Alliance for Global Unity The Alliance for Global Unity , informally known as The Circle , was an organized Bajoran extremist faction led by Jaro Essa that emerged after the Cardassian withdrawal from the Occupation of Bajor in 2369 . The Circle attempted to seize power on Bajor and Deep Space 9 in 2370 . Origins . Fifty years of the Cardassian Empire ' s oppressive rule created a fierce Bajoran desire for independence . After their liberation in 2369 , many Bajorans found it insulting when the provisional government invited the Federation to oversee Deep Space 9 . Even Kira Nerys , the station ' s Bajoran liaison officer , believed the Federation had no right to be there . Like others , she had little respect for the Bajoran Provisional Government , but she was willing to abide by its decision . Others , like Kohn - Ma member Tahna Los , were unwilling to wait for change . Shortly after the discovery of the Bajoran wormhole , Tahna attempted to destroy it , believing the Federation , Cardassia , and the rest of the Alpha Quadrant would leave Bajor alone once it was gone . ( ) Initially , the bulk of the Bajoran people harbored little ill - will for the Federation , but tensions rose when Federation and Bajoran cultures clashed . When Keiko O ' Brien opened a school aboard DS9 , most of her students were Bajoran . Her teachings of the wormhole ' s nature and " wormhole aliens " conflicted with their religious upbringing . According to Bajoran religion , the wormhole was the " Celestial Temple " , home of the Prophet s . The opportunistic Vedek Winn Adami arrived on DS9 accusing Keiko of blasphemy , drawing in her political opponent Vedek Bareil Antos , and causing an uproar in the local population . ( ) Emergence . Jaro Essa , an outwardly gracious minister of the Bajoran Provisional Government , saw an opportunity to seize power and rule unilaterally by capitalizing on civil unrest and the widespread dissatisfaction with the current government . In 2369 , he founded the " Alliance for Global Unity " and covertly orchestrated its activities . " The Circle " became the tool he used to turn the Federation , and the government that supported it , into enemies of the Bajoran people . It offered an alternative , xenophobic vision of " Bajor , for Bajorans " . The Circle compared the Federation presence to Cardassia and the recently ended occupation , and insisted all aliens be expelled from the planet and Deep Space 9 . Starting with vandalism in remote , unsecured areas of the station , they left their symbols , testing Federation vulnerability . Growing bolder , they left similar graffiti on the door to Commander Benjamin Sisko ' s quarters and branded the Ferengi barkeep Quark . Concurrently , agents on the planet ' s surface inflamed anti - alien sentiments . The Circle soon gained significant support , as it was felt that they had better leadership and were more organized that the still - struggling Provisional Government . Jaro perceived a threat to his rise to power in the popularity of the war hero Li Nalas , recently freed from a labor camp on Cardassia IV . Jaro dealt with it by transferring Major Kira to a surface post , and assigning Li to DS9 . Without Li ' s unifying influence , riots erupted across the planet . Disgruntled Bajorans angrily demanded a new government that could stand on its own . Armed with weapons purchased from Kressari traders , the Circle clashed with Bajoran Militia forces with increasing frequency . General , the flag officer and a man of some integrity , weighed his options , and eventually allied himself with the Circle . He directed the militia away from areas which the Circle was attacked ; the group was therefore allowed to act almost completely unopposed . Chaos and downfall . Jaro remained popular in the eyes of his fellow Bajorans throughout the ordeal , and he began to openly support reform . With Li Nalas gone , Jaro easily suborned Vedek Winn with the promise she would be the next kai if she claimed the Prophets were on his side . In preparation for the " coup " , the Bajoran Militia informed Commander Sisko that he had seven hours to evacuate DS9 . Bound by the Prime Directive , Sisko complied but dragged his feet , ensuring his presence , along with several other DS9 personnel , aboard the station when the militia arrived . Krim and his troops boarded the station , and Sisko commenced a short guerrilla campaign . Dax and Kira arrived on Bajor with recently uncovered evidence regarding the Circle ' s weapon suppliers in a shipping manifest . Cardassian s , finding advantage in the Circle ' s disruption of Bajoran politics , had surreptitiously supplied the faction through intermediaries with the intention to claim the wormhole and reoccupy the planet once the Federation was expelled . The manifest , with a Cardassian gul ' s thumb signature , convinced the Chamber of Ministers in time to avert the " coup " . Jaro , ever the gracious politician , promised to cooperate with the investigation that would almost certainly bring down the Circle . Aboard DS9 , General Krim gallantly surrendered the station upon the revelation of the Cardassian plot . A Circle fanatic , Colonel Day Kannu , attempted to kill Sisko , but Li Nalas took the hit in his place and the hero was killed . Background information . DS9 ' s second season began with " Star Trek " s first three - episode - long story arc , of which the Alliance for Global Unity was the focal point . Building upon events from the first season , such as the sentiments expressed by Tahna Los in and the tensions between Winn and the Federation in , this marked the beginning of a trend that would continue throughout the series . The revelation of Cardassian involvement in the Circle ' s plan to overthrow the provisional government appears to have silenced the movement ' s supporters ; in later episodes , Bajor and the Federation are far more cooperative than previously . The fate of members of the Circle , particularly Minister Jaro ( who claimed to fully support the investigation of the new evidence ) is uncertain .