3.19 rise

An alien world is being bombarded by asteroids. Voyager is trying to help, but they keep coming. A message from a prominent scientist on the surface reveals that he knows the cause of the asteroids, but he will only reveal this to the head guy. Away teams are dispersed to find him before the next asteroid hits and destroys huge populated areas of the planet. Tuvok, Neelix, and one of the aliens take a shuttle – which crash lands. On the surface, they find the scientist, who still will not talk. With the shuttle damaged beyond repair, and unable to get a message to Voyager through the interference, Neelix suggests that they make use of a nearby cable car device that will transport them up a pole above the atmosphere, where Voyager will pick up their signal. Neelix assures Tuvok that he is familiar with the technology, and he does a good job. Only later does he reveal that he only built 1/10^th scale models of the device. The scientist acts strangely, trying to hijack the vehicle, then trying to reach the roof. Tuvok speaks down to Neelix and tries to ignore Neelix’ intuition, but Neelix refuses to control the vehicle. Tuvok finds a device on the roof pointing to an alien ship and a traitor. At that point, the other alien pushes Tuvok off the vehicle and takes control of the vehicle at gunpoint. Neelix is badly hurt in the attack, but Tuvok did not fall off; he climbs back up and overpowers the alien, then motivates Neelix to take control of the vehicle by reminding him that he is doing it for his sister, Alixia, for whom the vehicle was named.

The asteroids were being sent by another alien race, intent on conquering the world after it had been evacuated. Now, instead, the aliens meet and are repelled by Voyager, and Tuvok and Neelix gain a shaky respect for each other.