As the station prepares for a Dominion attack, the enemy fleet suddenly turns toward Cardassian space. Gul Dukat's ship breaks formation and follows, and he reveals that he has spearheaded negotiations resulting in Cardassia joining the Dominion — with Dukat as Cardassia's leader. While the future of the Alpha Quadrant hangs in the balance, Worf, Martok, Bashir, and Garak mastermind an escape plan from the Dominion Internment Center in the Gamma Quadrant.

Andrew J. Robinson (Garak)
J.G. Hertzler (General Martok)
Marc Alaimo (Gul Dukat)
Melanie Smith (Tora Ziyal)
Paul Dooley (Enabran Tain)
Robert O'Reilly (Chancellor Gowron)
James Horan (Ikat'ika)
Carrie Stauber (the Romulan)
Ray Buktenica (Deyos)

• Part 2 of the episode "In Purgatory's Shadow".
  
• Chancellor Gowron re-signs the Khitomer Accords, reinstating the Klingon-Federation alliance.
  
• The Klingons agree to have a military presence on DS9, commanded by General Martok.
  
• Worf's regains his Klingon family honor.
  
• The Romulans also join the Federation-Klingon fleet.
  
• When Ziyal doesn't leave with Dukat, he abandons her, saying as far as he is concerned she is not his daughter anymore.
  
• The Bashir-Changeling planted a trilithium bomb on the runabout U.S.S. Yukon and was going to destroy the Bajoran sun, but was destroyed by the Defiant. Dr. Soran used the same device to destroy the Armagosa and Veridian stars in Star Trek: Generations.
  
• Melanie Smith is the 3rd actress to play Ziyal.