"Is it just me, or do these old uniforms really itch?"
Julie Kramer was standing in front of a mirror, admiring herself in the century-out-of-date scarlet uniforms universally known throughout Starfleet as the "flip-tops". The bar on her right shoulder indicated a rank of Lieutenant.
"It's just you," Josh replied absently, pulling on his own jacket.
They were in a small guest quarters on the planet Khitomer, where the original Federation-Klingon détente had been signed nearly a century ago. It was the day of the peace conference, several hours before it was to convene.
Using T'Katha's tricorder they had been able to step through the Guardian and arrive here just before the peace conference was to occur. Security at the conference was extremely tight, but T'Katha had all of her family's knowledge of the conference.
It was therefore a simple matter to manufacture three false identities in the local computer database. According to all available records, they were three mid-ranking Starfleet officers assigned to the gathering as diplomatic liaisons. Thus they would have no problems being admitted into the conference.
Josh had been concerned about altering the databank with false identities, since that act in itself represented a minor change in the timeline. In the end, however, there was no other way to gain access to the conference. If Kalor and his cronies weren't stopped, Josh reasoned, there wouldn't be a timeline worth fussing over.
At the moment, they were getting into their uniforms from the period. Kramer had spent the last half-hour complaining that they were too hot and itchy, but Josh wasn't really paying attention to her. His mind was on the peace conference.
Momentous events were to happen here today. Here, the Federation and the Klingons would come together to try and put aside fear and mistrust, to discuss an end to seven decades of open warfare that the Klingons could no longer afford.
Here, reactionary individuals on both sides would conspire to destroy the peace process. A Starfleet officer, Colonel West, disguised as a Klingon, would attempt to assassinate the Federation President, the Klingon High Chancellor and anyone else who stood in the way.
But, at least in the original timeline, Captain Kirk and his crew prevented the assassinations. Kirk would save the President, while Montgomery Scott would dispatch Colonel West. Captain Sulu of the Excelsior, formerly one of Kirk's bridge officers, would arrest Starfleet Admiral Cartwright, another of the conspirators.
Kalor had somehow interfered with that timeline, allowing the assassinations to occur. Ironically, both the Federation and the Klingon Empire had been victimized by Kalor's foolish attempt to interfere with the timeline. It had to be set straight.
Josh's plan was to have Julie and T'Katha on the conference floor, to be on the lookout for anyone who might try and interfere with Kirk's saving the President. Josh had a feeling Kalor would reserve this task for himself, since any Klingon warrior worth his salt would be eager to try and kill the infamous Captain Kirk.
Josh himself would be positioned on the second floor of the conference room, overlooking the main chamber. Colonel West would position himself in an alcove up here, out of sight and with a good view of the floor below. Josh's assignment would be to make sure that nothing stopped Montgomery Scott from dealing with the renegade Starfleet officer turned assassin.
T'Katha had been dressing in the other room and now came out to address Josh. He had to admit that she looked resplendent in the old Starfleet uniform. Taking a deep breath, he forced his mind onto the matter at hand.
"It is time," she said simply.
"All right. Is everyone clear on the plan?" he asked. It was a rhetorical question, and he didn't really expect an answer. "Doctor," he continued, "it's vital that if Kalor or his associates are on the floor, that you locate and neutralize them. Are you sure you're going to be able to do so?"
Julie held up a hypospray. "Neutralizing them won't be so hard, sir. There's enough sedative in this to knock out a rhinoceros. Finding them is going to be the tough part. I mean, there's going to be so many people in the room, and I'm only empathic, not telepathic. I'll try to concentrate on feelings of extreme hostility, but that's no guarantee. I mean, we're going to be in a room filled with people who've been at war for seventy years. There's going to be plenty of background hostility, if you get my meaning, sir."
Josh nodded. "I know. That's why I've got two of you down on the floor. Hopefully that way if one of you can't stop Kalor in time, the other can."
"Assuming Kalor is even on the conference floor," T'Katha reminded him.
"There are no guarantees," Josh acknowledged. "But all we can do is our best. Everyone ready?"
T'Katha and Julie nodded.
"Then let's go witness some history," Josh said.