Headscratchers / Star Trek: Deep Space Nine S02E04 "Invasive Procedures"

• How did Quark avoid jail time given that the plot was basically his fault?
  • Several possible reasons: Firstly, lack of evidence that could hold up in court. There is not a lot of hard evidence, especially if the conspirators don't flip on him, to actually hang a prosecution on Quark. A defence counsel might point to Quark's role in releasing Odo too, which casts doubt on his guilt. Quark doesn't have to be proven innocent, just make sure there is enough reasonable doubt to beat the rap. Also, as the later episode "The Ascent" shows, regarding a different case, Quark himself is more than willing to flip on co-conspirators so we can't rule out him cutting a deal for immunity in return for testimony against the invaders. Finally, there could have been a cover up. We know Trill doesn't want it known just how many people can potentially blend with symbionts, the Federation might find the ease that the takeover happened embarrassing, and the Bajoran Provisional Government certainly wouldn't want to show just how weak DS9 still is following their own recent debacle involving it.
• What is the source of the plasma storm and why in all the vastness of space did it wind up going past a space station?