While in the Delta Quadrant, Janeway and Voyager’s crew encountered menaces and horrors that stretched Starfleet’s code of ethics to its breaking point. First and foremost among these principles was the vaunted Prime Directive. This rule, which prohibits interfering in the affairs of non-aligned worlds, is a fundamental and guiding principle for Starfleet.
Many classic Star Trek episodes have dealt with the fallout of violations of the Prime Directive. In The Original Series’ second season episode “A Piece of the Action,” an alien race builds their entire society around a book about Prohibition-era gangsters, left behind by an earlier exploratory mission.
Although Kate Mulgrew made the Janeway role her own, she was not the producer's first choice. At first, the role went to Genevieve Bujold, but she left a few days into filming the pilot.
Captain Janeway Broke the Prime Directive, Regularly
Janeway's Handling of the Prime Directive Gets a Callout
Captain Janeway regularly found herself in situations where adhering to the Prime Directive was not always the right choice of action. Other Starfleet captains have been in these situations, and each reacted differently. For Janeway, being stranded 75,000 light years from home added a layer that captains such as Picard and Kirk never had to deal with.
As a result, Janeway broke the Prime Directive and often, and this gets a callout in Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming #5. Written by Susan Bridges and Tilly Bridges, with art by Angel Hernandez, the book chronicles what happened to Voyager after its series finale, tying up loose ends the show left dangling, and one of them is Janeway’s handling of the Prime Directive.
Voyager has been hijacked by Species 8472, and is trying to get home. A group of dissident members of 8472 are helping them, and one comments that a Federation presence would help their cause. Chakotay wonders if this violates the Prime Directive. Janeway notes his objections, but decides to help anyway. Chakotay then tells her he is proud to be her First Officer.
Even Though Captain Janeway Violated the Prime Directive Often, She Was Still a Great Starfleet Officer
Janeway and Voyager Faced Threats Picard or Kirk Never Could Have Dreamt Of
The criticisms aimed at Janeway and her handling of the Prime Directive are not without merit. Despite hand-tying Starfleet on several occasions, the Prime Directive has helped it and the Federation maintain good relations with other species. The ethics behind the Prime Directive, that of non-interference and allowing a species to determine their own destiny, are sound as well.
Despite hand-tying Starfleet on several occasions, the Prime Directive has helped it and the Federation maintain good relations with other species.
Yet Janeway and Voyager were far from home, way beyond Starfleet’s jurisdiction. Voyager regularly bartered with the species they met in the Delta Quadrant, trading goods such as food, weapons and medicine. Each time Voyager participated in such exchanges with indigenous Delta Quadrant races, they were technically violating the Prime Directive. It became a matter of survival.
Even though Janeway was breaking Starfleet protocol seemingly every week, she was still representing its ideals in every dealing with another race. Starfleet is built upon the ideas of cooperation, curiosity and compassion. Even if the species was gunning for Voyager, Janeway handled the situations thoughtfully, often resolving them without excessive force.
Captain Janeway Is a Starfleet Legend
Chakotay Was Just Being a Good First Officer
Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming #5 addresses this criticism. Species 8472 is on the brink of a civil war, and if the wrong side wins, then the Federation is doomed. Janeway sees the situation as an opportunity to build bridges, rather than destroy them. Janeway knows both the Federation and Species 8472’s survival is on the line, and acts accordingly.
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Chakotay, as Voyager’s First Officer, is responsible for pointing out possible breaches of rules, and he does so here dutifully. Chakotay knew Janeway would do it anyway, and the pride he feels in his captain is justified. Janeway is one of Star Trek’s best captains, and any violations of the Prime Directive she committed were done so for a reason.
Star Trek: Voyager: Homecoming #5 is on sale now from IDW Publishing!
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