Sortie was a term for the deployment of a starship (or starships) to undertake a specific mission. In late 2375, in the closing days of the Dominion War, Chancellor Gowron informed Worf and General Martok of his intention to send Klingon sorties into Dominion territory. (DS9: "When It Rains...") The term was used in the 20th and 21st centuries in Earth military air forces in the same manner for their aircraft. In French, sortie literally means 'exit'.