Stardate not given: The Federation Alliance decides to launch a major offensive against the Dominion and to invade Cardassian space, beginning with the Chin'toka system. Sisko receives a warning from the Prophets to stay on the station, but he decides in favor of his duty as a Starfleet officer. He puts Dax in charge of Deep Space 9. The Chin'toka system is protected by a series of orbital weapon platforms which become active amidst the battle. The Alliance gains the upper hand when the weapon platforms can be tricked in firing on their own power generator. Meanwhile on the station, Dukat, now possessed by a Pah-wraith, appears in the Bajoran shrine where he disables the Orb and lethally injures Jadzia Dax. Dr. Bashir can save the Dax symbiont, but not the Jadzia host. The Bajoran wormhole closes, and all Orbs go dark, indicating that the Prophets have left Bajor. Sisko is shattered and takes an indefinite leave, returning to New Orleans on Earth.

• E25 Previous