Neither Starfleet or the Dominion are making any moves into each others territories and a lull in the war is at hand.  So the Swiftfire is sent back to Utopia Planitia for repairs and refits.  The crew are then allowed to take a break on Earth. 

The Swiftfire is trapped in a time loop and only Captain Jonathan Masters is aware of it. He is forced to experience the destruction of the Swiftfire over and over again. As he endeavours to break the cycle he is visited by the most unwelcome of guests, Q.

Acts of piracy in Federation space increased rapidly since the outset of the war.  One group, the Rough Necks, has been a particular problem.  In an attempt to destroy their operation Masters goes under cover to bust the pirate's operation.

In an attack on a Dominion facility the Swiftfire ends up trapped behind Dominion lines.  The ship is heavily damaged with the captain seriously injured it is up to Commander Susan Core to somehow get the ship and its crew back to Federation space.

Betazed has fallen and the Dominion is closer to Earth then ever, but with this comes good news - the Romulans have entered the war on the Federation's side.  The inclusion of the Romulans brings Lieutenant Karak face to face with an enemy from his past, while it gives Wing Commander Benton a chance to strike out at the Dominion for the fall of her homeworld.

Special Operation Command (SOC) takes command a platoon of Marines and a squadron of fighters from the Swiftfire for a special operation.  Head deep into Dominion space, infiltrate a secret Dominion Shipyards and get information on the Dominion's newest warship.

The Federation and its Allies are ready to go on the offensive.  The target: the Chin'Toka system, a stepping stone to Cardassia itself.  Task Force 59 joins the fleet for battle but when they get to the system a new weapon is brought online, risking the success of the mission.

Colonel David Tiki and his Marines take part in the invasion of Chin'toka.  Things go wrong and the Marines are soon on the run from the Jem'Hadar.  While trying to escape the Marines will make an amazing discovery but at the same time someone close to the colonel will give their life to save him and the rest of the Marines.

When a shuttle carrying Captain Masters crashes on a planet there are only two survivors, Captain Masters and Captain Daley.  The two officers find themselves in a predicament when a severe weather system moves in and Masters is injured.  Meanwhile the Swiftfire finds an unusual ship near the front.

Captain Masters learns some new information about the attempt on his life on DS9 two years ago.  He leaves the Swiftfire to find out more information and is shown an insight into the secretive Section 214C.

It is advised to read "The Darkness Within" before reading this story as the events of that story are heavily referenced in this episode.