“Tears of the Prophets” is episode twenty-six of season six of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and the season finale.
A Bajoran festival has been held, at the captain’s insistence as, even though there is a war going on, there is a lot to be grateful for, and Major Kira is angry with Odo. He arrested a Vedek for trying to raise money on the Promenade, which is against station regulations. Even though Odo thought it was a worthy cause, it was still against the law. Major Kira is really not happy with him. Dax and Worf are planning to have a baby. Neither Quark nor Bashir is happy about that – they both have feelings for Dax. So they seek advice from Vic Fontaine.
Captain Sisko is getting a medal, the Christopher Pike Medal of Valor, from Admiral Ross. After the presentation, Ross speaks to Sisko alone. Starfleet has decided that they are never going to win the war with the Dominion by being on the defensive (true; at best you can not lose), and that it’s time to go on the offensive. Something Sisko has been saying ever since the Romulans joined the conflict. Finally, Starfleet agrees with Sisko – and he’s been picked to plan the invasion of Cardassia.
There’s a potential point of vulnerability for the Dominion, as ships have been moved to the Romulan front leaving another system vulnerable. Weyoun is concerned by this, but Damar is not – because they have unmanned orbital weapon platforms guarding the system. Weyoun likes the platforms. Then Gul Dukat arrives. He wants to have his revenge on Captain Sisko. Dukat says he has changed – and Weyoun agrees, saying that he is a madman. Which was certainly true in “Waltz”. Weyoun wants Dukat taking away, but Damar wants to know why he is there. Dukat says he can give them the Alpha Quadrant. All he needs is a Bajoran artefact that Cardassia has, and they will be able to bring reinforcements in from the Gamma Quadrant.
Romulans, Klingons and the Federation are gathering forces at DS9. The Romulans and the Klingons are not getting on that well, because the Romulan senator is deliberately proving General Martok. The Romulans think that attacking Cardassia is not a good idea. The senator thinks it’s a better idea to continually pick of the Dominion ships as they are sent, but the point is made that Jem’Hadar are being bred faster than they are being killed, and to truly defeat the Dominion and Cardassia, their shipyards and weapons plants need destroying.
Jake wants to accompany Sisko on the attack, but the wormhole aliens – the Prophets – don’t want the Sisko to go. Their cryptic pronouncements seem to suggest it’s a bad idea, but it’s not clear who for. Which forces a decision from Sisko – but is it the right one?