Star Trek: 5 Great Storylines The Show Left Hanging

3. The Equinox Crew

Introduced: "Equinox" (VOY, Season Five)Last Seen: "Equinox, Part II" (VOY, Season Six)In the last episode of the fifth season of Star Trek: Voyager, we're introduced to the U.S.S. Equinox and her crew, led by Captain Rudolph Ransom. Like Voyager, they were brought to the Delta Quadrant by the Caretaker, but unlike Captain Janeway, who has chosen to stick to her Federation principals no matter the cost, the crew of the Equinox has elected to use whatever means necessary to return home. This includes, it turns out, the mass murder of an alien race whose remains can be harvested to boost the power of the warp engines. Janeway is furious at this discovery €“ she had thought the aliens were the aggressors, not the Equinox €“ and has the crew of the Equinox arrested. It is not long, however, before they escape. A chase ensues, and the aliens continue their attacks. Eventually, the crippled Equinox €“ no match for Voyager or the aliens €“ is destroyed, with Captain Ransom onboard. A few members of the Equinox crew, however, are aboard Voyager when their vessel is destroyed. After harshly dressing down the five survivors, Janeway informs them that they are stripped of rank and from now on will serve onboard Voyager as crewmen. For the time being, their privileges will be limited, and they will be closely supervised by other members of Voyager's crew. As she coldly dismisses them, Janeway tells the crewmen they will have to earn her trust before these restrictions will be lifted. When the five crewmen exit Janeway's ready room, it's the last time they are ever seen on the series. Although the issue of granting amnesty to the former Maquis crewmembers aboard Voyager later becomes a minor plot point in season seven, the fate of the remaining Equinox crew upon Voyager's return to the Alpha Quadrant is never brought up. As far as I know, the show's producers never publicly indicated why they didn't revisit these characters, but it's hardly surprising. By season six it was becoming the norm on Star Trek: Voyager (see: the Borg baby that vanishes without a trace before its debut episode is even over) for members of the crew to be introduced only to disappear without a trace. In the Star Trek: Voyager books set after the run of the series, at least, the Equinox crew have made a few minor appearances.