Post by magicmuggle01 on Apr 20, 2019 11:21:59 GMT
When a Klingon fleet under General Martok arrives at the station ostensibly to protect the Alpha Quadrant from the Dominion, Sisko recruits Lieutenant Commander Worf to discover the Klingons' true intentions. (Season premiere)
Summary
The Deep Space 9 crew hunts a Changeling through the station. Using wide-angle phaser sweep, Captain Benjamin Sisko and Major Kira Nerys chase the Changeling to the Promenade, where it suddenly resumes humanoid shape and grabs hold of Doctor Julian Bashir after emerging from the Promenade directory. It is Odo, and the chase was really just a surprise drill. Kira asks the computer how much time it took to catch Odo; three hours and twenty-seven minutes is the answer. "That's not good enough," Odo remarks, noting how any other Founder would have had a field day with the station in that length of time, culminating in Bashir's death. The staff is then dismissed with a warning to scan anything and everything next time, given the other Founders' increased proclivity for shapeshifting. Another random drill is scheduled, and an offer from Quark to take bets on how long the staff will take to catch Odo is rebuffed.
Sisko gives Kasidy Yates rare
Tholian silk
That night, when Kasidy Yates joins Sisko for a romantic dinner, she remarks that there have been some changes on Deep Space 9. Firstly, Sisko has shaved his head, of which Yates approves. Secondly, there has been a lot of "maintenance" done on the station lately. Sisko is secretive, but hints that the crew is preparing a few "surprises" in case the Dominion decides to attack the station. The recent revelation that Changelings have infiltrated the Alpha Quadrant has caused a large amount of unrest, and the Cardassians have responded by sealing their borders. The couple present each other with gifts – Sisko gives Kasidy a garment made from rare Tholian silk, while Kasidy returns the gesture by handing Sisko a Pike City Pioneers baseball cap from Cestus III.
Their dinner is interrupted when the new Klingon flagship, the IKS Negh'Var, decloaks at the station. Its commander, General Martok, requests shore leave at Deep Space 9. After Sisko agrees, the DS9 crew is amazed when an entire armada of Klingon ships decloak around the station.
Act One
In Quark's, the Ferengi bartender nervously opines with O'Brien and Bashir that the Klingons who have arrived are awfully quiet. When Martok meets with Captain Sisko and Major Kira, he immediately wants them to use his d'k tahg to cut their palms, proving that they bleed and therefore are not Changelings. When the Klingon is satisfied that Sisko and Kira are really who they appear to be, Martok proclaims that the Klingon fleet will remain in Bajoran space to counter the inevitable Dominion attack.
Drex
The crew resumes regular duties, despite the fact that DS9's complement now includes countless Klingons. Kira and Jadzia Dax visit the holosuite, which recreates the Hoobishan Baths on Trill. Kira is distracted away from the holograms and unimpressed with them, admitting that she has never had much of an imagination. Odo and Garak have a quiet breakfast at the Replimat, where a worried Garak reveals that, since the destruction of the Obsidian Order, he has heard rumors of civil uprisings on Cardassia. Their meal is interrupted when a group of Klingons accosts Morn on the Promenade. Odo breaks up the altercation, but the lead Klingon, Drex, levels threats at both Garak and Odo. Odo tells the group of Klingons to leave the Promenade or be thrown in a holding cell.
Drex and his thugs later ambush and beat Garak in his tailor shop.
Act Two
As Bashir repairs the Cardassian's broken bones, he states his surprise that Garak isn't pressing charges. Garak, in his usual manner, brushes off the beating but is wondering why Klingons have become so hostile to Cardassians.
Commander Kaybok
When Kasidy Yates' freighter, the Xhosa, sends out a distress call, Sisko and the crew of DS9 board the USS Defiant. After arriving at the Xhosa's coordinates, they discover that Commander Kaybok of the Klingon Bird-of-Prey IKS M'Char is searching all vessels exiting Bajoran space, including the Xhosa. When Sisko threatens Kaybok that the Defiant will open fire on the M'Char, the Klingon commander allows the Xhosa to break free of the M'Char's tractor beam.
Once the senior officers return to Deep Space 9, Martok meets with Sisko again in his office, slamming Kaybok's dagger into his desk. Kaybok has been executed as punishment for disobeying his orders. Sisko realizes that something must be done before the situation escalates out of control.
"Chief. It has been a long time."
Sisko notifies Starfleet Command of the situation and Starfleet consequently dispatches Lieutenant Commander Worf to the station. Upon his arrival, Chief O'Brien welcomes his old crewmate aboard. Quark, however, upon seeing Worf, remarks "Just what this station needs. Another Klingon."
Act Three
Worf immediately goes to see Captain Sisko to introduce himself and report for duty. When he meets the captain, Sisko offers condolences for the loss of the USS Enterprise-D in battle, calling it a good ship. Worf thanks Sisko for his condolences, but is clearly not willing to talk about it. Sisko takes note of the fact that Worf had been on extended leave. Worf tells Sisko he had been at the Klingon Monastery on Boreth for a time. Sisko apologizes for interrupting Worf's leave, but Worf tells Sisko his leave was almost over. When Sisko asks where Worf will likely be assigned next, Worf tells Sisko that he has been considering resigning from Starfleet. When asked why, Worf explains that living among Humans has never been easy for him but it has become even harder for him since the Enterprise was destroyed and he is no longer sure of his place in Starfleet anymore. Sisko tells Worf if he doesn't want the assignment then he'll understand, but Worf tells Sisko that until he decides one way or the other about resigning he is going to do his duty. With that, Sisko gives Worf his assignment: find out what the Klingons are up to. Before Worf leaves, Sisko cautions him that he too once considered resigning from Starfleet, and now knows that would have been the wrong choice. He urges the Klingon to consider his decision carefully and Worf promises the captain he will keep that in mind.
Worf and Martok meet
Worf ventures into Quark's, surprising the Ferengi by asking for prune juice over the traditional Klingon choice of blood wine. Chief O'Brien asks his old shipmate to join him and introduces him to Doctor Bashir and darts. Worf's first try at the sport ends up with him throwing the dart halfway through the board. Then Kira and Dax emerge from the holosuite, dressed in bright, colorful and extravagant medieval clothes arguing over the fact that Kira knocked out Sir Lancelot. Miles introduces Worf to the two, and while Kira is embarrassed and tries to explain the clothes, Dax is quite taken with him. Just then Drex starts to stir up trouble, so Worf decides it's the perfect time to make his first attempt at finding out what the Klingons are up to. He picks a fight with Drex and takes the warrior's d'k tahg. Drex's father, who happens to be General Martok, comes to Worf's quarters to demand the return of his son's "honor". There, Worf voices his disappointment in Martok for the general's dishonorable tactics of harassing personnel and ships, but Martok vows that it is all in the Alpha Quadrant's best interests.
Afterward, Worf vents his frustration on a tactical holosuite program. When Dax arrives, she challenges him to a battle with bat'leths. After a brief fight, Worf gains the upper hand and sweeps Dax off her feet. Dax rhetorically asks whether the simulation made Worf feel better. Worf is frustrated at the situation, noting that his contacts on the Klingon homeworld refuse to speak with him. Dax suggests that with so many Klingons on the station, surely one of them owes the House of Mogh a favor and might be willing to reveal the true reason they are there.
Huraga
Worf invites an old family friend, Klingon officer Huraga, for a drink. When they consume a large quantity of bloodwine and become drunk, Worf presses Huraga for information. Owing Worf's father, Mogh, as Mogh had saved Huraga's House during their feud with the House of Duras, Huraga tells Worf all about the "glorious battle" that awaits them ahead.
What Worf learns disturbs him, so much that he hesitates to tell Sisko. Odo argues with Worf on the Promenade, and tells the Klingon that it is his duty to inform Sisko.
Martok in DS9's wardroom
Worf decides to tell Sisko the ominous truth – the Klingons are about to attack Cardassia. The rumors are true; the Central Command has been overthrown by civilian resistance. The Klingons are convinced that changeling infiltrators are responsible, although they have no hard proof. In the wardroom, Sisko confronts Martok and demands that the Klingons call off their attack. Martok hints that Chancellor Gowron will be told of Worf's involvement in uncovering news of the planned attack. Worf himself feels guilty that he has essentially betrayed the Klingon Empire. When Sisko points out that Starfleet will never support an unprovoked invasion and the attack will place the Federation-Klingon alliance in jeopardy, Martok claims he will return to his ship and consult with Gowron.
However, once Martok beams aboard his ship, he sends a message to the Klingon fleet, ordering them to begin their attack. The fleet cloaks and warps away from the station, heading straight for Cardassia Prime.
Act Four
The crew of DS9 meets in the wardroom. They are in a particularly nasty predicament: warning the Cardassians of the Klingon invasion is tantamount to betrayal and the Federation Council has decided not to get involved until they speak with Gowron, a decision supported by the Bajoran government. Besides, the Klingons may be correct that the Dominion was involved in the coup, since, as Odo points out, this is how the Founders would set about gaining control of Cardassia. Kira states that the Obsidian Order's destruction gave the Cardassian dissident movement the strength and momentum they needed to take over the government, with or without Dominion involvement. Worf points out that this is irrelevant — many Klingons in the Empire believe they have been at peace for too long. The looming Dominion threat has given them an excuse to attack and conquer. If the Klingons have returned to "the old ways" of conquest, Bajor, and potentially the Federation are at risk.
Sisko tries an unorthodox tactic – he invites Garak into the wardroom to measure the Starfleet captain for a new suit. As Garak works, the crew make sure the tailor overhears the fact that one-third of the Klingon military is currently heading into Cardassian space. Garak excuses himself, and immediately afterwards warns Gul Dukat. Busy fighting the civilian insurgency, the Cardassian Union is unprepared for a possible Klingon invasion.
"The peace treaty between the
Federation and the Klingon
Empire has ended."
When the Federation officially condemns the invasion, the Klingon Empire withdraws from the Khitomer Accords. The Federation-Klingon alliance is dissolved. Despite this however, a Klingon ship decloaks claiming to have Chancellor Gowron on board who wishes to speak with Worf.
Gowron attempts to recruit Worf
Aboard the Klingon ship, Gowron happily greets Worf and tells him that despite everything he still considers him a friend. He then tells Worf why he is there; he wants him to leave Starfleet and join the Klingons in the battle.
Act Five
Despite wanting to return to his people and knowing that he owes the Chancellor much for restoring his honor and giving Kurn a seat on the Klingon High Council, Worf refuses, telling Gowron that he will not break his oath to Starfleet, nor will he support an unwarranted attack. Enraged, Gowron warns Worf that if he refuses then the House of Mogh will be stripped of all its assets, Kurn will be removed from the High Council and Worf himself will be exiled from the Klingon Empire and left with nothing. When Worf replies he'll still have his honor, Gowron simply says "So be it".
Later, Worf sits in Quark's deep in thought and is joined by O'Brien. After reminiscing over saving Captain Picard from the Borg, and how Worf knew they would succeed despite the overwhelming odds, he says he has decided to resign. O'Brien tries to convince him otherwise, assuring Worf that Starfleet is sure to build another Enterprise soon, but as far as Worf is concerned, the ship and life he knew are gone. As he cannot return to Boreth and feeling that his son is much happier living on Earth, Worf decides to apply for a commission with a distant cruiser fleet in the Nyberrite Alliance. Believing that he is a liability to Captain Sisko's dealing with the Klingons, he asks Sisko to accept his resignation, but Sisko refuses – Starfleet needs Worf more than ever before. Indeed, word soon arrives that the Klingons have broken through the Cardassian fleet.
Sisko contacts the new Cardassian government, the Detapa Council, only to see the face of Dukat. Apparently, Dukat switched sides when it was clear that the coup would succeed. Sisko devises a plan: if Dukat can get the Council on a ship and rendezvous with the Defiant, they can seek refuge on Deep Space 9. Since the Klingons will execute all government officials in their invasion of Cardassia, Dukat agrees. Worf points out that if Martok is correct, and members of the Detapa Council have been replaced by Changelings, then the Defiant will help them escape. Sisko considers it a risk worth taking. Knowing the Klingons may end up attacking the station, he orders the new weapons systems be checked and a partial evacuation of the civilian population. On his way to the airlock, Sisko runs into Kasidy who is just arriving. The two muse how lousy their timing has been, but share their first kiss.
Sisko, Dax, Bashir, and Worf take the cloaked Defiant toward the rendezvous point. Worf admits he feels strange being on a Federation starship with a cloaking device, but Sisko assures him he'll get used to it. Bashir reminds Sisko that their agreement with the Romulans regarding the cloaking device strictly forbids its use in the Alpha Quadrant. Sisko is aware of this, but also knows there are probably countless Klingon ships between them and Dukat and he wants to make it in one piece. In response, Bashir tells Sisko he will not say anything if he doesn't.
Later, the Defiant comes across a debris field of Cardassian ships destroyed by the Klingon invaders. Although there may be survivors, the only way to find out is decloaking the Defiant to use the main sensors. Worf advises against it, warning there is probably Klingon ships cloaked and lying in wait. When Bashir argues that it doesn't sound very honorable, Worf replied that to Klingons, in war there is nothing more honorable than winning. Despite the chance of survivors and over Bashir's objection, Sisko knows making the rendezvous is more important and decides not to take the risk.
When the Defiant arrives at the coordinates, they find three Klingon Birds-of-Prey are in the vicinity and are attacking the Cardassian cruiser Prakesh.
Act Six
When the Klingons ignore the Defiant's hails and fire the first shot, the starship targets the lead Bird-of-Prey and seriously damages its engines. With the Prakesh's shields, weapons and engines obliterated, Sisko is left with no choice but to drop the Defiant's shields and transport Dukat and the Council off their impaired vessel, but also decides to err on the side of caution and orders that they undergo blood screenings. Sisko gambles that the Defiant's ablative armor will be sufficient against the Birds-of-Prey's attacks. The Defiant begins firing at will and destroys the second Klingon vessel in the process.
The Prakesh, battered and
damaged by continuous attacks,
finally explodes
When a larger Vor'cha-class battle cruiser joins the melee, Worf uses his tactical experience and suggests the use of a modulated tractor beam to deflect some of the Klingon disruptor fire. The Defiant crew is successful in rescuing all the Detapa Council members, although the Defiant's cloaking device has been damaged. The Defiant flies to maximum warp as the Prakesh explodes, and two Klingon vessels follow the starship. Meanwhile, Doctor Bashir has examined all the Council members, including Dukat, and determined that no one aboard is a Changeling.
The Defiant successfully reaches Deep Space 9, where O'Brien detects the pursuing Klingon ships. As the starship approaches the station, the crew detect several dozen Klingon ships. O'Brien had requested reinforcements from Starfleet Command, but the relief task force, under command of Admiral Hastur, had not yet reached the station. Sisko makes the decision to sound battle stations.
Act Seven
The crew man the battle stations, preparing for the Klingons to attack, while civilians are evacuated off the Promenade (including a reluctant Quark, who wanted to defend his bar with his disruptor pistol, only to find that Rom has cannibalized it for replicator repair). The Detapa Council are sequestered away by Dukat and, unexpectedly, Garak, who raises a Cardassian disruptor to fight alongside Dukat.
Martok and Gowron hail the station and offer an ultimatum – surrender the Cardassian officials, or the Klingons will take the Council members by force. Even when Sisko tells the two Klingons that the councilors have been given blood screenings, Martok and Gowron remain determined to conquer Cardassia. Gowron urges Sisko to surrender, claiming the old station is as defenseless as an old Grishnar cat, to which Sisko confidently replies, "I assure you, this old cat may not be as toothless as you think." Due to the Dominion threat, Deep Space 9 has been given some major tactical upgrades – the station is now equipped with more than 5,000 photon torpedoes ready to fire.
Nevertheless, Gowron declares "heghlu'meh qaq jajvam", "Today is a good day to die!", Kahless' battle cry. The Klingon fleet begins their attack.
Act Eight
DS9 fires its new armaments
When the Klingon fleet enters weapons range, DS9 unleashes several volleys of the station's new armaments. With multiple phaser banks and telescoping photon launchers, the station destroys ship after ship. Furious, Gowron orders the Negh'Var to fire its cannons directly at DS9's shield generators. The station's defensive systems fail and Klingon boarding parties beam into Ops, the Promenade, and the Cardassians' quarters. After a series of firefights and fierce hand-to-hand combat, the DS9 crew manage to regain control of the situation. An injured O'Brien restores the shields and Dax announces the arrival of the Starfleet reinforcements, lead by the USS Venture. Gowron has little choice but to retreat. He parts with one final threat: "You have sided against us in battle. And this we do not forgive... or forget." (See also: First Battle of Deep Space 9)
Worf wears a red Starfleet
uniform
As the Klingons retreat and the Venture arrives, life on the station returns to normal. Quark reopens the bar, much to the delight of Morn, and Garak returns to his tailor shop. As Worf packs up his belongings, Sisko arrives with his discharge papers wanting him to look them over before he sends them to Starfleet and makes his resignation official. Sisko tells Worf that he also considered leaving Starfleet after the death of his wife, believing that once he took off the uniform the pain would go away. But he soon realized that the pain would only end up catching up to him, and the only way he could beat it was to face it. In the end, he knows what he is and what he will always be – a Starfleet officer. Worf finally realizes that resigning from Starfleet won't help him move on from the destruction of the Enterprise and decides to stay in the service. Sisko offers to speak with the captain of the Venture to see if he has a position for him. Worf, however, instead requests a posting on Deep Space 9.
Worf later reports for duty in ops, taking the post of strategic operations officer and wearing a red Starfleet uniform. The rest of the senior staff congratulate him on his new posting, as Worf confides to O'Brien that he looks forward to new challenges in the command division. Sisko reports that Dukat and the rest of the Detapa Council returned to Cardassia Prime safely and have sent thanks, although everyone knows Dukat will end up taking most of the credit. The news is not all good however, as the Klingons are continuing to remain near DS9. They have refused to abandon several Cardassian colonies they seized and have started fortifying their positions. Sisko tells his crew that they also won't be backing down, but will be staying right where they are – aboard Deep Space 9.
Log entries
"Captain's log, stardate 49011.4. Gowron has returned to the Klingon homeworld and his task force has withdrawn from Bajoran space. I don't know if I can fully express the pride I felt at seeing how well Deep Space 9 and its crew weathered this latest crisis. While the station suffered heavy damage during the Klingon attack, repairs are well ahead of schedule and life on the station is beginning to return to normal, leaving me with one final piece of unfinished business."
Memorable quotes
"I didn't know you spoke Klingon."
"Oh, you'd be surprised at the things you can learn when you're doing alterations."
- Odo and Garak, with a quip as he casually disregards his service in the Obsidian Order
"Ah, but I dealt them several cutting remarks which, no doubt, did severe damage to their egos"
"This isn't funny."
"I'm serious, doctor. Thanks to your administrations I'm almost completely healed! But the damage I did to them will last a lifetime..."
- Garak and Julian Bashir, at the infirmary, after Garak was assaulted by Klingons in his shop
"The longer the Klingons are here, the worse things are going to get. Whatever you decide to do, you'd better do it soon."
"Curzon told me once that in the long run the only people who can really handle the Klingons, are Klingons. Get me Starfleet Command."
- Jadzia Dax and Benjamin Sisko, before the latter requests for Worf
"I was sorry to hear about the Enterprise. She was a good ship."
- Benjamin Sisko, to Worf about the loss of the USS Enterprise-D
"Let me guess, Klingon blood wine."
"Prune juice. Chilled."
(laughs) "Prune juice!" (stops laughing when Worf glares at him) "If you say so."
- Quark and Worf, upon their first meeting
"Well, what did the Federation Council say?"
"They've decided to condemn the Klingon invasion. In response, Gowron has expelled all Federation citizens from the Klingon Empire and recalled his ambassadors from the Federation."
"You're saying he cut off diplomatic relations?"
"He's done more than that. The Klingons have withdrawn from the Khitomer Accords. The peace treaty between the Federation and the Klingon Empire has ended."
- O'Brien, Sisko and Kira, on the destruction of the alliance between the Federation and the Klingon Empire
"You forget, I am not only a Klingon warrior; I am a Starfleet officer, and Starfleet deserves an explanation!"
"They will get one soon enough. Until then, know this: My mission will determine the fate of the Klingon Empire. Interfere, and you risk destroying us all!"
- Worf and Martok
"Nice hat."
- Worf, on first meeting Kira and Jadzia
"I'm sure there's more than one Klingon who thinks that slaying a changeling would be worthy of a song or two."
"Doctor, if a Klingon were to kill me, I'd expect nothing less than an entire opera on the subject."
- Bashir and Odo
"The Klingons?!? First it was the Cardassians... then it was the Dominion... now it's the Klingons! How's a Ferengi supposed to make an honest living in a place like this?"
- Quark, exasperated before the Klingon attack on DS9
"I find this hand-to-hand combat really quite distasteful. "
"I suppose you prefer the simplicity of an interrogation chamber."
"You have to admit, it's much more civilized."
- Garak and Dukat, during the fight with the Klingons
"Who would've thought that the two of us would be fighting, side by side?"
"Just remember when you fire that thing, you're aiming it at a Klingon."
"I'll try to keep that in mind."
- Garak and Dukat, on the upcoming battle
"This is exactly what the Founders want: Klingon against Cardassian! Federation against Klingon! The more we fight each other, the weaker we'll get, and the less chance we have against the Dominion!"
- Benjamin Sisko
"Kahless himself said, 'Destroying an empire to win a war is no victory...'"
"...and ending a battle to save an empire is no defeat."
- Worf and Gowron
"I do not intend to hand victory to the Dominion. But let your people know that the Klingon Empire will remember what has happened here. You have sided against us in battle, and this we do not forgive... or forget!"
- Gowron
"I finally realized that it wasn't Starfleet that I wanted to get away from: I was trying to escape the pain I felt after my wife's death. I thought I could take the uniform, wrap it around that pain, and toss them both away. But it doesn't work like that. Running may help, for a little while—but sooner or later the pain catches up with you, and the only way to get rid of it is to stand your ground and face it."
- Sisko
"Looks like the Klingons are here to stay."
"Maybe they are, but so are we."
- Kira and Sisko
Summary
The Deep Space 9 crew hunts a Changeling through the station. Using wide-angle phaser sweep, Captain Benjamin Sisko and Major Kira Nerys chase the Changeling to the Promenade, where it suddenly resumes humanoid shape and grabs hold of Doctor Julian Bashir after emerging from the Promenade directory. It is Odo, and the chase was really just a surprise drill. Kira asks the computer how much time it took to catch Odo; three hours and twenty-seven minutes is the answer. "That's not good enough," Odo remarks, noting how any other Founder would have had a field day with the station in that length of time, culminating in Bashir's death. The staff is then dismissed with a warning to scan anything and everything next time, given the other Founders' increased proclivity for shapeshifting. Another random drill is scheduled, and an offer from Quark to take bets on how long the staff will take to catch Odo is rebuffed.
Sisko gives Kasidy Yates rare
Tholian silk
That night, when Kasidy Yates joins Sisko for a romantic dinner, she remarks that there have been some changes on Deep Space 9. Firstly, Sisko has shaved his head, of which Yates approves. Secondly, there has been a lot of "maintenance" done on the station lately. Sisko is secretive, but hints that the crew is preparing a few "surprises" in case the Dominion decides to attack the station. The recent revelation that Changelings have infiltrated the Alpha Quadrant has caused a large amount of unrest, and the Cardassians have responded by sealing their borders. The couple present each other with gifts – Sisko gives Kasidy a garment made from rare Tholian silk, while Kasidy returns the gesture by handing Sisko a Pike City Pioneers baseball cap from Cestus III.
Their dinner is interrupted when the new Klingon flagship, the IKS Negh'Var, decloaks at the station. Its commander, General Martok, requests shore leave at Deep Space 9. After Sisko agrees, the DS9 crew is amazed when an entire armada of Klingon ships decloak around the station.
Act One
In Quark's, the Ferengi bartender nervously opines with O'Brien and Bashir that the Klingons who have arrived are awfully quiet. When Martok meets with Captain Sisko and Major Kira, he immediately wants them to use his d'k tahg to cut their palms, proving that they bleed and therefore are not Changelings. When the Klingon is satisfied that Sisko and Kira are really who they appear to be, Martok proclaims that the Klingon fleet will remain in Bajoran space to counter the inevitable Dominion attack.
Drex
The crew resumes regular duties, despite the fact that DS9's complement now includes countless Klingons. Kira and Jadzia Dax visit the holosuite, which recreates the Hoobishan Baths on Trill. Kira is distracted away from the holograms and unimpressed with them, admitting that she has never had much of an imagination. Odo and Garak have a quiet breakfast at the Replimat, where a worried Garak reveals that, since the destruction of the Obsidian Order, he has heard rumors of civil uprisings on Cardassia. Their meal is interrupted when a group of Klingons accosts Morn on the Promenade. Odo breaks up the altercation, but the lead Klingon, Drex, levels threats at both Garak and Odo. Odo tells the group of Klingons to leave the Promenade or be thrown in a holding cell.
Drex and his thugs later ambush and beat Garak in his tailor shop.
Act Two
As Bashir repairs the Cardassian's broken bones, he states his surprise that Garak isn't pressing charges. Garak, in his usual manner, brushes off the beating but is wondering why Klingons have become so hostile to Cardassians.
Commander Kaybok
When Kasidy Yates' freighter, the Xhosa, sends out a distress call, Sisko and the crew of DS9 board the USS Defiant. After arriving at the Xhosa's coordinates, they discover that Commander Kaybok of the Klingon Bird-of-Prey IKS M'Char is searching all vessels exiting Bajoran space, including the Xhosa. When Sisko threatens Kaybok that the Defiant will open fire on the M'Char, the Klingon commander allows the Xhosa to break free of the M'Char's tractor beam.
Once the senior officers return to Deep Space 9, Martok meets with Sisko again in his office, slamming Kaybok's dagger into his desk. Kaybok has been executed as punishment for disobeying his orders. Sisko realizes that something must be done before the situation escalates out of control.
"Chief. It has been a long time."
Sisko notifies Starfleet Command of the situation and Starfleet consequently dispatches Lieutenant Commander Worf to the station. Upon his arrival, Chief O'Brien welcomes his old crewmate aboard. Quark, however, upon seeing Worf, remarks "Just what this station needs. Another Klingon."
Act Three
Worf immediately goes to see Captain Sisko to introduce himself and report for duty. When he meets the captain, Sisko offers condolences for the loss of the USS Enterprise-D in battle, calling it a good ship. Worf thanks Sisko for his condolences, but is clearly not willing to talk about it. Sisko takes note of the fact that Worf had been on extended leave. Worf tells Sisko he had been at the Klingon Monastery on Boreth for a time. Sisko apologizes for interrupting Worf's leave, but Worf tells Sisko his leave was almost over. When Sisko asks where Worf will likely be assigned next, Worf tells Sisko that he has been considering resigning from Starfleet. When asked why, Worf explains that living among Humans has never been easy for him but it has become even harder for him since the Enterprise was destroyed and he is no longer sure of his place in Starfleet anymore. Sisko tells Worf if he doesn't want the assignment then he'll understand, but Worf tells Sisko that until he decides one way or the other about resigning he is going to do his duty. With that, Sisko gives Worf his assignment: find out what the Klingons are up to. Before Worf leaves, Sisko cautions him that he too once considered resigning from Starfleet, and now knows that would have been the wrong choice. He urges the Klingon to consider his decision carefully and Worf promises the captain he will keep that in mind.
Worf and Martok meet
Worf ventures into Quark's, surprising the Ferengi by asking for prune juice over the traditional Klingon choice of blood wine. Chief O'Brien asks his old shipmate to join him and introduces him to Doctor Bashir and darts. Worf's first try at the sport ends up with him throwing the dart halfway through the board. Then Kira and Dax emerge from the holosuite, dressed in bright, colorful and extravagant medieval clothes arguing over the fact that Kira knocked out Sir Lancelot. Miles introduces Worf to the two, and while Kira is embarrassed and tries to explain the clothes, Dax is quite taken with him. Just then Drex starts to stir up trouble, so Worf decides it's the perfect time to make his first attempt at finding out what the Klingons are up to. He picks a fight with Drex and takes the warrior's d'k tahg. Drex's father, who happens to be General Martok, comes to Worf's quarters to demand the return of his son's "honor". There, Worf voices his disappointment in Martok for the general's dishonorable tactics of harassing personnel and ships, but Martok vows that it is all in the Alpha Quadrant's best interests.
Afterward, Worf vents his frustration on a tactical holosuite program. When Dax arrives, she challenges him to a battle with bat'leths. After a brief fight, Worf gains the upper hand and sweeps Dax off her feet. Dax rhetorically asks whether the simulation made Worf feel better. Worf is frustrated at the situation, noting that his contacts on the Klingon homeworld refuse to speak with him. Dax suggests that with so many Klingons on the station, surely one of them owes the House of Mogh a favor and might be willing to reveal the true reason they are there.
Huraga
Worf invites an old family friend, Klingon officer Huraga, for a drink. When they consume a large quantity of bloodwine and become drunk, Worf presses Huraga for information. Owing Worf's father, Mogh, as Mogh had saved Huraga's House during their feud with the House of Duras, Huraga tells Worf all about the "glorious battle" that awaits them ahead.
What Worf learns disturbs him, so much that he hesitates to tell Sisko. Odo argues with Worf on the Promenade, and tells the Klingon that it is his duty to inform Sisko.
Martok in DS9's wardroom
Worf decides to tell Sisko the ominous truth – the Klingons are about to attack Cardassia. The rumors are true; the Central Command has been overthrown by civilian resistance. The Klingons are convinced that changeling infiltrators are responsible, although they have no hard proof. In the wardroom, Sisko confronts Martok and demands that the Klingons call off their attack. Martok hints that Chancellor Gowron will be told of Worf's involvement in uncovering news of the planned attack. Worf himself feels guilty that he has essentially betrayed the Klingon Empire. When Sisko points out that Starfleet will never support an unprovoked invasion and the attack will place the Federation-Klingon alliance in jeopardy, Martok claims he will return to his ship and consult with Gowron.
However, once Martok beams aboard his ship, he sends a message to the Klingon fleet, ordering them to begin their attack. The fleet cloaks and warps away from the station, heading straight for Cardassia Prime.
Act Four
The crew of DS9 meets in the wardroom. They are in a particularly nasty predicament: warning the Cardassians of the Klingon invasion is tantamount to betrayal and the Federation Council has decided not to get involved until they speak with Gowron, a decision supported by the Bajoran government. Besides, the Klingons may be correct that the Dominion was involved in the coup, since, as Odo points out, this is how the Founders would set about gaining control of Cardassia. Kira states that the Obsidian Order's destruction gave the Cardassian dissident movement the strength and momentum they needed to take over the government, with or without Dominion involvement. Worf points out that this is irrelevant — many Klingons in the Empire believe they have been at peace for too long. The looming Dominion threat has given them an excuse to attack and conquer. If the Klingons have returned to "the old ways" of conquest, Bajor, and potentially the Federation are at risk.
Sisko tries an unorthodox tactic – he invites Garak into the wardroom to measure the Starfleet captain for a new suit. As Garak works, the crew make sure the tailor overhears the fact that one-third of the Klingon military is currently heading into Cardassian space. Garak excuses himself, and immediately afterwards warns Gul Dukat. Busy fighting the civilian insurgency, the Cardassian Union is unprepared for a possible Klingon invasion.
"The peace treaty between the
Federation and the Klingon
Empire has ended."
When the Federation officially condemns the invasion, the Klingon Empire withdraws from the Khitomer Accords. The Federation-Klingon alliance is dissolved. Despite this however, a Klingon ship decloaks claiming to have Chancellor Gowron on board who wishes to speak with Worf.
Gowron attempts to recruit Worf
Aboard the Klingon ship, Gowron happily greets Worf and tells him that despite everything he still considers him a friend. He then tells Worf why he is there; he wants him to leave Starfleet and join the Klingons in the battle.
Act Five
Despite wanting to return to his people and knowing that he owes the Chancellor much for restoring his honor and giving Kurn a seat on the Klingon High Council, Worf refuses, telling Gowron that he will not break his oath to Starfleet, nor will he support an unwarranted attack. Enraged, Gowron warns Worf that if he refuses then the House of Mogh will be stripped of all its assets, Kurn will be removed from the High Council and Worf himself will be exiled from the Klingon Empire and left with nothing. When Worf replies he'll still have his honor, Gowron simply says "So be it".
Later, Worf sits in Quark's deep in thought and is joined by O'Brien. After reminiscing over saving Captain Picard from the Borg, and how Worf knew they would succeed despite the overwhelming odds, he says he has decided to resign. O'Brien tries to convince him otherwise, assuring Worf that Starfleet is sure to build another Enterprise soon, but as far as Worf is concerned, the ship and life he knew are gone. As he cannot return to Boreth and feeling that his son is much happier living on Earth, Worf decides to apply for a commission with a distant cruiser fleet in the Nyberrite Alliance. Believing that he is a liability to Captain Sisko's dealing with the Klingons, he asks Sisko to accept his resignation, but Sisko refuses – Starfleet needs Worf more than ever before. Indeed, word soon arrives that the Klingons have broken through the Cardassian fleet.
Sisko contacts the new Cardassian government, the Detapa Council, only to see the face of Dukat. Apparently, Dukat switched sides when it was clear that the coup would succeed. Sisko devises a plan: if Dukat can get the Council on a ship and rendezvous with the Defiant, they can seek refuge on Deep Space 9. Since the Klingons will execute all government officials in their invasion of Cardassia, Dukat agrees. Worf points out that if Martok is correct, and members of the Detapa Council have been replaced by Changelings, then the Defiant will help them escape. Sisko considers it a risk worth taking. Knowing the Klingons may end up attacking the station, he orders the new weapons systems be checked and a partial evacuation of the civilian population. On his way to the airlock, Sisko runs into Kasidy who is just arriving. The two muse how lousy their timing has been, but share their first kiss.
Sisko, Dax, Bashir, and Worf take the cloaked Defiant toward the rendezvous point. Worf admits he feels strange being on a Federation starship with a cloaking device, but Sisko assures him he'll get used to it. Bashir reminds Sisko that their agreement with the Romulans regarding the cloaking device strictly forbids its use in the Alpha Quadrant. Sisko is aware of this, but also knows there are probably countless Klingon ships between them and Dukat and he wants to make it in one piece. In response, Bashir tells Sisko he will not say anything if he doesn't.
Later, the Defiant comes across a debris field of Cardassian ships destroyed by the Klingon invaders. Although there may be survivors, the only way to find out is decloaking the Defiant to use the main sensors. Worf advises against it, warning there is probably Klingon ships cloaked and lying in wait. When Bashir argues that it doesn't sound very honorable, Worf replied that to Klingons, in war there is nothing more honorable than winning. Despite the chance of survivors and over Bashir's objection, Sisko knows making the rendezvous is more important and decides not to take the risk.
When the Defiant arrives at the coordinates, they find three Klingon Birds-of-Prey are in the vicinity and are attacking the Cardassian cruiser Prakesh.
Act Six
When the Klingons ignore the Defiant's hails and fire the first shot, the starship targets the lead Bird-of-Prey and seriously damages its engines. With the Prakesh's shields, weapons and engines obliterated, Sisko is left with no choice but to drop the Defiant's shields and transport Dukat and the Council off their impaired vessel, but also decides to err on the side of caution and orders that they undergo blood screenings. Sisko gambles that the Defiant's ablative armor will be sufficient against the Birds-of-Prey's attacks. The Defiant begins firing at will and destroys the second Klingon vessel in the process.
The Prakesh, battered and
damaged by continuous attacks,
finally explodes
When a larger Vor'cha-class battle cruiser joins the melee, Worf uses his tactical experience and suggests the use of a modulated tractor beam to deflect some of the Klingon disruptor fire. The Defiant crew is successful in rescuing all the Detapa Council members, although the Defiant's cloaking device has been damaged. The Defiant flies to maximum warp as the Prakesh explodes, and two Klingon vessels follow the starship. Meanwhile, Doctor Bashir has examined all the Council members, including Dukat, and determined that no one aboard is a Changeling.
The Defiant successfully reaches Deep Space 9, where O'Brien detects the pursuing Klingon ships. As the starship approaches the station, the crew detect several dozen Klingon ships. O'Brien had requested reinforcements from Starfleet Command, but the relief task force, under command of Admiral Hastur, had not yet reached the station. Sisko makes the decision to sound battle stations.
Act Seven
The crew man the battle stations, preparing for the Klingons to attack, while civilians are evacuated off the Promenade (including a reluctant Quark, who wanted to defend his bar with his disruptor pistol, only to find that Rom has cannibalized it for replicator repair). The Detapa Council are sequestered away by Dukat and, unexpectedly, Garak, who raises a Cardassian disruptor to fight alongside Dukat.
Martok and Gowron hail the station and offer an ultimatum – surrender the Cardassian officials, or the Klingons will take the Council members by force. Even when Sisko tells the two Klingons that the councilors have been given blood screenings, Martok and Gowron remain determined to conquer Cardassia. Gowron urges Sisko to surrender, claiming the old station is as defenseless as an old Grishnar cat, to which Sisko confidently replies, "I assure you, this old cat may not be as toothless as you think." Due to the Dominion threat, Deep Space 9 has been given some major tactical upgrades – the station is now equipped with more than 5,000 photon torpedoes ready to fire.
Nevertheless, Gowron declares "heghlu'meh qaq jajvam", "Today is a good day to die!", Kahless' battle cry. The Klingon fleet begins their attack.
Act Eight
DS9 fires its new armaments
When the Klingon fleet enters weapons range, DS9 unleashes several volleys of the station's new armaments. With multiple phaser banks and telescoping photon launchers, the station destroys ship after ship. Furious, Gowron orders the Negh'Var to fire its cannons directly at DS9's shield generators. The station's defensive systems fail and Klingon boarding parties beam into Ops, the Promenade, and the Cardassians' quarters. After a series of firefights and fierce hand-to-hand combat, the DS9 crew manage to regain control of the situation. An injured O'Brien restores the shields and Dax announces the arrival of the Starfleet reinforcements, lead by the USS Venture. Gowron has little choice but to retreat. He parts with one final threat: "You have sided against us in battle. And this we do not forgive... or forget." (See also: First Battle of Deep Space 9)
Worf wears a red Starfleet
uniform
As the Klingons retreat and the Venture arrives, life on the station returns to normal. Quark reopens the bar, much to the delight of Morn, and Garak returns to his tailor shop. As Worf packs up his belongings, Sisko arrives with his discharge papers wanting him to look them over before he sends them to Starfleet and makes his resignation official. Sisko tells Worf that he also considered leaving Starfleet after the death of his wife, believing that once he took off the uniform the pain would go away. But he soon realized that the pain would only end up catching up to him, and the only way he could beat it was to face it. In the end, he knows what he is and what he will always be – a Starfleet officer. Worf finally realizes that resigning from Starfleet won't help him move on from the destruction of the Enterprise and decides to stay in the service. Sisko offers to speak with the captain of the Venture to see if he has a position for him. Worf, however, instead requests a posting on Deep Space 9.
Worf later reports for duty in ops, taking the post of strategic operations officer and wearing a red Starfleet uniform. The rest of the senior staff congratulate him on his new posting, as Worf confides to O'Brien that he looks forward to new challenges in the command division. Sisko reports that Dukat and the rest of the Detapa Council returned to Cardassia Prime safely and have sent thanks, although everyone knows Dukat will end up taking most of the credit. The news is not all good however, as the Klingons are continuing to remain near DS9. They have refused to abandon several Cardassian colonies they seized and have started fortifying their positions. Sisko tells his crew that they also won't be backing down, but will be staying right where they are – aboard Deep Space 9.
Log entries
"Captain's log, stardate 49011.4. Gowron has returned to the Klingon homeworld and his task force has withdrawn from Bajoran space. I don't know if I can fully express the pride I felt at seeing how well Deep Space 9 and its crew weathered this latest crisis. While the station suffered heavy damage during the Klingon attack, repairs are well ahead of schedule and life on the station is beginning to return to normal, leaving me with one final piece of unfinished business."
Memorable quotes
"I didn't know you spoke Klingon."
"Oh, you'd be surprised at the things you can learn when you're doing alterations."
- Odo and Garak, with a quip as he casually disregards his service in the Obsidian Order
"Ah, but I dealt them several cutting remarks which, no doubt, did severe damage to their egos"
"This isn't funny."
"I'm serious, doctor. Thanks to your administrations I'm almost completely healed! But the damage I did to them will last a lifetime..."
- Garak and Julian Bashir, at the infirmary, after Garak was assaulted by Klingons in his shop
"The longer the Klingons are here, the worse things are going to get. Whatever you decide to do, you'd better do it soon."
"Curzon told me once that in the long run the only people who can really handle the Klingons, are Klingons. Get me Starfleet Command."
- Jadzia Dax and Benjamin Sisko, before the latter requests for Worf
"I was sorry to hear about the Enterprise. She was a good ship."
- Benjamin Sisko, to Worf about the loss of the USS Enterprise-D
"Let me guess, Klingon blood wine."
"Prune juice. Chilled."
(laughs) "Prune juice!" (stops laughing when Worf glares at him) "If you say so."
- Quark and Worf, upon their first meeting
"Well, what did the Federation Council say?"
"They've decided to condemn the Klingon invasion. In response, Gowron has expelled all Federation citizens from the Klingon Empire and recalled his ambassadors from the Federation."
"You're saying he cut off diplomatic relations?"
"He's done more than that. The Klingons have withdrawn from the Khitomer Accords. The peace treaty between the Federation and the Klingon Empire has ended."
- O'Brien, Sisko and Kira, on the destruction of the alliance between the Federation and the Klingon Empire
"You forget, I am not only a Klingon warrior; I am a Starfleet officer, and Starfleet deserves an explanation!"
"They will get one soon enough. Until then, know this: My mission will determine the fate of the Klingon Empire. Interfere, and you risk destroying us all!"
- Worf and Martok
"Nice hat."
- Worf, on first meeting Kira and Jadzia
"I'm sure there's more than one Klingon who thinks that slaying a changeling would be worthy of a song or two."
"Doctor, if a Klingon were to kill me, I'd expect nothing less than an entire opera on the subject."
- Bashir and Odo
"The Klingons?!? First it was the Cardassians... then it was the Dominion... now it's the Klingons! How's a Ferengi supposed to make an honest living in a place like this?"
- Quark, exasperated before the Klingon attack on DS9
"I find this hand-to-hand combat really quite distasteful. "
"I suppose you prefer the simplicity of an interrogation chamber."
"You have to admit, it's much more civilized."
- Garak and Dukat, during the fight with the Klingons
"Who would've thought that the two of us would be fighting, side by side?"
"Just remember when you fire that thing, you're aiming it at a Klingon."
"I'll try to keep that in mind."
- Garak and Dukat, on the upcoming battle
"This is exactly what the Founders want: Klingon against Cardassian! Federation against Klingon! The more we fight each other, the weaker we'll get, and the less chance we have against the Dominion!"
- Benjamin Sisko
"Kahless himself said, 'Destroying an empire to win a war is no victory...'"
"...and ending a battle to save an empire is no defeat."
- Worf and Gowron
"I do not intend to hand victory to the Dominion. But let your people know that the Klingon Empire will remember what has happened here. You have sided against us in battle, and this we do not forgive... or forget!"
- Gowron
"I finally realized that it wasn't Starfleet that I wanted to get away from: I was trying to escape the pain I felt after my wife's death. I thought I could take the uniform, wrap it around that pain, and toss them both away. But it doesn't work like that. Running may help, for a little while—but sooner or later the pain catches up with you, and the only way to get rid of it is to stand your ground and face it."
- Sisko
"Looks like the Klingons are here to stay."
"Maybe they are, but so are we."
- Kira and Sisko
