Paradise Lost ( episode ) While Starfleet tightens security measures on Earth , Sisko and Odo discover that Admiral Leyton is deviously plotting to take over the planet . ( Part 2 of 2 ) Summary . Teaser . In the aftermath of the planet - wide power outage a state of emergency has been declared on Earth , and Starfleet Security has a presence in every neighborhood on the planet . Captain Sisko and Odo are at Starfleet Headquarters , and Sisko remarks on his discomfort with the situation – " " the more I read Starfleet ' s reports on the sabotage of the power relay s , the more unanswered questions I have . " " No - one has been able to establish how the Changelings infiltrated Planetary Operations or how they had the codes and the know - how to disable every power relay on Earth . Odo then comes up with another question in need of an answer : Red Squad was beamed back to Starfleet Academy twenty - six minutes after the state of emergency was declared , unlike the rest of Starfleet . Upon learning that Red Squad is composed of cadet s , Odo reasons that Starfleet wanted them out of harm ' s way . . . only for Sisko to immediately point out that Red Squad was re - mobilized a short time later . Act One . In New Orleans , Joseph and Jake are reopening the restaurant , since Joseph is convinced that he ' s got plenty of customers . There are troops on every block , after all . Back at Starfleet Headquarters , Sisko ( with Odo standing out of sight ) contacts the commandant of Starfleet Academy about the transporter record he found , and the commandant immediately becomes guarded and asks if anyone else knows about it . . . specifically , Admiral Leyton . Sisko replies that he doesn ' t , and the commandant orders Sisko to destroy the record . Playing along , Sisko tells him it ' ll be taken care of , and the commandant notes that despite his concerns , Red Squad performed their mission admirably . The call ends , and Odo notes that instead of answers all they ' ve got are a lot more questions . Sometime later Sisko goes to New Orleans and is discussing his frame of mind with his father when Nog steps up to his table . It seems that Sisko wants to meet some of the members of Red Squad , and wants Nog to make an introduction . However , Nog is reluctant to disclose any information , as the names on Red Squad ' s roster are supposed to be a secret and he worries that revealing a name could scupper his chances of getting into the group . Sisko tells Nog that he seems to be under the mistaken impression that he ' s asking a favor , which he isn ' t . . . and directly orders Nog to give him a name , which settles " that " . At Starfleet Academy Sisko holds an interview with one Cadet Riley Shepard . After stating that Red Squad had been briefed to expect that no record would be made of their activity , Shepard explains Red Squad ' s involvement with the power outage : in brief , they were the ones who did all of the hands - on work to make it happen . Sisko goes back to New Orleans with Odo and the two of them discuss what Sisko has learned . After ruling out Dominion involvement ( since nothing has been accomplished through the incident except the fortification of Earth ) and agreeing that Shepard can ' t be lying , Sisko reluctantly agrees with Odo ' s belief that the state of emergency was engineered by a clique of Starfleet officers led by Leyton , with the intent of staging a " coup d ' état " . Act Two . Sisko and Odo take what information they have to Federation President , Jaresh - Inyo , who is skeptical and shocked . Odo points out that just after it was known that Changelings had infiltrated the Alpha Quadrant , Leyton came to Jaresh - Inyo recommending heavy security measures , a recommendation that was rejected at the time for being too severe . It seems that Leyton used the conference bombing to try and get his security protocols authorized and , unsatisfied at the limited power he was given , him and his supporters sabotaged the power grid to make a Dominion invasion appear imminent . Sisko also notes that , although it was an act of treason , Leyton likely sees it as an act of patriotism if an extreme one . Jaresh - Inyo admits the accusation is plausible , but needs proof , and Sisko suggests seeing what happens if Leyton is ordered to withdraw the troops he ' s deployed ; if he refuses then that is the proof Jaresh - Inyo needs , if he agrees then Sisko will admit he was wrong and will offer his resignation . Jaresh - Inyo reminds Sisko and Odo that the public overwhelmingly support the increased security measures , and if tries to scale it back against Leyton ' s recommendations it would be a political disaster with the potential to start a planet - wide riot . Sisko offers to bring irrefutable evidence of a plot , and Jaresh - Inyo promises that with that , he would certainly put a stop to it and order Leyton to resign . Back in New Orleans . Sisko is waiting in his father ' s restaurant for Nog and Cadet Shepard . Nog eventually arrives , but without Shepard in tow – apparently Shepard was nowhere to be found , along with the rest of Red Squad . Just after making that announcement , Leyton steps into the restaurant and states that neither Shepard nor the rest of Red Squad will be returning to Earth anytime soon . Leyton then orders Nog back to the Academy . A conversation ensues in which Leyton admits to what he is doing , and that he involved Sisko because the credibility of the latter ' s field experience was vital to Leyton ' s plan . Leyton goes on to lecture Sisko about the importance of the chain of command , and point out that he still needs Sisko ' s cooperation . Sisko refuses , and Leyton orders him back to Deep Space 9 . Sometime later , Sisko ' s outside with his thoughts when a man appearing to be Miles O ' Brien ( but who is actually a Changeling ) approaches him and claims that there are only four Changelings on Earth ( not counting Odo ) . He claims that four is more than enough , as the Changelings don ' t fear their enemies as much as they are feared . . . it is this fear that will eventually destroy Starfleet . Promising that the Changelings have barely begun with their plans for Earth and the rest of the Alpha Quadrant , O ' Brien ' s " doppelgänger " leaves . Act Three . After getting some advice from his father , Sisko contacts Kira Nerys and starts putting a plan into motion . At Starfleet Headquarters , Odo and Sisko start reviewing records of personnel transfers , and discover that " " Leyton ' s been a busy man " " , reassigning " over four hundred officers in the past three weeks " with each officer having served under Leyton at some point . Further examination of the records reveals that another batch of transfers will take effect just days hence , not long before Jaresh - Inyo is due to make an important speech . Sisko asks Odo to get Jake and Joseph off Earth to keep them safe , as he is visited by Benteen , who has just been promoted by Leyton to captain of the " Lakota " . When Sisko goes to Jaresh - Inyo to deliver his evidence of the plot , he finds Admiral Leyton waiting for him . Sisko ' s given a blood screening , and it turns up a false positive . Act Four . Sisko is sent back to Starfleet Headquarters and placed in detention , and from the other side of his holding cell ' s force field , Leyton promises that Sisko will be freed in a few days after the President ' s speech . . . or rather , after Leyton ' s speech . He intends to remove Jaresh - Inyo from office and take control of Earth himself for however long it takes to eliminate the Changeling threat – years if necessary . Sisko knows that once Leyton seizes power , he ' ll likely never give it up . Later , when a security tech comes through the brig to take blood screenings , Odo appears and disables the guards , as well as the tech whose cart he ' d hitched a ride on in some other form . While bypassing the force field controls , Odo explains that the random opening and closing of the Bajoran wormhole , which precipitated the current phase of the crisis , was caused by the communications relay in the Gamma Quadrant being fixed with a subspace modulator . Also the DS9 crew have arrested the individual responsible , one Lieutenant Arriaga , who is willing to testify his part in the plot and is on the way to Earth aboard the . Sisko orders Odo to warn Jaresh - Inyo , and goes to Leyton ' s office carrying a phaser . Sisko arrives at Leyton ' s office demanding his resignation from Starfleet and informs him of Arriaga ' s impending arrival , Leyton is amused but unimpressed . As it turns out the is ordered to intercept the " Defiant " – its crew has been told that the " Defiant " is crewed by Changelings . On the " Defiant " , which is commanded by Worf the " Lakota " crew hails and demand that the ship drop its shields and prepare to be boarded as the ship raises shields and charges weapons . Act Five . In Leyton ' s office , Sisko tries to convince Leyton that other Federation worlds will never accept Starfleet overthrowing their legitimately elected president or establishing of what will essentially be a dictatorship on Earth . It could even cause a civil war . Having the " Lakota " fire on the " Defiant " is the first step down that dark path , but Leyton refuses to cancel the order . On the " Defiant " , the crew wonder if the " Lakota " crew are bluffing however once they enter weapons range they are fired upon by the ship . Chief O ' Brien notes that the " Lakota " seems to have had its weapons upgraded , and unwilling to risk dropping shields to cloak and unsure they can outrun the " Lakota " , the crew ' s only option is to fight their way out . Leyton notes the irony that Sisko had originally been more interested in engineering than he was command , until Leyton made him first officer but notes that he didn ' t teach Ben about loyalty . Sisko balks at this , feeling Leyton is the last person to talk about loyalty when he ' s broken his oath to Starfleet and ordered one of its ships to fire on another . Just then Benteen hails Leyton , and the admiral , still at phaser - point , answers . Benteen informs him they ' ve been unable to stop the " Defiant " due to her ablative armor ( the equipping of which wasn ' t on the record ) . Leyton amends his orders so that " Defiant " isn ' t to be disabled but destroyed at any cost . Benteen is shocked , and Sisko pleads with her not to kill the Starfleet officers serving on the " Defiant " since she knows there ' s no Changelings on board . Benteen ends the transmission after Leyton reminds her of her orders . Both the " Defiant " and the " Lakota " have been badly damaged , and a good hit from either will finish the other off . The " Defiant " crew are unwilling to use deadly force against the other crew . . . and it seems the " Lakota " crew feel the same as the ship backs off and hails . Sisko is contacted by Worf , who tells him the " Lakota " is escorting the " Defiant " to Earth however both ships suffered casualties . Sisko tells Leyton that by now Odo will have presented his evidence to Jaresh - Inyo . . . his plot is over . Leyton still refuses to accept this , and tells Sisko he has enough officers left to make a fight of it . Sisko tells him he ' ll be fighting Starfleet now as well and Benteen , who was his closest ally , has already abandoned him so it ' ll be only a matter time before the others do too . Finally accepting he ' s been beaten , Leyton takes off his insignia and leaves his office to be arrested but hopes that Sisko isn ' t making a mistake . The state of emergency is soon lifted , and Earth slowly begins to return to normal . Odo points out to everyone there are still Changelings on Earth , but no - one is willing to let them change the way they live . . . if the Dominion wants to destroy Earth they have to do it themselves . With that , Ben and Jake say a fond farewell to Joseph and with Odo begin their trip back to Deep Space 9 . Memorable quotes . " " Admiral Leyton may be somewhat grating and inflexible at times , but for a man of his accomplishments , a man of his distinguished record , to commit treason ? " " " " I ' m " sure " the Admiral doesn ' t see it as treason ! He would probably defend it as a desperate act of patriotism . " " " " The names of Red Squad members are supposed to be secret . " " " " But you know who they are . " " " " It ' s not easy keeping secrets from a Ferengi . But I feel funny about telling anyone else . Besides , if they found out I told you who they were , I ' d never get in . " " " " Cadet , you are obviously under the mistaken impression that I ' m asking a favor . I want a name , and I want it now , and that is an order ! Understood , Mr . Nog ? " " " " Yes , sir . " " " " So you ' re willing to destroy paradise in order to save it ? " " " " In the end , it ' s your fear that will destroy you . " " " " I never knew it was so easy to break into classified Starfleet files . " " " " Everything I know I learned from Quark . " " " " Paradise has never seemed so well - armed . " " " " Don ' t kid yourself , Ben . This Pandora ' s Box of yours . . . we ' re opening it together . " " " " You want to talk to me about loyalty ? ! After you broke your oath with the Federation , lied to the people of Earth , ordered one of our own starships to fire on another ! You don ' t have the right ! ! " " " " You don ' t understand me at all , do you ? ! " " " " I used to think I did ! I used to think you were a man of principles , a man of honor ! I see that I was mistaken ! " " " " It ' s " not over " ! I have enough loyal officers to make a fight of it ! " " " " Who will you fight ? Starfleet ? The Federation ? Don ' t you see , Admiral ? You ' re fighting the wrong war ! " " " If the Changelings want to destroy what we ' ve built here , they ' re going to have to do it themselves . We will " not " do it for them . " " Links and references . References . ablative armor ; Antwerp Conference ; Arriaga ; artichoke ; asteroid ; authorization code ; Bajoran ; Bajoran wormhole ; bar ; Bartlett ; ; beer ; ; Bolian tonic water ; central computer network ; civil war ; cloaking device ; coffee ; Commander in Chief ; constable ; Corps of Cadets ; Creole food ; CTS - 47 ; darts ; deflector shield ; Division of Planetary Operations ; Dominion ; Dominion cold war ; Earth ; ; executive officer ; Federation ; Federation government ; Federation - Tzenkethi War ; Ferengi ; furniture ; global power grid ; invasion ; ; " Lakota " casualties ; Lisbon ; Luna ; military dictatorship ; oath ; okra ; ; Pacific Standard Time ; PADD ; Pandora ' s Box ; Paris ; pasta boudin ; patriotism ; ; Phillips ' parents ; pint ; power grid ; Promenade ; quantum torpedo ; Quark ; ; ready room ; Red Squad ; relay satellite ; replicator ; resignation ; restart sequencer ; restaurant ; riot ; satellite ; San Francisco ; SATCOM 5 ; Sector 001 ; security lockout ; service number ; sickbay ; Starfleet ; Starfleet Academy ; Starfleet Command ; Starfleet Headquarters ; Starfleet Operations ; subspace modulator ; terrorism ; transporter log ; treason ; tube grub s ; vacation ; vampire ; warp drive Personnel assignment log : adjutant ; Administrative Operations ; Ahn - Ahn ; ; Alapa ; ; ; ; Brinkerhams ; ; ; ; ; Combat Information Center ; ; ; Daneeka ; Daviomeisi ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Efro ; ; ; Engineering Operations ; ; ; ; Facilities ; ; ; Felchin ; ; Firoi ; Fleet Supply Office ; hygienist ; Maintenance ; Maraangopol ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Njoka ; ; ; ; ; ; Ombudsman ; ; ; ; Personnel Deployment ; Planetary Defense Systems ; ; ; Ramcharan ; ; Rhone - Nowlan ; ; Salter ; ; ; ; ; Starfleet Dental ; Starfleet Medical ; Strategic Operations ; Sweem ; Utopia Planitia Sisko ' s Creole Kitchen menu : green onion dipping sauce ; oyster ; shallot ; shrimp remoulade ; stuffing ; Unreferenced material . Bracketville Spaceport ; Mars