Koval Koval was a Romulan male who served as Chairman of the Tal Shiar during the late - 24th century . Career . During the Dominion War , Koval became an opponent of the Federation – Romulan Alliance , advocating that the Romulan Star Empire should seek a separate peace with the Dominion . This outspoken stance was believed to be the reason he had not been elevated to the Continuing Committee , as is usually the case for the chairman of the Tal Shiar . Koval often stated that there was a Federation spy in the Romulan Senate . Luther Sloan suggested that Koval was involved in the mysterious death of Starfleet Vice Admiral Fujisaki in 2374 , but that evidence of his hand was never proven . In 2375 , Koval was diagnosed with Tuvan Syndrome , something that could hamper his eventual accession to the Continuing Committee . In that year , Koval attended a conference between the Federation and the Romulan Empire on Romulus . He approached Julian Bashir and asked him if the Quickening virus could be replicated and later attended a lecture that Bashir gave about the disease . It was at the lecture that Bashir noticed Koval ' s displaced eyelids , weakness in his facial muscles and irregular respiration . Bashir concluded that Koval was suffering from the early stages of Tuvan syndrome . Later , and stalling for time while he believed Sloan was going to assassinate Koval , Bashir was given a microcellular adhesive to gain a skin sample from him , which could prove whether or not Koval had Tuvan syndrome . Bashir got the sample , but was detained and interrogated by Koval . Koval later appeared before the Continuing Committee and told them that Section 31 did not exist , and that it had been fabricated by Sloan to seek revenge on Koval for the death of Fujisaki , without implicating the Federation as a whole . After finishing delivering his findings to Praetor Neral , the Romulan leader told Sloan that he would be detained by the Tal Shiar . Sloan suddenly reached for a disruptor of a Romulan guard but was apparently vaporized by Koval . William Ross later revealed to Bashir that Koval was a Federation operative and had been working with Starfleet Intelligence for more than a year . He was unaware of how long the Romulans had been working with Section 31 . The " assassination plot " was in actuality a collaborative effort between Starfleet , Section 31 and Koval himself to ensure Kimara Cretak ' s dismissal from the Senate so that he would get his placement on the Continuing Committee instead of her . Koval ' s previous record of opposing the Federation Alliance would then serve to reinforce his arguments to keep the alliance intact . Koval ' s placement gave the Federation an ally inside the highest reaches of the Romulan government . ( ) Memorable quotes . " " It ' s a pleasure to meet you . " " < br > " " Why ? " " < br > " " Well , you ' ve got me there . It ' s just a simple form of expression , I suppose . " " < br > " " And like most Human expressions , completely devoid of meaning . " " < br > " " What shall we talk about ? " " < br > " " Why you ' re really on Romulus , who you ' re working for and , of course , 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 , Doctor . Either way , I will know what you know . " " < br > " " What I don ' t understand is why ? Why did you come here and take the risk of being discovered ? " " < br > " " I had to make sure nothing went wrong . And I wanted to watch you die . " " < br > " " You broke the cardinal rule of our profession . You allowed business to become personal . " " < br > Appendices . Background information . Koval was played by recurring " Star Trek " guest actor John Fleck . In the script for " Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges " , Koval was described as , " " a heavy - set Romulan wearing the black tunic of the Tal ' Shiar , with a lot of iron - gray in his hair . His deeply lined face looks like it would shatter into pieces if he attempted a smile . " " John Fleck found that portraying Koval was challenging but he was thrilled to get through it , such as feeling a sense of achievement after performing a lengthy speech in a single camera take , which also delighted Director David Livingston . ( ) As it turned out , Koval became Fleck ' s favorite of the multiple " Star Trek " roles he played , until he appeared as recurring character Silik . Fleck explained this was " because I had so much to do " in the role of Koval . ( ) John Fleck ' s Koval costume , consisting of wood - grain patterned trousers with a matching jacket top and a black dry - deck belt that features an affixed gold painted resin Romulan Star Empire badge , was later sold off in the It ' s A Wrap ! sale and auction on eBay for US $ 609 . 99 . Apocrypha . Koval appears in a number of non - canon works . The " " novel " The Art of the Impossible " , reveals Koval was an operative of the Tal Shiar during the 2340s . In 2346 , he learns of an interrogation conducted by Corbin Entek in which the Klingon Dirak reveals the House of Kultan is developing biogenic weapon s on Khitomer . Koval later arranges a meeting with Jekri Kaleh , the head of the Tal Shiar . The story also states that , using the money and authority from his early role in the Tal Shiar , Koval is able to build a home at the summit of Kor Thorn on Romulus , but only his aide Timol and Jekri Kaleh know of its existence . In the follow - up novel " Catalyst of Sorrows " , set in 2360 , Koval holds the rank of Colonel and orders Crofter Thamnos and his family to develop a new strain of the Vulcan disease " Gnawing " , as well as a cure for it . The novel also reveals that Kovel is in a romantic relationship with Kimara Cretak , who was of the same caste , and that Tuvan Syndrome runs in Koval ' s family . Andrew Robinson ' s novel " A Stitch in Time " has Koval as head of the Tal Shiar in 2364 . In the novel " Rogue " , Cortin Zweller negotiates with Koval on behalf of Section 31 in 2373 . In the " Tales of the Dominion War " short story " Blood Sacrifice " Koval is in the Hall of State when Senator Avelik insinuates that Neral is working for the Federation , in 2374 . Following the events of " Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges " , the " Vulcan ' s Soul " novel " Epiphany " reveals Koval ' s Tuvan Syndrome has progressed to the point that he is seriously ill by 2377 . However , in the " " novel " Taking Wing " , he is assassinated in 2379 , before the disease can kill him . In the " The Sky ' s the Limit " short story " Suicide Note " , Koval is referred to as the general officer in the Tal Shiar leading the interrogation of Admiral Alidar Jarok ' s wife and daughter , following his defection , as featured in . Jarok ' s farewell message reveals that Koval is actually one of Jarok ' s sympathizers , who have started to band together after the Continuing Committee has refused to address reports of increased Borg activity in the Delta Quadrant . Koval secretly pledges to keep Jarok ' s wife and daughter safe after his departure . Captain Jean - Luc Picard reactivates Koval as an agent for Federation Intelligence when he visits Romulus to deliver Jarok ' s farewell message , by which time Koval has risen to the chairmanship of the Tal Shiar . Koval also appears in an alternate timeline as featured in the novel " Engines of Destiny " , in which he holds the position of Deputy Arbiter under Supreme Arbiter of the Alliance , Sarek . Koval keeps a spartan office on Alliance Prime , from which he later contacts Sarek on an ultrasecure channel , in 2293 . Koval informs him that three of the Cardassian members of the Alliance Council have a clandestine meeting , possibly to discuss overthrowing the Supreme Arbiter . Sarek then orders Koval to keep any Cardassian vessels in high orbit of Alliance Prime - out of transporter range - and to assign a bodyguard detail to Zarcot and any Cardassian Council member . Sarek later contacts Koval to brief him after Zarcot reappears , acting as bait in an attempt to destroy Sarek ' s escort vessel , the " Wisdom " . Sarek again contacts Koval as he orders the Alliance fleet to intercept a phalanx of Borg cube s that are intent on destroying the .