Thirty Days ( episode ) Tom Paris is demoted to ensign and is sentenced to thirty days in the brig for disobeying orders . While serving time in the brig , Tom writes a letter to his father about the events that led to his demotion . Summary . Teaser . Captain Kathryn Janeway , stands in her ready room aboard the vessel , face to face with her flight controller , Lt . jg Tom Paris . Two security officers are present at the door . Janeway regards Paris sternly . She pronounces his full name and her punishment against him : demotion to the rank of ensign and incarceration , in solitary confinement , for the next thirty days in the brig . Paris stands at attention , staring straight ahead . She reaches for the two pips on his collar , one black and one gold , indicating his lt . jg rank , and plucks the black pip away , leaving only the gold one , the insignia of an ensign . She then orders the security officers to escort him to the brig , referring to him by his new , lower rank . The officers advance , but Paris shrugs them off , telling them he knows the way . He turns briskly and leaves , the officers behind him . Janeway stares silently at him as the door closes behind them . He marches along the corridors , the officers behind him . He looks neither right nor left , as passing crewmates pause and stare , some with great concern , particularly his girlfriend , B ' Elanna Torres . He enters the turbolift with the officers . Arriving alone at the brig , they enter . They stop at the " turnkey station , " where Paris removes his combadge and surrenders it to the officer on duty . He enters a cell . The officer activates the cell entrance ' s force field , sealing him inside . He lies down on the bunk at the back , and does not move again , breathing slowly , preparing to accept his confinement . Act One . Paris has removed his uniform jacket and undershirt . A security officer is on duty , monitoring him . Neelix , the ship ' s Talaxian chef , enters with a tray of food . But it is only basic nutrition . Paris complains , but Neelix responds that the captain has ordered he receive only basic nutrition for the duration of his incarceration . Paris then asks him about his request to the captain for time on the holodeck , but he is again disappointed ; she has denied it . Neelix then turns to leave . Paris asks him to stay and talk , but he replies that the captain has issued an edict about that too : " " No nonessential conversation with the prisoner . " " He is to be punished psychologically as well as with confinement , by being denied all his favorite things : good food , company , and his beloved " Captain Proton " adventures . Neelix leaves , genuinely sad at having to do so . But Captain Janeway has granted one of his requests : access to a PADD for him to ' write ' with ; it would be akin to torture to have him confined and isolated with absolutely nothing to do . He picks it up from the food tray and sits on the bunk . He begins to dictate on it a letter to his father , Admiral Owen Paris . He has no idea if he will ever receive it , not knowing , of course , if the will ever return to the Alpha Quadrant . He also knows his father , whom he believes never thought much of him , will probably not be surprised to hear that he is again in jail . So he takes great pains to describe the circumstances that led him to the brig in detail , so that the elder Paris will know that this time , unlike the last , his incarceration is not for disgraceful reasons , but for noble ones . ( ) It started , he begins , on a morning that found him doing something he knows , he dictates , " " you would find a " complete " waste of time . " " He is seen playing Captain Proton on the holodeck . In this adventure , he is joined by his usual partner , Operations officer Ensign Harry Kim , playing Proton ' s sidekick , Buster Kincaid . Also joining them , playing the part of the villains Proton must defeat , The Twin Mistresses of Evil , are two female officer s : monozygotic twin sisters Jenny and Megan Delaney , friends of Paris and Kim . But their fun is interrupted by a hail from First Officer Commander Chakotay , ordering all senior staff , of which Paris and Kim are a part , to the bridge . They leave and Paris and Kim quickly obey , not bothering to change out of their costumes . They arrive on the bridge . Captain Janeway informs them that a very strange reading has been picked up on sensor s : a celestial object that is not a planet , but teems with life . Paris and Kim go to their stations . The ship comes within the sensors ' visual range of the heavenly body . Janeway orders an on - screen view . What is seen astonishes all present : it is a planet - sized globe made entirely of water ; literally , a " world ocean . " There is no land at all anywhere in its composition , only water . Kim scans it and reports that a containment field is holding it together . Paris gazes at it in great , childlike wonder . Suddenly three small ships burst forth from the surface and rush up toward them . Janeway orders an attempted hail , but they do not respond , instead , firing on " Voyager " . Their weapons do no damage . She calls a red alert and again orders an attempted hail . But again the only answer is weapons fire . She orders Tuvok , the Vulcan chief tactical officer , to return fire , targeting the lead ship ' s weapons . He does so , disabling them . She again orders an attempted hail . This time , they respond . On the viewscreen appears an alien wearing a jacket and a hooded undercoat . He identifies himself as Deputy Consul Burkus of the Monean Maritime Sovereignty . He orders Janeway to withdraw . She responds that she and her crew mean them no harm , explaining that they are explorers and are simply fascinated by their " world ocean , " and would like to learn more about it and them . This is evidenced , she submits , by the fact that " Voyager " could have easily destroyed them all , but has not . Burkus accepts this , noting the impressiveness of " Voyager " . Janeway smiles and offers him a tour . Janeway , Tuvok , and Neelix , who functions in these first contact situations as captain - appointed Starfleet ambassador , take Burkus and a party of his people , called Monean s , around the ship , ending in a visit to the bridge . Here Neelix asks them if the Moneans have always lived in this " world ocean , " which the Moneans call The Waters . Burkus responds that their ancestors found it three hundred years prior , and decided to settle there , farming aquatic vegetation and extracting oxygen for their ships and undersea settlements . The group leaves , but before it does , Janeway invites Paris to join them . He gleefully does so . " Voyager " orbits The Waters . In the briefing room , the Moneans explain further about The Waters . Riga , another of the party , tells them they have no idea how The Waters were formed , but he theorizes that they formed in the way a gas giant does . But , he explains further , their lack of knowledge about its formation has led to problems : it has begun to shrink , as the water has recently begun to dissipate through the containment field . They believe the answer to stopping the loss is to be found at the center , six hundred kilometer s down , but their ships are unable to go down that deep . Paris enthusiastically ( and inappropriately , earning him a surprised and somewhat irritated look from Captain Janeway ) , tells them that " Voyager " can help them do so . Later , in her ready room , Janeway sits informally with Paris , having tea . She asks him about his enthusiasm in trying to find a way to assist the Moneans save their " world ocean . " He responds , somewhat glumly , that he has always had a keen interest in the sea as a child , back on Earth , even wanting to join the Federation Naval Patrol . But his father , Admiral Paris , was adamant that he be a Starfleet officer . He earnestly insists that a few adjustments to the " Delta Flyer " , a specially designed shuttle he developed for " Voyager " , will make it capable of submarine operation . With a smile , Janeway approves , much to his great joy . The " Flyer " is made ready . Paris and Ensign Kim make ready to depart , along with a third crewmember , Seven of Nine . Also accompanying them is Riga , one of the Monean party . The " Flyer " leaves the shuttlebay and , after a quick final systems check , Paris , the pilot , puts it into a controlled nosedive . It plunges into The Waters , disappearing beneath the surface . Act Two . The " Flyer " descends into The Waters . It passes a large , active industrial structure , which Riga identifies as one of their oxygen refineries . The " Voyager " crewmembers find it most impressive . Paris gazes at it in wonder . Captain Janeway is in her ready room , looking out her windows at the surface of The Waters . First Officer Chakotay and Deputy Consul Burkus enter . Chakotay reports to her , in Burkus ' presence , that the rate of water loss is worse than previously thought : the entire " world ocean " will dissipate in less than five years . They may have to consider evacuating if a stop is not put to the loss . Burkus , hearing this for the first time , shows typical first concern as a politician : for his own position . He doubts the accuracy of the data , and fumes about having to report this projection to the members of the government , the 47 regional sovereigns . They will , he grouses , undoubtedly pass a resolution demanding his political head . Janeway seems somewhat annoyed at this , and insists that telling them is the right thing to do . He sighs and responds that he will wait and see what the " Flyer " finds first . The " Flyer " is five hundred kilometers down and still descending . The hull creaks a bit , to the consternation of Riga , the first Monean to be at these depths . Kim assures him all is well , and makes a few adjustments to the controls . The creaking stops . Then Seven detects a structure twelve kilometers away . This shocks Riga ; what structure could there be at this depth ? None of his people have ever been so far down , so it cannot be theirs . Paris heads for it , turning on powerful external headlamps so they can see it out the windows . Kim scans it and surmises that it is a field generator ; this may be what is generating the containment field that is keeping The Waters together . Even more shockingly , its age appears to be over 100 , 000 years . Kim finds that the thing has a computer system , and begins downloading its database . But then a shadow passes . An immense aquatic creature , eel - like , and many , many times larger than the " Flyer " , appears . It is a predator by the look of its mouth , which is rimmed with dagger - like teeth . Like the Earth fish known as the electric eel , it discharges large amounts of electricity that begin shorting out systems on the " Flyer " . Riga has no idea what it is ; not having been at these depths before , his people have no idea what lurks down here . Seven , however , uses a few shots from the shuttle ' s phaser s to convince the creature to find easier prey . However , the damage has been done : they have lost propulsion and shields and are leaking . Paris sits in his cell , recounting the incident , as the PADD records it . Suddenly , " Voyager " is shaken . Janeway ' s voice comes over the com , sternly calling red alert and ordering all hands to battle stations . The officer on duty quickly departs . Paris calls after him ; if the ship is under attack , he , Paris , the flight controller , should be on the bridge at the conn station . But the officer does not respond , and a second jolt throws him into a wall , almost knocking him unconscious . Act Three . Paris comes to and finds The Doctor , the crew ' s holographic chief medical officer , over him , ministering to his injuries . They are not serious , no more than a bump on the head . Paris gets up , sits on the bunk and asks him about what happened . The Doctor informs him that they were attacked by five ships . He then takes the opportunity to frighten Paris , for all the times Paris has annoyed and exasperated him , by telling him about the sterling performance at the helm of Ensign Culhane , who has temporarily replaced him as flight controller . He twists the knife even further by suggesting that Captain Janeway may be considering making the appointment permanent , from what he has heard . Finishing his ministrations , The Doctor packs up his medkit and turns to leave . Paris pleads with him for a neurological scan or something , to get him a medical reprieve and an early release ; the confinement and isolation are getting to him now ; he has been here for ten days and has twenty more to go . But The Doctor refuses . After he has gone , Paris sighs , returns to the bunk and resumes dictating his letter to his father . He is seen in the " Flyer " fixing leaks . He is soaked . The leaks are plugged , but without thrusters , the only way they can surface is to jettison what they can to achieve positive buoyancy and float up . However , Paris insists on staying ; this may be their only chance to study and fix the containment field generator . Kim strongly disagrees , given the state of the " Flyer " . But Seven also decides that they should stay , and so Kim goes along . Aboard " Voyager " , on the bridge ' s viewscreen , a great frothing disturbance appears on the surface of The Waters . A huge column of vapor extends from the center of the disturbance , into space . Tuvok reports to Janeway that it is a containment field breach . She orders measures taken to stop it . Burkus asks her about the " Flyer " . She has no ready answer , as they have been out of contact for a while , but not long enough to be alarming . Burkus becomes flustered , wondering aloud what he is going to tell the council . This greatly annoys Janeway ; she sternly asks him which one he cares about more : his political career or the lives of the people on the shuttle trying to help his people . He does not answer . On the " Flyer " , Kim , who along with Seven , has detected the breach on the sensors , finds , however , that it was not a malfunction , but done " deliberately " by the field generator . He finds that the density of the water has been increasing over the past few years , and the generator is periodically creating breaches in the containment field to release the building pressure on itself , to keep itself from being crushed . Paris surmises that they can boost its power using the " Flyer " s power cells , thus enabling it to handle the increasing pressure without releasing water . Seven agrees , but cautions that the effect will be only temporary . They carry out the procedure , and then begin floating to the surface . In the " Delta Flyer " ' s aft section , Riga finds Paris working at a computer console . He has found information that shows that The Waters used to be , in fact , part of a land mass ; they were the oceans of a planet that was home to a very advanced civilization . It is unknown what happened to them , but they were the ones who created the generator . They launched it into space and it kinetically drew all oceans unto itself , along with all life in them . Riga is stunned yet again ; neither he nor any other Monean had ever thought of this as an explanation for the origin of The Waters . He asks Paris why this civilization would have done such a thing . Paris can only guess . But this is not the biggest shock Riga has in store ; that comes from what Paris tells him next : the generator ' s periodic dropping of the containment field is not what has been causing the water loss . It is the Moneans themselves ; their oxygen - mining operations are the cause . Paris lies in his cell , having an unpleasant dream about his father scolding him and sending him to his room for playing with ancient sailing - ship models , instead of doing his homework . His father ' s voice morphs into Janeway ' s voice , speaking her punishment against him , but she says thirty years not thirty days in jail . The unpleasant dream fades away , however , as Ensign Kim , who has come to see him , wakes him up . Paris now looks as haggard as he feels . His face is covered with stubble , and he looks disheveled . Captain Janeway has finally relented a bit on allowing him visitors , but has ordered Kim to keep it to a few minutes . Paris has fourteen more days to go . He asks Kim about his , Paris ' , girlfriend , Lieutenant B ' Elanna Torres , the chief engineer . Kim responds that she misses him . He asks Paris what he has been doing to pass the time . Paris tells him of the letter he is writing . But he is unsure if he going to finish it , or wants to . Kim is shocked ; he insists that Paris should finish it . But Paris does not want another lecture , and snaps at him to leave . Kim does so , but not without a cutting parting comment about him proving his father right : he never finishes what he starts . Act Four . Paris continues his letter , recounting the presentation of his findings to Deputy Consul Burkus . He , Janeway , and Torres are in the briefing room discussing them with Burkus and Riga . The Starfleet officers offer to provide alternative oxygen production technology to the Monean government , but stress that the oxygen mining must be cut back or cease , to stop the water loss and save their world . Burkus , acting like the politician he is , diplomatically promises to take the findings under advisement , when it is patently obvious he has no intention of doing anything about it . His only concern is the political backlash against him for recommending that the mining operations be stopped . Paris sees this , and begins to angrily remonstrate with him . This angers Janeway . Burkus leaves in a huff . Riga follows sadly . Not being a senior official , his hands are tied . After they have gone , Janeway angrily rebukes Paris . She stresses that , according to the Prime Directive , they can do nothing else to help . Paris ' response borders on insubordination . At this , Janeway dismisses Paris and very angrily warns him to " check the attitude " . She stresses that she agrees with him , but they can do no more ; they cannot force the Moneans to accept their recommendation . She tells him in no uncertain terms that they will be departing . He acknowledges , fuming , but careful to keep it controlled . He goes to the holodeck and has the computer activate the " Captain Proton " environment , but without the characters . He sits glumly in the simulated bridge of Proton ' s ship . Torres enters and sits with him . He resignedly tells her that he had thought that this would be the chance to revisit his childhood love of the ocean on a scale he could not ever have imagined as a child , but finds himself unable to save this world ocean . Torres tells her that no matter what , she ' s proud of him for finding something he cares so passionately about , and suggests he may still find a way to help save the ocean . Paris looks at her . A plan forms in his mind . He has thought of a way . He goes to one of the transporter rooms and finds Riga preparing to return to The Waters . Paris dismisses the crewman at the controls and asks him what would happen if the oxygen refineries were damaged . Riga states they would be rebuilt , but guesses that if they were then they would likely be redesigned to cause less damage to the ocean . Riga realizes that Paris is more than willing to take this action , and is ready to help . Captain Janeway arrives on the bridge in response to an urgent call from Tuvok . He informs her that the " Delta Flyer " has left the shuttlebay , without authorization . She immediately knows who has taken it . Aboard , Paris and Riga are grim - faced as Paris takes the craft down and nosedives it into the water . Act Five . On the bridge , a hail comes in from Deputy Consul Burkus . Janeway orders an on - screen answer . He agitatedly tells her Monean sensors have detected the " Flyer " . Janeway informs him who the occupants are , and tells him her assumption that they are planning " " to take some sort of . . . radical action to protect the ocean . " " Burkus agitatedly voices his hope that she is planning to stop them . Her angry glare is confirmation that she intends to do just that , and she ends the communication . Beneath the surface of The Waters , three Monean ships fire on the " Flyer " , but Paris ' expert piloting skills makes the " Flyer " easily escape them . A hail comes through from Janeway . In an extremely stern voice , she orders him to return immediately . He refuses , his voice sad . On " Voyager " s bridge , Chakotay reports with disbelief that Paris has cut the communication . Kim reports that they seem to be heading for one of the oxygen refineries . The implication is clear : Paris intends to damage the facility to force it off - line . The Starfleet officer is about to commit more than a violation of the Prime Directive ; he is about to commit an act of terrorism . Janeway asks about the possibility of using phasers to stop him . Tuvok advises against it ; it would create a hydrodynamic shock wave throughout The Waters , causing massive damage to the Monean infrastructure and civilian populations . Chakotay suggests using a photon torpedo as a depth charge . Tuvok agrees that this will work . Janeway agrees without hesitation , her expression extremely hard . Ensign Kim is horrified . As the " Flyer " approaches the complex , Tuvok reports the torpedo is ready , but also reports that the " Flyer " is too far down for it to get close to the craft . Burkus hails , thoroughly agitated . He accuses Janeway of authorizing Paris ' action to force the shutdown of the refinery . Janeway coldly responds that an evacuation is advisable , but she intends to protect the facility . Burkus begins to protest further , but she orders the transmission cut . Tuvok informs her that Paris would need to come up closer to the surface , away from the blast range , if he intends to fire on the complex . This would put the " Flyer " within range of the torpedo . Janeway orders Tuvok to fire when this happens . Kim , horrified , asks her if she really intends to fire on Paris . Janeway coldly responds that Paris forfeited his status as a protected member of the crew the second he began this action . The " Flyer " begins to rise . Janeway hails it and issues another warning to Paris to stand down . He does not respond . He asks Riga if he is really ready to go through with it . Riga hesitates then nods . Paris arms the torpedo he intends to use . Janeway issues one final warning to Paris . He does not respond . Tuvok begins counting down the seconds until the " Flyer " is within range , as Paris counts down the seconds until he launches the torpedo . At the last second , Janeway orders Tuvok to fire . There is absolutely no hesitation in the command . The " Flyer " fires at the same time as " Voyager " . Its torpedo streaks toward the complex at the same time " Voyager " s torpedo races down into the water , toward the " Flyer " . But Tuvok has made a slight adjustment . Instead of targeting the " Flyer " , he has timed the shot so that he would hit the " Flyer " s torpedo upon its firing , and not the " Flyer " itself . He succeeds . The two weapons meet and explode , knocking the " Flyer " away and disabling it . Inside , Paris and Riga go flying amidst a shower of sparks . Tuvok reports that the " Flyer " is disabled , but not destroyed . Janeway ' s eyes close in relief . But when they open , they show sadness , along a steely resolve to deal with Paris for his actions . Janeway stands in her ready room face to face with Paris . Two security officers are present at the door . Janeway regards Paris sternly . She angrily lists his offenses : insubordination , unauthorized use of a spacecraft , reckless endangerment and conduct unbecoming an officer . She demands to know what he has to say for himself . He resolutely responds that he did what was necessary to save this world ; Burkus and the government would never have done what they needed to do . Janeway responds that she understands his passion and his reasoning . But he had no right to take matters into his own hands in this manner . She expresses disappointment over his conduct , musing aloud that she thought he was past this sort of thing . He responds quietly that this time he broke the rules for a good cause . She responds that she admires his principles , but she cannot ignore his actions . She pronounces his full name and her punishment against him : demotion to the rank of ensign and incarceration for the next thirty days in the brig . Paris stands at full attention , staring straight ahead , silently , defiantly . Janeway reaches for the two pips on his collar , one black and one gold , indicating his lt . ( jg ) rank . She plucks the black pip away , leaving only the gold one , the insignia of an ensign . She then orders the security officers to escort him to the brig , pointedly referring to him by his new , lower rank . The officers advance , but Paris shrugs them off , telling him he knows the way . He turns briskly and leaves , the officers behind him . Janeway stares silently at him as the door closes behind them . Tuvok enters the brig and goes to Paris ' cell , rousing and releasing him as his thirty days have been served . Paris steps out , and Tuvok orders him to clean up and report for duty . Paris leaves , the PADD with the letter in his hand . In his quarters , Paris emerges from his bathroom , shined and shaved , his solitary gold pip on his collar . Lieutenant Torres greets him and invites him for dinner that evening after his duty shift . She jocularly makes it an order , eliciting a smile from him . He sits down with the PADD and ends the dictation with a notice that he is out and has returned to duty , and the voicing of a hope that it will allow the elder Paris to better understand him . He then orders the computer to file it and transmit it when " Voyager " is within range of Earth . Memorable quotes . " " Lieutenant Thomas Eugene Paris , I hereby reduce you to the rank of ensign . And I sentence you to thirty days solitary confinement . " " " " Can ' t you just replicate me a pizza ? " " " " Do the words ' cruel and unusual ' mean anything to her ? I ' m telling you , Neelix , the inmates are getting restless . She ' s going to have a full - blown prison riot on her hands . " " " " It is in my nature to comply with the collective . " " " " Captain , I am reading an unauthorized launch in the shuttle bay – the " Delta Flyer . " " " Tom . " " " " Lieutenant , you are disobeying a direct order . " " " " I know . " " " " Computer , file letter in my personal database . . . and transmit when we ' re within range of Earth . " " Links and references . References . " 20 , 000 Leagues Under the Sea " ; Alpha Quadrant ; brain probe ; bread and water ; brig ; brine ; Captain Proton ; Captain Courageous ; cheek ; consul ; containment field ; corrosion ; Culhane ; deflector ; " Delta Flyer " ; desalination plant ; demotion ; depth charge ; dimple ; Earth ; electric eel ; evasive maneuvers ; Federation Naval Patrol ; field reactor ; first mate ; gas giant ; ; gravimetric discharge ; high school ; holodeck ; immersive shielding ; kilometer ; kinetic transfer system ; leola root ; meter ; mind control ; mining ; ; " Moby Dick " ; Monean ; Monean Maritime Sovereignty ; Monean research vessel ; multiphasic energy ; ocean ; oxygen refinery ; ; photon torpedo ; pizza ; Prime Directive ; push - up ; red alert ; riot ; sailor ; shave ; shore leave ; shock wave ; sidekick ; Starfleet Academy ; structural integrity field ; thermic discharge ; ; ; volt ; Vulcan neck pinch ; ;