“Thirty Days” is episode nine of season five of Star Trek: Voyager.
Tom is in the captain’s ready room with two armed security personnel. The captain is reducing his rank to ensign and is sentencing him to 30 days solitary confinement. He’s escorted to the brig, which appears to be lacking what’s needed to survive for 30 days. Or even one.
Tom is doing press-ups when Neelix enters with some food; he alters his count significantly. Tom is allowed basic nutrition only, but Neelix has also brought him a pad. No, Tom isn’t allowed holodeck privileges; this is punishment, not shore leave. Neelix can’t stay as no non-essential conversation is allowed.
With Neelix gone Tom picks up the pad and, after a couple of false starts, narrates a letter to his father. He’s in jail again but not why he’d think. It started whilst Tom was doing something his father would find a complete waste of time; a Captain Proton serial in the holodeck. Harry is being held captive by the Twin Mistresses of Evil – they’re not holograms but other crewmembers. The Delaney sisters, finally making their appearance. Harry is approving of how they are doing their part, so much so that he would prefer Tom didn’t come to rescue him. Then, Harry and Tom are called to the bridge.
After the sisters leave, Tom tells Harry he thinks Jenny really likes him. Harry knows, but he likes Megan. Tom asks what the difference is; they are identical twins. Apparently, their personalities are different. Tom says Harry has done it again; fallen for the unattainable woman. First a hologram, then a Borg, now the wrong twin.
Voyager has defected a concentrated mass of oxygen and hydrogen and plant and animal life. Not a planet; an ocean. In space. It has a containment field to keep it from dissipating. Three ships emerge from the ocean and Janeway hails them. They open fire. Voyager fires back and disables one ship’s weapons. Now, they want to talk. Voyager is hailed by Deputy Consul Burkus of the Monean Maritime Sovereignty. The captain tells him they have no interest in a fight and are explorers. They’d like to learn more about the ocean, if they’re willing. If they’re not, Voyager will leave. Burkus finds Voyager impressive and the captain offers him a tour.
Burkus, when onboard, says their ancestors were nomadic and discovered the ocean 300 years ago. Over 80,000 people now live there. Burkus is escorted to the briefing room and Tom, who seems fascinated, is invited as well. Another, Riga, mentions a few theories about how the ocean came to be but he thinks that it formed naturally, like a gas giant. He mentions a problem and, when Burkus suggests it may not be an appropriate topic, Riga says Voyager may be able to help. The ocean is losing containment and they need to explore the centre. That’s 600km away and their ships won’t last below 100km. Tom says they can do it.
Tom speaks to the captain in private; he always loved ancient sailing ships. His original plan was to join the Federation Naval Patrol but for his father it was only Starfleet. With a few simple modifications to the Delta Flyer, they can head in, and it will be faster than modifying Voyager.
The captain agrees and Tom, along with Harry, Seven of Nine and Riga, head into the ocean. Seven thinks their design for their main oxygen facility is efficient. Harry explains that’s a compliment. On Voyager, Janeway sees Burkus privately. The ocean will lose containment in less than 5 years. They may have to evacuate. Burkus says if he tells that to the 47 regional sovereigns, they will make their first unanimous resolution, calling for his head.
The Delta Flyer is approaching the centre and there’s a structure there, not built by the Moneans. It’s generating massive amounts of artificial gravity. It is what’s responsible for the ocean and it’s ancient; at least 100,000 years old. It’s also having problems.
The source of the problem is identified, and how to fix it. The problem seems to be that Burkus is more concerned with his political position. So, Tom takes matters into his own hands. That’s what resulted in him getting a, perhaps excessive – others received less in the past – punishment.