Just rewatched "Sacrifice of Angels" had a couple of questions...

[infinix]

How exactly was Sisko's path altered after the prophets agreed to perform a miracle? And was the penance the death of Jazia?

Also, when the Defiant came out of the worm hole alone, there must have been a least a dozen Dominion ships circling DS9. Yes, there were 200 Federation/Klingon ships coming, but they are at least 3 hours away. This must have been ample time for the Dominion to either capture or destroy the Defiant. Yet they simply chose to run like hell.

Finally, I would have expected the Dominion to absolutely blow up the station as they made their exit. No reason leaving such an important piece of military installation in the hands of the enemy.

So what are your thoughts?

 

[heavylids]

I think the Dominion diverted all vessels to defend against the massive fleet. They were over confident. They didn't think it was necessary to have any vessels guarding the station. Gul Dukat even said that the Defiant was no match for DS9 and by the time the Defiant returned from the wormhole, the Federation/Klingon fleet had broken through their lines.

 

[infinix]

I think the Dominion diverted all vessels to defend against the massive fleet. They were over confident. They didn't think it was necessary to have any vessels guarding the station. Gul Dukat even said that the Defiant was no match for DS9 and by the time the Defiant returned from the wormhole, the Federation/Klingon fleet had broken through their lines.

If you have the episode at hand, you should go back and check it out. During the battle, on the various cut scenes showing DS9 (with the Kira/Odo rebel story) you can clearly seen about a dozen Dominion ships either docking or orbiting the station. Besides if there weren't any ships around DS9, how were the Dominion personnel going to evacuate?

Also, the Fed/Klingon fleet had just broken through the line as the Defiant came back out of the worm hole. Since it took the Defiant about 3 hours to reach DS9 from the battle front at maximum warp, there is no reason to believe the fleet that broke through would get to DS9 any faster.

Ducat was on the brink of loosing his mind, yes. But the founder and the Vorta should have ordered the destruction of Defiant since they had ample fire power to do so.

 

[Timo]

Why should the Defiant be worth capturing or destroying, though? The Dominion had captured her once or twice already, and then dropped her like a below-limit pike. They'd later rather effortlessly destroy her. She was probably the weakest Starfleet asset in the neighborhood, and no threat to the evacuation of DS9, which was the main interest of the Dominion forces.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[infinix]

Why should the Defiant be worth capturing or destroying, though? The Dominion had captured her once or twice already, and then dropped her like a below-limit pike. They'd later rather effortlessly destroy her. She was probably the weakest Starfleet asset in the neighborhood, and no threat to the evacuation of DS9, which was the main interest of the Dominion forces.

Timo Saloniemi

But anyone with half of a mind would have realized that Defiant was somehow responsible for the disappearance of thousands of JemHadar reinforcements. Even if the Dominion wasn't bent on destroying the Defiant out of revenge, they should at least capture it and question everyone on board to find out HOW they made those ships disappear.

 

[Jono]

Could they have destroyed the Defiant before it destroyed the station? Possibly but should they risk it given what has just happened? While Sisko said the Defiant wasn't in shape to prevent the Dominion evacuating the station, it doesn't mean it couldn't run.

Also given that Sisko and Martok board the station at the same time it seems to indicate that the Dominion only just left before the rest of the Federation fleet arrived. So they didn't have much time to mess around with chasing the Defiant.

As for not destroying the station, real world reason: You can't have Star Trek: Deep Space Nine without Deep Space 9.

In universe the reason might be due to the fact that the Bajorans have a non-aggression pact with the Dominion and blowing up a Bajoran station could void that. That could send out negative messages to other powers with treaties with the Dominion if they see that the Dominion is willing to readily break them.

 

[infinix]

As for not destroying the station, real world reason: You can't have Star Trek: Deep Space Nine without Deep Space 9.

In universe the reason might be due to the fact that the Bajorans have a non-aggression pact with the Dominion and blowing up a Bajoran station could void that. That could send out negative messages to other powers with treaties with the Dominion if they see that the Dominion is willing to readily break them.

That is actually a pretty good reason that I didn't think about. kudos to you.

Though I still maintain that there were at least 3 hours of time before the rest of the fleet showed up at DS9. Sisko might have wanted to wait and dock with the Klingons.

 

[heavylids]

I think the Dominion diverted all vessels to defend against the massive fleet. They were over confident. They didn't think it was necessary to have any vessels guarding the station. Gul Dukat even said that the Defiant was no match for DS9 and by the time the Defiant returned from the wormhole, the Federation/Klingon fleet had broken through their lines.

If you have the episode at hand, you should go back and check it out. During the battle, on the various cut scenes showing DS9 (with the Kira/Odo rebel story) you can clearly seen about a dozen Dominion ships either docking or orbiting the station. Besides if there weren't any ships around DS9, how were the Dominion personnel going to evacuate?

I do, and I watched it. You're right. I don't know why I forgot about all those details. My mistake.

 

[Timo]

Could they have destroyed the Defiant before it destroyed the station?

Destroyed the station? The ship has never been hinted as having that sort of capabilities, especially if the station is guarded by Jem'Hadar cruisers. OTOH, if the station's defenses were back up and running, destroying the Defiant should be a breeze in normal circumstances.

Possibly but should they risk it given what has just happened?

Indeed. If the Defiant has gained the ability to threaten DS9 all alone, and has just used that ability for destroying thousands of Dominion ships, there's no point in trying to oppose the Defiant. The only three options at that point are escape, surrender, or inglorious extinction.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Navaros]

How exactly was Sisko's path altered after the prophets agreed to perform a miracle? And was the penance the death of Jazia?

The Sisko's path was not altered in any way whatsoever by the wormhole aliens' magical Jemmy-eraser. That plot element was introduced as a cop-out fix for that one episode, and then dropped like a hot potato, never to be picked up again in the series. There is no penance that the Sisko pays in the series in relation to that magical Jemmy-eraser.

Finally, I would have expected the Dominion to absolutely blow up the station as they made their exit. No reason leaving such an important piece of military installation in the hands of the enemy.

You have an excellent point here. I presume they just omitted dealing with this point since they figure that most fans wouldn't notice it. Kudos to you for noticing.

 

[DonIago]

Perhaps after disabling DS9's weapons systems Rom next went after any auto-destruct functionality. Perhaps the non-aggression treaty was an issue. Perhaps the Dominion tried to plant a number of listening devices on DS9 before leaving. Perhaps they evacuated so quickly because of their Gods was aboard the station and nothing mattered except ensuring her safe departure.

It's all speculation.

We can speculate that Rom disabled the auto-destruct, we can speculate that Jadzia's death was the price Sisko paid, we can speculate that Jake's brief possession by a pah-wraith or Sisko's own death at the end of the series was the price he paid.