Unity ( episode ) Chakotay is injured and trapped on a world where the inhabitants are embroiled in conflict , but the people who rescue and care for him harbor a disturbing secret . Summary . Teaser . While attempting to find a faster way through the Nekrit Expanse , Commander Chakotay and Ensign Kaplan cannot get a fix on their current position and are therefore lost . When Chakotay points out an asteroid field , Kaplan notes that it is the same one they passed two hours before – they have been flying in circles . They cannot contact " Voyager " as they are out of com range . Soon after , they pick up a signal buoy with a Federation signature . As they get closer , they hear a distress call from the planet . Before they land their shuttlecraft on the planet , Chakotay has Kaplan launch a message buoy so " Voyager " will know they landed in response to a distress call . Upon landing , they find a desolate scene and are met by a large group of alien s Act One . The two almost immediately come under fire from hostile alien s . Kaplan is shot by the unknown foes while Chakotay is left injured . Soon , another group comes and scares the hostiles off , taking the unconscious commander with them . Chakotay wakes up in the dark to find himself in a room where he sees a woman by the name of Riley Frazier who tells him that Kaplan is dead and his shuttle has been destroyed by scavengers . Chakotay soon learns about Frazier and the others : they were attacked by aliens in the Bolian sector in the Alpha Quadrant , some were killed and others put in stasis . They woke up on this planet , along with several Romulan s , Klingon s , and Cardassian s . All were grabbed from where they were . One group of them attacked Chakotay and Kaplan , and Frazier ' s group saved him . She tells him that she is part of a Cooperative . After an otherwise uneventful journey , " Voyager " flies through the Nekrit Expanse . Lieutenant Tom Paris remarks that this region of space should be instead called the " Negative Expanse " , as the crew has not come across anything remotely interesting for days . Captain Kathryn Janeway suggests that if the helmsman is bored , the warp plasma filter s are due for a thorough cleaning . Paris then tells her that he now finds the Expanse to be an interesting navigation al challenge . Later , " Voyager " discovers an apparently derelict and abandoned Borg cube . Captain Janeway orders that " Voyager " be taken to red alert . Act Two . Janeway orders all stop , shields to maximum , and to stand by all weapons . However , chief tactical officer Tuvok cannot detect any Borg systems operational on the cube . Janeway has Ensign Harry Kim run a multiphasic scan , but the operations officer cannot find any active power signature s nor any life sign s aboard . " " Well , that ' s a relief " " , Paris notes . Tuvok advises caution but Janeway decides to board the cube : this represents a rare – and highly valuable – opportunity to understand their technology . Back on the planet , Chakotay continues to learn about the cooperative and their efforts . Oddly , Frazier also tells him that she has put down roots here , and desires to stay instead of joining " Voyager " . When she goes to work on the communication s array , Chakotay wants to help but she refuses abruptly , saying he is too weak to work and that he should rest . Meanwhile , Captain Janeway ' s away team boards the Borg cube . Tuvok and chief engineer B ' Elanna Torres determine that all activity on the vessel ceased five years ago but for reasons they cannot yet explain . They theorize that either an accident occurred or , however improbable it seems , an attack from a more powerful species disabled the cube – though did not completely destroy it , instead letting it adrift . Torres finds an access node . If she can get it operational , she should be able to tap into the cube ' s data systems to find an answer . While Tuvok tries to find a compatible micro - power relay to connect to a generator , a dead Borg drone falls in front of him from behind a wall . In " Voyager " s briefing room , Torres tells the captain that their scans have determined there are 1 , 100 Borg corpses on the cube . Tuvok remarks that they located a breached section of the cube , where some of the bodies of Borg were preserved perfectly . Torres adds that one of the bodies of a drone was brought aboard for an autopsy to provide an answer as to what killed them all . Janeway wonders why the Collective has left one of their ships with all of its technology intact for anyone to find . Tuvok suggests that the deactivation of the cube severed its link to the Collective . Torres , however , speculates that the Borg were possibly defeated by an enemy " even " more powerful than the Collective . Janeway orders Torres to assist The Doctor with the autopsy of the drone and suggests contacting Commander Chakotay to return from his scouting message early and let him know they have run into " " some old friends . " " At the same time , Chakotay wakes again and manages to break out of the room where he was being kept . A vast plant is revealed , and all the individuals have implants similar to Borg drone s . Chakotay explores as discretely as he can , but the others don ' t seem to mind . Eventually , he sees Frazier again , without hair and with Borg implants . Act Three . Chakotay demands answers , and Frazier , along with a Romulan , Orum , quickly explain that they were once drones , many assimilated during the Battle of Wolf 359 , but an electro - kinetic storm caused by the expanse broke their link with the hive mind . Realizing how far they were from Federation space , they settled on a planet and learned how to survive and cooperate with one another . In sickbay , The Doctor concludes from his autopsy of a Borg corpse taken from the cube that it had been electrocuted and suffocated in space . But when The Doctor tries activating an axonal amplifier with a cortical probe , the drone jerks upright , frightening everyone observing . The Doctor manages to deactivate the drone . He remarks that he must have activated a backup neuroelectric power cell . Lieutenant Torres concludes that The Doctor ' s actions caused the Borg to reset to its original programming , meaning that the other corpses could also be reactivated . " " We ' d have a major problem on our hands " " , Torres fearfully notes . Due to the blast Chakotay took early on , his health soon worsens . Orum tells him that if he does not let them help him he will die before " Voyager " arrives . They help by using a neural link to heal Chakotay ' s injuries . " " I ' m not letting anyone implant some neural processor in my brain ! " " Chakotay is more than reluctant but he finally agrees when he sees no other alternative . During this experience he sees many of their memories and thoughts . It is a powerful and enlightening experience for him , and it also helps heal his neural damage . Interestingly , there are lingering effects from the link , even though the transceiver is removed . Frazier says it is temporary , and they enjoy it while it lasts . Act Four . Chakotay helps the others with the communications array . He now knows what the group wants to achieve through the link , believing it a radical concept . Soon , " Voyager " arrives in orbit of the planet and try to contact Chakotay , but interference makes it difficult . When the inhabitants detect it , Frazier tries to persuade Captain Janeway to assist in re - establishing the link for the entire population permanently . Specifically , they want the " Voyager " team to re - activate the neuro - electric field generator on the Borg ship because they have enough energy to do so . While Janeway is willing to provide supplies , upgrade their security and even take some of them on " Voyager " if they wish , she is extremely skeptical about re - activating the neuroelectric generator . After Frazier leaves , Janeway asks for Chakotay ' s opinion . Chakotay says that the former Borg drones are sincere and they have no evil intent , and while in his heart he would do anything to help them , he agrees that the captain has to take other considerations into account . Janeway sees it as imposing a choice onto thousands of people without consent , and too dangerous that it may help create a new malevolent collective . Janeway decides not to help them and Chakotay lets Frazier know . She understands and bids him farewell , but not before another unsuccessful attempt by Chakotay to take her with him . After " Voyager " has delivered them much - needed supplies , Chakotay and Torres start returning to " Voyager " via shuttle . He ' s disappointed and Torres makes a mental note for a holodeck session later . Suddenly , he hears the Cooperative again , saying they need his help . His head falls and comes under control of the telepathic link . He stuns Torres and goes to work . Act Five . Tuvok sees the shuttle changed course and Janeway orders pursuit . The Cooperative explain they ' re under attack and need him to reactivate the generator aboard the abandoned Borg ship , directly violating his orders . He complies and beams aboard the cube . Chakotay avoids the " Voyager " away team searching for him as he locates the generator . Lieutenant Tuvok finds him , and Chakotay fires with Kim retaliating . However , Chakotay manages to activate the generator as he falls . As soon as the generator is activated , the people attacking the Cooperative ' s compound stop their attack as they begin to hear the Cooperative ' s thoughts and the Cooperative welcomes them . However , the generator also activates the Borg ship and its dormant drones . The rescue team sent to intercept Chakotay , along with Chakotay himself , are quickly beamed aboard " Voyager " . The planet ' s inhabitants manage to trigger the Borg ship ' s self - destruct sequence before it gains weapon capabilities . Within three seconds the ship explodes . The inhabitants hail " Voyager " in their collective state and offer " Voyager " their lasting gratitude . In sickbay , The Doctor explains that Chakotay ' s exposure to the Borg collective " heightened his telepathic receptivity " allowing them to influence him . Then , as " Voyager " travels away from the planet , Chakotay discusses the situation privately with Janeway and questions how long the inhabitants can retain a sense of morality amidst the power of a collective ; it didn ' t take them long to use Chakotay against his will for their motives . Memorable quotes . " " The nebula ' s completely scrambling our navigational readings . I still can ' t get a fix on our position . " " " " Are you saying we ' re lost , ensign ? " " " " That . . . depends what you mean by " lost , " sir . " " " " Lost . . . as in you still can ' t get a fix on our position . " " " " Well at least someone knows where we are . " " " " I ' m here to help you . " " " " How did . . . " " " " How did I get here ? I could ask you the same question . " " " " . . . it ' s a long story , why don ' t you go first . " " " " There are dozens of different races on this planet , all of whom were brought here against their will . Many of them are suspicious of other species . It ' s not exactly a united federation around here , if you know what I mean . " " " " You know , they ought to rename this region the ' Negative Expanse ' . We haven ' t run across anything interesting for days . " " " " If you ' re bored , Mister Paris , I ' m sure I can find something else for you to do . The warp plasma filters are due for a thorough cleaning . " " " " Now that you mention it , Captain , I find this region of space a real navigational challenge . " " " " I must say , there ' s nothing like the vacuum of space for preserving a handsome corpse . " " " " I thought you said the link was severed . " " " " It was . . . " " " " But we can re - initiate it , among a small group , for a short time . " " " " We could generate a neuro - electric field that could heal your injuries . " " " " You want to hook up my mind to some kind of Borg collective ! . . . Thanks , but I don ' t think so . " " " " . . . If we don ' t do something to slow the neural degradation immediately , you will die . " " " " I ' m not letting anyone implant some neural processor in my brain ! " " " " Don ' t be afraid , Chakotay . We ' re here to help you . Open your mind to our thoughts , and concentrate on getting well . Hear our voices . Open your mind to our thoughts . Our collective strength can heal you . You ' re safe with us . Feel the connection . We ' re with you . See who we are . Know us . You ' re not alone . Our strength is your strength . We can overcome your pain . We welcome you into our thoughts . There ' e nothing to fear . We won ' t let you die . We ' re all one circle : no beginning , no end . " " " " When we were linked , we had no ethnic conflict . There was no crime , no hunger , no health problems . We lived as one harmonious family . " " " " With all due respect , Dr . Frazier , you were " one harmonious family " bent on the violent assimilation of innocent cultures . " " " " Proceed to interlink console 3 Beta 6 . Hear our thoughts . Our thoughts are one . " " " " They saved us from that cube , and they let you go . " " " " But they didn ' t hesitate to impose their collective will on me when it served their interests , did they ? " " " " No , they didn ' t . " " " " I wonder how long their ideals will last in the face of that kind of power . . . " " Links and references . References . access node ; alveoli ; anarchy ; asteroid field ; Alpha Quadrant ; automaton ; axonal amplifier ; barbecue ; bluebonnet ; Bolian sector ; Borg ; Cooperative ; bunker ; Cardassian s ; cardiac depolarization ; class M ; combadge ; communal garden ; communications array ; cortical probe ; data node ; distress call ; donor ; electrodynamic turbulence ; electromechanical discharge ; electrokinetic storm ; ethnic conflict ; euphoria ; Farn ; Federation ; Federation hailing beacon ; ghost ship ; Happy Hunting Grounds ; hive mind ; holodeck ; homesteader ; horse ; hoverball ; Human ; hyper spanner ; inorganic ; Klingon ; message buoy ; micro - power conduit ; multiphasic scan ; Nekrit Expanse ; neural link ; neural processor ; neural tissue ; neural transceiver ; neural transponder ; neural trauma ; neuro - electric energy ; neuro - electric field ; neuro - electric field generator ; neuroelectric power cell ; neuropeptide ; neuro - transceiver ; neuro - transponder ; optical scanner ; Parein ; prosthetic arm ; red alert ; Riley Frazier ' s mother ; Romulan s ; self - destruct sequence ; skin pigmentation ; telepathic receptivity ; Texas ; vacuum ; vegetarian ; warp plasma filter ; Wolf 359 ; Starship references . Borg cube ; Class 2 shuttle ; Klingon Bird - of - Prey ; ; ; ; ;