Warp Factor Trek

Voyager serves up another whodunit story. Does it work better this time than in “Ex Post Facto”?

Summary

During a planetary away mission, Carey shows Chakotay a native fruit. Neelix chimes in, warning them that it’s poisonous and not to judge things by their appearance. When Voyager detects a Kazon-Nistrim ship hiding near the planet, Captain Janeway recalls the away team, but Seska has gone missing from the group. Chakotay goes to search for her in a cave but is injured by a Kazon.

Recovering in his quarters, Chakotay receives a visit from Seska, who brings him some mushroom soup she stole from Neelix’s storage. Chakotay scolds her. It turns out that they once had a romantic relationship. Chakotay is called to the bridge.

Voyager receives a distress call from the same Kazon ship encountered earlier. Despite Neelix suggesting it might be a trap, Janeway orders Voyager to render assistance.

An away team aboard the Kazon ship discovers several dead crew members. Seska finds a still-living Kazon, who is beamed aboard Voyager at Chakotay’s request. It seems the explosion was caused by a Federation device.

In a turbolift, Tuvok, Janeway, and Chakotay come to the conclusion that someone from Voyager likely provided the Kazon with the Federation technology. But who?

Suspicion falls on Seska. In sickbay, Kes reminds her that she never provided a blood sample. Seska claims that, because of a childhood disease, she cannot donate blood. At The Doctor’s insistence, she promises to do so later.

Seska beams aboard the damaged Kazon ship to remove the device. Chakotay explains that she is trying to prove her innocence. However, an accident occurs, and she is beamed back to Voyager injured.

After Carey is questioned, another Kazon ship arrives. The First Maje, Culluh, greets Janeway, who informs him about Voyager’s investigation and reveals that the only survivor from the damaged ship is in sickbay. Culluh requests to see him, and Janeway agrees.

In sickbay, Culluh arrives with an assistant. The Doctor and Janeway notify them that the Kazon patient has had a blood transfusion using donated blood from Voyager’s crew. Captain Janeway refuses to release the damaged ship due to the ongoing investigation. While Janeway and The Doctor confer to the side, Culluh’s assistant injects a poison into the patient, killing him. Janeway orders the Kazon off her ship. After they leave, The Doctor reveals to Janeway that Seska’s blood was genetically altered to be Bajoran whereas she was actually born Cardassian.

Later, Chakotay visits Seska in sickbay and tells her what they have discovered. Seska explains that she had Orkett’s disease, which swept through Bajoran camps during her childhood, and that bone marrow from a compassionate Cardassian woman saved her life.

In Engineering, Tuvok, Torres, and Chakotay monitor data being entered into a console, indicating the guilty party.

Returning to sickbay, Chakotay confronts Seska with the evidence. The Doctor testifies that Seska’s disease story doesn’t add up. Seska claims they would already be home if not for Janeway’s determination to uphold Federation principles, which Seska regards as foolish. Confessing that she doesn’t know why she ever loved Chakotay, Seska escapes by beaming onto the Kazon ship, which promptly flees.

In the mess hall, Chakotay asks Tuvok whether he believes him to be naïve. Tuvok says he doesn’t believe that is the case, admitting that he himself fell for Seska’s ruse too. This admission makes Chakotay feel slightly better.

Analysis

Other than Neelix hinting at things to come by advising Carey and Chakotay not to judge a book by its cover, the teaser to “State of Flux” begins with the Star Trek trope of an officer getting injured. The episode quickly turns into a whodunit. Unlike “Ex Post Facto”, I found the overall production engaging from start to finish. The story features strong character moments, and Seska’s closing monologue is worth the viewing alone.

I appreciated the hint at Chakotay and Seska’s past relationship. Having Seska approach and embrace Chakotay while he is facing away from her in his quarters was a nice moment. Throughout the episode, it’s evident how strong their relationship must have been. Seska’s eventual statement about not loving Chakotay stung.

Until now, I didn’t like Seska’s character. While she did have motive to despise the Federation, I ultimately didn’t see her as a traitor. The aforementioned monologue by her in sickbay was a powerful and shocking moment that made her seem interesting. Her character arc in this short amount of time is spot on. Martha Hackett finally had some truly good moments to work with here.

One moment that bothered me was Seska beaming off Voyager, even though it’s a cool exit. It looks impressive, but the image of a magician disappearing in a puff of smoke keeps coming to mind. Although she is a Maquis and probably had a lot of tricks up her sleeve because of that, I felt her beam-out was a cheap way to allow her to escape, and it didn’t feel satisfying. I hope Voyager’s writing staff made the smart move by bringing her back in later episodes.

The return of the Kazon was enjoyable. It was interesting to meet the Kazon-Nistrim, described by Neelix as one of the most violent Kazon sects. However, it was a little disappointing that the Kazon don’t have more background or involvement this time around. I’m hopeful that, just like with Seska, there are subsequent episodes featuring them.

The serious tone of “State of Flux” – having an officer reject the Federation and providing a believable and complicated romantic relationship – elevates this episode into the good category. Despite it having some hiccups, I was glad for such an episode.