As another convoy of Jem'Hadar ships emerges through the wormhole toward Cardassia, Sisko and his officers face the grim realization that the Dominion is taking over the Alpha Quadrant. When Starfleet Command notifies Sisko that he must stop further Dominion reinforcements from reaching Cardassia, he decides to mine the entrance to the wormhole — a move that may cost them Deep Space 9 and will likely lead to war.

Andrew J. Robinson (Garak)
Jeffrey Combs (Weyoun)
Marc Alaimo (Gul Dukat)
Max Grodénchik (Rom)
Aron Eisenberg (Cadet Nog)
J.G. Hertzler (General Martok)
Chase Masterson (Leeta)
Melanie Smith (Ziyal)
Casey Biggs (Glinn Damar)

• Season Finale. To be continued...
  
• Rom and Leeta are married by Captain Sisko.
  
• (Nana Visitor and Alexander Siddig got married in real life on June 22, 1997.)
  
• Sisko convinces the Bajoran Council of Ministers to sign the non-aggression treaty with the Dominion. First Minister Shakaar orders all Bajorans on the station back to Bajor. Major Kira "formally protests" Starfleet's "refusal" to return the station to the Bajorans.
  
• Once the mines are set, Sisko evacuates all remaining Starfleet personnel from the station, leaving Kira, Odo, and Quark. On behalf of the Bajoran Government, Major Kira welcomes the Dominion to Bajoran Station Deep Space 9.
  
• The Defiant and the Rotarran (Martok's ship) then rendezvous with a massive fleet of Starfleet and Klingon ships.
  
• This is Robert Hewitt Wolfe's last episode as producer and writer. He makes an appearance as an injured science officer.