Workforce (Voyager episode)
Encyclopedia
Workforce is a two-part episode from the seventh and final season of the TV series Star Trek: Voyager
. Part one was directed by Allan Kroeker
, and part two by Roxann Dawson
.
happily shows up for her first day of work at an energy plant, eager to take up her new position. None of the other Voyager crew members are visible, and it appears that Voyager has finally decided to give up its attempts to return to the Alpha Quadrant (and Earth).
After checking in with the plant supervisor and being shown to her station, Janeway befriends a man named Jaffen (who intervenes when she inadvertently misconfigures her console and sets off an alarm) and soon runs afoul of Annika Hansen
, the plant's new 'efficiency monitor', who seems an incredibly difficult person to please. Tuvok
, a fellow employee, approaches Janeway in apparent confusion, but none of the three recognize each other. Tuvok acts and claims that they don't belong there, which attracts the attention of a doctor and mystifies Janeway and Jaffen – but now, something is clearly amiss.
A prominent doctor diagnoses Tuvok with "dysphoria syndrome" and begins treatment, and Tuvok shows signs that on previous occasions, he has recalled his time on Voyager and attempts several more times to alert the others.
Tom Paris
, who was employed at the plant with Janeway and Tuvok, manages to get himself fired, even though there is a labor shortage. He takes a job at a bar, and befriends B'Elanna Torres
, a pregnant woman who also works at the energy plant.
Meanwhile, Chakotay
, Neelix
, and Harry Kim
return to Voyager from a short mission away to find the ship empty and the Emergency Command Hologram
in charge, attempting (with his usual irritability) to effect repairs on the damaged ship, while contending with a damaged and uncooperative computer system. The ECH explains the situation: the ship was damaged by a floating mine, which turned out to be a ruse so that unknown parties can abduct the crew.
Chakotay has himself surgically altered to resemble the planet's native race, and beams down to the planet, masquerading as "Amal Kotay". After following Torres for several minutes, he assists Neelix in abducting her and she is transported to Voyager (where the Doctor can easily reverse the mental conditioning), Chakotay is unable to escape but avoids capture.
's help, Torres begins to remember her life as a starship engineer. On the planet, Chakotay (who has managed to escape capture thus far) approaches Janeway, but is unable to overcome her skepticism.
A young doctor begins to become suspicious that so many people of the same species have the apparently rare 'dysphoria syndrome', and that almost all of them got jobs at the energy plant, all began working at the same time, and none of them have any previous file references. After gentle inquiries result in an official 'hands-off' warning from the local law enforcement, the doctor approaches Annika Hansen, who is initially sceptical, but begins taking Tuvok's rants seriously.
What the Efficiency Monitor discovers breaks the spell: the workers at the plant were diagnosed with dysphoria syndrome (and treated with mind-altering drugs), specifically so that they could be placed in the plant to alleviate the labor shortage. Examining the files of the plant's newest 'employees', she discovers that they are all Voyager officers and crew, and begins to launch a deeper investigation.
Meanwhile, Chakotay, Kim and the Doctor discover that the planet's own government is unaware of the kidnappings. Working with the planet's doctor, Annika unmasks the conspiracy and frees Voyager's crew, and the planetary government pledges to end the forced-labor practices begun by plant staff.
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...
. Part one was directed by Allan Kroeker
Allan Kroeker
Allan Kroeker is a Canadian film and television director, cinematographer, screenwriter, film editor and film producer. He has the distinction of directing the series finales for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Enterprise...
, and part two by Roxann Dawson
Roxann Dawson
Roxann Dawson is an American actress, producer and director, best known as B'Elanna Torres on the television series Star Trek: Voyager.-Acting:...
.
Part I
On an alien planet, Kathryn JanewayKathryn Janeway
Kathryn Janeway, played by Kate Mulgrew, is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise. As the captain of the Starfleet starship USS Voyager, she was the lead character on the television series Star Trek: Voyager, and later, a Starfleet admiral, as seen in the 2002 feature film Star Trek...
happily shows up for her first day of work at an energy plant, eager to take up her new position. None of the other Voyager crew members are visible, and it appears that Voyager has finally decided to give up its attempts to return to the Alpha Quadrant (and Earth).
After checking in with the plant supervisor and being shown to her station, Janeway befriends a man named Jaffen (who intervenes when she inadvertently misconfigures her console and sets off an alarm) and soon runs afoul of Annika Hansen
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...
, the plant's new 'efficiency monitor', who seems an incredibly difficult person to please. Tuvok
Tuvok
Tuvok is one of the main characters on the television series Star Trek: Voyager. Tuvok is a Vulcan who serves as the ship's chief of security and its chief tactical officer. Tim Russ portrayed Tuvok throughout the show's run, from 1995 to 2001....
, a fellow employee, approaches Janeway in apparent confusion, but none of the three recognize each other. Tuvok acts and claims that they don't belong there, which attracts the attention of a doctor and mystifies Janeway and Jaffen – but now, something is clearly amiss.
A prominent doctor diagnoses Tuvok with "dysphoria syndrome" and begins treatment, and Tuvok shows signs that on previous occasions, he has recalled his time on Voyager and attempts several more times to alert the others.
Tom Paris
Tom Paris
Thomas Eugene "Tom" Paris, played by Robert Duncan McNeill, is a character in the television series Star Trek: Voyager. Paris serves as the chief helmsman and an auxiliary medic aboard the USS Voyager...
, who was employed at the plant with Janeway and Tuvok, manages to get himself fired, even though there is a labor shortage. He takes a job at a bar, and befriends B'Elanna Torres
B'Elanna Torres
B'Elanna Torres is a main character in Star Trek: Voyager played by Roxann Dawson. She is portrayed as a half-human half-Klingon born in 2349 on the Federation colony Kessik IV. Torres joined the Maquis in 2370 and was serving on the Val Jean when brought to the Delta Quadrant...
, a pregnant woman who also works at the energy plant.
Meanwhile, Chakotay
Chakotay
Chakotay , played by Robert Beltran, is a character in Star Trek: Voyager. He is the First Officer of the USS Voyager.-Character biography:...
, Neelix
Neelix
Mr. Neelix is a fictional character in the television series Star Trek: Voyager. He is played by actor Ethan Phillips.-Fictional Biography:Mr. Neelix is a Talaxian originally from Rinax, a moon of the planet Talax, in the Delta quadrant, although his great-grandfather was Mylean. His entire family...
, and Harry Kim
Harry Kim (Star Trek)
Ensign Harry S. L. Kim, played by Garrett Wang, is a character in the television series Star Trek: Voyager. He serves as the USS Voyagers operations officer.-Depiction:...
return to Voyager from a short mission away to find the ship empty and the Emergency Command Hologram
Doctor (Star Trek)
The Doctor, an Emergency Medical Hologram Mark I , is a fictional character from the television series Star Trek: Voyager, played by actor Robert Picardo...
in charge, attempting (with his usual irritability) to effect repairs on the damaged ship, while contending with a damaged and uncooperative computer system. The ECH explains the situation: the ship was damaged by a floating mine, which turned out to be a ruse so that unknown parties can abduct the crew.
Chakotay has himself surgically altered to resemble the planet's native race, and beams down to the planet, masquerading as "Amal Kotay". After following Torres for several minutes, he assists Neelix in abducting her and she is transported to Voyager (where the Doctor can easily reverse the mental conditioning), Chakotay is unable to escape but avoids capture.
Part II
With NeelixNeelix
Mr. Neelix is a fictional character in the television series Star Trek: Voyager. He is played by actor Ethan Phillips.-Fictional Biography:Mr. Neelix is a Talaxian originally from Rinax, a moon of the planet Talax, in the Delta quadrant, although his great-grandfather was Mylean. His entire family...
's help, Torres begins to remember her life as a starship engineer. On the planet, Chakotay (who has managed to escape capture thus far) approaches Janeway, but is unable to overcome her skepticism.
A young doctor begins to become suspicious that so many people of the same species have the apparently rare 'dysphoria syndrome', and that almost all of them got jobs at the energy plant, all began working at the same time, and none of them have any previous file references. After gentle inquiries result in an official 'hands-off' warning from the local law enforcement, the doctor approaches Annika Hansen, who is initially sceptical, but begins taking Tuvok's rants seriously.
What the Efficiency Monitor discovers breaks the spell: the workers at the plant were diagnosed with dysphoria syndrome (and treated with mind-altering drugs), specifically so that they could be placed in the plant to alleviate the labor shortage. Examining the files of the plant's newest 'employees', she discovers that they are all Voyager officers and crew, and begins to launch a deeper investigation.
Meanwhile, Chakotay, Kim and the Doctor discover that the planet's own government is unaware of the kidnappings. Working with the planet's doctor, Annika unmasks the conspiracy and frees Voyager's crew, and the planetary government pledges to end the forced-labor practices begun by plant staff.