Captain’s log, Stardate 50298.7 ~ The Missouri is at Starbase 452 for a layover taking on crew replacements and supplies for the mining colony on Beta Corelly IV. The crew is enjoying shoreleave on the station or like myself spending time on the holodeck.

In the holodeck, there is a program running. It is a 20th century warehouse, rundown, cluttered. You can hear the clash of swords in the warehouse, out of sight. There are two men fighting with swords. One of the men a muscular giant dressed only in leather with safety pins piercing a scar that went from ear to ear. The other man, smaller, faster, was more adept at handling a sword. The vicious dance continued for sometime. Each man getting the upper hand. A pare here a slash there, the clash of metal throwing off sparks. Finally the bigger man appeared to be in a position to deliver the final deadly blow.

“You can not beat me MacDermott, THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE.” gloated a man called only the Kurgan holding a broadsword above the head of his opponent.

“Your overconfidence will destroy you, Kurgan.” Duncan MacDerrmott said as he spun out from under the Kurgan and brought his Katana up and severed the Kurgan’s head from his shoulders as easily as cutting butter. “There can be only one” MacDermott said quietly, leaning on his sword breathing heavily. After a few moments MacDermott said, “Computer End Program.” The familiar black and yellow walls of the holodeck surrounded him again. “How did this happen?” he said out loud as he noticed the blood on his shirt. “I guess I forgot to set the holodeck safeties.” he thought. “Captain MacDermott to Sickbay”

“Sickbay, Dr. Meyer here, What can I do for you Capt.?”, the voice of Dr. Arianna Meyer said over the communicator.

“Doctor, I seem to have had a little accident. I was wondering if you had time could I stop by?”, the captain said boyishly.

“Surely Sir”, the doctor said.

Duncan left the holodeck with his Katana tucked under his coat as not to attract too much attention. He entered sickbay, the Dr. told him to get up on the exam table and after examining the wound, said flatly “Forgot to turn the Holodeck safeties on again didn’t you?”

“Ah yes” the captain said embarrassed by the whole situation.

“What is that program about, Capt.?”, the doctor inquired.

“It’s based on a legend I heard from my Grandfather when I was just a boy. In our village on the shores of Loch Scheel there were a number of clans. The MacDermotts, the MacDougals and the Macleods. Legend has it that two of the Macleods were immortal. A mutation of the human race rendered these individuals immortal. The only way to kill one was through decapitation. These immortals fought for something called the Prize. The Prize was all encompassing knowledge. When you killed your opponent, you would get what was called a Quickening, and with it his power and knowledge. In the end there could be only one.”, the captain explained.

The doctor listened, “Sounds violent. How did these people know they were immortal?”, she was actually interested.

“Do you know Commander Worf on Deep Space 9. It’s no more violent or dangerous than his Klingon calisthenics. If the y were killed in a natural way. Not beheaded I mean. They would be healed and from that point on they wouldn’t age. The main character of the story was almost five hundred years old. They could also sense other immortals. Like a sixth sense or something. Wounds would heal at a highly accelerated rate. I have my Grandfather telling the legend on an ISO chip if you would care to view it.”, the Capt. offered.

The doctor then quickly repaired the wound with a dermal regenerator. Just as she was finishing up. The intercom squawked “Bridge to Capt., Incoming priority one message from Adm. Kelley. Please report to the bridge.”

Duncan said “Am I free to go Doc?”

Arianna said lightheartedly, “Yes Sir, Next time please remember if you want to play in the 20 century I may have to fix your wounds as if you were still there.” making a sewing motion with her hands.

“Yes Ma’am” , he said hiding his sarcasm leaving the sickbay for his quarters to put on a proper uniform be fore going to the bridge.

“Bridge”, he told the turbolift computer.

MacDermott bolted off the turbolift as the doors slid open. “XO, let’s have that message from our helmsman’s father.” Jared Kelley manning the helm console bowed his head in embarrassment. The view screen changed from the interior of Starbase 452 with many Starships docked there to a man in his mid 50’s sitting behind a desk.

“Duncan, good to see you again. How is my son doing?,(not noticing his son at the console), the admiral asked jovially.

“Fine sir, Your son is also doing a fine job”, he said patting Jared on the shoulder. “What can I do for you Admiral?, Duncan asked curiously.

“With your love of 20 century history I know you know of the Time Planet.” he said.

Duncan replied, “Yes sir, that’s the planet that contains the Guardian of Forever. It also has a Starfleet Science Station, the Keeler Station I believe, in orbit. What about it Sir?”

“We have received information from Starfleet Intelligence that a Maquis operative is going to use the Guardian to go back and change Earth’s history. I want the Missouri to beat him to the planet and stop him. If he does make it through the portal we don’t know what will happen to the timeline or us.” If you can’t stop him before he goes back, Starfleet and Temporal Investigations has authorized you to go back and make sure the timeline is preserved at all cost., the admiral said with the importance that the situation warranted.

“Sir, do we when will the Maquis will arrive at Keeler Station?” the XO asked.

“On Stardate 50302.4, Mr. Kern.” the admiral replied.

“Helmsman if we leave within the hour how long at maximum warp to reach Keeler Station?”, MacDermott asked allowing the helmsman to impress his father a little.

“We would arrive on stardate 50302.1”, Jared replied.

“That doesn’t give us a lot of time to get there and prepare a reception for them.” Duncan thought out loud. “Prepare for departure”, he ordered. “XO, recall all ship’s personnel”.

“Good Luck, Captain, Remember the timeline has to be preserved at all costs. Admiral Kelley out.”, the screen went back to the view of the station.

Kern’s voice was heard throughout the ship and the on communicators all over the station, “All Missouri personnel report to station immediately, we will be departing within the hour.”

Fifty seven minutes later the Missouri was ready to leave. “XO disconnect us from station power, and dock umbilicals, release mooring.”, the Capt. ordered. “Mr. Kelley, take us out, one quarter impulse.”

“Captain, Sir, Starfleet regulations specify thrusters only in space dock.”, Jared said tentatively.

“Mr. Kelley, The Captain, is well aware of regulations, just carry out your orders.”, the XO reprimanded.

“Aye Aye, Sir one quarter impulse.”

The computer voice said, “Recommended safe speed exceeded for inside of space dock.”

“Mr. Kelley, as soon as we are clear of Space dock. Set course for Keeler Station. Warp 9.” the Capt. ordered.

The Missouri exited the space dock and turned away from the station. As soon as they were clear of the gravity well of Beta Corelly IV. The Missouri moved from normal space to warp space.

“Warp 9 and holding, Sir,” the helmsman spoke.

“Very Good Lt.. Bridge to Engineering.”, the Duncan said.

Chief Engineer Connor O’Roarke answered, “Engineering here, Sir,”

“We have to get to the Time Planet in a hurry, Connor. Can you give us Warp 9.5 or better?”

“Captain, I can give you 9.6 but our crystals will need to be replaced. I’ll start the crystalline restructuring on a set of old crystals now.”

“Helm, Warp 9.6.”

“Aye Sir.”

The Missouri streaked through the endless night of space, toward a rendezvous with history....