Think Tank ( episode ) A group of extremely intelligent aliens offers to help " Voyager " escape from a race of bounty hunters known as the Hazari , in exchange for Seven of Nine . Summary . Teaser . Saowin meets with an alien named Kurros , a member of a group of aliens which seeks out challenges and problems faced by others , and then solves them . Saowin thanks Kurros for solving a problem his world was facing – finding the precise harmonic for a planetary containment field – but says that , unfortunately , the bernicium mines were destroyed in a series of quakes , and the ore that had been promised as payment is lost . He hopes that Kurros will accept a rubidium geode , which is priceless . Kurros refuses , as his group detected the transport of the ore before the quakes . Saowin begs him to let his people keep the ore , as they need it for their replicator systems , without which they won ' t be able to feed their people . Kurros insists upon payment , threatening to deactivate the containment field , causing a large quake . Saowin accepts this and promises immediate transport of the ore . Act One . Meanwhile , on , Captain Janeway is working on a difficult puzzle in her ready room . Seven of Nine enters and , after indicating she could solve the puzzle ( which Janeway refuses as she wants to solve it herself ) , reports that long range scans have revealed a planetoid with high concentrations of dilithium crystals . She and Janeway head out to the bridge . As they approach the planetoid , they conduct more detailed scans , but a resonance wave suddenly builds up in the planetoid ' s core . Janeway orders that they back away from the planetoid , but within seconds the planetoid destabilizes and explodes . " Voyager " is trapped in a cloud of metreon gas , which has disabled warp and impulse engine s . Suddenly , a heavily - armed Hazari vessel drops out of warp nearby . Seven explains that the Hazari are often hired as bounty hunters . They hail " Voyager " , demanding an immediate surrender . Janeway asks who hired them , but the Hazari refuse to answer . They move closer and lock a tractor beam onto " Voyager " , ignoring Janeway ' s threat that she will give the order to fire phaser s , which could ignite the gas cloud . Janeway orders that warp energy be diverted to the shields , then orders Tuvok to fire the phasers into the gas cloud . The metreon ignites , and the blast throws " Voyager " clear and they are able to go to warp and escape . Janeway is concerned ; the Hazari weren ' t that heavily damaged , so why aren ' t they following " Voyager " ? The answer is found in astrometrics : scans performed by Tuvok and Kim reveal the Hazari have reinforcements all throughout the sector , and they are converging on " Voyager " . Janeway wants to examine the data and see if she can develop a plan , although she spends several hours late at night in the deserted mess hall without much success . Neelix , who has been providing her with cup after cup of coffee , offers to act as a sounding board . Janeway explains the situation to him : the Hazari have anticipated almost every course of action , and Janeway is convinced that the few avenues of escape she has found are traps . Neelix leaves , but seconds later , Kurros appears in the mess hall . He tells Janeway that he is the solution to her problem . Act Two . Janeway calls for security , but Kurros has deactivated communications . He tells her that he ' s not an intruder , he ' s only an isomorphic projection , and that he is a member of a small group of beings who seek out problems to solve . Janeway calls the group a " think tank " , a name which Kurros finds quite appropriate . He has come to offer their help to solve the Hazari problem . The price for the Think Tank ' s help is whatever " Voyager " has that is unique , sometimes it is not even something the people who are helped find valuable . Janeway suggests that Kurros might himself be a Hazari trap . Kurros gives Janeway a preliminary study of the tactical situation with the Hazari , which gets her attention . Janeway says she ' ll talk , but only in person . Kurros agrees , but asks Janeway to bring only one other person with her , and no scanning equipment . Janeway agrees , and Kurros leaves . " Voyager " arrives at the coordinates specified by Kurros , and the Think Tank ' s ship decloaks . Their ship has technology more advanced than even the Borg . Janeway and Seven beam on board , where Kurros introduces them to the rest of the Think Tank ; a humanoid alien named Fennim whose language is too complex for the universal translator to translate , a lifeform that appears as a floating marine creature suspended in a fluid - filled tank , an artificial intelligence , and the founder , a bioplasmic lifeform named Bevvox . They are able to communicate by means of a device which allows them to communicate telepathically . They have been able to help hundreds of clients , including the Vidiian s , for whom they cured the Phage . Kurros also mentions the price they asked for to help the inhabitants of Rivos V resist the Borg – the recipe for their zoth - nut soup . Janeway introduces Seven , who Kurros quickly identifies as an ex - Borg . The artificial member of the Think Tank communicates with Seven regarding her Borg implants . Kurros says he believes that the Think Tank can solve the Hazari problem , thus the only question remaining is the payment . Janeway provides Kurros with " Voyager " s specifications , recommending the replicator s as being very popular . Back on " Voyager " , Chakotay delivers Janeway some bad news . Every possible escape route is a trap , and more Hazari vessels are joining the search for them . Janeway decides to put their own plans on hold and let the Think Tank develop a solution . Shortly afterward , Kurros returns to " Voyager " in isomorphic form . He has compiled a short list of items he would like as payment , including the quantum slipstream drive , Neelix ' s recipe for chadre ' kab , an ancient Olmec figurine belonging to Chakotay , and Seven of Nine . Act Three . Janeway speaks with Seven , asking for her opinion . Seven is willing to be used as payment if it will provide a solution to " Voyager " s problem , but Janeway is less than eager to surrender her . Going with the Think Tank would be a great opportunity for Seven , but Janeway doesn ' t like the idea of crew members being used as payment . Nevertheless , she says that it ' s not her place to decide – Seven has to make the choice . Seven decides to talk to Kurros about it before making a choice , and thanks Janeway for being allowed to make the decision herself . Janeway assures Seven she ' s earned the right to choose , but tells her that if she does decide to go then to do so because its what she wants , rather than out of any duty towards " Voyager " promising they ' ll get past the Hazari with or without the Think Tank ' s help Meeting with Kurros , he explains to Seven why she was chosen as part of the payment . Seven has the collective knowledge of the Borg contained within a single mind , humility , high intelligence and enhancements afforded her by her Borg implants , and the Think Tank considers her an ideal candidate to join them . If so , she will be the first new member in seventeen years . Kurros tells her that with the Think Tank , she could become one of the greatest intellects in the galaxy . Seven is reluctant to leave " Voyager " , a position which Kurros understands , as he was recruited to the Think Tank in the same way and was faced with the same choice . Seven decides to remain on " Voyager " , but Kurros asks her to take more time to think about it . He says the Think Tank will remain nearby . At that moment , " Voyager " goes to red alert , and Tuvok calls Seven to the bridge . Kurros asks if he can accompany her , and Seven agrees . When they arrive on the bridge , Janeway tells them that two Hazari ships have found " Voyager " and are closing in . Seven says she has declined the Think Tank ' s request . The Hazari drop out of warp and open fire . " Voyager " is unable to evade them , and their weapons are not damaging the Hazari shields . Kurros offers some free tactical advice , which enables " Voyager " to defeat the Hazari ships and escape . Janeway thanks Kurros for his help , and he responds that it was a gesture of goodwill in the hopes that Seven would change her mind . When Seven replies that she hasn ' t , Kurros tells her she is making a fatal mistake ; the Think Tank has concluded that " Voyager " will not survive without their help . Janeway order the shields to be remodulated , which blocks Kurros ' projection , and he vanishes from the ship . The Think Tank ' s ship vanishes as well . Kurros informs the other members of the Think Tank that Seven has refused to join them . They decide that they will wait and let things play out for a little while longer . Sooner or later , they have concluded , Seven will join them . Act Four . A small Hazari ship enters a field of debris which has been created to make it appear that " Voyager " has been destroyed . Janeway orders spatial charge s hidden in the debris field to be detonated , which heavily damages the Hazari vessel . " Voyager " emerges from hiding and uses the tractor beam to bring the Hazari ship into the shuttlebay . The two Hazari on board are beamed aboard . The crew has little luck getting information from the Hazari , and the vessel ' s database is difficult to access , but Chakotay is able to recover a series of transmissions that detailed information about " Voyager " . Whoever put out the bounty on " Voyager " knew a lot about the ship . Also found are some bioreadings , but they are scrambled . The Doctor is able to unscramble the readings and discovers that the bounty was placed by the Malon . Janeway is suspicious , however ; they haven ' t encountered the Malon for months , and she doesn ' t think they ' d hold such a grudge against " Voyager " since there ' s no profit in revenge . Janeway discovers an isomorphic signature embedded in the readings – it ' s a disguise . Restoring the original parameters gives the true appearance of the individual who placed the bounty on " Voyager " – it was Kurros . Janeway speaks with the Hazari they captured , explaining that they are both being manipulated by the Think Tank . Janeway suggests that they work together – the Hazari are the best hunters in the quadrant , and " Voyager " has Seven , the perfect lure . The Hazari agree for the Think Tank had made numerous enemies and the bounty on them is more valuable . However , the " Voyager " crew working with the Hazari find it difficult to formulate a plan . They could try using the multispatial probe but it would take weeks to scout the area . Subspatial charge s could force the Think Tank ' s vessel into the open , but they ' d need to find the ship first , which is almost impossible with their advanced technology . After three hours , they have still made no progress . Janeway , fed up with the lack of answers , asks Seven to show her the answer to the puzzle that had her stumped earlier . Seven solves the puzzle in seconds by simply scanning it to see how it works instead of using trial and error to determine the operating principle . Janeway realizes that they shouldn ' t be trying to play by the Think Tank ' s rules ; trying to out - think the Think Tank won ' t work . Instead , Janeway realizes that if Seven gets back on board the Think Tank ' s ship and interfaces with the device that allows for the Think Tank members to communicate telepathically , then Seven might be able to disrupt their communication , making them unable to function as a group . Seven will have to accept the Think Tank ' s offer in order to get on board . The Think Tank receives a message from the Hazari vessel ; they have discovered that the Think Tank hired them and are demanding that their bounty be tripled , or they will release " Voyager " . The Think Tank agrees to triple the bounty , provided that the Hazari deliver " Voyager " immediately . The Hazari agree to seize " Voyager " as planned . Act Five . " Voyager " is under heavy attack by the Hazari and their weapons are ineffective against them . Kurros appears in isomorphic form , and encourages Janeway to agree to release Seven . Chakotay reports that Seven has left " Voyager " on board a shuttlecraft , which is promptly pulled into subspace by the Think Tank . Kurros wishes " Voyager " a safe journey home , and vanishes . On the Think Tank ' s vessel , Seven is welcomed by Kurros , but Seven says she is there because it was the only way to save " Voyager " . Kurros hails the Hazari , telling them to call off their attack on " Voyager " as they have what they want . The Hazari refuse , they want their compensation immediately or they will destroy " Voyager " . Kurros is suspicious . The Hazari seem to be in a hurry to get what they want . Seven demands that Kurros complies with the Hazari request , but Kurros realizes that if they decloak , they ' ll be vulnerable . He thinks it is a trap created by Janeway . If they call the Hazari ' s bluff , they might destroy " Voyager " , and the Think Tank would lose Seven . If they revealed themselves , they could be destroyed . However , Kurros has a way to determine the truth – link Seven to the Think Tank ' s communications system , and allow the robotic member of the Think Tank to probe her mind as it did before . But as soon as the connection is made , it activates Seven ' s neural transceiver , and Tuvok transmits a carrier wave which disrupts the Think Tank ' s communications device . Robbed of the ability to communicate , the Think Tank is unable to function . The Hazari fire spatial charges , and the Think Tank ' s vessel is pulled out of subspace . Seven is beamed back to " Voyager " . Kurros appears again , urging Janeway to reconsider . Finding her unreceptive to his pleas , he turns to Seven , telling her that she ' ll never be satisfied on " Voyager " , but she refuses by saying " acquiring knowledge is a worthy objective , but its pursuit has obviously not elevated you " . The Think Tank has its own problem with the Hazari , but Janeway says she is confident they ' ll be able to find a solution – if they give it some thought . The Hazari launch continuous torpedoes at the Think Tank destroying their communications array thus causing Kurros ' projection on " Voyager " to vanish . Parts of the Think Tank ' s vessel show higher than normal temperatures , an indication that a hull breach is unavoidable . The Think Tank ' s vessel fires back at the Hazari with multiple beam weapons . " Voyager " warps away , leaving the Hazari and the Think Tank to fight it out . Memorable quotes . " " Looks like they ' re calling your bluff , captain . It was a bluff , wasn ' t it ? " " " " There is nothing like a good problem to spark the synapses , is there ? " " " " The size of the bounty is immaterial . According to Seven of Nine , the Hazari pride themselves on honoring their agreements . " " " " Great . Bounty hunters with a work ethic . " " " " You have a problem , Captain . . . and I am the solution . " " " " Should I have The Doctor prepare a hypospray ? " " " " Excuse me ? " " " " So you can absorb the caffeine more directly . Save time . " " " " I thought we were onto something with B ' Elanna ' s plan . . . " " " " Forget it . I was wrong . " " " " We have an old expression , Kurros . ' Don ' t call us ; we ' ll call you . ' " " " " Cheating is often more efficient . " " " " All we have to do now is … out - think the think tank . " " " " Acquiring knowledge is a worthy objective , but its pursuit has obviously not elevated you . " " " " Oh , I ' m sure you ' ll find a solution . Just give it some … thought . " " Links and references . References . 2358 ; Alkian confection ; assimilation ; Bara Plenum ; bernicium ; bionetic implant ; bioplasmic lifeform ; bluff ; Borg ; Borg sphere ; bounty ; bounty hunter ; carrier wave ; caffeine ; " chadre ' kab " ; craze ; cortical implant ; deflector array ; Delta Quadrant ; Devore ; dilithium ; dome ; duranium ; economics ; evasive maneuvers ; exosociology ; first contact ; forensics ; fractal regression ; fractal sculpture ; geode ; geo - stability ; gesture ; gigaton ; gigawatt ; Hazari ; Hazari shuttle ; Hazari vessel ; hypo ; intruder alert ; isomorphic projection ; jackal ; kilometer ; level - 12 seismic event ; Lyridian ; Lyridian child 1 ; Malon ; mantle ; metreon gas ; Milky Way Galaxy ; morality ; Motali Empire ; multispatial probe ; neural transceiver ; neutronium ; non - interference protocol ; Olmec ; paradox ; pet subspace mesomorph ; phage ; phase - variant frequency ; phaser ; phaser bank ; planetary containment field ; planetoid ; price tag ; Prime Directive ; psychology ; quantum mechanics ; quantum slipstream technology ; red alert ; red giant ; replicator system ; resonance wave ; Rivos V ; rubidium ; Saowin ' s shuttle ; sheer lunacy ; shield generator ; shield harmonic ; spatial charge ; subspace cloaking device ; subspace flux ; subspace mesomorph ; subspatial charge ; temporal physics ; Think Tank ; Think Tank vessel ; transgalactic star chart ; universal translator ; Vidiian ; Vulcan mind meld ; yo - yo ; Zai Cluster ; zoth - nut soup