“Parallax” is episode three of season one of Star Trek: Voyager.
In the previous episode, “Caretaker: Part II”, Chakotay crashed the Maquis ship – beaming out at the last minute – into a Kazon-Ogla ship to help Voyager. This left the Maquis without a ship of their own and the decision was made to integrate them into the Starfleet crew.
This integration is not going smoothly. The episode opens in sickbay where the EMH doctor is attempting to treat a crewman, Lt. Carey (Josh Clark), for a broken nose. Chakotay and Tuvok are also there. Carey is saying that she is out of control. He and B’Elanna Torres had a disagreement over the power grid. Carey told her to step aside, she pushed him, he pushed back, she broke his nose in three places. Then said sorry and that he should maybe go to sickbay. The Doctor states that was good advice.
Outside, Chakotay says that B’Elanna has been confined to quarters. Tuvok wants her in the brig. What, for 75 years? No; the captain has the authority to try B’Elanna on the ship due to extenuating circumstances. Chakotay does not want to involve the captain yet. According to Tuvok, what B’Elanna did is a court-martial offence. Chakotay explains that B’Elanna is Maquis. Not any longer. Nor is Chakotay. Tuvok will make a full report in his security log. Afterwards, two Maquis approach Chakotay with questions. They heard that Janeway is sticking Torres in the brig and that all Maquis will be confined to quarters when not on duty. He tells them that isn’t true. He is told he has the backing of his former crew if he wants to take over the ship; if Chakotay hears that mentioned again he will throw them in the brig for mutiny.
Chakotay goes to see B’Elanna, who is still annoyed. He tells her she nearly killed Carey, Tuvok wants to court-martial her and the Maquis want to seize the ship. She’s made it a lousy day for him. Options are she can stay in her quarters for the next 75 years. Or she can apologise, in person, to Carey. To bond with him; B’Elanna will need his support if she’s going to be chief engineer. No, that isn’t his twisted sense of humour; Carey may be next in line but B’Elanna is a better engineer. And he hasn’t told the captain about this matter yet.
Janeway states in her log that they are performing what would be routine maintenance if they had access to a starbase. Tom, Harry, Janeway, Tuvok and Chakotay are in a conference room. Tom is saying warp engine efficiency is down and soon they will need to get out and push. Harry tells them that attempting to use the holodeck’s power as an alternative energy source didn’t work; it isn’t compatible. Chakotay suggests moving security personnel to deck 7 so they can shut down deck 9. Tuvok finds this inconvenient but acceptable.
Kes and Neelix, who have also joined the crew, arrive and Neelix apologises for being late, but no-one told him about the meeting. And there are not enough chairs. They were not invited; senior staff only. Neelix states that he and Kes are the senior members of their races and he knows the region better than anyone else. So, they get to join in. Kes has a suggestion about growing their own food on the ship – the replicators are down and the emergency rations are running short – and Harry suggests cargo bay 2, which has some appropriate things to set up a hydroponics bay. Kes is designated to run it; it’s her idea.
They still need a bunch of stuff and Chakotay nominates B’Elanna as chief engineer. The captain has now heard about the incident, so she isn’t over keen. They also need more medical personnel; the EMH is restricted to sickbay. Tom gets volunteered to train as this. Then the entire ship shakes.
The Voyager has encountered a spatial distortion, a highly localised distortion in the space time continuum. A Type IV Quantum Singularity, one that has a ship within it. Neelix suggests a nearby planet that may be able to help. First, Chakotay contacts B’Elanna, who suggests a subspace tractor beam. Janeway contacts Carey, who says it might work. Afterwards, she has a private word with Chakotay. The captain is annoyed that he called B’Elanna. She brings up the problem with the Maquis; Chakotay, at least, is an Academy graduate with Starfleet command experience. He suggests she gets to know B’Elanna.
Kes goes to see the Doctor, to ask for a soil sample. He moans a bit. Kes treats him more like a person than anyone else has as yet. And notices that he is shrinking.
The tractor beam doesn’t work and proves problematic to switch off. Carey has to physically cut it off. Janeway decides they will go for help after all, but they end up back where they started. the ship is going in circles. The Doctor is still shrinking and the crew start reporting many physical problems. Everything is related and, in the process of dealing with them, Janeway does get to know B’Elanna better.