Stardate not given: In an attempt to boost the morale of the Federation, Sisko devises a plan to retake Deep Space 9. On the station, Rom is about to be executed, while Odo continues to link with the female shapeshifter. Quark learns that the minefield would come down within a week, and Jake secretly informs his father of the aggravated situation. Sisko decides to attack earlier, even though his fleet is outgunned against the Dominion. When the battle begins, Sisko orders his ships to focus their attacks on the Cardassians, in the hope they would leave gaps in the frontline. But only with the help of Klingon reinforcements the alliance can turn the tables, and the Defiant makes a run for Deep Space 9. Quark and Ziyal free Rom from prison. Odo rejoins the resistance group, but they are too late to prevent the minefield from detonating, with thousands of Dominion vessels waiting on the far side of the wormhole. Sisko summons the Defiant into the wormhole where the ship would meet certain destruction - but the Prophets interfere. Sisko convinces them to protect Bajor against the invasion, and the Dominion fleet vanishes. The Dominion has to abandon the station and retreats to Cardassia. Damar kills Ziyal before the eyes of her father, leaving Dukat on the station as a shadow of his former self.

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