young intruder is found

When Neelix returns Brax to Dexa, he finds her and Oxilon, the Talaxians' leader, in a confrontation with the miners: Nocona orders the Talaxians to evacuate the asteroid so they can demolish it and extract its minerals, giving them just three days to leave or they will destroy the asteroid with the Talaxians still on it. Neelix takes Dexa and Brax to Voyager where they get to know each other better, and Neelix and Janeway negotiate with the miners but Nocona refuses to compromise. Janeway agrees to ferry the Talaxian homesteaders and their supplies to the nearest M-Class planet. Neelix asks Tuvok for advice on how to devise a defence strategy for the Talaxians' new home. Tuvok proposes that their current home could be defended by a shield perimeter, but with the miners monitoring the asteroid they would need competent leadership to defend against a pre-emptive attack, suggesting that Neelix could be that leader. Voyager deliberately will not aid Neelix as he must be allowed to do this mission on his own and so, with Janeway's blessing, Neelix takes his own ship Baxial to the asteroid.

The Talaxians agree to his plan. Oxilon commands their one remaining ship to embed 16 forcefield emitters into the asteroid's surface. Neelix in Baxial provides covering fire when the miners attack. At the last moment the Delta Flyer, crewed by Janeway, Paris and Tuvok, intervenes to save Neelix when, with his weapons offline, he starts a suicide run to destroy the charge heading toward Oxilon. The shield perimeter is successfully activated. (The picture shows the Delta Flyer alongside Baxial.) Later Neelix leaves Voyager to live with the Talaxians.