“State of Flux” is episode eleven of season one of Star Trek: Voyager.
The crew is gathering food on a planet and Carey comes up to Chakotay with something he says is some kind of apple. Neelix tells him that one bite will kill you, and describes how. Neelix actually brought them here for a root, which he says is the best source of vitamins and minerals in the quadrant. After tasting it, Chakotay would be happy to settle for the second best. Neelix’s attempts to sell the root do not really work.
On Voyager, Tom tells the captain he doesn’t think they are alone and asks Tuvok to do a scan, for there is something like a reflection in low orbit. Tuvok confirms that there is another ship out there. It isn’t using a cloaking device, but some kind of masking circuitry. Janeway contacts Chakotay and asks if they can detect any unexpected lifeforms. Only bloodworms, which Neelix wishes to bring back for tartar, Chakotay is trying to talk him out of it. A polaron burst is fired from the ship, revealing a Kazon-Nistron vessel, and the captain tells Chakotay to collect the team and return, but Seska cannot be found. Harry says she may be in some caves. Chakotay goes to look whilst the others return and finds her. Seska was collecting mushrooms for Chakotay’s favourite soup. There are Kazon-Nistron in the caves and, whilst getting away, Chakotay is injured.
Chakotay is in his quarters when Seska arrives with some mushroom soup. Unfortunately, it seems she and some others duped Neelix away so that she could make it. Which means they looted the food reserves. Chakotay is not happy, and asks if Neelix knows. Neelix contacts the commander and Seska replies that he probably does. In punishment, Chakotay revokes replicator privileges for two days for everyone involved, including him. The conversation suggests that he and Seska have had a prior relationship.
Voyager receives a distress call from a Kazon ship, one whose dimensions are identical to the one at the planet they just left. Neelix warns caution, as it could be a trap; the Nistron are one of the most violent sects of the Kazon Collective. Harry confirms that the ship could have a genuine problem and Tom cannot detect any other Kazon ships in the area. Janeway plans to act cautiously, but this could be an opportunity to make friends, and they need all the friends they can get.
A team beams aboard the Kazon vessel to find the crew merged with the ship itself. Nucleonic radiation is being kept back by containment fields. Seska discovers one of the crew still alive, and he is transported directly to sickbay. B’Elanna asks Tuvok if a console, that appears to be the source of the explosion, seems odd to him. Tuvok replies that it doesn’t match the configuration of the rest of the vessel. B’Elanna can detect trace elements that are used by Federation technology, and no-one else she knows about.
According to the Doctor, the Kazon has had nearly every cell in his body altered. Chakotay mentions the others and says this Kazon was luckier. The Doctor thinks that remains to be seen. He needs new blood, as his is killing him, and the crew needs checking for compatible donors.
Outside, Tuvok, Janeway and Chakotay are discussing the source of the explosion. It needs recovering, but the radiation makes it difficult. Tuvok gives three explanations as to how the Kazon ship got Federation technology. It isn’t Federation, but similar; another Federation ship has been in the area before, but there are no known reports of any being lost; or someone on the ship gave their technology to the Kazon. Janeway does not like option three. Tuvok suggests that it isn’t a coincidence that the Kazon could hide from their sensors; someone could have told them how to hide prior to Voyager‘s arrival. Seska had the chance, but Chakotay doesn’t believe she did.
They need the console and Seska and Carey put forward suggestions. Seska’s is thought too risky. B’Elanna tells the captain she will have it ready tomorrow. The captain tells her by the end of the day. B’Elanna corrects her; it will be tomorrow, she doesn’t exaggerate. B’Elanna was going to take Seska, but Chakotay replies he wants her to coordinate from the bridge. Afterwards, Seska confronts Chakotay about this. She then goes to see the Doctor to find out the condition of the Kazon. Kes asks her for a blood sample, as she never gave one; Seska says her blood was contaminated by a childhood disease and is unfit for transfusions.
Someone from the ship did contact the Kazon-Nistron, which means someone onboard is a traitor. Another Kazon-Nistron ship arrives, and more are on their way, making time limited. Relations with them are not improving. Seska does things that could be interpreted as an attempt to clear her name, or alternatively as a way of hiding the truth. So, is she trustworthy or not?