Operation Return


 * For the Pendragon universe version of this engagement, see Operation Return (PDN).

Operation Return was the codename for the joint attack on Deep Space 9 by the Federation and Klingon Empires in 2374. The objective of the mission was to recapture the station and regain control of the Alpha Quadrant side of the Bajoran wormhole so to prevent Dominion reinforcements from the Gamma Quadrant.

Planning stage
After several months in control of Deep Space 9 the Dominion had yet to bring down the minefield blocking the entrance to the wormhole. However the longer then remained in control of the station the higher the risk that they would figure a way to bring the field down so Captain Benjamin Sisko came up with a plan to regain control of the starbase.

The plan would involve a joint Starfleet and Klingon Defense Force task force made up of elements from the Second, Fifth, Ninth Fleet and a large contingent of Klingon warships. After getting approval from Starfleet Command the fleets started to rally at Starbase 375.

At the same time the Cardassians had finally found a way to bring down the minefield. The resistance force on Deep Space 9 managed to smuggle a message out to Sisko warning about the ininement destruction of the minefield. Unfortunately Sisko was still waiting for Klingon Chancellor Gowron to commit his forces to the operation and the Ninth Fleet would not arrive at the starbase before the field was due to be deactiviated. This news forced Admiral William Ross to order Sisko to take the ships they had and fight their way to Deep Space 9 before it was too late.

With only half the ships originally slated for the operation Starfleet was not positive of victory. It expected that the fleet would be destroyed, either on route or while trying to hold the station. The Ninth Fleet followed after the force and the Tenth Fleet was sent from Betazed to try to join up with the fleet if it retook Deep Space 9.

The Dominion was soon aware of the sortie of the large fleet towards Deep Space 9 and Gul Dukat organised a large Dominion force to hold off the attack. Both fleets met each other roughly three hours high warp from the Bajor system. The Dominion fleet formed a defensive bulwark that blocked the Federation fleet. The Dominion only had to delay the Federation fleet and took a defensive stance.

Sisko tried to open a hole in the Dominion formation and spent three hours hammering the Cardassian starships with wave after wave of attack fighters. Dukat decided to allow a hole to appear and draw the Federation fleet and destroy it. Sisko recognised the tactic but with time running out had no choice but to take the bait.

Once inside the Dominion formation the Federation fleet's formation fell apart due to communications jamming by the Dominion. For two hours the Federation fleet battled on before the Klingons arrived, blasting a hole into the Dominion formation allowing the Defiant to escape.

With communications back and the Klingon also involved they tried to get other ships through to join the Defiant but the Federation fleet was too fractured to make any reasonable headway. After an hour it was then far too late for any ships to make it to Deep Space 9 and the Federation and Klingon fleets disengaged to reform and the Dominion fleet did likewise.

Command of the fleet still battling the Dominion fell to Rear Admiral Jennifer Douglas of the USS. Despite the arrival of the Klingons and communications coming back online the Federation fleet's formation had seriously fractured and was ineffective at penetrating the Dominion lines. Admiral Douglas ordered for the fleet to regroup and both fleet briefly disengaged as they adjusted their formations. With the fleet reformed and the Klingons anchoring one of the flanks the Admiral threw the fleet back into the Dominion lines and restarted the battle. (: "Rode the 600")

With Martok in command of one of the flanks he used the interference from weapons fire and destroyed ships to help mask his cloaked ships. He periodically cloaked parts of his fleet, this kept the Dominion fleet on the defensive and allowed the Klingons to be more aggressive, eventually turning the Dominion's flank which started a general collapse in the Dominion lines. (: "Rode the 600")

Following the battle and the retreat of the Dominion fleet Starfleet recovery operations began in the battle zone. Search and rescue teams combed through the wreckage looking for survivors and recovering bodies. Starfleet Intelligence also deployed several teams to investigate the wrecks of Dominion and Cardassians ships in search of classified materials. (: "Unfinished Business")