![[UPN Slate #1]](images/UPNSLATE0115a.jpg)
![[UPN Slate #1]](images/UPNSLATE0115b.jpg)
"Prototype" - When the crew finds a deactivated humanoid robot with an unfamiliar power source floating in space, Chief Engineer B'Elanna Torres is able to repair this mysterious mechanical "man." When it comes to life, the sentient artificial lifeform, Automated Unit 3947, explains that its kind is near extinction and asks Torres to build a prototype for construction of more units. In accordance with the Prime Directive, Torres must decline the request, but when 3947's Pralor homeship is located, the robot abducts her and threatens to destroy Voyager unless she constructs the prototype, on "Star Trek: Voyager" airing MONDAY, JAN. 15 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET/PT) on UPN.
Torres discovers that the robots are programmed to achieve victory while Janeway and her crew, taking measures to rescue her, find themselves in a war of alien robots.
Starring Kate Mulgrew as Captain Janeway, Robert Beltran as Chakotay, Roxann Biggs-Dawson as B'Elanna Torres, Jennifer Lien as Kes, Robert Duncan McNeill as Lt. Tom Paris, Ethan Phillips as Neelix, Robert Picardo as The Doctor, Tim Russ as Tuvok, Garrett Wang as Harry Kim.
Guest starring are Rick Worthy as 3947 and Hugh Hodgin as 6263.
The story was written by Nick Correa and Kenneth Biller and directed by Jonathan Frakes.
Before the airing of this episode, UPN put up the following slates to warn stations. Seems silly actually.
The values listed, 1:00:14:00 and 1:02:35:00, refer to the SMPTE-VITC (time code), that is part of the tape. Standard practice in the industry is to have a program start at 1:00:00:00, with the time from 0:00:00:00 through 0:59:59:29 reserved for promos, title slates, etc. Since UPN is still a low budget network, they don't have a real clock signal in the VBI (Vertical Blanking Internal).
Notice that UPN can't even get the time right, i.e., they still have EDT for the time, but they have EST (which is correct) for the announcement.