History Recap / StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS02E01TheHomecoming

The runabout returns to [=DS9=] safely, and Li is treated for his injuries. Gul Dukat even contacts Deep Space Nine, claiming the prison camp he was at was a violation of protocol, and the remaining prisoners are being transported to the station. Li is happy to be free, but he seems uncomfortable with the adoration of the Bajorans on the station.

-->'''Sisko:''' "I already have a liaison officer."\\

-->'''Sisko:''' "I already have a liaison officer."
-->'''Jaro:''' "Not anymore, you don't. [[WhamLine Major Kira is no longer assigned to this post. She's been recalled to Bajor.]]"

* BlatantLies: By the time Kira gets back to DS9 the Cardassian government has already issued a formal apology to Bajor claiming that it was a simple over site and they had no idea Bajoran POW's were being kept in a labor camp within their own home system. This would be like the Federation claiming the same about a camp on Mars, especially egregious since meticulous record keeping is considered a point of pride for Cardassians.

* SpottingTheThread: When Cardassia releases the surviving camp prisoners without complaint over a clearly Federation-backed attack on their territory. It makes Sisko suspicious that the Cardassians are up to something else they don't want exposed...

* HopeSpot: Why Kira wants to rescue Li Nalas. With the recent loss of the Kai, Bajor is without genuine leadership and is on the brink of civil war. To her, Li could be a unifying figure to lead Bajor forward.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Jaro is introduced interrupting Li Nalas's speech to the crowd and then asking permission to take over. Here's a guy who likes being in control and making everything revolve around him. I wonder if that will come up again...

* LivingLegend: Even Sisko had heard of Li Nalas.

* NoOneGetsLeftBehind: Li Nalas insists that they cannot leave behind the four Bajoran prisoners who covered their escape, but Kira and O'Brien have no choice.

* HumbleHero: Li was telling the truth when he told his comrades that he simply shot Gul Zarale, whom he caught unaware and unarmed, but as he tells Sisko, they were already convinced he was just being modest.

* MetaphoricallyTrue: Li says the popular account of his fight with Gul Zarale is a lie. Sisko encourages him to think of it as a legend, instead.

* NoOneGetsLeftBehind: {{Subverted}} -- Kira and O'Brien are only able to escape the POWCamp with half the Bajoran prisoners. Thankfully, the Cardassians release the other half rather than risk a diplomatic incident.

At Quark's, after getting the best Changeling rendition of a {{Tsundere}} from Odo in thanks for busting some criminals, the Ferengi is approached by a Boslic freight captain named Rionoj. She had a package to deliver: a Bajoran earring. All she knows is that she was supposed to deliver it to [=DS9=]... and that it was picked up on ''Cardassia IV''.

Wondering of its value of course, Quark seeks some appraisal on it from Kira. The second she sees it, she's shocked. It's the earring of legendary Bajoran rebel Li Nalas, who has been presumed dead for years. Kira goes to Commander Sisko and asks for a runabout to rescue Li. She cites the increasing factionalization of the Bajoran provisional government, and she believes that Li is the one person who can unite the factions. Sisko can only tell her that he'll think about it.

After a close call with a Cardassian patrol, fooled thanks to a combination of them being out of visual range and some good lying, they arrive on Cardassia IV. They discover twelve Bajoran lifesigns in the camp, but because they can only beam two people up at a time, they have to get inside the camp in order to ensure they get Li before the alarms are raised. After tricking the dipstick guard by Kira impersonating a prostitute, they grab Li and his fellow prisoners as a firefight breaks out. Li is injured in the fight, requiring four of his fellow prisoners to remain behind so they can escape.

The runabout returns to [=DS9=] safely, and Li is treated for his injuries. Gul Dukat even contacts Deep Space Nine, claiming the prison camp he was at was a violation of protocol, and the remaining prisoners are being transported to the station. Li is happy to be free, but he seems almost annoyed by the adoration of the Bajorans on the station.

Bajoran minister Jaro pays a visit to the station, and chastises Kira for nearly starting a war with the Cardassians, one which he is thankful they've chosen to decline. After pointing out that a repeat of such a stunt would cost Kira her military career, he offers his personal thanks for a job well done.

Quark is assaulted and branded in his bar late at night by masked members of The Circle. Li is told they need someone to speak out against these radicals. That someone of course, being Li Nalas himself. Unfortunately, he's not interested, as revealed when he's caught trying to stowaway on a vessel bound for the Gamma Quadrant.

In private, Li reveals the truth behind his "legend": while fighting in a minor resistance cell, all but three of his group were wiped out. And being the only one with a phaser, he took the lead. Slipping down a steep embankment, Li was surprised to find a bathing Cardassian in his skivvies. As the surprised Cardassian reached for his weapon, Li was forced to shoot him. The mans body fell on top of him, and his companions assumed he killed him in a great struggle. That someone happened to be a high-ranking officer named Gul Zarale.

* PetTheDog: Among the people who see Kira off is Quark offering her a free drink and he even offers to cater to everyone present at a discount.

* ShowSomeLeg: Kira pretends to be a Bajoran prostitute being brought to the camp's Cardassian prefect. The guard too has a taste for Bajorans after his service there, and [[TheGuardsMustBeCrazy turns off the forcefield so he can sample the merchandise.]]