Voyager was traveling across the Delta Quadrant at Warp. The starship's half-human-half-Klingon chief engineer, Lieutenant Commander B'Elanna Torres, was in Holodeck 2 on Deck 6, trying a holographic version of Earth's classic "Cinderella" fairy tale. Voyager's first officer and one of Torres' friends, Commander Chakotay, was there observing Torres' performance as Cinderella. Torres had reached the part of the tale where Cinderella reached the royal palace. While Torres was wearing a ball gown and glass slippers, Chakotay was wearing his standard Starfleet duty uniform. Suddenly, the voice of the starship's commanding officer, Captain Kathryn Janeway, interrupted the story. "Janeway to Chakotay and Torres," Janeway said. "Computer, freeze program," Chakotay said, and the story paused. "Chakotay here, Captain. And B'Elanna is in here with me," Chakotay said. "Torres here, Captain," Torres said. "I need you two on the bridge," Janeway said. "Acknowledged, Captain. We are on our way. Chakotay out," Chakotay said. "Computer, save and end program," Torres said. "Program saved," the computer replied, and then the simulation vanished, as did Torres' gown and glass slippers, revealing the Holodeck grid and doors and Torres' Starfleet uniform. Chakotay and Torres walked out of the Holodeck. "Well, how do I look in a gown and glass slippers, Chakotay?" Torres said. "Like a princess, B'Elanna," Chakotay said. "Thanks," Torres said.
On the bridge some time later, Chakotay and Torres walked out of the turbolift. They met with Janeway and Voyager's Vulcan tactical officer and security chief, Lt. Cmdr. Tuvok, at the tactical console. "Is there a problem here, Captain?" Chakotay said. "We detected an M-class planet in a system that is two light years from here, Commander," Tuvok said. Janeway turned to Voyager's young flight control officer, Lieutenant Thomas Paris. "Mr. Paris, set a course for that system," Janeway said. "Aye, Captain," Paris replied, and he laid the course in.
Some time later, Voyager reached the system. "We are now entering the system, Captain. Its fifth planet is the M-class planet we found," Paris said. "Set a course for that planet," Janeway said. "Yes, ma'am," Paris said, and pressed some buttons on his console. Within minutes, Voyager reached and entered orbit around the M-class planet. "I am reading scores of cities on every continent, Captain," Torres said. "A vessel is approaching us, Captain," Tuvok said. Janeway turned to Voyager's mission ops officer, Ensign Harry Kim. "Hail that vessel, Mr. Kim," Janeway said. "They're already hailing us, Captain," Kim said. "On screen," Janeway said. A humanoid woman appeared on the screen. "Welcome to Spreltonius V. I am Colonel Sprelirra from the Spreltonian Space Patrol," The woman said. "Captain Kathryn Janeway from the Federation starship Voyager. We were passing by on our way home when our sensors detected your planet's existence, so we thought we would pay a visit to say hello," Janeway said. "Well, if you have not already entered orbit, feel free to do so. And please, feel free to visit the surface. Sprelirra out," Sprelirra said, and the screen went blank. Janeway hit her Starfleet combadge. "Janeway to Neelix," Janeway said. Voyager's Talaxian chef, Neelix, immediately responded to Janeway's call. "Neelix here, Captain," Neelix said. "Please come to the bridge, Mr. Neelix," Janeway said. "On my way," Neelix responded.
Some time later, Neelix reached the bridge. "What do you need, Captain?" Neelix said. "What do you know about the Spreltonians, Mr. Neelix?" Janeway said. "They're friendly people, but they will fight back if attacked, Captain. They are as technologically advanced as the Federation," Neelix said. "So they're used to people beaming down?" Chakotay said. "Correct," Neelix said. "Curious, Captain. My sensors are detecting a Zibalian on the surface," Tuvok said.