Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999): Season 7, Episode 16 - Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges - full transcript

All right. Next item. Item seven.

Warbird repair and maintenance.
Senator?

Repairs on our ships have continually
been delayed in favour of other vessels.

The Dividices and the Genorex
have waited three weeks

while a dozen Klingon ships
have been given priority.

I plan the schedule according to which
ships have the greatest need.

Odd that the Klingons
always have the greatest need.

They are more damaged because
Klingon warships are relentless.

Relentless or reckless?

- The fight must be taken to the enemy.
- We're not here to debate tactics.

When can you have
those warbirds in a docking bay?



I could bring them in tomorrow

and delay repairs to the Hornet
and the Rotarran.

Someone will have to tell General
Martok why his flagship was bumped.

Worf, you just volunteered
for that assignment.

This brings up the question
of shore leave.

Right now we have the crews
from two Klingon ships on the station.

I'd rather not have that many Klingons
and Romulans here at the same time.

We'll forgo shore leave.
Our soldiers are professionals.

They're here to fight,
not to get drunk in Quark's.

That's it for today.
Same time next week?

Senator, you'll be attending
the conference, won't you?

Yes. But Sub-Commander Velal
will be here in my place.

- Have a safe trip.
- Thank you.

Ah, yes. Romulus.
How well I remember it.



You'll find the predominant colour
to be grey -

the buildings, the clothes, the people.

The Romulan heart itself is grey.

It's true. And appropriate
for such an unimaginative race.

I take it you didn't enjoy
your stint on Romulus?

Weren't you posing as a gardener?

My cover was more enjoyable
than the actual assignment.

- What was the assignment?
- I can't talk about that.

Back to the subject at hand. What will
your role be at this conference?

I'll be giving a talk
on biogenic weapons,

chairing a seminar on Ketracel white,

and attending a meeting on a proposal

to transfer 25 Federation hospital ships
over to Romulan control.

- How dull.
- Sorry to disappoint.

Admiral Ross will be discussing
the exciting issues.

I see. I trust that Starfleet Intelligence

will sending someone to make
good use of this opportunity.

What do you mean?

This is a golden opportunity
to gather intelligence

on Romulan intentions and capabilities.

They're our allies, Garak.

This could be the beginning
of a new friendship between us.

- The eternal optimist.
- Guilty as charged.

How sad.

I'm disappointed, hearing you mouth
platitudes of peace and friendship

regarding an implacable foe
like the Romulans.

But I live in hope that one day

you'll come to see this universe
for what it truly is,

rather than what you'd wish it to be.

I shall endeavour to become
more cynical with each passing day,

look gift horses squarely in the mouth,
and find clouds in every silver lining.

If only you meant it.

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.

Lights.

- Sloan?
- Hello, Doctor. It's good to see you.

I hope you're well rested. Section 31
has an assignment for you.

I could have a security team here
in 30 seconds.

You'd be unable to communicate
with anyone outside of this room.

- I could scream.
- Possible but uncharacteristic.

Screaming for help
is too undignified for you.

But don't let me stop you.
I enjoy being wrong.

- What do you want?
- You have an assignment.

I don't work for you.

You passed. You were accepted.

I didn't ask to be accepted.

But you were.

And now it's time to go to work.

I'm sure you want to know

what your mission is
but you won't admit it.

- So I'll just tell you.
- Lucky me.

Section 31 is extremely interested
in this conference of yours.

However, the Tal Shiar
will be handling security

so we'll have no chance to use
technical assets to gather intelligence.

We have to rely on organic assets.
Like you.

Your mission is to gather data
about the Romulan leadership.

We want you to take the pulse
of their government. No pun intended.

You want me to spy on an ally.

To evaluate an ally.

And a temporary ally at that.

I say that because when the war
is over the following will happen -

the Dominion will go
back to the Gamma Quadrant,

the Cardassian Empire
will be occupied,

the Klingons
will spend ten years recovering

and won't pose a serious threat
to anyone.

That leaves two powers
to vie for control of the quadrant -

the Federation and the Romulans.

This war isn't over and
you're already planning for the next.

Well put. I hope your report
is equally succinct.

How many times do I have to tell you?
I don't work for you.

You will.

It's in your nature.

You are a man who loves secrets.

Medical, personal, fictional.

And I am a man of secrets.

You want to know what I know,
and the only way to do that

is to accept the assignment.

Easy, Julian!

What's going on?

There's no indication of how Sloan
got aboard or where he went.

I can't say I'm surprised. Section 31
is meticulous in covering its tracks.

I spoke with Admiral Ross
this afternoon.

He and I agree that the Romulan
conference is too important to cancel.

- What about me?
- Starfleet promised to send the expert

on Dominion biogenic weapons
and Ketracel white.

Since that's you, you go. And we want
you to carry out your assignment.

Make observations
on the Romulan leadership

and wait for Sloan to contact you again.

Giving Sloan any information
is a bad idea.

That was my instinct as well,
but after talking to Ross,

I think we might have an opportunity
here we can turn to our advantage.

Officially, Starfleet is appalled...

at the very notion that
Section 31 might exist...

and they plan to get
to the bottom of this entire business.

- And unofficially?
- They pushed the investigation aside,

which means either they
don't take Section 31 seriously

or someone at Starfleet Command
is protecting them.

Either way, we have a chance to get
someone inside and I want to take it.

So I play along, pretend I've decided
to work for Sloan after all.

Exactly. When he contacts you to find
out what you learned at the conference,

make it seem like you've come around
to his way of thinking.

Let him believe
that he's seduced you into helping him.

That shouldn't be too difficult.
Sloan thinks I'm already tempted.

I'd better pack.
The Bellerophon leaves in three hours.

One more thing, Doctor.

Remember this isn't a game.
Section 31 is very dangerous.

- If Sloan even suspects that you're...
- I understand.

Good hunting.

- A glass of Romulan ale, Doctor?
- Thank you.

The trading embargo has been officially
lifted, if you were wondering.

To one of the many benefits
of the alliance.

- Need a medical team?
- No, thank you.

This isn't your first glass
of Romulan ale!

It... was... illegal.

That never stopped your colleagues.

I know. I may be the only officer
in the fleet who didn't indulge.

- Would you like something else?
- No.

That's the spirit, sir. Never say die.

What an odd expression.
What does it mean?

It's a line from an old Earth poem.

Forgive me for interrupting.

I couldn't help overhearing
and etymology is one of my hobbies.

The phrase "Never say die"
is originally from a 19th-century poem

based on Shakespeare's
"Merchant of Venice".

It's since passed into the vernacular

as an exhortation never to give up,
no matter the cost.

Interesting.

Wendell Greer, Assistant Director,
UFP Department of Cartography.

I'm Admiral William Ross.
Senator Cretak.

- Admiral. Senator.
- And Dr Julian Bashir.

Ah! The physician from Deep Space 9.
I was hoping to meet you.

I have so many questions
about the Bajoran sector -

the navigational anomalies,
the transport patterns.

Do you have a moment?
Unless I'm interrupting.

Not at all.

Try to play your cards
a little closer to your vest.

You're lucky they didn't see
the shock on your face.

If you're here, why do you need me?

All in due time. You have a lot of
work to do before we arrive at Romulus.

There's a padd in your quarters.
Read it. I'll join you at 2200.

Mr Greer certainly
has his ducks in a row.

Apparently he's been a low-level
bureaucrat for almost 15 years.

I'm not surprised
he has a solid cover story.

But it's too dangerous to allow him
to even set foot on Romulus.

But if we move against him, we'll lose
any hope of penetrating Section 31.

His access at the conference
will be limited to a few briefings.

It shouldn't be hard
keeping tabs on him.

If Sloan's here...

it suggests more important than a
simple intelligence-gathering mission.

He's up to something and it's imperative
that we know what that something is.

We go forward.

Next.

Neral. Formerly Proconsul and now
Praetor of the Romulan Star Empire.

Neral's ascension to the top post
was confirmed a little over a year ago.

His immediate family was killed
in a Klingon raid 25 years ago.

His interests include sociology.

His favourite food is Delvan pudding
and his pet set'leth's name is Pensho.

Very good. Total recall is
a useful attribute for an operative.

Koval. Chairman of the Tal Shiar.

He may have been involved in
the death of Vice Admiral Fujisaki.

The proof is buried somewhere
in Koval's personal database.

But the Deputy Chief
of Starfleet Intelligence

doesn't just die of food poisoning.

But I have to give him credit.
It was a textbook operation.

No sign of foul play, and certainly no
sign of Romulan involvement. Very tidy.

- Koval's political status?
- Ambiguous.

He hasn't been elevated to
the Continuing Committee.

That's probably due to his opposition
to the Federation alliance,

which is supported by the majority.

Which opens the door
for your friend, Senator Cretak.

She's an advocate of the alliance and
she's been lobbying for this open seat.

There is another rumour about Koval,
not contained in his file.

We've heard he's ill.
Something called Tuvan Syndrome.

It's a neurological disease affecting
Vulcans, Romulans and Rigelians.

It's degenerative and incurable.

If Koval is ill, he'll hide it.

It could hamper his chances of
being appointed to the Committee.

Is that what I'm here for? A diagnosis?

Doesn't Section 31
have its own doctors?

They're not genetically enhanced.

They need equipment that
the Romulans won't permit here.

I can't make a diagnosis
by looking at a man.

Your genetically enhanced friends
knew that Gul Damar killed a woman

just by watching him give speech.

I'm sure you can do better than that.

You're going to move against
Koval, aren't you?

You going to use his illness
to keep him off the Committee.

Is it naive to point out that interfering
in the affairs of a sovereign power

is forbidden by the Federation charter?

Without confirming
or denying your speculation,

I will say that if Koval comes to power,
it'll be a disaster for the Federation.

He'll want to abrogate the alliance and
negotiate a peace with the Dominion.

You know what that would do
to the course of the war.

- That doesn't justify manipulating...
- Let's make a deal.

I'll spare you
the ends-justify-the-means speech

and you spare me
the do-what's-right speech.

We are not going to agree on this
subject so let's stop discussing it.

This mission is reconnaissance.

We won't be called upon
to do anything other than that.

Why don't you get some rest.

We'll be in orbit of Romulus soon and
you'll need to have your wits about you.

Here you are, sir.

- Dr Julian Bashir?
- Yes.

You first identified
the weapon known as the Quickening.

Yes. On Boranis lll,
in the Gamma Quadrant.

I don't believe we've met.

- Koval.
- It's a pleasure to meet you.

- Why?
- You've got me there.

- It's just a form of expression.
- And completely devoid of meaning.

Can the Quickening virus
be replicated?

We've had difficulty recreating
the exact RNA sequence of the virus,

so we can't develop a vaccine.

- However, there are...
- I'm not interested in the vaccine.

Do you know how to introduce
the Quickening into a population?

- Basically.
- Good.

I look forward to hearing your lecture.

- You'll make a fine operative.
- Pardon?

He rarely speaks with anyone in public,
much less someone in that uniform.

Starfleet Intelligence should recruit you.

What makes you think
I'm not working for them now?

It wouldn't surprise me if
half the people here were operatives.

You are joking?

It may be impolitic to say this,

but there are those who think the
alliance is merely a momentary truce.

- Are you one of them?
- I could ask you the same.

In my case, no. But you've answered
my question with a question.

- I try not to predict the future.
- What about Chairman Koval?

You just spoke with him.
That's more than I've done in six months.

- I take it you don't get along?
- We have different views.

Which are?

- State secrets.
- Naturally.

This is an adult female
inhabitant of Boranis lll.

The markings are typical of
a humanoid infected by the disease,

but not yet in the terminal stage.

Here, you can tell by
the necrotic nature of the lesions

the patient has entered
the terminal stage of the disease.

This is marked by
an increase in leukocyte production.

You almost made it comprehensible.

Next time I'll do the lecture
with hand puppets.

I'm glad to see you still have
your sense of humour.

I trust you noticed
who was in the front row.

He came to see me this morning
between sessions.

He wanted to know if I knew
how to replicate the Quickening virus

and how to introduce it to people.

- What did you think of his health?
- Didn't you hear me?

I heard you. Koval wants to get
his hands on the Quickening.

It's not news that the Tal Shiar
is interested in biogenic weapons.

Pull your head out of the sand, Doctor.

These are not nice people we're
dealing with. Answer my question.

His eyelids were slightly displaced.

He had weak facial muscles due to a
compromised neuromuscular function.

And his respiration
was somewhat irregular.

- Bottom line?
- He may have Tuvan Syndrome.

But if he does
it's in the very early stages.

How long does he have?

If his case fits the profile,

he'll start to lose motor
skills in 10 to 15 years,

with life expectancy
in the 20 to 25 year range.

Are there instances in which the
disease accelerates without warning?

It happens, but in less
than 5% of the cases.

Could anything trigger the acceleration?

I don't know what you're asking me.

Never mind. Thank you, Doctor.
You've been very helpful.

Let's put aside that he's contemplating
the murder of a high-ranking official.

Why does he think the next head of
the Tal Shiar will be better than Koval?

Sloan's concerned that Cretak gets
the seat on the Continuing Committee.

I agree with him there.
Cretak is at least a patriot.

- How is she different from Koval?
- If you saw the Intelligence reports

you would never ask that question.

Koval would love to see
the Romulan banner waving over Earth.

Chairman Koval is not someone
we want at the Praetor's right hand.

I'll have Sloan confined to quarters
but that may not solve our problem.

You and Sloan may not be the only
ones here working for Section 31.

For all we know, he has
a confederate in the delegation.

He said our mission
would be reconnaissance,

that we wouldn't do anything else.

That could suggest an operative
who isn't limited.

It could be anyone. Even a member
of the Bellerophon crew.

- Or a Romulan.
- What?

Sir, I believe Sloan has
an accomplice here on Romulus.

- What makes you say that?
- Two things.

Sloan has too much information
on their government,

too many insights into their politics.

And Sloan's plan is to kill Koval

while making it appear to be
Tuvan Syndrome.

To do that, he'd have to expose Koval
to a burst of nadion radiation.

You could manoeuvre him near
a phaser relay and irradiate him.

Since I doubt very much that Sloan
will have the chance to do that,

someone else is going to have to.

- A Romulan.
- Exactly.

Sloan may have already gotten things
underway. We have to warn them.

And how am I supposed to explain
Section 31 to the Romulans?

Imagine if they hear that a Federation
agency is plotting assassinations.

It could bring the alliance down.
Besides, all we have is speculation.

- Admiral...
- The answer is no.

After I have Sloan arrested I'll inform
Starfleet Command of the situation.

Your orders are to sit tight
and do nothing until you hear from me.

Jepella went in to deliver a report
and found him slumped over his desk.

Do they know what happened?

It looked like an aneurysm,
but they're still running tests.

- The admiral looked fine this morning.
- Which admiral?

- Admiral Ross. He collapsed.
- Where is he?

Sickbay.

Hey.

I can't trust anyone on the Bellerophon
and I can't contact DS9.

There's a communications blackout.

I have no one else to turn to.

- I need your help.
- To do what?

I think Sloan has an accomplice
within the Romulan government,

someone who will help him
carry out the assassination.

Koval has been saying someone
in the Senate was working for Starfleet.

Section 31 isn't Starfleet.

They are Federation citizens
working for your interests.

- That makes them your responsibility.
- You're right.

That's why I'm trying to stop them.

I'm convincing Sloan that
Koval doesn't have Tuvan Syndrome,

but his accomplice may be proceeding.

So we have to find
Sloan's Romulan accomplice.

- You expect me to find this traitor?
- Sloan mentioned Koval's database.

It might contain
a list of potential suspects.

Is there any way you can get me a copy
of the database so I can...

You're asking me to hand over
secret documents!

I'm asking you to put aside centuries
of mistrust and help me stop a murder.

If we can't reach out and
bridge the gulf that is between us,

if we can't trust each other,
a man will die.

And we will be partially responsible.

I need your help. Please.

- You wanted to see me, Doctor?
- Yes.

I'm not sure that Koval
has Tuvan Syndrome.

His symptoms could be the result
of many health problems.

- You didn't say that before.
- I don't know Romulan physiology.

Most of my knowledge comes
from studies done on Vulcan patients.

I thought Vulcans and Romulans
were virtually identical.

Yes, but there are some important
genetic differences.

And the more I study the available data,
the less sure I am of my diagnosis.

- How could you find out for sure?
- By doing an examination,

but I doubt he'll agree to that.

What if you obtained a sample
of his cells?

- Could you run an analysis?
- Probably. But how do you propose...

We'll treat your palm
with a microcellular adhesive.

The next time you shake his hand,
you'll get your sample.

All right.

Mr Chairman?
What a pleasure to see you again.

I'd be happy to resume our discussion
on the Quickening.

I believe you answered
all my questions.

I'm glad to have been able to help.

Doctor. I would like to have a word
with you on another matter.

I believe the lecture hall is empty.

We have more comfortable
facilities available.

Sit down.

You will be sitting
in that chair one way or the other.

- Now we'll have our private talk.
- What shall we talk about?

Why you're on Romulus, who you're
working for and who's helping you.

Don't worry. I won't waste your
time with pointless questions.

This can be painful or not.
That's up to you.

Either way,
I will know what you know.

Your brain is not susceptible
to our scanning techniques,

a result of the genetic enhancements
made to your parietal cortex.

- Sorry.
- I do have other methods,

but it would save trouble if you would
simply tell me what I want to know.

- You haven't asked me any questions.
- You know what I'm interested in.

Who are you working for?
Why are you here?

Bring him.

Dr Julian Bashir,

you are appearing before
the Romulan Continuing Committee.

Statements will be made part
of the record.

Senator Cretak is charged

with attempting to access
a Tal Shiar database.

The Senator has told the Committee
a remarkable story.

Since you're a key figure in her story,

we are eager to hear
your version of events.

What I'm about to say
may be shocking.

It may even damage the relations
between our peoples.

But it is the truth.

A few days ago, I became aware of
a plot to assassinate Chairman Koval.

It was conceived of by a man
known to me only as "Sloan".

He works for an organisation
called Section 31.

They see themselves as protecting
the interests of the Federation,

although they have
absolutely no official standing.

Once I realised
what Sloan was attempting to do,

I contacted Senator Cretak
to enlist her aid in stopping him.

- Why her?
- I had no one else to turn to.

I was unable to contact Deep Space 9,

and I couldn't trust anybody
aboard the Bellerophon.

But you could trust a Romulan senator?

Yes. For all our differences,
I do respect her.

- Continue.
- For extremely complicated reasons,

I came to think there's a traitor in your
government working for Section 31.

I asked the Senator to get the database
so we could prevent the assassination.

Senator, why didn't you come to me
with this information?

I was afraid that if word of this plot
got out, it would destroy the alliance.

I decided to keep my own counsel.

- I regret that decision.
- As well you should, Kimara.

It's an interesting story.
But it's not the whole story.

If I may be permitted
to bring in another witness?

Bring in prisoner 527.

Praetor, this is the man
known as Sloan.

His mind is quite susceptible
to our data retrieval methods.

He has confirmed much
of what the others have said.

With one important exception -
there is no Section 31.

Sloan, in fact,
works for Starfleet Intelligence.

Far from being
the master of an agency,

he is one of many operatives
in the employ of the Federation.

He's had a long career,
most of which is unknown to us.

But there is one interesting
element that we do know -

he was the prot?g?
of Vice Admiral Fujisaki.

Sloan did not take the death
of his mentor well.

He believed
he was murdered by the Tal Shiar.

The assassination of a Starfleet admiral
was "stepping over the line".

Isn't that the phrase?

After Fujisaki's death,
he was confronted with a dilemma.

How could he seek vengeance
without violating Federation law?

His answer was to invent Section 31,

an organisation
that answered to no one.

If they killed the head of the Tal Shiar,

Starfleet Intelligence
would be held blameless.

As the Committee knows, I have been
diagnosed with Tuvan Syndrome.

Sloan hoped to make my death look like
a sudden acceleration of the disease.

To do that, he needed a doctor.

Sloan arranged to recruit Dr Bashir
into Section 31.

After that, Sloan waited for
an opportunity to present itself.

He found one
when he learned of this conference.

He then arranged
for Bashir to be invited.

Everything was going perfectly.
But then he made a fatal mistake.

He decided to come
to Romulus himself.

He was unaware
that he had become known to us.

Once we recognised him, we knew that
an intelligence operation was underway.

What I don't understand is why?
Why take the risk of being discovered?

I had to make sure nothing went wrong.

And I wanted to watch you die.

You broke the cardinal rule
of our profession -

you allowed business
to become personal.

So there was an assassination plan?

Most definitely. As to the involvement
of the doctor and the senator...

Dr Bashir may have intended to kill me
or save me. There's no way to know.

As for Senator Cretak, we all know
she's an ambitious woman.

She might welcome my death

if it meant she was elevated
to the Continuing Committee.

That is a lie, Koval.
I was trying to save your life.

Then you're simply a fool.

You let a Starfleet officer
manipulate you into committing treason.

It is the finding of this Committee

that Senator Cretak has conspired
to commit treason against the state,

sentence to be determined
at a later date.

Dr Bashir will be returned
to the Bellerophon.

Mr Sloan is remanded to the custody of
the Tal Shiar for further interrogation.

No!

Come in.

- Admiral.
- Doctor.

- Feeling better, sir?
- Much.

Dr Frame says I should
take it easy for a few days,

but paperwork waits for no man.

- What can I do for you?
- I have a question.

- Where's Sloan?
- Sloan's dead.

Admiral, where's Sloan?

If we're going to have this discussion,
then it's off the record.

Before I answer your question,
answer mine. How did you know?

The man Koval described
was not the same man

who recruited me into Section 31.

Anyone clever enough to pull the wool
so completely over my eyes

wouldn't have been caught so easily.

There had to be another explanation.

Then I remembered
that you were the one

who planted the idea in my head
that Sloan had an accomplice.

You didn't want to tell the Romulans
about the assassination plot.

You were the one who gave the orders
preventing me from contacting DS9.

And when the time came
to arrest Sloan,

you conveniently had an aneurysm,

leaving me alone, with no one
to turn to for help, except Cretak.

And as I realised your involvement,
the rest began to fall into place.

Where is he?

- I don't know.
- But he's alive, isn't he?

He was supposed to be beamed away
before the phaser beam hit him.

Whether it worked or not, I couldn't say.

How long has Koval
been working for Starfleet?

He's been providing the Federation
with military intelligence for over a year.

When he started working
with Section 31 I don't know.

But in any case, we have our mole

working for us at the top levels
of Romulan government.

Good for us.

And what about your friend
Senator Cretak?

What's going to happen to her?

Dismissed from the Senate, definitely.
Imprisoned, most likely.

- Executed?
- I hope not.

You set her up! She was an innocent
woman and you let Sloan destroy her!

Why? She believed in the alliance.

She was on our side!

No, she wasn't.
I told you before, Julian, she's a patriot.

If it served the Romulans
to negotiate peace with the Dominion,

Cretak would push that option.

And the Dominion would love to make
a deal with the Romulans right now.

So Koval is your guarantee
that that does not happen.

And his recommendation to stay in
the war will be all the more convincing.

That's the idea.

How long have you worked
for Section 31?

- I don't.
- Just a temporary alliance, is it?

Something like that.

You see nothing wrong
with what happened.

I don't like it. But I've ordered
young men and women to die.

- I like that even less.
- That's a glib answer

and a cheap way to avoid the fact

that you've trampled on the very thing
they're dying to protect.

- Does that not mean anything to you?
- Inter arma enim silent leges.

"In time of war, the law falls silent. "
Cicero.

So is that what we've become?
A 24th-century Rome,

driven by nothing other than the
certainty that Caesar can do no wrong?

This conversation never happened.

You're dismissed.

Good evening.

Are you expecting applause?
Have you come to take a bow?

I just wanted to say thank you.

For what? Allowing you
to manipulate me so completely.

For being a decent human being.

That's why we selected you
in the first place.

We needed somebody who wanted to
play the game, but who'd only go so far.

When the time came, you stood
your ground and did the right thing.

You reached out to an enemy, told her
the truth, and tried to stop a murder.

The Federation needs men like you.

Men of conscience. Men of principle.
Men who can sleep at night.

You're also the reason
Section 31 exists.

Someone has to protect men like you

from a universe that doesn't
share your sense of right and wrong.

Should I feel sorry for you?

Should I weep over the burden you're
forced to carry to protect the rest of us?

It is an honour to know you, Doctor.

Good night.

- Bashir to security.
- 'Odo here. '

Never mind.

My mistake.

Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.