“Live Fast and Prosper” is episode twenty-one of season six of Star Trek: Voyager.
Two miners are waiting for someone to arrive; one wants to make a good impression. One isn’t certain they should be doing this. Two people beam in and say they are Captain Janeway and Tuvok of the Federation Starship Voyager. They are not, even though they look similar.
‘Captain Janeway’ says they are a long way from home. The miners are running short of dilithium and may have to suspend work. The chief of mining operations is currently absent. The only commodity they have is bolomite. ‘Janeway’ isn’t impressed but ‘Tuvok’ says it can help with omega radiation therapy. The orphaned survivors of Selnia Prime, where the entire adult population was killed, were exposed to it. They are trying to help. ‘Janeway’ agrees to swap ten kilotons of dilithium for the same in bolomite. ‘Tuvok’ wants to tour the facility, but ‘Janeway’ says they have to leave; a neutronic storm is approaching.
Back in orbit on what is definitely not Voyager, ‘Janeway’ – Dala – removes her hair. ‘Tuvok’ – Mobar – has been trying to portray his character as realistically as possible. The bolomite is beamed aboard but Dala says the neutronic storm is approaching and they have to leave. They’ll be back with the dilithium when it clears.
On the real Voyager, the captain’s sonic shower is going a bit wrong and breaks her mirror. In engineering, B’Elanna says they have system failures on 8 decks. On hearing about the shower, she changes this to 9. Diagnostics can’t locate the problem. Janeway suggests gremlins. B’Elanna has discovered a problem with the replicators.
In the mess hall, Harry and Tom invite Tuvok to sit with them. It seems someone has been messing with Tuvok’s holodeck programs again. He suspects Tom. Then B’Elanna and the captain arrive and tell everyone to stop eating. There’s a contaminant in the replicator system. Nothing serious, but if you feel queasy, report to sickbay.
Scanning the kitchen reveals a heating coil covered in gunk which is the source of the problems. It’s not Starfleet issue and Neelix explains he and Tom got it from Sister Dala, who was trying to help the orphans. Then Chakotay summons the captain to the bridge.
Orek, the head of mining operations from the mine from earlier wants his dilithium. One way or another, he is going to collect it. He comes across and the senior staff watch a very garbled transmission from ‘Captain Janeway.’ The captain says they have never been to the mine; their logs will confirm it. Orek asks how he knows they are genuine. Tuvok asks the same about his data. When Orek mentions the story about orphans his miners were told, the captain excuses herself.
She heads to engineering to speak to Neelix. She wants to know everything about Sister Dala. Tom and Neelix were looking for a sport for the Doctor when they met a man and a woman. The woman says Neelix looks like their Redeemer of Light. In whose honour they make a pilgrimage to help the orphans. Sadly, they have no food to bring them this year; a blight destroyed a crop. An agreement is made to trade – they can’t accept charity, only give it – replicated supplies for the heating coil.
The two clerics are invited back to the Delta Flyer whilst the food is replicated. Neither were left alone to gain access to the system, but at the end of the visit, Sister Dala suggested a blessing and Brother Mobar performed one. Tom and Neelix had their eyes closed whilst Mobar clearly scanned the place. A visit to the Flyer confirms the entire database was downloaded. Tom asks what a couple of religious clerics would want with the database. The captain says it will help them pose as Federation officers. Tom and Neelix have been had.
Orek is convinced to help by giving them the data he has. Now, they need to find the fake Federation officers. The mine wasn’t the first con they did. Nor was it the last. Though Mobar is a little too into his role as Tuvok. Tom and Neelix, both have whom have a somewhat shady background, are concerned they have lost their edge.