Dreadnought (episode)

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.

See dreadnought for related usages of the term.

"Dreadnought"
VOY, Episode 2x17 Production number: 134 First aired: 12 February 1996
←	33rd of 168 produced in VOY	→
←	32nd of 168 released in VOY	→
	{{{nNthReleasedInSeries_Remastered}}}th of 168 released in VOY Remastered
←	401st of 726 released in all	→
Written By Gary Holland Directed By LeVar Burton
49447.0 (2372)
	Arc: {{{wsArc0Desc}}} ({{{nArc0PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc0PartCount}}})
	Arc: {{{wsArc1Desc}}} ({{{nArc1PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc1PartCount}}})
	Arc: {{{wsArc2Desc}}} ({{{nArc2PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc2PartCount}}})
	Arc: {{{wsArc3Desc}}} ({{{nArc3PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc3PartCount}}})
	Arc: {{{wsArc4Desc}}} ({{{nArc4PartNumber}}} of {{{nArc4PartCount}}})

Voyager encounters Dreadnought, a Cardassian missile that B'Elanna Torres reprogrammed during her time in the Maquis. Lost in the Delta Quadrant, the missile is on an intercept course with an inhabited world.

Contents 1 Summary 2 Memorable Quotes 3 Background Information 3.1 Video and DVD releases 4 Links and References 4.1 Guest Stars 4.2 Co-Stars 4.3 References

[edit] Summary

Investigating space debris, the crew discover traces indicating that Cardassian weaponry caused the destruction. Chakotay and B'Elanna Torres reveal that the Cardassian technology is the Dreadnought missile, a weapon with artificial intelligence and its own weapons systems; it was programmed to destroy a Maquis planet, but it went into orbit instead, allowing Torres to reprogram it and fire it at a Cardassian planet.

It was taken to the Delta Quadrant by the Caretaker. Due to the damage in the sensors that was caused by the trip to the Delta Quadrant, Dreadnought thinks a peaceful planet named Rakosa V is the Cardassian target Torres programmed years ago. Torres tries to reprogram the weapon, but after she beams back to Voyager, Dreadnought reactivates and resumes course. Further investigation reveals that Torres programmed Dreadnought to believe she was being coerced by Cardassians if she should ever attempt to reprogram the missile. Torres boards Dreadnought once again while Janeway informs Kellan, the First Minister of Rakosa V that Dreadnought has resumed course. During Torres' repeated attempts to disable Dreadnought's systems, she convinces it to reassess the situation. After doing so, Dreadnought decides that Torres has abandoned her Maquis beliefs and instead joined the Cardassians. Dreadnought deactivates life support, but Torres remains on the weapon, continuing to try to shut its engines off. Meanwhile, Janeway has promised Kellan that rather than allowing Dreadnought to destroy Rakosa V she will activate the self-destruct on Voyager, which would subsequently destroy Dreadnought. Meanwhile, on Dreadnought, Torres is able to access the old Cardassian control program causing Dreadnought to have an "identity crisis." During this time, she is able to open a hatch that allows access to the warp core. Entering the hatch, Torres fires a phaser into Dreadnought's warp core, attempting to cut through its shielding, while attempting to prevent herself from entering unconsciousness from a lack of life support. Nearing the orbit of Rakosa V, Torres is able to breach the core's containment and causes a self-destruct sequence in the weapon before she is transported out of the vessel by Voyager.

[edit] Memorable Quotes

"You would... sacrifice yourselves to save a people you didn't know two days ago?"
"To save two million lives? That's not a hard decision."
"... your reputation in this quadrant isn't deserved, captain. For what it's worth... you have made a friend here."

- Kellan and Janeway

"When a bomb starts talking about itself in the third person, I get worried."

- Tom Paris, in reference to a subspace communication from Dreadnought's computer

"Please turn to your Emergency Medical Holographic Channel."
"Doctor, I forgot about you."
"How flattering."

- The Doctor and Janeway

"... I even programmed it to warn Federation ships to stay out of its way.. In my own voice!"
"Your own voice?"
"Listening to that Cardassian Computer voice was driving me crazy!"

- Torres and Tom Paris, referring to the computer voice of Dreadnought

"Never thought I'd be glad to hear that voice."

- Torres, after she reactivates the Cardassian back-up program

"Who'd have thought, two years ago, all those weeks we spent together, perfecting your program, that we'd end up out here, trying to kill each other!"

- Torres, close to passing out while attempting to breach Dreadnought's containment field

[edit] Background Information

• Kes claims she "once knew a boy named Tarik", a reference to Voyager stand-in actor Tarik Ergin, who is frequently seen in the background of episodes as Lieutenant Ayala.
• Guest star Dan Kern had previously appeared as Lieutenant Dean, Picard's fencing partner in TNG: "We'll Always Have Paris".
• Tom Paris arrives late and untidy for the daily brief, Chakotay gives him an informal reprimand of his recent indiscipline. This indiscipline later comes to a head in "Investigations" with the departure of Paris from Voyager.
• Paris' comment about bombs talking in the third person (and arguably much of this episode) is possibly a reference to the cult classic sci-fi movie Dark Star, in which a member of the crew holds an extended philosophical discussion with a bomb in an attempt to convince it not to explode.
• This episode marks the first instance when Janeway initiates Voyager's self-destruct sequence.
• A male voice was used instead of regular Cardassian computer voice actress Judi Durand, so as to be easily distinguishable from Roxann Dawson as the Maquis program voice.
• When discussing names for both the doctor and Ensign Wildman's unborn baby, it is strongly implied that the sex of the baby is male. Ensign Wildman later gives birth to a girl, Naomi.

[edit] Video and DVD releases

• UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 2.7, 22 July 1996.
• As part of the VOY Season 2 DVD collection.

[edit] Links and References

[edit] Guest Stars

• Raphael Sbarge as Michael Jonas
• Nancy Hower as Ensign Wildman
• Michael Spound as Lorrum
• Dan Kern as Kellan

[edit] Co-Stars

• Majel Barrett as the computer voice
• Tarik Ergin as Ayala (uncredited)

[edit] References

Alpha 441; Aschelan V; auto-destruct; Badlands; Benaren; Bolarus IX; Cameron; captain's prerogative; Cardassian; Cardassian ATR-4107; Caretaker; Celtic; containment field; Demilitarized Zone; duritanium; electromagnetic field; Elrem; EPS relay; Frederick; Greskrendtregk; Intrepid-class; ion radiation; kinetic detonator; Ktarian; magnetic constrictor; Maquis; multiphasic sweep; navigational sensor; neutrino; Ocampa; plasma wave; photon torpedo; plasma burst; plasma storm; polyalloy; quantum torpedo; radiothermic signature; Rakosa V; Rakosa One; Rakosan; Rakosan fighter; reactor core; Rollins; Sakura Prime; self-destruct; sensor echo; Sural; tachyon beam; tactical subroutine; Tarrik; tetryon; thoron shock emitter; Vulcan (planet); warp trail

Previous episode: "Meld"

Star Trek: Voyager Season 2

Next episode: "Death Wish"