A secret message is intercepted by the Klingons and delivered to Sisko. The few Maquis terrorists who have not been wiped out by the Dominion have initiated a massive retaliatory strike against Cardassia, launching a series of cloaked missiles due to arrive in eleven days. Now that Cardassia is under Dominion protection, an all-out war is likely unless the undetectable missiles are stopped. Seeing no alternative, Sisko goes to Michael Eddington, the former Starfleet officer-turned-Maquis leader, now in prison. Eddington refuses to tell Sisko how to stop the missiles, so Sisko takes the handcuffed Eddington to compel him to help end this final Maquis attack that could lead to the destruction of the Federation.

Kenneth Marshall (Michael Eddington)
J.G. Hertzler (General Martok)
Aron Eisenberg (Cadet Nog)
Gretchen German (Rebecca Sullivan-Eddington)

• The Klingons gave cloaks to the Maquis when the Klingons were at war with Cardassia.
  
• Eddington reveals to Sisko that there weren't any missiles. Rebecca sent the message to let Eddington know they escaped the Dominion and arrived at Althos IV.
  
• Eddington is killed by the Jem'Hadar while the others escaped.