When Kai Winn is appointed Bajoran First Minister, Kira becomes concerned about Winn's growing grip on power. However, when the Kai orders Kira to convince her old Resistance leader to return some farming equipment to the government, the situation rapidly descends into a vicious power struggle.

When a destabilizing coup takes places on the Tzenkethi homeworld, a newly promoted Captain Sisko is ordered to take the Defiant on a border patrol to evaluate the situation. However, soon after departing DS9 the Defiant develops a series of malfunctions, leading Sisko to consider that they may have a saboteur onboard.