Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges ( episode ) Attending a medical conference on Romulus , Dr . Bashir becomes embroiled in an elaborate scheme devised by Section 31 as a way to ensure the Romulans remain on the side of the Federation Alliance . Summary . Teaser . In Deep Space 9 ' s wardroom , Colonel Kira is presiding over the weekly meeting between Romulan Senator Cretak , Lieutenant Commander Worf , Chief O ' Brien , and Constable Odo . Some slight arguing arises between Cretak and Worf over who has priority of using the station ' s repair facilities – the Klingon s or the Romulans . Kira calms the quarreling and ascertains from O ' Brien that the earliest he can get the warbird s into docking bay s for repair would be tomorrow but that he would have to put off work on the " Hornet " and the " Rotarran " to do it that quickly , and General Martok won ' t be happy . Kira assigns Worf the duty of informing him . Then Odo , who has been quiet up until this point , raises concerns about shore leave , advising it would be a bad idea for Klingons and Romulans to be mixing on the Promenade . Cretak politely says she will postpone shore leave for her crews , taking a further verbal snipe at the Klingons . Though noticeably annoyed , Worf refrains from comment . Kira draws the meeting to a close , reminding everyone of next week ' s meeting before realizing that the Senator will be attending a medical conference then , and so wishes her a safe trip to Romulus . On the Promenade , Doctor Bashir and Garak exit a turbolift . They are discussing Garak ' s time on Romulus , where he once posed as a gardener while on a mission for the Obsidian Order . He says it was one of his most enjoyable covers , though the planet itself was predominantly gray . " " The buildings , the clothes , the people , " " he says . He even tells Bashir that the Romulan heart itself is grey , " " . . . and altogether appropriate for such an unimaginative race . " " As Bashir tries to trick him into revealing his mission on Romulus , Garak quickly changes the subject back to Bashir , asking what his role is going to be in the upcoming conference . He explains he will be giving a talk on Dominion biogenic weapon s , chairing a seminar on ketracel - white and attending a meeting on a proposal to transfer twenty - five Federation hospital ship s to Romulan control . Garak sees this as very dull with the Doctor explaining that Admiral Ross and his staff will be discussing the " exciting " military issues . The intelligence operative in Garak asks whether Starfleet Intelligence will be sending someone along as well , to gain valuable intelligence into Romulan intentions and military capabilities . Bashir reminds Garak that the Romulans are their allies and this could be the beginning of a new - found friendship . But Garak just calls him the " ever - eternal optimist " and says he hopes Bashir will come to see the universe for what it truly is , as opposed to what he would like it to be . The doctor jokes that he will endeavor to become more cynical with every passing day . " " If only you meant it , " " replies Garak , with a grin on his face . Later that evening , Bashir is in bed when he is awakened by a shady figure sitting by the window . He instructs the computer to turn on the lights , revealing the dark figure to be Luther Sloan . " " Hello , Doctor . I hope you ' re well rested , " " he greets . " " Section 31 has an assignment for you . " " Act One . Bashir quickly jumps out of bed . He threatens to call a security team on Sloan , but the intelligence operative is confident the doctor won ' t be able to reach anyone outside of the room . Bashir maintains that he doesn ' t work for Section 31 and won ' t be doing any assignment of theirs . Sloan says that , whether or not Bashir likes it , he has been accepted into Section 31 and now it ' s time to go to work . He explains that the Romulan Tal Shiar will be handling security at the conference and so there will be no chance of using any technical assets to gather intelligence . That is where Bashir comes in ; Sloan wants the doctor to gather information on the Romulan leadership – in essence , to " take the pulse " of their government . Bashir sees this as spy ing on an ally but Sloan explains it ' s only a temporary alliance . He predicts that as soon as the war is over , the Dominion will be forced back to the Gamma Quadrant , Cardassian territory will be occupied , and the Klingon Empire will spend the next ten years recovering , leaving the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire vying for control of the Alpha Quadrant . Bashir is noticeably disgusted . " " This war isn ' t over and you ' re already planning for the next , " " he says . Sloan can only admire the doctor ' s way with words , and hopes that Bashir ' s report will be " equally succinct . " Bashir continues to object , stating he will not work for Sloan , but Sloan believes the doctor is a man who loves secrets , whether they are medical , personal or fictional , and that because of this , he will eventually change his mind . Before leaving , Sloan offers to tell Bashir his secrets but only if he accepts the assignment . The doctor follows him out of the room , phaser in hand , but it ' s too late and he just runs into Ezri . Sloan is gone . In Captain Sisko ' s office , Bashir explains how Odo was unable to find any trace of Sloan in the station ' s records , but Sisko isn ' t surprised that Sloan was able to cover up his tracks . The captain goes on to say that , after speaking with Admiral Ross , they both agree the Romulan conference is too important to cancel and Bashir will be attending , as agreed . Sisko also tells Bashir to make a few discreet observations and wait for Sloan to contact him . The doctor doesn ' t believe that giving Sloan any information is a good idea . Sisko admits that was his initial thought too , but Admiral Ross convinced him this is the perfect opportunity to get a man on the inside of the organization and Bashir is that man . The doctor reluctantly agrees and says he ' d better go and get ready to pack , as the leaves in three hours . As he turns to leave , the captain reminds him that this isn ' t a game and that Section 31 is a dangerous threat . If they even suspect him of working for Sisko , it could mean bad news . Bashir understands and heads out . " " Good hunting , " " Sisko remarks . Act Two . The " Bellerophon " is heading for Romulus at warp speed . A small reception is being held in the mess hall , where Senator Cretak , Admiral Ross , and Doctor Bashir toast to the new alliance over a glass of Romulan ale after the Admiral mentions the trade embargo has been officially lifted . Taking his first sip , Ross starts to cough to which Bashir jokingly asks him if he needs a medical team . He falteringly admits that this is his first taste of the drink and that he is probably one of the few officers in Starfleet who hasn ' t " indulged " on occasion . Senator Cretak offers him something else but he declines , saying he ' ll manage . " " That ' s the spirit , sir . Never say die ! " " , Bashir retorts . Cretak suddenly looks confused , believing it to be an odd expression . Before he can explain , Sloan interrupts posing as a Wendell Greer , and explains the origin himself . The admiral then introduces him to everyone , including Bashir , who is surprised to see him . " Greer " says he was hoping to meet the good Doctor and uses the opportunity to take him to one side . Sloan informs Bashir there is a PADD waiting for him in his quarters and instructs him to read it . Sloan says he will meet him there at twenty - two hundred hours before rejoining the rest of the delegation . In the ship ' s briefing room , Bashir and Ross are discussing Sloan . The admiral has done some checking and records show he has been a low - level bureaucrat in the Department of Cartography for the past fifteen years , but Bashir isn ' t surprised he has a solid cover story . He requests the admiral stop Sloan from being allowed to participate in the conference , but Ross believes this is a chance to find out what Section 31 is up to . He thinks if Sloan is on the " Bellerophon " , it suggests something bigger is going on than a simple intelligence gathering mission . Later , Bashir is joined by Sloan in his quarters . They are going through some holographic representations of Romulan officials . As one image disappears , it is replaced by another , of whom Bashir recognizes as former Proconsul , now Praetor , Neral . He goes on to recite that Neral was elevated to the " top post " by the Continuing Committee a little over a year ago and that all his immediate family was killed in a Klingon raid approximately twenty - five years ago . Furthermore , his interests include sociology and archeology , his favorite food is Delvan pudding and his pet set ' leth ' s name is Pensho . Sloan is satisfied with Bashir ' s ability to recall facts , saying it is a useful attribute for an operative to have . He then changes the hologram to one of Koval , chairman of the Tal Shiar . Bashir continues , saying that Section 31 believes him to be responsible for the death of Admiral Fujisaki last year but there is no proof . Sloan fervently believes Koval is responsible and the proof is buried deep within Koval ' s personal database . He gives him credit for the operation which he says was made to look like food poisoning and there wasn ' t any hint at Romulan involvement . Moving on , Bashir recounts that Koval wasn ' t elevated to the Continuing Committee as is standard with heads of the Tal Shiar , most likely due to his opposition to the Federation Alliance which is supported by the majority of the Committee . Sloan explains that Cretak has been lobbying for the open seat and , as an advocate of the Alliance , she may get it . He also reveals something which was not in the file he gave to Bashir ; a rumor that Koval has Tuvan Syndrome , a neurological disease that affects mainly Vulcan s , Romulans and Rigelian s . Sloan confesses it was because of this that they want Bashir at the conference , so he can make a visual diagnosis of Koval ' s illness to confirm it is true . The doctor says even he wouldn ' t be able to make a diagnosis without any medical equipment but Sloan is confident and recounts how his genetically - engineered friends were able to ascertain Damar had killed a woman by watching him give a political speech . Bashir correctly deduces that Section 31 is planning to use Koval ' s illness to keep him off the Continuing Committee , and cites the Prime Directive on interfering with Romulan affairs . Without confirming or denying any such plan , Sloan admits that if Koval came to power he would advocate peace with the Dominion and ensure Romulus withdraws from the war . Bashir tries to argue with him but eventually realizes there is no point . As he leaves , Sloan reassures him that he will only be called upon to gather intelligence , but he will need to have his wits about him when they do arrive at Romulus in the next few hours . Act Three . The conference is underway on Romulus . Bashir is helping himself to a glass of Romulan ale when Koval approaches him and begins to ask about the Quickening . Pretending not to know who he is , Bashir introduces himself and says it ' s a pleasure to meet him , an expression Koval finds " completely devoid of meaning . " He continues to question Bashir about the Quickening , wondering whether it can be replicated . Bashir begins to answer believing he is wanting to know how to synthesize a vaccine , but Koval wants to know about the virus itself and if it could be introduced into a population . The Doctor believes he can , at which point Koval remarks he is looking forward to attending his lecture and leaves , leaving Bashir with a somewhat bewildered look on his face . Senator Cretak notices his conversation with Koval and jokes he would make a fine operative . She comments on Koval ' s habit of rarely speaking to anyone in public , much less someone in a Starfleet uniform , and suggests Starfleet Intelligence recruit him immediately . On a more serious note , she tells Bashir that there are some people in the Romulan Senate that believe the alliance with the Federation is more than a momentary truce and reveals that Koval is not one of them ; she and him haven ' t spoken a word to each other in the past six months . Bashir asks her why , to which she quips , " " State secrets . " " Later that day , Bashir is giving his lecture on the Quickening virus to a room of both Starfleet and Romulan officials , one of whom is Koval who is listening intently . The lecture is eventually over and it turns out that Sloan has been watching him all along . When the room empties , Bashir tells him of the earlier conversation with Koval about the Quickening but Sloan isn ' t interested . Instead , he asks about the Romulan ' s health . Bashir recounts that Koval ' s eyelids were slightly displaced , he had a noticeable weakness in the facial muscles , probably the result of a compromised neuromuscular function , and his respiration was somewhat irregular which may indicate the early stages of Tuvan Syndrome . Sloan asks how long he has to which the doctor theorizes he may live for another twenty to twenty - five years . Sloan then asks if there are circumstances in which the condition can accelerate and if anything can " trigger " it . It turns out there are but in less than five percent of cases , as Bashir explains , but he is dubious of telling Sloan anything more . Sloan remains content and shakes the doctor ' s hand before leaving . Back on board the " Bellerophon " , Bashir is consulting with Admiral Ross who agrees with Sloan in that Koval would want nothing more than to see the Romulan banner waving over Earth . He tells Bashir that he is going to confine Sloan to quarters immediately but suspects he may not be acting alone . After thinking about it , the Doctor agrees , further speculating that because of Sloan ' s in - depth inside knowledge , he might have an accomplice on Romulus . He further explains that to carry out Sloan ' s plan , Koval would need to be infected with a dose of nadion radiation in order to accelerate his condition . The Doctor exclaims they must inform the Romulans immediately but Ross says no , that there would be chaos if the Romulans learn there is a rogue agency running about on the planet plotting assassination s , to the point it could collapse the alliance . He orders Bashir to " sit tight " and do nothing until further notice . Bashir has returned to the mess hall where he starts reading over one of his data PADDs . Two crewmen enter and begin talking about an admiral who was found slumped over his desk and that the medical officer determined it to be an aneurism . Bashir suddenly jumps to his feet and asks them who they are talking about . They confirm it ' s Admiral Ross who was immediately taken to sickbay . As Bashir starts to head out , he comes eye to eye with Sloan , who is sitting at a nearby table . He raises a glass and smirks at Bashir as he quietly leaves the mess hall . Act Four . Back on Romulus , Bashir is talking with Senator Cretak in one of the lecture rooms . He explains that he cannot trust anyone on the " Bellerophon " and can ' t get a message out to Deep Space 9 due to the communications blackout . He wants her help to locate Sloan ' s Romulan accomplice and prevent Koval ' s assassination by getting a copy of Koval ' s personal database ( which should contain a list of people Koval suspects to be the traitor ) while he attempts to dissuade Sloan by informing him that Koval doesn ' t have Tuvan Syndrome . She initially objects , but Bashir pleas with her to put centuries of mistrust aside and help him . Sloan meets with Bashir on the " Bellerophon " , who tells him that he isn ' t sure Koval has Tuvan Syndrome as all his studies have been on Vulcans who have some important genetic differences to Romulans . Bashir thinks he has gotten away with it but Sloan tells him they will treat his palm with a microcellular adhesive so they can gain a sample of Koval ' s skin cells and find out for sure . In the main conference hall , Koval is with one of his aides when Bashir walks up begins talking to him . The two shake hands as Bashir tells him how he would like to continue their discussion on the Quickening , though Koval says he has answered all his questions . As the doctor turns to walk away , Koval asks him to accompany him to another room , where there is another matter he would like to discuss . Sloan looks on as the two of them head off . Bashir is led to a small room with a chair in the middle and two guards on either side . Koval insists the doctor sit down as he himself takes his place behind a desk . He wants to know what Bashir is really doing on Romulus , who he is working for and what his mission is but he doesn ' t expect him to answer with words . One of the guards holds Bashir while the other takes out two devices and affixes them to his temples . " " This can be painful or not . That ' s up to you , doctor , " " Koval says . " " Either way , I will know what you know . " " Act Five . Koval enters and examines the data from his mind probes . To his dissatisfaction , Bashir has been able to put up more of a resistance to them than he had anticipated , he believes a result of his genetic engineering . He asks Bashir again why he is on Romulus and what his mission is but Bashir doesn ' t say anything . Koval instructs the guard to bring Bashir with him . The Doctor is taken before the Continuing Committee where he also sees Cretak who is being charged with attempting to access a Tal Shiar database without proper authorization . Praetor Neral informs Bashir that Cretak has told him everything and he wants to hear his version of events . He tells Neral about Sloan , Section 31 and the plot to assassinate Koval and that he had enlisted Cretak ' s help to stop it as he couldn ' t trust anyone on the " Bellerophon " . Neral seems surprised that he would trust a Romulan senator over his own people but Bashir simply replies , " " that for all our differences , I do respect her . " " Neral nods in acknowledgment and Bashir continues to explain how he believed there was a traitor in the Romulan government and Cretak was to gain information on who this may be so they could expose him . At this point , Neral asks why she didn ' t come to him with the information , to which she says she didn ' t want to risk the alliance between Romulus and the Federation , though she now regrets that decision . Koval then interrupts , saying he has another witness who has more to add to Bashir ' s story . He summons his guards who bring in a tortured Sloan . Koval explains that he was more susceptible to their interrogation techniques and that Sloan in fact works for Starfleet Intelligence , not the " fictional " Section 31 . He goes onto say that they also discovered Sloan is the protegé to the late Admiral Fujisake whom he believed was murder ed by the Tal Shiar , coming to Romulus to exact his revenge . Furthermore , he says Sloan recruited Bashir to make his death look like a sudden acceleration of Tuvan Syndrome . But Sloan made one vital mistake in coming to Romulus himself , for his face was already known to the Tal Shiar , who immediately knew an intelligence operation was underway . Koval concludes his explanation by asking Sloan why he did it , confirming his belief that it was personal . " " You broke the cardinal rule of our profession . You allowed business to become personal " " , he says , before going onto accuse Cretak of being involved in a plot which would see her elevated to the Continuing Committee . There is a pause as the Committee absorbs the information presented before them , then Neral speaks . He determines that Cretak has conspired to commit treason against the state , and her sentence is to be determined at a later date . Doctor Bashir is allowed to return to the " Bellerophon " but Sloan will be held in the custody of the Tal Shiar for further interrogation . At that moment , Sloan cries out , grabbing one of the guard ' s disruptor s . But before he has a chance to open fire , Koval disintegrates him with his own disruptor , much to the shock and surprise of the Committee . Bashir is taken back to the " Bellerophon " which has now set a course back to Federation space . He goes to meet with Admiral Ross , who is now in the briefing room going over some reports . Bashir sarcastically asks if he is feeling better though the admiral , unaware , says he is feeling much better and that the doctor has told him to take it easy for a few days . Bashir goes on to ask him where Sloan is , as he doesn ' t believe he actually died on Romulus . Ross takes his combadge off , stating their discussion has to be " off the record . " Bashir complies , removing his combadge and tossing it onto the table . Before Ross answers Bashir ' s question , he asks him how he knew that he was involved . Bashir says that anyone as clever as Sloan wouldn ' t have allowed himself to be captured by the Romulans and that there must be another explanation . He says that the Admiral was the one who suggested there was another operative , he was the one who told Bashir not to inform the Romulans and he was the one who initiated the communications blackout , preventing him from contacting Deep Space 9 . And furthermore , he " conveniently " suffered an aneurism when the time came to arrest Sloan , leaving Bashir alone and forcing him to consort with Senator Cretak . Ross then tells Bashir of the plan to beam Sloan away from the room a split - second before the disruptor blast hit him , though he doesn ' t know if it worked . He further reveals that Koval was the mole all along and has been forwarding military intelligence to Starfleet for the past year . Bashir is outraged that they set Cretak up to take the fall and now she will be imprisoned for life if not executed . The Admiral agrees that it is " unfortunate " but with Koval in place , the Romulans are sure to stay in the war against the Dominion and prevent the deaths of countless Starfleet officers , many of whom he has ordered to their deaths over the past year and a half . Bashir doesn ' t buy that as an answer to justify what he has done , telling him he is making a mockery of what those same officers are dying to protect . The Admiral simply replies , " " inter arma enim silent leges . " " Bashir recognizes the meaning : " in times of war , the laws fall silent " , a quote from Cicero . " " Is that what we ' ve become ? ! " " he cries , " " a twenty - fourth century Rome ? The certainty that Caesar could do no wrong ! " " Admiral Ross doesn ' t answer , instead he replaces his combadge and reminds the Doctor that their conversation never happened . Disgusted , but with no recourse , Bashir leaves . Back on Deep Space 9 , Bashir is sleeping in his quarters when he is again awakened by Sloan . Bashir asks sarcastically if he should thank Sloan for allowing himself to be manipulated so perfectly . Sloan explains he has come to thank the doctor , as he performed exactly as expected by being willing to go so far while eventually doing the right thing when it came down to it . " " The Federation needs men like you , doctor . Men of conscience , men of principle , men who can sleep at night . " " He says that Section 31 exists to protect men like him from the universe that doesn ' t share his ethics . But Bashir has no sympathy for him after what he did . Sloan then smiles , saying it is an honor to know him and wishes him a goodnight before leaving . As he exits , the Doctor leans over to his comm panel and signals to security . " " Odo here " " , comes the response . There is a short pause , as Bashir realizes there ' s no point . " " Never mind . My mistake " " he eventually mutters , before lying back down in thought . Memorable quotes . " " Did you know that the Romulan heart itself is gray ? It ' s true . " " " " I must tell you I ' m disappointed at hearing you mouth the usual platitudes of peace and friendship regarding an implacable foe like the Romulans . But I live in hope that you may one day see the universe for what it truly is , rather than what you ' d wish it to be . " " " " ' Well , I shall endeavor 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 . " " " " This war isn ' t over and you ' re already planning for the next . " " " " Well put . I hope your report is equally succinct . " " " " You are a man who loves secrets . Medical . Personal . Fictional . 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 . " " " " Need a medical team , sir ? " " ( weakly ) " " No , thank you . . . " " " " Don ' t tell me this is your first glass of Romulan ale . . . " " " " Well , it was . . . " ( coughing ) " illegal . . . " " " " That never stopped most of your colleagues ! " " " " 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 venacular as an exhortation , never to give up no matter the cost . " " " " Interesting . " " " " Wendell Greer . Assistant Director , UFP Department of Cartography . " " " " Let ' s make a deal , doctor . I ' ll spare you the ' ends justify the means ' speech and you spare me the ' we must do what ' s right ' speech . You and I are not going to see eye to eye on this subject , so I suggest we stop discussing it . " " " " I don ' t believe we ' ve been introduced . " " " " Koval . " " " " Well , it ' s a pleasure to meet you . " " ( dryly ) " " Why ? " " " " Eh , you ' ve got me there . " " " " Very enlightening . You almost made it comprehensible . " " " " The next time I ' ll do the lecture with hand puppets , just for you . " " " " Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges . " " " " In time of war , the law falls silent . ' Cicero . So is that what we have become ; a 24th century Rome , driven by nothing other than the certainty that Caesar can do no wrong ? ! " " " " This conversation never happened . " " ( Ross reaffixes his Starfleet insignia ) " " You ' re dismissed . " " " " The Federation needs men like you , doctor . 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 . " " Links and references . References . aneurysm ; assassination ; Bajor sector ; ; biogenic weapon ; Cardassian Empire ; cloud ; Continuing Committee ; Department of Cartography ; Damar ; " Dividices " ; Dominion ; Dominion War ; Earth ; embassy ; espionage ; etymology ; eyelid ; Federation ; Federation Charter ; food poisoning ; frame ; Fujisaki ; Gamma Quadrant ; gardener ; " Genorex " ; ; heart ; ; horse ; hospital ship ; ; Jepella ; " kali - fal " ; ketracel - white ; Klingon Empire ; lecture hall ; lesion ; leukocyte ; Martok ; " " ; microcellular adhesive ; ; murder ; necrosis ; parietal cortex ; patriotism ; Pensho ; praetor ; proconsul ; Promenade ; Quark ' s ; Quickening ; radio silence ; Rigelian ; Romulan ale ; Romulan Conference ; Romulan mind probe ; Romulan Star Empire ; Romulus ; ; Section 31 ; security log ; " set ' leth " ; shock ; sub - commander ; ; shore leave ; sociology ; soldier ; Starfleet Intelligence ; Tal Shiar ; textbook ; toast ; trade embargo ; Tuvan Syndrome ; UFP ; Velal ; vest ; Vulcan s