Data is engaged in a holodeck simulation of Shakespear, when Captain Picard intrupts, observing that Data has made remarkable progress. Picard suggested to Data that if he really wanted to experience humanity, to experience Shakespear. Suddenly they are intrupted by Commander Riker, they've just recieved a distress call from the neutral zone.

The Enterprise arrives to find a Romulan scout ship being attacked by a Romulan Warbird. The Warbird ignores Picards warnings, and almost destroys the scout ship, but it reaches federation space in time, and the Enterprise uses it's shields to protect the scout ship. A brief standoff ensues, before the Warbird retreats and cloaks.

They beam aboard one Setail, a Romulan who is apparently defecting. He informs Picard that the Romulans intend to take control of the neutral zone in 48 hours. However, everyone doubts his claim. As Worf leads Setail off to heal his wounds, the scout explodes. In sickbay, Setail reveals that he initiated the auto destruct sequence to prevent the scout's capture. After being treated, and shown to his quarters, he pulls out a tablet from his pants, and fingers it gently.

On the bridge, with roughly 21 hours to go before a potential invasion, Geordi shows the Captain that the Romulan Warbird could have overtaken the scout on three different occasions, but maintained it's distance from it. Picard then inquires as to weather or not Setail's wounds could be self inflicted, and Dr. Crushes admits that they could be. Picard then recieves a coded transmission from Starfleet Command, and he takes it in his ready room. They can't tell either if Setail is telling the truth or if it's all a rouse, and that ultimately it will rest on Jean-Luc Picard to determine weather or not it is. Data then enters, and Picard asks him to keep an objective record of the upcoming events so that history will know what really happened.

Troi and Riker interrogate Setail, but obtain nothing. Meanwhile, Picard has Worf speak to a Klingon tactical officer, while he attempts to determine weather an invasion is coming. Geordi finds, via a launched probe, evidence of sub space radio communication, as well as ion disturbances which could be caused by cloake Romulan ships. The only way to know for certain is to go to Velana Three. Data, meanwhile, speaks with Setail. Setail is saddened at what he states he had to do. Finally acknowledging that he had to give everything, he asks Data to set up a meeting with Captain Picard, that Admiral Jarok wishes to speak with him.

It turns out Admiral Jarok is a famous aggressor against the Federation, making his claims that much more unbelievable. After arguing with Picard that he doesn't want to betray the Romulan Empire, Picard counters that he has and that he can only help if he has unequivical cooperation. Admiral Jarok agrees.

With Admiral Jarok's help, the Enterprise arrives at Nelvanna Three, only to find nothing there. Suddenly three Romulan Warbirds decloak lead by Commander Tomalak. It all was a setup. Admiral Jarok was fed misinformation apparently to test his loyalty, and Tomalak demands Picard's surrender. Picard won't, and in fact sees to it that his threat isn't idle. Klingon warships decloak around the three Romulan Warbirds. At a stalemate, Tomalak grudgenling retreats.

Later, after the Enterprise returns to the Federation space, it is discovered that Admiral Jarok, who sacrified everything for nothing, committed suicide, ingesting the tablet he had brought with him.

"It's an Earth drink....prune juice."--Guinan
"A warrior's drink!!"

This episode begins in ten forward where Guinan and Worf are sitting together discussing how Worf always drinks alone. Gunian suggests that Worf seek out some companionship, but replies that he'd need a Klingon woman for companionship. Even though Worf laughs when Gunian tells him some women on the ship would find him tame, we all know he's eventually going to Deep Space Nine, and marry Dax. heh. Go figure.

Out of nowhere a strange swirling, "hole" in space appears out the window in front of them and Worf is summoned to the bridge. Left behind, Guninan studies the phenomena with that look that she has that says something vital is going to happen...

Mr. Worf meanwhile has made his way to the bridge where Data and Wesley are attempting to find out just what the heck it is. They have problems because according to Data the phenomena does not have definite center or outer edge. Suddenly the swirls part and out comes another ship, older a bit, but it looks Starfleet.

And that's when things change. The bridge goes from a lit luxury cruiser to a dark, tactical filled, military feeling domain. And when Picard turns to the Lt., it is non other than Tasha Yar!!! (WOW!!) Apparently the time line has changed, hmmmm, and one can only assume logically that, that ship has something to do with it. In ten-forward Guinan turns around to find everything changed...the cool thing, she knows that it has! Our time traveling suspicions are confirmed when Lt. Yar states the's ships name and registry, NCC-1701-C U.S.S. Enterprise.

Things are different from the get-go. Instead of stardates, they have combat dates, and all the terms and slang refer to combat, defense, or military...even the ships are considered battleships. There is no Counselor Troi, the only command chair is the Captain's chair, with Riker standing on raised platform behind him. (I didn't realize that until I was doing this review. [ :-) he he, see that's why I'm doing this.], and of course there is no Worf.

"This is Captain Garrett of the Starship Enterprise, to any Federation ships. We are under attack by Romulans and need immediate assistance...." Captain Rachael Garrette

According to records, there was no mention of the Enterprise-C being attacked by Romulans. Picard and crew are still trying to determine what's going on without realizing that things have indeed changed. According to their sensors, the Enterprise-C is heavily, damaged, massive casualties, and of course the audio distress signal. Althought they want to help, they do not want to risk changing variables from their own past. Picard decides to assist the ship and crew, but to avoid all discussion of where and when they are.

The Enterprise-D crew arrive onboard the Enterprise-C and begin assessing the ship and crew. Injured are taken to the Enterprise-D sickbay, including Captain Garrette. Geordi and his team are doing work as well, re-establishing life support otherwise they will have to evacuate the ship. Riker contacts Picard they agree that if they can't get the ship underway in 9 hours they will evacuate the crew and destroy the ship. If they can get it up on it's own power, they'll escorted it to a nearby starbase. Just then Gunian comes to the bridge to speak with Picard telling him, "This isn't right."

In Picard's ready room, which now has a huge tactical display on it, Guinan and Picard mull over Guinan's feelings. Although she can't give Picard specific examples, she knows that this future; this timeline isn't right. As she stated to Picard, "..this isn't a ship of war....it's a ship of peace." Picard still look agitated, even when Guinan states that the ship from the past must go back.

After Guinan's revelations, Picard goes to sickbay to talk with Captain Garrette. Captain Picard reluctantly tells her when they are. According to Captain Garrette, the Enterprise-C was responding to a Klingon distress call on Nurenda III, and engaged four Romulan warbirds. But as Picard stated, history never recorded the battle with the romulans, and the outpost was destroyed. If the Enterprise had succeeded, it may have averted twenty years of war.

Back onboard the Enterprise-C, Lt. Yar and Lt. Castile are continuing tactical repairs. Lt. Castille, still overwhelamed of the twenty-two year jump (who wouldn't be?) seems to be basically going through the motions. Except for his growing attraction to Tasha, finally getting the nerve to ask her for "a cup of coffee" basically.

Captain Garrette finally comes back to command after being informed of Klingon cruisers in the area, while Picard and Guinana duke it out privately. Picard isn't willing to ask these people to die, for a cause that may not work. But Guinan persists that the Enterprise-C isn't suppose to be here, and ends in a stare down.

In ten foward, Lt. Yar and Lt. Castile are continuing to build their relationship finally getting to a first name basis. Most noteably Guinan's reaction to Tasha Yar. Clearly freaked out Tasha too.

Captains Picard & Garrette are having a talk on the the bridge of the Enterprise-C a while later. Garrette is prepared for the hear and now, while Picard argues that one ship won't matter now, admiting that defeat by the Klingons is inevitable within 6 months. But one should could make a difference 22 years ago. Picard leaves here with those words, while Lt. Yar and Lt. Castile say goodbye. Their touching drama is interrupted however, by the blast of a klingon ship. There is a brief exchange of fire, before the Klingon ship re-cloaks. In the altercation, Captain Garrette is killed.

With the Enterprise-C captain dead, Lt. Castile approaches Picard ready to take command himself. Captain Picard agrees, and they continue to prepare the Enterprise-C. Meanwhile, Tasha talks with Guinan about the other time line. Guinan admits that Tasha is suppose to be dead, having done so, empty and meaningless. Thusly, Tasha goes to Captain Picard for a transfer, so her death would count for something.

"All hands, this is the Captain. As you know we could outrun the Klingon vessels, but we must protect the Enterprise-C until she enters the rift. And we must SUCCEED!! Let us make sure that history never forgets the name, Enterprise."

Inspiring words, from Captain Picard as three Kligon ships attack. While the Klingon vessels' purpose is to destroy both Federation ships, The Enterprise main concern is to protect the Enterprise-C. Thusly it takes a defensive posture, taking blows from all three enemy ships, and taking out one in the process. Finally, Geordi loses anit-matter containment, as a coolant leak ruptures. Riker is killed, and still at the very end, Captain Picard hurtles the console behind him and fights on. With the two remaining Klingon vessels firing, the Enterprise-C enters the rift, and the time line that we know and love is restored.

Finally, at peace, Guinan contacts the bridge to make sure everythin is okay, and then sits down with Geordi. And as puts it, "Geordi, tell me about..Tasha Yar."