THIRTY DAYS
Season 5 : Episode 103
Part B

Flashbacks are indicated in this text style.

 

The two enter the Bridge and go to their posts. Janeway: "Sorry to interrupt your fun, gentlemen, but long-range sensors have picked up something interesting."

Chakotay: "A concentrated mass of oxygen and hydrogen, lots of animal and plant life." Kim: "An M-class planet?"

Janeway: "No, that's the interesting part."

Tuvok: "We're entering visual range." Janeway: "On screen."

Kim: "What is it?" Paris: "It's an ocean."

The ocean world.

Chakotay: "According to these readings, it's bigger than the Atlantic and Pacific combined." Paris: "What's holding it together?" Kim: "Looks like there's some sort of containment field keeping it from dissipating."

Janeway: "Take us in closer, Tom."

Suddenly three alien ships launch towards them from up through the waves. Paris: "Are those starships or submarines?" Janeway: "Open a channel. This is Captain Janeway of the Starship Voyager. Please identify yourselves."

Tuvok: "They're powering weapons." Janeway: "Shields." The ship shakes as the strangers' weapons impact Voyager. "Red alert." Lights dim and klaxons sound red alert. Tuvok: "Shields holding, no damage. Should I return fire?" Janeway: "Not yet. Voyager to approaching vessels. We have no hostile intentions." Paris: "They're maintaining their course."

Janeway: "Target the lead ship and take out their weapons." Tuvok: "Direct hit."

Kim: "They're hailing." Janeway: "Guess we got their attention. On screen."

Burkus, on viewscreen: " I'm Deputy Consul Burkus of the Monean Maritime Sovereignty. You violated our space. Withdraw or we'll resume firing." Janeway: "Consul, we could've destroyed your ships, but we didn't. We have no interest in a fight." Burkus, on viewscreen: " Then why are you here?" Janeway: "Because we're explorers, and we're fascinated by your ocean, and we'd like to learn more about it and your people, if you'd be willing." Burkus, on viewscreen: "And if we are not?" Janeway: "We'll be disappointed, but we'll leave you alone."

Burkus, on viewscreen, conceding: "Your ship's impressive." Janeway: "Well, I'd be happy to give you a tour."

Having met the Deputy Consul and his aide, a Monean scientist named Riga, in the transporter room where they beamed aboard, Janeway and Neelix escort their guests along a corridor.

Burkus: "Forgive our vigilance, Captain. Over the years, my government has had to protect our ocean from more than one hostile species." Janeway: "I understand. We're also very protective of our own natural resources."

Neelix to Riga: "We're always interested in learning about other cultures. Yours sounds particularly fascinating."

Later they enter the Bridge. Janeway: "And this is Voyager's command centre. Feel free to have a look around." Neelix: "I'm curious, Consul. Have your people always lived here?" Burkus: "Our ancestors were nomadic. They only discovered the waters three hundred years ago." Paris: "I'll bet they were as stunned as we were to find this huge ball of water floating in space." Burkus: "Yes, Mr-?" Paris: "Paris. Tom Paris."

Janeway introduces Chakotay: "My First Officer, Commander Chakotay." They shake hands. Burkus: "They realised they could farm sea vegetation, extract oxygen from the ocean for their ships, create a permanent home." Paris: "What's your population?" Burkus: "More than eighty thousand." Paris is impressed. "And you all live underwater?"

Tuvok: "Lieutenant, we do have other business to attend to."
Janeway: "Mr Tuvok, escort our guest to the Briefing Room. Care to join us, Mr Paris?"
Paris: "How could you tell?"

Briefing room. Neelix: "Do you still live aboard your ships?" Burkus: "We've built an industrial infrastructure and undersea dwellings, but yes, most of our people still choose to live as our ancestors did." Janeway: "Any idea how the ocean came into existence? In my experience, it's a unique phenomenon." Burkus calls on Riga to explain: "Riga?"

Riga: "There are several theories. Our clerics teach that the ocean was a divine gift from the creators to protect and sustain us but, in my opinion, the most plausible explanation is that the ocean formed naturally, much the same way that a gas giant does." Janeway: "Makes sense." Riga: "Unfortunately, our limited knowledge of the phenomenon has created a few problems." Janeway: "What do you mean?"

Burkus, feeling uncomfortable: "I'm not sure this is an appropriate topic." Riga: "But they might be able to help us." Janeway: "We'll do anything we can." Riga, encouraged by Janeway if not by Burkus: "The ocean's losing containment. Hydro-volume has decreased more than seven per cent in the last year alone." Janeway: "Any idea what's causing it?" Riga: "No. To make a thorough study we'd need to explore the ocean centre where I believe the gravitational currents are fluctuating."

Paris: "But that's more that six hundred kilometres deep." Riga: "Our best research vessel can only go one hundred kilometres. Beyond that, the pressure's too great." Paris: "Well, we could take you there. Captain?"

USS Voyager in orbit.

Later, in Janeway's Ready Room, Janeway and Paris have a sociable chat as much as discussing the mission ahead. Janeway: "I had no idea you were such an old salt." Paris: "When I saw that ocean today it reminded me of the first time I read Jules Verne." Janeway: "'20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'."

Paris: "Mmm! I must've read it 20,000 times. I was obsessed with stories about the ocean. All my friends were busy with their holo programs. I had my head buried in Captains Courageous, Moby Dick...."

Janeway: "So your interest in history includes the 19th century as well." Paris: "Ancient sailing ships were always my first love. I had it all planned: finish high school, join the Federation Naval Patrol....but my father had other ideas." Janeway: "You'd think Admiral Paris might have understood his son's passion." Paris: "As far as he was concerned the only ship I was going to serve on had to have a Starfleet insignia on it."

Janeway, surmising his enthusiasm: "And now you have an opportunity to make up for lost time." Paris: "Captain, with a few simple thruster modifications to the Delta Flyer, she will be seaworthy in no time." Janeway: "Good. It'd take at least a week to make the necessary modifications to Voyager." Paris: "Then it's my mission?" Janeway: "Bon voyage."

In a corridor, Paris and Kim are on their way to the Shuttlebay for the mission. Paris: "And so, I thought to myself, who better than Harry to be my First Mate?" Kim: "First Mate?" Paris: "Oh, sailor talk. You'll get the hang of it." Paris: "I'm telling you, Harry, I have been dreaming about something like this for as long as I can remember." Kim: "Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is a mission involved here, right?" Paris: "Of course, but there's no law says we can't have a little fun along the way."

They meet Seven at the entrance to the hangar deck. Paris: "Ah, Boatswain. Ready to shove off?" Seven: "What are you talking about, Lieutenant?" Paris: "Call me Skipper." Kim to Seven: "Sailor talk. You'll get used to it." Seven: "I think not." Briskly to Paris: "Hull and thruster reinforcements are complete." Paris: "Ah, that's what I wanted to hear."

Riga arrives. "Oh, excuse me. Am I in the right place?" Paris: "Welcome aboard." Referring to Riga's mass of equipment: "I see you like to travel light." Riga: "These are my instruments for measuring depth, pressure, currents." Seven: "We will not need them. This vessel is equipped with a complete sensor array." Riga, rather crestfallen: "Oh." Paris: "It's OK. You can store your gear in the hold." They enter the Shuttlebay. shuttlebay doors

The Delta Flyer launches and heads for the Monean ocean.

Kim: "Twenty thousand kilometres to the surface." Paris: "Immersion shielding?" Seven: "Active." Paris: "Anchors aweigh."

The Delta Flyer dives into the ocean.

The Delta Flyer travels deeper and comes upon underwater structures. Paris: "Those structures, what are they?" Riga: "It's our main oxygen refinery and desalination plant."

Seven: "Corrosion resistant alloys, variable density ballast - an efficient design." Kim to Riga: "That means she's impressed."

Riga: "We're very proud of what we've built here." Paris: "I can see why."