Thirty Days (Star Trek: Voyager)
"Thirty Days" is the 103rd episode of the science fiction television series "", the ninth episode of the . A spaceship in the late 24th century belonging to the Federation of Planets was taken by an alien to the other side of the Galaxy, upon escape they are faced with a decades long journey back to Earth. However, to survive the Federation ship must take on rebels known as the Maquis. In this episode we find out one of the bridge crew is in the ship's brig, and the episode then tells the tale of how  this happened. Plot. Lieutenant Tom Paris is demoted to Ensign and placed in "Voyager"s brig for thirty days for disobeying orders. During this, framing the episode, Paris relates the events to his personal log as a message to his father. In flashback, "Voyager" meets with the non-native delegates of an ocean planet. The delegates, including Riga and Burkus, explain that the planet is losing water mass at an alarming rate, threatening to destroy the planet in 5 years if it is not stopped. Though they have some submarine vehicles, they are unable to reach the center of the planet  where they believe the source of their problems can be found. The "Voyager" crew offers the use of the "Delta Flyer", capable of withstanding the pressures at the planet's center. Paris, piloting the excursion with some of the planet's scientists including Riga, discover that the planet's core is a massive reactor, drawing the surface water of a nearby planet to it for unknown reasons. Further exploration reveals that oxygen-mining reactors used by the current population are the cause of the water loss. The "Voyager" crew offer several technological options to minimize the water loss, but Burkus  seems impassive about them. Even when Riga suggests turning off several of the oxygen-mining units, significantly prolonging the planet's existence but potentially decreasing the quality of life for the inhabitants, Burkus simply offers to pass these ideas to their government. The crew is eventually told that the government will not turn off the oxygen-mining facilities but politely thanks them for their assistance. Urged on by Riga, Paris attempts to convince Captain Janeway to change the minds of the inhabitants, but Janeway refuses, citing that "Voyager" cannot get involved due to the Prime Directive. Furious at the  decision, Paris and Riga steal the "Delta Flyer", and attempt to use a photon torpedo to destroy one of the oxygen-mining facilities, but the remaining crew destroy the torpedo with a depth charge and recover the "Delta Flyer". On return to "Voyager", Janeway demotes Paris to the rank of ensign for disobeying orders and orders him to the brig for thirty days. After the flashback ends, Tuvok goes to the brig, tells Paris that his thirty days have been served, and orders him to clean up and report for duty. In his quarters, Paris ends the message and sends  it to his father. Releases. On November 9, 2004, this episode was released as part of the season 5 DVD box set of "Star Trek: Voyager". The box set includes 7 DVD optical discs with all the episodes in season 5 with some extra features, and episodes have a Dolby 5.1 Digital Audio track. On April 25, 2001, this episode was released on LaserDisc in Japan, as part of the half-season collection, "5th Season vol.1" . This included episodes from "Night" to "Bliss" on seven double sided 12 inch optical discs, with English and Japanese audio tracks for the episodes