- [Damar, the Cardassian leader, speaks to his people]
- Damar: And so two years ago, our government signed a treaty with the Dominion. In it the Dominion promised to extend Cardassia's influence throughout the Alpha Quadrant. In exchange, we pledged ourselves to join the war against the Federation and its allies. Cardassians have never been afraid of war, a fact we've proven time and again over these past two years. Seven million of our brave soldiers have given their lives to fulfill our part of the agreement, and what has the Dominion done in return? Nothing. We've gained no new territories. In fact, our influence throughout the quadrant has diminished. And to make matters worse, we are no longer masters in our own home. Travel anywhere in Cardassia and what do you find? Jem'Hadar, Vorta, and now Breen. Instead of the invaders, we have become the invaded. Our allies have conquered us without firing a single shot. Well, no longer. This morning, detachments of the Cardassian First, Third and Ninth Orders attacked the Dominion outpost on Rondac III. This assault marks the first step toward the liberation of our homeland, from the true oppressors of the Alpha Quadrant. I call upon Cardassians everywhere. Resist. Resist today. Resist tomorrow. Resist till the last Dominion soldier has been driven from our soil!
- Martok: We must give the enemy credit. To launch an attack on Starfleet headquarters... Even my people never attempted that.
- Gul Rusot: I remember the day I heard the news that Cardassia had joined the Dominion. Like everyone else, I rejoiced. We were going to be rulers of the entire Alpha Quadrant. Instead, we're a conquered people, servants in our own land.
- [Kasidy has burned the dinner]
- Captain Sisko: What're you... you doing? You don't cook!
- Kasidy Yates: I know; I was just making sure.
- Weyoun: [after the Defiant has been destroyed] Poor Captain Sisko. I believe he was quite fond of that ship.
- [Sisko has made up with Kasidy wih a bunch of flowers, when the door chimes]
- Captain Sisko: Ah, that must be Quark with the necklace.
- Kasidy Yates: The necklace?
- Captain Sisko: Just in case the flowers didn't work.
- [last lines]
- Admiral Ross: Damar may have just bought us some precious time - if the Dominion doesn't track him down too quickly.
- Captain Sisko: We need to find a way to help him. Legate Damar may be the key to saving the Alpha Quadrant.
- [On the Defiant, the crew is going through the pre-flight procedure]
- Nog: This is bad, very bad.
- Colonel Kira: You say that every time we take the Defiant into battle.
- Nog: Impulse manifold purged and clear. - If we lose the Chin'toka system, we lose our only foothold in the Dominion territory. I think that qualifies as bad.
- Colonel Kira: Oh, we haven't lost it yet. - Initiating impulse pre-start sequence.
- Nog: Microfusion generators online. - But the Breen, they seem unstoppable. First Earth, now Chin'toka?
- Lt. Commander Worf: Ensign, no one is unstoppable. - Collimate the nadion emitters.
- Nog: Collimation sequence in progress.
- [Bashir and O'Brien enter the bridge]
- Doctor Bashir: What more can I say, Miles, but 'I'm sorry'?
- Chief O'Brien: Dilithium matrix is aligned and calibrated. - Just be a bit more careful, that's all I ask.
- Colonel Kira: Opening antimatter injector ports. - Trouble in paradise?
- Doctor Bashir: It was nothing. - Emergency life support and damage control systems standing by.
- Chief O'Brien: I wouldn't call it nothing.
- Lieutenant Ezri Dax: Autonomous guidance system initialized and active.
- Chief O'Brien: He lost Travis.
- Colonel Kira: Hm - sounds serious. - Verify astrometric database.
- Doctor Bashir: Miles built this Alamo model, replete with small figures. Quite spectacular, actually. - Data sets loaded and verified. - Anyway, he was showing it to me in Quark's when we - rather I - accidentally misplaced Colonel Travis.
- Nog: Phaser safeties engaged. - Can't you make another one?
- Chief O'Brien: What, so he can lose it again? - Field stabilizers online.
- Colonel Kira: [playfully] Well, that's what happens when you share your toys. - Synchronizing warp plasma flow...
- Chief O'Brien: It's not a toy! It's a model, built to scale.
- Doctor Bashir: He really did a fantastic job.
- Chief O'Brien: Nacelles holding at pre-warp threshold.
- Doctor Bashir: Miles, look...
- Captain Sisko: [of the Defiant] She's a fine ship.
- Chief O'Brien: No one will argue with that. But like you say, it's time to go.
- Solbor: [Solbor enters with the text of the Kosst Amojan] Eminence, may I speak frankly?
- Kai Winn: If you must.
- Solbor: This book has not been removed from the archives, not for seven hundred years.
- Kai Winn: Your point being?
- Solbor: The knowledge it contains about the Pah wraiths, it is said to be very dangerous.
- Kai Winn: Knowledge is never dangerous in the right hands.
- Solbor: There is an old saying: "He who studies evil, is studied *by* evil."
- Martok: [about the Breen] Captain, every species has its weakness. They're no exception.
- Captain Sisko: Let's hope you're right. But whatever the weakness is - we better find it soon.
- Dukat: [to Kai Winn] The Pah-wraiths have judged you and found you worthy. Their secrets are now your secrets, to do with as you please. Take their gift and use it. Seize the power they're offering you.
- Damar: [Weyoun has left the command center, leaving Damar alone with the Breen] By the way, in case Weyoun neglected to mention it, the Dominion once sang Cardassia's praises as well.
- [garbled Breen question]
- Damar: That's really quite simple. They expected the war to be over long ago; it's not. For that, they blame us. Now, if the war isn't ended soon, they'll shift the blame to you.
- [garbled Breen statement]
- Damar: Maybe so. But win or lose, I wouldn't turn my back on Weyoun if I were you.
- [first lines]
- Chief O'Brien: [Welcoming Worf and Ezri at the airlock] Hey! Welcome back! Well, I for one never doubted you'd be back.
- Doctor Bashir: Neither did I.
- Chief O'Brien: Don't believe him. He was Mister Doom and Gloom all the time you were gone.
- Doctor Bashir: Well, I must admit I was a bit concerned.
- Chief O'Brien: We were all concerned. Your well-being was a constant source of conversation and speculation.
- Ezri Dax: You see, I told you they'd miss us. So, who won the betting pool?
- Doctor Bashir: Morn. He managed to guess the day when you'd be back. Only missed the time of your arrival by two hours.
- Chief O'Brien: He's amazing.
- Doctor Bashir: I don't know how he does it.