Voyager comes under attack from an armada belonging to a territorial race of aliens known as the Turei. Escaping the attack by sheltering on a decimated planet, the Voyager crew finds a hibernating warrior race in chambers deep below the surface. Captain Janeway tries to ally with the inhabitants, the Vaadwaur. However, she soon begins to think the Vaadwaur may pose a more significant threat than the enemy above.

Seven of Nine begins a new method of data analysis that makes her craft a conspiracy theory that Janeway and Tuvok intentionally stranded Voyager in the Delta Quadrant. Later, a data-overloaded Seven of Nine starts spreading rumors of a mutiny and insurrection when the ship encounters an alien with technology that can catapult the ship light-years closer to home and cut years off their journey.