Favor the Bold ( episode ) Tired of being on the losing end of the war , Captain Sisko convinces Starfleet Command to launch a fleet of starships to retake Deep Space 9 . Meanwhile , time may be running out for Rom . Summary . Teaser . Somewhere in space , the is venting plasma . Her weapons are off - line and her shields are at 30 % . Two Jem ' Hadar fighter ships approach and attack . A Klingon Bird - of - Prey decloaks and destroys one of the Jem ' Hadar ships . The " Defiant " brings its weapons online and destroys the other . The Klingon ship is the . The " Rotarran " and the " Defiant " have been playing this game for a while . Just then they receive new orders from Starfleet to fall back . The crew complains that it seems that all they ' ve been doing lately is retreating . According to Chief Miles O ' Brien , engage , retreat , engage , retreat is becoming the Federation ' s favorite tune . Julian Bashir adds on that they might end up singing " Hail the Conquering Dominion " . Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax , captaining the " Defiant " , and her fiance , Lieutenant Commander Worf , captaining the " Rotarran " , agree to meet at Starbase 375 . Once there Dax , echoing her crew ' s sentiments , confronts Captain Benjamin Sisko about Starfleet ' s strategy in his office , which has left morale so low that even the Klingons have begun to doubt the certainty of victory . When Sisko tells Dax that he ' s in complete agreement , she forcefully tells him to do something about it , at which point he reveals his plan to retake Deep Space 9 . Act One . The next day , Sisko describes his plan to Admiral s Sitak and Coburn . Elements from the Second , Fifth , and Ninth Fleet s will be peeled off the front lines and sent to retake Deep Space 9 . Admiral Sitak tells Sisko that the Dominion will send a large fleet to stop them , but Sisko counters that it will slow their advance into Federation territory . Admiral Coburn objects that the plan leaves Earth extremely vulnerable . Admiral William Ross responds that the Third Fleet will still be there to protect Earth . Coburn still isn ' t convinced , but Sisko says confidently that the Dominion won ' t attack Earth . Earth isn ' t the key to the Alpha Quadrant ; the wormhole is . And whoever controls Deep Space 9 controls the wormhole . On Terok Nor , the Dominion / Cardassian name for Deep Space 9 , Quark and Major Kira Nerys attempt to see Odo about releasing Rom from his Dominion holding cell . But Odo ' s quarters are guarded by Bajoran and Jem ' Hadar security , and Odo won ' t see anyone . The Bajoran informs them that Odo has been with the Female Changeling for three days . Inside , the Female Changeling and Odo sit back to back , fully clothed on the opposite sides of an only slightly rumpled bed . They are discussing sex in the manner of solid s . The Female Changeling thanks Odo for giving her new insight , observing that the solids ' version of intimacy pales in comparison to the Changelings ' linking . They discuss Odo ' s previous experiences with sex . The Female Changeling guesses that Odo regrets not having had it with Kira . But Odo doesn ' t want to talk about Kira . He says that he has a Ruling Council meeting to attend . The Female Changeling says that that meeting took place three days ago . Odo is shocked at the passage of time . The Female Changeling tells him not to worry anymore about solids ' meetings and schedules : " " we ' re Changelings ; we ' re timeless " " . They link . Act Two . Kira next goes to see Weyoun about Rom . He ' s in the wardroom examining a gift given to him by Gul Dukat : a prize - winning painting by Dukat ' s daughter Tora Ziyal . But as the Founders made the Vorta without a sense of aesthetics , Weyoun cannot appreciate it and insists on asking Kira if it is " any good . " Then , Weyoun tells Kira that the Dominion is planning to execute Rom on charges of terrorism for attempting to sabotage the Dominion ' s move to bring down the minefield . He also notes that Rom is the one who came up with the self - replicating mine s in the first place . Seeing that Weyoun won ' t be of any help , Kira threatens to involve the Bajoran government since Rom is married to a Bajoran citizen , but Weyoun is not impressed . He does , though , say he won ' t consider her to be a co - conspirator . Rom , his wife Leeta , and his brother Quark discuss Rom ' s future , or lack of one , from his Dominion holding cell . After Rom shoots down the possibility that the Bajoran government can arrange his release , or that Grand Nagus Zek can buy his freedom from the Dominion , Quark pledges to do whatever it takes to get him out . But Rom is much more interested in having Quark take out the anti - graviton beam , to finish what Rom started . Quark protests at first , because he doesn ' t want to die , but he knows that he has no choice . As Rom tells him , the fate of the entire Alpha Quadrant is in Quark ' s hands . Kira next appeals to Ziyal to speak to her father Dukat about Rom . Ziyal goes to Dukat , but he says he can ' t do anything . Ziyal appeals to his vanity ; this is Dukat ' s opportunity to show the people of Bajor , especially Major Kira what a forgiving , compassionate , great man he is . Dukat briefly suspects that Ziyal was involved in the attempted sabotage . Ziyal says that if Dukat truly regrets the Cardassian occupation of Bajor , then this is his chance to prove it to everyone , including her . He again refuses , as Rom is now an enemy of the state , and Ziyal , angry , says that Dukat is a " true " Cardassian . She storms out . In Quark ' s , Kira and Quark finish a discussion about a possible scheme to free Rom . Damar is feeling quite pleased with himself . Finding Kira at the bar , he orders her to prepare to receive a freighter and takes her seat . As she reluctantly leaves , he objects to her attitude . Kira responds he ' s welcome to try and change it . Damar later tells Quark that his field tests on the anti - graviton beam were successful and deactivation of the mines has already begun . Quark asks how long it ' ll take , and is horrified to find the minefield will be ready to be destroyed within the week . Act Three . On Starbase 375 , General Martok tells Sisko and Admiral Ross that Klingon Chancellor Gowron doesn ' t like Sisko ' s plan . Gowron is concerned that it will leave the Klingon Empire exposed to Dominion attack . Martok and Worf agree to see Gowron in person to convince him that the plan is worth it . As Martok says , if Gowron ' s most trusted ally and his worst enemy tell him the same thing , he will have no choice but to agree . Quark tells Kira about Damar ' s estimate that the minefield will be down in a week , and suggests letting Odo know in case he can help . Kira reminds him they can ' t get to Odo , and feels certain he wouldn ' t help even if he were asked . Therefore they have to find a way to warn Starfleet , however no - one has a clue on how to actually do that . Jake then arrives and tells the two that he ' s able to get a message out thanks to a courier , Morn , who is going away for his mother ' s birthday ( the message being hidden on a ribbon that is used to tie her present ) . Sisko receives the message , letting him and Admiral Ross know the minefield will be down in three days - less time than it will take for the Ninth Fleet and the Klingons to arrive and join Sisko ' s task force . Sisko says they have no choice but to launch the operation immediately - even if not enough ships survive to re - take the station , they have a slender hope of destroying the graviton emitter and keeping the minefield intact . After a moment ' s pause , Ross agrees , knowing that if the Dominion ' s reinforcements are allowed to come through the wormhole , then all is lost . Act Four . In the wardroom , Dukat and Weyoun observe the slow , but steady , deactivation of the mines . As the graviton beam strikes a mine , a brief flash is visible as its replication unit fails . Weyoun comments that he is unable to see them , as the Vorta have poor eyesight , but is assured by Dukat that he will most certainly see the final destruction of the minefield . Damar enters with the latest movement of the Federation Fleet : the Second and Fifth Fleets have disengaged from the Kotanka system and Vulcan border respectively and have converged at Starbase 375 . But they don ' t know what the Federation is up to . Weyoun demands an answer to this and leaves . Dukat then asks Damar to talk to Ziyal to convince her to talk to Dukat again . Damar , looking uncomfortable , trys to back out , but Dukat says that it is important to him , so Damar agrees . In a cargo bay , Damar confronts Ziyal , who is speaking with Kira . Damar tries to convince her to come with him , to no avail . He explains that Dukat knows their alliance with the Dominion is a dangerous one and thus cannot afford to show weakness . When she still refuses , he grabs her . Kira objects and knocks Damar unconscious . Ziyal is shocked . On Starbase 375 , Ross stops by Sisko ' s office to see him off and wish him good luck . Sisko is reviewing ancient Bajoran texts and the two start to discuss Bajor . When Ross comments that he hears that it ' s " nice " , Sisko tells him that hardly describes Bajor ' s beauty and talks eloquently about some of the planet ' s natural wonders . Ross assures Sisko that he ' s convinced and notes that Ben will have a hard time saying goodbye when his mission ends and Bajor is welcomed into the Federation . Sisko responds that he has no intention of saying goodbye , as he intends to build a house on Bajor . Although he will always go to where Starfleet assigns him , Bajor is where he ' ll return to when its time to go home . On the " Defiant " , Nog and O ' Brien talk about Nog ' s promotion to ensign . Sisko takes command of the " Defiant " from Dax . The fleet departs for Deep Space 9 . Act Five . Back on Terok Nor , Dukat tells Weyoun that the Federation Fleet is on the move and headed towards the station . Weyoun isn ' t concerned , as he ' s sure the Dominion will crush them . They arrange to have ships taken off the front lines and repositioned at Terok Nor ; once the wormhole is reopened , there will be more than enough ships to take their place . Damar enters , with his face bruised , demanding that Major Kira be arrested for assault . He tries to explain what happened with Ziyal to Dukat , but Weyoun overhears their conversation ( the Vorta ' s poor eyesight is compensated by excellent hearing ) , chiming in that family squabbles can wait until the enemy has been crushed . He reminds Dukat of their immediate priorities , and is told that enough ships will be redeployed to halt the Federation Fleet . Weyoun leaves to inform the Female Changeling . While Damar is shocked that the Federation is making a move against them , Dukat demands to know exactly what happened between him and Kira . Elsewhere on the station , Odo and the Female Changeling are observing the solids from the upper deck of the Promenade . Odo pities the limits of the solids , but the Female Changeling states that the Founder s must " guide " the solids , not pity them . The Female Changeling says that the solids must be broken of their love for freedom for their own good . Odo is taken aback . His eyes are beginning to open again to what the Founders really are . He leaves as Weyoun interrupts . Odo spots Kira and chases her down . He tries to explain that he ' s been " occupied . " Kira says she knows ; while he ' s been occupied , the minefield ' s coming down , the Federation is about to lose the war , and Rom has been sentenced to death . He tries to apologize , but Kira won ' t have it . She says " " we are way , way past ' sorry ' . " " The Federation task force , en route to DS9 , detects 1 , 254 Dominion ships ahead . The Federation is outnumbered two to one . On the " Defiant " s bridge , everyone is quiet . Sisko breaks the silence by activating the comm - system and ordering the fleet into Delta - Two Attack Formation . He says there ' s an old saying : " Fortune favors the bold " . They ' re about to find out if that ' s true . TO BE CONTINUED . . . Memorable quotes . " " Can you believe it ? They made me an ensign . " " " " I didn ' t realize that things were going so bad . " " " " Scary , isn ' t it ? " " " " I don ' t know what all you brass hats in Starfleet command are thinking , but take it from a simple field officer – we ' re not going to win this war by running away from the enemy . " " " " I know that . " " " " Benjamin , troop morale is at an all - time low . Even the " Klingons " are starting to wonder if we can defeat the Dominion . We need a victory – a " big " victory – and we need it soon . " " " " I couldn ' t agree with you more . " " " " Then do something about it ! " " " " I already have . In fact , I ' m presenting a plan to Starfleet Command at 0800 tomorrow . " " " " What plan ? " " " " We ' re going to retake Deep Space 9 . " " " " What if you ' re wrong , and the Dominion " doesn ' t " commit its forces to protect Deep Space 9 ? What if instead they launch a full - scale assault on Earth ? If we follow the plan you ' re proposing , we ' ll " never " be able to get reinforcements there in time ! " " " " The Dominion won ' t attack Earth . " " " " How can you be sure ? " " " " Because Earth isn ' t the key to the Alpha Quadrant ; the " wormhole " is – and whoever controls Deep Space 9 controls the wormhole . " " " " It should be obvious , even to " you " , Damar , that I am not a true daughter of Cardassia ! " " " " What ' s obvious to me is that your father should ' ve left you to rot in that Breen prison camp . But he didn ' t . He took pity on you , and it ' s your duty to repay him . Now come with me ! " " " " Let her go ! " " " " And if I don ' t ? What happens then ? " " " " I was hoping you ' d ask ! " " " " Don ' t you think resolving family squabbles can wait until after we ' ve won the war ? " " " " Weak eyes , good ears . " " " " One week . . . and the Alpha Quadrant is ours ! " " " " What if I get caught ? " " " " Then we ' ll die together , brother . " " " " Would this be more aesthetically pleasing if it were blue ? " " " " I don ' t want you to try to save me . " ' " " " What are you talking about ? ! They must have done something to his mind ! " " " " What mind ? " " " " General . . . perhaps you should return to Qo ' noS and make your plea in person . The chancellor has great respect for you – if " you " cannot convince him , " no one " can . " " " " I will go to see Gowron . . . and " you " will come with me ! " " " " No – the chancellor no longer considers me a friend . " " " " I know . But what could be better ? An ally and an enemy both telling him the same thing ; he ' ll have no other choice but to agree ! " " " " If those Dominion reinforcements come through the wormhole we will have lost everything . " " " " Then we take the ships we have , fight our way to Deep Space 9 and destroy the anti - graviton emitter . It ' s our only hope . " " " " . . . Do it ! " " " " I must say , you ' re doing a wonderful job with Odo . " ' " " " Meaning what ? ! " " " " Meaning that he ' s always posed a potential threat to our plans , but you seem to have neutralized him quite nicely . " " " Neutralize " Odo ? ! Is " that " why you think I ' m here ? ! Odo is a Changeling – bringing him home , returning him to the Great Link means more to us than the Alpha Quadrant itself . Is that clear ? " " " " There ' s an old saying : Fortune favors the bold . Well , I guess we ' re about to find out . " " " " Rom is an enemy of the state and enemies of the state do not deserve mercy . " " " " Spoken like a true Cardassian . " " " " I " am " a Cardassian ! And so are you . " " " " No , I ' m not ! ! I could never be like you ! " " " " You ' re sorry ? ! That ' s what you wanted to tell me ? You ' re " sorry " ? ! Well , let me tell you something , Odo . We are way , " way " past ' sorry ' . " " " " I always hope for the best . Experience , unfortunately , has taught me to expect the worst . " " Links and references . References . adjutant ; ; Gamma Quadrant ; Bajor ; Bajoran s ; Bajoran prophecy ; Bajoran government ; Bajoran wormhole ; Breen ; Cardassia ; Cardassian s ; ; Council of Ministers ; courier ; Dakeen Monastery ; Delta 2 attack formation ; Earth ; Emissary of the Prophets ; Federation ; Ferengi ; field officer ; Fifth Fleet ; " fortune favors the bold " ; Gowron ; Great Link ; " Hail the Conquering Dominion " ; holosuite ; jambalaya ; kanar ; kilometer ; Klingon s ; Klingon Bird - of - Prey ; Klingon Defense Force ; Klingon Empire ; latinum ; loophole ; medical tricorder ; Morn ' s mother ; Nausicaan ; neural transponder ; Ninth Fleet ; Occupation of Bajor ; Obsidian Order ; poison ; prison camp ; Promenade ; Prophet s ; Quark ' s ; R & R ; raktajino ; reporter ; ; Second Fleet ; ; Sisko ' s house ; Starfleet Academy ; Starfleet Intelligence ; task force ; toast ; Vulcan ; Vulcan border ; war ;