By Inferno ' s Light ( episode ) The crew tries to defend the Alpha Quadrant from the invading Dominion fleet ; Worf , Garak , and the other prisoners prepare to escape from the Dominion Internment Camp . ( Part 2 of 2 ) Summary . Teaser . The Dominion fleet enters the Alpha Quadrant through the wormhole . The ( under the command of Major Kira ) , Dukat ' s Bird - of - Prey and the station ' s two remaining runabout s prepare to take on the fleet , only for it to not attack Deep Space 9 ; instead , it heads directly for Cardassian space . Dukat ' s Bird - of - Prey breaks off from the " Defiant " and starts to follow the Dominion fleet . Kira , thinking Dukat is trying to be a hero , tells him to stop but Dukat clarifies that he isn ' t chasing the fleet . . . he ' s joining it . He then reveals a startling fact : over the last few months , he has been conducting secret negotiations and , as of a week earlier , the Cardassian Union are officially members of the Dominion . He then bids farewell to Kira , wryly noting that the two of them being on the same side never seemed right . He then makes a getaway before the " Defiant " can destroy his ship . Act One . Worf , Bashir , Garak , and Martok plan their escape from Internment Camp 371 . The prisoners in Internment Camp 371 are gathered together . The prison ' s commanding Vorta , Deyos , announces that Cardassia has joined the Dominion and , consequently , all the Cardassians imprisoned at 371 are being released . . . with the exception of Garak . When Garak demands to know why he is not being released , Deyos reveals that the new head of the Cardassian government is none other than Gul Dukat . Dukat soon makes his first broadcast as leader to the people of Cardassia , while Sisko and the others watch on DS9 . Dukat promises to remove all Klingon s and Maquis from within Cardassian space , as well as anyone else who gets in the way of Cardassia ' s return to a position of prominence in the Alpha Quadrant . The senior staff discuss the situation . The wormhole ' s entrance , rather than being sealed , has now been strengthened to the point that it can never be collapsed . Between this and the sudden disappearance of an engineering officer , Changeling involvement is suggested by none other than by the Changeling . With this , he is authorized by Sisko to begin blood screening s . Act Two . While Garak works inside a tight space next to their cell to contact their runabout ' s transporter , Worf is coerced into a series of hand - to - hand battles with Jem ' Hadar warriors , beginning with the youngest and most inexperienced . Back in the Alpha Quadrant , Kira and Ziyal talk on the Promenade , discussing the duplicitous actions of her father , Dukat . A battered Klingon fleet led by Chancellor Gowron unexpectedly arrives at DS9 - the newly arrived Dominion fleet has quickly turned the tide of the Klingon - Cardassian War in favor of the Cardassians , and the incensed Gowron is ready to plunge the Klingon Empire into a fight to the death with the Dominion . Sisko suggests to Gowron that the Khitomer Accords be revived for the sake of bolstering their forces for the coming conflict . Gowron accedes . Afterwards , the Bashir Changeling successfully sneaks aboard the runabout and starts making modifications . Act Three . Worf continues fighting the Jem ' Hadar and kills the last one of five , earning awe and admiration from Martok . Once back in the cell , Bashir treats Worf and states that he has three or four broken rib s . The Doctor recommends that Worf stop fighting , but Worf refuses . Garak is still working inside the tight space , talking to himself , and seems to be losing his mind . The others hear strange noises coming from within the space . When the Jem ' Hadar guards pass the cell , the prisoners hurriedly shut off the power , plunging the enclosed space into darkness . When the guards have gone , Bashir enters the space and pulls Garak out . For the next several hours , he lies on his bunk , unmoving , staring straight ahead . Bashir grimly states that Garak ' s claustrophobia has overcome him , and they will be unable to try contacting the runabout . The staff aboard DS9 is waiting for reinforcements . Kira enters Ops and states that the security blocks of one of the industrial replicator s was overridden on level 17 and the memory core has been wiped . Benjamin Sisko is contacted by Gul Dukat , who has been declared the head of the new Cardassian government . Dukat recommends that the Federation join the Dominion . Dukat lays claim to DS9 and gives Sisko an ultimatum : either Sisko will surrender the station , or Dukat will take it by force . Sisko tells him he is more than welcome to " try " and terminates communications . Act Four . Martok assists Worf back to the cell , returning from his seventh hand - to - hand victory . Bashir patches him up as best as he can , wryly asking Martok to include a mention of him in the epic song he will compose about Worf ' s battles . Martok laughs and states that Bashir ' s work has earned him several verses , at the very least . Becoming serious , Bashir says that Worf is supposed to be buying them time , but with Garak out of action , they have no way of completing his work , though Bashir is willing to try . To everyone ' s surprise , Garak rises from his bunk and cheerfully says that won ' t be necessary ; he ' s rested enough , and it ' s time for him to get back to work inside his " " dungeon " " . As he ducks into the cramped space again , the two Klingon warriors look on with respect , both of them knowing that it takes true courage to face one ' s own worst fears . The Julian Bashir Changeling and O ' Brien talk in the infirmary . O ' Brien is shocked when Bashir talks excitedly about having purchased duridium alloy darts at a time like this , but does not suspect that Bashir is a Changeling . Worf , back at the combat area , is waiting for his next opponent , when Deyos and the Jem ' Hadar , Ikat ' ika , arrive instead . Ikat ' ika announces that he will fight Worf himself . Meanwhile , Garak is back in the crawlspace when Jem ' Hadar soldiers come in the cell looking for him . They find the tool that was used to open the panel to the space where Garak is . Sisko orders Kira and Dax to the " Defiant " for the pending battle and deploys the runabouts . The Julian Bashir Changeling is on the runabout " Yukon " and responds to Ops in a female voice , having already incapacitated the original crew . O ' Brien announces that a build up of tachyon particles has been detected , and ships begin decloaking around the station . . . Romulan ships . The Romulans request permission to join the fleet ; Sisko , while quite surprised , grants their request . Kira , on the " Defiant " , states that the Cardassian - Dominion fleet is merely ten minutes away . Act Five . Bashir tries to bluff the Jem ' Hadar soldier about the tool . Bashir flippantly quips that " " it ' s either a self - sealing stem bolt or a reverse - ratcheting router " " . Not convinced , the soldier vaporizes a Romulan prisoner and then threatens to kill another if Bashir continues to lie . Before the leader can kill Bashir for his insolence , another soldier figures out the tool ' s use . In the ring , Worf is losing the fight against Ikat ' ika , and can barely stand . When he is knocked down yet again , Martok urges him to yield , insisting that " " honor has been satisfied . " " Garak is perilously close to being found out when a Breen prisoner grabs the plasma pistol from the holster of a Jem ' Hadar who had his back turned , and vaporizes two of the guards , though the second manages to vaporize him as well . Bashir and the Romulan prisoner kill the remaining guards with makeshift knives , and grab their weapons , urging Garak to complete his work before Jem ' Hadar reinforcements storm into the cell . In the ring , Worf is clearly beaten , but still refuses to yield . As he crawls on his belly towards the post , even Ikat ' ika tries to dissuade him from continuing , saying that Worf has earned the respect of everyone there . But Worf still refuses to yield , and Deyos impatiently orders the combat finished . To everyone ' s surprise , Ikat ' ika instead steps back and yields the match , announcing that he may be able to kill Worf , but he cannot defeat him . Irritated , Deyos orders them both executed . Just as the guards raise their weapons , Garak succeeds in activating his makeshift communicator , and the runabout immediately energizes its transporter , beaming all the prisoners away ; as the guards open fire , Ikat ' ika is vaporized by a plasma bolt , but Worf is beamed away a split second before the weapons fire impacts him . Aboard the runabout , Garak immediately lays in an escape course , while Martok and Bashir help a badly - injured Worf back to the sickbay . Before going , Worf makes sure to tell the Cardassian that he " " did well , " " and Garak returns the compliment . The crew then set a course back to the station at maximum warp . Back on DS9 , everyone is confused by the lack of an attacking fleet contrary to the sensor readings . Suddenly , they get a hail from the real Bashir in the Gamma Quadrant . Sisko quickly realizes that the Bashir they ' ve been dealing with was the Changeling and quickly discerns that he left aboard the runabout " Yukon " . He then orders Kira aboard the to destroy the runabout no matter the cost . Kira and Dax determine that the Changeling has rigged the " Yukon " with trilithium , tekasite , and protomatter , which if detonated inside the Bajoran sun , would induce a supernova , destroying Bajor , DS9 , and the combined Klingon , Romulan , and Federation fleets in one fell swoop . The " Defiant " warps toward the sun and tractors the " Yukon " away in time to prevent the supernova . It dives off into free space and explodes , killing the Changeling and incapacitated crew still aboard . The sensor readings of the Dominion fleet suddenly vanish . Sisko realizes that the whole incident was a plot to lure the combined fleets of the Alpha Quadrant ' s superpowers to the Bajoran system and then blow them all up together with Bajor and Deep Space 9 . Yet the plan failed and " " Armageddon will have to wait . . . for another day " " . At Quark ' s , Garak and Ziyal emotionally reunite , as do Dax and Worf in the infirmary . Meanwhile , Chief O ' Brien is baffled to realize he has been hanging around with a Changeling for the last four weeks . On the second level of the Promenade , Gowron signs the final version of the new treaty between the Federation and the Klingon Empire , which includes a permanent Klingon military presence on DS9 . Sisko is given the right to choose the commander himself , and considering Worf and Martok ' s mutual admiration , he asks the general to do the job , which he gladly accepts . Dukat contacts Sisko to congratulate him . Sisko points out that Ziyal would have died along with them if the bomb had gone off , but the new leader of Cardassia does not seem to be bothered , saying he no longer considers her his daughter . Dukat tells Sisko that he may have escaped defeat today , but tomorrow . . . " " We will see about tomorrow " " , the captain interrupts . " " Yes , we will , " " Dukat replies , ending the transmission . Memorable quotes . " " For the past few months , I ' ve been conducting secret negotiations between the Dominion and Cardassia . And , as of last week , Cardassia has agreed to become part of the Dominion . " " " " I am pleased to announce that hostilities between our peoples have ended . As of today , Cardassia has joined the Dominion . Therefore , you are all being sent home . Congratulations on your new status as Dominion citizens . " " " " The last time I checked , I " was " a Cardassian . " " " " But not a very popular one , I ' m afraid . At least not with the head of the new Cardassian government . " " " " And who would that be ? " " " " Gul Dukat . " " " " You might ask : Should we fear joining the Dominion ? And I answer you : Not in the least . We should embrace the opportunity . The Dominion recognizes us for what we are : the true leaders of the Alpha Quadrant . And now that we are joined together , equal partners in all endeavors , the only people with anything to fear will be our enemies . " " " " My oldest son ' s birthday is in five days . To him and to Cardassians everywhere , I make the following pledge : By the time his birthday dawns , there will not be a single Klingon alive inside Cardassian territory . Or a single Maquis colony left within our borders . " " " " Cardassia will be made whole . All that we have lost will be ours again . And anyone who stands in our way will be destroyed . This I vow with my life ' s blood . For my son , for all our sons . " " " " Today , we train against a worthy adversary . Observe . Analyze . Remember . Soon , we will face his people in combat . The lessons you learn here will ensure victory . Victory is life ! ! " " " " Think of it . Five years ago , no one had ever heard of Bajor or " Deep Space 9 " and now . . . all our hopes rest here . Where the tides of fortune take us , no man can know . " " " " They ' re tricky , those tides . " " " " Dukat , if you have something to say to me , say it ! " " " " Then I ' ll make it simple . A few days ago , I swore all Cardassia lost would be regained . That space station you ' re so fond of was built by Cardassia . " " " " Funny . I thought it was built by Bajoran slave labor . " " " " Either surrender the station , or I ' ll take it by force . The choice is yours . " " " " If you want to retake the station , Dukat , you ' re welcome to try . " " " " The Jem ' Hadar don ' t eat , don ' t drink and they don ' t have sex . . . and if that wasn ' t bad enough , the Founders don ' t eat , don ' t drink and they don ' t have sex either , which , between you and me , makes my financial future less than promising . " " " " It might not be so bad . For all we know the Vorta could be gluttonous , alcoholic sex maniacs . " " " " Tell our friends out there to stand down . Armageddon will have to wait for another day . " " " " After all , a verse about ' the Cardassian who panicked in the face of danger ' would ruin General Martok ' s song . Now if you ' ll excuse me , my dungeon awaits . " " " " Tain , I don ' t know if you can hear me , but if you can , I just want you to know , you may not have been much of a father , but I really wish you were alive right now . That way , you could be in here , instead of me . " " " " There is no greater enemy than one ' s own fears . " " " " It takes a brave man to face them . " " " " My people have a saying : ' Never turn your back on a Breen . " " " " You fight because that is what you were designed to do . All that motivates him is some barbaric sense of honor . " " " " And that is something " you " will never understand . " " " " Victory is life . " " " " Today is a good day to die . " " " " Four weeks ? Are you telling me I ' ve been hanging around with a Changeling for over a month ? " " " " And you even never suspected it wasn ' t me ? " " " " No ! And the worst part is , the clues were right in front of me ! " " " " What clues ? " " " " Well , for one thing , he was a lot easier to get along with . " " " " I yield . I cannot defeat this Klingon . All I can do is kill him . And that no longer holds my interest . " " " " Right now I wouldn ' t believe your father if he said rain was wet . " " " " I ' m sorry , but that ' s absolutely unacceptable ! I ' m under enough strain as it is - I can ' t have you quitting on me ! " " " " What I did , I did to make Cardassia strong again . And mark my words , Captain , I ' ve succeeded . You may have escaped defeat this day , but tomorrow . . . " " " " We will see about tomorrow . " " " " Yes , we will . " " Links and references . References . Alpha Quadrant ; Armageddon ; asparagus ; Bajor ; Bajoran ; Bajoran system ; Bajoran wormhole ; blood ; blood pressure ; blood screening ; break ; Breen ; Cardassia ; Cardassian ; Cardassian space ; Changeling ; claustrophobia ; commander ; ; darts ; ; Dominion ; Dominion cold war ; Dukat ' s Bird - of - Prey ; Dukat ' s son ; duridium ; Federation ; Gamma Quadrant ; Gilhouly ; heart ; humanoid ; Ferengi ; graviton emitter ; Imperial Plaza ; Internment Camp 371 ; Japar ; Jem ' Hadar ; Jem ' Hadar battle cruiser ; Jem ' Hadar fighter ; Keedera ; Khitomer Accords ; Klingon ; Klingon Bird - of - Prey ; Klingon Empire ; Klingon opera ; lightheaded ; maintenance engineer ; maximum warp ; monument ; neutrino ; Nog ; ; ; ; Obsidian Order ; Promenade ; protomatter ; psychological disorder ; pulse ; quantum torpedo ; Quark ' s ; Reverse - ratcheting routing planer ; rib ; ; Romulan ; runabout ; Self - sealing stem bolt ; slavery ; solid ; spatial matrix ; Starfleet ; Starfleet Command ; ; task force ; tekasite ; trilithium ; trilithium weapon ; Tzenketh ; United Federation of Planets ; ; Vorta ; warp drive ; warp signature ; " Ytem " , IKS ; yamok sauce ;