“The Changing Face of Evil” is episode twenty of season seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
In the previous episode, “Strange Bedfellows”, Kai Winn had panicked when she discovered that the visions she got were from the Pah-wraiths, not the Prophets, and sought out Colonel Kira’s help. The Kai said she was willing to do anything, but when Kira said she should resign from being Kai, well, anything actually meant anything that didn’t cause Winn to lose anything. Finally, she called Dukat back and said she was willing to serve the Pah-wraiths, as the Prophets had never given her anything – with good reason as it happens – and, revealing her true self, Winn promised to destroy anything that stood in her way. A self-centred woman who is only concerned for herself and a terrible religious leader, as she has always seemed to be.
Ezri and Worf managed to escape Cardassian and Dominion custody, with the help of Damar. He has finally had enough of the sacrifices the Cardassians are making for the Dominion, especially as the Dominion now appear to consider the Breen to be more important allies and treat the Cardassians as second class citizens. This episode opens with them arriving back on DS9 to be greeted by O’Brien, Sisko and Julian. Sisko wants to know more about the Breen alliance, but they don’t know much. Then they get a message from Starfleet Command – the Breen have attacked Earth.
The images from Earth show the Golden Gate Bridge broken and Starfleet buildings destroyed. The Breen force was mostly destroyed, but only after the damage was done. General Martok says that the Breen deserve credit as warriors, because not even the Klingons attacked Starfleet Command. He also says that every species has its weakness, but Sisko says they need to find it.
Weyoun is pleased that the casualty report from Earth keeps being revised upwards but he considers that merely a bonus, as they have struck fear into the heart of the enemy and made them feel weak and vulnerable. Damar mentions that so few of the Breen forces survived. He also points out to the Breen commander, after Weyoun leaves, that the Dominion used to praise the Cardassians too – but the war lasted longer than expected. And if the same happens again, the Dominion will blame the Breen.
On Cardassia Prime, Damar is plotting against the Dominion with those officers who are most likely to be loyal to Cardassia. Weyoun notices the change in Damar, but assigns it to Damar being pleased about the fact that it looks as if the Dominion will be victorious in the war.
On Bajor, Kai Winn is cancelling all her appointments. She tells Dukat that she doesn’t want to keep pretending that she follows the Prophets. He says that they need to release the Pah-wraiths from the Fire Caves, a statement that concerns the Kai as the Prophecies state that this will spell the end of Bajor. She may still be having second thoughts, but Dukat talks her around. He wants her to gets a book of forbidden knowledge, forbidden to all but the Kai, that will tell them how to release the Pah-wraiths. Solbor is not pleased with Dukat’s influence.
On DS9, Julian and Miles are discussing the Battle of the Alamo over a model that O’Brien has built. Julian wants to win the battle for once. Quark is concerned that they are playing games when Earth has been attacked. However, both have spent hours preparing the station – Quark is concerned that this means that they expect an attack on the station. Sisko is trying to keep Kasidy out of harm’s way; she doesn’t appreciate it.
Things are looking pretty bad as the Kai turns towards evil and the Breen – who no-one understands – are proving highly effective in battle. There is potential good news on the horizon.