The Bajoran Republic has pulled out of a summit that would have finalized their Federation membership and orders all Bajoran Starfleet members back to Bajor. DSX's Chief of Engineering, Lt. Avder, himself a Bajoran-Siskan, disobeys this order to leave and becomes stricken with an acute illness. Aster, Tamura, and Boket visit the Bajoran System to try and connect the dots.