TREKCORE > VOY > EPISODES > SCORPION PART II > Synopsis

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Voyager's confrontation with the Borg continues. Despite the known risks in forming an alliance with the Borg collective, Janeway is granted a working relationship with them. As the starship travels through this treacherous path full of uncertainty and with an alliance as fragile as porcelain, the crew begins to meet their end of the bargain, working on biological weapons which would enable them to end this war with Species 8472.

Janeway has opted to stay on one of the Borg vessels to demonstrate her willingness to make the alliance work. Allowed contact with her ship, she orders Tuvok to assist her at grid 92, sub-junction 12.

Meanwhile, a very skeptical Chakotay is left behind to hold the fort aboard the USS Voyager. In Sickbay, Harry Kim's condition has not improved much more since his confrontation with Species 8472. There he lies unable to move and covered in suffocating organic tissue left by his close encounter, but he is soon relieved somewhat when the Doctor finds a defense against the attack raging inside his body—an antidote using Borg nanoprobes.

Back on the Borg cube, a cautious Janeway and Tuvok walk through the cube, but are interrupted by two drones who insist on a more efficient means of communication. The two Starfleet officers are pinned down against their will as the drones prepare to attach a neuro-transceiver to their necks, creating a temporary link to the collective. Understandably so, Janeway strongly opposes this method of communication and threatens to terminate the alliance if they advanced any further. Not willing to see this alliance fail so quickly, she proposes a representative. 7 of 9 is brought in.

Just as Harry Kim is given a clean bill of health, free to return to take his post on the Bridge, alerts come in, informing them of attacks on Voyager and the Borg vessel: Species 8472 has returned for another round. Shields and weapons are brought down. The Borg cube also fears no better. In jeopardy of being destroyed, Janeway, Tuvok, and the Borg are forced to leave, beamed over to Voyager's Cargo Bay two just in the nick of time before it explodes.

The latest attacks leave Janeway in a critical condition, handing over complete command to Chakotay which meant upholding the alliance as well. But his censure in the alliance also meant going against Janeway's last minute wishes before she was sent into an induced coma.

He confronts 7 of 9 of Voyager's change of command and plans to end the alliance. He agrees that they will continue working with them on the biological weapons and give them the nanoprobes, but as soon as they are out of Borg space, they will shake hands and part ways. This sees 7 of 9 to make judgement on the human race: they lack harmony, cohesion, and it will be their undoing—a comment which is not too far from the truth as we find out later.

Finding the terms of the alliance changed and unable to negotiate their return to the Collective, the remaining Borg drones plan a mutiny. In spites of Chakotay's warnings, Voyager's systems are accessed as the drones successfully open a singularity. He is left with no choice but to depressurise the cargo bay; all but one drone, 7 of 9, remain on board. However, Chakotay's actions does not prevent the ship from being pulled into an organic, fluidic space—Species 8472's domain.

It is at this point Chakotay finds out the initiator of the war. It was no other than the Borg, who had deliberately opened the gate to the Delta Quadrant for Species 8472, in hopes (but failed) of assimilating the species into their collective.

Everything seems to have worsened, the situation becoming more complicated, but it becomes more so for Chakotay as Janeway recovers from her condition. He is interrogated by her, infuriated by the events that had taken place during her absence. She believes that the only way to get through Borg space safely was with the full cooperation from the Borg, but he had destroyed their only chance when he ended the alliance with them. Their differences in opinion continue to divide them, but soon they realise what the real cause of their failure to succeed. Chakotay recites 7 of 9's comment of human nature—their inability to conform, their individuality—it was what will keep them from accomplishing their objectives.

Seeing light, Janeway and Chakotay work together. They declare war on Species 8472, and mislead 7 of 9 into believing their original agreement with the Borg was restored. They are destroyed and the remaining visitors return to their realm. It was one species off their hands, now to deal with the other. It seemed they had never intended to let Voyager pass their space as 7 of 9 threaten them with assimilation. Janeway had predicted this and initiate the plan she called, "Scorpion."

A temporary link of minds is created between 7 of 9 and Chakotay. A power surge is sent through their neuro-transceivers, severing 7 of 9's connection to the collective. Voyager now is to survive alone, deep in Borg territory, without the alliance, and with a severed Borg drone on board…

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