The week-long national syndication window opens for the 169th episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. This episode continues a tightly-serialized eight-episode run-up to the series finale. Louise Fletcher guest stars. 
Stardate not given: With only the Klingon ships able to counteract the Breen’s energy dissipators, Sisko pins Starfleet’s hopes on Damar’s movement. Kira is given a Starfleet commission and sent to help teach the Cardassians how to be rebels. She is accompanied by Garak and by Odo, who provides Bashir with a sample of “goo” before leaving. While analyzing the sample, Bashir discovers that Odo is infected by the disease that is killing the Founders. Meanwhile, on Bajor, Dukat secretly tries to read the Text of the Kosst Amojan himself, to see if he can free the pagh wraiths without Kai Winn’s aid. He is struck blind by a bolt of energy from the book. And Gowron comes to DS9 to give Martok a medal, and announces that he plans to take direct command of the Klingon forces, a move which Martok and Worf fear will prove foolhardy.
teleplay by Rene Echavarria
story by Rene Echavarria & Spike Steingasser
directed by Michael Dorn
music by Paul BaillargeonCast: Avery Brooks (Captain Sisko), Nicole de Boer (Ezri Dax), Michael Dorn (Lt. Commander Worf), Rene Auberjonois (Odo), Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko), Colm Meaney (Chief O’Brien), Armin Shimerman (Quark), Alexander Siddig (Dr. Bashir), Nana Visitor (Colonel Kira), Andrew J. Robinson (Garak), Casey Biggs (Damar), Marc Alaimo (Gul Dukat), J.G. Hertzler (Martok), Barry Jenner (Admiral Ross), Robert O’Reilly (Gowron), John Vickery (Gul Rusot), Scott Burkholder (Hilliard), Louise Fletcher (Kai Winn), Stephen Yoakam (Velal), Vaughn Armstrong (Seskal), Colby French (Ensign Weldon)
LogBook entry by Tracy Hemenover