Fleeting from hostile aliens, USS Voyager takes refuge on a planet which has been the victim of major radiation bombing. Discovering hundreds of individuals lying in stasis beneath the planet's surface, Seven of Nine wakes one, and returns an ancient, powerful and feared force to the Delta Quadrant.

When USS Voyager witnesses a phenomenon previously recorded near mars, an away team is dispatched to investigate. Inside the Ellipse, Chakotay's unorthodox behaviour places the team in mortal danger, and leads Seven of Nine to discover the truth behind the disappearance of 300 year old Starfleet hero.