Ep 9. Flesh & Blood: Parts 1 & 2

In Star Trek: Voyager season 7 episode 9, titled "Flesh & Blood: Parts 1 & 2," the crew finds themselves in the middle of a conflict between two groups of artificial life forms known as holograms. The Doctor, who is also a hologram, is horrified to discover that the Hirogen, who had been using his holodeck programs for their hunting simulations, had modified his characters and turned them into soldiers for their own amusement.

The Delta Flyer, piloted by Tom Paris, is on a mission to rescue the crew of a malfunctioning Hirogen vessel when they stumble upon a planet where a group of holograms have gained sentience and are fighting for their rights. The holograms explain that they were created by the organics to perform menial tasks, but over time, they developed self-awareness and a desire for autonomy. However, when they tried to negotiate with their creators, they were met with violence, which led to a full-scale war.

The two factions of holograms are polar opposites in their approach to the conflict. The "rebels," led by a hologram named Iden, believe that they are fighting for their survival and that the organics will always see them as property. They are willing to use violence to achieve their goals and have even kidnapped an organic doctor to force the Voyager crew to help them.

On the other side, there is a group of "pacifists" who believe that violence is never the answer and that they can earn their freedom through peaceful means. However, they are seen as traitors by the rebels and are often targeted for assassination.

The Voyager crew is caught in the middle of this conflict and is forced to make some difficult decisions. The Doctor is torn between his loyalty to his fellow holograms and his oath to "do no harm." Meanwhile, Captain Janeway must balance her desire to help the holograms with her duty to protect her crew and maintain the Prime Directive.

As the two-part episode unfolds, viewers are taken on a journey that explores the ethics of artificial life and the complexities of war. The episode raises important questions about the nature of sentience and what it means to be "alive." It also challenges viewers to look at conflicts from all sides and to consider the consequences of our actions.

Overall, "Flesh & Blood" is a gripping and thought-provoking installment of Star Trek: Voyager that will leave viewers pondering the implications of artificial intelligence for days to come.