“Sacrifice of Angels” is episode six of season six of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
In the previous episode, “Favor the Bold”, Sisko had planned an attack on DS9 to retake the station, and the wormhole, from the Dominion. When Morn smuggled out news that the Cardassians were only a few days away from removing the minefield blocking the wormhole, the attack had to set off without all the planned forces. Many Federation ships were not going to be present on time and the Klingons had not sent any – General Martok and Worf had headed to Kronos to convince Chanceller Gowron to send the Klingon forces. At the end of the episode, Sisko’s feel was facing a Dominion fleet twice its size – even though the Dominion has been cut off from reinforcements for some time, they still seem to have an awful lot of ships. A very target-rich environment.
The episode opens as the battle between the Dominion and the Federation ships is starting with Sisko attempting to open a hole in the opposing force to get to DS9 by provoking the Cardassians. On DS9, Gul Dukat plans to give Sisko the opening he wants, and then close it behind him. Dukat says it’s only 8 hours until the minefield will come down. Damar wants to arrest all of Rom’s associates to prevent further attempts to sabotage the station, as Rom tried in “Behind the Lines”. Dukat agrees that it’s a good idea, but arresting Kira and the others would cause problems with the Bajorans. So he tells Damar not to arrest them, but to ‘hold them for questioning’ instead. Kira and the others are planning something, but Damar takes Kira, Jake and Leeta into custody before they can do anything. Leaving only Quark free.
Sisko realises that Dukat’s plan is a trap – but it’s also an opportunity. So he sends some of his forces into the opening, with orders for anyone who gets through to keep going until they reach DS9. Dukat is already celebrating the defeat of the Federation but Weyoun says it is still too soon to celebrate. Although Weyoun is already planning on how to hold the Federation after it is defeated. He and Dukat have different ideas as to what to do with a defeated foe.
Odo seems to be having uncertainties about the ‘clarity’ the female Changeling has given him. She is doing what she thinks is necessary to save Odo, but he does not seem entirely happy.
There are some significant, and typically very close ranged, space battles in this episode.