Word that a previously thought dead Bajoran resistance legend is still alive sends Kira and Chief O'Brien to Cardassia IV to rescue him; meanwhile "The Circle", a sect of the Bajoran provisional government that is intent on wiping out alien influence, is sneaking into power.
As a "Circle"-led Bajoran military tries to occupy the station, a skeleton crew led by Sisko fight to reveal "The Circle's" big secret before they are forced to evacuate themselves. Meanwhile, Kira and Dax lead a mission to reveal the truth about "The Circle" on Bajor.
A new arrival to the station with a special gravity-based disability appeals to Bashir's heart; meanwhile an old associate of Quark's comes to the station to kill the barkeep.
A female Ferengi, posing as a male to be available to participate in business (a rule STRICTLY forbidden by the Ferengi government), falls for Quark during very important negotiations between the Ferengi and a Gamma Quadrant race.
Odo relives some terrible and tragic memories of a past investigation when he was the constable on Cardassian-occupied Deep Space Nine, then named Terok Nor.
Quark meets his match when a new rival opens a casino opposite Quark's Bar on the Promenade; meanwhile the station is suffering issues of high improbability.
Chief O'Brien, who still doesn't like the good Doctor Bashir, must rely on him when the two are stranded on a planet and O'Brien is infected with a deadly, fast moving disease.
Chief O'Brien's world is turned upside down when for no reason whatsoever he is being ignored by his family and friends and is being closed out of every essential job on the station.
Odo and Dax investigate the mysterious disappearance of people from a village. Kira tries to keep a close eye on Quark, while Vedek Bareil unexpectedly visits.
The destruction of a Cardassian ship leads Sisko, Dukat, and Sisko's old friend Cal Hudson to the fact that there is an unofficial war between the Maquis and the Cardassians.
Dr. Bashir fights to save Garak's life when a device implanted in his brain, designed to alleviate pain in the event of torture, begins to malfunction and is slowly killing him.