Stardate 41309.5: Karnas, the ruler of Mordan IV, asks for the 85-year-old Admiral Jameson to negotiate the release of hostages on his planet, who were allegedly taken by enemies of the government. When Jameson is beamed aboard together with his wife, the ailing man is sitting in a wheelchair. But he has secretly taken a high dose of a drug that quickly rejuvenates his body. Jameson already visited Mordan IV 45 years ago and was successful when no one else but Karnas had taken hostages. But he reveals to Picard that he accomplished their release only by supplying weapons to Karnas, weapons that he also gave to his enemies, thereby triggering a civil war of 40 years. Jameson wants to redeem himself and take the hostages by force this time, without giving Karnas what he wants. But the mission fails as the away team led by him runs into a trap. Picard beams down again with the young Jameson, trying to talk to Karnas. Karnas first doesn't believe that the young man is the one he knew, but when the admiral eventually dies because of the side effects of the drug, his thirst for revenge is satisfied and he releases the hostages.

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