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Preparing for possible invasion by
the Jem'Hadar, the soldiers of the Dominion, Kira determines
that Deep Space Nine lacks the firepower to defend itself —
until Sisko arrives in an experimental vessel called the
Defiant, a warship originally designed to fight the Borg. His
plan is to travel with his officers into the Gamma Quadrant and
locate the "Founders," the unseen leaders of the Dominion, with
the purpose of demonstrating the Federation's peaceful intent.
If this is impossible, the presence of the Defiant with all of
its weaponry will show Sisko's determination to defend against
an invasion. Along for the mission is T'Rul, a Romulan with a
cloaking device, which will render the Defiant invisible from
the Jem'Hadar during the search. Guarding the device is Lt.
Commander Eddington of Starfleet Security, who has been ordered
to assume Odo's duties. Realizing he is being relieved, an angry
Odo resigns.
Meanwhile, Sisko coerces Quark
into joining the mission because of his past dealings with the
Karemma, a race that lives under Dominion rule. Odo also comes
aboard the Defiant at the request of the Bajoran government, but
shows to be more edgy than normal. After entering the Gamma
Quadrant, T'Rul engages the cloaking device, allowing the
Defiant to barely escape detection from two Jem'Hadar ships.
Ornithar, a Karemma official, is brought aboard the Defiant and
reveals to Quark and Sisko that a race called the Vorta has
ordered all communications for the Dominion directed to a relay
station on Callinon VII. Odo's curiosity draws him strangely
toward starcharts of the sector, specifically those of the
Omarion Nebula. Quark then disembarks while the Defiant heads
for the Callinon system. Once there, Dax and O'Brien transport
to the unmanned facility. But just as Dax notices that most of
the outgoing transmissions are being sent to specific
coordinates, her communications to Sisko are cut off. With
Jem'Hadar ships on the way, he reluctantly leaves the two behind
and orders a course set for the coordinates.
Kira confronts Odo in his quarters to discuss his odd behavior.
He confides to her about feeling a mysterious compulsion to
travel to the Omarion Nebula — and is convinced that he must go
there immediately. Kira tries to make sense of this, but they
are interrupted when the Defiant is attacked by three Jem'Hadar
vessels.
The Defiant is pummeled by the onslaught, and is boarded by
Jem'Hadar soldiers, who overwhelm the bridge crew. Kira and Odo
defend themselves, but Kira is shot and falls unconscious. She
awakens aboard a shuttlecraft with Odo, who has left the Defiant
dead in space. His course — for the Omarion Nebula ...
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