While conducting a a mineral survey of an uninhabited planet in the Gamma Quadrant, the crew of the Defiant encounter a crashed Jem'Hadar ship and must fight to get it, and themselves, back to the Federation.

On their way back from a medical conference, Jake and Dr. Bashir are diverted to the Federation colony on Ajilon Prime who have been attacked by the Klingons. However, when the the Klingons renew their attacks on the colony, Jake is forced to confront the hard realities of war as battle erupts around him.