At the Headquarters of the Cardassian Liberation Front, Kira is supervising and overseeing all operations, sharing her knowledge and
experience regarding Resistance tactics. Although Damar has put past animosity behind him and is fully co-operating with his one-time
adversary, his subordinate Gul Rusot is less willing to take orders from a former Bajoran terrorist and goes out of his way to make life difficult
for Kira. Odo, meantime, returns from a mission and appears visibly strained. As Odo rests in privacy, Garak walks in and is horrified to see
the true extent of Odo's condition -- the Constable is but a withered, dessicated shell of his former self. Evidently using his shape-shifting
abilities accelerates the progress of the disease but Odo explains that he doesn't want Kira knowing about his true state. He doesn't want her
pity.
Back on DS9, Bashir continues to work tirelessly to find a cure to the Section 31 virus, but he is making absolutely no head-way. Sisko,
meanwhile, confronts Chancellor Gowron, whose reckless tactical blunders have resulted in disastrous defeats, for which Gowron blames
Martok. Martok returns to the station, having been severely injured during the last attack. Sisko consults with Worf, who explains that
Gowron's intent is to disgrace Martok in the eyes of the Empire, to prevent him from becoming a potential political rival. But Gowron's
self-serving motives are a grave threat to the entire Quadrant, particularly given that the Klingon ships are the only line of defence from the
Breen super-weapon. "Something has to be done," Sisko tells Worf urging him to "do whatever it takes".
Back at the rebel headquarters, Kira hatches a daring plot to appropriate one of the Breen energy dissipating weapons, which are now being
installed aboard all Jem'Hadar warships. If they could provide the Federation with one of the weapons, that would enable them to develop a
counter-measure. She, Garak, Odo, Damar and Rusot prepare to head off on the mission to infiltrate the Dominion shipyards and board a
Jem'Hadar fighter. Kira, however, has another altercation with Rusot, who believes that her real aim is not to aid the Cardassians, but to reap
revenge for the Occupation. Although Kira gains the upper hand, she knows only too well that Rusot is a problem and one that is escalating.
Garak's advice is simple: "Kill him. Before he kills you." As the team travel into Dominion space, Damar picks up a shocking message -- as a
punishment for betraying the Dominion, his wife and children have been executed. In a state of shock, he expresses his utter contempt of a
society that permits the execution of innocent women and children. "What kind of people give those orders?" Kira's response betrays the
horrors she endured during the Cardassian Occupation of Bajor: "Yeah, Damar, what kind of people give those orders?"
Aboard DS9, Worf encourages the recovering Martok to rise up and challenge Gowron, whose dishonourable motives are leading the entire
Quadrant to bitter defeat. Martok refuses, having sworn an oath of allegiance to Gowron and he is not willing to break it. Worf confers with
Ezri, who gives him a sobering wake-up call: the Klingon Empire is dying. She claims that the Empire has been willing to accept corrupt
leadership and that this will be the Empire's downfall. "Worf, you're the most honourable, decent man I know. And if you're willing to tolerate
men like Gowron, then what hope is there for the Empire?" Bashir, meanwhile, concedes defeat -- he is unable to find a cure to Odo's disease.
O'Brien suggests they inform Starfleet Medical that they have found a cure, however. In doing so, Section 31 would most definitely send an
operative to sabotage their work. That would give them their chance to pounce on the nefarious Section 31 and force them to provide the cure.
Damar, Garak and Rusot board the Dominion shipyards, with Kira masquerading as a prisoner. They take her to the bridge, where Odo
enters, disguised as the Founder. The distraction enables Garak to open fire and kill the bridge officers. They prepare to depart, but learn that
the installation of the Breen weapon is not complete. Kira refuses to leave without the weapon, so they must sit tight on the bridge and pray
that no one catches onto them. Back on the station, Worf finally challenges Gowron's leadership and in the fierce battle that follows Worf slays
Gowron. Worf hands leadership of the Empire to Martok, whose honour and integrity will bring about a new era of glory for their people.
On the Jem'Hadar warship, Odo's condition takes a turn for the worse and Rusot panics, turning on Kira. Garak trains his phaser on Rusot,
who urges Damar to kill both of them. It's a moment of true reckoning for Damar, who is forced to kill his friend Rusot, knowing full well that
"his Cardassia is gone and it won't be coming back". With installation of the Breen weapon complete, they head home, their mission a success.
But the victory is small comfort for Kira, who tenderly cradles the dying Odo in her arms...
Synposis written by Scott Andresson
The full review can be found here