Voyager is traveling through a new system and accidentally stumble onto a ship being attacked by a much larger starship. The smaller ship warns Voyager off and before Voyager can help the ship is destroyed. However there are survivors and through a number of events Voyager becomes embroiled in a civil war one which emphasizes the differences between Voyager’s Starfleet and Maquis crew members. One that both emphasizes and celebrates the differences.