24. Shakaar

When the First Minister of the Bajoran Provisional Government dies, conniving religious leader Kai Winn is appointed to his position on an interim basis and is likely to be formally elected to the office. Later, Winn approaches Major Kira with a request. A group of farmers refuse to return some soil reclamators that Winn has promised to Rakantha Province. Their leader, Shakaar, also led Kira's resistance cell during the Occupation, so Winn wants Kira to convince him to return the equipment. Kira is reluctant to confront her friend and mentor, but accepts the task.

Shakaar tells Kira he and his fellow farmers (also former members of his resistance cell) were promised use of the reclamators for a year, but when Winn took over, they were ordered to return them immediately. Since the Rakantha project is geared toward farming products for export, while Shakaar's farmers are trying to feed their people, he sees his project as far more important. Kira encourages him to meet with Winn and compromise. Instead of attending the meeting, Winn sends security officers to arrest Shakaar. Kira and Shakaar subdue the officers and escape.

Now fugitives, Shakaar, Kira, and their comrades hide in the mountains where they once eluded the Cardassians. Displays of civil disobedience in support of Shakaar occur across Bajor; Winn petitions Starfleet to help apprehend Shakaar but Commander Sisko refuses, citing the Prime Directive. Weeks later, as the militia closes in, Shakaar's exhausted group realizes there is no option but to stop running and fight. They lead their pursuers into a canyon to set up an ambush.

Hiding in the canyon, Shakaar and Kira watch as the Bajoran troops enter their trap. But as they see the faces of their "enemies", they realize that they will be shooting former comrades. Unwilling to do this, Kira and Shakaar drop their weapons and, after a brief conversation with the militia's commander, Colonel Lenaris, a ceasefire is called. Lenaris escorts Shakaar and Kira to Winn's office, where Shakaar informs Winn that he has decided to enter the election for First Minister. Realizing a competitive election against the popular Shakaar will expose how her actions brought Bajor to the brink of civil war, Winn steps down from the race, leaving Shakaar certain to win.

In a side plot back on Deep Space Nine, Chief O'Brien records an incredible winning streak at darts; his streak ends when he leans backwards for a drink and severely injures his shoulder during a match.