It's five years since the end of the Dominion War. Jake Sisko is back on Earth after a long journey round the Gamma Quadrant, finishing up his book about what life is like out there after the collapse of the Dominion. It looks like Jake has a great life—travel, success, and a writing career that's going from strength to strength.

The only problem is—everyone wants a piece of Jake Sisko. Whether it's Starfleet Intelligence, full of questions about his trip through the wormhole, or the Bajoran people, anxious to be close to the son of their departed Emissary, Jake is struggling to carve out space for himself.

Then there are the rumors Jake heard out in the Gamma Quadrant. Rumors about Starfleet, and his father, and their conduct during the war. Rumors which—if they turned out to be true—would rock the very foundations of Jake Sisko's world...

Jake accepts an invitation to an arts festival on Cardassia Prime, hoping to get some distance between himself and his worries. But even here, the past won't leave him alone. Starfleet Intelligence are still interested, and there are people on Cardassia, too, for whom Jake Sisko seems to offer unique opportunities to advance their agendas. Jake flees into the Cardassian desert, joining a tour of ancient archeological sites.

And then, when the party is isolated from the rest of the world, the murders begin...