Alixia was a name that Neelix gave to a mag-lev carriage for "good luck". The Talaxian named it after his long-dead sister.
Because their shuttlecraft was damaged, Neelix and Tuvok turned to the nearby orbital tether system as an alternate method of ascending above the ionosphere — and thus into Voyager's transporter range — with their Nezu passengers. Though Alixia was ultimately able to convey them to the appropriate height, it was not a particularly smooth ride — in part becase Neelix had exaggerated his technical expertise with orbital tether technology. (VOY: "Rise")