Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Tuvok

4. Factoring In Tuvok's Prime Motive

The first season episode Prime Factors saw Tuvok betray Janeway, covertly acquiring Sikarian technology, before coming clean to his captain. The original scripted ending for the episode was a straightforward, angry dressing-down. Janeway would reprimand Tuvok and life would continue apace.

Tim Russ felt that this ending didn't give enough weight to Tuvok's actions. The pair had a preexisting relationship before becoming stranded in Delta Quadrant, including years of built-up trust. Janeway had to feel truly shocked and betrayed - but Tuvok had to explain himself as well.

The script, Russ recalled in Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorised Guide To The New Trek Voyages, was changed 'around thirty per cent' to accommodate his input, though he regretted not being able to add more context. He felt that Tuvok's choice - that this course of action was the only logical one available to him - stemmed from his attempt to protect the captain from a full-scale mutiny on the ship. 

He, and the writers, were quite close in how they viewed Tuvok's motives, even if those motives didn't make it into the final shooting script.