NOW VOYAGER The Official Newsletter of the Kate Mulgrew Appreciation Society * Volume III Number 2 **THE BUZZ** {Photo} Kate, her mom, and Now Voyager members at the TrekProductions convention in Chicago! First row, from left, on one knee: Donna Christenberry, Norman Kalina, Mary Taylor, Sue Love, Cheryl Waldie, Laura Ward, Royla Furniss, Elizabeth Stone, Deborah Stone, Stephanie Friedman. Back row, from left, standing: Deb Dosemagen, Dorothy Dosemagen, Shaun Navis, Beth Schuman, Laura Williams, Andrea Blue, Kate Mulgrew, Joan Mulgrew, Dottie Ronhovde, Nancy Molik, Hilary Black, John Hogg, Kim Carnes, Heather Ayres, Karen Di Nal. Captain Valerie Ernst was there too, but, being in USAF uniform, was not allowed to be seen with us! You may notice some changes in Now Voyager since the last issue. Some of you may have heard that Viaborg--whoops, I mean Viacom--has been cracking down on fan activities to a ridiculous degree, in the names of protecting their copyrights. I'm not even sure if we're allowed to print the words "Kathryn Janeway (TM)" without paying them a fee, but in the interests of protecting the club, we will no longer be running scans of scenes from episodes. We will, however, be running a great deal more fan art, as you can tell from this issue. (If anyone would like to volunteer to illustrate, please be my guest!) We've also decided, after more than two years of existence, to incorporate the fan club and give official titles to the people who've been doing most of the hard organizational and financial work for the club. This won't mean much change for the immediate future, other than the possibility that you may not get replies from the same places you sent inquiries. But the club will be functioning a lot more efficiently, and it will no longer take a month to get an answer to a simple question! So thanks to everyone who made this possible. Michelle **REVIEWZZZZZZZZ** WARLORD Neelix's new holoprogram looks like the Talaxian version of Risa. It's nice to see more sun, especially against the dark story of the warlord. But the set was bland--I've always had a soft spot for thatch-roofed huts and hammocks slung between palm trees. Maybe they're on the other side of the patio area. I like Sandrine's better. Jennifer Lien was phenomenal. The interplay between Kes and Tieran was inspired. It was perfectly clear who was in control throughout the episode, especially as Tieran's grip on sanity started slipping. The meld scene with Tuvok was very well done, revealing a little chink in the armor on both sides--I really liked Tuvok in this. Nice touch in the confrontation scene between Kes and Tieran with the rooms changing behind them. Lien did a marvelous job playing a larger man who suddenly finds himself in a new body--smaller, more energetic, with a different physical "feeling," and a mind full of potential for him to twist. His childlike glee was fun to watch. This was also a good episode for Janeway and Chakotay. Janeway was strong and decisive and didn't overdo the "I'm protecting my crew" bit. And Chakotay--this must finally be his season to look competent on the bridge. It's funny how it feels like something is missing when Janeway's off the bridge, but I'm quickly getting to the point at which I trust Chakotay to handle things as well as she would. A few things that bothered me. The story for one--it was boring. Evil alien takes over crewmember, uses said crewmember to do dastardly deeds, resists all attempts at reason, gets defeated. It's familiar. But the wonderful acting saved it. I did not like the stiletto heels. They're not practical for war except as weapons for close combat. Since Kes never wears them (or does she?), how could Tieran appear so comfortable in them in a body with a different center of balance than what he was used to? Or maybe Tieran wore them in his last body. And finally, it seemed odd to have the command team, Paris, Neelix, and Demis breaking into a fierce warlord's heavily armed and protected stronghold single-handedly (okay, ten-handedly). I'm all for Janeway getting off the ship once in a while, but I really don't think they needed her on the surface in this one, even for Kes. There's some interesting stuff going on between Neelix and Kes and Kes and Tuvok. How much of her response to Neelix on the holodeck was pure Tieran and how much was Tieran nudging her own thoughts out? Is Kes finally realizing how stifling Neelix's jealousy is? Could be. Maybe that will free her up to explore more of this interesting bond with Tuvok that revealed itself as...something greater than "teacher helping student" during that brief meld scene. --Meredith Antonelli Though an overall enjoyable episode, I could not shake the feeling that I had seen this premise--that of someone transferring consciousness to another host upon death of the physical body--somewhere before. That fact made it difficult for me to look upon this episode with fresh eyes. However, it was fast paced and intriguing, and the mysteries kept my attention for most of the hour. Jennifer Lien did a fantastic job in her role. I was impressed with her performance and glad to see her get some serious screen time. In some ways, however, it felt like "pick on Kes" season with "Sacred Ground" having aired not so long ago. It would be nice if there was a better mix of episodes featuring characters, but any character-building and exploration episodes are ones I want to see more of. The Janeway angle in this episode was definitely secondary to the main action. It is getting rather predictable that Captain Janeway says, "I'm not ready to accept that yet," to whatever explanation the plant of the week's representative has for the situation at hand. Not that I think she should take what they say at face value, I don't. However there have been a lot of episodes this season where one crewperson is in trouble and the Captain has to either save them or argue to get someone else to see that saving them is the right course of action. I miss the team episodes where several characters are featured and explored in conjunction with one another. "Warlord" was an enjoyable action/adventure episode. The exploration of the psyche of Tieran and Kes was interesting, though the battle did harken back to "Persistence of Vision" where Kes' mental strength saved the day. I don't have a lot of criticism of this episode, but it didn't wow me either. --Siobhan Wolf My mantra for this review will be "Jennifer Lien can act!" I will remember that as I attempt not to tear this episode to shreds. Frankly, Lien's acting job was all that saved this show. Yes, it had some nice moments, but they were interspersed with enough jarring bits that I'm having a hard time ignoring the bad and concentrating on the good. How do I begin? Neelix's holodeck program is insulting. Three women were added to it for purposes of decoration--nothing more--and by Harry Kim of all people! Guess he's the pig of Voyager now that Tom has stepped down from that position. When B'Elanna dragged her own bit of turnabout along, that was great, but the fact that she did it while wearing a high-cut bathing suit definitely lessened the impact. Is it any coincidence that the only crew member we saw in a bathing suit was a woman? I can smell a ratings-boosting gimmick a mile away. If I don't see one of the male cast wandering around in a bathing suit soon, I'm going to be very angry (Neelix doesn't count). And don't get me started on my patented "why do all women still shave their legs and wear makeup in the 24th century" rant. On to the warlord plot. Lien was excellent in that part, and large chunks of it were very well written, but I started having problems about the same time I noticed she was wearing four-inch stiletto heels. She's supposed to be a man in a woman's body, isn't she? Unless Tieran had a secret fetish for heels, why would he strap on stilettos? I can understand wanting extra height, but then why not use lifts and/or chunky heels? Oops, I forgot. Ratings. Same goes for the aborted kiss with Tieran's wife. Just enough for titillation, but not enough for any real guts. If DS9 could do it, then why not Voyager? And while we're on the subject of Kes/Tieran's sexuality, I am sick to death of evil powerful women being portrayed as sex maniacs. Kes/Tieran repeatedly dripped off of anything that moved. It was gratuitous. It was stupid. It was...oh yeah! A ratings-boosting gimmick! Gimme a break. It added nothing to the plot and only served to make viewers like me squirm in embarrassment. If Jennifer Lien had not done such an amazing job with the role she was given, I would have found nothing redeeming about this episode. She looks like she had a blast, and I don't blame her one bit, but why couldn't this have been better written? Why did they have to resort to cliche time and time again? Why did they have to turn this into "Adventures of an Evil Possessed Bisexual Sex Elf?" The next time a script centers around Kes, I hope for Jennifer Lien's sake that it's a better script than this. And kill the new holodeck program! Bring back Sandrine's! At least everyone was dressed in that program. --Jennifer Pelland (Siubhan) So far, we've had a wonderful sweeps month with "Future's End, Parts One and Two." "Warlord" is no exception. The story concept is definitely one we can relate to. We have all been manipulated by people in search of more and more power, and the worst irony of the experience is that those people don't need the power. The man who possesed Kes had a situation similar to that of modern history: more power=more people, and vice versa. Sounds a lot like the monopolized railroad and oil industries of the 1800's, doesn't it? This man also had a not-so-startling resemblance to Roman Emperors, who used fear to control those he ruled as well as ego. Jennifer Lien executed a brilliant performance, and had no trouble showing the colors of this character. Oftentimes, it seems that the main characters have the remarkable ability to survive a terrible experience that would give anyone else nightmares for months and suddenly forget about it as soon as the adventure is over. It's nice to see that the writers haven't forgotten that these people aren't completely superheroes. --Charlynn Kate Smith Alien possession is becoming rather shopworn, but Jennifer Lien's tremendous performance managed to bring an interesting twist to things. I liked seeing a man's spirit take over a woman's body. We are so used to Kes's soft, comforting voice that it was startling to hear this booming, powerful sound rushing from her lips. She also brought some sexual ambiguity into play, and I'm not sure why. The alien presence may have been bisexual, but I think all her moves were motivated by power and nothing more. Nobody else was intensely annoying this week, but that's because they weren't given much to do. I can just see them on the Paramount set handing out plastic guns to all the cast members. "Here you are, wave these around and look menacing. And Kate, do you mind playing your 'Girl with a Gun' role again? You do that so well. Let's send all the senior officers down to the planet at the same time. None of them have any good lines this time, but imagine the lightshow they'll put on." This was strongly reminiscent of the time when the entire DS9 senior staff went away to a conference on the Defiant. The only other point of interest (and I use that term loosely) was the scene on the holodeck. Apparently, Sandrine's is a thing of the past and has been replaced with a Talaxian resort. Even though the show of flesh wasn't as gratuitous as the cleavage in "False Profits," it was still pointless. At least B'Elanna got equal time with that stud muffin she walked off with. "Warlord" was a mediocre episode that seemed out of place during November sweeps. After "Future's End," anything is bound to be a letdown, but I wonder why they let this one get sandwiched between a time travel episode and the infamous Q. --Elizabeth Klisiewicz THE Q AND THE GREY Some good stuff in here, buried in a slow, repetitive, overtalky (and argumentative) story. I got bored about halfway through, but there were flashes of excellent humor and even emotion, especially on Chak's part. Kate sounded like she believed what she was saying, and she was given some good things to say--expressing Human ideals as positives rather than preaching. I could just see the writers rubbing their hands with glee at the bit where Suzie Plakson argued with another half-Klingon. But that was a little too cute and self-referential for me. Two and a half stars overall, with a couple of five-star scenes. I can't see how anyone, even network execs, could have thought that having Janeway take Q's proposal seriously would have made a decent story. It could have been a lot worse! Nothing too profound here, certainly nothing too interesting about the Q. What is the deal with them having gender? One of the best things about the good Q eps have been his essential unsexuality. He used it to tease and taunt Picard, because he knew it was a Human weakness, but he himself had a puerile eww gross attitude that fit him to a T. They had part of that right here, but only part. Who was that thoroughly unsavory, one-note brazen broad with the big red wig? Lady Q came across as if the part had been written in a day and a half, and that may have been the case. Both Qs looked pretty clueless. He doesn't even know how to mate? Uhhh... But the J/C...friends, I doubt we would ever have seen anything like the scene where Chak reacts to Janeway's telling him that Q wants to mate with her without the fan demand. "I know I don't have any business feeling this way..." he says. Plain as day, and she can just leave that hanging in the air? Not like she hasn't done it before. Wrenching, but not overdone. Robert Beltran actually had something to do and looked good doing it, which added greatly to the substance of the story. And Kate was wonderful--she truly has a gift for comedy, and Janeway glows like a candle when she's really telling it like it is. Why can't that lovely, passionate woman step out of the self-imposed box and live the kind of life she describes so eloquently? It breaks my heart sometimes. --L.R. Bowen The idea that an omnipotent race would resort to war as a means to solve their differences is sobering. And it highlights the image of the Q as a bunch of spoiled brats--why bother doing things the hard way when they've had what they wanted at the snap of a finger for billions of years? In life, Quinn threatened the status quo, but he was only one voice. In death, he accomplished what he'd been hoping for all along--that other Q would finally understand him and take up his cause. Change can be scary for anyone, but when a simple thing like a temper tantrum can have "cosmic consequences," an all-out civil war is such a selfish indulgence that it makes you want to reach out and slap some sense into them. Especially when Q comes zipping into the captain's quarters thinking that a night of lust is going to solve everything. He should have known better. And Janeway let him know it. Q couldn't get her with romance and puppies, he couldn't get her with phony arguments or appeals to her own desires, he couldn't even get her with the truth and the fate of the Q Continuum on the line. He did get to her, though, and that's part of what made this so enjoyable for me. Here again is the Kathryn Janeway I fell in love with--smart, colorful, and compassionate, with a fine sense of humor. I loved watching her deal with Q at his most irrepressible and not get flustered while he beat around the bush and generally did everything he could to avoid the real issue. It's too bad he was so convinced he had the solution to everything that he didn't think to ask Janeway what she thought--that would have saved everyone a lot of trouble. Of course it also would have ended the episode about halfway through... This was another good show for Chakotay--on the bridge and in the ready room. The guy actually showed some emotion for a change, wearing his heart on his sleeve for Janeway until Q interrupted them. (I want to know what would have happened if Q hadn't shown up when he did.) I applaudChakotay for not letting his feathers get ruffled--either in the ready room or later on the bridge. I even liked watching Q's demeanor change as he got closer to the truth. He's always been a fun villain, but I found myself actually starting to like him as a person in this episode. Give him a noble objective and a desire to do something we perceive as right, give him a baby to raise with godlike powers tempered with the human conscience that Q finds so compelling and suddenly he's respectable. That bothers me a little though. It's not a bad thing, but it takes away some of the mystery of Q and I wonder what admitting that humanity has something to offer the Q is going to do for his appeal to his fans. "Ms. Q" bugged me. Not her attitude or Q-like disdain for human frailties--that's how Q used to be. Hers was a deliciously snooty role and I did like her on the bridge just before taking Voyager into the supernova. But I'm tired of the "jealous female" routine. Would she have been jealous of Q making the moves on Picard? And would the suggestion of having a baby really appease her as much as it appeared to? Poof! Let's make a baby and everything will be fine. Q gets his savior and the "ball and chain" gets her man? How sad. I hope that as godmother, Janeway manages to teach Little Q that the most rewarding relationships are those based on mutual respect, caring, and trust, and not on manipulation, power plays and selfishness. I want my Trek to help me feel like there's something better in store for us rather than more of the same problems we've got now. What kind of future do we have to look forward to if no one remembers that? --Meredith Antonelli I thought this was a perfectly fun and thoroughly enjoyable episode. Frankly, I was laughing my head off throughout most of it. I was very glad to see that the topic of Q wanting to procreate and choosing Janeway was handled in such a classy manner. Of course, Kate Mulgrew brings such a class to Captain Janeway that I have the utmost confidence that nothing bad will happen to our Captain. I think the thing I like the most about Janeway's interactions with Q is the calm and confident way that she handles him. Unlike Picard, Janeway is only minimally ruffled by Q and his antics. A woman standing in her power and not being manipulated by a petty diety! Way to go! This epsiode brought me to thinking, for the first time since being introduced to the Q, about the parallels between the immortal omnipotents in the Continuum and the Greek gods of mythology. Both groups have some maturity problems and seem to be working through some very human issues, both groups take pleasure in messing with the humans that they come into contact with, and even the gods of mythology had the desire to procreate with humans. I guess this is just a minor little parallel, but I got a kick out of it when I thought of it. As for the rest of the episode, I thought the casting of Suzie Plaxton as Ms. Q was perfect. I hope that we see her again. As always, John DeLancie was right on the mark. But I still think that Kate carried the episode. Our Janeway saving the day, saving the universe, mastering interactions with the Q, this is the stuff good Trek is made of. --Siobhan Wolf "The Q and the Grey" contains a lot of irritating, superficial, sexist garbage. However, there is a also a wonderful, constructive myth hiding underneath it. This myth is easier to see using Riane Eisler's two opposing models of society and relationships, dominator and partnership. Dominator societies are based on ranking so dominators strive to conquer and control others. Their societies and interpersonal relationships are rigidly hierarchical and tightly controlled by the threat of violent punishment against dissenters. They glorify war, suffering, and death. Partnership societies are egalitarian and consist of affiliations for mutual benefit. They glorify life, birth and happiness. Partnership relationships are based on the mutual respect that arises naturally from empathy with others. Dominator relationships require the suppression of empathy which must be taught to children early so dominator societies depend on dominator family structure. (See The Chalice and the Blade and Sacred Pleasure.) The Continuum is fighting a civil war over the rights of individuality and social dissent. How can a baby end the war and fix the problems in the Continuum? It's absurd except as a mythical symbol. The baby is a symbol of a partnership society's love of life and celebration of birth. The most famous mythical baby is Jesus. His teachings promote partnership values, but his image has frequently been coopted by dominators into stifling, death-glorifying institutions and wars. Q's rebellion is a quest to turn the Continuum into a more partnership society even though he doesn't realize it and doesn't know how to do it. He turns to Janeway for help, but his approach is dominating. Janeway doesn't submit to Q as a dominator god. That's also why she has a problem with asking him to send Voyager home. Asking for, and especially, accepting such a favor from such a powerful being puts her in an inherently submissive position, and she has reason to expect that he will use that against her. Q also doesn't understand that just a symbolic baby isn't enough. For the child to change the society, the parents must love the child and socialize the child within a partnership family. This is precisely what Janeway teaches Q through her compassionate actions in helping him while he is wounded as well as through her speech about love in the family. Janeway represents partnership values well. When Q suggests she shoot back at his enemies who are shooting at them, she says that it's not her war. Later she ignores his hints of the danger she is in and offers herself as an outside negotiator. She tells the dominator Q General that he can find a partnerhip solution if he will only try. When Q says they will be remembered as martyrs, she says that she can do without that honor. In a dominator society that glorifies war and death, martyrdom is an honor and a way to triumph even in defeat. In a dominator society, courage in the face of execution is shown by defiance. Janeway could be defiant about the injustice of a pointless death in a war that isn't hers. Instead, she says that she won't even argue for her own life because she realizes how insignificant it seems to the Q. In other words, she can still empathize with the Q General. Q musters some defiance about his own death. Then, he illustrates how much he has learned from Janeway when he shows compassion for her by pleading for her life. Janeway returns his compassion in spite of the fact that she thinks she is about to die because of him. She's a great partnership, feminist, mythical hero. Fortunately, our heroes are rescued, the General concedes, and the baby is born. Alas, Q's closing line fails to inspire hope for his ultimate success. --Kathy Altom Voyager's third season hasn't offered much excitement for the J/Cers in the viewing audience. Season Two left us hopeful that the personal relationship we saw between captain and first officer in "Resolutions" would continue to progress, and we even had Jeri Taylor's word that it would not be forgotten. As I sat waiting for "The Q and the Grey," though, I realized that I had just about given up. Through the first nine episodes of the season, there'd been precious little interaction between them. There was "Sacred Ground," where we got to see Chakotay's distress at Janeway's decision to take Kes into the shrine, and his relief when she emerged unharmed. There was "Future's End I," where fitting into the primitive 1990s for J and C seemed to mean walking veryclosetogether and touching each other quite a lot. But, aside from those two episodes, there hasn't been much to cheer about. Janeway's distracted, Chakotay's forlorn, that's it... So, waiting for "The Q and the Grey," I really was worried. I'd heard that Q was going to try to convince Janeway to procreate with him, of course, and I hoped that Janeway would continue to be the captain I loved by refusing his offer and putting him firmly in his place. Mostly, though, what I hoped was that the writers would give Chakotay the chance to react. The man who declared his feelings with that not-so-ancient Angry Warrior legend could not possibly just stand by and pretend nothing was wrong, could he? "I know I don't have any right to feel this way, but this bothers the hell out of me." That line alone would probably have satisfied me; Janeway's reaction was a wonderful bonus. My one huge fear was that Q's proposition would seem not to matter to Chakotay, but it very obviously did, and although he was typically restrained and respectful, he was still angry and apprehensive and frustrated, and not afraid to let Janeway see it. I thought that her reaching out to touch his shoulder tacitly granted him the right to have those feelings, and I would have loved to have heard what she might have said to him if Q hadn't interrupted. As if that weren't enough, wasn't it interesting that Q immediately understood what he was seeing and accepted Chakotay as a rival? Yes, Janeway dismissed that idea, just as she dismisses all of Q's ideas--she never gives him something to use against her--but I never had any sense that she was telling Q the truth. And Chakotay looked almost smug at that point, didn't he? In the "mine is bigger than yours" competition, it rather seemed he felt he'd won. I thought Janeway was just wonderful through the whole episode. That's the way I love her most, arguing passionately, remaining staunchly opposed to Q's nonsense but still allowing herself to be honest about her own needs and desires, fearlessly confronting the southern Q at one moment then cooing at the baby Q in the next. She wasn't aloof, even when she was giving Q that massive cold shoulder. And best of all, the non-aloofness extended to Chakotay. Despite my qualms, I enjoyed "The Q and the Grey" very much. It was strongly romantic, and I've always been a sucker for a Civil War story, so the setting appealed to me. I would have been happier if it had been more obviously Chakokay doing the rescuing in the end--why couldn't we have had a closeup of him in that uniform? Or, better still, what if Janeway had not been the only observer when Q and Q mated--? I can almost picture the grin that doubtless would have appeared on Chakotay's face. I know that I am now grinning again... --Diane Nichols This episode has its moments. Q's honeymoon-hotel vision of romance is amusing, quite aside from the fact that Janeway looks good in the nightgown. There are some nice concessions to the J/C crowd--Chakotay's display of jealousy, Janeway's massaging her own neck while talking with him. Paris makes a dashing Yankee. That said, there are two grave flaws. The first is the jealous female Q. Suzie Plakson does a good job with the role, and has some good lines, but the basic concept stinks. If we assume that the Q manifest themselves in forms they think humans will understand, we are compelled to draw the conclusion that stuff which seems dated in the 1990s Sunday comic pages will not have died out by the 24th century. I know there have been calls for a "darker" Trek, but I don't think this is what that crowd has in mind. In a more important sense, there isn't enough "darkness" here. The Q are simply not menacing. It's not just that Janeway talks back to Q--everyone, including Neelix, talks back to him, with no apparent fear of retaliation. A civil war among a race of more or less omnipotent beings is serious business, but there's never any real sense of danger. The comic tone always prevails. Janeway's pontifications get a mixed reaction from me. The message that there's no quick fix for the Continuum's problems gives me no trouble. I'm very uncomfortable with the "family values" stuff, however. Of course values are transmitted from parents to their children, but that's hardly the only way they're passed on, now or presumably in the 24th century. Are Janeway's principles irrelevant because she has no children (except the mudpuppies, which she isn't raising)? Can Q passon values to his offspring which he doesn't stand by in the other areas of his life? The perfectly understandable fact that Janeway doesn't love Q is hardly the biggest problem with his scheme. --Jennifer Loehlin I must say that I approached this episode with a great deal of trepidation. I had heard so many bad rumors about it that I almost didn't watch. However, I've never missed an episode and I wasn't about to start now. The result, I laughed my way through one of the most enjoyable episodes of the season. Not that this episode was perfect, but it was very entertaining. It was also agravating and annoying at times. So for this review, I have borrowed (with permission) Ashley Miller's "The Good, the Bad, and the Ungly" format. However in this case, I call it "The Good, the Bad, and the Frustrating." THE GOOD: One letter: Q. Since his initial appearance 9 years ago Q has been one of Trek's best villians. He is everything our StarFleet officers are not: obnoxious, pretentious, and overbearingly annoying. His confrontations with Janeway equal those he had with Picard. The introduction of the female Q is an additional plus. Despite her stereotypical *itchy behavior, Suzie Plakston's portrayal of the female Q was splendid. She was able to capture all of the characteristics of a Q. The continuatioin of the "Deathwish" storyline was an additional plus. THE BAD: Neelix's new holodeck program. This is clearly an attempt to draw in the all important male demographic, despite the fact that it gives us "Baywatch in space", and is another way that UPN is using its influence to damage our show. THE FRUSTRATING: Star Trek's continued inability to write true life adult relationships. Jeri Taylor was quoted several times over the summer haitus that the Janeway/Chakotay relationship would continue to be explored. However, I would rather it be forgotten than continue on its current path. "Q and the Grey" had one J/C scene in it, their conversation in the ready room. Judging these characters by this one moment, an outsider would believe them to be two adolescents experiencing their first love. Chakotay appeared to be a lovesick teenager pining after the girl of his dreams. Janeway would have to be blind not to notice his attentions; however, she has yet to even acknowledge his feelings. Some sort of resolution must take place here and soon. No, I don't mean to rush the relationship--rather to acknowledge that there is something there. Once that has been accomplished, they can either pursue or abandon it. To act like it doesn't exist would only serve one purpose: to continue to weaken the show's two main characters. --JoAnn Braker "I was good, wasn't I?" To quote "Ms." Q--"Very good." Despite a terribly disheartening teaser last week, "The Q and the Grey" was at the very least better than the promos--and definitely better than some of the sad slop we've been dished up this season in the Cosmic Cafeteria of Trek--we've had to exist on Neelix-esque flotsam while we crave at the very least replicator-quality foodstuffs in lieu of real, fulfilling fare. OK, the premise was, to quote Janeway this time, "puerile." Golly gee, Q having his biological clock run out and then sweep Kathy and himself back to the Continuum, in full Civil War regalia. Cute. Real Cute. I don't appreciate cute. Meanwhile, of course, another even more twitty Q (our Q's girlfriend) strolls around actually riling dear "Chuckles." The impossible occurs! Speaking of the impossible and the First Officer, talk about subtle shades of jealousy! "Captain, I know I have no right to feel this way..." Hee hee hee! Something for J/Cers to subsist on in the aftermath of "Resolutions." And oh wow--continuity with "Death Wish"! Who'da thunk it? There's hope for Voyager this season yet! Finally, the finger-touch was eerily reminiscent of ET: The Extraterrestrial, and to see Kathy's dumbfounded expression was worth every despicable sexist line in this episode. And the baby was "terriwibwy cuwte." (Did I mention I'm not fond of cute for cute's sake?) Like "Death Wish," "The Q and the Grey" was fun, but the subsequent hangover is a little much to partake often of such lightheaded fun. My biology teacher warned me sacchrine was bad for me. --Emily Friedman After hearing rumors about this episode for months, I was all prepared to hate it. But I enjoyed it quite a bit. This was a romp, pure and simple. If you accept that as a condition, you can probably set aside your differences and take it for what it's worth. Kate Mulgrew gave us a stellar performance, and it's clear that she and DeLancie had great fun in their scenes together. Her dialogue was snappy, yet she was warm and compassionate and managed to send Q a clear message without being preachy. Robert Beltran also did a good turn, and I loved the scene in the ready room that was interrupted by Q. Once again, he handed his heart to Janeway on a silver platter and she ignored his entreaty. Suzie Plakson, or Suzie Q, did a decent job with what they gave her. Unfortunately, she was painted as a stereotypical, overly haughty b*tch with a bad attitude and not much else. While she had her moments, especially her scene with Torres and her reference to Klingons, there weren't many of them. I also liked the interplay between her, Tuvok and Chakotay and I'm glad they got their shots in while they had a chance. I really didn't understand how procreating between two Q could end the war, and here's where I had a problem with the show's message. I got the impression that they were comparing the Continuum to the current state of affairs in our society, and if we return to solid family values, it will solve the world's problems. This is the message that the Right has been preaching for a long time, and it seems to have been picked up by TPTB. On the other hand, they don't seem to see anything wrong with showing the babes on the holodeck, so they are sending a confusing message to their audience. Best moment in the show: seeing Chakotay in that wide-brimmed hat. Best dialogue: Holodoc telling Kes that all the action is in sickbay. He ain't kidding: how many women did he bag in the past two years? For a hologram, he's doing pretty well for himself. All in all, this was a fun episode, but that's about it. --Elizabeth Klisiewicz MACROCOSM I had high hopes for this episode, but I am afraid that they didn't get fulfilled. I thought it was medicore, good for an action episode but it seemed one-dimensional and flat to me. I'm sorry to say that action alone doesn't make an episode. Kate Mulgrew was wonderful, don't get me wrong. She made the episode as good as it was. Knowing that she did all her own stunts in this one made me sit up and notice, too. Way to go, Kate! I had no doubt that she could do it, but to do it and still look so good at the same time takes someone special. That's Kate. Unfortunately, however, the storyline didn't pull me in as I have been pulled in during other episodes. Maybe the fact that it aired the week after "The Swarm" had something to do with it--the similarities between the adaptive and growing villains were too strong. Besides, I think I get really tired of viral/bacterial antagonists. I would have rather seen Janeway and Neelix on the planet with the TakTak. --Siobhan Wolf Man, I really want to rant about this one. I'm going to try very hard to control myself, but whether I really do or not is completely up in the air. Like "The Q and the Grey," I was extremely psyched up after viewing the preview for this episode. "Intruder alert..." compression phaser rifles, and a Janeway story--who needs more? The real question is, what needs more? The answer is, this story! This plot was ripped off from Aliens. Was Janeway a descendant of Sigorney Weaver? That's what it seemed like, although I didn't mind seeing Kate in action. However, that's all this story really was: action. This episode is just another example of Berman-ism--it's all action and no moral. Did anyone catch a single hint of a theme? I sure didn't. It just isn't Trek to me if the story doesn't have the trademark that makes it truly unique from other shows today and back to the 60's: clever writing. This episode wasn't completely awful...it was a Janeway story, after all. Naturally, Kate Mulgrew used her talents to bring out the fighting side of Janeway. She's shown many colors of her alter ego brilliantly, from the sensitive and loving side of Janeway to the strong-willed, challenge-undertaking woman we saw shine in "Sacred Ground." This is the first time we've seen Janeway in this kind of combat, however, and I was thoroughly impressed. Despite the heat, broken body parts, and seeing her crew in a frightening state, she still kept up her endurance, which is something only a few of us could do as well as she. I admire her strength and tenacity. Kudos to Kate for bringing out the most in this story. --Charlynn Kate Smith Well, I have to admit it took me a little while to get into the spirit of things, Voyager usually being so darned serious. But once I did, I couldn't help but appreciate what a great Voyager parody "Macrocosm" is. I should have guessed that any episode which starts out with Neelix rescuing Janeway from a diplomatic blunder would have to be humorously intended. I mean, really--Neelix as a diplomat? Neelix, who's so gifted at dealing with members of other races that he was practically starving when Voyager found him, who's so aware of nuances that after two years he hasn't yet caught on that the crew doesn't like his cooking? What a snicker! Of course it never occurred to our trained-scientist Starfleet captain that, when she came aboard a ship that was drifting and evidently lifeless, she and her fellow passenger might want to put on environmental suits before leaving the shuttle. Picard was too manly to don one in a similar situation in TNG's "Genesis," and almost ended up devolved as a result. I guess the theory's that Janeway's been playing Kirk so much in season three, she might as well take a shot at playing Picard, too! Nor did it occur to her that the Doctor would be the one crewmember likely to be immune to diseases affecting the rest of the crew, and that she could probably contact him to find out what was going on. But hey, if she had, we wouldn't have had that cute scene where Doc shoves a phaser up her nostrils! And of course the heat on the ship had to increase as a result of the crisis. (Here I thought space was cold!) Otherwise how could Janeway have taken off her shirt to reveal her version of that classic Ripley/Terminator 2/Rambo tank-top look? Hey Kate, nice...arms! Bet the demographic loved them. Can't help wondering if Janeway always wears a tank top and the Starfleet bra underneath her turtleneck underneath her uniform, on a climate-controlled starship. If so, she must be pretty warm most of the time--she should feel the need to peel down more often! (Is that cracking tenor cheer I hear the demographic again?) But wait! When did she start wearing a shirt-and-pants uniform combo, instead of her usual jumpsuit? Or did she lose both shirt and pants when she started stripping? If so, gotta admit I love those full-length black skivvies, but man, Janeway must be really warm with those under her uniform too! How about that transporter buffer, huh? Germs pass right through it. Gee, when they call it a "buffer," maybe they mean it makes things shine, not that it's a barrier. Somebody should tell the Doctor. Were those giant flying germs the silliest special effect you ever saw, or what? Kind of like really large beach balls with huge stingers. If I could take a critter that looked like that seriously (impossible!), I might ask how the darned things flew (internal anti-gravs, maybe?). Or how they stung anybody without leaving big bleeding holes in the poor victim. Or--here's my favorite--exactly how they herded their victims into one room. Those folks sure weren't going anywhere on foot. Wouldn't just one shot of the critters trying to drag the bridge crew into the ready room have added a lot to the humor of this episode? Picture a critter trying to hook his stinger into Chakotay and dragging Chak a few feet before the big guy's weightpulls him off the stinger. The poor thing would have to start all over! Of course, even in this episode we couldn't do without a beach resort-cheesecake shot, in case Tank Top Janeway wasn't enough for the demographic boys. I have to admit the feminist in me got a charge out of seeing the bimbos get mowed down. Does every holographic "person" really have a separate UV signature? Hey, who cares, right? But the pièce de resistance, the campiest moment of the whole campy episode, had to be when when one Really Large Beach Ball knocked Janeway's third season pet accessory--that wonking big phaser rifle that she must have bought at a Chicks With Chainsaws Boutique--out of her arms. My husband and I were rolling on the floor when she pulled a knife on it! What machisma! In a less perfect parody, she might have pulled a pistol phaser (you know, the kind of weapon where you don't have to let your target get in arm's reach) but hey, in a less perfect parody, she wouldn't have been facing down a mutant beach ball. No doubt about it, this was the funniest Voyager episode I've seen all year. Even the fan parodies aren't as off-the-wall as this... What do you mean, it wasn't supposed to be a comedy? --Brenda Shaffer-Shiring [To the tune of "Janie's Got a Gun" by Aerosmith] Janeway's got a gun. Janeway's got a gun. The whole ship is overrun with macroviruses--it's no fun. They infected Neelix too! What is Janeway gonna do? She's gonna go to Engineering and grab a souped-up phaser gun! She sent out a distress call, her back's up against the wall, The viruses have her on the run. Janeway's got a gun. Janeway's got a gun. The Holodoc has a cure, of that Janeway is very sure. How can they treat the crew? These two have a tough job to do! They have to split up and try access to environmental control. But Doc's trapped in a shuttlecraft,Janeway's in no mood to laugh-- Destroying Voyager's the Tak-Tak's new goal. Run Janeway, run Janeway, from the macroviruses, Run Janeway, run Janeway, and save your crew, Run Janeway, run Janeway, run run Janeway! Janeway's got a gun. Janeway's got a gun. The viruses multiply, Janeway must make them die. She accessed the holodeck to stop the macroviral effect-- She had to shoot a macrovirus and put a phaser in its brain. And she blew them all to heck, now the holodeck's a wreck, But the viruses won't come back again! Run Janeway, run Janeway, from the macroviruses, Run Janeway, run Janeway, and save your crew, Run Janeway, run Janeway, run run Janeway! Janeway's got a gun. Macroviruses are no fun, But the Holodoc cured everyone. Now she's no longer on the run. --Yul Tolbert "Macrocosm" is a viral infection straight from the twisted mind of Brannon Braga. Damn, I liked this episode. It's hard to believe that this very same writer came up with "Threshold," which tooks its place alongside "Spock's Brain" as the worst-ever Trek episode. The opening was a bit slow, but what can you expect when Neelix is involved? The new alien race (the TicTacs?) was rather odd, but at least they weren't day-old Klingons with bad hair. When the doctor entered the picture, things seemed to really take off. I liked how they used flashbacks to tell the story, and settled right into a riveting groove that didn't let up until we were treated to Janeway's canned jazz program. The Doctor went on his first away mission, and his boyish enthusiasm was rather infectious (oh, those bad puns). I liked the interaction between him and Chakotay, but even after Chakotay's stern admonitions to leave the virus where it was, the viewing audience expected something to go wrong. This had the unfortunate effect of making Chakotay look stupid--it's not the first time, and I doubt it will be the last. If it's any consolation, Janeway has also looked like a real bonehead in episodes like "False Profits." Anyway, it was neat watching the doctor investigate the problem. The force field he erected around the rapidly growing virus was kind of cool. The noises those lifeforms made was straight out of insect-hater's hell. That buzzing noise was enough to make me dash for the earplugs--very ominous and very effective. I think it was a mistake to compare Janeway with Ripley from Aliens in the promos. Besides the obvious difference in stature, it's hard to take someone wearing high heels seriously, and the camera kept focusing on her feet as she fell to the ground and crawled through miles of Jeffries tubes. I also had a nit with Janeway's gear--she kept having to take her backpack off to retrieve numerous tools, and I thought it put her at a tremendous disadvantage. The macho posturing with the phaser rifle was also a bit over the top, but maybe that was the point. Kate seemed to have a lot of fun with this, as was evident throughout this episode. She and Bob Picardo were both good here, and he is showing that he deserves his popularity with fans. He is one of the best things about this show and has consistently delivered performances far above the material he has to work with. The best moment in the entire episode was the attack on Neelix's hokey holodeck program. Wow, does this mean it will join Lord Burleigh in holo heaven? I hope so, because I am tired of looking at those bodybuilder types in their skimpy clothes. I much prefer Sandrine's, and I hope we get to see it again someday. The second-best moment was Janeway insulting the alien with her standard hands-on-hips gesture. My greatest moment of disbelief was how quickly Janeway assembled that antigen bomb. I'm wondering where she got the time to throw it together. Wait, this is Braga's time bending writing--she must have encountered a rift in the space-time continuum that gave her just enough time to save the day. I liked seeing Janeway hack off that virus's limb. All this nonstop action was accompanied by the cheery music from the Talaxian style resort. Very nice contrast to the darkness pervading the ship. There were also little bits scattered throughout that I enjoyed. We get to see Ensign Wildman's quarters and the typical mess scattered throughout any home with children. We also learn that Neelix has turned into the Oprah of Voyager, and his #1 fan is none other than Wildman. I also noticed that Ayala was back as they scanned the hosts in the mess hall. Finally, Jeri Taylor's promise to reveal more of Janeway's background is coming through. We learned that she's from Indiana, skis, paints, and enjoys doctor's office lounge music. There weren't many J/C moments to savor except for Janeway's despair at seeing her stricken XO, and the camaraderie at the end. If the friendship is all they ever give us, then I'll be happy with that. --Elizabeth Klisiewicz What a great preview! Lots of Janeway, action, suspense, surprises around every corner and a driving drum beat to boot. A real edge-of-the-seat nail-biter. Voyager previews are usually misleading, but this one really captured my attention. Unfortunately, it did more than the actual episode, which I enjoyed but thought could have been a lot more than it was. The TakTak were refreshingly weird. More than your average humanoids with bumpy faces and twisted agendas--I was amused that Neelix figured out their strange, yoga-like mannerisms before the captain did. There was a nice buildup of suspense as they got closer to Voyager and once they got on board, the corridors that usually look so bright and cheerful had changed subtly and there was an implied threat in the air. A good opportunity to generate some nervous excitement, but it dragged out too long. We already knew what Janeway would be dealing with because we'd seen it in the preview. And we knew it would eat its way through the wall in the turbolift, so there was no element of surprise to release the suspense. It just sort of fizzled away. By the time Janeway got to Engineering, instead of wondering whether something was going to jump out at her, I was wondering how many directions she'd point the phaser before getting wherever she was going. Otherwise, the first part of the episode was pretty good. I'm not sure which was more eerie, the empty bridge or the mess hall full of unconscious crewmembers. Janeway's concern for them was touching, especially her relief at finding actual life signs. And I'll admit that I thought her response to seeing Chakotay as sick as the rest of them was almost emotional enough to pacify the part of me that's wondering what the heck has happened to their relationship since "Resolutions." By the time she hobbled to sickbay (would she really have been able to open the doors with her right arm if she was injured that badly?) I was hooked. But the backstory interrupted just when things were getting intense, like hitting a brick wall. What was Chakotay thinking, running off like that and letting the doctor beam into an infected area so casually? That should have been the captain's decision. Anyone with common sense knows that a "minor viral outbreak" can become a major problem. The doctor's grim statement summed it up well but it would have been nice to see more of the crew's reaction--like how did Chakotay feel knowing that his actions put Voyager at the mercy of a mindless enemy that incapacitates just by doing what it does. What's it like to know that it's only a matter of time before your whole ship will be overcome? That could have been a good scene between Chakotay and Tuvok. It was a relief to get back to Janeway and the Doctor. I loved watching her play Rambo with the macroviruses, and I give Kate a lot of credit for doing her own stunts. Then there's the ending. Oh, Janeway and Chakotay you break my heart. After all she went through to save her ship and crew, Chakotay didn't even ask how she was feeling after the ordeal? I know a captain is supposed to do what it takes but it's not every day that she has to do it singlehandedly while everyone else lies around languishing. Why couldn't they give us just one brief moment of personal connection? Fashion-wise, I loved the tank top. Kate (and Janeway) strike me as more the elegant type than the action-hero type, but the look worked. I don't imagine all those easy-off layers would go on that quickly in an emergency though. And the sight of Janeway running around all sweaty, in a tank top, lugging a big gun, in heels, was just too much. Forget trying to make her look taller--give the poor woman some practical combat boots. What if she'd been stuck in a swamp? Not that I want to see her in a swamp again... --Meredith Antonelli FAIR TRADE "Fair Trade," written and directed by some newcomers, was a decent piece of work. It was a far cry from the slam-bang, action-packed episodes of the recent past, and that might be why many people found it dull. But if anyone can write Neelix without me wincing at his annoying mannerisms, then it's a good day in the Trek universe. This was a simple morality tale at heart, unburdened by the usual Treknobabble, so it worked for me. It's about time that Neelix hit unfamiliar territory, which should have happened much sooner in the Voyager timeline. I also found it odd that he ran into someone he knew from the old days. I realize it was a convenient plot point, and since there weren't too many of those to contend with, it didn't bother me all that much. One thing did bother me, though: I wondered why our favorite voyagers were so casual about mentioning their technology to station personnel. Is this an example of throwing the Prime Directive out the window? I don't know, maybe it's me, but this stood in stark contrast to the blatant, smarmy speeches we've been forced to endure throughout the past two seasons. Maybe if they had included a line about these aliens being technologically equal, it wouldn't have been an issue. If they're going to forget the rules, at least give us a good reason for it. Ethan Phillips did a nice job here, though nothing we haven't seen before. Neelix is still naive and entirely too trusting for his own good. Given that he had some trouble with his friend Wix, he should have been a little more suspicious about his intentions. Still, I enjoyed their camaraderie and James Nardini's engaging performance was the highlight of the show. They also resurrected Alexander Enberg to play the token Vulcan, just as he did in the TNG episode "Lower Decks." Whenever I see a new character show up in Engineering, I see a red shirt in their future. The engineering staff on Voyager doesn't seem to last very long. Look what happened to Hogan, Jonas and Seska, and has anyone seen Lt. Carey since Season One? Anyway, I digress. Kate gave a credible, tight-lipped performance, and who could blame her for being pissed at Neelix? She had the same reaction when Torres, Tuvok and Chakotay screwed up. I know she put Chakotay on report, but would it have made any sense for Neelix? He isn't a member of Starfleet, so it wouldn't have any impact. And while throwing him in the brig might improve the cooking, she's said that she needs every hand to help out. I was a bit put off by her comments about being a family, but I think that scrubbing the exhaust manifolds would be no fun at all. Garrett Wang was nowhere to be seen, not that that was any great loss, and the rest of the cast was just wasted here. There isn't much to say here. Certainly, it wasn't a dynamic episode, but it ran along on an even keel and I mostly liked it. I liked the exterior shots of Voyager and the station, and I also liked the grungy feel to the station itself. Wonder if they used the DS9 sets and disguised them for use here. Makes sense, and why should they re-invent the wheel? As the rest of you viewers are out there yawning, I think I'll sit here and cheer for some new writers. It gives me hope for the future, and after all, that's what Trek's all about. --Elizabeth Klisiewicz Another episode I have no choice but to rant about. "Fair Trade" was strictly a bore. I will give the writers credit that the situation portrayed is a very real one, but the dialogue was mediocre at best. For example, Paris' "I did the crime, I'm doing the time" speech was especially in need of an overhaul. Was this something that was overlooked in the revision drafts or what? It reminded me of overhearing Barney when my little sister would watch it. The speech (if one could call it such) Paris gave Neelix reminded me so much of Barney's lessons, I was chilled. In fact, I started painting my nails halfway through the lecture just so I wouldn't leave the room and grab something in the kitchen for a snack. I never paint my nails unless under extreme duress. The rest of the story seemed like words put together in the first draft--never revised, probably due to time constraints, and it definitely shows. I couldn't stand this episode despite its moral. I despised it even though Neelix was given some rarely-offered character development. Putting it bluntly, I scorn this episode...I just don't like it. --Charlynn Kate Smith "Fair Trade" wasn't the worst Voyager episode; that honor goes to "Threshold." Nor was it as boring as "Non Sequitur." But that's the nicest thing I can say about it. The show was insipid, trite, and slow-moving. To borrow a phrase from Kate Mulgrew, it was the quintessence of mediocrity. Ethan Phillips gave a fine performance, but I guess I've come to expect that from him. He does a terrific job with only a half-written character who would appear an annoying buffoon played by a less skilled actor. Like Jennifer Lien in "Warlord," he made hackneyed dialogue and characterization interesting here. But it was hardly a surprise to learn that Neelix has been involved in illegal activities in the past, and about time he started worrying about what was going to happen when they got out of space he was familiar with. Robert Duncan McNeill, too, did a credible job with incredibly bad lines. That little speech about how he shouldn't have lied about chopping down the cherry tree sounded more like an After-School Special than Star Trek; even Kirk's platitudes were never such clichés. In fact, this episode points out just how dependent Voyager's success is on its cast, all far more talented than the writers (even young Garrett Wang, who had the good sense to be missing from this one). Janeway's speech at the end was absolutely dreadful. Here I thought the whole point of the episode was to make Neelix realize that he is an important part of a Starfleet vessel, even though he doesn't have the same training and background as the others, but instead of treating him like a Starfleet officer and disciplining him accordingly--or, better yet, putting him through some sort of training program like the crewmembers in "Learning Curve"--Janeway acts like she's his Mommy, punishing him with a lecture about family and household chores. It's not Kate's fault that the writers refuse to treat Janeway like a military captain in episodes like this one, so she has to play maternal, and then look like a cold bitch by contrast when she does act professional. The inconsistencies are ruining this show and these characters. Somehow the current crop of writers have managed to trash everything idealistic about Roddenberry's vision while retaining the worst aspects--the one-night stands and scorn for spirituality. --Sara Unger I really don't like stories in which people get framed. However, I didn't mind it that much in this episode and actually thought it was handled very well. There was a nice, gradual-buildup-novel quality that really appealed to me--I could put myself in everyone's shoes and see exactly where they were coming from. Wix was interesting and the paranoid station chief was wonderful. It's too bad, but those two were more well-defined than Chakotay has been all season. Poor Neelix just kept digging himself deeper, putting himself through the emotional wringer needlessly. I'd gotten so used to thinking of him as comic relief that it was surprising to remember that he was a different person before joining Voyager's crew. I did not like his "woe is me, I'm useless now," attitude though. You'd think after all this time among humans, if he was bright enough to learn the value of integrity (even if he didn't demonstrate it very well) that he would also have learned everyone on that ship is important and appreciated. I loved the part where he was challenging the alien to kill him--you could see his fear turn to resolve as the prospect of death suddenly became more appealing than dealing with the consequences of his actions. I love it when Janeway gets angry, but she was stone cold throughout the episode and her tone when she was telling the senior officers about the murder on the station was a little too accusatory. I really felt for Neelix at the end because it was so obvious that he knew he'd done wrong and was horrified at the thought of disappointing Captain Janeway and being thrown off the ship. Janeway took just the right approach with him, forcing him to take responsibility for his actions. His joy at being allowed to stay on the ship was touching, and I think Janeway would have been hard-pressed to come up with a punishment that would quell his renewed enthusiasm. --Meri Antonelli ALTER EGO A reasonably entertaining episode, "Alter Ego" gave us a better look at Tuvok than we've had for quite some time. In typically deceptive fashion, the promos for this episode made it sound like a Fatal Attraction situation, when in fact the heart of this episode is something far less dramatic but much more compelling: the need for companionship, even among those who choose to set themselves apart. In time-honored Vulcan fashion, Tuvok watched the emotional entanglements of humans with an air of detachment and, though he would deny it, superiority. When Harry brings up the problem of his feelings for the holodeck character Marena, Tuvok relishes the chance to pontificate on what he sees as the blindingly obvious signs of increasing emotional attachment, dispassionately spouting out Vulcan terms for each circumstance. A short time later, though, he fails to realize that he himself is becoming similarly entangled. The sense of internal history was good to see here, the fact that when it was discovered that the disruption of ship operations stemmed from the holodeck, they were aware of a similar occurance on the Enterprise-D. What finally won me over was that there was no technobabble, no sudden technological breakthrough, no miraculous discoveries. It all came down to one lonely person, reaching out for companionship in the only way she considered possible, and another person's honesty in admitting things he'd probably rather not acknowledge. Perhaps the real-life Marena will take Tuvok's advice and cease to isolate herself from her own people; perhaps Tuvok will have learned something about himself from his encounter with her--though with the show's record on character continuity, I wouldn't bet on it! --Mark Moerman Season Three has been a crapshoot, plain and simple. Most of the recent episodes remind me of the leftovers in my fridge. Just take a little of this and a little of that and throw it all together into one big mess. Faced with falling ratings and intense pressure from the guys at the top, they seem to be trying everything in a pointless attempt to boost audience share. In the process, I think they're making a mockery of the characters we've grown to love and they're insulting the intelligence of their viewing audience. They really should have let those flying viruses destroy that holodeck program, because it's becoming the central theme of the show. God forbid that they have any real character interaction. Instead, we are treated to yet another retread where someone falls in love with a holodeck character. One of the main problems here, besides the overabundance of cleavage, was having Garrett Wang thrust in our face. He performed well in "The Chute," because he had decent material to work with, but here he was as mesmerizing as his soggy cardboard counterpart reading from a script left out in the rain. There was little chemistry between him and Tuvok, and none at all between him and Marena. The interlude between him and Tom was mildly interesting, but that had more to do with Robert Duncan McNeill than with Garrett. As far as our two couples, they had a few very small scenes, but nothing worth writing home about. This was Robert Picardo's directorial debut, and from what I could see, he did a fine job. There was a great deal of camera movement, similar to what we see in Homicide but without the jerky motions. He favors closeups shots from the waist up, and he likes to follow characters down hallways. The latter type shot was put to effective use as Tuvok lectured Harry on the way to the turbolift. We even got to see them round the corner and then follow from behind. I should also note that Picardo's twenty seconds on screen were one of the most compelling things about this episode. I'm running out of things to say, because this was dross. Tim Russ is a good actor, but he's stuck with a boring character, and nothing I've seen to date has changed my opinion about this. During Season One, it was fun to watch the sparks fly between Tuvok and Chakotay, but they've decided that everyone is part of one big happy family, so the tension went out the window along with the Prime Directive. I suppose that people who like Tim's character enjoyed the bit of background they gave us here, but it's just not enough anymore. They've hung everyone out to dry in a sterile, plasticine enviroment and all that's left are the dessicated husks of what was once an interesting concept. --Elizabeth Klisiewicz Is it just me, or was that just Fatal Attraction without the bunny? Okay, this was another "let's annoy the feminists" episode. I should be numb to them by now, I suppose, but alas, this one hurt just as much as all the others. The first problem I had with it were the acres of female flesh that were displayed. B'Elanna and Kathryn were put in tight strappy dresses, Kes was paraded around in a bathing suit and a sarong, and spandex-clad holobabes were sprinkled liberally throughout. And the men? Hawaiian shirts and long pants. The only holodudes in spandex were way in the background. I wouldn't have minded the women's clothing nearly so much if the men had been in similarly revealing outfits--say, tank tops and shorts. If that had been the case, then I would have just chalked it up to a desire to add sex appeal to the show. But since only the women were forced to bare so much skin, it was just plain sexist. The second, and major, problem was the plot: desperately lonely woman kidnaps man for affection even though he's clearly not interested in her. How many movies and TV shows with this plot are we going to be subjected to before we realize it's demeaning? If a man had tried to kidnap a woman for affection, it would be terrifyingly creepy. We would call it rape, and we would treat it with appropriate severity. When it's a woman kidnapping a man, it's "cute." After all, what is a woman without a man? Nothing. What is a man without a woman? A man without a woman. This plot might have been more effective if the kidnapping were same-gender, either for companionship or affection. That would have at least broken out of cliché--something Voyager seems reluctant to do. Having said all that, I must note that I was very impressed with the acting. Tim Russ was finally given a chance to shine, and he rose to the occasion. It's so rare that Vulcan characters are given a chance to be truly Vulcan without being forced into stereotypical behavior. I must say, I was truly dismayed when everyone took turns playing "pick on the Vulcan" in the opening scene on the bridge. Haven't they gotten past that yet? It was degrading when McCoy did it, and it's triply degrading now that Vulcans have been integrated into all levels of Starfleet. Garrett Wang did a good job of turning Harry into someone I dearly wanted to smack. Can he grow up now, please? And since when did they decide to turn Paris back into a pig? Give B'Elanna the once-over, why don't you? She should have dislocated his shoulder for that. Still, good acting on Dawson's and McNeill's parts, especially when dealing with the seemingly amorous young Vulcan from Engineering. I just hope they don't kill him off too. There'll be no one left in Engineering if they do. So to sum things up, the concept was deeply flawed, but the execution was good. What a waste of acting talent. I was really hoping that season three would surpass season two when it came to writing, but so far, the show seems bound and determined to disappoint me. --Jennifer Pelland (Siubhan) I liked this episode. Tim Russ is really good, and doesn't get too many chances to show it. He played this one beautifully...first as the patronizing and distant Vulcan who would help Harry find The Way, and then to his own reluctant fascination with Maraina. Through his conversations with her, I saw the man who's been hiding behind the Vulcan suit. I loved the whole conversation around his refusal to wear a lei; how many of us have met people who are that obnoxious in their refusal to go along with the group? I finally saw inside this character who's come off as an inept prig in most episodes. Both he and Marena were lonely, and had circumstances been different, I think they could have been good for each other. Tuvok's interest in Marena never came across as romantic, and though she was attempting a seduction, I thought her loneliness stemmed less from a need for Love (TM) than for companionship and someone who was interested in her intellect. The episode gave some insight into Tuvok, and the story, though on the whole predictable, had enough twists to keep me guessing. Okay, I'll even admit that I jumped when the holocharacters turned vicious! And I never suspected the existance of a space station, as I was expecting the old "energy-life-form-in-a-nebula" plot. The variation was refreshing. As for the rest of the story, I thought Harry Kim was a bit goofy--but then, so are most post-adolescent males when they're in love. (Though when Harry was confessing that he was in love and didn't want to be, I really wanted him to confess that the object of his affections was Tom!) The scene with Harry and Tuvok at the end was nice; understated and yet, again, showed growth in both characters. I liked that Chakotay referred back to Moriarty. There was an attempt to show that the Voyager folks have studied the adventures of past ships and crews. Tom Paris was a scream--his, "We've all fallen for a holodeck character" was priceless. I'll admit that I'm finding the set-up with the young Vulcan to be a bit heavy-handed, but it would have been worse if he showed up for the first time in "Blood Fever", so I guess it's the lesser of the two evils. KJ and Chakotay seemed very comfortable with each other at the luau--that was a nice moment. Kate and Robert rarely miss a trick; they shine even in episodes like this one where they were not the primary focus. You can almost hear Janeway salivating over any new scientific discovery, and feel Chakotay's delight at Tuvok's discomfort over Neelix' parties. All in all, this was a solid episode, with a nice balance of character and action. I have to admit, I've enjoyed more episodes to date than I had last year at this time. True, there hasn't been a "Resistance", but then again, there hasn't been a "Non Sequitor" either. And now, let's all say a fervent prayer that there isn't a "Threshold" waiting in the wings! --Joan Testin This episode was hollow drek--or maybe I should say holodrek, since the holodeck seems to represent everything terrible about Voyager, and shows up in all the worst episodes. Paris' line about how everyone falls for a hologram sooner or later was priceless--that could be the theme of the show, that these characters have no lives because they're too busy fooling around with substitutes! Paris does it, Janeway does it, Doc has little choice...and in this two-for-one episode, Tuvok and Harry fall for the same woman! Yes, even Vulcans get leied on the holodeck. Who'd have thought it possible? Chakotay tried to draw a comparison here to TNG's Moriarty problem, when a hologram attained sentience in order to experience life. Sorry, Chak, but "Alter Ego" was more like godawful "Liaisons" than superb "Elementary, Dear Data." Lonely, probably psychotic woman kidnaps important starship crewman for illusory fling, then nobly returns him to duty after learning an important lesson? If you're going to recycle, Joe Menosky, don't recycle crap. Moriarty wanted life off the holodeck for philosophical reasons; Marena wanted to live on the holodeck for--what do women ever crave on Trek, or in Fatal Attractions?--love, of course! There's not much good I can say about this episode except that they're doing a good job setting us up for B'Elanna's rumored pon farr experience with the young Vulcan and Tom Paris--an arc, who'd have thunk it? Too bad it's going to end with yet another Trek alien sex-violence equation. There was a time when I would have enjoyed seeing Janeway and Chakotay walk arm in arm to a party, but this season he's such a wuss and she's such an ice princess that I know this is just the producers playing the Picard/Crusher Seven Year Tease all over. We did get to see Kes, Torres, and the Captain all wearing much less than usual! These days costume changes and new hairdos replace characterization. Garrett Wang's hair sticking up was bad, but no worse than his acting. Tim Russ, at least, had a good episode, even if he did have to spout Vulcan clichés. He has the great fortune to play a character who never goes over the top...or, at least, rarely. There was a lesson in all this, and I don't want the producers to think I missed their little message to us folks who enjoy spending time on our computers or in front of our televisions looking for a little escapism. Clearly, they think anyone who lets TV characters or cyber-relationships matter to them is equivalent to a lovelorn woman hiding on a space station. I don't know how to tell them that, from my vantage point, Hollywood writers who create alter egos with little depth or strength of character (not to mention getting their kids cameos on the show) look just as pathetic. Between the messages in shows like this begging fans to tune out and the overall dreadful quality of the episodes themselves, I find myself doing just that, more and more often. --Sara Unger After watching "Alter Ego," I was left with an overall pleasant feeling. I liked the focus on Tuvok, a character who's often neglected. I liked the mystery as to what was going on with the holodeck. I enjoyed the story. It starts out as a simple case of Harry Kim losing control of his emotions and forgetting that he is dealing with a hologram and not a flesh and blood being. But it slowly evolves into a story about loneliness and isolation. Marena was right in that Tuvok always tries to isolate himself from his shipmates. And she isolates herself from her people. The desire for companionship is universal and bred into us all. Her desire to be with Tuvok was not romantic in nature but because he was the first person to intellectually stimulate her and keep her interested. For a little while, I was thinking that this was nothing but a lonely woman who had not been getting any sex and so she thought she stood a chance with Tuvok who was also an isolated being. That would have been a bad choice, since it would be suggesting that all women really want is love and romance. Not everybody is looking for these things, some just want companionship, to share thoughts and feelings and ideas. I also liked how the show characterized Tuvok. This has been sorely lacking in the show so far which is disappointing since Vulcans can be such interesting characters as Spock and Sarek. Until now, all Tuvok has done is to frown and be a less-than-stellar Chief of Security. We finally see him starting to connect with others besides Janeway. His apology to Harry and offer to teach him Kalto was a good step towards understanding and coming out of his isolation. I do have a few nitpicks though. If Klingons are supposed to be strong people, why was B'Elanna struggling against that hula girl? Also, why is it only the women who walk around in tight bathing suits? First, it was B'Elanna and now Kes. What about Tom and Harry? I want to see some equal amounts of skin from the men. Also, what is up with Harry's hair? It is so poofy that maybe I should buy stock in AquaNet and become rich. Overall, this was an enjoyable episode with an interesting idea about what people want out of relationships. I also liked the way Tuvok's character was built up. --Shalini Gupta So, Tuvok does have some feelings after all. Nice to finally see them. And it looks like that other young Vulcan has a few feelings as well--too bad B'Elanna doesn't seem to share them. Poor Harry. He finally gets over Libby and falls for a holocharacter? Everyone's fallen for a holocharacter? Maybe that technology isn't such a good thing after all. I like the idea of being able to whip up a ski slope one week and a tropical beach the next, but this problem of growing overly attached to holocharacters would have me severely worried if I was a Starfleet therapist. Although Marena was an interesting backdrop for Tuvok's story, I was disappointed that it was yet another case of "lonely female seeks companionship and endangers the crew and ship to get it." Ho hum. Why do these poor people always get saddled with "an alien or anomaly made me do it!" relationships? On the plus side, I really enjoyed seeing some of the laughter and fun times Janeway mentioned in "Resolutions." They were relaxed, there was banter, they were obviously enjoying exploring an interesting anomaly, having parties at night, hanging around out of uniform--finally proof that there is more to life than bridge duty on Voyager. That's progress. Now let's just get a boringly normal adult romantic relationship going and a new holoprogram that doesn't require one or more cast members to don bathing suits each week. That "needle in the holostack" game was neat. Jenga anyone? --Meredith Antonelli **THE KATE MULGREW FILM FESTIVAL COLUMN** CROSSOVER KATES by Sara Unger People familiar with fandom, especially comic books, are familiar with the idea of the crossover. Characters from one series meet characters from another--Star Trek and X Men, Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica, etc.--or sometimes a character meets someone played by the same actor, like Kirk meets T.J. Hooker or Sisko meets Hawk. If I could create a crossover, I'd want to see the two characters Kate plays on Voyager and Heartbeat together, because I think Kathryn Janeway could learn a lot from Joanne Halloran. In some ways, these two women are very similar. They're both highly educated professional women, they both work hard, and they're both usually warm and cheerful--in love with life. Both of them are strong and courageous in the face of physical danger. Joanne's more of a "people" person than Kathryn is, but they both let colleagues visit when they're in their nightgowns, and they both are accepting of people who are not as smart or professional as they are themselves. They're both teachers and nurturers in addition to their main jobs, respectively an obstetrician who's the head of Women's Medical Arts, and a starship captain. Both have many lives depending on them, and must use their training and wits constantly. Kathryn and Joanne are similar in some not-so-happy ways, too. They're very moral people, and their principles make them unpopular with their colleagues sometimes. Neither one can get her personal life together because her career keeps getting in the way. Both are involved in complicated relationships with men they work with (in each case the man was the instigator), and both seem to socialize primarily with co-workers--Kathryn out of necessity, since everyone on her ship serves under her, Joanne because she likes and trusts her staff. On both shows, other characters have to remind these women to stop working round the clock and take time for themselves. There are some things about Joanne which I wish Kathryn would emulate. For one thing, Joanne involves herself closely in the lives of the people who work under her, without reinforcing the boss-employee hierarchy. I realize that Janeway's in a different position being a military superior, but I don't see why she can't drop in on Kes occasionally as Kes drops in on her just to talk things out. Or invite B'Elanna to have coffee with her, and chat about something other than work. Most of Joanne's friends are women--most of the people on Heartbeat are women--and unlike many shows on television, they don't snipe and compete for each other's jobs and boyfriends. For the most part they are supportive and caring for each other. Kathryn Janeway hasn't really got any friends on Voyager, and she didn't seem to have a single female friend her whole life in Mosaic, which struck me as very sad. She's missing out on a lot. Kathryn could also learn something about courage from Joanne. They both have a lot of physical bravery--Joanne once went into a school building that had been crushed during an earthquake, and was in danger of immediate collapse, to rescue a woman and her baby. And she got herself into the middle of domestic disputes in the lives of her patients which could have put her in jeopardy. Maybe these can't compete with rescuing crewmembers from prison barges or being tortured by aliens, but Joanne seems braver than Kathryn in dealing with day-to-day issues head on. Joanne agonizes over people's suffering. Nothing is black and white to her. Not abortion, not teenage sex, not whether to perform surgery on a patient who will lose her breast and never feel the same way about her body. Some of the best Heartbeat episodes were about Joanne's personal moral crises, like when she had to decide whether to report that an old friend's drug use probably caused her to miscarry her baby. She had private dilemmas, too--whether to marry her lover when she became pregnant, and whether to let a co-worker take time off to try to save her marriage when the practice needed help and Joanne would personally have to take over the work. She agonized over the moral dilemmas her job posed. Kathryn Janeway, on the other hand, tends to talk about issues as if she always knows the right thing to do--even though she contradicts herself. In one episode she made a big speech about how the Prime Directive is the only thing holding the crew together, and in another, she said that they were a long way from Starfleet and they weren't going to worry about the rules, with no mention of why she changed her mind. I thought the way she made decisions about Tuvix, all by herself as if she were the sole authority in the universe, was very disturbing. Joanne would have been in agony, talking it out with everyone she worked with, and I think that ultimately she would have chosen to save the existing life rather than euthanasing an unwilling patient in an experimental procedure. Joanne's also more courageous than Kathryn in love. She has a passionate but complicated relationship with Leo, a pediatrician in her practice. They do an excellent job of keeping their work and their life together separate, even though they both work long hours and their private time is always getting interrupted by one or another's' beepers. They have conflicts about the office and occasionally about medical decisions. They're discreet, but they don't try to hide their feelings from their colleagues, and more importantly they don't try to hide them from each other or from themselves. During the course of Heartbeat they underwent a stressful separation and reconciliation, but it never affected their working together; they're too professional and committed for that. Kathryn, on the other hand, can't seem to trust herself to love someone even when she's not acting as captain. She acts like love and duty can't ever co-exist, and seems to feel safer with men who aren't around than in real relationships. It seems like she had a ten-year long-distance relationship with Mark without even being close to marrying him, and her major romantic interest on Voyager has been a hologram. We've never heard her reasons for wanting to keep her relationship with Chakotay at a superficial level, though her attraction to him is displayed in all sorts of ways--she touches him often, she makes regular eye contact with him, occasionally she flirts with him even on duty. I can't help but think that she looks scared of her feelings for Chakotay. She looks insensitive too in a way which makes it hard for me to relate to her. If Kathryn thinks of Chakotay only platonically, she should have told him so when she first realized that he had romantic feelings for her, rather than letting him continue to hope that one day she'll come around--right now it looks like she's stringing him along. She's unwilling to let him go but unwilling to give him any emotional connection either. If she does love him, she should trust him enough by now to tell him so. Her failure to tell him either way, and to trust her crew to let her have a personal life if she wants one, makes her look snobby, like she thinks she can't trust anyone but herself. Joanne would angst and fret, but ultimately would sit down with one of her friends or her therapist and confront her feelings-- whatever decision she made about what to do about them, it would not come from evasion. Finally, I wish Kathryn had Joanne's sense of humor. Joanne has dignity, but is never afraid to let her hair down--she sings loudly off-key, she dances to La Bamba, and she wears crazy clothes sometimes though she doesn't have an away mission as an excuse. She eats junk food and tells dirty jokes. None of this makes her look less secure--if anything it makes her look more confident in herself and in the people around her, because she knows and they know that she really does have a lot of self-control, she just chooses not to turn off her lighter side. Kathryn's a consummate professional and she acts like she's on the job all the time. We don't even see her playing pool with the junior officers anymore. Her crew might have even more respect for her if she hung out with them in civilian clothes. I'd find her easier to trust completely if she had committed friends on the ship. There are things I think Joanne could learn from Kathryn too--not to second-guess herself, not to spend too much time suffering over the needs of everyone else. These women could be friends, sisters even, though separated by several hundred years. It says a lot about Kate Mulgrew that she's able to create two characters so strong. **KATEWATCH** TREK PRODUCTIONS CONVENTION 7 DECEMBER 1996, CHICAGO, IL Chicago was great fun, as much for meeting other Now Voyager members as for seeing Kate. The Now Voyager table was just inside the entrance to the convention, making it a popular stopping place for convention browsers as well as an easy place for members to meet each other. As members took turns manning the table, others would come running back with exciting news from the dealers' tables: "Look at these great pictures of Kate that John found! That dealer has Janeway coffee mugs." Another dealer was pointed out as the source for a bumper sticker that read, "Hate the Federation, Hate Starfleet, taking Voyager. Janeway." Great excitement was generated when cardboard stand-up Janeway cutouts were discovered. In fact, the two purchased by Beth Schuman and Cheryl Waldie generated interest at the Now Voyager table and were used in several photos. Club member Nancy Molik made an awesome Deanna Troi, and hooked up with a Lwaxana at the convention to enter the costume contest. One fellow gave Nancy his name, phone number and a Bajoran earring. One little girl wanted her autograph. In the afternoon, it was quite a sight to see Now Voyager members scurrying around, finding and setting up chairs after Trek Productions set up a private meeting with Kate outside the main convention area. Then we discovered the cloth pads on several of the chairs were damp! That resulted in more scurrying to find a dry chair for Kate. After all, we couldn't let her go on stage with a damp spot on her behind! Beth Schuman and Mary Taylor greeted Kate and let her into the building. Everyone stood and started applauding as the trio approached the circle of chairs, and then Kate walked around the circle shaking everyone's hand. When she met Capt. Val Ernst, who had just flown in and was in her Air Force uniform, she made a comment about the nice outfit. Kate wore a black dress that had a tightly fitted bodice and long tight sleeves and a turtleneck and an A-line skirt. She also wore a black beret. When someone from Now Voyager asked her during our meeting how long her hair was compared to how it was on the show, she said something like "Why do you think I'm wearing the hat?" Cheryl Waldie asked Kate whose idea Janeway's new hairdo was (formal in front, ponytail in back). Kate responded by pointing to herself, and said it's staying. She was also wearing jewelry, a silver collar-style necklace, and what looked like a matching silver bracelet on her left arm. Shortly after she sat down, she asked where her mother was. She thought her mother might be at the huge craft show in another part of the building, but the Trek Productions people had seen Mom in the dealers' room and went to get her. A few minutes later, Kate's mom walked in, also to applause, and space was made for her. Mary asked Kate how she felt about the possibility of a relationship between Chakotay and Kathryn after "Resolutions." Her opinion was that it was inappropriate for Janeway to become involved with someone under her command. "Uh, that's not quite true," Captain Val spoke up, and as Kate looked toward her, her mouth opened wide as she suddenly realized the uniform was genuine. Val explained that because Chakotay was only one grade level below the captain, there was no major problem, even though she was his commander. A difference of four or five grades, though, could be a cause for concern. She also said it's common for relationships to form on deployments of as short as a few weeks, and in the case of Voyager's long journey, it would be unusual for relationships not to form. Kate didn't have a response, but she seemed to enjoy hearing the views of a woman in the service. The discussion continued, and Kate pointed out that there weren't any relationships among Picard and his command crew. (No one brought up the seven years of Picard/Crusher teasing.) Shaun Navis provided the voice of men who want to see relationships on the show, pointing out the differences between Voyager's situation and the Enterprise, with Voyager being so far from home and the crew having only each other. Val pointed out that not only would there be romances, but there would be a lot more conflict, because these people would be stuck with each other constantly, working, eating, playing and sleeping together. The number of reruns so early in the season was discussed, and someone explained the workings of the television biz these days. Kate commented on the scheduling of "The Q and the Grey" the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, when few people were watching. She wanted to know what we thought of the season so far. There was a lot of praise for the strong Janeway episodes. She specifically asked about "Sacred Ground" and received positive comments. Kate mentioned that the episode had been moved about and had had a hard time finding a place. She seemed pleased that we liked it but noted that it's very different from other episodes this season. She had high praise for Robbie McNeill's direction. Although she did pick up Kes in that episode, a stunt double carried her up the steps. She also mentioned that they just filmed something where she had to pick up B'Elanna. Several members had gifts for Kate. Val gave Kate a set of what would be Janeway's official rank insignia, Eagles, in today's military (colonel in the USAF, USA and the USMC but captain in the USN.) She also gave her a windbreaker with AIR FORCE embroidered on the back and the Department of the Air Force seal on the front. Kate gushed and immediately ran to her mother to show her the bars up close. Before the group picture, Val also took her cufflinks off and gave them to Kate for her boyfriend. They have the USAF star with wings on them. Val was also the envy of other Now Voyagers, because Kate inscribed her Janeway plaque "Between captains, Love, Kate Mulgrew." At one point, Kate's mother said something like, "Your group always gives Katie such nice gifts." She also expressed surprise at how far some had traveled to see "my Katie." Mrs. Mulgrew was very down-to-earth, she even chastised her daughter for talking too quietly at our meeting. Kate responded by saying something like, "Mom, at Thanksgiving dinner you told me you couldn't believe how loud I was talking!" The two of them were absolutely adorable together. As the half hour with Kate ended, Dave Scott of Trek Productions lined up the club members and took a group photo with Kate and her mother. Then we hastened back to our seats so as to not miss a single second of Kate on stage. Though the crowd was sparse earlier in the day, the Expo Center was definitely crowded when Kate was introduced to a standing ovation. She was gracious, warm, and charming to the crowd, even when answering questions she's been asked dozens of times before. "It usually takes an actress a long time to find a character to make her heart soar," Kate told the crowd. "I finally found her, in Janeway." Just as the starship Voyager is on a journey, she said Voyager the show has been on a journey, one that has struck many different notes. The first season was a time of 18-hour days, and discovering what her character was about. "They worked me hard," she said. The second season of necessity had to be about the other characters, learning about them and their motivations. "It's not until this season that the third note has come into play. There's more relaxation and laughter. I want to spend time relaxing with these people." Kate's voice wavered a bit at this point as she talked about her fondness for her fellow cast members, and she admitted that she gets emotional about them. "The group has solidified," she said. And even though she has a running gag of calling Tim Russ a madman, she said she's fondest of him. She very much wants Voyager to be its own show and stand on its own merits. After she won the role of Janeway, the weekend before she was to begin shooting the studio gave her several Next Generation tapes to watch. She decided against it. "I decided I would bring my own Janeway to the show," rather than be influenced by Patrick Stewart's portrayal of Picard. She said she felt the audience wouldn't buy the concept of the show if it turned out to be merely a "cardboard copy of The Next Generation. Patrick Stewart is a hell of an actor, but I don't want to be Patrick Stewart." However, Kate said she'd love to work with him professionally some day. The demanding shooting schedule has resulted in some personal sorrows, though. "I miss my children. I don't see them as much as I'd like. But they're going through puberty so maybe it's not all bad," she joked. "I miss the time for reflection. That's gone," she said. She likes to entertain and used to do so often. "I have four friends whom I used to see every week. That has suffered." Regarding her acting career, she said it was a role as a cherub at Northwestern University at age 14 that started it all. She got her Screen Actors Guild card for her role in Ryan's Hope. As for Mrs. Columbo, she said Peter Falk was asked to come on the show in the first episode, and he refused. And she didn't blame him. "It was absurd. I was 23, wasn't I, Mother?" Kate asked her mom in the audience. "Oh, she's fallen asleep again," she said teasingly when her mother didn't respond. Kate went on to say it was absurd for her as a 23-year-old to play a 38-year-old. Regarding Chicago, as a girl the city impressed her as being "smoky, and jazzy," she said in a sultry tone. "Smoky, and jazzy," she added, in that same sultry voice, could also describe Voyager, and she make an oblique reference to seven hours in a shuttlecraft with Chakotay. As for her fellow cast members, she said Ethan Phillips is "a great actor whose talents must be explored," and mentioned Neelix and Tuvok would have prominent parts in an upcoming episode. Robert Picardo is a very meticulous actor, she said, and he will spend two hours deciding which hypospray to use or which color of liquid medication to use. Practical jokes with Tim Russ continue. Once he left his boots in the turbolift. After 15 minutes and no Tim, she opened the turbolift doors to check on him, and found a naked Tim. "Tim, is this Pon Farr?" she inquired. "Well, Cap'n, I couldn't get the boots on over my uniform," he began, explaining the intricate maneuvers he had undergone. "So you had to take off your entire uniform?" she asked incredulously. Sometimes shooting continues on Voyager until 2, 3 or 4 a.m., and she finds herself "the only woman surrounded by five demented men," she said jokingly. "You do what you have to do to survive, and I've done it all." Among her favorite episodes are "Death Wish," "Deadlock" and "Sacred Ground." Regarding "The Q and the Grey," Kate said Suzie Plakston did a fabulous job as the female Q. Regarding babysitting, however, she reminded the audience that Janeway is the godmother. "Godmothers don't babysit," she said. "They just float in and out." During the bedroom scene with John DeLancie, he took great delight in trying different methods of twirling and dipping her. After five or six takes, she said, "John, this isn't the ballet, this is Voyager." From ballet to phasers, Kate described her "Macrocosm" role as playing Rambo, comparing it also to Alien. "I did every one of the stunts in that episode," she said proudly. "We've got a bunch of 30-year-old writers on the show, and they thought, 'We're going to make that old broad run,'" she said half-jokingly. "I did it all, but I wouldn't want to do it every week." A couple of times Kate talked of stories she'd like to see concerning Janeway. She would like to see the issue of the loneliness of command pursued and how it affects the captain, as well as one where she must make a hard decision. She'd also like to see a story "where Chakotay seriously countermands my orders." In her character and in the stories she would like to touch upon "more levity, humanity, accessibility, tactility, fragmentation (as a result of pressures and loneliness of command), and intelligence." The question of children for Janeway came up again, and she pointed out the captain's duty to the ship. But if the captain did consider it, who would be the likely father? She said Chakotay would be a possibility, because the character has been shown to be honorable and trustworthy. What about the spiritual side of Janeway? Whom would she choose as a guide? "I would choose Jesus Christ, if I could choose," Kate said. What about a gay storyline on Voyager? "If they present such a storyline, I hope they do it in a provocative and disturbing way, not this will-they or won't-they kiss nonsense." She would not like to see such a storyline introduced, only to be thrown away. "If they do it, I'd like to see them continue it." Kate said she sometimes has a problem with the concept of the holodeck. It can be important to the crew "as a means to an end, to deal with loss, have relaxation." But the setting can sometimes become too baroque. "They need to lighten up." Kate was delightful with the younger fans. She recognized one boy from a con in Minneapolis, and told the audience, "I love this boy!" She invited him on stage, gave him a kiss, asked about his grades and read a letter of thanks he had composed for her. She solicitously asked one girl how she hurt her foot and with a little coaxing dragged it out of her that she'd been roughhousing with her sister. One woman desperately tried to get Kate's attention and then direct it to her son. The teen was reluctant to stand up at first. "Madam, I think you're hallucinating," Kate kidded. "Oh, there he is." When he came up to talk to her, she said. "Promise me you'll be good to your mother." Excited, he started to ask a question. "Promise me you'll be good to your mother," she repeated. He tried to sidestep and ask his question. "Promise me," she insisted, and he finally agreed. One person asked if she worried about being typecast. "It's a little late for that," she said. "The stigma will follow me, though I say that judiciously. It's not a half-bad one to have." On a slightly different topic, she said, "I and many women here are in the vanguard of a group of women who are single and have careers and kids. We try to do it all. And we make mistakes." But women should take joy in their jobs and in their lives. And most importantly, "avoid guilt." One man put it best when he told Kate, "You bring class, elegance and beauty to Voyager." --Donna Christenberry Before I launch into my impressions of the con, there are two things you need to know about me so that you will read my comments with the proper perspective First of all, I am a relatively new Star Trek fan. I watched the original series as a little kid only because it was all that was on after school! I think I missed all first run episodes of TNG. The only reason I watched Voyager was that I was curious about the way they would handle the female captain. Secondly, I have a great tendency to apply what is called "the halo effect" (I taught psychology for ten years, too!) to people and things I like. That means I tend not to notice any flaws they might have. Now that you know all that, I can tell you I had a wonderful time. Certainly, the best part was being able to interact with Kate on a personal basis. My impressions of her from Minneapolis were confirmed. She is gracious, warm and very down-to-earth. She definitely focuses on the person she is talking to and seems genuinely interested in what she or he has to say. She has an obvious stage presence, but the things that impressed me most about her were much more related to Kate as a person than Kate as an actor. First of all, she was wonderful with the kids. She recognized a young man she had met in Minneapolis (this scored big points with the teacher in me!). She got up from the autograph table when she heard one of the kids in the costume contest say she was dressed like Captain Janeway. She came over to talk to her and all of the kids on the stage at that point. Secondly, it was nice to see her interact with her mother. They seemed like such a typical mother-daughter pair. At one point in our meeting with her, her mother told her totalk louder so that everyone could hear! I couldn't help but wonder what her mother thought of all of this! Thirdly, she was so unassuming and completely natural. I keep reminding myself that I MET CAPTAIN JANEWAY. Kate as herself was so down-to-earth that while we were with her I sort of forgot that she was this celebrity. (She mentioned Michelle by name and acknowledged all that she has done for Now Voyager. She even mentioned something about her family and the fact that she recently had a baby. That scored big points, too. Do you think that Shatner has any clue who his fan club president is--if he has one!--or remembers details about the family?) That leads me to my own "brush with fame" story (I think I told everyone at school about this--whether they cared or not!) As we were breaking up the discussion and moving over to set up for the group picture, Kate was trying to organize the packages people had given her. This in and of itself impressed me. She didn't expect someone else to do it for her, for one thing, and it showed she really appreciated everyone's thoughtfulness. She was trying to keep them together and put them in a bag which was too small to hold them very effectively. We had all gotten large bags when we entered the convention center and I just happened to have mine with me. I asked her if the larger bag (my bag) would help. She thanked me very graciously and proceeded to put the packages into MY BAG! This was probably a 15-second conversation, but I will certainly not forget it. My poor sister had to endure the rest of the day hearing me say repeatedly, "Did I happen to mention about my bag?" So, meeting Kate was a wonderful experience. I also hope she knows how grateful we all are to her for taking time out for this kind of thing. --Deb Dosemagen I still cannot believe that Kate came to Chicago, a feeling that I'm sure is shared by Beth and by Deb and Karen and Stephanie (natives all). How we got so lucky, I cannot imagine. It's just amazing. I can't remember a lot that Kate said, so I'm hoping that between us, those of us who were lucky enough to be there can contribute the bits we do remember. From the beginning. Beth and I greeted Kate, introduced ourselves and let her into the building, where we then proceeded to the area where she would meet with the Now Voyagers present at the con. I said something amazingly trivial like "Welcome to Chicago, Kate, and thank you very much for coming. We're really happy to see you, Michelle says hi and sends her love." By this time, we were at the circle, where everyone stood and started applauding. They made room for Kate to sit and put her things, and then Kate walked around the circle and shook everyone's hand. When she got to Beth and me she sort of tossed her hands up in the air as if to say, "well, I already got you two" and we laughed. Because Michelle had put me up to it (and because I was otherwise brain dead and could not really think), I asked Kate how she felt about the possibility of a relationship between Chakotay and Kathryn after "Resolutions." I don't remember her precise wording, but it seemed to me that her attitude was very like that in Denver--Captain Janeway can't get involved with anyone in her crew, etc. She also added something to the effect that all that is over. I did not say word one about the J/C bits in "Future's End" or in "Q and Grey," but the natives were restless and the discussion took off, with Kate talking about Janeway's position and the inadvisability of a captain becoming involved with her first officer or anyone in her crew. While Kate was going on in this vein, Captain Val Ernst, a striking figure in uniform, I might add, stepped forward with a different voice and view on the subject. Kate laughed and laughed. Val explained that there were no rules against relationships between people of Chakotay's and Janeway's grade levels, and even that they were commander and captain in the same chain of command, while more unusual, still wasn't a big problem. It happens all the time. I don't think that Kate had a good answer for that, and she just loved hearing from Val. The discussion continued, and Kate pointed out that there weren't any relationships with Picard and his command crew. She wanted to know what we thought of the season so far. None of us commented on how stupid the beach resort set was, but there was a lot of praise for the strong Janeway episodes. Either she mentioned "Sacred Ground" or someone said that they really liked it, and Kate mentioned that the episode had been moved about and had had a hard time finding a place. She seemed pleased that we liked it but noted that it's very different from other episodes this season. She had high praise for Robbie McNeill's direction. She mentioned this week's episode and said that she did all her own stunts, can you imagine? I'm impressed. No one asked her if she's been working out with a trainer, although I was tempted. I couldn't figure out how to ask something like that. Several members had gifts for Kate. Kim Carnes gave Kate the Club gift, a beautiful paperweight engraved with "Weird is part of the job, Now Voyager, 1996." I'd previously asked Dave Scott about us taking a picture with Kate, and he said no problem, he'd take the photo. So as a half hour was running down and Kate was still with us, I gave him the camera and he pointed out that the time was almost done. Someone asked Kate about doing the photo for the newsletter. Dave did a great job of organizing us. As we were all lined up, he first moved in and took a close up shot of Kate and her mom. The half hour passed so quickly, and I'm still amazed that she was able to spend the time with us. So then we broke up and ran back to our seats so as to not miss a single second of Kate on stage. She was just lovely, lovely, lovely and charming and sweet. --Mary Taylor Janewaypallooza in Chicago: Had a great time. Flew out at last minute. Had actually already checked my bag for Boston when I thought about staying an extra night in DC, buying a ticket from there to Chicago, getting leave granted and the paperwork done by phone, getting a hotel in Chicago, getting tickets to the event, and switching days on my ticket back to Boston. Had to secure all of this and get my luggage deplaned in the half hour before I boarded. Sounded impossible. My favorite kind of itinerary. It worked out. Big thanks to Michelle, who got me started and the members who clued me in at the event. Best parts: 1. The gorgeous pilot I met on the way from DC to Philly. It's good to know your way around a cockpit! 2. The party. I'm really a wallflower but I enjoyed this anyway. Luckily, although I didn't come prepared for anything else (had to buy a throwaway camera and last minute cheesy gifts at the Pentagon) I've had good training on how to crash a party. Although the bar at the French hotel didn't have a bottle of Chambord they could sell me, they did have Moet Chandon. The nice Polish barmaid felt bad about the Chambord, so she gave me a complimentary glass. Bonus! Fan recognized me from Janeway mania and chatted me up. On to the party. As a single woman, I have to say that's more food than I've seen in one place since I left home. People were really friendly to me and my bottle. It was a thirsty bunch. Shortly I was on to negotiations with the manager of the bar at our hotel. He was Irish and very good looking. I spoke some Gaelic to him. He remarked about serving my country and all and knocked the price down to half for me. Score! (Not the way you think. I mean I got Chambord.) Returned the conquering hero to the party. Some people drank it, some people wore it, soon we had an unexplained wet spot on the bed. Now it felt like a party. After a while, I realized I had to use up the rest of my film. "OK, everybody on the bed," I ordered. It was hot, the bed was wet and the people were sticky and they obeyed anyway! Lemmings! If I had known it was that easy...I wonder if there's a maximum load on a boxspring. Anyway, I think I got some great shots, from atop the dresser. Soon I sacrificed myself to go down andnegotiate some more with the Irishman for the Amaretto. Saints preserve us (in some sort of liquor solution we hope)! Best part of the whole party was hearing one particularly passionate member recount an episode of Heartbeat. I don't care how good an actress Ms. Mulgrew is, she could not top the entertainment value of this performance. I've seen twelve year olds less excited over Guns and Roses. I'm going to quit watching Voyager and just set up a weekly VTC with this person to have her retell it to me. Brava! 3. Mrs. Mulgrew. I love this woman. Is it legal to adopt other people's parents? Is that little o'me instead of bigamy? She was so sweet and unpretentious that I may have to venture, (gulp) to the midwest (Yikes! I suffer separation anxiety when I get more than one hour from the shore) to see her art. I asked her if she still paints and she said yes. 4. Ms. Mulgrew. Very professional and gracious. She went out of her way to make everyone feel special. Hope I didn't piss her off. I was minding my own business, talking quietly with her mother. Someone asked the ageless question about Janeway and Chakotay. Kate gave a convincing defense but ended with something like, "She couldn't sleep with someone under her command." I couldn't help it. I was doing the Homer Simpson and talking when I thought I was just thinking. I said, "It happens." Whoops! Did I say that or think it? Uh oh. Everybody, including Kate, is staring at me. I must have said it. She didn't shoot me or anything but then again she wasn't armed and I've probably got a good 50 pounds on her. 5. She handled the questions from the audience flawlessly. Whoever set this up didn't think to have microphones for the audience, though. She was having a hard time hearing and had to repeat the questions for the audiences benefit. I asked her if she thought about having a biography done. She mentioned Mosaic and I told her that meant about herself and not her character. She said that she'd like to write but it would be difficult--maybe later. I didn't say so, but personally, I think she should contract Carrie Fisher for it. She's in town isn't she? It may not be accurate, but it's certain to be a knee-slapper. Everybody had a good time. I didn't take anyone out with the champagne cork. Nobody I know of got arrested. Got a cool autograph (I'll take a rash of sh** for this at work because it says "Between Captains, Love Kate Mulgrew. I'm going to put it up anyway next to the one from McNeill. He wrote, "To my second favorite captain. Maybe I could scan them in and switch the comments). I got a thermonuclear detonator (wanted one for years). Mingled with the Canadians. Put some names to faces (but I can't remember anyone I met after the Chambord). Met two good looking guys. I'd call it a successful weekend. Thanks again to everybody who helped me out. --Val Ernst Chicago. December 1996. My First Contact with Kate Mulgrew. What I now call KateCon. And I was assimilated. I came to the convention expecting to be entertained, amused--maybe even awed. I left educated, inspired and delighted. For those of us who could be found, there was a private session for Now Voyager members before her public appearance. Kate came about 3:30 pm. She was gorgeous and a gracious. As far as fashion details, she wore black form-fitting dress that hit mid-calf. It had a slighly gored skirt, high collar and long sleeves. Her jewelry included a wide silver collar necklace, silver dangling earrings and a silver braclet. Oddly, what I noticed most were her shoes. Gorgeous, cutout black suede. 3-4" high heels, straps crisscrossed in the front. And she wore a delightful sequined beret with her hair pulled back beneath it. She looked relaxed, healthy, young, stunning. And was she gracious. I will keep saying that. We all stood and applauded when she came in and she went around the circle and shook each of our hands and murmured something--thank you so much for coming, it's so nice to meet you etc. As I said. Gracious. She was given a variety of gifts including two from Now Voyager. These included a star shaped brass paperweight engraved with "Weird is part of the job" and the club name and date; and a set of three ornaments--a sun, moon and--appropriately enough--a lizard. This was interrupted by the arrival of her mother, who called her Katie. The formalities out of the way, Kate began to talk (I still feel as if I should call her Ms. Mulgrew). She asked the group how we liked the 3rd season scripts--didn't we think they were getting better? She tskd over earlier ones (including and especially "Threshold"). She said the focus of first season was to develop Janeway. Continued that the focus of the second to develop the rest of the crew (emphasizing several times that it was an ensemble show with nine actors). And she told us that now with the third season they were comfortable and could explore issues and relationships. She said this season everyone would have a relationship on the show except Janeway. Of course that statement caused reaction. Asked about Janeway/Chakotay, she said something to the effect of, "Well I don't really think that's as important now, do you?" She saw instead the characters (all of them) having close friendships which were fulfilling. Points were made about it being 3 years since Voyager was lost and how that is a long time without a relationship. She discussed how she could not just man hop from planet to planet, that as a woman she had a much higher standard to uphold to maintain credibility with the audience than a man. However, when the comment was made that with one grade between them, it was not only not inappropriate, it was common for such relationships to occur, she seemed to seriously consider this new viewpoint. It was also said, that after three years, it would have to affect the crew, through Janeway, if she did not have a relationship because she would be isolated and alone and that would impact her personally. Then there was the inevitible hair question. Kate said: "Janeway doesn't care About her hair" and repeated it a couple of times and said "got it?! This isn't important to her." So then I asked, Where do you want Janeway to go? She said she wanted to explore Janeway's loneliness. That it must be horribly lonely and Janeway would have to deal with that. Not only would she be isolated from Starfleet, but from the rest of the crew by the nature of her position in the command chain. I had the impression from some statement that she thought Janeway could do down pretty far and then have to pull herself back up. She also wanted to explore the science side of Janeway. It was challenging for her as an actor. She also said that she wanted an episode where Chakotay seriously countermanded an order of hers and how that affected the ship and their relationship. I got the impression she wants some of that tension back, in the sense that everything can't be perfect. We all talked more about the loneliness and got back to relationships. Her comments were: 1. If Janeway had a relationship with Chakotay it would be forever. She would carry the obligation with her if/when they returned to the Alpha Quadrant.(I was confused as to why this would be a problem.) 2. She said, "What is a mature, intimate relationship? I have never seen one." Additionally, she said that mature committed relationships weren't done on Trek. She said that Trek is about exploring and meeting new cultures and beings. She also said at some point that it was women that wanted J/C, and one of our male members spoke right up and said no--he said men want to see committment, too. She did temper her comments on J/C during the con and she asked in jest, "Will Janeway ever stop talking long enough to be kissed?" She also mentioned that the Neelix/Kes relationship is over. That this was an outcome of "Warlord." And she talked about the holodecks and said they need to be a place of fun. She did not like Lord Burleigh and was glad that was over with. She asked if we liked the holodeck and no one said much, because we all liked Sandrine's and hate the resort and hated the holonovel, sothere was no easy answer. She wants them used for fun escapism. Seems to me Sandrine's fits that bill. When Kate was onstage, it was hard for her to hear questions. The room was half of the convention hall with a stage at one end and horrible acoustics. Asked whom she would pick as her aide de camp, she said B'Elanna. She said she wanted to develop that relationship She was asked about acting by a budding actress - she told the girl she should concentrate on being an actor, not a star. She talked about several of the cast members: Robert Beltran is a terribly nice, kind person. John DeLancie is a very close friend; when Robbie McNeill directed her (in "Sacred Ground") it was like working with velvet. She also said that Tim and Roxann will be directing, and I think may have mentioned Ethan moving into directing (and we knew about Picardo directing). She also said she loved Suzie Plaxson. Wonderful actress. After about an hour, they set up for autographs. I understand she signed for everyone. As I said, gracious. --Sue Love **THE PEOPLE PAGE** JOAN MULGREW By Michelle Erica Green [I talked to Kate's mother on the phone on January 16th, after a number of people met her at the convention in Chicago and admired her art. The photo is from the con.] NV: Did Kate always have the level of self-esteem that she seems to have now, or was that something you had to teach her? JM: I think that Katie could have done anything that she wanted to do. She was always a very, very strong person. I don't know if I'd call it self-esteem, but I think there's a kind of power there that--for instance, if she wanted to be a doctor, I think she would have been just a wonderful doctor. Or if she'd been a nun, she's probably have been the Abbess. Because she's total. NV: In what ways is she like you? JM: The odd thing is that we both read on the same level. Every time I talk to her, she's just reading a book that I have just read. It's so strange! So often I'll talk to her and I'll say, "I've just read this terrific book," and we'll have read the same thing. We don't read bestsellers, which is what makes it so strange. NV: I guess now she's been reading science for the show. JM: That's what I mean about her--see that total committment? She really wants to learn about science. Another one: everybody cooks, but Katie could run a cooking show! She used to be on The Home Show and do different recipes. She'd be great at it. She doesn't get waylaid--she just goes for it. I think if you know her at all well I think that you would agree that she could have done anything she wanted to do. Another thing you can see, though--you can imagine Katie as a teacher. I think she would have been a wonderful teacher. NV: I think she's fulfilling that role, she's very much a role model; she talks about science, girls get interested in science because of her. JM: She's absolutely right, though--she says, if I'm going to do this job, I'll do it with everything I've got, so that it amounts to something besides a paycheck. She wants the young girls to really think that they can be scientists--she spends a lot of time with her science, although she said that when she was at the White House, she was really embarrassed by the scientists! Did she tell you about that? NV: She said that that was when she decided she had to sit down and read the science books! Kate's said that you're the person who instilled her passion for life in her. How did you do that? JM: I think, by talking this way! But I would say that I could not do what Katie does. She gets annoyed with me, for instance, about my art, that I am not what she would consider professional, in the sense of really hustling--I'm not in a gallery on 57th Street. She would always say, "Mom, why don't you do that?" It wouldn't be my desire. But if she were a painter, she would be a famous painter! NV: How much of Kate do you see in Kathryn Janeway? JM: Well, the way she comports herself is not how Katie really moves. Because she's not usually in uniform! You can see that she does that from some sense that she's a commander, and she has to comport herself in a certain way. I do see that difference. But I don't find it unattractive. I think she does it very well, and I think that she's doing her character better and better. A little bit more vulnerability, instead of looking up at that plasma screen or whatever it is. NV: How do you think your family and the way you raised her contributed to her success? JM: Well, I think it helps if you grow up in a big family, because you can't be spoiled. There's nothing remotely demanding about Kate, if you've ever noticed--she's not at all spoiled, on any level. And being the oldest daughter, she had to really help me a lot, and I don't think she ever said no. It wasn't that I would ask her because it was hard to deal with, she was just wonderful. She never really cried--she went to London, you know, to act, and they didn't accept her, and it didn't bother her at all. And she found out later that a lot of the people she knew who were accepted never really got anywhere, not any really good work. NV: A couple of people asked me to ask you what the worst thing darling Katie ever did in her childhood was! JM: She did have a little temper, I'll tell you! If she got mad, I didn't know what she said or did, I just knew she was bad, I ran after her, into her room, and she'd have her little plaything, once it was her little canopy bed for her doll, and I got in there and she just said, "This is what I'm going to do!" and she stomped it to bits. It was her dollhouse! She showed me, didn't she! Here's a story--here she is, on Star Trek, and she's supposed to know about science. Well, she could not learn to tell time, and she didn't want people to know--I don't know how old she was, but way past when you should know how to tell time. So the nun in her class said one day, "Darn, there's something wrong with my watch--Kate, will you run out in the hall where there's a clock and come back and tell me what time it is?" Kate ran all the way down to the office and called on the telephone to find out what time it was! So there you are, that's my terrific Star Trek girl. I wonder what grade she was in when she did that. But it was really embarrassing. NV: What kind of style did you have as a mother? Were you fairly firm, or did you let her get away with things? JM: My husband is a terrific disciplinarian. You didn't fool around with him, so we didn't have much problem there. But I was very strict about their manners. I always used to say, believe me, because you'll always be able to go wherever, you know, whatever dinner party, wherever you're going, you'll know what you're supposed to do. Katie said to me the other day, "You know, Mom, I think my brothers have the best manners of any men I've seen lately." Just nice. So that is an important thing--you might want to put it in the newsletter--about good manners and her appreciation of them! NV: What values did you try to instill--I gather all your kids were raised fairly religiously? JM: Oh, yes. Catholic family. Well, you can tell I'm a doting mother. I'm very proud of Katie. I think you need to have someone 100% behind you when you're little. Kate was unusual in that, so young, she knew what she wanted--her father would say, "Everybody wants to be an actress, Katie," and she said, "I don't care!" I don't think he liked the idea of her being an actress because he thought she might not make it--I mean, it's so competitive. But I never really thought that she would fail. When she was in Shakespeare in the Park, I remember she had to go over early to get her makeup on, and I was up in the building and I looked out of the window and saw her walking very purposefully to where the theater was, and I said, "She could be going anywhere! She could be going to her office where she's a leading psychiatrist, or anything she wanted to do!" She's very gifted, and I think mainly it's because she's a strong person. My oldest son as a matter of fact was just with her out in Los Angeles, and she was going to appear in her uniform. They're very close because they're just a year apart. Very much alike. He is more easygoing but he does have a big business--what they call a business wire, and he lives in Nashville--that can't be helped, can it? Now, my son Sam has a farm that he just bought last year, and he is very interested in spiritual things. He's, I would think, a very unusual person. Well, we won't go through all the kids--it's too tiring! But you know what, I have a little granddaughter who I think has the same quality that Katie has. Her name is Tessie, and whatever she wants to do, she is going to do it--you wait and see! I wouldn't be surprised, actually, if she became an actress herself. NV: How has your family reacted to Kate's celebrity? JM: Well, sometimes they tease her about it. But I think she knows that they're very proud of her. I don't think they all watch--I don't think they're fans, they hadn't been Star Trek fans. I go out--usually they come here, because we're out in the country, they all love that. We know now, there's so many times they all come looking healthy and wonderful, and Kate always comes looking very dressed up--within three days she's wearing my old rags, she'll have my old apron on and my sneakers. She looks like the wreck of the household! And she'll say, "Mom, it only took three days!" But it happens to all of them, they all sort of revert to when they were children. I should say that Kate's awfully good to my grandchildren, of which I have thirteen--they run to get Star Trek stuff from her! NV: What are your family get-togethers like, with that many kids? JM: Well, you know, they come and always say "Oh, this is so nice, we won't be working, and we'll rest," and they all leave on stretchers. Because it's so exhausting! Nobody will ever go to sleep because they're afraid they're going to miss something. It's very dramatic. My youngest daughter works as a teacher for mature illiterate people, and it's just wonderful. She writes so well, she should send this in to The New Yorker. One of her students is a man, he's 55 years old, he runs a restaurant, and he can't read or write. He's very good about math--better probably than you or me. Can you imagine not being able to read? Well, you know, the more you know about something, the more interesting it becomes. You go to some of the conventions? NV: Not very many, actually--I've only seen Kate once! I haven't even seen all her television work. I'm a very big fan of Heartbeat. JM: Oh, Heartbeat was wonderful. But you know what? They made a big mistake. They got into the sex lives of all the doctors instead of having a different story every week like Marcus Welby used to do. I think they blew it, because it was a really good idea, don't you think? NV: I don't know--part of what I like about Heartbeat, and what I wish Voyager was doing more of, frankly, is acknowledging that people are total--that they have friendships and love lives and community, they don't just work all the time. When you're showing a community that's been together for more than two years, you'd expect a lot more emotional interaction than we're seeing. JM: Yes, but I don't think it would be a good idea for Captain Janeway to have a love affair. How long has the show been on now? NV: This is the third season, so about two and a half years. JM: That's a long time, isn't it! Well, I wanted to congratulate you. People who send in things to you write very well. I'm very impressed. NV: Thank you! Two of our best writers are fourteen years old. JM: I'm glad to hear it, because people think that because of all the computers, the kids are illiterate. NV: I think it's having the opposite effect. They can get to libraries and places kids could never access before, on the Internet. I've seen that painting of yours that's on the Internet [http://www.homelandbank.com/sunday.html]. Tell me a little bit about how you got interested in art. You're from Boston? JM: Well, New York, originally, I had all these children, and maybe Kate has told you that she had a sister who died of a brain tumor. Which was very difficult, because you have thisbond. When I went through that, I said to my husband, "I think if I could get that room fixed up back there, maybe I'd fool around and do some painting or something." Because I needed a place to get away from the kids. Now, ordinarily that wouldn't have happened. But he wanted me to have it, and I liked it very much and I said, "I think I'd like to go study," and he said, "By all means." So I started late in life, and I haven't stopped. Right now I'm doing Shakespeare--it's wonderful, I said, give me two years and I'm going to produce a Shakespeare show. I'm going to pick whatever I want. So last month I did Love's Labours Lost, I did the funny ladies all standing out and the funny guys. I pick whatever pictures appeal to me from the words, I get a kind of a picture. It's turned out to be an absolute treasure trove, I just can't get over it. Shakespeare is so vast that I realize there's no way anybody could do it all. Now I've already done, for instance, a little picture of Portia. Now I could do three different actresses from three different eras doing Portia, which is sort of interesting because you could do Ellen Terry in one...and then I paint it in the manner of the time, So there is the performer, the character, there is the actual play--it's many ways to go. And then I'm just going to get some tape and have it floating around in my head. So that's what I'm doing now, but that doesn't mean that I have to be doing it constantly--but I will have it done by two years, and I love that idea that I have a goal. NV: If you could see Kate play any of Shakespeare's roles, which would it be? JM: I can't think right now. I saw her in Hedda Gabler, and she was wonderful. I saw her in Misanthrope--she's had some wonderful roles. I'd like to see her do Hedda now, wouldn't that be great? NV: What is your proudest memory of Kate? JM: Well, I was very proud when she got an honorary degree at Seton Hall, a Catholic school--she gave the most wonderful speech just off the top of her head. She's just a great speaker. I was very proud, very moved that she could express herself so well. Though I never questioned that--you just have that feeling, you know. **THE FUNNY PAGES** RESOLUTIONS: 1997 by Barbe Smith Sorry folks, this isn't the sequel to the episode that was enjoyed by so many last season. But it's the start of the New Year, and I've completed my own personal set of resolutions for 1997 (actually I just duplicated last year's list--hey, I didn't say I actually keep them! ). In any event, I think it's time that Paramount and its overseer, Viacom, make some resolutions of their own. Since the powers that be there are bound to be way too busy to deal with such trivial matters, I'm willing to do it for them. Submitted for your approval: 365 Days to a Better Voyager 1--"We Resolve To Show Episodes In The Order That They Are Filmed." OK, that's a tough one. After all, we can't have that episode where Kes breaks out in her first pimple airing during sweeps month, can we? But you have to wonder--just what could this show be if there were actually the briefest hint at continuous plot threads? How wonderfully bizarre if Janeway's playful smile at her First Officer this week wasn't followed by an unexplained rebuff the following! How truly remarkable if Paris' awkward attempt at flirtation with B'Elanna in February weren't succeeded with sexist Delaney twin remarks in March! Alas, I suspect I have a better shot at losing those twenty pounds this year than Paramount taking this item to heart. 2--"We Resolve To Show Episodes In The Season That They Are Filmed." No, I'm not cheating by repeating Number 1. I'll grant you that filming both parts of a season-ending cliffhanger at once makes some logistical sense. Yet, for some reason TPTB feel that we don't notice that the early episodes broadcast in the new season exhibit a certain weariness in plots and cast members. They also apparently hope we can invent a legitimate excuse as to why characters feel an urgent need to re-invent their hairstyles around Episode 4. I don't know about you, but I interpret 'four shows shot in advance' as an alternate way of saying: 'We're too cheap to broadcast all the episodes we promised in one season.' 3--"We Resolve To 'Clean Up' Our Previews." Stop laughing at me. I know as well as you that there's more chance of reading 'Joe Camel(TM) goes Cold Turkey!' in my morning newspaper than of seeing a Voyager preview that actually gives some clue as to the content of an upcoming show. From Janeway's naked back in "Sacred Ground" to Q's smarmy proposition--"I've selected you to be the mother of my child"--in hyping "The Q and the Grey," you have to wonder as they did in the promo of "Resistance": "Just how far will Janeway go to save her crew?" In the case of Paramount, they'll apparently go at least as far as Suzy the Sleazy Streetwalker to bring in one more prime viewer! 4--"We Resolve To Seek Therapy For Our Characters." Naturally, I wouldn't be here if Kate Mulgrew weren't a multi-talented actress and worthwhile role model. So I can only lay the blame on the writers for Janeway's schizophrenic behavior this year. We've got Ice Queen 'Prime Directive is Omnipotent' Janeway this week, "Starfleet be damned" Rambo Janeway another week, and the original no-nonsense yet warm Janeway occasionally stopping by to say hello. Now I realize the Delta Quadrant is full of challenges, but the biggest one is trying to figure out how the Voyager crew is going to act from week to week. Personally, I believe the Doc ought to study up on his multiple-personality texts soon--that bridge crew puts on more faces than Sybil! 5--"We Resolve To Start Respecting Our Fans Again." 1996 was a bad year for fans. To utter the phrase "Star Trek" (TM) aloud was almost an invitation to receive a note from Viacom's lawyers. Even this fan club received a threat for nebulous allegations about illegal videot*ping which had no basis in truth. There's an unnerving suspicion that the Internet crackdown on unauthorized use of copyrighted material is all too directly tied to Microsoft's attempt to be the primary Trek site. Unfortunately, their attempts at control are alienating those very people who have made Star Trek(TM) a money-making operation in the first place. Fans don't want your money, O sacred Viaconumdrum, we just want to have fun--Back off, will you?! 6--"We Resolve To Actually Watch Star Trek." It annoys me greatly when I , whose last science course was 10th grade biology some twenty-odd years ago, can spot basic science errors on the show. What absolutely sends me screaming from the room is when a plot will directly contradict something established by Trek itself a few seasons earlier--the old 'beaming through the shields' routine. Face it guys, we will notice, we will give you hell for it--so why don't you spare yourself the aggravation and do it right? Resolutions are made with the best of intent and a determination to do better than in the past. I feel good about myself and the future of Now Voyager in 1997. Dare we hope that Paramount and its partners might heed our calls for a new start?...NAH!!!!! Now, who's in the mood for pizza and chips? TFCC ...AND IT'S GOING TO BE A WHILE LONGER For Janeway, maybe--with a sweeps month coming up, everyone else is certain to see some action! Nobody could bear to take the Touchy-Feely Count for Q. "Macrocosm" was good for almost everyone, though. This will probably be our last regular TFCC; it's just not as funny as it once was. Through "Alter Ego"'s luau scene: Chakotay: 12 (48) ("This bothers the hell out of me.") Kes: 4 (20) ("This 'little girl' is quite strong!") Paris: 2 (17) (Helm Boy!) Tuvok: 8 (16) (Stating the obvious.) Neelix: 4 (11) (Bar rodent!) Kim: 2 (10) ("Harry? Harry?") Torres: 0 (7) ("I've always liked Klingon females. Such spunk.") Doc: 3 (6) ("Obviously, I thought you were something else.") **KATHRYN JANEWAY, FEMINIST HEROINE** I DON'T PLAY AN ADVENTURE-DRIVEN FEMALE CAPTAIN ON TV, BUT I AM ONE IN REAL LIFE by Valerie Ernst, Capt USAF Howdy from the flightline. Everything I say in this article is purely my opinion and in no way reflects the opinion of the United States Air Force, nor any other military branch nor any part of the Department of Defense That's what the nervous people in Public Affairs told me would cover my assets, so here's the scoop. Michelle, Mighty Mistress of Now Voyager, thought it might be fun to hear what type of conversations uniformed Voyager fans have the morning after. (Not that way! The morning after Voyager episodes air!) I am an intelligence analyst, but am surrounded by engineers at my current assignment. They love to talk about physics. "You know, if Voyager had just increased speed and shot around the moon a couple of times then leveraged..." At this point my eyes glaze over. These people are lemmings, though, and I can usually turn the conversation to my favorite parts: the weaponry, the alien ship designs, and the fight scenes. The major I work with will always join gleefully in this, since he hails from the Bronx and is an authority on violence. I respect him for that. We like it when the crew uses intelligent tactics to avoid a confrontation, but we love it when they fire! There isn't any cavalry in the Delta Quadrant. There isn't a carrier off the coast. There isn't a base nearby with fighters standing strip alert. Shoot first, ponder the morality of the whole thing in your memoirs. It's the crew or the aliens. None of the species in the Delta Quadrant have signed up for the Geneva Convention, the UN, or the UFP. I also love it when somebody gets called on the carpet. Go Janeway! These scenes are very familiar, from both the giving and the receiving end. I have to hand it to Ms. Mulgrew. She carries them off well, going beyond the lines written to convey the thoughts and emotions behind the calm but bitter dressing-downs. It's not pleasant, nobody likes to do it, but it is a mandatory task for a commander. Done well, you build a better unit; done poorly, you tear the unit apart. She fully revealed the difficulty of performing this task, as well as how best to do it, when members of her crew traded the library for technology which they hoped could transport them home. When Captain Janeway is icy, she reminds me of several colonels, captains, admirals and generals with whom I have served--ones I've respected, as they usually also displayed her feelings of betrayal and the need to make the subordinates see the error of their ways so that they will become better military members and better people. We love tough. It separates the leaders from the sheep. She slipped up, though, in "Threshold." If a lieutenant under my command knocked me out, took me to someplace at something like mach five where my physiology was going to change, and then mated with me, I would have him courtmartialed so fast that he wouldn't even hear the gavel before they took him away. Janeway gave him a commendation. Lieutenants are devious enough without encouraging them by giving them medals for it, no matter how good their salamander mating skills are! I remember that in "Elogium," when Chakotay asked Janeway if they were going to forbid fraternization on board, Janeway said that Starfleet didn't have any rules regarding personal lives. Cool! I want to join Starfleet! I'm thinkin' this is one swingin' military with not a lot of work getting done, but very happy troops. Each military branch today has its own rules on relationships. In the USAF, the rule of thumb is no officer/enlisted (although I never see enlisted on this show), no field grade officer/company grade officer (Janeway/Paris even when salamanders), don't jump more than two ranks (Janeway/3 star admiral), and no adultery (Paris/married space tart). Even today, though, I don't think anybody in the USAF would have a problem with an 0-5 and an 0-6 together (Chakotay and Janeway). I know an 0-5 and an 0-6 who are married. There is a rule about chain of command, but that's assuming that there is more than one chain. Not the case in the Delta Quadrant. Apparently, a lot of the fans want to see this happen. The Janeway/Chakotay folder on America Online is out of con trol compared to the other Voyager folders. One of my best friends in the USMC, also a female captain, thinks Janeway would have been "getting some on the side from her first officer, that hunk with the tattoo" by now. Personally, I don't care with whom she gets involved, just so long as she does. I'm beginning to suspect that on one of these shows she's going to have to reveal her deepest, darkest secret: she's really a nun who came to the Delta Quadrant as a missionary. It's not just her, either. What's wrong with this crew? Is there saltpeter in the replicators? This is something upon which my USAF, USMC, USN and USA friends all agree. Any coed crew, deploying on a cool mission to catch or kill terrorists, on the sexiest ship in the Fleet, where everyone has private quarters, there's a holodeck and booze on board, would have their party plans in place before they even left station. Then, bam! They get yanked to a completely different quadrant. The trip may now take them their whole lives. Now, even class B bachelors (married people away from their spouses) become class A bachelors (no holds barred, literally). When you are ripped from your home and family, and your circle of acquaintances is restricted to the same 140 people you eat, work, fight and play with, day in and day out--frequently facing death--relationships will start to forge after two weeks, let alone two years. Soap operas couldn't hold a candle to any of the deployments on which I've been, and those only last a few months. Voyager should be rife with drama--omnipresent fights, romance, friendship, parties, heartbreak and laughs. No matter how much you like or hate the person next to you, no matter how bored or tired or frustrated you are, no matter what your personal problems are, you can't go home at the end of the day and forget about it. You are around these people all the time. Things you would normally suppress, ignore or forget about have to surface, have to be worked out. If you don't believe that this goes on, maybe some actual anecdotes from deployments will convince you. Please don't think that I am the sole participant in these stories, I'm just reporting many of them. I won't go into the scenarios, I imagine that you can figure those out. Officers get up in the morning and can't figure out whose belt is whose. People joke about where they found one anothers' dog tags. Some wonder whether the colonel knows they're sleeping together, and whether she cares. Bets are placed on which lieutenant a captain will pick. Pants rip strategically during climbs over fences. And there's the ultimate compliment: "Ma'am, I thought I had a lot of stamina until I met you." In the last issue of the newsletter, there was a question as to whether captains could have families. Maybe Starfleet has its officers "fixed" when they get commissioned. That would explain the celibacy mystery, why they don't have to have fraternization rules, and why we never see enlisted people, who are off in their quarters doing what the "fixed" officers aren't interested in anymore. Actually, I can't think of any single colonels I've met. I know one divorced navy captain. I know that there are many single 0-6s in the military, but the overwhelming number of colonels and captains are married. It's very difficult to do all of the work stuff and social stuff it takes to make it to 0-6 and manage domestic stuff at the same time. A partner is almost a requirement. I'm practically an enigma as a single captain. I even know of some military mixed marriages: two of my good friends, a USAF captain and a USA captain, just had a baby girl! Who says joint operations don't work! In addition, the USMC captain I mentioned earlier is married to another USMC captain. I love this show. Love Ms. Mulgrew's performances. Can't believe they originally had a French woman as the captain. Right. Like the French would be part of the UFP, or a united anything! I've worked with the French and I wouldn't follow a French woman into the ladies room, much less the Delta Quadrant. Think Napoleon leaving his troops to die in Russia. Didn't that actress quit because television was "too demanding"? Boy, this is who I want as my commander! "Oh I don't think we'll attack today, I just don't feel up to it. Pass the bon bons." ISOLATION VERSUS FRATERNIZATION: WHICH IS THE GREATER RISK? by Dottie Ronhovde, CMSgt, USAF Ret. At the TrekProductions convention in Chicago, Kate Mulgrew was asked where she would like to see Janeway go. She replied that she'd like to see an exploration of the loneliness of command and how Janeway would deal with it. As retired military, this is a subject that strikes very close to home for me. I've experienced some of the issues personally, and can imagine with great clarity what Captain Janeway would experience on Voyager. In the extreme, loneliness and isolation can be quite debilitating. When it became so for me, I had to make some tough choices, and my final solution was to break the 'rules.' If Captain Janeway is to maintain a sane human existance, I believe that she would have to do the same. Here's how I ended up dealing with my experience with isolation and loneliness of command. In 1987-88, I was assigned to Osan Air Base in Korea for a one year remote assignment. A month before I left Florida, my husband and sons, ages 9 and 12, left for his assignment in Germany. I knew I was facing a limited period of separation from my family. But this knowledge did not make it any easier to say goodbye to them at the airport; especially not when my nine year old asked me if I was going to be with them for Christmas and I had to tell him no, I wouldn't. At an assignment such as mine in Korea, nearly everyone is facing the same separation from their loved ones. I saw people deal with the isolation in many ways. Some resorted to spending most of their off duty time frequenting the bars built specifically to cater to the American military personnel. Part of the bar scene invariably includes bar girls and nearly-nude dancers. If you're interested in sexual encounters, they're easy to acquire. Some people, who were perhaps more discriminating, attempted to initiate friendships and more intimate relationships with other Americans. I was faced with a very difficult situation. I was the highest ranking enlisted female assigned to the base. Because of the fraternization issues, I couldn't have close associations with officers or lower ranking enlisted. The only remaining option was men equal to me in rank. This was not acceptable to me either, because any friendship with a man would have left me open to the suggestion that I was unfaithful to my husband. In the military, you walk around with your rank prominently displayed on your sleeve or collar; so even the people you meet casually are quick to recognize and treat you accordingly. I could talk and joke with the people who worked for me, but I was never really part of their group. I was always aware of their deference and reserve with me. We've seen examples of this same kind of deference from the Voyager crew when Janeway joins them in a social or off duty situation . In "The Cloud," Janeway was hesitantly asked by Harry Kim to join them on the holodeck at Sandrine's. As soon as she walked in, all activity stopped and everyone seemed uncomfortable. When the holographic gigolo came on to her, Paris tried to apologize and started to say, "If we'd known you were coming..." and Janeway finished, "...you'd have changed the program, and I would have missed all the fun." She knew the crew acted differently when she was present. Even in later episodes, if the crew was engaged in a social function, Janeway always stood out and away from the crowd. The crew watches her, they follow her lead, but she's not an integral part of their group. This is traditional; the commander, or captain, is always a separate entity, someone who is respected, even loved, but not really included in the social structure of the people they lead. In most cases, it's not a huge problem, because the captain has other sources for friendships and family contact. On a ship, whether in space orat sea, it's not possible. The people in your crew are all there is. When the voyage is of a definite length, it's possible to bear the loneliness because you know it will end. But what if you have no end in sight? Even the strongest person can't live in that kind of environment for any length of time, entirely alone with no one to share the experience. I don't consider myself a weak person and there are very few things that unnerve me. But months of isolation in a high stress job nearly did. Janeway couldn't do it indefinitely. Nobody could. For the first few months of my assignment, I tried to hold to all the accepted protocols and kept to myself. I worked seven days a week, fourteen or more hours a day. I went to my quarters to rest when I couldn't work anymore, and then got up the next morning to do it all again. I actually managed to do that for three straight months. With words alone, it's difficult to describe how hard that was. At first the work was a distraction, something to occupy my mind and my time, but it soon became inadequate. Janeway is doing the same things. She works long hours, usually eats her meals alone, and spends her off-duty time in her quarters or in solitary activities. We've seen glimpse of how difficult it is for her to be separated from her loved ones. She became very emotional when she told Kes that it was very hard for her to think about how far away Mark is from her. I wonder how long anyone can endure this kind of isolation. My personal reaction to it was to become very depressed; my feelings of loneliness and isolation grew more and more debilitating. I felt so lonely that I broke down into tears when I received one of my husband's jackets that he'd sent me to be used as a pattern for having a new one made. It got harder and harder to continue the demanding work routine and really care about how the job got done. When it got to the point where I was reporting to work late because it was just too hard to get out of bed, I decided I had to make a change. I reconsidered the options available to me and made a choice for what I saw as the least of the evils. To put it bluntly, I fraternized with a woman who was two ranks below me and worked directly for me. I won't say that this didn't create some problems for us. I probably made some decisions that favored her because she was my friend. I was never aware of any criticism of our friendship, though I was certainly open to it. During the one period when our friendship became strained, it did affect how we worked together on the job. In my case, my assignment was for a very specific length of time--exactly one year. I knew almost to the day when it would end. In Janeway's case, there is no end in sight. She may well be faced with a permanent assignment in the Delta Quadrant. Knowing that, I don't see how she could maintain complete command isolation and still be able to function as captain. Even the strongest person needs intimate contact with another person. By intimate, I do not necessarily mean sexual, though that is the most intimate and often most satisfying of contacts. I do mean that we all need to have someone we can share our lives with, someone to discuss the joys and sorrows with. The emotions of our life experiences are meaningless if we don't find a way to process them. Janeway has been portrayed as a passionate woman. She found a way to maintain a long-term relationship with Mark despite the demands of being a Starfleet captain. She needed that type of relationship, or she wouldn't have made the effort. I can't believe that her personality would change so drastically that she no longer needs it just because she's been isolated from the accepted solution. So, what is the solution for Janeway? Like I did, she'd have to break the rules of protocol and fraternize with someone in her crew. Chakotay is the obvious choice. He's closest to her in age and rank; he shares many of her experiences; he's already demonstrated that he wants a personal relationship with her, to 'make her burden lighter.' Even in today's military, in her situation, she would not be condemned for choosing to fraternize with him. It happens more often than many would openly admit. Even if it never goes beyond a very close friendship, she needs him to be that friend. She won't survive otherwise. Is it possible for her to maintain an intimate, non-sexual friendship with a man she's clearly attracted to? I don't know personally, but I tend to doubt it. I'm not sure it's necessary in their case. Neither of them has a spouse in the Alpha Quadrant and they have very few choices for relationships elsewhere. Yes, mixing personal and command relationships involves many risks. Janeway would have to consider them seriously, as well as the risks she'd face by holding onto the command isolation. If she chooses to enter a sexual relationship, it would have to be a deep, lasting one. Anything less would cause her to lose credibility with her crew (and many of the viewers), something she cannot afford. Judging from my own experience, I believe she faces greater risks by denying herself any kind of close relationship. JANEWAY'S BIGGEST BATTLE by Meredith Antonelli It's no secret that Kathryn Janeway is indeed a mosaic, the product of many wonderful talents. Jeri Taylor created her and gives her substance and purpose. The writers give her words. Kate Mulgrew gives her a physical presence. And the directors and production staff give her the finishing touches that turn her into the polished captain we see each week. I remember when we first met her. She was strong, determined, confident, intelligent, decisive, comfortable with command, a brilliant scientist, compassionate, vibrant, private--someone we could admire and look up to, living in a society where ability determines rank and gender is just an aside. She wasn't afraid to show that she's as vulnerable as everyone else, but she never let it get the better of her. She was sensitive to the needs of every member of her crew. She was a balanced combination of captain, lover, nurturer, judge, and friend. Granted, Captain Janeway's just a character. But she's become an important part of many of our lives or so much of this newsletter wouldn't be dedicated to her. We love her best when she's right on--"Caretaker," "Prime Factors," "The 37's," "Resistance," "Deadlock," "Resolutions," "The Q And The Grey." Lately that Janeway has been pretty scarce. It's becoming obvious that she's caught between the network and the producers, between the producers and the writers, between Kate and the directors. It feels like the war in the Q Continuum--behind-the-scenes power struggles, unknown battles being fought with unconventional weapons, things we know nothing about having an obvious, destructive effect on something that means so much to us. She used to be a captain who inspired loyalty and commitment, and who brought out the best in her crew. She understood right away that all Tom Paris and B'Elanna Torres needed were to be given a little trust and a chance to prove themselves. There was something about her that moved her officers to do things for her that they might not normally have done for themselves. In Prime Factors, Tuvok broke the rules because he knew Janeway couldn't. She was as quick to appreciate that--and to let him know it--as to reprimand and warn him about ever second-guessing her again. She was fair and we knew what to expect from her. What happened to that Janeway? To tell the truth, I'm not sure who she is anymore. I read about how the crew was going to start embracing the spirit of exploration again this season, but all I've seen of that is a few more smiles from the crew and a few more disapproving glares from Tuvok. Was Janeway really so quick to forget the near-disaster in "Basics"? They made a few mistakes and almost ended up stranded for good in the Delta Quadrant. To hell with the Prime Directive--a Cardassian and a bunch of Kazon had free run of a Federation ship. And so much for protecting her crew. Two dead on the planet, a nasty worm varmint, suspicious primitive aliens, a sick baby, and an active volcano after only 36 hours or so--that's not a very good way to begin what could have become a colonization effort. I want to know what she was thinking and how she felt about all of it. It would be nice if we could assume she'd done the healthy thing and developed friendships among the crew with people she could trust. Maybe she talked with Chakotay--they were trying to retrieve a baby they thought was his, after all. But we can't assume anything. Based on the captain we've seen this season, I'd say she bottled it all up inside and retreated into the dread Loneliness of Command. What other explanation can there be for her snappishness in "The Chute" and her posturing in "The Swarm"? Those certainly aren't the actions of a captain comfortable with her command or at peace with herself. The whole idea that Janeway must remain aloof from personal connection to any of her crew, and especially from her first officer, has done more damage than good. We don't want to see her turned into Captain Ice Princess for the sake of protocol. We know her--or we used to. If she turns away from the kind of sharing and mutual concern involved in any personal relationship, whether romantic or not, she risks looking weak, trapped by her office. Denial of personal feelings might sound noble, but the reality often looks like cowardice, and Janeway is no coward--she's a passionate, vital woman, and this is how she should be portrayed. A depressed captain shut off from her emotions and imprisoned by her job is a dramatic disaster. Look at what's happening: One week she's cold and distant, ready to hand over children to a cruel government because she's not getting her way. Another week she hesitates to stir up heartbreaking memories of holocaust for a culture which hid its horrendous past from its successors. And then suddenly she's warm and caring, and eager to help a race of omnipotents understand that war isn't the only way to solve differences. She's allowed to be moody and have human faults, but it's distracting when there's no continuity or explanation for it. Sometimes she upholds the Prime Directive--she destroyed the Array to protect the Ocampa and the balance of power in that sector, and she refused the space-folding matrix when it was practically handed to her just because it was against Sikarian rules. She agonized long and hard about that decision but in the end her "almighty principles" won out. They triumphed again in "Alliances," when the peace talks with the Kazon failed--she used that opportunity to lecture the entire senior staff about the importance of Starfleet rules. But then without warning, when an unknown alien territory threatened to make the trip home a little longer, she was eager to toss those regulations out an airlock. She may have had plenty of time to think about it, but we saw none of that, shared none of her thoughts, and she didn't explain her actions. We know Captain Janeway is resourceful and clever, and determined to get her crew home, but she's never been so happily reckless before. She needs to make more captain's personal log entries that help us follow her train of thought and understand her motives better. It's hard to take her seriously when she's willing to kill one crewmember to restore two others, and to boldly face down Fear itself, and then let herself be swayed by Ferengi prattling. And I'm not sure what we're supposed to think when she practically ignores her first officer before risking herself in a dangerous mind meld and then leans into him as they stroll the Venice Beach boardwalk, smiles when he compares her with another woman, and touches his chest to get his attention. There is something between Janeway and Chakotay, but it's not clear what, and it's not clear how they feel about each other, either personally or professionally. I think her ultimate act of trust was asking the rebel she was sent out to arrest to be her second-in-command. If she's unable to command, Chakotay becomes captain. That's an enormous responsibility, and that's what makes it so hard to understand why she didn't trust himnot to blow her little spy mission in Investigations. And I thought it was very out of character for her to be so defensive and close-minded in Alliances when he clearly had Voyager's best interests at heart. The last time I remember Chakotay really standing up to her for something he believed in was in Parallax, when he urged Janeway to appoint Torres as the new chief engineer. Unfortunately, I think that's also the last time Janeway actually kept an open mind long enough to see that Chakotay was indeed right. That doesn't sound like a strong, effective command team. It seems to me that this show is really about the people on that ship and how they are building new lives together. Real relationships. We have yet to see even one normal romantic relationship on Voyager in which both partners contribute equally. We don't need science fiction as an excuse for two people falling in love and committing to each other. Rather than seeking the obscure and trying to make it spectacular, why not look for the commonplace and make it special by taking it into the background and letting it be a thread of normality running through the lives of our favorite crew. Janeway and Chakotay could be poised on the brink of such a wonderful experience. It happens every day in real life, so why not just do it? We don't need sex. Just give us some evidence that they have more than a professional relationship, an occasional glimpse into their personal lives together, and continue to focus on the aliens and anomalies. The show could only become stronger if something like this happens. I don't know anymore if Paramount or Viacom or whoever now controls the fate of Trek even cares what we fans think but I want to point out that Janeway was perfect just the way she was. If they want to improve ratings, the way to do it is with good writing, interesting plotlines, and realistic characters, not by changing established personalities with no warning or explanation. We'd like our Janeway back, please. SEX! by Michelle Erica Green Hey! That got your attention, didn't it? I was counting on it. UPN does, too, in its Voyager previews ("Kes is in HEAT!" "You won't believe the CLIMAX!" "Just how far will Janeway GO?"). A mere suggestion of sex makes people tune in. Television producers would have to be idiots not to play it for all it's worth. Therefore, I am beginning to hope that we never see sex or even the suggestion that it's occurring on Voyager, ever. Ooh, that statement makes me sound like a prude and a censor! Actually, I have no opposition to sex on television, not even nudity or casual flings. Even when it's sleazy and exploitative, sex is usually less degrading than violence. I wish those guys on The Sentinel would make love, not war. I don't object to mixing sex and Star Trek: I have most of the contents of the alt.startrek.creative.erotica archive downloaded to my hard disk, except stories involving Worf. But I don't ever want to see another intimation of sex on canonical Voyager. Not Janeway/Chakotay, not Paris/Torres, not Neelix/Kes. (Not even Tom/Harry, despite "The Chute.") Sex on Star Trek never fails to depress me. I'd rather hear about past centuries' relationships than those of the future; at least when people were obsessed with sex historically, they had very good reasons to be. Sex was necessary not only for personal gratification and increasing the population, but for cementing alliances through marriages, increasing one's social status, and marketing all manner of material goods and entertainments. The negative side of sex--unplanned pregnancy and childbirth, STDs, prejudice based on sexual behavior--made careful planning and rigid morals a virtual necessity. Star Trek gives us a future when the most devastating consequences of sex are presumably things of the past. If Dr. Bashir could transplant a fetus from Keiko to Kira because he didn't have an artificial womb handy, then what we now call "reproductive choice" isn't an issue. Even if 24th century birth control fails--probably an extremely rare occurrence, since medical technology that can cure AIDS and cancer can presumably come up with safe fertility suppression--no woman ever has to bear a child she doesn't want/isn't able to carry, nor terminate the pregnancy since gestation can take place outside her body. Of course this doesn't mean that complex questions about when human life begins, and how many babies are too many, will be solved--far from it. But people will be able to make sexual choices based on their personal ideals and desires, not their private fears and public responsiblities concerning reproduction. We've never heard that Kirk or Riker got the clap from a space babe, so presumably diseases aren't a factor in the future either. And even though we don't see them on Trek, I have confidence that there are lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and celibates among most species of the Federation. I'm sure harrassment, date rape, and other sex-based problems from our own century will still be around, but hopefully a society that's more enlightened about gender will have a lot more success preventing and dealing with such issues. You'd think that, freed from our own prejudices associated with sexuality, people of the future would have better love lives. But if Star Trek represents our future, I'd rather stay right here. Because I don't want to be possessed by an alien who will make me indiscriminately horny, and I don't want to catch a disease which will drive me to molest the next person I see, nor do I want to be hit on by an omnipotent being who uses the same tired lines we hear today. And I really don't want to get stuck with 24th century men--especially not the Kirk-Riker-Paris mold, which is attracted to anything nominally female and will act on it with minimal encouragement; the Sulu-LaForge model, who are all work and no play; nor the Spock-Data-Odo-Doctor " I don't share your silly emotions" types. If the women of the future seem caught between repression and hysteria, the men suffer from neanderthal physical drives and overdeveloped egos. We've never seen a romantic pairing on Trek involving a major character that didn't wind up offensive, depressing, or preposterous. I can't handle any more Dead Lover of the Week episodes. I won't watch any more 52-minute true love stories or 10-year on-again, off-again Picard/Crusheresque romance arcs. I hate femme fatales, I despise the violent mating rituals of the Vulcans and Klingons. And I particularly resent rotten pairings like Miles and Keiko's, which make monogamy look like the worst form of hell. No sex is much better than lousy sex, and good friendships are better than bad affairs. Look at Voyager's sexual past (the characters, not the ship--I don't want to know how bioneural circuits reproduce). Janeway risked her ship for nookie in a turbolift in "Persistence of Vision." Chakotay screwed up his Maquis committment by letting a Cardassian infiltrator into his bed. Torres has twice put her career on the line for alien-induced wet dreams. Paris nearly lost his life trying to get laid in "Ex Post Facto." Then there was "Resolutions," which had the perfect setup for a mature, passionate relationship unencumbered by Starfleet regulations or the tribulations of life in the Delta Quadrant. It could have set the stage for a committed love that would have grown for the rest of the series' run. For a long time I took it for granted that there was sex during that episode, and we just didn't see it onscreen. Now I hope that there wasn't even more hand-holding. If those two people could fall in love and then chew ice for the rest of the trip because of some vague protocol which Janeway already admitted Starfleet doesn't put much stock in, then they must be more shallow than James "Tomcat" Kirk. These days Kathryn scarcely treats Chakotay like a friend, and Chak's chugging along as if he can forget her and Seska and every other committment he's ever made--Starfleet, the Maquis, his heritage--without sweating any of it. And this season's love stories! Q wants to knock Janeway up! Torres parades in a swimsuit on the holodeck! Tom hits on a hot20th century astronomer with no bra! And coming up for sweeps month, according to spoilers, Chakotay once again finds the true meaning of peace with a stronger woman, this time a Borg babe--a cross between Seska than Janeway! Then Torres catches blood fever and bites Paris! B'Elanna seems to be Chief Nympho-- telling Vidiians that Klingon women are insatiable, having fantasies about Chakotay, reliving an Enaran affair, now she's in heat too! Meanwhile the one successful relationship on Voyager, Neelix and Kes, is apparently going to be a thing of the past; according to TPTB, they couldn't think of a way to make their romance interesting. Love's like that on Trek. I have an idea. Let's keep all the characters celibate for the next 70 years. No holonovels, no libido diseases, no alien possession, and, above all, no attempts at real intimacy. Maybe everyone on the crew could swear off sex till they get back to the Alpha Quadrant. Or maybe Q could come back and make all the men disappear again. Janeway might miss Chakotay's pretty face, but Voyager might get home a lot faster. **COPYRIGHT VIOLATION CORNER** [I 'm going to let Sue introduce this herself.--Ed.] For this romantic, "Resolutions" offered the promise of a mature, committed relationship between two Starfleet officers. It was a premise long overdue in Trekdom, and one which offered an encouraging view of 24th century life. Unfortunately, this relationship was never developed onscreen, although hints of more than friendship between the pair both titillated and confused viewers. In the course of waiting, and hoping, for the promised "J/C," fans began a stream of discussions on the viability and practicality of such a relationship. The various issues were debated at length, with little conclusion except that there were good reasons for both perspectives. Inevitably, Kate Mulgrew was asked for her views on the subject. Her response was not what the ardent J/Cers wanted to hear, for she suggested that J/C isn't really as important now, and instead pressed for close, fulfilling friendships between all members of the crew. She continued, "I want to explore Janeway's loneliness...not only would she be isolated from Starfleet and the Alpha Quadrant, but from the rest of the crew by the nature of her position in the command chain." Post-convention, these comments generated further discussion, including commentary by two fans representing both retired and active-duty military personnel. Their editorials are included in this issue of Now Voyager. Personally, I was struck by two things: the poignancy of such loneliness as Kate described and my military friends confirmed, and as well, the realism of such. These issues are what I set out to explore in "Definitions." After months of waiting, I determined that Kathryn Janeway would come to some sort of decision about her command and her life, and how a relationship would fit, or not, with them both. Here is the result. Paramount owns all rights to Star Trek and the characters. I just meddle with them. DEFINITIONS by Sue Love Chakotay looked up from his work station as the door to his office slid open. He was in civvies, officially off-duty, but working up results from the last emergency evacuation simulation. The crew hadn't done particularly well and he was trying to figure out where the problem areas were and what kind of drills might improve the scores. He was surprised to see Kathryn Janeway in the open doorway. Surprised because it was late and he hadn't expected to see anyone, and surprised because it was her--she did not often venture to his office--he usually went to her ready room. "Captain..." She lifted a hand to stop him from standing and crossed into the room, the door sliding shut behind her. "At ease, Commander. It's a bit too late in the night to bother about formalities and we're both off duty," she offered a wry smile, "as off-duty as either of us gets." He returned the grin and leaned forward against his station. "What can I do for you, Captain?" "Well you could offer me a cup of tea. Whatever you're drinking. I could smell it the moment the door opened." "Jasmine and a bit of mint." "Sold." Now he did stand, walking over to where a thermos held a still nearly full pot of the tea. He'd brewed it fresh in the mess an hour before and stuck it in stasis so it would keep its flavor. He handed her a mug, wondering why she was there and when she would let him in on it. "I hear you've been at it all evening, Commander--even skipped the hoverball game." She paced idly about the small office, sipping her tea and nosing about the few personal items he had in the room. Not much--a sand painting, a collection of rocks and shells, an old fashioned book. He watched her. She slid a hand across the glass face of the sand painting, rested a finger on the odd rock and shell, tipped the book so she could read the title. It was an old one. Stranger in a Strange Land. "Do you feel this way?" She held the book up and set her cup aside so she could page through it. "We're all strangers somewhere." "I haven't read this in ages." "You're welcome to borrow it." "Hmm. This and a glass of hot milk might just do it." "I've found that a soak in the ship's hot tub does wonders for insomnia." She raised an eyebrow. "Turning ship's counselor on me, Commander?" She said it a bit more sharply than she intended. "Sorry. The truth is I haven't been sleeping well. I seem to be in a rut--I work, go back to my cabin and don't go to sleep." She glanced about. "I thought I sensed a kindred spirit here. How long have you been working tonight?" He chuckled. "Too long. You're right." He hesitated. "Captain, if I might..." "Chakotay you may be the nearest thing to a best friend I have in the Delta Quadrant. We've been here three years and there seem to be no other candidates--not that I'm complaining. But what I am saying is, we're off duty. If you have something to say, say it. If I object, I'll say so." He nodded and gestured to the couch, offering her a seat as he retook his behind the work station. She curled her legs beneath her and sat, waiting for him to form his thoughts into words. The lighting was dim in the room, just the work station light, and he looked somehow golden in the warm brightness. It made her think of days under another kind of light, a glowing sun on a planet that had been unfamiliar and became in time a home and haven. And a friendship forged there, more, and left behind. She sighed involuntarily. She was not a person for regrets, but there was one. "I think there's a difference between my working late and your prowling the deck at two in the morning," Chakotay was saying. She shrugged. "I was hardly prowling." "Prowling. And coming here to see me." "You were one of the few people awake who wasn't on duty." "Why didn't you go to the hoverball game tonight?" She waved a hand, paused in sipping her tea. "The Captain shows up and it's not much of an off-duty event." "I think you're wrong. I think you underestimate the affection this crew has for you and I think you are doing yourself a disservice with this self-imposed isolation." "I've played that roller coaster game before, Chakotay. It doesn't work. Friendship and command. They're too opposed. I can't give someone orders to swab down the deck and a few hours later share their confidences. They can't make the turnaround fast enough and neither can I." "As I recall, I'm the one giving most of the swab down orders around here." He grinned and sipped his own tea, allowing a moment of levity. "You should be free to have all the confidences you want. It can work, Captain. You simply have to give it a chance." She shook her head. "There's too much at risk here, Chakotay. I can't afford to play favorites." "You mean you can't afford to appear to human--to be vulnerable." "There's that, too." They were both silent a moment. "You still have your uniform on, Captain. It's two am. Why aren't you in civvies?" "I'm comfortable in the uniform." "And uncomfortable in off-duty clothes?" "Your words." "It's convenient armor. A natural barrier." "I am the Captain. The uniform and pips notwithstanding. And the rank doesn't come off with the uniform." "So where's Kathryn Janeway?" "One and the same." "I seem to remember her. I don't think she'd do well in exile." Janeway stiffened. Her voice was a whisper when she spoke. "That was a different situation. A different life almost." "I miss her. You should, too." Now Janeway stood, shaking her head as she paced about again. "You make me sound schizophrenic." Chakotay took a deep breath. "When I was in the Maquis, I had to make tough decisions every day. Life and death most of them. Choosing which of my crew might not return at the end of a mission. I found myself stepping back. It was self-protection, but it wasn't healthy. And it wasn't good for the crew. They needed to know that I saw them as people. That when I sent them to die, I knew what I was losing, what I was sacrificing. What sacrifice they were making." Janeway leaned against the workstation. "You were friends with B'Elanna. And Seska." "B'Elanna put up as tough an exterior as I did. Seska was more impersonal than not." "Your crew would have died for you--they did--they would still. And so would most of Voyager's crew." He nodded. It was true. He had found a way to command tremendous loyalty. Janeway edged the rim of her tea mug with her fingers. "So you found a solution. What was it?" "I didn't say I did. There was a lot of anger on a Maquis ship. Taking pot shots at the Cardassians didn't do a lot to relieve that. We all felt it. And there was no off-duty. Not much anyway." "So what did you do to relieve the tension? There must have been something." Chakotay leaned back in his chair, cradling his mug of tea. He grinned. "Poker." "I beg your pardon." "We played poker whenever there was a break. Cut-throat, no holds barred poker. It could get pretty ugly." "That sounds like it would be good for morale." Dryness edged her voice. Chakotay ignored it. "It was actually. It released a lot of tensions." "You think I am too distanced from the crew." "I think you're missing out on a lot." "I could join your hoverball team." "That would be a start." "I was kidding." "You put the barriers in place, Captain. Not the crew. Not me." She turned from him and walked over to where she had left the book. "Like you said, self-protection. And a measure of protection for the crew." She turned back to him. "We're 70 light years from home Chakotay. There is no one for the crew to count on except me. I think it's important for them to know I am always here for them--as their Captain." "We all need to count on each other, Kathryn." "The whole crew or you and I?" "You and I would be a start." "Symbiosis?" "Friendship." "I thought we had that." "The Captain and the Commander are friends." "Now we're schizophrenic again." He pushed out of his chair and walked from behind the workstation, crossing over to where she stood. "There are 150 people on this ship who don't want you to be lonely." Tears misted her eyes and she took a sip of tea to cover her reaction. "One big happy family?" Chakotay was silent. He knew her sarcasm was no more than a cover. He did her the courtesy of letting her gather herself again before he spoke. "We're all we have out here, Kathryn. It's a big quadrant--a small universe. This ship is becoming a community. You're in danger of being the only one who doesn't have a place. I don't think you want that." "Damn." Her whispered curse was soft and filled with a myriad of emotions. Even though he could not see her face, Chakotay could sense the reactions playing across it--embarrassment, sadness, regret, anticipation. After a moment she turned to face him. "And what happens when the next crisis hits, Commander? When there's a tough decision to be made? When there's a life to be sacrificed? I'm supposed to do that as a friend? And how is the crew supposed to react to that?" "You won't lose their respect or loyalty." "I could be damned unpopular." "That's always a risk." "Frankly I'm not sure that's one I'm willing to take." "You have far more self-esteem than that." "You're damned right I do. But I risk the Captain becoming as unpopular as Kathryn. That I can't do. Surely you see that?" "This crew won't mutiny." She laughed. "Not as long as I have you in my back pocket they won't." "Nice." "Sorry. But it is true." "Maybe I should just change my title from XO to enforcer." He walked back to the couch and she followed, the tension a bit relieved, but the discussion not yet closed nor the issues resolved. In fact, they seemed to have come full circle. "Maybe you should just start with one close friend. Someone you feel comfortable confiding in." Chakotay made the suggestion as he drained his cup and took a seat on the end of the couch. "I thought that's what I was doing." "That kind of friendship could be dangerous for us." "It might be." She dropped down onto the couch at the opposite corner. "But I frankly can't think of a better candidate at this point. You've been a Captain in your own right. You understand the issues, the complications. And we're nearer in age than the other command crew..." Chakotay winced. "Ouch." "No point in denying the obvious, however painful, besides it gives us a similar level of life experiences." "And New Earth?" He had to broach the subject. "We can't go back to that." "Won't?" "Can't. That's too much complication." "I'm not sure I can keep it all separate." "You did before. You have since. I have confidence in you." "And you?" "I know which cards to show." "So we're back to poker." "Five card stud?" He laughed at that. "More like strip poker I think." "Play a card, remove a layer? Now that does sound dangerous." "Friendship isn't just taking the hand at face value, Kathryn. Sometimes you have to take new cards, play a bluff, fold." "Too many metaphors, Commander. And I think we're both too tired for much more introspection or analysis." "Putting on your best poker face?" "Maybe." "Then this won't work." She looked into her tea cup and then held it out to him. "Is there any more? I can sense this is going to take a while." He accepted the cup and rose to fill it, taking his own along as well. "Have you eaten?" "Not much." "How about a late night dinner, my treat, you pick the meal." "Cold fried chicken, potato salad, cherry pie, lemonade. Indian comfort food. I feel like I could accept a little comfort at this point." He nodded. "That's a step in the right direction." "Just dial up Janeway05 on the replicator. It's all set up." Chakotay punched in the coding and accepted the two plates that materialized on the replicator pad. Janeway came and collected the glasses and they sat back on the couch, using the low table before it as a makeshift dinner table. Janeway took a bite of the chicken and sighed appreciatively. "My mother was a wonderful cook. I never appreciated it. She made everything from scratch. I just thought she was old fashioned. I didn't consider the effort. Or how much better the food tasted." "I learned to cook early. Mostly traditional foods. Back then it seemed like everything was a lesson." "Everything is a lesson, Chakotay." "Now you sound like my father." "I wish I could have met him. He raised an interesting son. I'd thank him." Chakotay wiped his mouth and shook his head at her remark. "You might not have appreciated his candor. He could be fairly blunt." "As can I. What would he have said about me?" "He would have flirted." "Really? Is that where you learned that?" A choking laugh shook Chakotay. "I never considered myself much of a flirt, or a ladies' man." "With that smile? If we're forming a friendship here, we need to be honest, Commander. There's likely not one woman on this ship who isn't knocked flat by that smile--and a few of the men as well. Don't tell me you don't get your share of propositions." "I get a few. Could we change the subject?" "Not yet. Tell me who." "I'm not sure we're good enough friends for that yet. How about you--you must get a few passes." "No. I don't." He put down his fork. "I'm sorry." "It's ok. How could I expect anyone to scale the walls? You said yourself I can be imposing." "I said you were in self-imposed exile. There is a difference." "But the result is the same. I make myself unapproachable." "You're a sexy woman, Kathryn. If you think the crew doesn't notice, you're wrong." "Noticing and acting on it are two different things." "Is there someone you have in mind?" She eyed him. "We already discussed this and agreed it wouldn't work." "You agreed." "Let's start with the friends thing. Maybe I'll feel differently if that works out. So how do we do this?" "We have dinner together occasionally, maybe play a game of pool now and then." "I don't want this to appear as if we are dating." "Then we need to include others. B'Elanna if you comfortable with her. Maybe Paris or Tuvok." "How about if we start a bit more low key. Dinner now and then, here or my quarters, and I will try to pop by Sandrines or the hoverball games now and then." "Do you need all these rules?" "For the time being. Until I see how this goes. You know it's against everything Starfleet drilled into me at the Academy. And everything I've learned since then." "This is not the Alpha Quadrant. Not everything we were taught applies anymore. It's a strange new world out here." "That's why I'm willing to give it a try. And you're right. I am a stranger in a strange land. We all are. And I think that just might hurt the crew more than a bit of fraternization. If I don't know what their issues are, I might miss something important. It's a fragile balance. Isolation and intervention." "So you touch them through me?" "For the time being." He raised an eyebrow, but did not comment. She would have to take this a step at a time. He knew that. And this was a big step. This commitment to explore. This possibility for change. "Who do you confide in, Commander?" she asked, pushing her fork in the flaky crust of the pie. "It seems like you keep pretty close counsel." "I visit my spirit guide. She helps me examine my issues and find solutions." "I envy you that." "Your spirit guide could do the same for you." "I can't seem to make that leap of faith." "I've had more experience. My guide and I have been together for many years. There's a natural bridge. You just need to give it time." "I'm afraid I'm not as cerebral as you." This made him chuckle. "Most of my Maquis crew would laugh to hear you say that." "They didn't see you as some mystic spiritualist, I take it." "I was not the same person then, Kathryn. Anger and spiritualism are difficult to wear together. Anger usually won out. It had to if we were going to survive. If I was going to survive it all." "I might not have liked that Chakotay." "You might not have. I don't know if I did." "So how did you find this one?" "You found him." "I did? That's a lot of responsibility." "Too much?" "No. Not too much. I'm glad I had something to do with it. Could I ask what you thought when you first saw me?" He set down his fork and pushed his plate aside. "On the viewscreen? Honestly, I was too wrapped up in trying to patch my ship together to think about you beyond your uniform." "Fair enough. And after that?" "After that things moved very quickly. But you were impressive, Kathryn. You radiated strength and confidence. I didn't mind a bit of that right then." She chuckled. "I could say the same about you, Chakotay. I saw you in that beat-up excuse for a ship, fighting for your survival and fighting the Kazon and I wondered if I could keep up with you, and if you would kill me on sight and take Voyager when you beamed over." "It was a leap of faith on both our parts. The first tentative steps toward friendship." "I guess it was at that." "Tell me, would you have left me on Ocampa if Paris had not showed up to rescue me?" "I might have had no choice. Yes." "It was the right decision. I never told you so. I should have." "I knew it was the right decision. Just as you knew it was the right decision to risk your life and sacrifice your ship to stop the Kazon from taking the Array. I have to say my respect for you went up several notches at that point, Chakotay. And it was high already. I had seen your personnel files. I knew what kind of man you were--or had been when you wore a uniform. I didn't think you could change that fundamentally, years of fighting the Cardassians notwithstanding." Janeway busied herself collecting their plates and walking them to the recycler. "I'm buying coffee. Interested?" "Thanks, but it's not my vice. I'm fine with the tea." "My mother used to scold me for drinking so much coffee. She would try to switch it to decaf without me noticing." "And did you notice?" "Always. I'm a coffee purist. Mark tried the same thing. He didn't have any luck either." "You haven't mentioned him in a while." "I haven't thought of him in a while," she said, realizing it had been a very long while actually. She crossed to Chakotay's work station and took his chair, setting her cup on the panel's surface. "Maybe I'm finally adjusting to this new life." "Maybe you're just ready to move forward." "I didn't think I was stuck particularly. It doesn't sound very attractive for a scientist or a starship Captain." "It sounds human." "You seem to have adjusted well enough." "Maybe I didn't leave so much behind as you." "You left family. Friends. A cause you believed in." "I might believe in this cause more." "What? Exploration?" "Unification." "That's an interesting slant on it." "I've fought against things my whole life, Kathryn. It's nice to fight for something for a change." "I knew you were rebellious." "Contrary." "Is there a difference?" "One is for a good cause, the other is just plain stubbornness." "And now you have a good cause? Keeping your Captain from building walls so high they're insurmountable..." "Helping her figure out how to install a gate." "Or acting as gatekeeper?" "That's not my intent. Is that how it appears?" "No. That would imply you want to regulate who comes in and out. I know you don't. You simply want me to swing it a big wider than it is. And I understand your reasons." "You know your hair helps?" She sputtered coffee. "I beg your pardon?" He chuckled and rose to toss her his napkin. "It's one of the crew's favorite topics." "My hair? I don't give it a second thought. I just got tired of piling it up every day. It sounds like my First Officer needs to give the crew a bit more to do if they have time to worry about my hair." "This style makes you more approachable. It's less imposing." "I never considered myself imposing on any level." "You underestimate your effect. Kathryn, there are people on this ship who have you up so high on a pedestal you are in danger of losing consciousness for lack of air." She laughed and that and then sobered immediately. "That's not what I want." "It may be inevitable given your rank and position on this ship, but I think you can temper that. Assuming you want to." "To a point. Yes. But I think there has to be some distance. I am still the Captain and frankly a bit of hero worship isn't bad for morale or the command structure. The same goes for you as well, although I think you have a bit more latitude." "I'm a bit closer to the masses?" "Something like that. But you still need to maintain your command presence." "Are you concerned I'm not?" "Not at all. You've been doing a fine job of walking the line. I just want to make sure you remember there is a line and to keep your balance." She stood from behind the work station and walked around to the front of the console. "Are there poker games here?" "A few regular games, yes. And informal pick-up hands." "Do you play?" "I've been known to." "Are you any good?" He laughed and propped his feet against the edge of the coffee table. They were bare and it disconcerted Janeway for a moment. It was a bit too personal, reminded her they were a man and a woman. That they had been a man and a woman together. Of laughingly crossing a cold stream, him barefoot, pants rolled up to his knees, and her, in his arms being ferried across. Warm. Secure. Carefree. Feelings and times she missed. Chakotay noticed the attention and caught her gaze. She closed her eyes and then opened them. He was still watching. Observing. But silent. She broke the quiet. "Maybe it's time to talk about this, Chakotay." "I'm not sure if I have anything to say, Kathryn." "It still might need to be said." He dropped his feet down and picked up his tea mug, using it as an excuse to break the mood for a moment. "More coffee?" She shook her head. "Actually I wouldn't mind a drop of a brandy in what I still have. I don't think this discussion is going to be easy." He walked to the replicator and pressed open a small cupboard at it's side, pulling out a bottle of brandy and offering it up to her. She tipped a very small amount into her mug. "I thought you didn't drink..." "I don't. I won it from Paris in a poker game. I keep it for when he stops by." "Tom stops by to see you?" "I've been brushing up on my piloting skills. After our trip to Earth I decided I've been away from it too long. Paris has been coaching me. I usually feed him in return." "That sounds like a fair trade. Any other activities I should know about?" she asked as they returned to the couch. They sat slightly angled at opposite ends of the couch. Janeway pulled her feet up. Chakotay stretched his against the coffee table once more. "Nothing of consequence." "Do you still do woodworking?" "I haven't made any headboards in a while if that's what you're asking." "It's not. And even if you had, that's hardly my business, is it?" He hesitated. "I'm not sure I can answer that." "We've both left this alone since New Earth." "You have." "Haven't you? I haven't heard any angry warrior stories lately." "Do you want an undying declaration of love?" "Do you want to make one?" "I'm not sure what purpose it would serve. Except to confuse the situation even more." "I'd like to eliminate the confusion altogether. We both need to move on." Chakotay took a sip of tea and swallowed it before speaking again. "Tell me what you want, Kathryn." "What would you say if I told you to find someone else? If I explained that I can't risk you as a lover. That I need you too much as a First Officer and a friend." "Is that what you're saying?" "I think it is. I think it has to be." "I'm not sure I can turn off my feelings that fast. If ever. But I'm old enough to manage myself. I won't moon over you in public. If that's your decision, I'll respect it, although I have to be honest and say I wish it were otherwise." "I don't want to lose your friendship over this." "I will always be your friend, Kathryn. And I have survived this long in this condition. I suspect I will be fine in time. But how will you feel if I do take a lover? If I have a relationship with someone else on this ship?" "It's not my business. It might bother me. I don't know. It shouldn't. But let me ask you the reverse...because I might as well. Someday." "I hope you do." She looked up, a bit startled. "Do you?" "Shouldn't I wish you the best?" "It's confusing." She shook her head. "I think you need to find some way to let go of this, Chakotay." "I may never let go of it, Kathryn." "I don't think I want that responsibility." "Then don't take it. I can be responsible for my own actions and thoughts." "Chakotay..." There was apology and regret in her voice--a bit of agony, a bit of relief. "It was never my intent to leave you with such an important question unanswered for so long. I'm sorry." "I'm sorry, too." They were both silent then she noticed for the first time the quiet music playing the background. It was soft and slightly bluesy. "Dance with an old friend?" she asked, her voice a bit rough, the question something between a plea and a promise. Chakotay nodded wordlessly, stood and offered his hand, drawing her into his arms as she rose beside him. They stepped out beyond the coffee table into the small open space. Kathryn locked her arms about his neck, felt him draw her close, his hands around her waist. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, easing into his strength, drawing comfort, reliving other days, wishing she had less regret for what she had just done, but knowing all the same that it was right. Chakotay simply held her, moved them slightly to the music, pressed his face against her hair and drew her scent in to his memory along with the feel of her--small and strong and vulnerable--in his arms. He would take the friendship, keep the love, honor his committments, ease her burden any way he could. FIN **WE ARE FAMILY** Please send a self-addressed stamped envelope when requesting info! THE COMMANDER Official Robert Beltran/Chakotay Fan Club 330 Greenwich Street Reading, PA 19601-2821 B3 PRIME Official Roxann Biggs-Dawson/B'Elanna Torres Fan Club 1630 Ft. Campbell Blvd., Suite 143 Clarksville, TN 37042 blilsism@aol.com RANDOM FLIGHT Official Robert Duncan McNeill/Tom Paris Fan Club 850 Mellowood Avenue Orlando, FL 32825-8085 ricknpam@iag.net EPIC (Ethan Phillips International Club) Official Ethan Phillips/Neelix Fan Club P.O. Box 4818 Waterbury, CT 06704 randeg@aol.com CARPE (Central Alliance of Robert Picardo Enthusiasts) Official Robert Picardo/The Doctor Fan Club Box 373, 1277 Linda Mar Shopping Center Pacifica, CA 94044 traceldel1@aol.com CERES 1 Official Garrett Wang/Harry Kim Fan Club P.O. Box 13767 Sacramento, CA 95853-3767 VULCAN INSIDERS Official Tim Russ/Tuvok Fan Club P.O. Box 8248 Long Beach, CA 90808 EMISSARY Official Avery Brooks Fan Club P.O. Box 621719 Oviedo, FL 32762-1719 emisary1@aol.com THE DOCTOR'S EXCHANGE Official Alexander Siddig/Bashir Fan Club P. O. Box 1363 Minnetonka, MN 55345-0363 verba001@maroon.tc.umn.edu NANITES Official Nana Visitor/Kira Nerys Fan Club 8824 Cross Country Place Gaithersburg, MD 20879 nananut@aol.com DABO! Official Chase Masterson/Leeta Fan Club 2029 Verdugo Blvd. Box 150 Montrose, CA 91020 daboleeta@aol.com **ALL ABOUT NOW VOYAGER** Welcome to the official Kate Mulgrew Appreciation Society. You can reach us at P.O. Box 34745, Bethesda, MD 20827-4745, or online at tigger@cais.cais.com or thepooh@aol.com. Send SASE for information or $5 for sample issue, or e-mail us for the electronic edition of this bimonthly newsletter. Now Voyager is on the World Wide Web at http://www.engr.umbc.edu/~mpanti1/mulgrew/. Current yearly dues, $25/U.S., $32/Canada-Mexico, $40/Overseas (U.S. funds only) subject to change. For back issue info send SASE to Anne Davenport, 6211 E. Azalea Ave. B, Panama City Beach, FL 32408. This is a not-for-profit, amateur publication and is not intended to infringe upon the rights of Viacom, Inc. or any broadcasting or motion picture corporation. All material herein is copyrighted by the authors, except for the trademarks and patents of Paramount Pictures. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced without permission of the editors. If you received this newsletter electronically, you may not forward it nor disseminate it in any other manner. The opinions expressed in Now Voyager are not necessarily those of the editorial staff, Kate Mulgrew, or Paramount Pictures. If you are interested in contributing, please write us for guidelines. ____________________________________________________ BOARD OF DIRECTORS Michelle Erica Green, president. Joan Testin, vice president. Lauren Baum, treasurer. Anne Davenport, membership secretary. Mary Taylor, business secretary. Barbe Smith, charity coordinator. Peter Castillo, legal advisor. Jeanne Donnelly, corporate advisor. Paul Anderson, assistant to the president. STAFF Jennifer Pelland, electronic listserv owner. Michael Pantiuk & Cheryl Zenor, web page designers. Anna Shuford, membership directory creator. Beth Schuman & Nancy Molik, convention coordinators. Member of the National Association of Fan Clubs. ____________________________________________________