Dragon ' s Teeth ( episode ) When " Voyager " seeks refuge from alien attackers on the surface of a devastated planet , they find a small group of people who have survived in suspended animation for almost nine hundred years . Summary . Teaser . Some time in the past , an enormous alien city is suddenly torn apart when torpedo es begin raining down on it , causing massive destruction everywhere . Below the chaos , a couple desperately tries to avoid falling debris and scramble into stasis pod s . The woman wonders if they will dream while they are in stasis , which the man cannot provide an answer for . Their stasis pods are set for five years , hoping that by then , the war will have ended . Act One . 892 years later , the crew of the is surprised when they find themselves pulled into a subspace corridor full of asteroid s , destroyed ships , and other debris . They sail along for five minutes before making contact with another vessel , belonging to the Turei . Captain Janeway states that they were pulled in by accident and are only looking for a way out . The Turei vessel assists " Voyager " by firing upon its shield generator which causes it to be thrown from the corridor . The Turei vessel also exits the corridor with " Voyager " . The crew is amazed when Ensign Tom Paris reports that they have traveled over two hundred light year s since entering the corridor just five minutes earlier . Janeway immediately asks the Turei vessel if they could negotiate passage through the subspace corridor , hoping to reach the Alpha Quadrant . However , not only do the Turei deny the request , but they demand that " Voyager " lowers its shields and prepare to be boarded – the Turei want to erase the evidence of the underspace corridor from " Voyager " s computer core . When Janeway refuses , the Turei open fire . To escape the firing ships , Seven of Nine identifies a nearby uninhabited planet with an atmosphere full of radiogenic particle s as an ideal hiding place , and Paris sets a course . " Voyager " enters the planet ' s atmosphere pursued by the attacking Turei ships , but as " Voyager " increases its descent vector the Turei retreat , unable to withstand the higher levels of radiation . When the viewscreen is activated the crew is surprised to see the remains of a metropolis situated on the surface – it then becomes apparent that the surface of the planet is suffering from a nuclear winter , which Ensign Harry Kim confirms has lasted almost nine hundred years based on radioactive decay . " Voyager " lands in the middle of the city , and Tuvok reports that the radiation in the atmosphere is temporarily blocking " Voyager " from the Turei ' s sensor s but it will not be for long . " Voyager " lands in the center of the city and the captain orders repairs begun . They then detect faint life sign s underneath the city , and as they explore , they discover several stasis pods , some of which are still active . They beam down to an underground chamber that has been heavily reinforced with tritonium in order to make it last indefinitely . As Janeway and Tuvok search a different part of the chamber , Seven examines the pods . Ignoring Starfleet away team procedures , Seven of Nine activates one of the stasis pods and awakens a man . The man is startled to hear that he was in stasis for nine hundred years . He asks to see his wife , Jisa , but she did not survive the stasis . Act Two . The man awakes in " Voyager " s sickbay where he is scanned by The Doctor . He identifies himself as Vaadwaur , and recognizes Seven of Nine as Borg saying he ' s encountered them before . He indicates that the underspace corridors were previously held by the Vaadwaur , but it seems after centuries of inactivity they have been claimed by their rivals . There are thousands more stasis pods still active underground as well as preserved vehicles and fighter s . In the mess hall , Gedrin expresses disappointment at his wife ' s lack of courage before entering stasis , the captain calls that " a bit heartless " but continues relations . When Gedrin meets Neelix , he observes that he is Talax - ilzay . Neelix says that this was an ancient name of his people . He says that in his ancient tongue , the word " vaadwaur " means foolish . As Neelix attempts to apologize for calling the Vaadwaur foolish , a plasma charge hits the city and red alert is activated . On the bridge , Chakotay reports to Janeway that the Turei have found them . They cannot get an exact fix , but they can fire in the general area . Gedrin has a plan for a way to accurately target the Turei . If " Voyager " can uplink with a Vaadwaur sentry satellite they will receive its sensor telemetry . Once they have access they return fire and disable the lead Turei ship . They cease their attack . " Voyager " makes a deal with the Vaadwaur : the Vaadwaur get to escape and rebuild their civilization while " Voyager " can use the subspace corridors to get closer to Earth . Gedrin reveals a huge chamber filled with Vaadwaur fighters . Chakotay comments by saying " " dragon ' s teeth " . " He says it is an ancient Greek myth : " " After a dragon was killed in a war , its teeth were spread out across the battlefield . They took root and warriors sprung from the ground to continue the fighting . " " Act Three . In astrometrics , the crew discusses their options with the Vaadwaur . They have memorized the subspace corridor layout , so they can plot " Voyager " s course , however there are eleven Turei ships in orbit . Morin is put in charge of reanimating the other Vaadwaur . In her quarters , Naomi Wildman sadly plays with a doll . Neelix enters to tuck her in . When he asks her about her experiences with the Vaadwaur children she says she doesn ' t like them . Apparently she witnessed them making fun of Neelix . He isn ' t very offended , as children can often be cruel , but he doesn ' t continue telling her to play with them . Back in the underground chamber , chief engineer B ' Elanna Torres is helping the Vaadwaur make repairs . Morin says a Klingon phrase to her . It seems that they identify with the Klingon views of battle and honorable death . " " As children we are taught to fall asleep each night imagining a different way to die . " " Back in the mess hall , Neelix reviews references to the word " vaadwaur " in Talaxian and other Delta Quadrant history . The earliest usages are in " Eldaxon ' s Collected Folklore " , Neelix begins to review the specifics . Meanwhile in astrometrics , Seven and one of the Vaadwaur review possible planets to relocate the Vaadwaur to . He tells Seven that the Borg only controlled a few systems nine hundred years ago . In " Voyager " s briefing room , Tuvok reports a total of twenty - one Turei ship s on sensors . Tuvok ' s battle plan is pretty standard : " Voyager " will make a straightforward attack , while the Vaadwaur fighters make a surprise attack . Gaul requests photon torpedo es for their fighter s , but Janeway refuses because it goes against Starfleet protocols . Gaul is not used to having to depend on others with his life , but Janeway states that her decision is final . Later in the Vaadwaur underground chamber , Gaul , Gedrin , and Morin are discussing their plans . Unsatisfied with Captain Janeway ' s decisions , they plan to capture " Voyager " and use the ship ' s technology to rebuild their civilization and fight off the Turei . They plan to use their fighters to attack " Voyager " instead of the Turei . Act Four . In astrometrics , Seven shows Gedrin a planet that may be suitable . Before they make their decision , however , Neelix summons Seven to Cargo Bay 2 . When she arrives , Neelix explains what he found while researching historical records concerning the Vaadwaur . The records describe a race who appeared out of nowhere , destroyed everything in its path , and then vanished – which could be explained by the Vaadwaur subspace corridors . Neelix convinces Seven to do additional research , using her Borg knowledge . Gedrin enters Captain Janeway ' s ready room , where she has called for him . She confronts Gedrin with the evidence uncovered by Neelix and Seven . " " If I were to take you at your word , the ancient Talaxians might call me Vaadwaur , foolish . " " Gedrin admits that his species did use the corridors to gain territory , but they were not a purely aggressive race . Although Janeway will go forward with the plan , she will not be as trusting as before . On the bridge , Janeway discusses the situation with Chakotay . They decide to alter the plan and she orders Ensign Kim to hail Gaul . She informs him that only ten of the Vaadwaur fighters will have their particle beam s remain active . Only ten will attack , so this should not be a problem , she explains . " Voyager " is ready for the ascent sequence , but the ship jolts when massive energy readings begin to emanate from the chamber . The Vaadwaur are launching the first wave of fighters – seventeen ships . The ships , however , are on an attack vector for " Voyager " . Act Five . " Voyager " begins to ascend from the surface while firing a full spread of phaser s at the incoming fighters . They won ' t be able to jump to warp and escape until they are 280 kilometer s above the surface . " Voyager " continues to ascend and the crew disables a number of the fighters , but " Voyager " s thrusters and sensors sustain damage . Janeway orders Kim to contact the Turei in orbit . Since the Turei already detected the weapons fire , they believe Janeway when she informs them of the Vaadwaur ' s presence . Now the Vaadwaur have another enemy to deal with . Just when the situation begins to look hopeless , Gedrin , realizing the error in the Vaadwaur ' s aggressive ways , offers to go to the surface and boost the signal to the satellite . Janeway allows him to leave , but sends Tuvok with him . The Vaadwaur inflict heavy damage on " Voyager " , while taking little in return . Janeway orders the crew to initiate emergency landing procedures . Suddenly the tide turns , thanks to Gedrin ' s work on the uplink . Turei torpedoes pound the Vaadwaur . The uplink chamber with Gedrin and Tuvok inside , however , begins to collapse . Gedrin tells Tuvok to save himself , as he sacrifices his life to save " Voyager " . Janeway comes up with a plan to take in particles from the radiogenic atmosphere in order to boost " Voyager " s dwindling power supply . Thanks to her quick thinking , impulse is restored to " Voyager " . After clearing the planet ' s thermosphere , the ship is able to go to warp and escape the conflict . While the Vaadwaur engage in a violent battle with the Turei , approximately fifty - three Vaadwaur fighters – according to Seven ' s astrometric readings – manage to escape into the subspace corridors . This leads the captain to surmise that " Voyager " and its crew will likely encounter these ancient aggressors again . Seven expresses her guilt because she is essentially responsible for the Vaadwaur resurgence , but Janeway says she might have done the same thing . Memorable quotes . " " Can you find a way out ? " " " " I don ' t know . There ' s hundreds of corridors . It ' s like a maze . " " " " Well , be a good rat and find us the cheese . " " " " We don ' t know anything about this species – they could be hostile . " " " " Most humanoid cultures are . " " " " When it rains , do you run from doorway to doorway , trying to stay dry , getting wet all the while ? Or do you just accept the fact that it ' s raining and walk with dignity ? " " " " Rain ' s one thing . Plasma bombs are something else . " " " " But the principle is the same . " " " " I ' d bring an umbrella . " " " " " Nine hundred years is a long time to hold a grudge . " " " " I wanted to help revive a civilization , not start a war . " " " " I ' m curious . Have you heard of us , the Vaadwaur ? " " " " Um , I ' m afraid there aren ' t many records from that period . But ' vaadwaur ' is a word in the Old Tongue ; it means , er . . . ' foolish ' . " " " " If we ' re going to be fighting side by side , I have to trust you . I need to be certain you don ' t have any ulterior motives . " " " " Our only motive is survival . " " " " If I were to take you at your word , the ancient Talaxians might call me ' vaadwaur ' – foolish . That ' s what they came to call anyone who allowed themselves to be deceived by an enemy . " " " " What ' s the first known usage ? " " " " First written example appears in Eldaxon ' s Collected Folklore , Second Edition . Year of publication , 5012 , New Calendar . " " " " Computer , name the specific folktales that use the word ' Vaadwaur ' . " " " " The Demon with the Golden Voice ' , ' The Tale of the Deadly Stranger ' , ' The Tale of the Boy Who Lost His Head ' , ' The Tale of the Bloody Hand ' . " " " " Not exactly Mother Goose . " " Links and references . References . 1484 ; 1489 ; 5012 ; activation code ; adjective ; assimilation ; astrometric database ; battalion ; Betazoid ; bio - pod ; Borg ; Borg Collective ; cheese ; conversion matrix ; Delta Quadrant ; " " ; Devore ; Devore Imperium ; dialect ; dragon ; dragon ' s teeth ; Earth ; edition ; " Eldaxon ' s Collected Folklore " ; emergency power ; evasive maneuvers ; Federation ; G - type star ; gamma radiation ; garden ; geothermal energy ; Greek myth ; Grid 315 ; Grid 1421 ; isorem ; Kahless ; kilometer ; Klingon s ; Klingonese ; land vehicle ; M class ; maze ; merchant ; meter ; Milky Way Galaxy ; " Mother Goose " ; multifold ; nebula ; nuclear winter ; Old Tongue ; orbital bombardment ; particle cannon ; parts per million ; plasma bomb ; plasma charge ; plasma manifold ; power coupling ; power relay ; radiogenic decay ; radiogenic particle ; rat ; reanimation sequence ; red alert ; resonance pulse ; scientist ; sentry satellite ; shield harmonic s ; spatial intersect ; stasis pod ; street ; subspace corridor ; stratosphere ; Talax - ilzay ; Talaxia ; Talaxian ; Talaxian language ; " " ; " " ; " " ; thermosphere ; tritonium ; trade route ; Turei ; Turei vessel ; umbrella ; underspace ; Vaadwaur ; Vaadwaur assault fighter ; Vaadwaur homeworld ; Vaadwaur sentry satellite ; vulture ; windstorm