Going over casualty lists, Sisko realizes there is only one hope of winning the war — the Romulans, who signed a non-aggression pact with the Dominion, must be convinced to join the Federation/Klingon Alliance. Sure that the Dominion will eventually invade Romulus anyway, Sisko recruits Garak to discreetly obtain evidence from Cardassia that will bring the Romulans into the war.

Andrew Robinson (Garak)
Casey Biggs (Gul Damar)
Jeffrey Combs (Weyoun)
Howard Shangraw (Tolar)
Stephen McHattie (Senator Vreenak)

• The Romulans make a return.
  
• The Dominion captures the Federation planet Betazed. DS9 Writer Ronald D. Moore says, "I wanted the Dominion to take a world that actually mattered to the audience, one of the members of the Federation that we have a connection to through one of our characters, and Betazed fit the bill." (Betazed is the home planet of TNG's Deanna Troi.)
  
• Jake Sisko and Chief O'Brien do not appear in this episode.