Miraculously, the ship begins receiving messages, transmitted across the vast distances over the same relay system, from relieved family and friends back home. The U.S.S. 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. Except for the fact that Janeway's lover moved on, and for Voyager's Maquis, they found out that their rebellion was destroyed by the Cardassians and a race from the Gamma Quadrant, the Jem Hadar

Many messages are still being held at the module. The U.S.S. 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 the U.S.S. Voyager's crew as prey in the latest hunt.