Inside Man (episode)

The Pathfinder Project makes contact with Voyager again... and this time they transmit a hologram of Reginald Barclay to interact with the crew. However a certain group of aliens have seen a way to make a tidy profit.

Teaser

 * "Captain's log, stardate 54208.3. Last month's data stream from Starfleet never arrived, so the crew is looking forward to this one with even more anticipation than usual. We could all use some news from home."

Walking through a corridor on USS Voyager, Tom Paris asks Harry Kim about the status of the latest Starfleet data stream. Kim says he's working on it, but Paris reminds him that he failed to recover last month's stream. Kim protests that that wasn't his fault.

Arriving in astrometrics, Kim finds Seven of Nine, who announces that she's discovered why they have been unable to get any data from the stream: a hologram is encoded in the stream. Over Seven's protests, Kim burns out several relays when he transfers the stream to a holodeck.

Later in the holodeck, Captain Kathryn Janeway is on hand for the big moment when they initiate the hologram Starfleet sent them. It's Reginald Barclay – or at least, a holographic simulation of him. Warm greetings are exchanged by all.

Act One
The Barclay hologram explains that he's there to execute a plan that will return Voyager to the Alpha Quadrant within days. It involves simultaneously shooting a beam into two red giant stars, one nearby, and one in the Federation. This will create a geodesic fold in space that Voyager can travel through. A combination of modifications to Voyager's shields and inoculations for the crew will prevent harmful radiation from killing everyone on board.

The Doctor lends the Barclay hologram his mobile emitter so that he can supervise in engineering.

Back at Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco, the real Reginald Barclay is working on a problem. Neither of his last two attempts to transmit the Barclay hologram to Voyager has succeeded. Both times, the data stream ended at the same location, but long range sensors detect nothing out of the ordinary at that location.

Act Two
Barclay becomes obsessed, and seems, at least to Pathfinder Project Commander Peter Harkins, paranoid. Harkins strongly suggests that Barclay take a week off.

On Voyager the Doctor doesn't believe that the inoculations will protect the crew as they're supposed to, but the hologram reassures The Doctor that they will work in combination with the shields.

The Barclay hologram asks to include a report on his progress in the reply to the latest data stream. It is added and sent. But the reply is intercepted by a Ferengi ship. They play the hologram's message, which informs them that their scheme is going forward as planned. The Ferengi are delighted to learn that there are twenty percent more nanoprobes coming to them than they expected.

Act Three
The real Barclay creeps up on Counselor Deanna Troi, who is vacationing on a beach somewhere on Earth. At first she is alarmed that a patient has violated her privacy, but she soon realizes that Barclay needs help. She discovers that Barclay suspects that his ex-girlfriend, who recently dumped him and disappeared, may have compromised Pathfinder security. He used to tell her everything about the project.


 * "Captain's log, supplemental. With the help of the Barclay hologram, we've nearly completed the modifications to Voyager. As for Reg, he's becoming extremely popular with the crew."

However the Doctor is growing suspicious of the Barclay hologram, who is using the mobile emitter for other purposes and who seems to display overt hostility, even malevolence, towards The Doctor.

On Earth, Starfleet has detained Barclay's ex-girlfriend, Leosa, who is in fact a dabo girl, and not a teacher as she had told Barclay. After threatening to have her held indefinitely for psychiatric review, Troi manages to find out that she is in the employ of a Ferengi named Nunk.

Act Four
At Pathfinder they find out that Nunk's ship is in the vicinity of a star. Barclay asks Leosa what a broken heart is worth these days. Leosa tells him ten percent of the value of the Borg nanoprobes, which are worth two billion times their weight in latinum.

On Voyager the Doctor convinces Janeway to perform a diagnostic on the hologram. Janeway goes to astrometrics where the Barclay Hologram is and convinces him to undergo the diagnostic with the argument that his program has been running non-stop since his arrival in the delta quadrant.

At Pathfinder, Leosa offhanded remark reveals the Ferengi game plan to Barclay, though he cannot figure out how they plan to get Seven of Nine from the Delta Quadrant to the Alpha.

The Barclay hologram passes his diagnostic, and he and The Doctor make amends. The project is about to start.

At Pathfinder sensors discover a geodesic fold forming at the location where the data stream transmissions were intercepted, it all becomes apparent to Barclay.

In astrometrics, Seven discovers three different types of radiation that were not accounted for and begins to doubt that the shield modifications will protect the crew, but the Barclay hologram says that they will work in combination with the inoculations. When she calls the bridge to convey her concerns, the hologram reaches inside her head which causes her to fall unconscious. When the bridge replies, the hologram says, in Seven's voice, that there was a problem, but that it's corrected now.

Act Five
At Pathfinder they figure out that somehow Voyager is headed to the geodesic fold but there's nothing they can do to stop the fold, nor can they warn Voyager to not enter it. Barclay and Troi try to brainstorm for a solution.

On the Ferengi ship, Nunk receives a transmission. It seems to be from the Barclay hologram, and he's telling them to abort the plan. Voyager is on to them, has found a solution to the radiation problem, and will destroy whatever ship they find on the Ferengi's side of the geodesic fold. When the Ferengi con men don't completely believe him Barclay begins to make up different imaginary forms of Delta Quadrant technology such as Borg interquadratal warp drives, Hirogen hunting sensors, and Vidiian phage torpedos and the only solution is to cut off the beam, unfolding the fold. And they do it.

On Earth, the real Barclay ends the transmission, and the holographic simulation of Voyager's engineering. His plan worked.



On Voyager they see the fold closing. The Barclay hologram entreats Janeway to continue, but she demurs – it is too dangerous. The hologram beams to an escape pod with the unconscious Seven and launches the pod toward the closing geodesic fold. Janeway orders Kim to beam them out of there.

On the Ferengi ship, sensors pick up the escape pod. The Ferengi are excited. Perhaps their hologram has brought the ex-Borg woman to them in the pod. But sensors pick up nothing on board. Their plan has failed, which means no profits for them.


 * "Captain's log, supplemental. Seven of Nine has recovered from her injuries and Reg has been deactivated. Until we finish analyzing his program, his motivations remain a mystery."

In the mess hall, Torres and Paris try to cheer Kim up as the ensign sits with a slice of homemade apple pie before him, gathering up the courage to taste it and then afterward saying that it would taste better in San Francisco. Back in San Francisco, Barclay is working on adding more security features to his hologram when Troi stops by. She insists that he go out on a double date with her, William T. Riker, and a friend of his, a teacher named Maril. At first he says no, but Troi convinces him that he's got to get out of the office and experience life again. He agrees.

Memorable quotes
"You overloaded the transceiver."

"But I saved the hologram!"
 * - Seven of Nine and Harry Kim

"I wouldn't want to be a third nacelle."
 * - Reginald Barclay

"If you think my participation in the... "hoopla"... would be beneficial to others, then I'll comply."
 * - Seven, to Barclay hologram when he tells her that she's an inspiration

"I left Reg for one simple reason: he's boring. Don't tell me you never noticed!"
 * - Leosa, in front of Barclay

"Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that Lieutenant Paris had eaten all the scrambled eggs. It was pure, unadulterated gluttony. Gastronomic conduct unbecoming a Starfleet officer. He knows it's my favorite breakfast, but he ate them anyway. We have an egg-mergency here, people! I want to know what you plan to do about it!"

(Laughing hard) "Maybe I can replicate some more, "Captain"."

"Do it!"
 * - Reginald Barclay Hologram and Neelix, as the hologram imitates Janeway's voice and manner, to everyone's amusement

"Your pessimism is illogical."
 * - Barclay Hologram imitating Tuvok

"Captain Janeway knows better than to take her ship into such a dangerous anomaly!"
 * - Admiral Paris being unintentionally ironic

Background Information

 * Referenced Rules of Acquisition: #74 "Knowledge equals profit."
 * This episode marks the final appearance of Commander Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) on the series. The three episodes of Star Trek: Voyager in which she appears are Sirtis's only Star Trek appearances without Jonathan Frakes.
 * The red dress worn by Leosa is the same one worn by Fenna in and Antonia in.
 * When the Barclay hologram says that Seven is the first to break free of the Borg, that is not actually true. Jean-Luc Picard broke free of the Collective after he was assimilated to become Locutus in . However, Picard was only Borg for a short time.
 * This episode references several past episodes: while listing past failed attempts to get home, Paris mentions Arturis from Season 4's and the telepathic pitcher plant from Season 5's . Also, Barclay mentions that the Romulans have "been curious about Voyager for years." This may be a reference to Season 1's  or to Season 4's . Once the nanoprobe plot is discovered, Barclay mentions that one of their uses is to bring dead tissue back to life, as performed on Neelix in.
 * The Iconians are mentioned in this episode.
 * When reminding the holographic Barclay of their appointment for a game of golf on the holodeck, The Doctor suggests that they play "the back nine on Gedi Prime". The similar Giedi Prime is the homeworld of House Harkonnen in Frank Herbert's Dune universe.
 * The events of this episode represent the ninth time (aside from the series premiere) that the Voyager crew has a possibility of returning home. The other times occurred in the episodes, , , , , , and.
 * Among the items from this episode which were sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay, were the trousers of David Polk. They were previously worn in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode.
 * Deanna Troi's seat contained a logo (as seen here) designed by Geoffrey Mandel of which he later used a variation in the Star Trek: Star Charts as a logo for Risa. This might possibly imply that the beach was intended to be on Risa.
 * The Ferengi make reference to a ship with a metaphasic shield, appropriate given that such technology was developed by a Ferengi, Dr. Reyga, in the episode.

Video and DVD releases

 * UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment): Volume 7.3,.
 * As part of the VOY Season 7 DVD collection.

Starring

 * Kate Mulgrew as Captain Kathryn Janeway

Also starring

 * Robert Beltran as Commander Chakotay
 * Roxann Dawson as Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres
 * Robert Duncan McNeill as Lieutenant Junior Grade Tom Paris
 * Ethan Phillips as Neelix
 * Robert Picardo as The Doctor
 * Tim Russ as Lieutenant Commander Tuvok
 * Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine
 * Garrett Wang as Ensign Harry Kim

Special Guest Star

 * Dwight Schultz as Lieutenant Reginald Barclay

Guest Stars

 * Richard Herd as Admiral Owen Paris
 * Richard McGonagle as Commander Peter Harkins
 * Sharisse Baker-Bernard as Leosa
 * Frank Corsentino as Gegis
 * Christopher Neiman as Yeggie
 * Michael William Rivkin as Nunk


 * And

Special Guest Appearance By

 * Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi

Co-Stars

 * Brooke Averi as Little Girl #1
 * Lindsey Parks as Little Girl #2
 * Chase Penny as Cabana Boy
 * Majel Barrett as Computer Voice

Uncredited Co-Stars

 * David Keith Anderson as Ensign Ashmore
 * Stephen Pisani as a security officer
 * David Polk as a beach alien
 * Pablo Soriano as an operations division ensign
 * Unknown performers as
 * Four children
 * Two beach aliens