Stardate: 49337.4 Janeway takes Chakotay's advice and tries to form an alliance with one or more Kazon factions, in order to smooth their way through the system. Neelix gets captured in the process, but then meets one of the leaders of the Trabe. The Trabe had once enslaved the Kazon, but now they fight the Kazon for their survival.

Janeway seeks the Trabe's help in forming her alliance with some of the Kazon factions. However, the Trabe appear to have their own agenda.

Gabrielle wants to enter the Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards, but finds that it is not quite what she thought it would be. She helps another aspiring bard discover his true storytelling talent.

Lansing asks Jim to turn Miller into a real newsman. The rest of FYI is shocked to find out that Jim is responsible for the change in Miller. Jim is shocked to find out that a similar thing was done for him many years ago.