166. Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

Summary

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you haven't seen this episode, I highly recommend you don't read these spoilers. I wish I hadn't read the spoilers before seeing it (I never can resist)...it's probably the most spoilable episode in DS9's history with a few possible exceptions.

Bashir and Garak discuss an upcoming conference on Romulus at which the doctor will speak about Dominion biogenetic weapons and Ketracel White. Garak hopes that Starfleet Intelligence is using the opportunity to gather information about the Romulans, but Julian insists it's not proper because they're allies. That night, he awakens to find Sloan in his room (see Inquisition) and is informed that Section 31 has a job for him. Though he insists he doesn't work for them, Sloan tells him that when he gets to Romulus he'll be needed. En route to the conference, Julian is suprised to find that Sloan has gotten himself attached to the delegation, and the operative surreptitiously briefs Bashir on his mission. Section 31 is interested in Koval, the new head of the Tal Shiar, who is an opponent of the Federation alliance. They want Bashir's opinion on whether or not Koval has Tuvan syndrome, a degenerative disease, and how that illness could be exploited to discredit or even assassinate Koval thus assuring that the vacant seat on the powerful Continuum Committee will go to Senator Creetak, the DS9 liaison and an alliance supporter. Bashir and Admiral Ross (also attending the conference) worry about Section 31's activities and agree to arrest Sloan for planning an assassination, but when Ross has an aneurysm Julian is left with no one to turn to except Creetak. He suspects that Sloan has a Romulan accomplice, and he convinces Creetak to help him find this accomplice by accessing Koval's personal files. Koval pulls Julian aside to interrogate him using electronic brain retrieval devices, but they do not work on Julian's genetically enhanced brain. He is dragged before the Continuum Committee where Creetak stands accused of illegally accessing Koval's files. Bashir tells them everything, but then Koval brings in a very beat-up Sloan...and informs the committee that through the data retrieval on Sloan they have discovered that Section 31 doesn't exist, that Sloan is a rogue Starfleet spy who invented the ultra-secret agency as a cover for his own personal vendettas. He tries to pull a phaser and Koval disintegrates him. After some thought Julian confronts Admiral Ross, demanding to know where Sloan is. Through some inconsistencies he has deduced that Koval is in fact a Federation spy and that Ross has been working for Section 31, though Ross insists it's only a temporary alliance. The entire thing was to *insure* that Koval would take the Continuum Committee seat and not Creetak, her patriotism could have become a problem after the war. Back on DS9, Julian once again awakens to find Sloan in his room...he thanks Bashir for his help and leaves. Julian starts to call security but then decides against it.

Analysis

Hoo boy. I really really really wish I didn't have foreknowledge of this episode's many twists and turns before I saw it, I'd have a better idea of their impact and unpredictability. As it is, the episode is a taut and suspenseful account of an honorable man's struggles to avoid dancing with the devil. It's a struggle that Sisko lost in In the Pale Moonlight and Julian at best achieves a truce. Perhaps it's from watching too many XFiles episodes or being somewhat of a conspiracy theorist myself, but I don't find Section 31's existence or its actions all that shocking. Morally corrupt and reprehensible, perhaps, but not shocking...and Sisko is really the pot calling the kettle black when he decries them. It's only the same sorts of things that our own CIA has been doing for decades...I understand the Federation is supposed to be this great moral ideal but who are we kidding? Human beings are not going to evolve out of their tendencies towards ruthless pragmatism in a mere 300 years. Perhaps that's a betrayal of Gene's vision, but you know what? I don't care. Somehow I suspect that his vision was just to create some good television, and this certainly qualifies. I love spy stuff, and I think Section 31 is groovy. I could be biased by the fact that my favorite and most popular original character in my fanfiction is both a good guy and a Section 31 *assassin,* fer cryin' out loud.

At any rate, it's a very interesting episode visually and by virtue of a tightly plotted storyline that somehow seems action-packed despite its being very dialogue-heavy. And even though it focused solely on a single character, in this storyline I didn't miss the others. The side characters were interesting enough, particularly Sloan (the always fabulous William Sadler) and Creetak...played by Aidrienne Barbeau, though I wonder what happened to Megan Cole, who played what seems to be the same character back in the season openers. I'd be hard-pressed to say when I've found Julian more interesting. His attempts to walk a fine line between pleasing Sloan and trying to subvert him are very well-played. Sloan is, as always, an enigmatic specter, appearing in Julian's quarters dressed in Psi Corps black leather as if by magic and leaving no trace of his presence. The ghost of Section 31 seems to float about like a haze, unacknowledged but perceived...the Federation's lily-white image forces them to be very very quiet about their secret intelligence branch, whereas the Romulans can openly flaunt the skills of the Tal Shiar. One might surmise that Section 31 agents would be the superior spies due to the fact that the must hide from everyone, even their own government.

I will make my bets NOW that we will find out later in the season that Section 31 is responsible for the Founder's virus...and that they have a little antidote that they can use to squeeze the Dominion till it cracks. You heard it here first, folks.

Bonus points for creative use of the Voyager sets. Again, so close to a Worf-Free Episode! More bonus points for...finally...a Garak/Bashir scene, a relationship that has languished by the wayside for far too long. An episode I really enjoyed and appreciated.

Rating: 8.5

Memorable Quote:

"The Federation needs men like you, Doctor. Men of conscience, men of principle, men who can sleep at night. You're also the reason that Section 31 exists. Someone has to protect men like you against a universe that doesn't share your sense of right and wrong." --Sloan

Julian: I shall try to become more cynical with each passing day. Look every gift horse in the mouth and find a cloud in every silver lining.
Garak: If only you meant it.

Classic Scene:

I love the brief scene in the Bellepheron's mess hall after Julian finds out that Ross has had an aneurysm. Suspecting Sloan's anonymous accomplice of foul play, he makes his way out of the room looking suspiciously around at everyone and everything. The world has just taken a nasty turn around him, and he doesn't know yet how to deal with it. It reminded me of scenes in two great films, David Fincher's "The Game" and the film that suggested it, "House of Games," in which characters begin to realize that what they have always assumed to be normal now seems insane.

Sexually Slanted Line 'O the Episode:

"I came in to give him some reports and found him [Ross] slumped over his desk." --Bellepheron crewmember...hmm, what, praytell, what the Admiral doing?

The O/K Status Report

Both appeared for about ten seconds.

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