Stardate not given: After leaving the ship during the Pakled attack, Peanut Hamper is adrift in space. She could contact Starfleet but does not want to be put on trial for insubordination. She attempts to build a warp ship out of the debris. When Drookmani scavengers appear in the debris field, she eventually activates the engine, but the ship breaks apart and strands the Exocomp on the planet Areolus. Many of the primitive bird-like inhabitants, the Areore, are afraid of the "Spacebox". The young Rawda, who is to take care of her at the behest of his father Kaltorus, the village leader, is skeptical of Peanut Hamper's advanced technology and does not trust her. But Peanut Hamper uses her capabilities to improve the lives of the Areore. Rawda falls in love with her and lets her in on the big secret of his civilization. They once had starships, which are mothballed in a cave. Some time later, the Drookmani appear on Areolus and begin to salvage the ancient vessels, thereby destroying the village. Peanut Hamper contacts the Cerritos and also sets out to disable the Drookmani ship. When Captain Freeman, Tendi and Mariner beam down to the surface, they are impressed how selflessly the Exocomp fought for the Areore. Freeman agrees to Peanut Hamper's return to the ship. But the crisis is not yet over. The Drookmani have taken control of one of the ancient Areore ships and attack the Cerritos with weapons that are capable of breaking through the shields. They replay a message that reveals that Peanut Hamper called them to the planet in the first place, apparently in an attempt to get away from the primitive world but with the hidden agenda to become a hero and redeem herself in the eyes of Starfleet. Eventually it is Rawda who saves the day when he lifts off with an even bigger one of the old ships and disables the Drookmani. Peanut Hamper, on the other hand, gets locked up in the "Self-aware megalomaniacal computer storage".

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