- The Enterprise transports an elderly Starfleet Admiral to negotiate a hostage crisis. When the Admiral takes a de-aging drug, he endangers both his life and the mission.
- The Enterprise travels to the planet Persephone 5 to collect Admiral Mark Jamieson and transport him to Mordan IV to again lead a hostage negotiation on the planet where he had achieved a successful negotiation 40 years before. The Admiral makes it quite clear that he is in command the mission, but not the ship. En route, Jamieson, who is quite elderly and suffering from the incurable Iverson's disease, takes an alien rejuvenation drug that makes him younger. It soon becomes apparent that the hostages are being held by the planet's ruler, Karnas, not a terrorist group as he had claimed. When it also come to light that Jamieson's success was not brought about in the manner recorded in Federation history books, it becomes clear that it is the Admiral himself Karnas is after.—garykmcd
- The Enterprise is ordered to bring wheelchair-bound retired admiral Mark Jameson, with his wife, to a planet which recently ended decades of civil war, where government chief Karnas asked specifically for the reputed negotiator now several hostages' lives are at stake. Picard must also accept that Starfleet made the admiral senior mission officer, hence in sole charge of the away team, which Picard decides to join. Meanwhile it becomes clear that the mystery therapy Jameson started for his incurable disease is working wonders, but may come at an equally extreme price as his rejuvenation gets out of control. As Jaleson feared, Karnas has played a dirty trick to settle their old score.—KGF Vissers
- The Enterprise travels to the planet Persephone 5 to collect Admiral Mark Jamieson (Clayton Rohner) and transport him to Mordan IV to again lead a hostage negotiation on the planet where he had achieved a successful negotiation 40 years before. The message was delivered by the ruler of Mordan, called Karnas. He says terrorists have captured a Federation ambassador and his staff hostage and won't negotiate with him. He requested for Admiral Jamieson as the negotiator. The Admiral makes it quite clear that he is in command the mission, but not the ship.
Jamieson is travelling with his wife Anne (Marsha Hunt). Jamieson tells Picard that Karnas has been insulted by these abductions and would want revenge against the terrorists. On the way, Jamieson, who is quite elderly and suffering from the incurable Iverson's disease, takes an alien rejuvenation drug (without telling Anne) that makes him younger. Jamieson refuses to submit to medical tests on board the Enterprise, as per protocol. Beverly is alarmed at the improvement Jamieson is showing as there are no known cases of recovery from the Iverson's disease. But the alien drug also causes debilitating pain in Jamieson's chest, one of which requires him to seek help from Beverly. She finds traces of alien chemicals in his blood, and no trace of the Iverson disease.
When confronted Jamieson admits that he procured 2 doses of the drug, one for Anne and one for himself and was testing it on himself first, as the process was advised to be very painful. The drug had to be administered in slow dosage over 2 years, but the situation on Mordan IV convinced him to take all the doses for both him and Anne, in a single shot. And it worked.
Jamieson calls Karnas to ask him some questions about the terrorists and their history. But it soon becomes apparent that the hostages are being held by the planet's ruler, Karnas (Michael Pataki), not a terrorist group as he had claimed. Jamieson asks Picard to increase Enterprise speed from warp 4 to warp 8 to reach early and catch Karnas off guard. He also re-looks at plans of the underground tunnels of the destroyed city on Mordan IV, over which their new capital was built. He feels that Karnas has kept the hostages in the same tunnels. He plans to lead an away team on a rescue mission. Beverly tells Anne that Jamieson's body is becoming unstable, and he will not live through this process of cellular change.
When it also come to light that Jamieson's, success was not brought about in the manner recorded in Federation history books. Jamieson admits to Picard that 40 years ago Karnas was holding Federation people hostage to ask Federation for weapons. He intended to kill his rivals, who had murdered his father. Jamieson went in and gave Karnas the weapons he wanted but gave the same weapons to his rivals. This led to 40 years of civil war on the planet. Jamieson saved 63 lives and falsified the records to Starfleet. This time Jamieson leads the away team as planned, but his team comes under attack from Karnas's forces. He gets the pain in his chest again, and Picard has no choice but to beam the entire team back up.
Karnas promises to execute 1 hostage every 5 mins Jamieson is delayed. Despite his condition, Jamieson insists on going, to correct his mistake from 40 years ago. Picard and Beverly accompany him. Karnas refuses to believe that Jamieson is so young. Picard shows him visual proof of this change. He also beams down Anne, as Jamieson doesn't have much time left. Jamieson shows Karnas the blood cut on his hand they both made, to seal the deal. Karnas refuses to kill Jamieson and he dies in front of his eyes. Karnas is at peace and hostages are freed.
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