Forra Gegen

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Forra Gegen circa 2373.

Professor Forra Gegen was a Voth molecular paleontologist and member of the Circle of Archeology who strongly supported the Distant Origin Theory. The theory contended that the Voth had originated on a faraway planet and had migrated to the Delta Quadrant. The government did not adhere to this theory, instead they believed that the Voth had evolved in the Delta Quadrant and were one of the first races there.

Gegen kept his theory mostly to himself until he found evidence to support his theories. Gegen found evidence of his theory on Hanon IV when he discovered the bones of a humanoid, Crewman Hogan, whose genetic makeup bore some similarities to his own. He was able to determine that the bones came from the ship USS Voyager, which then he tracked down. He and his assistant Tova Veer boarded under cloak and studied the crew until they were discovered. Veer was captured while Gegen abducted Chakotay, who had been knocked out by Veer. Chakotay helped Gegen find more evidence for his theory. In fact, the Voth had evolved from Earth's hadrosaurs. Gegen's ancestors avoided extinction, developed space-faring technology, left the planet and ended up in the Delta Quadrant. Chakotay went with Gegen back to the Voth city ship to present his evidence.

The Ministry of Elders did not look kindly upon the new evidence, and charged the professor with heresy. Minister Odala tried to force Gegen to retract his claims. Veer was threatened, and he recanted and denounced Professor Gegen. Gegan refused to retract his theories until Odala threatened to imprison the crew of Voyager for life and destroy the ship. Gegen submitted and he was relieved of duty and reassigned to a job as metallurgical scientist, a career he felt he would be undistinguished in. However, as Chakotay departed Gegen's ship, he gave his friend a globe of Earth, and Gegen expressed his wish that, someday, all Voth would call Earth 'home'.

Forra Gegen had one daughter, Frola. (VOY: "Distant Origin")

Forra Gegen was played by actor Henry Woronicz. His undersuit padding lot was sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay. [1]

Gegen means "against" in German. Given that Gegen's findings and views ran counter to his species' Doctrine, his name is either an ironic coincidence or an interesting choice by the episode's writers.