“Natural Law” is episode twenty-two of season seven of Star Trek: Voyager.
Chakotay and Seven are in a shuttle on the way to a conference. Chakotay is admiring the land they are flying over; Seven is more concerned about getting to the conference. The shuttle shakes and Seven reports an energy barrier below that their sensors didn’t originally detect. It covers thousands of square kilometres; Species 312 used similar technology. All systems are failing and the shuttle will break apart. They can’t transport through the barrier but Seven thinks a rift can be opened with phasors. This is done. The shuttle passes through the barrier in pieces but they beam to the surface. Yes, Chakotay has destroyed yet another shuttle. Seriously, why does anyone let him fly?
The barrier has closed behind them and Chakotay is injured. Seven thinks they could construct a beacon from the shuttle debris, which is scattered over several kilometres, to send a distress signal. Through the barrier? Maybe.
Tom on the Delta Flyer is zooming around a space station. He’s contacted by Lidosian port control for a piloting violation. His commanding officer will be notified of the infraction and the penalty. Which, according to Captain Janeway, is a course in flight safety, followed by a test. And everyone has shore leave, so Tom will have time to do it. Their rules are to comply with local law.
Chakotay and Seven find debris, but Chakotay also detects humanoid lifesigns. They may be able to help. Unless their hostile, according to Seven. Chakotay will give them the benefit of the doubt. But not to split up. Just in case. The locals, however, are far too primitive to help. Seven will look for debris whilst Chakotay rests his leg. She finds a piece and tries to contact Chakotay. He’s being approached by the locals, though, and one smashes the commbadge when it talks. Seven finds Chakotay later and the latter says the locals are friendly. They’ve treated his wound. She wants to leave; he says to stay the night.
B’Elanna, Harry and Neelix are heading for shore leave when they bump into Tom. Tom says he will join them in a few hours. You can skip the lessons and go straight to the test, if the instructor agrees. The instructor, Kleg, beams aboard. He does not agree. Tom will take the lessons. This will take some time.
Chakotay is trying to communicate with the locals; it seems they don’t have a spoken language, communicating by gestures. One wants his rank insignia. Trading something in return. Seven returns; she may have found a way of communicating. Not with the locals; with Voyager. She needs the shuttle’s deflector. Which is 6km away. She believes it’s intact. Chakotay suggests she take a guide. Seven doesn’t want one. She ends up tripping and losing her tricorder. Then walking in a circle. The weather deteriorates but she had been followed by one of the locals who helps out.
Some of the other locals are copying Chakotay’s facial tattoo, which disturbs him. They need to get out before contaminating them any further. Kleg doesn’t think much of the design of parts of the Delta Flyer and Tom asks why he should be responsible for the design flaws, as the pilot? Because Kleg knows he was the chief designer.