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Yesterday's Enterprise

All right, try this.

What is it?

Just try it.

You see?

It's an Earth drink.

Prune juice.

Warrior's drink.

You know, you always drink alone.

It wouldn't hurt you to seek out a little... companionship.

I would require a Klingon woman for... companionship.

Earth females are too fragile.

Not all of them.

There are a few on this ship that would find you... tame.

( laughing )

Impossible.

You never know till you try.

Then I will never know.

Coward.

I was merely concerned for the... safety of my crewmates.

Drink your prune juice.

RIKER: Lieutenant Worf, report to the Bridge.

On my way.

No.

Analysis, Mr. Data.

Sensors are reading gravimetric fluctuations, Captain.

Most unusual ones.

Unusual in what way? Specify.

Nothing I have seen before.

Is it a worm-hole?

Yes and no.

Like a time displacement, but it does not have a discernible event horizon.

Sir, navigational subsystems are unable to give coordinates on the object.

Confirmed.

The phenomenon does not have a definable center or outer edge.

Are you saying it is, and yet it isn't there?

I do not have sufficient information to make an analysis as yet, Commander.

The dynamics of the radiation patterns...

WORF: Captain.

Something's happening.

A new change in sensor readings.

Mr. Data?

Scanning sensors.

Lieutenant, what are their sensor readings?

Is that an enemy vessel?

I'm getting too much interference, Captain.

MAN ( over loudspeaker ): Now hear this:

Fleet formation briefing in Main War Room at 1500 hours.

Dr. Joshua Kim, report to Station Ops.

Ensign Thomas, will you report to Combat Information Center?

Ensign Thomas to CIC.

This isn't right.

It's changed.

It's clearing now, Captain.

Definitely a Federation starship.

Accessing registry.

Looks like they had a rough ride.

NCC-1701... C.

USS... Enterprise.

PICARD: Space, the final frontier.

These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise.

Its continuing mission--

to explore strange new worlds...

to seek out new life and new civilizations...

to boldly go where no one has gone before.

♪♪

PICARD: Military Log, Combat-Date 43625.2

While investigating an unusual radiation anomaly,

the Enterprise has encountered what could almost be called

a ghost from its own past--

the Enterprise-C,

the immediate predecessor to this battleship.

Sensors confirm design and specifications, Captain.

Analysis of hull and engine materials conform to engineering patterns and methods of that time period.

But that cruiser was destroyed with all hands over 20 years ago.

Presumed destroyed.

The Enterprise-C was last seen near the Klingon outpost Narendra III exactly 22 years, three months, and four days ago.

RIKER: And now they're here.

PICARD: Has it been adrift for all those years?

Or has it traveled through time?

It is a possibility, Captain.

If that hypothesis is correct, the phenomenon we have just encountered would be a temporal rift in space.

A rift?

Possibly the formation of a Kerr loop from superstring material.

It would require high-energy interaction in the vicinity for such a structure to be formed.

The rift is certainly not stable, Captain.

It could collapse at any time.

YAR: Captain, I'm able to scan the interior of the ship now, sir.

Heavy damage to warp field nacelles and hull-bearing struts, internal space frame is...

Life-signs, Captain.

Readings are sporadic.

It looks like they have massive casualties, but some are still alive.

Bridge to Sick Bay. Emergency teams, stand by transporter rooms.

CRUSHER: Understood.

Belay that order, Doctor.

Respectfully, if I may suggest, regardless of where they came from, they are here now, and they need our help.

Commander, if that ship has traveled into the future, we could be dealing with variables that will alter the flow of our history.

( warbling beeps )

Enterprise-C is sending out a distress call, sir.

Audio only.

Uh-huh.

This is Captain Garrett of the Starship Enterprise to any Federation ship.

We have been attacked by Romulan warships and require immediate assistance.

We have lost warp drive, life-support is failing.

RIKER: There's no record of the Romulans ever assaulting the Enterprise-C.

Voice message has ended, Captain.

I'm only receiving their automated distress signal now.

Open a hailing frequency.

This is Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Federation... of a Federation starship.

Stand by to receive emergency teams.

Commander, we will handle this one step at a time.

Stabilize their power systems.

Attend to their injured.

And avoid all discussions of where and when they are.

Aye, sir.

Lieutenant.

Captain, message coming in from Starfleet Monitor Stations.

Klingon battle cruisers headed toward this sector.

Battle Alert, Mr. Crusher. Condition Yellow.

Aye, sir.

♪♪

Captain Garrett?

Yes.

I'm Commander William Riker.

Our emergency teams are on board your ship.

Doctor.

The rest of the Bridge crew is dead.

She has a bad fracture and serious internal injuries.

I'm going to have to get her back to the Enterprise.

To where?

We'll explain that later.

You'll explain now, Commander.

We're from a Federation starship.

We answered your distress call.

Your ship is in good hands, but we need to get you to our Sick Bay.

Very well.

Crusher to Transporter Room.

Two to beam directly to Sick Bay.

CREWMAN: Stand by for transport.

( scanner beeping )

It's pretty bad, Commander.

Looks like they were in a hell of a fight.

If you can't stabilize the life-support, we're going to have to evacuate this ship.

No, I think I can do it.

I'll have to get to Engineering though.

La Forge to Damage Control Team Alpha.

Meet me on Engineering level three.

Commander...

( coughing )

( panting and coughing )

Thanks.

Commander William Riker.

Lieutenant Castillo. Helmsman.

( panting )

DATA: Away team reporting in, Captain.

On screen.

Go ahead, Commander.

RIKER: We've stabilized life-support.

Mr. La Forge is working on restoring the main power couplings, but that'll take time.

It's a real mess down here, sir.

Survivors?

One hundred twenty-five.

Recommendations?

I'd hate to have to scrap her.

Starfleet could certainly use another ship, even if she is old.

Agreed, but we can't stay in this area too long.

You have nine hours.

If you can get her underway by then, we'll escort her to Starbase 105.

If not, we'll evacuate the survivors and destroy the ship.

Understood, sir.

Keep me posted.

Picard out.

PICARD: Guinan?

We need to talk.

Somehow this... this is all wrong.

This is not the way it's supposed to be.

But you must have some idea how things have changed.

I look at things, I look at people and... they just don't feel right.

What things, what people?

You.

Your uniform, the Bridge.

What's the matter with the Bridge?

It's not right. It's the same Bridge.

Nothing has changed.

I know that.

I also know it's wrong.

( sighs )

What else?

Families.

There should be children on this ship.

What?!

Children on the Enterprise?

Guinan, we're at war.

No, we're not.

At least, we're not supposed to be.

This is not a ship of war.

This is a ship of peace.

What you're suggesting...

I'm not suggesting.

That ship from the past is not supposed to be here.

It's got to go back.

MAN: Get a radiation level.

( patient coughing )

CRUSHER: Run a full electrolyte report.

MAN: These organs do seem to be active.

MAN 2: Right.

Need a new control specimen.

CRUSHER: Boost the level of tricordrazine.

Try to relax.

WOMAN ( over loudspeaker ): Dr. Salar, report to Null-G ward, STAT.

Dr. Salar, report to Null-G ward, STAT.

I'm Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

Rachel Garrett.

How's my ship?

The support systems are being restored.

We're continuing repairs.

Where did you come from?

We weren't picking up any other Federation ships in this sector.

What's the last thing you remember?

We were answering the distress signal.

Distress signal?

You must have heard it.

From the Klingon outpost, Narendra III.

But you didn't, did you?

This Sick Bay, I've never seen anything like it even on a Starbase.

And your uniforms.

What ship is this, Captain?

Please try to be still.

GARRETT: I must insist.

What ship?

( sighs )

You're aboard the Enterprise, Captain.

1701-D.

You have come 22 years into the future.

22 years?

Does my crew know yet?

No.

I must tell them. I owe them that.

If you wish, I can see that they're informed.

Is there some reason they should not be told?

I am concerned that if you return to your own time with knowledge of the future...

Return to the battle?

We barely escaped with our lives.

If we returned, we'd be destroyed.

Have you any idea how this happened?

There was a... fierce volley of photon torpedoes.

We were hit.

A bright light, and then here.

It is possible that this exchange of fire was the catalyst for the formation of a temporal rift.

History has no record of your battle with the Romulans.

We were responding to a distress call from the Klingon outpost on Narendra III.

The Romulans were attacking it.

We engaged them, but there were four warbirds.

The Narendra III outpost was destroyed.

It is regrettable that you did not succeed.

A Federation starship rescuing a Klingon outpost might have averted 20 years of war.

I still can't quite make myself believe it.

22 years.

I'm reading 40 percent on forward shields.

What do you have on aft?

40 percent.

That won't cut it.

Commander, advise Lieutenant La Forge that shields are below minimum.

Acknowledged.

We'll never see our homes again, our families.

How do you know your family's not still alive?

You're right, I don't.

But imagine coming home after 22 years.

Would I even recognize them?

What are the stats on the main phaser banks?

Emitters available, 60% forward, 52% aft.

Good. Let's take a look at the torpedo launchers.

I guess I'm lucky to be alive at all.

You may not like the future.

It's been a long war.

The Federation has lost more than half of Starfleet to the Klingons.

We were negotiating a peace treaty when I left.

A lot of changes, Lieutenant.

A lot of changes.

When we get a break, maybe you could fill me in on some of them.

Photon banks are depleted.

Auxiliary fusion generators are down.

There is a high degree of probability that the temporal rift is symmetrical, Captain.

PICARD: Then what would happen if the Enterprise-C were to fly back through it?

Back, sir?

The Enterprise-C would emerge in her own time at almost the same instant she left.

Right in the middle of the battle with the Romulans.

Yes, sir.

Is there any possibility she could survive?

None, sir.

Then sending them back would be a death sentence.

♪♪

WOMAN ( on loudspeaker ): Lieutenant Barren...

She was the first Galaxy-class warship built by the Federation.

42 decks.

Capable of transporting over 6,000 troops.

How long have you been on board?

Four years.

Straight out of the academy.

I was lucky to get the Enterprise.

Yeah, me, too.

I mean, my Enterprise.

WOMAN ( on loudspeaker): Triage Team Two to Main Shuttle Bay.

Triage Team Two...

( indistinct conversation )

Lieutenant, how's the ship?

We've restored minimal shields and the forward phaser banks.

Still no photon launchers or warp drive.

Concentrate on the weapon system.

From what Captain Picard told me, the Federation can use all the help it can get.

YAR: And soon.

Our sensors have picked up Klingon warships in this sector, Captain.

Why wasn't I informed, Mr. Castillo?

Captain, you shouldn't...

As senior officer, I want you to be my liaison to the Enterprise-D.

Coordinate with tactical.

YAR: That's me, Captain.

Where do you think you're going?

I am resuming my duties, Doctor.

Captain, you need at least another 24 hours.

Nonsense, doctors always overprotect their patients.

And Captains always push themselves too hard.

Doctor, my ship and my crew need me now.

24 hours might as well be 24 years.

( door opens )

I need more.

There is no more.

I wish there were.

I wish I could prove it, but I can't.

Then I can't ask them to go back.

You've got to.

Guinan, they will die moments after they return.

How can I ask them to sacrifice themselves based solely on your intuition?

I don't know.

But I do know that this is a mistake.

Every fiber in my being says this is a mistake.

I can't explain it to myself, so I can't explain it to you.

I only know that I'm right.

Who is to say that this history is any less proper than the other?

I suppose I am.

Not good enough, damn it, not good enough!

I will not ask them to die!

40 billion people have already died.

This war is not supposed to be happening.

You've got to send those people back to correct this.

And what is to guarantee that if they go back, they will succeed?

Every instinct is telling me this is wrong, it is dangerous, it is futile!

We've known each other a long time.

You have never known me to impose myself on anyone or take a stance based on trivial or whimsical perceptions.

This timeline must not be allowed to continue.

Now, I've told you what you must do.

You have only your trust in me to help you decide to do it.

( door closes )

I mean, deflector shield technology has advanced considerably during the war.

Our heat-dissipation rates are probably double those of the Enterprise-C.

Which means we can hang in a firefight a lot longer.

Guinan?

Have you ordered yet, Tasha?

No, not yet.

Is anything wrong?

Not a thing.

What can I get for you?

Just a couple of T-K-Ls.

We're in a hurry.

Oh, this is Lieutenant Castillo.

Mm.

First time for everything.

First time?

It's just that I've never seen anything bother her before.

What's a T-K-L?

Standard rations.

Food replicators are on minimum power so everything else is diverted to the defensive systems.

So where was I?

You've told me more about tactical in an hour than I learned in my last year at the academy.

You're going to need it, Lieutenant.

Hey...

I've known you a whole day now, Lieutenant.

I won't salute if you won't.

What did she call you-- Tasha?

Yeah.

Most everyone calls me Castillo.

My mother calls me Richard.

Okay, Castillo.

No, I think maybe I'd like it better if you called me Richard.

Richard.

PICARD: This is the Captain.

Senior officers will report to my ready room immediately.

So much for lunch.

Captain, are you suggesting that we let them return and attempt to complete their mission?

I am, Doctor.

Based on Guinan's intuition?

That won't accomplish anything, sir.

There's no way they can save Narendra III.

Captain Garrett said there were four Romulan warbirds.

The Enterprise-C would be outmanned and outgunned.

Unless we were to re-arm them with modern... PICARD: We can't do that.

If we send that ship back with new technology, we'll be altering the past.

RIKER: But that's what you're talking about anyway, isn't it-- altering the past?

We're talking about restoring the past.

But how could Guinan know that history's been altered if she's been altered along with the rest of us?

Perhaps her species has a perception that goes beyond linear time.

PICARD: There are many things about her species we can't easily explain.

Yet, it is very possible that she is correct.

A ship from the past has traveled through time.

How can we know what effect those events will have on the present?

Indeed, we shall never know for certain if Guinan is correct, but I have decided the consequences of that possibility are too grave to ignore.

Dismissed.

RIKER: Sir, if you'd like my opinion...

I think I'm aware of your opinion, Commander.

This is a briefing.

I'm not seeking your consent.

With all due respect, sir you'd be asking 125 people to die a meaningless death.

DATA: Not necessarily meaningless, Commander.

The Klingons regard honor above all else.

If the crew of the Enterprise-C had died fighting for the survival of a Klingon outpost, it would be considered a meaningful act of honor by the Klingon Empire.

Even their deaths could have prevented this war.

If the Enterprise-C returns to the battle and its mission is a success, history will be irrevocably changed.

This timeline will cease to exist, and a new future will have been created.

I've considered the alternatives.

I'll go with Guinan's recommendation.

Dismissed.

If she's right, we may not even be in an alternate timeline.

Who knows if we're even dead or alive?

Engineering.

Is Engineering your destination as well?

What?

Oh, deck six.

Sorry.

( lift whirring )

If I interpret your facial expressions correctly, you are preoccupied with something unpleasant.

No, I...

I was just thinking... about a lot of things.

( sighs )

I've-I've been working with one of the officers on the Enterprise-C.

You know, he's-he's nice.

I like him.

I'm worried about what's going to happen to him.

We may never know what happens.

If they succeed, we will not even realize that these events occurred.

Shields are up to 72%.

That's better. Good.

GARRETT: Do you believe this Guinan?

I discovered long ago that she has a special wisdom.

I've learned to trust it.

I could arrange for you to speak with her, if you wish.

Captain, I would be lying to you if I told you there was a chance in hell of coming out of this alive.

Why doesn't your ship come back with us?

The Romulans would be no match for your weaponry.

I can't do that.

No, I suppose not.

You don't belong in our time any more than we belong in yours.

To be honest with you, Picard... a significant number of my crew members have expressed the desire to return, even knowing the odds.

Some, because they can't bear to live without their loved ones... some, because they don't like the idea of slipping out in the middle of a fight.

But I have told them that, in the here and now, the Federation needs another ship against the Klingons... and we'd better get used to being in the here and now.

But, if you go back, it could be a great deal more helpful.

( crew members conversing quietly )

The war is going very badly for the Federation.

Far worse than is generally known.

Starfleet Command believes that defeat is inevitable.

Within six months, we may have no choice but to surrender.

And you're saying that all this may be a result of our arrival here?

One more ship will make no difference in the here and now, but, 22 years ago, one ship could have stopped this war before it started.

Mr. Castillo.

CASTILLO: Yes, Captain.

Inform the crew we're going back.

Yes, Captain.

The Romulans will get a good fight.

We'll make it one for the history books.

I know you will, Captain.

Lieutenant Yar.

Permission to remain a moment, sir.

Granted.

GARRETT: Transporter room,

Captain Picard is ready to return to his ship.

CREWMAN: Aye, Captain.

I just wanted to say good luck.

I'll try to put some of your tactical briefing to good use when we get back.

Your ship has much more maneuverability than the Romulan counterparts of that era.

Actually, if you could just isolate...

You'll do fine.

If you get back to Earth and you see a man... say, in his late 50s, taking a hard, long look across a crowded room...

Hey, you never know.

Good-bye, Lieutenant.

(explosion) Whoa!

GARRETT: Red Alert. Full power to shields.

Shields are up.

Functioning.

Initiating evasive maneuvers, Gamma sequence.

Ready phasers.

Enterprise-D, has your Captain returned safely?

RIKER: Acknowledged.

Captain Picard is safely aboard.

Fire phasers.

DATA: Firing phasers.

( sound of phaser blips )

Report.

One Klingon bird-of-prey off the starboard bow.

Firing phasers.

Load torpedo bays.

( shouts )

( alarm blaring )

The Klingon vessel has re-cloaked, sir.

I have no readings.

Captain Garrett, damage report.

PICARD: Captain Garrett?!

This is Lieutenant Yar, sir.

Captain Garrett is dead.

I'm prepared to lead the Enterprise back myself,

Captain Picard.

Sir, Lieutenant Castillo is the last surviving senior officer.

He will have limited support from ops, no tactical, reduced staff in Engineering...

I have good people willing to do their best.

Certainly, history never meant for this ship to go into battle without her Captain.

I can't speak to that point, sir, but I can get us back to where we're supposed to be.

I believe that's what Captain Garrett would want me to do.

DATA: Commander Data to Captain Picard.

Go ahead.

Sir, sensors are showing additional instability in the time rift, possibly the result of the battle with the Klingons.

Any signs of other Klingon vessels?

No, sir.

Our coordinates have been transmitted to the Klingon Command, sir.

We mustn't remain here.

CASTILLO: Sir, it is my intention to return, unless you order me not to.

How soon can your ship be ready?

We sustained moderate damage in the attack.

I think we can get underway in a few hours.

Make it so. We'll give you cover.

MAN: ...meet him down in the docking area on the double.

One to beam to the Enterprise-C.

We keep saying good-bye, don't we?

I wish we had more time.

More time?

I think we have all the time we can handle as it is.

Lieutenant.

( door opens and closes )

Can I get you something, Tasha?

Guinan, I have to know something.

What happens to me in the other timeline?

I don't have alternate biographies of the crew.

As I said to the Captain, it's just a feeling.

But there's something more when you look at me, isn't there?

I can see it in your eyes, Guinan.

We've known each other too long.

We weren't meant to know each other at all.

At least, that's what I sense when I look at you.

Tasha, you're not supposed to be here.

Where am I supposed to be?

Dead.

Do you know how?

No.

But I do know it was an empty death-- a death without purpose.

( door chime )

PICARD: Come.

Yes, Lieutenant?

Captain, I request a transfer to the Enterprise-C.

For what reason?

They need someone at tactical.

We need you here.

I'm not supposed to be here, sir.

Sit down, Lieutenant.

What did she say to you?

I don't belong here, sir.

I'm, I'm... supposed to be dead.

She felt it necessary to reveal that to you?

I felt it was necessary.

I see.

You realize that it is very possible the Enterprise-C will fail.

We will continue in this timeline.

In which case, your life, hopefully, will continue for a long while.

I know how important it is that they don't fail, Captain.

That's why I'm requesting this transfer.

You don't belong on that ship, Lieutenant.

No, Captain Garrett belongs on that ship, but she's dead.

And I think there's a certain logic in this request.

There's no logic in this at all!

Whether they succeed or not...

...the Enterprise-C will be destroyed.

But, Captain, at least with someone at tactical, they will have a chance to defend themselves well.

It may be a matter of seconds or minutes, but those could be the minutes that change history.

Guinan says I died a senseless death in the other timeline.

I didn't like the sound of that, Captain.

I've always known the risks that come with a Starfleet uniform.

If I'm to die in one...

I'd like my death to count for something.

Lieutenant...

Permission granted.

Thank you, sir.

I'm showing phaser banks up to 70% efficiency.

We've got an hour left.

Let's see if we can get them up to 90.

MAN: Aye, sir.

Parker, you've got Ops.

Fredericks, take the conn.

I'll handle tactical.

Lieutenant Tasha Yar reporting for duty, sir.

You're not part of my crew. I am now.

Captain Picard approved my request for transfer.

This isn't a joke, Tasha.

We're going back into the rift, into battle.

We're not coming back.

I know the mission.

These are my orders, Lieutenant.

But I don't want you here.

You need me here.

Show me someone in your crew who can do the job better than I can.

Welcome aboard.

Take your station, Lieutenant.

Aye, sir.

PICARD: Military Log, supplemental.

Lieutenant Tasha Yar has transferred

to the Enterprise-C,

where she has taken over tactical duties.

Meanwhile, our long-range scanners

have picked up Klingon battle cruisers

on an intercept course.

Number and type of ships, Mr. Crusher?

Three K'vort-class battle cruisers, sir.

They're not even troubling to cloak themselves.

They shouldn't be so confident after the pasting we gave them on Archer IV.

( bosun's whistle blows )

Attention, all hands.

As you know, we could outrun the Klingon vessels, but we must protect the Enterprise-C until she enters the temporal rift, and we must succeed.

Let's make sure that history never forgets the name... Enterprise.

Picard out.

♪♪

PICARD: Mr. Data?

Shields are holding, sir.

Hold fire.

Mr. Crusher, come about to course 1-4-8-0-0-3.

Aye, sir.

Photon torpedoes ready.

Dispersal pattern: Sierra.

And fire.

One enemy target hit, sir.

Moderate damage to their forward shields.

( explosion )

Our shields are still holding.

Minor damage to secondary hull.

Course 148...

Correction.

Course 170, mark 014.

Sir, one of the ships is breaking off and going toward the Enterprise-C.

Mr. Crusher, keep us within 200 kilometers of the Enterprise-C.

Coming to 217 mark 115.

Increasing to two-thirds impulse.

Damage control teams, deck 14.

Engineering to Bridge, starboard power coupling is down.

Containment field generator three is damaged.

Attempting to bypass.

If we lose antimatter containment...

Acknowledged, La Forge.

Sir, the Klingons are flanking us, attempting to draw us away from the Enterprise-C.

Hold course, Mr. Crusher.

Continual fire, all phasers.

One enemy target destroyed, sir.

( yells )

Damage report.

Heavy casualties in the secondary hull.

Navigational sensor array inoperative.

( alarm blaring )

( overlapping shouting )

Antimatter containment fields are failing.

If I can't stabilize them,

I'll have to dump the reactor core or she'll blow!

Shields buckling, Captain.

They will not...

La Forge to Bridge.

I can't hold the antimatter containment fields.

Initiating emergency shutdown.

( alarm sounding )

Coolant leak.

Bridge, we've got a coolant leak in the engine core, I can't shut it down.

I estimate two minutes to a warp core breach!

Come on, get out!

Go, go, go, go, go!

How long before the Enterprise-C enters the rift?

52 seconds, sir.

All remaining power to the defense systems.

Power couplings severed in forward phaser banks.

Attempting to bypass.

Controls not responding.

( Riker screams )

KLINGON: Federation Ship Enterprise, surrender and prepare to be boarded.

That will be the day.

( alarm whooping )

( explosion )

Report, Lieutenant.

Readings fluctuated momentarily.

It appeared to be a ship, but then it vanished.

The phenomenon is closing in on itself, Captain.

Very well.

Prepare a Class-1 sensor probe.

We'll leave it behind to monitor the final closure.

Mr. Crusher, lay in a course for Archer IV.

Captain, this is Guinan.

Is everything all right up there?

Guinan?

Yes, everything's fine.

Is something wrong?

No... no, everything's fine.

Sorry to bother you.

Geordi, tell me about...

Tasha Yar.

♪♪