Broken Link ( episode ) Odo is plagued by an unknown ailment that threatens to kill him . Meanwhile , the Federation and the Klingon Empire move closer to war . ( " Season finale " ) Summary . Teaser . Odo arrives at Elim Garak ' s shop , as requested by the Cardassian tailor . He believes Garak wishes to report a crime , but instead Garak attempts to introduce Odo to a Bajoran woman named Chalan Aroya . Uncomfortable with women , Odo neither accepts nor declines her invitation for dinner , noting that he doesn ' t eat . Garak expresses dissatisfaction in Odo ' s inability to act . Suddenly , Odo ' s shape destabilizes . As he vocalizes the pain , the destabilization continues . Eventually , he falls to the ground , unconscious . Garak contacts Dr . Bashir and requests an emergency medical team . Act One . In the infirmary , Bashir informs Odo that his mass and density are in a state of fluctuation , but is uncertain of the cause . The doctor insists that Odo remain in the infirmary , as movement may encourage the destabilization . Odo grudgingly agrees . In the wardroom , Benjamin Sisko , Worf , Jadzia Dax , and Kira Nerys view a transmission from Klingon Chancellor Gowron . Gowron refuses to return captured Cardassian territories . He also demands that the United Federation of Planets withdraw from the Archanis sector , despite its unimportance and previous relinquishment . Dax states that several diplomats have informed her that several Federation colonies near the Klingon border are calling for a preemptive strike against the Klingons . The senior staff is troubled by the growing prospect of war , but realizes there is little they can do . Suddenly , Kira bursts into a fit of sneezing . The sneezing is a result of the pregnancy . She is asked if Bashir can help , but states the doctor currently has his hands full with Odo ' s unknown illness . The crew agrees to leave Odo alone to rest , knowing that he values his privacy . In the infirmary , Kira visits Odo . Odo doesn ' t want company , but is happy to receive that day ' s criminal activity report from Kira . Noticing something , Odo leaves the infirmary for a docking port . He encounters a Boslic Captain named Rionoj , whom he suspects of attempting to steal the Falangian diamond . Unfortunately , as Odo prepares to arrest Rionoj , he is struck by the illness again , this time becoming completely liquid . Act Two . Now back in the infirmary , Odo is in a near constant state of instability ( primarily in the midsection ) and admits to Bashir he is having difficulty maintaining humanoid shape . Bashir estimates that Odo will not be able to maintain solid form in one or two weeks . Bashir gives Odo the option of going to Bajor ( to Doctor Mora Pol ) or Starfleet Medical , but Odo insists that only the Founder s can truly help his condition . Sisko discusses the mission to take Odo to the Founders ' new homeworld with the senior staff . They will enter the Gamma Quadrant uncloaked and transmit signals explaining their mission . Major Kira initially wants to go with them , but agrees to remain behind because of the pregnancy . Now aboard the " Defiant " , Sisko grants a request made by Garak to come aboard . Garak explains to Sisko that he wishes to ask the Founders about the crew members of several Cardassian warships that went missing during the failed attack on the Founders . Sisko agrees to allow Garak on the mission so that Garak can distract Odo during the mission with a concoction of innuendo and half - truths regarding Garak ' s ( alleged ) past as a Cardassian spy . On the way to the " Defiant " , Odo meets Quark , who predicts he will own the station by the time they get back ( as well as a 60 % increase in his smuggling profits due to Odo ' s absence ) ; Odo warns Quark not to get too comfortable because he will be back . Odo then walks unaided across the Promenade as dozens of people watch his departure . The " Defiant " leaves for the Gamma Quadrant . Garak occupies Odo ' s attention in the infirmary by telling him tales of his previous experiences , including his time as a gardener at the Cardassian embassy on Romulus during a period where several prominent Romulan officials died under suspicious circumstances . O ' Brien tells the rest of the " Defiant " s bridge crew how he feels outnumbered now that Kira has moved in with Keiko and him . The " Defiant " then meets and is surrounded by dozens of Jem ' Hadar fighter s . Act Three . A request is made for someone from the Dominion to meet on the " Defiant " to discuss the request that was being transmitted . Before arrangements could be made , the Female Changeling and three Jem ' Hadar soldiers beam directly to the " Defiant " s bridge . One of the Jem ' Hadar soldiers attacks O ' Brien by grabbing his chest until the Founder orders everyone to stop . The Female Changeling , representing the Founders , says she has come for Odo and that he must go with her to the Great Link . As she is reluctant to reveal the location of the Founders ' new homeworld , but respects Sisko ' s loyalty to Odo when he refuses to leave the Gamma Quadrant without him , one of the Jem ' Hadar named Amat ' igan will pilot the " Defiant " while a device is installed that will keep the navigation system from recording their destination . The Female Changeling visits Odo in the infirmary . They join and Odo is visibly much better and more stable than before . She then insists that they speak alone . During the discussion , it is apparent that the Founders have been keeping Odo under surveillance and knew he was not well . She admits that they made him ill so that he would be forced to return to the Great Link to be judged . Act Four . The Female Changeling tells Odo that he is to join in the Great Link , open his thoughts so that they can judge him for killing another Changeling , the first time the Great Link has ever had to render judgment on a Changeling . She also admits that only the Great Link can heal him of his illness . Garak and the Female Changeling discuss the possibility of Cardassian survivors from the earlier attack ; she responds that the attackers , Garak , and all of Cardassia is dead for attacking the Founders and warns that retaliation is coming . The crew discusses ways to maintain a transporter lock on Odo while he is in the Great Link , but , given his devotion to justice , he insists that the crew does not try to rescue him when he is being judged , despite O ' Brien warning that the Dominion ' s idea of justice seems far different than Odo ' s . Once at the Founder ' s homeworld , the Female Changeling , Odo , Sisko and Bashir transport down to a small rocky island that is surrounded by the Great Link . The Female Changeling walks into the " ocean " and , with a short glance back at Sisko and Bashir , Odo follows . Act Five . Worf catches Garak in an attempt to control the " Defiant " s phaser s and torpedo es . His plan is to commit genocide by destroying the ; although the " Defiant " and its crew would not survive , Garak argues that it would be a small price to destroy the Dominion threat and save the Alpha Quadrant . Worf beats Garak in hand - to - hand combat , commenting that he fights well . . . for a tailor . While waiting , Sisko stops Bashir from absentmindedly trying to skip a rock into the " ocean " . They see Odo being ejected from the Great Link to the shore of the rocky island . He is not wearing any clothing . Bashir scans him and says he is getting strange readings - lungs , a heart , a digestive system . . . It ' s as if Odo were Human . The Female Changeling walks out of Great Link and says that Odo has been judged . She states that his punishment was to give him what he wanted : he has been made a solid . She then tells Sisko to take Odo and leave . Back on the " Defiant " , Bashir takes a blood sample ( type O negative ) from Odo . The only thing unchanged is his face , which Odo realizes is meant to perpetually remind him of what he has lost now that he has become a solid . The " Defiant " returns to Deep Space 9 . Odo is in Garak ' s shop and purchases a uniform similar in appearance to the one he adopted while able to change form , albeit slightly itchy from the Inkarian wool . Odo realizes that some of the rest of his unease is due to being hungry , yet another sensation he did not possess while a changeling . As he is about to escort Garak to be confined for six months for attempted sabotage and assaulting Worf , Chalan Aroya enters Garak ' s shop and offers to help Odo in any way now that he is a solid ; Odo still doesn ' t ask for a date but does respond with a broader smile than when he was first introduced to Aroya . Odo leaves his office and meets Sisko in the hallway ; when Sisko suggests Odo is rushing his recovery , Odo insists that he must work : when he was in the Great Link , he finally understood the Founders , their hostility and distrust of solids , everything . But as soon as he experienced it , it was snatched away from him , leaving his job the only thing that he has left in his life . On the Promenade , a message from Gowron is displayed . Gowron states that a Klingon task force is to be sent to the Archanis sector in ten days and warns that any Federation stations or ships remaining in that sector will be destroyed . Sisko places the station on combat alert . Suddenly Odo realizes something : During his time in the Link , the Founders were trying to hide certain things from him . One of those things was Gowron . This can only mean that Chancellor Gowron is in fact a changeling . Memorable quotes . " " If Gowron is willing to go to war over the Archanis sector , then he has become even more dangerous than I thought . " " " " Two , three ; I say she stops at seven . " " " " I say eight . Mr . Worf ? " " ( reluctantly ) " " Ten . " " ( finally stops sneezing after eight sneezes ) " " I hate being pregnant . " " " " I win . " " " " Benjamin , somebody has requested permission to come on board . " " " " Who is it ? " " " " It ' s . . . Garak . " " " " Tell him the ship is off limits to Cardassian spies . " " " " Personally , I think Starfleet should allow their officers more latitude in accessorizing their uniforms , Hmm ? You ' d be surprised what a nice scarf can do . " " " " But where you offer kindness , I offer mystery . Where you offer sympathy , I offer intrigue . Just give me a seat next to Odo ' s bed and I ' ll conjure up enough innuendos , half - truths , and bald - faced lies about my so - called career in the Obsidian Order to keep the constable distracted for days - and if there ' s one thing Cardassians excel at , it ' s conversation ! " " " " I think you did this to me . You caused my illness so that I ' d be forced to come home . " " " " As I said , I wish the circumstances of this meeting were different . You killed a Changeling , Odo . " " " " He was trying to kill my friends . I had no choice . " " " " Of course you had a choice . And you chose to side with the solids . To protect them , you were willing to violate the most sacred law of our people . " " " " No Changeling has ever harmed another . " " " " Until you . That ' s why we forced you to return home . . . to enter the Great Link and be judged . " " " " Doctor ? " " " " Oh . . . right . " " " " And what of the captain and Odo and Dr . Bashir ? " " " " They ' ll die . And when the Jem ' Hadar find out what we ' ve done , so will we . But what of it , Worf ? What are our lives compared with the entire Alpha Quadrant ? " " " " Come now Mr . Worf , you ' re a Klingon , don ' t tell me you ' d object to a little genocide in the name of self defense ! " " " " I am a warrior , not a murderer ! " " " " What you are is a great disappointment . " " " " You fight well . . . for a tailor . " " " " I don ' t think Gowron gives a damn about Archanis . He ' s just looking for an excuse to rattle his sabre . The question is . . . why ? " " " " They ' re dead . " You ' re " dead . Cardassia is dead . Your people were doomed the moment they attacked us . I believe that answers your question . " " " " It was a pleasure meeting you . " " " " Oh , poor Odo . Perhaps we should have killed you . It would have been far less cruel . " " ( to Captain Sisko ) " " He is yours . Take him and go . " " " " You know I envy you , think of all the wonderful food you ' ll get to enjoy for the first time . " " " " During the Link , I sensed that the other Changelings were trying to hide things from me . Faces , names . One of them was him . " " " " What are you saying ? " " " " I ' m saying that he ' s one of them ! Gowron , the head of the Klingon Empire , is a Changeling ! " " Links and references . References . Alpha Quadrant ; Archanis IV ; Archanis sector ; assassination ; Bajor ; Bajoran s ; Bajoran Militia ; Bajoran wormhole ; Battle of the Omarion Nebula ; Bolian s ; Boslic s ; Cardassia ; Cardassian Embassy ; Cardassian Empire ; Cardassian warship ; Celestial Cafe ; Constable ; ; Curzon ' s diplomatic corps friend ; ; Dominion ; Edosian orchid ( Edosian s ) ; embassy ; Falangian diamond ; Federation Council ; Federation Diplomatic Corps ; ; Founder s ; ; Gamma Quadrant ; Gardener ; Great Link ; headache ; holosuite ; Inkarian wool ; Jem ' Hadar ; Jem ' Hadar attack ship s ; Khitomer Accords ; Klingon Empire ; mating ritual ; medical scan ; medical tricorder ; menopause ; Merrok ; Mora Pol ; morphogenic virus ; ; ; Obsidian Order ; Pakled s ; poison ; preemptive strike ; proconsul ; Promenade ; protoplasm ; puberty ; Quantum torpedo ; radio - nuclide s ; Romulus ; Shakaar Edon ; subcommander ; task force ; Ustard ; virus