I just saw "Caretaker" again for the first time since its original airing (or, I suppose, its original rerunning between seasons). At one point in part 2, Neelix mentions that the Caretaker has been grabbing ships from around the galaxy for "several months". Even if the Equinox was one of the first ships taken, it couldn't have been years prior to Voyager, as, I understand, was the general conclusion reached before.

I was talking to Frank about this and he suggested that Neelix may have only been in the area for "several months". However, if this were true, I don't think he would have said it that way. He would have said the ships had been coming there for as long as he had been there, or something. The way he said it would indicate that he was there to see the beginning of the process.

Frank also pointed out that there could have been earlier incidents that Neelix didn't know about. However, according to the episode, the Caretaker started taking the ships when he realized he was dying and needed to procreate. Now, which is more consistent with this: that he would grab a ship here and there over the years and then suddenly get a bunch within a few months, or that he would see he was dying and start grabbing a bunch right then? I'd say the latter.

I'm curious to hear if there was anything in "Equinox" that would directly suggest that they arrived more than a few months before Voyager...

Gotta love these functions...........

For clarification, I don't mind if you post a Voyager question in GD provided that it has to do with some other series as well. This appears to be a completely Voyager-related question, so off it goes........