In season 3, the Defiant is sent on a wild goose chase to the Tzenkhethi border by an admiral who claims the inhabitants are plotting an attack on the Federation. Turns out it was just a ploy to start a war and put the Federation right in the middle of it in order to weaken them and make them more vulnerable to a takeover by the Dominion. The admiral himself was actually a Changeling who tells Odo before he is destroyed that it's already too late---they are everywhere.
Now Gowron, leader of the Klingon high council, is suspicious that the Federation is being taken over by Changelings and that the Dominion is the cause of the civil unrest taking place on Cardassia. Worf learns from a confidential source the the Empire's true intent is to invade Cardassia and take over the government and destroy it's civilian leaders who Gowron believes are actually Changelings.
Benjamin Sisko was promoted to the rank of Captain in the last episode and takes his crew on the Defiant to stop the Klingons from invading Cardassia. This puts him in a situation of possibly violating the peace treaty between the Empire and the Federation. Warning the Cardassians would only escalate the situation.
In one highlight of the episode, Garak is brought into the ready room to take measurements of Sisko for a new suit as the crew discusses the Klingon plans for the invasion. Sisko tells Garak to not forget the waist measurements. "I think I have everything I need" says Garak who in turn messages Gul Dukat about the warships heading his way.
Later, the Defiant is successful in entering Cardassian space and beaming aboard the Cardassian civilian council members and warps back to DS9 with Klingon battle cruisers in pursuit. The Cardassians are blood tested to find out if any of them are Changelings. They all test negative.
The Klingon ships attack the space station and there are casualties on both sides. Many Klingons manage to invade the station when DS9's shield defenses are breached but they are outnumbered and killed or captured.
It ends with Gowron telling Sisko that they will not forget, or forgive, what the Federation has done this day. The Klingons are forced to temporarily withdraw. The Federation has sent reinforcements and the damaged Klingon ships are no match. Worf also reminds Gowron that destroying an empire to win a battle is no victory.
The space station crew later learns the Klingons are refusing to give up the districts conquered by them on Cardassia.
This was a two hour episode written by Ira Steven Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe. It sent the series into a tail spin of fighting a formidable force that had been an ally for many years. It may have also offered an even greater tactical advantage to the Dominion, having the Klingon Empire as an ally---but we shall see.
The episode also brings on board an old familiar face--that of The Enterprise Chief of Security Lt. Commander Worf. Sisko remarks to Worf that he was sorry to hear about what happened to the Enterprise. I assume he's talking about the incident from "Generations." Since the ship was no longer in service and Sisko needed an experience officer who best understands the Klingons, what better way to introduce Worf to DS9.
There's also the side story of Worf being conflicted between loyalty to his people and loyalty to Starfleet. Odo understands this dilemma all too well and tells Worf he had better make up his mind soon about telling Sisko what he knows regarding the Klingon's true reason for being on the station before it's too late.
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