Call to Arms (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Upon learning that the Romulans and other major powers have signed non-aggression pacts with the Dominion, Starfleet Command orders Captain Benjamin Sisko to prevent further Dominion reinforcements from reaching Cardassia, their first foothold in the Alpha Quadrant. A plan is devised to block the entrance to the wormhole with a field of self-replicating mines (thanks to a brilliant idea by Rom), but the mines cannot be activated until they are entirely deployed; this task will take several hours to complete. Shortly after deployment begins, Weyoun declares that Deep Space Nine will be attacked unless the mines are removed.

Knowing that Starfleet reinforcements are unavailable, Sisko asks General Martok to patrol the border while the Defiant continues deployment. Sisko also notifies Kira that he will endorse the non-aggression pact offered to Bajor by the Dominion, in the hope that it will keep Bajor out of the coming fight and in turn, war. Rom and Leeta are married by Sisko in his capacity as the Emissary and a Starfleet captain.

As the Dominion fleet approaches, Sisko orders a civilian emergency evacuation of DS9. Starfleet and Bajoran militia personnel remain to defend the station until the mines are completely deployed. Dominion forces attack and are met by DS9's armaments and Martok's vessel, the Rotarran. After the minefield is activated, Sisko orders the Starfleet personnel to evacuate as well.

The Bajoran militia remains aboard the station, as do Quark, Rom, Morn, and Jake Sisko, who intends to serve as a reporter for the Federation News Service while the station is occupied by the Dominion, relying on the Dominions' new pact with Bajor to ensure his safety given his status as the son of the Emissary. Before surrendering DS9, Kira disables the station's systems by activating a pre-set computer program.

Sisko informs the Starfleet personnel that while the station was being captured, a combined Starfleet/Klingon task force wiped out the Dominion ship yards in the Alpha Quadrant. Weyoun reveals that it cost over 50 ships to take the station.

Aboard the Defiant, Sisko is informed that Jake is not aboard and must still be on DS9. O'Brien asks whether or not they should go back for him. An angered Sisko responds that he can't risk the ship and its crew for one person, even if he is his son. "He is a man" Sisko reasons as he slumps back into his seat and says "Maintain current course". On Deep Space Nine, Kira, Odo, and Quark welcome the Dominion aboard the station. Afterwards, Gul Dukat reclaims his old office in Ops, where he notes the baseball left behind – a message to him that Sisko will return. The Defiant and Rotarran circle around to join a massive Federation/Klingon task force.

Deep Space Nine was produced during a transition period between motion-control work with physical models and computer-generated images.[3] "A Call to Arms" used a mixture of older-type model work such as motion control and computer-generated special effects.[3] Production of the motion-control shots took weeks to get the desired look.[3]

This episode used a fictional spacecraft design, called the Akira-class, which was previously used in the Star Trek universe in the 1996 film Star Trek: First Contact.[4] The Akira-class design was shown again on this television show in the episodes "Tears of the Prophets" and "What You Leave Behind".[4]

A 2015 binge-watching guide for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine by W.I.R.E.D. recommended not skipping this essential episode.[5]

In 2015, Geek.com recommended this episode as "essential watching" for their abbreviated Star Trek: Deep Space Nine binge-watching guide, noting that this is the start of the Dominion war and involves the Gamma-quadrant wormhole by Deep Space Nine.[6]

In 2016, The Hollywood Reporter rated "Call to Arms" 6th out of all Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes.[7] In 2016, Gizmodo rated "Call to Arms" 31st out all Star Trek television episodes produced up to that time.[8] Wired's Deep Space Nine binge guide from 2015, did not recommend skipping "Call to Arms" in the 176 DS9 episodes.[9] This episode is noted for bringing together many narratives and character arcs developed over the course of the 5th (1996–1997) season, and moves them forward into a significant conclusion.[10]

In 2018, SyFy recommend this episode for its abbreviated watch guide for the Bajoran character Kira Nerys.[11] However, they recommend it as sequence including the episodes "Call to Arms," "A Time to Stand," "Rocks and Shoals," "Sons and Daughters," "Behind the Lines," "Favor the Bold," and "Sacrifice of Angels"; this includes from the season finale of season 5 and the first six episodes of season 6 of the show.[11] They note that in this episode Kira is left behind on the station once again under Cardassian control.[12]

In 2019, Comicbook.com ranked "Call to Arms" the 9th best episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, pointing out for the first time in the Star Trek franchise, a large war started involving the Federation.[13]

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Call to Arms

• "Call to Arms" on IMDb
• "Call to Arms" at TV.com

• "Call to Arms" at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)

• "Call to Arms" at StarTrek.com