Last Flight of the Protostar, Part I (episode)

Real world article

(written from a production point of view)

Thanks to Wesley Crusher's timely intervention, the cadets find the Protostar – but the ship's marooned guardian isn't eager for their assistance.

Summary[]

Act One[]

An aged, bearded Captain Chakotay gathers fruit in a basket, fishing in the vapor ocean and scraping eggs off of the fish before throwing it back before eating some of the fruit topped with the eggs. Chakotay raises and polishes a large solar collector and has some of the fruit cooked for dinner while carving a figurine that he puts on a chess board as a chess piece. This becomes a daily routine for the marooned captain who fills his chess board with the pieces that he carves over time.

As Chakotay looks out at the ocean, a sudden yell draws him to where Dal R'El, Jankom Pog, Rok-Tahk, Gwyndala, Murf, Zero, and Maj'el have gotten caught in one of Chakotay's nets near the USS Protostar. Zero is excited that Wesley Crusher has successfully catapulted them across the Delta Quadrant to Chakotay and the Protostar, but Jankom is dismayed by the state of their ship, causing Chakotay to forcefully declare that it's his ship. Hologram Janeway appears and asks if Chakotay knows the intruders, and Dal explains that they've met her before, just not yet. While the crew is elated to see Hologram Janeway again, it's also weird for them as it's like seeing a ghost as their Hologram Janeway was destroyed along with the Protostar months ago. Chakotay recognizes the crew as some of the "galactic raiders" who had helped him and Commander Adreek-Hu escape from Solum 10 years ago, although it was a much shorter time for the kids. Jankom asks Adreek is, making more bad bird puns, causing a furious Chakotay to cut them down. Maj'el realizes that Adreek is a sore subject for Chakotay.

Chakotay realizes from the crew's Starfleet uniforms and talk of temporal mechanics that they were never galactic raiders, and asks how they know his emergency hologram. The kids explain that Hologram Janeway helped them once and originally, Chakotay and Adreek never escaped from future Solum. However, they heroically launched the Protostar through the wormhole's time anomaly where the kids found it in the past along with each other before they time traveled again and sort of screwed it all up trying to rescue Chakotay. When Chakotay brought the ship to this planet, he changed the crew's past "and now some nasty time monsters are hunting us down, but Wesley Crusher saved us and brought us here to you," finishes Jankom.

Gwyn tells the confused Chakotay that they need to get the Protostar back to the past in Tars Lamora or things will get a lot worse. However, Chakotay refuses, revealing that in order to protect the Federation, he and Adreek stranded themselves on this island so the weapon onboard the Protostar never falls into hands like Gwyn's. Rok reassures Chakotay that Gwyn isn't like the other Vau N'Akat while Dal tells him that they already set off the living construct, alarming both Chakotay and Hologram Janeway. Dal explains that they blew up the ship that they found and saved the Federation, leaving Chakotay stunned. Dal reassures the captain that Starfleet already knows about the living construct and they're ready for it, it's no longer a threat. Rok is excited to see Hologram Janeway again and she can't wait to get back and tell Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway about this, but this proves to be the last straw for Chakotay. "Sorry, kids, but you're never getting my ship off this planet. I advise you make some shelter. The ion storms here can get pretty hairy. Welcome to Ysida! Enjoy your stay," states Chakotay coldly, entering the Protostar and shutting the door behind him over the kids' objections.

Inside, Chakotay complains about the time traveling misfits, but Hologram Janeway gently rebukes him for his lack of compassion, pointing out that the kids could be telling the truth. Chakotay can't and won't take that chance and insists that if he could survive 10 years on this planet, the kids can surely survive one night.

Outside, Dal pounds on the door calling to be let in without any success. As the others gather supplies and begin setting up for the night, Dal doesn't want to let Chakotay take their ship, but Maj'el doesn't see any other choice, pointing out that Chakotay outranks them and if Wesley presumes the seven of them must stay together, then their immediate survival is more important than squabbling over who the ship belongs to. Gwyn agrees with Maj'el, pointing out that after being stranded here for 10 years they can't expect Chakotay to change his mind in just one day while Zero and Rok suggest that 10 years of bad weather hasn't helped his mood.

A massive storm rolls in as the crew sets up their makeshift shelter with lightning even striking the ship itself. Concerned for the kids' safety, Hologram Janeway argues with Chakotay about leaving them outside, pointing out that Adreek would've let them in. As high winds batter the island and lightning strikes dangerously close to the shelter, Chakotay finally relents and opens the door, making it clear that the Protostar is still his ship. The crew, aside from Dal, eagerly run inside with Dal giving up and running inside of the ship as well when the wind blows their shelter away. Just before the hatch closes, Dal notices a large hole opening up in the sand.

Hologram Janeway welcomes the crew aboard the Protostar which is even more dilapidated and in bad shape on the inside. Hologram Janeway reassures them that while the ship has seen better days, they have warm bunks and plenty of food. Gwyn thanks Hologram Janeway for always looking out for them while Rok and Zero tell her that they missed her and this ship. However, Dal and Jankom are dismayed by the state of the Protostar and how dark the ship is. Chakotay explains that they try to conserve power because the remaining systems are currently running on emergency power cells and every year the backup solar collectors lose a fraction of their efficiency. Chakotay reveals the alarming news that the ship's proto-core has been ejected and the warp drives were vented too. Without the matter and the antimatter to power the reactor, the Protostar has no fuel to fly. Passing by the darkened proto-core, Chakotay once again declares that they are never getting his ship off of this planet.

Act Two[]

On the bridge, which is covered in dust and basically powerless, Zero realizes that they've marooned themselves as well. With the Protostar powerless, there is no way for any of them to leave Ysida. Chakotay tells them that they will get used it and that while there are many hardships living on this planet, the needs of the many outweigh the comfort of a few. Settling into the captain's chair, Chakotay instructs the crew to find somewhere else to ride out the storm. Fed up, Dal confronts Chakotay about his attitude, demanding to know if Starfleet trains their captains to be broken old men who give up when things get tough. Seeking to break the tension, Jankom reveals that he found one of the chess pieces to be a tiny Adreek. Snatching the piece back, Chakotay orders them not touch any of them and leaves Hologram Janeway to deal with the crew as she was the one who had wanted them onboard. Alone in his quarters, Chakotay looks at a picture of himself and his crew with longing and sadness.

Gwyn realizes that the chess pieces are Chakotay's officers and Hologram Janeway explains that Chakotay is a captain who has lost his entire crew: Chakotay has been broken by his grief. Hologram Janeway reveals that after Chakotay and his first officer marooned themselves on Ysida, it took its toll on them. Seeing Chakotay lose his spirit, Adreek wanted to give him hope, thinking that they might be able to find a way off of this planet to find another solution. While Chakotay thought that it was impossible and far too risky to try, Adreek wouldn't give up. Adreek thought that if they could harness the antimatter generated by the storms, there could be a way to replenish the warp engines. However, Chakotay wouldn't hear of it, causing Adreek to venture out alone to test his theory, but a storm blew in, and Adreek never returned. "It's strange. I haven't seen a new face in years, but here I am, opening up to you like old friends," muses Hologram Janeway. Rok likes to think that they go way back and while she doesn't know why, Hologram Janeway believes her. The truth is that Chakotay has always been an honorable man, and his bitterness hides a scar. Chakotay has seen more than enough tragedy for a lifetime, and he simply can't bear anyone else getting hurt.

Hologram Janeway leaves to check up on her friend, while Maj'el is confused as to why Wesley sent them here if Chakotay has made up his mind. Jankom suggests that they steal the ship which Dal agrees with, earning objections from Rok. Gwyn points out that according to Hologram Janeway, Adreek had a plan, but Chakotay just wouldn't listen to it. If they want to get off of this planet, it will take more than just fixing the ship, they must also fix her captain.

Act Three[]

The next morning, Chakotay is greeted by Murf and Zero who use Murf's stretchable body to clean the windows of the Protostar. Zero finds and hangs up the ship's dedication plaque. As Chakotay collects fruit, Rok simply shakes the tree to get more quicker. Chakotay does his daily fishing, only to have Murf collect a giant net of fish by himself with ease, but Chakotay silently signals him to put it all back, showing no sign of appreciation for anything that's being done to make life a little easier. Chakotay spots Jankom working on repairing a rusty Runaway, but just laughs at him and wishes Jankom luck as the vehicle hasn't worked in years. On top of the ship, Gwyn and Maj'el are setting out the solar panels and Maj'el gives Chakotay a Vulcan salute. The crew lift tools up to the top of the ship where they work on repairs, surprising and impressing Chakotay and Hologram Janeway at their dedication.

A winded Dal makes his way up a hill in the distance, having been sent to collect some plasma fruit. Finding the fruit, Dal is shocked by the electricity running through it while a hole similar to the one that Dal had noticed the night before opens up behind him. Something emerges from the hole and Dal screams as it towers over him.

Another bigger ion maelstrom rolls in, the worst one that Chakotay has seen in years. The crew quickly realizes that Dal is missing, and they are unable to raise him on comms because of too much ion interference from the lightning. Realizing that Dal is in trouble, Chakotay leaves to find him, accompanied by Gwyn, Jankom and Murf while the others stay in the ship.

In the Runaway, Jankom uses some percussive maintenance to get the engine started which Chakotay likes. Chakotay is confused by the presence of Murf, but Gwyn simply calls him security. Finding a signal from Dal's combadge, the others direct the Runaway on where to go to find their friend. Chakotay warns Gwyn and Jankom that what they really have to watch out for is down below: things that eat the lightning. A massive Ysidan eel leaps out of the ground around the vehicle several times, but Chakotay manages to dodge it. The Runaway falls down one of the holes, but Chakotay activates a hover mode on the vehicle. Chakotay drives through the underground tunnels, dodging eels and impressing Jankom with his driving. At one point, Chakotay, Gwyn, and Jankom fly out of their seats, but Murf saves them, causing Chakotay to finally get what Gwyn meant by him being security. Dodging more eels, the Runaway finally loses its pursuers and comes to a stop near where Rok is detecting Dal's combadge.

Continuing on foot, the four find Dal in a large cavern near a device with a lightning rod on a rock covered in plasma fruit that is attracting lightning from the planet's storms. Dal has found Adreek's body in the cavern and Dal explains that giant worms were chasing him, so he took refuge here where he found Adreek. Chakotay removes Adreek's combadge, and is devastated by the loss of his friend trying to find a way off of this island. Gwyn insists that they still can and Chakotay takes a large canister from Adreek's hands, noticing another one glowing next to the device. Chakotay presses a button on the canister, and it begins glowing with power, revealing that it's an antimatter storage pod containing antimatter that Adreek had successfully collected for the ship before his death. "You did it, Adreek! You were right all along," declares Chakotay emotionally.

The Runaway returns to the ship with Dal, Adreek's body and the antimatter. Chakotay gives Adreek's combadge to Hologram Janeway, telling her that his crew went down with the ship instead of him and Adreek is gone. When the kids showed up, Chakotay was ready to spend the rest of his days guarding this ship with his life, but Adreek and the crew have reminded Chakotay that there's always another way. Gwyn confirms that they're sure that it's safe to return and they need the Protostar to save others. With the antimatter that Adreek had collected, they all have a chance of getting off of this planet.

The next morning, the crew sets Adreek's body adrift at sea in a boat, laying him properly to rest and Gwyn tells Chakotay that Hologram Janeway had said that Adreek had a plan. "He did, but he knew before this ship could fly, first it has to sail," reveals Chakotay, now filled with a new sense of hope.

Memorable quotes[]

"It worked! Wesley has catapulted us across the quadrant to Captain Chakotay and the Protostar!"
"What? Oh, what did he do to our ship?"
"Your ship? It's my ship."

- Zero and Jankom, are elated by their success, but Chakotay is less than pleased

"Captain, you know these intruders?"
"Hologram Janeway? It's you!"
"Have we met?"
"No, not yet. But yes, kind of. Man, this is weird."
"Like seeing a ghost."

- A confused Hologram Janeway, greeted by Rok, Dal, and Gwyn

"Looks like we've nabbed a few of those "galactic raiders" that helped me and Adreek escape Solum ten years ago."
"Ten years? That happened, like--"
"Technically--"
"I know, Maj'el, temporal mechanics."

- Chakotay, Dal, and Maj'el discuss their previous encounter

"Starfleet uniforms. Temporal mechanics. You were never galactic raiders. But how do you know my emergency hologram?"
"She helped us once."
"Originally, you and Adreek never escaped future Solum."
"But you heroically launched the Protostar through the wormhole's time anomaly."
"Where we found it in the past, and found each other.'
"Then we kinda time traveled again, but sort of screwed it all up trying to rescue you."
"When you brought the ship here, you changed their past."
"And now some nasty time monsters are hunting us down, but Wesley Crusher saved us and brought us here to you."
"I'm sorry. Time monsters? Wesley Crusher?"
"We need to get the Protostar back to the past in Tars Lamora, or things will get a lot worse."

- A confused Chakotay, getting an explanation from Gwyn, Zero, Rok, Dal, Jankom, and Maj'el

"And that weapon? Relax, we already set it off!"
"You what?!"

- Dal, with both Chakotay and Hologram Janeway in unison

"Easy, easy. We blew up our ship."
"You mean my ship!"
"No, the one we found. We saved the Federation."
"But, the Vau N'Kat weapon onboard--"
"Starfleet already knows. They're ready. It's not a threat anymore."

- Dal tells Chakotay how the living construct has been neutralized as a threat

"Sorry, kids, but you're never getting my ship off this planet. I advise you to make some shelter. The ion storms here can get pretty hairy. Welcome to Ysida! Enjoy your stay."

- Chakotay, closing the Protostar door while the crew are still outside

"Time traveling misfits. Just when you think you've seen everything."
"Well, you still surprise me."
"If you have something to say."
"Have you considered they could be telling the truth?"
"I can't take that chance. I won't."
"Still, a little compassion never hurt."
"I've endured 10 years here. They can make it through one night."

- Chakotay is rebuked by Hologram Janeway for his heartless behavior

"We're not seriously gonna let him take our ship!"
"I fail to see what other choice we have. Captain Chakotay outranks us. And if Wesley presumes the seven of us must stay together, it's only logical our immediate survival takes precedence over squabbling whose ship it is."
"He's been marooned here 10 years. We can't expect him to change his mind in one day. Maj'el's right."
"If the ionized atmosphere was less temperamental, the captain wouldn't be such a prickly fellow."
"I guess ten years of lightning storms can do that to you."

- Dal, Maj'el, Gwyn, Zero and Rok, discuss their cold reception by Captain Chakotay

"I ain't afraid of no little storm."
"Ooh, but what about a big one?"

- Dal and Jankom as the storm rolls in

"I can hear you staring."
"Don't leave those cadets out there. He would have let them in."

- Chakotay and Hologram Janeway, referring to how Adreek would have handled the situation

"Just so we're clear, it's still my ship!"
"We don't need your help! We're doing just fine on our own."
(the rest of the crew runs into the ship)
"All right, crew! We're going inside!"

- Chakotay and Dal, as the rest of the crew ignores Dal and runs into the Protostar to escape the ion storm

"Thanks, Janeway. Always looking out for us."
"I am?"
"We missed you."
"And this ship."
"Even if it is falling apart."

- Gwyn, Hologram Janeway, Rok, Zero, and Dal after Hologram Janeway gets the crew let inside

"Would it kill you to turn some lights on in this place?"
"We try to conserve power as much as possible. The remaining systems run off emergency power cells, and every year the backup solar collectors lose a fraction of their efficiency."
"Solar collectors? How do you keep the proto-core stable without consistent power?"
"We don't. We ejected the proto-core."
"You ejected it?"
"Vented the warp drives too."
"But without the matter and the antimatter to power the reactor, the ship has no fuel to fly."
"Like I said, you're never getting my ship off this planet."

- Chakotay, revealing the distressing state of the ship to Jankom and Zero

"We've marooned ourselves too, haven't we?"
"You get used to it, kid. Sure, the storms are rough, and fish eggs can taste like sulfur, but the needs of the many outweigh the comfort of a few."

- Zero and Chakotay discuss being marooned

"Is this how Starfleet trains their captains to be? Broken old men who give up hope when things get tough?"
"Hey, look what Jankom found, it's little bird guy."
"Don't touch that! Don't touch any of them! You wanted them on the ship, you deal with them. Janeway, you have the bridge."
"Remind Jankom never to play chess with him."

- Dal, Jankom, and Chakotay after Jankom finds Chakotay's chess set

"Forgive him. He's a captain who's lost his entire crew."
"His grief must be unbearable."
"After the captain and first officer marooned themselves here, it took its toll on them. Seeing Chakotay lose his spirit, Adreek wanted to give him hope. Adreek thought perhaps they could find a way off this planet and find another solution. The captain thought it was impossible and far too risky to try, but Adreek wouldn't give up. He thought if they could harness the antimatter generated by the storms, there could be a way to replenish the warp engines. Chakotay wouldn't hear of it, so Adreek ventured out alone to test his theory, but a storm blew in and he never returned. It's strange. I haven't seen a new face in years, but here I am, opening up to you like old friends."
"I like to think we go way back."
"I don't know why, but I believe you. Chakotay has always been an honorable man. His bitterness hides a scar. He's seen more than enough tragedy for a lifetime and can't bear anyone else getting hurt."

- Hologram Janeway, Maj'el, and Rok, as Hologram Janeway opens up to the crew about Chakotay

"If the captain has made up his mind, I do not understand why Wesley has sent us here."
"Yeah."
"Well, maybe he wants us to - just hear me out - steal the ship?"
"Is that what we are to him? Thieves?"
"If the shoe fits..."

- Maj'el, Murf, Jankom, Rok, and Dal discuss an unpleasant option

"You heard Janeway. Adreek had a plan. Chakotay just wouldn't listen to it. If we wanna get off this planet, it'll take more than fixing a ship. We need to fix a captain."

- Gwyn realizes what they must do

"Shields up. Fruit incoming."

- Rok collects fruit

"Good luck. Hasn't run in years."
"Who needs luck when you've got accessories?"

- Chakotay and Jankom, about the broken-down Runaway that Jankom is fixing

"Hey Dal, can you grab some plasma fruit? It only grows at the top of the hill. Aye-aye, anything for you, captain."

- Dal, talking sarcastically to himself while gathering fruit alone

"Percussive maintenance."
"I like it!"

- Jankom and Chakotay, when Jankom fixes the Runaway just when they need it

"Why's the blobby guy here?"
"Security."

- Chakotay and Gwyn, about Murf

"Jankom hopes Dal's not too far."
"It's just a little lightning."
"Easy for you to say, your hand's not a lightning rod!"
"That's the least of our worries! What you really have to look out for is down below."
"What's below?!"
"Things that feed on lightning."
"Okay, let me get this straight. Out of all the planets to maroon yourself on, you picked this P-class nightmare?!'"

- Jankom, Gwyn, and Chakotay embark upon a hazardous rescue mission

"You know, as a captain, you're not half bad. Uh oh! But still not half good."

- Jankom is impressed with Chakotay's driving

"Security, I get it now."

- Chakotay, after Murf keeps everyone from falling out of the Runaway and puts his seatbelt back on

"That feathered fool. Thought he could find a way off this island."
"We still can, Captain."
"Can we?"

- Chakotay, Gwyn and Jankom find Adreek's body

"My crew went down with the ship instead of me. Adreek is gone."
"He sacrificed so you could live."
"When they showed up, I was ready to spend the rest of my days guarding this ship with my life, but Adreek and this crew reminded me there's always another way. You're certain it's safe to return? And you need the Protostar to save others?"
"We wouldn't be here otherwise."
"And with this, we have a chance at getting off this planet."
"All of us."

- Chakotay, Hologram Janeway, Gwyn, and Dal, as Chakotay regains his old spirit

"Janeway said Adreek had a plan?"
"He did, but he knew before this ship could fly, first it has to sail."

- Gwyn and Chakotay, discussing Adreek's plan

Background information[]

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Story and script[]

Preproduction[]

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Cast and characters[]

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Releases[]

Like the rest of the second season, it was first released on france.tv (a French public television's streaming service) as well as on AppleTV+ France on 22 March 2024, well in advance of the Netflix release in the United States.