 Captain Kathryn Janeway is assigned to go after a rebel Maquis ship that disappeared into "The Badlands." But the Voyager is struck by the same violent force that hit the Maquis, sending it all the way to across the Galaxy. There they are confronted by a huge, mysterious craft--the Array--operated by a single, very powerful alien, "The Caretaker." Janeway, together with the Maquis rebels, tries to convince the Caretaker to return them to Federation territory. But he is preoccupied with his responsibility to protect the people of a nearby planet, the Ocampa. It turns out the Caretaker is dying and doesn t have time for Janeway s request. Instead, he asks her to destroy the Array after his death--otherwise the ruthless Kazon will use it against the helpless Ocampa. Captain Janeway is confronted with a serious dilemma: if she uses the Array to go home, it will mean certain death for the Ocampa. But if she destroys the Array, her ship and crew will be stranded--and it ll take more than 70 years to get home!