“Tsunkatse” is episode fifteen of season six of Star Trek: Voyager.
A cheering crowd, including some Starfleet personnel, are around an arena cheering. One man enters the arena to cheers. Another, a Hirogen, does it to more boos than cheers. The two fight and the Hirogen wins. Chakotay and B’Elanna are in the crowd; they look to be enjoying themselves.
Voyager is at the Narcadian homeworld having shore leave. The captain plans to visit a planet in the neighbouring system, leaving Chakotay in charge. She’s briefing him as she heads to the shuttle bay; apparently, Neelix is trying to enhance his plasma burners with Borg technology. Afterwards, B’Elanna comes up to Chakotay; there’s another match scheduled. He has a system diagnostic. She points out he’s in charge and can delegate. Harry will be free.
In the galley, Neelix has some bright yellow stuff cooking. Not lunch; leola root ointment for his skin. Neelix was so excited to go to the beach he forgot his dermaline and fell asleep under two suns. They invite him to a Tsunkatse match. Seven thinks they are pointless. Chakotay asks if Tuvok is interested, as he appreciates the martial arts. No; he and Seven are heading to investigate a collapsing micro nebula. Neither requires shore leave.
Tom has nav data for Seven, which he brings to her in the cargo bay. He thinks she packs like B’Elanna. Rather, overpacks. The Doctor finds Seven on the way to the shuttle bay. He thinks she should use the opportunity to develop her social skills. She will develop them with Tuvok. The Doctor doesn’t think Vulcans are the best choice for that. Yes, he would be better. Seven invitees the Doctor to join them. He declines.
In the shuttle, Seven points out that they have gone over 2 hours without conversation. The Doctor advises her to engage in conversation to break awkward silences. Tuvok asks if she found the silence awkward. No. Neither did he. Then an unfamiliar vessel is detected. It disables their systems and beams an explosive onboard. They are unable to disarm it and it explodes.
Seven awakens to find she is being scanned. The man examining her, Penk (Jeffrey Combs), welcomes her to Tsunkatse. The audience has never had the pleasure of seeing a drone compete. She will be very popular. Seven asks about Tuvok. He was injured in the explosion. Yes, she can see him. Nothing is more important than the happiness of his fighters. The Hirogen (played by J.G Hertzler, perhaps best known for his DS9 role of Martok; despite he and Jeffrey Combs appearing many times in that series, this is apparently the first time they’ve been in a scene together) sarcastically comments that Penk’s generosity is legendary.
Tuvok is brought in; he’s rather the worse for wear. He will be treated if Seven fights. If she doesn’t, Tuvok will fight in a red match. The Hirogen states these only end with the death of a competitor; Tuvok will be killed. He suggests Seven in a blue match. She agrees as long as Tuvok is treated.
Chakotay tells B’Elanna she has the bridge. She accuses him of sticking her with the shift so that he can go see a fight. He’s delegating. Like she suggested. Chakotay is going because he’s an anthropologist. Neelix is being treated by the Doctor; he had an allergic reaction to the ointment. He should stay out of the sun. Neelix comments that he’s been invited to a Tsunkatse match. The Doctor isn’t a fan. And Chakotay is a fan of boxing, arguably the most barbaric sport in Earth’s history. Neelix should come with the Doctor. To a bug museum.
Neelix choses the fight. Chakotay explains it to him; it sounds like they don’t know there’s a lethal version. The first fighter comes out, to cheers – The Rock, in one of his earlier non-wrestling roles. Then Seven comes out. Suddenly, the Starfleet people are having a lot less fun. Seven tells her opponent that resistance is futile. She can’t hear the others in the audience. Chakotay contacts B’Elanna; she can’t detect Seven. Because the holographic projections.
Voyager now needs to find where the fights are actually being staged. Meanwhile, Seven is not happy that, in order to survive and keep Tuvok alive, she may have to kill another competitor.