Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

In the opening installment of a two‑part storyline, Captain Sisko leads a coordinated assault against Dominion forces on Cardassia. At the same time, Gul Dukat and Kai Winn are busy preparing to unleash the Pah‑wraiths, heightening the stakes of the impending confrontation.

What You Leave Behind – Part One is a television episode that forms the opening half of a two‑part story. It is presented as a programme in the episode format, and the title indicates that it is the first segment of a larger narrative arc. In this opening instalment, Captain Benjamin Sisko orders a concerted assault on the Dominion’s forces stationed on Cardassian territory. The operation is depicted as a coordinated strike, with Sisko directing his resources toward weakening the Dominion’s hold over Cardassia. Simultaneously, Gul Dukat and Kai Winn are shown making preparations to unleash the Pah‑wraiths. Their actions run parallel to Sisko’s offensive, highlighting a clandestine plot that involves the release of these powerful entities. The episode therefore establishes two opposing threads: Sisko’s aggressive campaign against the Dominion on Cardassia, and the covert scheme by Dukat and Winn to free the Pah‑wraiths. By juxtaposing the military offensive with the impending ritual, the story sets the stage for the continuation of the conflict in the second part of the two‑part narrative.