Sacrifice of Angels ( episode ) A large fleet of Federation ships head towards Deep Space 9 to stop the Dominion destroying the Wormhole minefield . A Dominion fleet meets them in battle . Can the " Defiant " make it in time ? Summary . Teaser . Operation Return has begun : the Federation attack fleet , commanded by Captain Benjamin Sisko , has encountered a massive Dominion blockade force – outnumbering the Starfleet vessels two - to - one . Elim Garak remarks wryly that the absent Klingon s will be sorry they missed " a very interesting fight " , while O ' Brien says it is more likely that the fight will miss the Klingons . As the " Defiant " crew survey the task ahead of them , Sisko prepares his strategy : groups of Federation attack fighter s will make strafing runs at the blockade , focusing their fire only on the Cardassian starships . Nog is at a loss , and Garak explains that Sisko is hoping to provoke the Cardassians into breaking formation and opening a hole in the Dominion lines , something the Jem ' Hadar ships will not do , no matter the provocation . It is the only chance the Federation has of reaching Deep Space 9 before the minefield is taken down . As they prepare to attack , O ' Brien and Bashir quote from Tennyson ' s " The Charge of the Light Brigade " , something which only makes a nervous Nog even more agitated . Finally , Sisko orders the attack fighters forward , and the battle is joined . Act One . The Cardassians stand their ground after the fighters ' first run , so Sisko orders the second and third waves forward . On the station , safely back from the front line , Dukat , Damar , Weyoun , and the Female Changeling survey the developing battle . Dukat recognizes Sisko ' s strategy almost immediately , but instead of holding their ground , he explains to the Female Changeling that he plans to give Sisko his opening , and then use it to envelop him . As for the minefield , Dukat promises that it will be down in eight hours , something Weyoun says he will hold Dukat to . As the Founder and her Vorta commander leave , Damar sneers at their arrogance and egotism . Dukat chides him that the Dominion are their allies – for now . Damar then raises his concern that Federation - loyal elements may seek to sabotage the station again , hoping to damage or disable Terok Nor before the minefield is deactivated . Damar suggests that they be arrested until the battle is over . Rather than agitate the Bajoran s , Dukat suggests that they merely be " held for questioning . " However , Dukat firmly rejects Damar ' s suggestion that Ziyal be likewise detained , insisting that she is loyal to him and to Cardassia . In Quark ' s , said " elements " – Kira , Jake , and Leeta – are discussing the battle . Contradicting reports range from the two fleets slugging it out to the Federation fleet being completely annihilated . Kira suggests cutting off power to the main computer with a bomb , but before they can fully flesh out their plan – with unhelpful remarks from Quark – Damar arrives to take them to the security office , leaving only Quark behind , uncertain as to what to do . Act Two . Sisko continues to press the Cardassians – the ninth wave of fighters proves just as ineffective as the previous eight . But Dukat is now prepared to spring his trap . He orders half a dozen squadrons to pursue the next group of attacking ships , pulling them out of formation . As O ' Brien and Garak note that a hole in the Dominion lines has been opened , Dax and Sisko note the position of two starships moving into cross - fire positions , and realize that Dukat is luring them into a trap . But Sisko says this may be their only opportunity to break through , and orders the fleet to advance , detailing two wings of starships to engage the " Galor " s , and " " All other ships , head for that opening . Anyone who gets through doesn ' t stop until they reach Deep Space 9 . " " The Federation fleet leaps forward , weapons blazing , and the two " Galor " s are quickly dispatched . The " Defiant " , flanked by two starships , heads into the heart of the blockade fleet , taking multiple hits . The battle descends into a frantic melee as Dominion starships close around the Starfleet vessels and begin jamming fleet communications with a rotating EM pulse . Sisko ' s orders cannot get out to their intended recipients . Back on the station , Dukat is already pouring a toast in his office to what he considers their inevitable victory , and begins musing aloud on how best to administer the conquered systems of the Federation and the Klingons . Weyoun is much more pessimistic – noting that there are still five hours remaining before the Dominion reinforcements can come through the wormhole . He is likewise preoccupied with the formidable logistical task of occupying such a large swath of conquered territory as Dukat is considering . He concludes that the center of the inevitable resistance against Dominion occupation will be Earth , which is why it makes sense to eradicate its entire population . Dukat objects to such a measure as unnecessary ; in his mind , the truest form of victory is to leave your enemy alive , so that they can see the error of their ways in resisting in the first place – " " to force them to acknowledge your greatness . " " Weyoun asks , " " Then you kill them ? " " and Dukat concedes , " " only if it ' s necessary . " " Savoring his drink , Dukat ' s thoughts turn to the Occupation of Bajor and he says his one regret is that the Bajorans never saw him for what he really was : a protector , not a dictator , who shepherded them , rather than oppressed them . Dukat adds that Sisko , for all his perceptiveness , shares this unjust lack of respect for Dukat . Weyoun , contemplating that Dukat actually believes what he ' s saying , is both amused and fascinated by his egotism and self - delusion . The Female Changeling talks to Odo , regaling him with their success in the battle so far . He cannot share her sense of vindication , when people he used to consider his friends are fighting and dying . She retorts that they are only Solid s , and that the Link means more . Odo isn ' t sure , and she realizes the reason behind his indecision – Kira and his feelings for her . The Female Changeling mentions Kira ' s arrest , and that she is to be put to death , so that Odo can regain the clarity she had attempted to provide . Odo is horrified , and turns away from her . She notes that Odo cannot help her , or any of his friends . It is too late for them . The " Defiant " remains in the center of the battle , as its two " Miranda " escorts ( and ) are blown away by a concerted assault . Communications are restored , but the enemy numbers are too great . Garak wonders if it ' s time to cloak and run , but O ' Brien says the cloaking device is fried . Seeing four Jem ' Hadar attack ships directly ahead , Sisko orders the " Defiant " to fight its way through . Act Three . Destroying one fighter , the " Defiant " is pursued by the remaining three . Aft shields are down , forward shields are failing , and the cloaking device is off - line . Sisko orders all power to weapons . Just then , a fleet of Klingon starships emerges from the blinding light of the system ' s sun , hammering into the Dominion fleet . Worf contacts the " Defiant " and apologizes for being late – convincing Gowron to spare ships for the mission was not easy . With the Klingons reinforcing the assault , a real opening has appeared in the enemy lines , and the " Defiant " weaves its way through the battle , emerging alone in the wake of an exploding Jem ' Hadar battle cruiser . With the rest of the fleet pinned down and three hours remaining before the detonation of the minefield , Sisko gives the command to set a course for Terok Nor at maximum warp . Aboard the station , Weyoun orders pursuit , but Dukat notes that the station ' s defenses are more than enough to deal with one small starship , and Sisko ' s attack is nothing less than suicidal . Meanwhile , Quark grabs Ziyal in her quarters , and asks her if she knows how to make hasperat soufflé . Ziyal is intrigued . The two then go to the security office , and attempt to take the soufflé to Kira . The Cardassian on guard is suspicious , and begins to disassemble the meal – only to be stopped by a hypospray wielded by Ziyal . In the holding cells , Rom contemplates his imminent execution – with ninety minutes remaining , he expects to be dead two hours after ( following a lengthy speech by Dukat and victory party with cake ) . Just then , Quark and Ziyal enter , Quark armed with a pair of Cardassian disruptors . He tells the two Jem ' Hadar guards not to move , then demands they open the cells . Ziyal points out the flaw in his request , and as Quark restates his order , the Jem ' Hadar raise their weapons . Acting on instinct , Quark fires first , killing both soldiers . Stunned , Quark can only stand and watch as Ziyal takes down the force field , and frees the Resistance members . Grabbing the guards ' weapons , Kira and Rom plan to sabotage the main computer , and tell the rest of them to hide . The Female Changeling continues to try and persuade Odo to link with her , only to be interrupted by Weyoun informing them of the escape . He recommends they go to Ops , where they will be safer , but Odo states he will remain behind . Kira and Rom head for the main computer and attempt to shut down the power systems , pursued by Dominion forces . Pinned down in a cargo bay , Rom reacts in surprise at the sound of Bajoran phaser fire . Kira is at a loss to explain why Dominion forces would use Bajoran weapons , but when the shooting stops seconds later , she looks out and sees who had actually been using them – Odo has assembled his security force , and outflanked the enemy . As he escorts them to an access conduit , Kira asks why he changed his mind – Odo notes that the Link was paradise , but he isn ' t quite ready for paradise yet . The " Defiant " is closing on the station – a mere eleven minutes away , cutting it a little close , O ' Brien notes . Rom works frantically at the main computer core , Kira sitting helplessly watching . As she asks how the work is going , Rom realizes he won ' t make it in time . Kira suggests cutting power to the station ' s weapons array instead – without weapons , the minefield cannot be detonated , at least not before the " Defiant " can get there . Rom resumes his work . In space , the battle has begun to turn the way of the Allies . The Klingons have outflanked the Dominion blockade fleet , and their lines are starting to crumble . Dukat is undeterred – with the minefield about to be taken down , thousands of ships wait on the other side to reinforce their position . His only hope is that the " Defiant " arrives in time for Sisko to see it . And his wish may be coming true . Dax suggests to Sisko that he might want to come up with an alternate plan . Rom is severing the final connections to the ODN relay s just as Damar neutralizes the last mine leaving the field ready for detonation . Dukat gives the order just as Rom severs the last connection . With a brilliant flash , the array of mines is wiped out . Rom was too late , and the " Defiant " too . Sisko and his crew watch in horror as the shock wave from the detonations blossoms around the station . He orders Dax to enter the wormhole – one last hopeless stand against the Dominion fleet . As the Female Changeling communicates to the Dominion reinforcements , Damar detects the approaching " Defiant " , and Weyoun gives the order to destroy her . But Rom ' s work has been successful , and the station ' s weapons are off - line . The " Defiant " enters the wormhole . Act Four . Sisko orders the ship to a halt – all power diverted to weapons and forward shields – as the Jem ' Hadar fleet is seen on the viewscreen . The crew silently prepare themselves for the inevitable , when Sisko is suddenly pulled into the realm of the Prophet s . They challenge his decision to end " the game " – they cannot allow him to die . Sisko tells them that the only way for them to save his life is to prevent the Jem ' Hadar fleet from entering the Alpha Quadrant . The Prophets dismiss his demands – they are not concerned with corporeal matters , but Sisko rounds on them . What about Bajor ? Their influence over that world is entirely a corporeal matter – and Bajor will be destroyed if the Dominion reinforcements arrive . " " You want to be gods ? Then " be " gods ! " " He tells them the only thing that can save him and Bajor now is a miracle . The Prophets agree , but note that a penance must be exacted for Sisko ' s interference . The Sisko is of Bajor , as the Prophets are , but he will find no rest there – he will follow a different path . Before he can find out what they mean , Sisko is returned to the " Defiant " , as the Dominion fleet enters weapons range . Act Five . Suddenly , the Jem ' Hadar vessels are enveloped in waves of energy , and disappear completely . At first , O ' Brien believes the ships have cloaked , but Dax cannot detect any neutrino emissions . The ships are just . . . " gone " . On Terok Nor , Damar watches in horror as the " Defiant " emerges from the wormhole alone . Dukat tells him not to worry , their reinforcements must be right behind her . . . and the wormhole closes again , leaving him agape . Damar , checking the surrounding space and the Dominion ' s Gamma Quadrant listening posts , reports , stunned , that the reinforcements are nowhere to be found . The " Defiant " opens fire on the still - defenseless station . With weapons still offline , Damar announces that two hundred Allied ships have broken through their lines and are heading for the station ; Weyoun orders an evacuation . The Female Changeling orders the Dominion forces to fall back to Cardassian space , noting the war will apparently take longer than expected . Dukat remains completely aghast at his sudden change in fortune , and his slim grasp on reality begins to crumble . As Damar organizes the evacuation , Dukat ' s sole thought is with Ziyal – he must find her . Sisko lets the Dominion forces evacuate – the " Defiant " is in no shape to stop them . Bashir relays a message from the – the Dominion forces are in full retreat . Smiling , Sisko gives the order for the fleet to rendezvous – at Deep Space 9 . A disheveled and distraught Dukat wanders the Promenade , searching for Ziyal . Weyoun and the Female Changeling depart the station – Weyoun asks if Odo will be joining them ; the Female Changeling says no , but it is only a matter of time . With one final look at his lost prize , Weyoun enters the airlock . Dukat has reached the habitat ring , and finds Ziyal looking for him . Dukat wants her to come back to Cardassia with him – she ' s all he cares about , all he has . But Ziyal doesn ' t want to leave . Dukat is insistent , the enemy is on its way ; Ziyal says that they aren ' t her enemy – she ' s one of them , she helped Kira and the others escape . She belongs here on the station , and bids him goodbye . As she leaves , she turns back to tell Dukat she loves him – only to be shot by an overhearing Damar . Shattered by grief , Dukat runs to his dying daughter and tells her he forgives her , angrily shoving aside Damar as he tries to get him to leave . The last Dominion ship has been routed , Starfleet has returned to Deep Space Nine , and Sisko sets foot upon his home once more to a cheering crowd of Bajorans and happily reunites with Jake . Martok arrives just afterward , noting that Sisko has won his wager with him – a barrel of bloodwine for the first of them to step aboard the station . Worf and Dax are reunited , and O ' Brien and Bashir are too – with Quark ' s holosuite s . Nog relates his promotion to his father and Leeta , remarking that this makes him Rom ' s superior officer . As Garak searches the Promenade , Sisko asks after Kira . The Major is in the Infirmary – with Ziyal . Garak reacts , and heads for the medical facility , finding Kira standing over the young woman ' s body . He remarks that he could never figure out why she loved him , and now he never will . Dukat is still aboard the station , a shattered wreck of a man . Babbling to himself and an illusory Ziyal , he is helped out of a holding cell by Odo , handing Sisko ' s to him as he does . Sisko regards the object for a moment , as Dukat is led away . Memorable quotes . " " Cannon to the right of them , Cannon to the left of them , Cannon in front of them , Volley ' d and thunder ' d . " " " " Storm ' d at with shot and shell , Boldly they rode and well , Into the jaws of death , Into the mouth of hell . . . Rode the six hundred . " " " " Whatever it is you two are reciting , I wish you ' d stop ! " " " " To the conquerors of the Federation . " " " " We didn ' t defeat the Federation by being cautious . " " " " We haven ' t defeated it yet . And even if we do , it ' s only the beginning . Holding onto a prize as vast as the Federation isn ' t going to be easy . It ' s going to require an enormous number of ships , a massive occupation army , and constant vigilance . " " " " I look forward to it ! " " " " A true victory is to make your enemies see they were wrong to oppose you in the first place . To force them to acknowledge your greatness ! " " " " Then you kill them ? " " " " Only if it ' s necessary . " " " " There are people out there . . . fighting , dying . . . people who used to be my friends . " " " " They ' re Solids , Odo – you " must " remember that . " " " " I know . . . but they still " mean " something to me ! " " " " The Link means more . " " " " That ' s what I keep telling myself . . . but somehow I can ' t quite believe it ! " " " " Any other ships make it ? " " " " No , sir . " " " " Uh , chief ? How does that poem end ? " " " " You don ' t want to know . " " " " Any questions ? " " " " I could ask why ? " " " " I don ' t think there ' s time to explain it – besides , I . . . think you know the answer . " " " " What about the link ? " " " " The link . . . was paradise . But it appears I ' m not ready for paradise . " " " " What about Bajor ? You can ' t tell me Bajor doesn ' t concern you . You ' ve sent the Bajorans Orbs , and Emissaries . . . you ' ve even encouraged them to create an entire " religion " around you ! You even told me once that you were ' Of Bajor ' – so don ' t you tell me , you ' re not concerned with corporeal matters ! I don ' t want to see Bajor destroyed . Neither do you – but we all know that ' s " exactly " what ' s going to happen if the Dominion takes over the Alpha Quadrant ! You say you don ' t want me to sacrifice my life – well FINE ! Neither do I . You want to be gods ? Then " BE " gods ! I need a miracle . " Bajor " needs a miracle . . . " STOP THOSE SHIPS ! ! ! " " " The Sisko is of Bajor , but he will find no rest there . His pagh will follow another path . " " " " Victory was within our grasp . . . ! ( . . . ) Bajor . . . The Federation . . . The Alpha Quadrant . . . All lost ! " " " " Time to start packing ! " " " " Contact our forces in the Alpha Quadrant . Tell them to fall back to Cardassian territory . It appears this war is going to take longer than expected . " " " " She loved you . " " " " I could never figure out why . I guess I never will . " " " " What about Odo – is he coming with us ? " " ( Sadly ) " " No . . . but he " will " join us one day – it ' s only a matter of time . " " " " I forgive you too . " " Links and references . References . Alpha Quadrant ; anhedonic ; antigraviton ; Assistant Manager of Policy and Clientele ; attack wing ; Bajor ; Bajoran s ; Bajoran Center for Science s ; Bajoran phaser ; Bajoran religion ; Bajoran prophecy ; Bajoran wormhole ; ; Battle of Britain ; bloodwine ; bomb ; cannon ; Cardassia ; Cardassian s ; " " ; cloaking device ; computer core ; confined to quarters ; constable ; Diego ; Dominion War ; Earth ; electromagnetic pulse ; Emissary of the Prophets ; evasive maneuvers ; Federation ; Ferengi ; force field ; Gamma Quadrant ; Gowron ; guidance thruster ; hasperat ; holosuite ; hotel ; hypospray ; kanar ; Klingon wedding ; minefield ; neutrino ; Occupation of Bajor ; ODN recoupler ; ODN relay ; Operation Return ; orb ; " pagh " ; party ; phaser ; Promenade ; quantum torpedo ; Quark ' s ; raktajino ; ; self - replicating mine ; squadron Starship references . Cardassian attack ship ; Federation attack fighter ; ; ; ; ; ; ; " Rotarran " , IKS ; ; ;