An agent named Brunt from the Ferengi Commerce Authority serves Quark with a Writ of Accountability because Quark and Rom's mother, Ishka, is charged with earning a profit—an illegal activity for Ferengi women. As the family's eldest male, Quark is held responsible. On Ferenginar, Ishka confirms that she did break Ferengi law by investing a portion of her monthly stipend from Quark, but earned only three bars of latinum in the process. Then Quark discovers that Ishka has actually been conducting business transactions under dozens of aliases all over the Ferengi Alliance, making a tremendous profit. Even if Quark sells everything he owns, he will be unable to pay back what his mother has earned. Quark must decide whether to turn Ishka over to the FCA, or face total financial ruin.

Max Grodénchik (Rom)
Andrea Martin (Ishka)
Jeffrey Combs (Liquidator Brunt)
Penny Johnson (Kasidy Yates)
Mel Green (the Secretary)

• Rom and Quark called their mother "Moogie" when they were children. Well, Rom still does :)
  
• Ishka and Brunt return in the 5th season episode "Of Love and Profit".
  
• This episode introduces freighter captain Kasidy Yates, a potential love interest for Sisko.
  
• DS9 gets a new runabout and Sisko names it the U.S.S. Rubicon NCC-72936.