Mr. Braga is the Executive Producer of "Star Trek: Voyager" and has been associated with that show since its first season. He began his relationship with "Star Trek" as the writer of several episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." He is also credited with the scripts for the first two ST:TNG films, "Star Trek Generations" and "Star Trek: First Contact." He is here with us today to discuss the exciting upcoming season of "Star Trek: Voyager".

Question: Is there any chance of ever seeing capt. Kirk ever again in a star trek movie?
Edward

Brannon Braga: As for Kirk, I can't say. No plans right now as far as I know.

Q: How can we submit ideas for the next Star Trek series?
Jeff

BB: As far as I know, Paramount Pictures does not accept unsolicited story concepts about Star Trek. We do accept scripts from people as long as they have filled out the approriate release forms, but we do not accept ideas about the new series, should there be one in the near future.

Q: What's a typical day for you?
JB

BB: I'll give today as an example. I spent the morning writing a script that is currently being filmed which creates a lot of pressure because I know I have to get it done quickly. I also had a story meeting on an upcoming episode with the writing staff and am currently discussing an upcoming episode that has a lot of problems and is going to take a great deal of effort to fix. At any given time, we are working on several episodes at once. Shows in post production, production and preproduction. It makes for a very hectic day.

Q: Have you seen "Farscape", that new sci-fi channel program that embodies many "Star Trek" characteristics? If so, what do you think?
BORG

BB: I have seen it and I was very impressed by their production values and ambitious story telling. In fact, a friend of mine produces the show, David Kemper, he's a very talented writer.

Q: It is time for the blue-eyed pilot, Tom Paris, to get his rank back? Any news on that front?
Rosie

BB: No plans to reinstate Paris. He hasn't served his full punishment yet.

Q: Is Harry ever going to get a promotion? Or is he going to return to the Alpha Quadrant as Starfleet oldest, or second oldest, (Tom Paris being the oldest) Ensign?
Ann

BB: I find it interesting that so many fans would be intrigued by the ranks of fictional characters. To be honest, I often forget what ranks they are myself, except for the Captain of course.

Q: Will there be any more two-parters this season? If so, who will be featured?(Please say Tom, please!)
Rosie

BB: We are planning to do another 2 hour episode along the lines of Dark Frontier from last season. But right now, we haven't worked out the storyline.

Q: We saw that Doc has strong feelings for Seven in "Someone to Watch over Me" last season. Will Seven be returning those feelings this season?
Karen

BB: I doubt Seven will ever manifest romantic feelings for anyone. But if she does, they will most certainly be for the Doctor. We do however plan to keep the chemistry alive between these very popular characters.

Q: Just how much longer do you plan to dwell on Seven's return to the collective? You've been doing it OVER and OVER and OVER.
EnsRegis

BB: As far as I know we only did one episode that really delved into that issue... Dark Frontier. We have no immediate plans to keep exploring it.

Q: What Voyager scripts are you most proud of and what scripts are you least proud of? (Not only yours, but of all the ones that you've seen.)
Captain O

BB: I like the one where Kirk fights the dwarf wearing a toga. In all seriousness, it's not really fair to rank episodes in that way. And to be honest, I'm so tired I don't think I could recall them anyway.

Q: I liked Equinox, but I was waiting desperately for Tom to punch Max in the face. Was that idea ever discussed?
Rosie

BB: Yes it was. But as we developed the plot, we never really had time for a big confrontation scene between the two men. It would have been nice though.

Q: What's it like working with the illustrious Rick Berman and his amazing staff?
Mars Bar

BB: Rick is a genius and my daily muse. He does have a staff of underlings but I don't talk to them much. Just kidding. Dave Rossi and Maryl Davis are a delight.

Q: Is there any plans to have Q in the new season of Voyager? And if not why not?
Josh

BB: We often discuss bringing Q on the show but we just haven't found the right story yet.

Q: What are the hardest and most enjoyable things about your job?
cooter

BB: The hardest part is the pressure. The most enjoyable part is watching the final product come together on the air and watching it right along with people like you... the fans.

Q: Most of the dialogue in the movies as well as the tv shows have brilliant dialogue. Who comes up with it?
Joel

BB: Me. And...Rick Berman and a brilliant staff of writers that includes Joe Menosky and Ken Biller. To paraphrase the Borg... it is truly a collective effort.

Q: Will the new officers from the Equinox be appearing often?
QWERTY

BB: Doubtful. No plans right now.

Q: Will we see more of the Paris Torres relationship this season??
Ronda

BB: Our philosophy is that if the storyline can effectively utilize the relationship then we will use it. This season you will see quite a bit of it.

Q: Did Jeri Ryan really sing in "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "Equinox:Part 2"?
Kiara

BB: Every word.

Q: The men have Seven to drool over, why can't we see more of Tom Paris. Say shirtless at least.
Sissie_Genesee

BB: It never occured to me to compare Jeri Ryan with Robbie McNeil, but we'll take it into consideration. In fact, we do have an upcoming episode where Robbie has a steamy affair with an alien female. Don't worry, she's only an hallucination.

Q: When will Roxann Dawson direct an episode?
CadetDru

BB: She directed an episode recently in which Tuvok loses his logical abilities and she did an amazing job. You will enjoy it a lot.

Q: Is the rumor of Voyager returning to the Alpha Quadrant over the Christmas break true?
EMH Mark 4

BB: Unfortunately it happens over the break and you will miss these exciting events. There are not plans to bring Voyager home.

Q: Can you tell us anything about "Alice"? What we have seen and heard about sounds very interesting and a very good Tom episode.
Rosie

BB: Tom is seduced by a small alien vessel that taps into his mind. The ship manifests as a gorgeous young woman who Tom falls for. Mind control.

Q: Where did you grow up? Are you from another planet yourself?
Morgan

BB: I was bred in a petri dish by Rick Berman's assistant Maryl Davis for the sole purpose of writing this show. Some people think I was born in Montana and raised in Ohio.

Q: You seem to write with a lot of the "fall back" gimmicks -- time travel, alternate realities, dreams and such over and over, is this an interest of yours?
Mooger

BB: It's a testament to the popularity of science fiction that time travel and alternate realities would be considered a cliche. There was a time when these concepts were considered quite radical. I guess I'm just getting old.

Q: What happened to Lieutenant Carey from season 1 did he die or is he just not where the action is now?
hanna

BB: Carey is trapped in a cargo container in Seven of Nine's cargo bay. Can't you hear him? He's screaming to get out. It was all a terrible misunderstanding.

Q: Are we going to see more Klingons on Voyager?
Martok

BB: Yes. In two weeks we will air an episode called "Barge of the Dead." Torres gets sent to Klingon Hell. It's a very off beat Klingon story.

Q: I was checking the star trek encyclopedia and found that in season 1 - season 3 you wrote more storylines than Jeri Taylor, does this mean when your a producer you write less, or are you still writing the same number of storylines as you did in season 1-3?
Admiral_M

BB: Could you rephrase the question? My primary job is to write the show. I have a feeling I write about the same amount of episodes every year.

Q: In many of your Voyager scripts, you have shown a flair for the problems of time travel -- I believe temporal mechanics is the term of art being used on the series. It got to the point that I'd see a time related show and automatically look for your name.
Aamin

BB: I'll admit that I'm a fan of time travel. But at the same time, I hate it as well. Time travel episodes are very difficult to conceive and execute. So every time we do one, we vow never to do another. The problem is, we keep coming across really great time travel concepts. I have a special affinity for the genre, I guess.

Q: Is it true, as I think was reported in a publication, that Steven King named you as one of the few writers to scare him ?
Shaun

BB: I'd love to know what publication you saw that in. I've no idea what you're talking about. The scariest part is Steven King has absolutely no idea who I am.

Q: what is janeway like off camrea?
tuvok

BB: Not nearly as nice as Ensign Kim. Kate Mulgrew is a charming, incisive woman with a great passion for her work. We admire her immensely.

Q: Yours has certainly been a meteoric rise, from intern to writer to executive producer. Besides talent and a flair for the genre, to what do you attribute your rise?
Aamin

BB: I had an affair with Dave Rossi and he pulled a few strings.

Seriously, I have been blessed with the opportunity to work with people who have taken an interest in my career... Rick Berman first and foremost.

Q: It was great to see the Voyager crew in space suits visiting a truly alien planet (no oxygen atmosphere, very unusual for Star Trek) in the episode "Demon". Any chance of seeing similar episodes in the future?
Hans

BB: We use the space suits again in an episode where we salvage an ancient Mars module. Ironically, history seems to be mirroring our show. There are eerie parallels to what happened this week with the Mars orbiter.

Q: Is it true that Kate Mulgrew will not be starring in the 7th season of ST:VOY?
Lynnis

BB: As far as I know Kate is definitely returning. The rest of the cast as well.

Q: How could the Equinox have been brought to the Delta Quadrant by the caretaker if it was killed and his array destroyed? Judging by the technology including the EMH, the Equinox is actually newer than Voyager. Wasn't Voyager the first ship to have an EMH?
Mike

BB: I believe we established that the Equinox arrived six months before Voyager. You are far too attentive.

Q: In "Year of Hell", why was the crew surprised about the Krenim & the Cronoton Torpedos? Kes told them about the Krenim & their temporal weapons in "Before & After." Also, what effect will the CBS/ Viacom merger have on UPN & Voyager?
Tim

BB: I believe that Sumner Redstone is planning to travel back through time. He will try to acquire chroniton torpedos to destroy the other networks and hence his competition.

Q: Will Janeway and Chakotay ever be an item?
Lynnis

BB: We hear from a lot of fans affectionately termed J/Cers who desperately want to see these two characters have a romance. We believe its an inappropriate romance but we will continue to explore the unique friendship that does include a certain flirtatious dimension.

Q: I am not a fan of Startrek much however I do admire the production of materials used in the series for rooms and furniture. How would I obtain or reconstruct similar surroundings for my living styles?
Seven

BB: I understand that IKEA is selling all the latest Star Trek decor. But beware. A friend of mine recently got a little confused while decorating his own apartment in the Roddenberry motif. He confused the transporter pad for the toilet basin...

Q: I was fortunate enough to correspond several times with Ms. Jeri Taylor in the mid-90s when she was Exec. Prod.; can I still send mail to her through Paramount now that she is a "Creative Consultant"?
HJKrenzII

BB: I believe that any mail sent to Star Trek will be forwarded to Jeri, yes.

Q: What, for you, sets ST: Voyager apart from other Star Trek and sci-fi shows. Thanks
"Q" Rob

BB: Voyager tends to tell self-contained, high concept, science fiction stories with ambitious production elements. We also try to aim for emotional stories. Whether this sets us apart from any other TV show, I'm not sure.

Q: Hello Brannon. Will we be seeing any new permanent additions such as hardware/technology, or any new regular cast to the show? Does the ending of DS9 lay any extra burden or importance on your work with Voyager? Thank you, and good work!
Quantum Chaos

BB: There are not new plans to add cast members and we are always looking for new gizmos to introduce. You'll have to wait and see.

Q: Can we have some clarification of the name of Chakotay's Maquis vessel 'on-screen' please? Several different sources list several different names and I'd like to know, because Chakotay is my fav character. Could he just slip it in to a conversation?
Arlene

BB: If you find out, please let me know as well. Sometimes these little details escape even us. Does Chakotay have a last name? Or is he just like Cher or Madonna?

Q: I've heard from a reliable source that Voyager might not get back to Earth by the end of Season Seven. Can you confirm or deny this rumour?
Bruce

BB: Your source is not very reliable. We haven't even discussed the end of the 7th season yet.

Q: Was there a scene filmed for "Star Trek: First Contact" with Avery Brooks as Captain Sisko?
Peter Morden

BB: No.

Q: Word is some old faces are going to turn up on VOYAGER,ie the Klingons. Are the Cardassians going to get a run as well? Such a great bunch of articulate, duplicitous, conniving, witty and intelligent baddies!!! Must be fun to write their dialogue!!!!!!
Pam

BB: As I said, Klingons will make an appearance, but I doubt the Cardassians will. It seems to me that DS9 explored those villians quite thoroughly. I'm not sure what Voyager would have to add.

Q: What are the names of software that the Voyager staff uses to help with the writing of scripts?
Tairy

BB: The writers use different kinds of programs. I myself us a very old version of Microsoft Word. We all use something called a Scriptor Stylesheet. But the truth is, no amount of fancy software will help you be a better writer. Just write.

Q: Good evening, Mr. Braga. I was wondering what your favorite ST TV series is, and what your favorite ST Movie is?
Capt. Harrison

BB: Favorite series? Voyager. I'm very proud of the show and I think we're doing episodes that could go head to head with any TNG. Favorite Movie? Star Trek: IV. The one with the whales. And no, I don't know what the whales' names were. George and Gracie. There, I admit it. I knew the whole time.

Q: I was wondering what the most expensive ST set ever built was, and how much did it cost? ($$$?)
Toronto's Trekkie

BB: One of the most elaborate sets we created was WWII Nazi-occupied France. But I'm not sure I can translate the cost into Canadian dollars. We don't normally divulge that kind of financial information.

Q: Chaos, Quantum, and Life.....Janeway/Chakotay.....today's feminists could give two hoots about hierarchies.....why not grow up and get them together. Call Ms. Magazine and ask them. -Tired of waiting.
Marcia

BB: I'm not sure what getting these two characters together would do to improve Voyager. This is a show about human relationships but it is not a show about romantic relationships. Particularly not between the captain and first officer. But as I mentioned earlier we will continue to explore these unique relationship which I think is much more interesting than a romantic one.

Q: There has been numerous hairstyle changes for characters like Janeway and Torres over the course of the show. Is there any significance to them at all? For example, why did Torres have that tiny braid in her hair for only one episode?
Kristina

BB: Occasionally actors like to change their hairstyles. A perfectly normal thing. Sometimes the producers don't like the way a character's hair looks and we change it.

Q: Mr Braga, I'd just like to congratulate you on your last season of Voyager. Equinox was a brilliant ending - it's just a shame we have to wait until later on next year to see it in Britain. Why do we have to wait so long to see it here?
Rob

BB: I'm not certain. You might call your local television station. I'd be curious to know myself.

Q: Are we gonna see any Tuvok eps? I mean the poor guys soooo neglected. And the vulcan fanatics want more vulcan info...as long as it's not about Vorik.
Patroness

BB: There is a wonderful Tuvok episode coming your way.

Q: Hi! I was wondering why, after 5 years on Voyager, Naomi is still the only child on board. You'd think other people might have gone and had kids, too, during that time, wouldn't you?
HoloDarlin'

BB: An interesting question. We'll give it some thought.

Q: What are the your chances of being able to do the type of continuing story line that I enjoyed so much with the end of deep space nine, on Voyager? There doesn't seem to be any point to just being lost in space and knowing it.
Tom

BB: Generally speaking, we try to write stories that have a beginning, middle and end. Stories that could stand alone ten years from now and be enjoyed by people who have never seen Voyager. We pay close attention to continuity and use it when it serves our stories, but Voyager is a different show than DS9. We have no plans to create an ongoing storyline.

Q: Would you ever consider doing a cameo on Voyager?
Emily

BB: What a strange question.

Q: Hi Brannon, As someone who has "pitched" for Star Trek Voyager, I was wondering how much the staff really looks at pitched ideas and what do you look for?
Charlie

BB: We look for science fiction concepts that have never been done before. They are getting harder and harder to find, which is why we take outside pitches from writers. We wouldn't take those pitches if we didn't pay attention to them.

Q: In a recent interview, I believe it was in Star Trek Communicator, you said that you were trying to make Star Trek: Voyager, "less issue oriented." Perhaps I am in a dwindling population, but isn't that one of the major strengths of Star Trek?
Rokiri

BB: I most definitely never said that. What I probably said was that we don't generally derive our stories from issues. What I mean is, we try to find the sci fi concept first and then discover the thematic metaphor within.

Q: Great casting John Savage. How did you think of him?
Sherri

BB: We love John. He brought a great deal of intensity to the show. We were sad to see his character die. My apologies to the fans in Britain who have yet to see the episode.

Q: How do you keep away from nosy pests like us? :)
Johnny

BB: To be honest, we really do appreciate the fans of this show. If they're nosy it's only because they care. Better an obsessive interest than no interest at all.

Q: what your fav television show at the moment? (besides Voyager of course)
brian

BB: I was a big fan of the Larry Sanders show on HBO... and I hesitate to admit that I've become addicted to the Game Show Channel. I have a crush on Richard Dawson.

Q: Macintosh or PC?
Mr. Jackelblow

BB: PC.

Q: Why not have metalica guest star on voyager?
Lordpazuzu

BB: I think I speak for Rick Berman when I say that that would be a dream come true.

Q: I was woundering what you think some of the best works of Science Fiction are that may have influenced you in your work on Voyager? For me and my life, Blade Runner and some Star Trek: TNG episodes come to mind.
Anonymous

BB: Rod Serling's work without a doubt.

Q: How come seven doesn't have a sonic shower in her room she must have a big B.O. problem ?
ds9

BB: I can only assume that certain fans among you have lost your minds.

Q: Season 5 of Voyager has been great. The scripts are stronger. I feel this is due to writers concentrating on one show. Overlapping of DS9 and Voyager seemed to spread the talent thin. Would you agree with this?
Dana

BB: Actually, season five was written concurrently with the last season of DS9... but thanks for the compliment.

Q: Some say that science fiction is not really about the future, but about the past. What historical events or messages do you think some of the Star Trek episodes relayed?
Eugene

BB: Interesting insight. I agree that sci fi is more about the past and we try to explore different issues every week on Voyager.

Q: Could you please scotch the circulating rumours that yourself and Mr.Berman are working on a new series concept that will focus on starfleet academy recruits who are looking for their identities.
paul

BB: I am watching the rumors myself with great interest because there really is no firm concept for a new series that I'm aware of but I think it's safe to say it will not be about Starfleet Academy. I'm fairly certain of that.

Q: Can you tell me where you got the idea for "Cause and Effect". I'm researching the movie "Groundhog Day" and I'm looking for plots with a similar theme. The two I can think of are "12:01" and ST:TNG's "Cause and Effect".
Greg

BB: I don't mean to toot my own horn but I believe that Cause and Effect was aired before either of those two movies. My initial inspiration involved watching a series of scenes repeating over and over again in a Rashomon type style. It was only later that I came up with the concept of a Causality loop.

Q: Who's weaker? You or your assistant, Mikey O.?
Flotter

BB: We once had an arm wrestling match and Mike beat me. Of course, we were using Mike Taylor, one of our writers, as the table and he kept squirming.

Q: do you get recognized in public much by the hard-core fans?
brian

BB: I was recognized once. And it was one of the most unnerving moments of my life. I didn't like the experience. I prefer to remain anonoymous.

Q: What happened to the last chat time/date? We were all waiting for you, but it didn't happen! I had to miss a soccer game
Mike

BB: Unfortunately, I was busy writing a scene that shot early the next morning and had to cancel. My apologies to you and your entire team.

Q: I am getting really tired of the Seven-saves-the-day type of shows. They make the rest of the cast look incapable. Comment?
StarTrek Fan

BB: I think that's a very good point. Sometimes we lose perspective on things like that. We'll keep an eye on it in the future.

Q: Do you collect wine? What is your favorite vintage?
Bordeux

BB: I'm a scotch man myself. As a matter of fact, I'm going to go home and pour myself a glass right now. It's been a long day. I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to watch this chat. And I hope you enjoy the sixth season of Voyager as much as we did making it.