At the end of the fifth season the conflict with the Dominion is finally underway. Watching Sisko leave the station behind is certainly intense, but the fact that his son stayed behind to report on what's happening is another level. Having to see how each member of the crew deals with the change of situation is what makes this episode so good. It doesn't hurt that this episode also contains the wildest space battle yet, and it is only a hint of what is to come. The sealing of the wormhole with mines seems like a solid solution to plugging the Dominion hole without damaging the prophets/aliens who live inside and are vital to the Bajor plot. If I recall correctly this war is almost entirely resolved in the next season which I can't wait to see.
We begin with Leeta and Rom working on picking a wedding dress and after failing at that they succeed at getting Sisko to agree to perform their wedding. Sisko though is distracted watching another Dominion fleet come through the wormhole and head for Cardassian space. That night Jake comes over for dinner and his father is upset to see himself being quoted about the non-aggression pact between Bajor and the Dominion in the Federation news, especially since Jake wrote the article. In a cargo bay Odo has caught Quark trying to smuggle crates of yamok sauce onto the station in preparation for the return of the Cardassians, Kira tells him to throw it into space. News comes that the Romulans have signed a non-aggression pact along with the Tholians and Miradorn. Sisko realizes now is the time to try and block up the wormhole before it is too late to stop the Dominion and orders Dax and O'Brien to get to work on a minefield.
Dax, O'Brien and Rom are all working on the minefield problem but Rom is more interested in worrying about his wedding. He does however contribute the idea of making them self replicating which along with Miles suggestion to make them cloak seems like the best plan available. Kira and Odo meet about cutting of station communications but really they are there to talk about their relationship and both agree to just not worry about it until after the current crisis. Dax takes the Defiant out and starts deploying the minefield. It doesn't take Weyoun long to show up on the station to demand that the minefield be dismantled and even though he leaves amiably Sisko realizes war is now inevitable. The Klingons go to watch the border and final preparations for battle take place on the station.
Leeta and Rom get married and Rom then immediately sends Leeta back to Bajor for safety. Sisko convinces the Bajoran ministers to sign the non-aggression pact with the Dominion and evacuates all non-essential personnel. Sisko also makes some mysterious modifications to the computer. The Dominion arrives with the Defiant still needing 20 minutes to finish the minefield so the station is forced to defend the ship and itself. The Klingons return just in time to save the day and the minefield is activated. Sisko evecuates all starfleet personnel next and Kira welcomes the Cardassian/Dominion fleet as a representative of Bajor. Dax tells Worf she will marry him before Worf gets on Martok's ship and Jake stays behind to report. Garak goes with Sisko on the Defiant and Sisko activates his program which cripples the station before leaving. In his office Dukat finds the baseball and realizes it is a message saying Sisko will be back.
Review: An intense episode that really pays off a lot of the character work they have done over the past few seasons. Things are getting dark and they are going to keep getting darker for a while.
9 out of 10
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