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Life Line (Voyager episode)
Encyclopedia
"Life Line" is the 24th episode from the sixth season of Star Trek: Voyager
. It is one of few episodes in the Star Trek
universe in which characters from different Star Trek storylines overlap. Indeed, Reginald Barclay
and Deanna Troi
from Star Trek: The Next Generation
make appearances, and in addition Jean-Luc Picard
is twice mentioned by Troi but not seen. It is also one of few storylines when a character actually arrives in the Alpha Quadrant. It is also the only Voyager episode which has a cast member receiving a writing credit.
via an improved subspace radio amplifier. From Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco, Earth
, Admiral Hayes relays a video message to Captain Janeway informing her that Starfleet has launched a new programme to bring the ship back to the Alpha Quadrant, and that Starfleet has dispatched two vessels to meet with Voyager, scheduled for five or six years' time. Janeway and her officers construct a response, informing Starfleet of their crew status, casualties, accounts of first contact
s, and records of Borg
activities in the area. While constructing the response, Voyager receives a standard Starfleet communiqué, advising on the medical condition of Lewis Zimmerman, the Federation
's leading holography
expert and inventor of the EMH. According to the message, Zimmerman is dying, and the Federation's leading doctors cannot save him.
The Doctor advises that due to his immense experience with all manner of medical situations during Voyagers unusual journey, he may have experience and skill greater than that of Earth-based doctors. The Doctor approaches Janeway, who grants him leave to visit Zimmerman. Using the enhanced subspace radio relay established by Starfleet, Voyager transmits the Doctor's programme back to the Alpha Quadrant, a journey of 30,000 light years. However, the radio frequency cannot handle all of the Doctor's files, and Seven of Nine
is obliged to shut down most of the Doctor's non-essential personality traits for the duration of the trip.
The Doctor manifests in the Solar system
, aboard an immense Federation space station
orbiting Jupiter
, where Zimmerman has spent the last four years developing new holographic
technology. Accompanying Zimmerman are Reginald Barclay
, recently assigned as a research assistant, and a holographic female servant. The Doctor attempts to communicate with Zimmerman, but the scientist, a cantankerous and obnoxious old man, refuses to even speak to the Doctor, who he considers an obsolete and primitive example of technology. Zimmerman explains that the Doctor's model, the Mark I, was considered unsuitable by Starfleet for medical purposes, and that all Mark I's have been reassigned to menial labour onboard waste barges, scrubbing plasma
pipes. As a consequence, and because Zimmerman's Mark IVs and the best actual doctors on Earth have been unable to cure Zimmerman, the scientist refuses to deal with the Doctor. The Doctor is unable to reason with Zimmerman, and as their similar personalities clash, the two engage in a heated argument and refuse to speak to each other any more.
Concerned for Zimmerman's health, Barclay suggests that a counselor
is needed to smooth relations between Zimmerman and the Doctor, and contacts the USS Enterprise
, only seven light-years distant, on a survey mission. He asks Deanna Troi
to come to the station, and she advises that she will have to ask special permission from Captain Picard
. Picard agrees, and Troi arrives at the station. However, she too is unable to reason with either the Doctor or Zimmerman, and storms out of the room after insulting both of them.
While speaking to Zimmerman's holographic servant, Troi realises that the hologram is less advanced than the Doctor, and that Zimmerman nevertheless respects her opinions. Troi prompts the hologram to talk with Zimmerman, and as she does so, Troi and Barclay secretly fiddle with the Doctor's files, convincing him that his programming is failing and that only Zimmerman, his creator, can save him.
Realising that they both need each other, Zimmerman and the Doctor patch up their differences, and the Doctor learns that Zimmerman's hostility is mainly due to his injured pride, resulting from Starfleet
's decision to assign his hundreds of Mark I Medical Holograms to menial labour. Zimmerman stabilises the Doctor's programming and begins making enhancements to his data files; additions which the Doctor strenuously opposes, explaining that he is happy the way he is. Zimmerman agrees to stop making additions and allows the Doctor to treat him, using an experimental cellular
regeneration therapy he concocted on board Voyager. Zimmerman begins to make a full recovery, and thanks the Doctor for saving him, adding that he is immensely proud of the Doctor's accomplishments; the only Mark I still doing the task for which he was built, excelling at it, and having developed a true personality, in spite of Starfleet's petty criticisms. Troi returns to the Enterprise, satisfied with her diplomatic accomplishments; the Doctor is transmitted back to Voyager, and Zimmerman, recovering, returns to his holographic research.
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
. It is one of few episodes in the Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
universe in which characters from different Star Trek storylines overlap. Indeed, Reginald Barclay
Reginald Barclay
Lieutenant Reginald Endicott "Broccoli" Barclay III, played by Dwight Schultz, is a recurring character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation...
and Deanna Troi
Deanna Troi
Commander Deanna Troi is a main character in the science-fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and related TV series and films, portrayed by actress Marina Sirtis. Troi is half-human, half-Betazoid and has the psionic ability to sense emotions. She serves as the ship's counselor...
from Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
make appearances, and in addition Jean-Luc Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
is twice mentioned by Troi but not seen. It is also one of few storylines when a character actually arrives in the Alpha Quadrant. It is also the only Voyager episode which has a cast member receiving a writing credit.
Plot
While travelling the Delta Quadrant, Voyager is contacted by Starfleet CommandStarfleet Command
Starfleet Command may refer to:*Starfleet Command, headquarters/command center of Starfleet in Star Trek.*Star Trek: Starfleet Command, a space battle simulation game set in the Star Trek universe....
via an improved subspace radio amplifier. From Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco, Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, Admiral Hayes relays a video message to Captain Janeway informing her that Starfleet has launched a new programme to bring the ship back to the Alpha Quadrant, and that Starfleet has dispatched two vessels to meet with Voyager, scheduled for five or six years' time. Janeway and her officers construct a response, informing Starfleet of their crew status, casualties, accounts of first contact
First contact (science fiction)
First contact is a common science fiction theme about the first meeting between humans and extraterrestrial life, or of any sentient race's first encounter with another one....
s, and records of Borg
Borg (Star Trek)
The Borg are a fictional pseudo-race of cybernetic organisms depicted in the Star Trek universe associated with Star Trek.Whereas cybernetics are used by other races in the science fiction world to repair bodily damage and birth defects, the Borg use enforced cybernetic enhancement as a means of...
activities in the area. While constructing the response, Voyager receives a standard Starfleet communiqué, advising on the medical condition of Lewis Zimmerman, the Federation
United Federation of Planets
The United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
's leading holography
Holography
Holography is a technique that allows the light scattered from an object to be recorded and later reconstructed so that when an imaging system is placed in the reconstructed beam, an image of the object will be seen even when the object is no longer present...
expert and inventor of the EMH. According to the message, Zimmerman is dying, and the Federation's leading doctors cannot save him.
The Doctor advises that due to his immense experience with all manner of medical situations during Voyagers unusual journey, he may have experience and skill greater than that of Earth-based doctors. The Doctor approaches Janeway, who grants him leave to visit Zimmerman. Using the enhanced subspace radio relay established by Starfleet, Voyager transmits the Doctor's programme back to the Alpha Quadrant, a journey of 30,000 light years. However, the radio frequency cannot handle all of the Doctor's files, and Seven of Nine
Seven of Nine
Seven of Nine is a fictional character on Star Trek: Voyager, portrayed by actress Jeri Ryan. Born human, she was assimilated by the Borg at the age of six. Eighteen years later, Voyager left Borg space with Seven on board, after attempts to negotiate passage through Borg space proved only...
is obliged to shut down most of the Doctor's non-essential personality traits for the duration of the trip.
The Doctor manifests in the Solar system
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
, aboard an immense Federation space station
Space station
A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew which is designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to which other spacecraft can dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by its lack of major propulsion or landing...
orbiting Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
, where Zimmerman has spent the last four years developing new holographic
Holography
Holography is a technique that allows the light scattered from an object to be recorded and later reconstructed so that when an imaging system is placed in the reconstructed beam, an image of the object will be seen even when the object is no longer present...
technology. Accompanying Zimmerman are Reginald Barclay
Reginald Barclay
Lieutenant Reginald Endicott "Broccoli" Barclay III, played by Dwight Schultz, is a recurring character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation...
, recently assigned as a research assistant, and a holographic female servant. The Doctor attempts to communicate with Zimmerman, but the scientist, a cantankerous and obnoxious old man, refuses to even speak to the Doctor, who he considers an obsolete and primitive example of technology. Zimmerman explains that the Doctor's model, the Mark I, was considered unsuitable by Starfleet for medical purposes, and that all Mark I's have been reassigned to menial labour onboard waste barges, scrubbing plasma
Plasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
pipes. As a consequence, and because Zimmerman's Mark IVs and the best actual doctors on Earth have been unable to cure Zimmerman, the scientist refuses to deal with the Doctor. The Doctor is unable to reason with Zimmerman, and as their similar personalities clash, the two engage in a heated argument and refuse to speak to each other any more.
Concerned for Zimmerman's health, Barclay suggests that a counselor
Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed professional counselor is a licensure for mental health professionals. The exact title varies by state, but the other most frequently used title is licensed mental health counselor . Several U.S. states, including Illinois, Maine, and Tennessee, have implemented a two-tier system whereby...
is needed to smooth relations between Zimmerman and the Doctor, and contacts the USS Enterprise
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-E)
The USS Enterprise is a Sovereign-class starship in the Star Trek franchise. It serves as the primary setting of the films Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
, only seven light-years distant, on a survey mission. He asks Deanna Troi
Deanna Troi
Commander Deanna Troi is a main character in the science-fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and related TV series and films, portrayed by actress Marina Sirtis. Troi is half-human, half-Betazoid and has the psionic ability to sense emotions. She serves as the ship's counselor...
to come to the station, and she advises that she will have to ask special permission from Captain Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
. Picard agrees, and Troi arrives at the station. However, she too is unable to reason with either the Doctor or Zimmerman, and storms out of the room after insulting both of them.
While speaking to Zimmerman's holographic servant, Troi realises that the hologram is less advanced than the Doctor, and that Zimmerman nevertheless respects her opinions. Troi prompts the hologram to talk with Zimmerman, and as she does so, Troi and Barclay secretly fiddle with the Doctor's files, convincing him that his programming is failing and that only Zimmerman, his creator, can save him.
Realising that they both need each other, Zimmerman and the Doctor patch up their differences, and the Doctor learns that Zimmerman's hostility is mainly due to his injured pride, resulting from Starfleet
Starfleet
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet or the Federation Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory, peacekeeping and military service maintained by the United Federation of Planets . It is the principal means by which the Federation conducts its exploration, defense, diplomacy and research...
's decision to assign his hundreds of Mark I Medical Holograms to menial labour. Zimmerman stabilises the Doctor's programming and begins making enhancements to his data files; additions which the Doctor strenuously opposes, explaining that he is happy the way he is. Zimmerman agrees to stop making additions and allows the Doctor to treat him, using an experimental cellular
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....
regeneration therapy he concocted on board Voyager. Zimmerman begins to make a full recovery, and thanks the Doctor for saving him, adding that he is immensely proud of the Doctor's accomplishments; the only Mark I still doing the task for which he was built, excelling at it, and having developed a true personality, in spite of Starfleet's petty criticisms. Troi returns to the Enterprise, satisfied with her diplomatic accomplishments; the Doctor is transmitted back to Voyager, and Zimmerman, recovering, returns to his holographic research.