The Die is Cast ( episode ) The Cardassian - Romulan fleet enters the Gamma Quadrant ; Sisko goes against Starfleet orders to rescue Odo . ( Part 2 of 2 ) Summary . Teaser . Dr . Bashir is eating lunch with Chief O ' Brien in the Replimat while trying to begin the same kind of engaging and lively conversation that he typically would with Garak , who is still missing with Odo as they are investigating the bombing of Garak ' s tailor shop . Bashir quickly finds , however , that O ' Brien prefers to spend his lunch eating than talking leaving the discussion very one - sided . Bashir misses his friend and O ' Brien is confident they have not been destroyed because debris from their runabout hasn ' t been found . O ' Brien is called to Ops where tetryon emissions precede the decloaking of the Cardassian - Romulan fleet . The fleet ignores the station ' s hails and proceeds through the wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant . Sisko orders the station be put on red alert immediately and tells Dax to contact Starfleet Command . Act One . On the lead ship of the Cardassian - Romulan fleet , Enabran Tain and Garak reflect upon their times together in the Obsidian Order . Garak says that he intends to " look up " a number of people once he returns to Cardassia Prime , including Gul Dukat . Tain feels that Garak will be able to " eliminate " anyone after the current mission is completed . Romulan Colonel Lovok enters and is introduced to Garak , of whom he is immediately suspicious . Lovok informs them that the fleet has recloaked and are setting course to the Founder s ' at warp 6 ( any faster could make them detectable through their cloak by the Jem ' Hadar ) . Tain tells Garak that his first assignment is to extract all information that is possible from Odo , who is being held in quarters surrounded by a force field . There , Garak uses his usual fake politeness on Odo , who is angered by the captivity he ' s suddenly found himself in . Garak has certainly taken to his new position quickly , as he asks Odo for information on the Founders . Odo refuses , and , instead , tells him that Tain remains both Odo ' s and Garak ' s enemy , even if it seems like Tain has been taken him back . They both tell each other that they should take the time to think about what ' s been said , with neither apparently backing down . Back at DS9 , the senior staff ( along with Security Chief Michael Eddington ) is shown an intercepted video in the wardroom in which Tain lays out his plans to destroy the Dominion . Vice Admiral Toddman explains that both the Romulan and Cardassian governments have denied any prior knowledge of the operation , and while they claim to be working on plans to stop Tain it is believed they are happy to sit back and wait since the plan has a very real chance of succeeding . Starfleet is also ( unofficially ) in support of Tain , as Toddman explains that while he certainly isn ' t hoping for war , but should there be one , he unquestionably prefers that the Dominion lose it . Toddman then warns that if Tain succeeds , the Jem ' Hadar will likely launch a massive retaliatory attack against the Alpha Quadrant and orders Sisko to evacuate Deep Space 9 of non - essential personnel and have the ready for battle . Sisko requests permission to take the " Defiant " into the Gamma Quadrant to rescue Odo , but Toddman refuses and explicity tells him his priority is to guard Bajor . Directly after the meeting , Sisko instructs the senior staff that as a " volunteer mission " he is going to go to the Gamma Quadrant with the " Defiant " to rescue Odo , justifying it as they will be able to warn the station ( and the task force of nine starships being sent ) in case of an oncoming attack . Act Two . All the senior staff has volunteered for the mission , and the " Defiant " s bridge is full . Kira gets a repeated message from Toddman , but Sisko suggests that the communication was too degraded to be legible . They leave , go through the wormhole and head directly for the Founders ' homeworld . Lovok and Tain describe the situation : the nearest Jem ' Hadar bases to the planet are too far , giving them time to bombard the planet . Pressure is again put on Garak to extract information from Odo about the planet ' s possible planetary defenses . Garak is less than keen , pointing out that Odo likely put all relevant information in his report to Starfleet . . . and besides , he doesn ' t relish the idea of interrogating someone who can change their form at will . Tain presents a device that emits a quantum stasis field which should inhibit Odo ' s shapeshifting ability . While Lovok is angry that he wasn ' t informed about this device , Garak does not seem pleased with this news and Tain suggests the Tal Shiar should continue the interrogation . Garak is visibly upset and insists that Odo is his prisoner and that it is his duty to question Odo further . Tain agrees , with skepticism . Suddenly , the " Defiant " s cloaking device fails . If found , they will have to fight . Act Three . Security chief Eddington admits that he has sabotage d the cloaking device under direct orders by Admiral Toddman . Despite Sisko ' s noticeable frustration with Eddington ' s betrayal , Eddington requests to continue his duties giving his word he will do nothing else to impede the mission . Sisko immediately observes that it is his policy to not question the " word " of a Starfleet officer , and he promptly grants Eddington ' s request . Sisko gives Chief O ' Brien a two - hour deadline to fix the cloak , despite the chief telling him it will take ten . Garak begins questioning Odo and using the quantum stasis device . Odo is about ready to return to liquid form and is discomforted at being forced to maintain humanoid form . As time passes , Odo begins to lose cohesion and taunts Garak . It is clearly bothering Garak to see Odo in such pain and he encourages Odo to confess anything – even to lie – as long as he gives up some information . Odo admits that despite all the atrocities his people have committed , he still desires to return to the Great Link , which is information he hadn ' t shared with Starfleet , allowing Garak to deactivate the device and end the interrogation . While Odo returns to his natural state and pours himself into the container , Garak holds his head in his hands , showing deep regret at what he has done . Act Four . O ' Brien has managed to get the cloaking device back online . He returns to the bridge to give Eddington a piece of the damage as a jab . Sisko orders Dax to resume course . Despite learning about the Great Link , Garak informs Tain and Lovok that Odo never broke , and that there is no new information that can be learned from him . Tain then decides Odo has outlived his usefulness , and orders him executed , but Garak suggests that killing Odo might cause problems with Starfleet and the Bajoran government , since Odo is an officer of their militia serving on a Federation outpost . Lovok speaks first and agrees that Odo must not be executed , but based on the fact that not all Founders might be on their home planet , and Odo could be useful in future engagements , and that he wants to take Odo to Romulus for further studies . Tain concedes , and when they ' re alone , Lovok tells Garak that he knows he ' s protecting Odo out of friendship . Lovok tells Garak that he knows he is a practiced liar but Lovok assures him that he is a practiced observer and he will be observing him very closely . The Cardassian - Romulan fleet arrives at the Founders ' homeworld , and starts firing . They are initially pleased with the damage they must be doing , but the tactical officer reports no change in lifeform readings . Garak quickly discerns that the Founders are using an automated transponder to send back false life sensor readings from the planet . . . the planet has been evacuated . Suddenly , they find 150 Jem ' Hadar fighters emerge from the Omarion Nebula and engage the fleet . Garak realizes that it was a trap and that the Jem ' Hadar had been waiting for them all along . Act Five . The Battle of the Omarion Nebula begins and the Jem ' Hadar begin to annihilate the fleet . Quickly , several Cardassian and Romulan ships are destroyed or severely damaged . During the battle , contact is lost with engineering , which Lovok goes to investigate , leaving Tain in command of the bridge . Garak , seeing the battle not going well , makes his way off the bridge to locate and save Odo . They run into Lovok , weapon drawn , who reveals himself to be a Changeling . admits that while the plan to attack the Founders ' homeworld was indeed concocted by Tain , when they learned of it they pushed it forward in order to destroy the Tal Shiar and Obsidian Order viewing them both as serious threats , but not any longer . As far as the Founders are concerned , only the Klingon Empire and remain as serious opposition but there are already plans in motion take care of them . Odo is again presented with the choice of joining the Great Link , which he declines , and " Lovok " allows them the chance to escape , explaining that no Changeling has ever harmed another . Garak makes his way back to the bridge in an attempt to save Tain , but he refuses to leave . Garak tells him that Lovok was a Changeling , and Tain rues that he has become old and let his pride override his instinct noting that in the old days he would have kept someone as smart as Lovok at arm ' s length . He also tells a pleading Garak that no matter what happens now , he has no intention of returning to his quiet retirement with Mila . Odo has to knock Garak out to force him onto the runabout and escape . As they escape , Tain wryly notes that the Founders are " " very good . " " The runabout escapes the Romulan ship before it is destroyed , but is pursued by the Jem ' Hadar and loses shields . When all seems lost , Garak sincerely apologizes and Odo accepts the apology , saying that he understands Garak ' s desire to return home . The " Defiant " decloaks and is able to transport Odo and Garak on board . The " Defiant " attacks and destroys a number of Jem ' Hadar fighters , clearing itself a path back to the wormhole . Speaking with Admiral Toddman , Sisko states that it appears no Romulan or Cardassian ships survived the battle . Toddman likens it to the Battle of Wolf 359 ; a comparison that visibly rattles Sisko , but one that he agrees is fundamentally accurate . The admiral tells Sisko that he won ' t file charges against him or the crew , but warns him that next time he will have to either court martial him . . . or promote him . Toddman assures Sisko that in either case , he will be in a lot of trouble . Sisko promises to keep that in mind . Standing in the charred remains of his shop , Garak reflects on past events and begins to clean up the mess , when Odo appears in the doorway to thank Garak for leaving his confession out of his report . The two agree that the whole conversation is best left forgotten , as Garak decides to rebuild his shop noting the irony that he ' s actually a very good tailor . Odo asks Garak if they could have breakfast together sometimes . Garak admits he thought that Odo didn ' t eat , and Odo simply responds that he doesn ' t before exiting . Memorable quotes . " " Odo , talk to me ! Tell me something , anything ! Lie if you have to but just say it , please ! " " " " Home , I want to go home ! " " " " And you will , as soon as this is over I promise I will take you back to Deep Space 9 . " " " " No , not the station . " " " " Do you remember getting that confession out of Dr . Parmak ? " " " " I never even " touched " him . . . " " " " That was the beauty of it ! " " " " It sounds like you ' re hoping Tain " will " succeed ! " " " " I never hope for war , Major – but if it comes , I ' d rather see the Dominion on the losing side . " " " " You ' ve turned us into sitting ducks for the Jem ' Hadar ! " " " " I make it a policy to never question the word of anyone who wears that uniform . Don ' t make me change that policy . " " " " So much for the Dominion ! Open fire ! " " " " Why are you helping us ? " " " " Because no Changeling has ever harmed another . " " " " They ' re using an automated transponder to send back false sensor readings ! The planet ' s deserted ! ! " " " " It ' s a trap ! They ' ve been waiting for us all along . " " " " Of course ! This whole plan was the Founders ' idea in the first place – you " wanted " the Tal Shiar and the Obsidian Order to combine forces , and come in to the Gamma Quadrant , so you could wipe them out ! " " " " It is not too late for you , Odo . Come with me . You can still become one with the Great Link if you wish . " " " " The Tal Shiar and the Obsidian Order are both ruthless , efficient organizations , a definite threat to us . " " " " But not after today ? " " " " No . After today , the only threat remaining to us from the Alpha Quadrant are the Klingons and the Federation . And I doubt either of them will be a threat for much longer . " " " " It appears I have underestimated the Founders . I should have seen it coming . There was a time when nothing got past me . You remember , don ' t you , Elim ? " " " " Yes , I do , but now , we have to go ! " " " " Go where ? Back to Mila and my quiet retirement ? I don ' t think so . I must be getting old . I let my pride override my instinct . Wouldn ' t have played it that way in the old days . In the old days , I would have kept Lovok at arm ' s length . He was too cagey , too smart . " " " " I can ' t just leave you here ! " " " " I always did have a soft spot for you , Garak . Another one of my flaws . " " " " Enabran ! " " " " These Founders , Elim , they ' re very good . But next time . . . we should be more careful . " " " " Sounds like Wolf 359 all over again . " " " " If you pull a stunt like that again , I ' ll court martial you . . . or I ' ll promote you . Either way you ' ll be in a lot of trouble . " " " " Do you know what the sad part is , Odo ? I ' m a very good tailor . " " Links and references . References . addiction ; Algira sector ; Alpha Quadrant ; Argelian s ; Argelian massage facility ; arms dealer ; Bajor ; Bajoran s ; Bajoran Militia ; Bajoran sector ; Bajoran wormhole ; Barton ; " Belak " ; Cardassia ; Cardassian s ; Cardassian Central Command ; Cardassian cruiser ; Cardassian government ; Cardassian space ; chief security officer ; Chow - Yun ; Constable ; court martial ; ; Dominion ; Dominion cold war ; Dukat ; Earth ; Federation ; Flaxian ; Flaxian ship ; Founders ; ; Gamma Quadrant ; informant ; ion storm ; Jem ' Hadar ; ; Ketracel - white ; Klingon s ; " Koranak " ; Lovok ; " Makar " ; mantle ; ; meter ; Mila ; Milky Way Galaxy ; Obsidian Order ; Omarion Nebula ; orbital bombardment ; Parmak ; plomeek soup ; poison ; Porania ; ; Promenade ; quantum stasis field ; Replimat ; retirement ; Romulan ; Romulan Senate ; Romulan Star Empire ; Romulus ; runabout ; sabotage ; shape - shift inhibitor ; Starfleet ; Starfleet Command ; strangulation ; subspace energy fluctuation ; swimming ; Tal Shiar ; task force ; tetryon ; tetryon compositor ; treason ; Vicarian razorback ; Willemheld Deleted references . 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