Badly damaged and in need of a major overhaul, the USS Highlander limps into McKinley Station, orbiting planet Earth. Awaiting the crew, is the news that the war with the Dominion has ended and the Federation, although the ' Victor ' is attempting to rebuild it's self.

With time available, each of the crew takes the opportunity to experience some long deserved rest and relaxation. Or is it. Captain Connare James and his wife Second Officer / CMO Inez James return to Connare's family home in the Scottish Highlander, Commanders Crusher and James, along with Lt. Stewart and K'leg venture off on a hiking vacation, whilst Lt. Lang returns to a devistated Cardassian Homeworld to assist his people in rebuilding their lives.

Life returns to normal for many of the crew, as they reflect the previous couple of years and the losses from the Dominion War. Attending a Starfleet function, the crew take the opportunity to catch up with some old friends, until an Academy Quad mate of Commander Crusher's informs the Captain and Starfleet Brass of his Homeworld's demise. With a lack of available ships on hand, the Highlander's refit is cut short, and the crew find themselves racing against time to rescue the entire population of a planet experiencing massive earthquakes.