“A Time to Stand” is episode one of season six of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
At the end of the season five finale, “Call to Arms”, Starfleet had evacuated DS9, with the Bajorans remaining behind, having signed a non-aggression pact with the Dominion to preserve their world – at Sisko’s urging. During the Cardassian/Dominion attack on DS9, a combined Starfleet/Klingon Empire force had crossed into Cardassian territory and destroyed the Dominion’s shipyards. The wormhole is now mined, meaning that the Dominion cannot get any reinforcements from the Gamma Quadrant, and without the shipyards, they cannot build any new ships. So they are rather stuck for resources, and the station was largely disabled after Starfleet left, with the Defiant joining a really large fleet at the end. DS9 is now under the command of Gul Dukat and Weyoun. Jake had remained behind on the station – of his own accord – as a reporter, and Rom had rejoined Quark – as a spy.
This episode opens at the fleet that the Defiant joined. Many of the ships in it are suffering from battle damage, making it look slightly less impressive than it did at the end of the previous episode. This is because it’s three months later, and they have been playing tag with the Jem’Hadar since, not really accomplishing much in the process. The war is not going well. Dr. Bashir has calculated their chances of victory – 32.7%. Garak is not impressed with this statement. Another fleet has been almost destroyed; at this rate the Federation and Klingon Empire will lose.
Dukat is happy with how things are going. Bajorans are returning to the station, and Weyoun is happy about this. The Cardassians, not so much. Major Kira wants the Bajoran security force given their jobs back. And their weapons. Dukat does not agree with this idea. Even though Weyoun suggests otherwise. Weyoun also wants Kira to let Odo know that he is doing all he can to improve Dominion/Bajoran relations – with Odo being a Founder, a god of the Dominion, Weyoun is a bit intimidated by him. Weyoun is rather less intimidated by Gul Dukat. Weyoun is also not happy that the minefield blocking the wormhole is still in place – they need reinforcements and, more importantly, supplies of ketracel-white, otherwise the Jem’Hadar will become uncontrollable. Then die.
Sisko has been ordered to return to a Starbase, where he is relieved of command of the Defiant. Which is not as bad as it sounds. Sisko, and the Defiant‘s crew, are being given a new assignment. Starfleet Intelligence has discovered the main storage facility for ketracel-white in the Alpha Quadrant, in Cardassian territory. Sisko and the crew are being given the Jem’Hadar attack ship that was captured in “The Ship” to infiltrate the facility. After they learn how to pilot the thing. The ship is also rather sparsely equipped.
A bit of a cliff-hanger ending with things continuing in the next episode, “Rocks and Shoals”.