A Starfleet Captain digs into the past of the Protostar crew. Meanwhile, the Diviner recalls his life’s mission.

There’s a bit of a standoff at the edge of the Neutral Zone. Janeway can’t go in and the crew of the Protostar can’t come out until they’ve fixed their protodrive. And this enforced downtime provides a perfect opportunity to discover the back stories of many of the characters.

While Dal is coming to terms with being a failed genetic experiment, we learn that Rok-Tahk used to be a ‘monster’ performer and Zero enjoyed roaming without a Medusan containment suit, both before they were taken as slaves by the Kazon.

But even more intriguing is the back story of the Diviner’s race, where some big gaps are filled in about their animosity towards Starfleet, and just how vast their retribution plan is. While the main narrative takes a break, there’s an awful lot of essential added detail to take on board.

Verdict: It’s exposition galore as multiple characters are given detailed origins to enrich an already detailed universe. 8/10

Nick Joy