Ep 6. Inside Man

The crew of the USS Voyager receives a transmission from the Federation starship USS Prometheus, which has been stranded in the Delta Quadrant for over a year. The transmission is from Lieutenant Commander Reginald Barclay, a nervous and socially awkward engineer who has previously interacted with the crew of the USS Enterprise through the use of a virtual reality system. Barclay claims to have developed a new method of transporting Voyager home, but he needs the senior staff's help to bring it to fruition.

Captain Kathryn Janeway assigns Lieutenant Tom Paris and the holographic Doctor to work with Barclay on a way to make the technology function within Voyager's systems. Meanwhile, Barclay experiences technical difficulties with his end of the transmission, and begins to lose contact with the crew. He falls asleep and and finds himself on Voyager, having been transported by the Prometheus's experimental technology.

Barclay is thrilled to finally meet the crew in person, but his initial excitement gives way to more serious concerns. He suspects that the transmission was a trap set by the Ferengi, a race known for their greed and manipulation. Barclay explains that he was contacted by a Ferengi, who offered him a large sum of money to hand over the transport technology to them. Believing that he could use the money to improve his life on Earth, Barclay agreed to the deal.

Now trapped on Voyager, Barclay fears that the Ferengi will come after him to reclaim their investment. The crew tries to find a way to help him, while also working on perfecting the transport technology in hopes of finally returning home.

As the situation grows dire, Barclay reluctantly provides the crew with the access codes needed to disable the transport, as he knows the Ferengi will stop at nothing to obtain it. With the help of the Doctor's program, they devise a plan to dupe the Ferengi into thinking Voyager has already been destroyed and trick them into abandoning their pursuit.

As the Ferengi ship disappears from view, Barclay expresses gratitude to the crew for their help and apologizes for his role in the predicament. Janeway assures him that they will do everything in their power to help him return home safely and the episode ends on this hopeful note.

"Inside Man" is a tense and engaging episode that deftly blends action, humor, and character development. With its focus on a beloved recurring character from the franchise, it is sure to delight fans while also providing a thrilling standalone story for newcomers.