Revisiting the Delta Quadrant: "Basics: Part 1"

While Star Trek: Voyager was almost universally panned for being an overly sappy, somewhat lacking offshoot for the Star Trek franchise that had spanned decades, there were quite a few quality moments in the seasons.  Some comments that I read indicated that people often thought negatively about the character development of the crew; it seemed the only ones that the writers really cared about were Seven of Nine and The Doctor.  This is partially true, at least going by seasons 6 and 7.  But when you had episodes like "Meld" and the continuation in the dual-part "Basics", it's obvious that the writers could tell a great story when they were pressed to.

In "Meld", we saw Lon Suder being placed in jail for killing another crewmember, and Tuvok learning the hard way that Suder was simply an over-violent individual.  The episode makes it seem as though this is a black-and-white judgment of a crime and a criminal that seemingly has no heart.  But "Basics" teaches us the reason the Maquis is so dangerous - and the flaws of Starfleet.

"Basics" begins with what seems to be an earnest outreach from Seska to Chakotay.  The message implies that Chakotay's son is in danger from Culluh.  After some internal debate - and soul searching with his father in a spirit form - they decide to investigate.  Stumbling across one of Culluh and Seska's aides in the Kazon who has been gravely injured, Chakotay is informed that Seksa has died.  The injured Kazon provides Culluh's codes and a map to get around the Kazon fleet.

On the way, Voyager is ambushed by Kazon, and it's obvious from the attacks that there is something not quite right.  Here's where the problems start.

1. The Kazon specifically target the secondary command processor.  Yet Janeway, Kim, Tuvok, Chakotay, or Torres...not ONE of them makes the connection of what would be impacted by the loss of the processor.  Considering that processor is apparently how the self destruct is managed, this is simply stupid writing.  Kim even goes so far as to call it a "non-critical system" - seems prety darn critical!
2. The injured Kazon takes a metallic syringe from his large toenail, and injects himself with it, apparently triggering a chemical reaction that causes a large explosion.  It's funny that Odo can detect disparate chemicals and make the connection (DS9: "Improbable Cause") and he knows nothing about chemicals or biology, yet the Doctor AND Tuvok missed this blatant clue!
3. When Suder offers to support the ship's aeroponics, and presents his findings to Janeway, he uncharacteristically (based on his mannerisms in "Meld") pleads with her to consider his offer.  Even worse, Janeway seems absolutely inconsiderate to what he wants to do, even though they always need food.  
4. When they are stranded on the planet, Janeway directs Kes to keep people from going in the caves, and by her tone, she is making no exceptions due to Hogan's death.  Yet, Chakotay blatantly endangers members of the crew by directing them into the cave.  Neither Kes or Tuvok question this breach of orders.
5. Has anyone noticed that the bugs that Janeway offers to the crew, look remarkably like tube grubs (DS9: "Ferengi Love Songs") and the very unappealing worms from TNG: "Conspiracy"?
6. When the Doctor reativates himself, and asks the computer for bio scans, the computer indicates there is "one Betazoid".  Given he's the Doctor, and given he's part of the computer, AND given he should know all members of the crew and their physiology, why does he not make the attachment that the Betazoid must logically be Suder?

A lot of plotholes, to be sure.  It was still an exciting episode at times, and Lon Suder was one of the best characters in the DS9 universe.  The character development was through the roof, too.