Janeway's first official mission in seven years is to find and recover the 300 year old "friendly" space probe Friendship One. Locating the probe, Janeway is held accountable for the effect of human anti-matter technology on the planet where it landed, and she faces deformed, contaminated local inhabitants, and a murderous alien leader bent on retribution at any cost.

When a powerful energy barrier prevents Voyager from locating Chakotay and Seven of Nine, the pair are stranded in a society of primitive people. Although there is a way to leave, the solution would violate the Prime Directive and pollute the native culture. The officers must choose: betray principles or be stranded forever?