Following the exploits of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, the series Star Trek: Voyager is the fourth incarnation of the Star Trek franchise.  It was created by Rick Berman, Michael Piller and Jeri Taylor and was produced for seven seasons.  It aired from 1995 to 2001, subsequent to the series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Far from home, the USS Voyager was stranded in the Delta Quadrant, 75,000 light-years from Earth.  In pursuit of a renegade Maquis ship, the crew fell victim to the ancient alien called the Caretaker, causing both aircrafts to perish and eventually merge.  The Maqius squad boarded the Voyager, joining the Starfleet troop.  They estimated their journey home to take 75 years, but the perils they encounter make the time feel longer than they thought.  As they maneuver the dangerous Badlands, they are continuously plagued by antagonistic forces jeopardizing their voyage.

Most of her crew is dead, and Starfleet Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kathryn Mulgrew), the first female captain featured in the Star Trek universe, opted to unite forces with Chakotay (Robert Beltran), leader of the rebellious Maquis group.  Joining them is the half-Human/half-Klingon B'Elanna (Roxann Dawson) as chief engineer, the Starfleet spy Tuvok (Tim Russ) as chief security officer, and former Starfleet Captain Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) as helmsman.  The ship is also equipped with the Emergency Medical Hologram (Robert Picardo), which becomes the chief medical officer, The Doctor. 

Continuing their expedition within the Delta Quadrant, the crew aboard Voyager gains the assistance of the Talaxian Neelix (Ethan Phillips) and his Ocampan girlfriend, Kes (Jennifer Lien).  While they serve as local guides and aide to The Doctor, another being joins the group.  In the show's fourth season, the Borg known as Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) is introduced. 

Several species that the Voyager crew contends with as they make their way home include the Hiroden hunters, the organ-collecting Vidiians, the mysterious Species 8472, the aggressive Kazon, and the Borg.

Star Trek: Voyager was the first of the Star Trek shows to use Computer Generated Imagery, despite the many sci-fi elements used in previous series.  The original concept was created by Gene Roddenberry, with Star Trek: Voyager first released on the UPN network.  When the series was canceled, it was followed by Star Trek: Enterprise.


-Maria Gonzalez, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Wikipedia, Startrek.com
(Image Courtesy of UPN)