Discovering a colony of Talaxians living inside an asteroid, Neelix makes contact, and becomes personally involved with one of the settlers. When ruthless asteroid miners attempt to evict his new friend, Neelix's actions cause serious and permanent consequences for Neelix, Voyager, and the United Federation of planets.

When Chakotay raises questions over the strange behaviour of Captain Janeway, she quickly dispatches him and has his body stored in the morgue. Discovering Chakotay and the body of and unconscious Harry Kim, the crew realise that something is seriously wrong with their captain!