Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Nog
3. The Plan After Nine
The documentary What We Left Behind featured a section wherein the former writers of Deep Space Nine met to 'break' a story for a hypothetical eighth season. There is always an issue in finding a reason to bring a disparate band of characters back together again after such a long time - so it was Nog would signal the return.
In the session, the writers decided that Nog - then captain of the Defiant - would send a message his former friends and colleagues, imploring them to return to Deep Space Nine. Though they would gather in their dribs and drabs, they would all be present - to see him die.
To Eisenberg's dismay, Nog was to be the sacrificial lamb that inspires the eighth season to explore what has truly happened to the Quadrant. Though, this season opener would have ended with Sisko returning. What's to say he couldn't nip back in time and pick up Nog while he was at it?