What You Leave Behind

"What You Leave Behind"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode
The Federation Alliance fleet prepares for the final battle over Cardassia Prime
Episode no.	Season 7 Episode 25 & 26
Directed by	Allan Kroeker
Written by	Ira Steven Behr Hans Beimler
Featured music	Dennis McCarthy
Production code	575 & 576
Original air date	June 2, 1999 (1999-06-02)
Guest appearance(s)
Rosalind Chao - Keiko O'Brien Jeffrey Combs - Weyoun Salome Jens - Female Changeling Penny Johnson - Kasidy Yates Andrew Robinson - Elim Garak Casey Biggs - Damar Marc Alaimo - Gul Dukat Aron Eisenberg - Nog J. G. Hertzler - General Martok Barry Jenner - Admiral Ross Deborah Lacey - Sarah Sisko Julianna McCarthy - Mila Hana Hatae - Molly O'Brien Mel Johnson, Jr. - Legate Broca Greg Ellis - Ekoor Cyndi Pass - Ginger James Darren - Vic Fontaine Louise Fletcher - Kai Winn Kevin Scott Allen - Jem'Hadar Christopher Halsted - Jem'Hadar First Mark Allen Shepherd - Morn
Episode chronology
← Previous "The Dogs of War" Next → —
List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes

"What You Leave Behind" is the series finale of the television show Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 175th and 176th overall episodes, and the 25th and 26th episodes of the seventh season. The episode was written by showrunner Ira Steven Behr and Hans Beimler and directed by Allan Kroeker. It originally aired on June 2, 1999.

Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures on Deep Space Nine, a space station located near a stable wormhole between the Alpha and Gamma quadrants of the Milky Way Galaxy. The final episode of the series, "What You Leave Behind" sees the end of the Dominion War as Starfleet, alongside the Klingons, Romulans and rebel Cardassians, launch a final attack against the Dominion on Cardassia Prime, as well as the culmination of the Pah-wraiths' emissary Dukat and Kai Winn's machinations back on Bajor.

The episode was mainly well-received, with most critics considering it a satisfying end for the series, though the final confrontation between Sisko and Dukat was largely criticized.

On Deep Space Nine, Bashir wakes up with Ezri, O'Brien talks with his family about leaving the station after the war, and Sisko comforts a pregnant, nauseated Kasidy. It is the morning of the day the crew will leave for the final push in the war. While heading for battle on the Defiant, Sisko receives a vision of his prophet-mother Sarah. She claims that his most important challenge is "not before you, but behind you." The battle between the Jem'Hadar/Breen/Cardassian fleet and Federation/Klingon/Romulan fleet begins. Kira, Garak, and Damar, hiding on Cardassia Prime as insurgents, incite a worker revolt and power outage, which cuts off communication between the Dominion fleet and the command center housing Weyoun and the diseased Founder. In retaliation, the Jem'Hadar wipe out an entire Cardassian city.