Ep 8. One Small Step

The Star Trek: Voyager season 6 episode 8, titled "One Small Step," begins with the crew coming across a probe that was sent from Earth in the late 21st century. The probe was designed to explore the galaxy, but it was damaged and has been floating alone in space for over 300 years.

Captain Janeway and her team are excited to investigate the probe, but their excitement quickly fades when they discover that the probe is emitting dangerous levels of radiation that could be harmful to the crew. To make matters worse, one of Voyager's crew members, Lieutenant Torres, becomes infected with a virus that is causing her to hallucinate.

Despite the obstacles, Janeway decides to lead a mission to the probe. She selects a team that includes Commander Chakotay, Lieutenant Paris, and Torres, who is struggling to fight off the virus. The team boards a shuttlecraft and sets off towards the probe.

As they approach the probe, the crew is blasted with intense radiation. Janeway quickly orders the team to retreat to the shuttlecraft and return to Voyager. However, upon returning, they find that the radiation has penetrated the shuttlecraft and contaminated the entire ship.

Janeway makes the difficult decision to quarantine the ship and impose a strict radiation protocol to prevent further contamination. This means that most of the crew must remain in their quarters, and all interactions with others must be done remotely through computer screens and speakers.

As the crew struggles to cope with the isolation and fear of contamination, Janeway begins to believe that the only way to save her crew is to find a cure for the virus that Torres has contracted. She tasks the ship's doctor, who is an advanced hologram, with finding a cure. The doctor becomes obsessed with finding a cure, eventually risking his own programming and safety to do so.

Meanwhile, Chakotay discovers that the probe was launched by his ancestor, who was a groundbreaking astronaut in his time. This news inspires Chakotay to try to recover the astronaut's remains, which are still inside the probe.

Chakotay convinces Janeway to send him and Paris on a mission to retrieve the astronaut's remains. The two crew members undertake a dangerous spacewalk to the probe, encountering a number of obstacles along the way.

During the spacewalk, Chakotay and Paris begin to struggle with the isolation and fear that the radiation has caused. They're forced to confront their own mortality and the fragility of human life in the vast expanse of space.

When the two crewmembers finally retrieve the astronaut's remains, they return to Voyager to find that the doctor has found a cure for the virus. The crew is able to leave quarantine and resume their duties, and Chakotay honors his ancestor with a moving funeral ceremony.

"One Small Step" is a powerful episode that explores the themes of isolation, fear, and the importance of human connection in the face of danger. It showcases the bravery and dedication of the Voyager crew, as they navigate an unknown and dangerous universe. Ultimately, it reminds us of the importance of striving to understand the world around us, even when it might seem impossible or dangerous.