When Quark presents Major Kira with an earring belonging to a presumed dead Bajoran Resistance legend, she and Chief O'Brien journey to Cardassia IV in an attempt to free him from from a slave-labour colony. Meanwhile, an extremist Bajoran faction known as The Circle continues to agitate tensions on DS9 and Bajor.

As Federation citizens are evacuated from DS9, Sisko and a skeleton crew attempt to prevent The Circle and the Bajoran military forces under their control from occupying the station. Kira and Dax attempt to reach the Chamber of Ministers on Bajor with evidence of Cardassian involvement in the conflict.