The Die Is Cast (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Garak and Odo have not been heard from on Deep Space Nine in several days, following their departure in a runabout to investigate an attempt on Garak's life. The crew of Deep Space Nine is alarmed when a large Cardassian–Romulan fleet suddenly flies through the Wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant.

The fleet, under the command of Cardassian Enabran Tain and Romulan Colonel Lovok, aims to destroy the homeworld of the shape-shifting Founders of the Dominion. Tain has offered Garak the opportunity to return from exile, and the two reminisce about their past together in the Obsidian Order, the Cardassian secret police.

Back on DS9, the senior staff view Tain's message laying out his plans to cripple the Dominion with combined forces from the Obsidian Order and the Romulan Tal Shiar. Commander Sisko, ignoring orders to stay put, launches an unsanctioned mission to take the Defiant into the Gamma Quadrant to rescue Odo.

Tain instructs Garak to interrogate Odo for information about the Founders, using a device that inhibits his ability to shape-shift. Knowing that Tain will never trust him if he refuses, Garak reluctantly does so. As the device causes Odo obvious pain, Garak begs him to reveal anything of use, even if it's a lie. Odo confesses his desire to return to his people, and Garak deactivates the device.

When the fleet arrives at the Founders' homeworld, they find little resistance and open fire, but soon realize that the planet is abandoned and the mission was a trap. Suddenly, Jem'Hadar ships appear and engage the fleet, vastly outnumbering them. In the resulting battle, the Cardassian–Romulan fleet is annihilated.

Knowing that the battle is lost, Garak leaves the bridge to rescue Odo. They encounter Lovok, who reveals himself to be a Founder and assists Odo in escaping. He confesses that the Founders viewed the Tal Shiar and Obsidian Order as threats and helped push Tain's plan forward in order to destroy them. He invites Odo to return to the Founders, but Odo declines. Garak attempts to save Tain, but Tain refuses to leave, and Garak refuses to abandon him, so Odo knocks Garak unconscious and escapes with him on the runabout. The Defiant rescues them from the battle.

Back on the station, Garak sits mournfully in the wreckage of his shop. Odo arrives and invites Garak to join him for breakfast.

In 2015, Geek.com recommended this episode as "essential watching" for their abbreviated Star Trek: Deep Space Nine binge-watching guide, pairing it with the previous episode "Improbable Cause".[1]

In 2018, CBR rated "Improbable Cause" coupled with "The Die Is Cast", as the 12th best multi episode story arc of Star Trek.[2] They call it a "fun showcase for Garak", the space station's tailor.[3]

In 2018, reviewed as a pair with the preceding episode "Improbable Cause", "The Die as Cast" was ranked as the 6th best episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine by Vulture.[4]

• In the episode, Vice Admiral Toddman makes reference to Wolf 359, portrayed in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Best of Both Worlds", as well as the Deep Space Nine pilot "Emissary", where it figures heavily in Sisko's backstory.
• In the episode "Defiant", Gul Dukat and Commander Sisko discover that a secret base operated by the Obsidian Order has a fleet of ships, which is forbidden.

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• "The Die Is Cast" on IMDb
• "The Die Is Cast" at TV.com

• The Die Is Cast at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)

• The Die Is Cast at StarTrek.com