THE TROUBLE WITH KAZONS
When Janeway confronts the Kazons in the first episode of Voyager she sets off another long-running feud in the tradition of the Klingons in Star Trek and the Borg in Next Generation:

Jabin, Kazon leader: 'You have made an enemy today!''

Well, the Borg are a supreme collective, almost invincible, while the Klingons are intensely aggressive but with an innate sense of honour. So how do the Kazons match up?

First impressions aren't too good. They are easily fooled by Neelix and their technology seems primitive in comparison to the Voyager. However, as the Voyager is a long, long way from home she will not be able to draw on Federation resources and has no apparent allies. She's on her own.

The Kazons are a disparate race comprising a number of warring tribes, or clans, in the Delta Quadrant. Their social system is similar in some ways to the Klingons, although they don't have any honour, and therefore can never be trusted. Each of their ships is commanded by a 'First Maje', who is treated like a king, but must always watch his back as the crew are constantly scheming to overthrow their superiors.

All in all, not particularly pleasant people, the Kazons, and their attitude to women seems to be similar to that of the Ferengi - extremely chauvinistic. The contrasts to the liberated Federation and their female Captain will no doubt be explored.

Of course, the Kazons won't be the only aliens encountered by Janeway and her crew. If they aren't enough for them to deal with there is always the Vidiians, who steal body organs to preserve their own species and the Botha, telepathic monsters who create illusions to test their foes. Then there's the Swarm, the Death Matrix Alien, the Macrovirus, the Dream State Aliens and the curiously-named Species 8427. Looks like it could be a busy time for the crew of the Voyager.