Miraculously, the ship begins receiving messages, transmitted across the vast distances over the same relay system, from relieved family and friends back home. Voyager's crew is elated to finally hear from loved ones after so many years. However, for Captain Janeway and others, their joy is tempered by bittersweet news.
Many messages are still being held at the module. Voyager proceeds to the alien craft to attempt retrieval of the remaining transmissions. Tuvok and Seven of Nine are ordered to board a shuttle and inspect the craft. Before they can, however, they are captured, beamed aboard an alien vessel and trussed-up like animals as a rude introduction to the Hirogen, a hostile, alien race of hunters. Living for the thrill of the hunt, the Hirogens have targeted Voyager's crew as prey in their latest game.
Starring Kate Mulgrew as Captain Janeway, Robert Beltran as Chakotay, Roxann Biggs-Dawson as B'Elanna Torres, Robert Duncan McNeill as Lt. Tom Paris, Ethan Phillips as Neelix, Robert Picardo as The Doctor, Tim Russ as Tuvok, Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine, Garrett Wang as Harry Kim.
Guest starring are Tiny Ron as Alpha-Hirogen and Roger Morrissey as Beta-Hirogen.
David Livingston directed from a teleplay by Jeri Taylor.