 With Sisko in command of the
Defiant, the Federation fleet reaches the Dominion line of ships
standing between it and Deep Space Nine. Sisko orders his troops
to target only the Cardassian vessels, hoping to provoke them
into breaking formation. On the space station, Damar — Gul
Dukat's aide — is concerned that Kira, Jake, and Leeta might try
to sabotage their plans again, so Dukat orders them held for
questioning. The minefield that barricades the wormhole will be
destroyed in hours, allowing thousands of waiting Dominion ships
to invade the Alpha Quadrant and defeat the Federation.
Although Dukat catches on to Sisko's plan, he lets his enemy
through with hopes of toying with him later. Knowing it's a
trap, Sisko insists on staying his course. Meanwhile, Odo is
upset when he learns that Kira has been arrested.
The battle rages on, and the Defiant is the only ship to get
through the Dominion line, with the help of Worf's Klingon
reinforcements. On the station, Quark and Ziyal break out Rom,
Kira, Jake and Leeta from prison. As Odo joins forces with his
former comrades, Rom and Kira hurry to cut off power to the
weapons array which will detonate the minefield, but are too
late. Grimly, Sisko exercises his only remaining option and
takes the Defiant into the wormhole.
Inside the wormhole, the entire Dominion fleet — and certain
destruction — awaits the single ship. Suddenly, the wormhole
aliens communicate with Sisko — they do not want him to die.
Sisko pleads with them to save the Bajorans, who created an
entire religion around them. He is then abruptly returned to the
Defiant, but the enormous Dominion fleet still approaches.
Sisko gives the order to fire, but the ships are hit with a
series of energy jolts and mysteriously disappear. Dukat is
shocked when the Defiant emerges from the wormhole — alone. As
Sisko opens fire in the station, Damar learns 200 more
Federation ships are headed their way. The Dominion troops are
all ordered to retreat to Cardassia, and Dukat asks his daughter
to accompany him, but Ziyal refuses. She reveals that she helped
Kira and the others escape from the holding cell, but she tells
Dukat that she loves him just before Damar kills her.
Devastated, Dukat remains — a shell of his former self — while
the others evacuate and Sisko and the crew joyfully return home,
achieving a major victory in the ongoing war.
See Also: Image Captures |
