Dominion War : Garak's Plan comes to fruition 

"And all it cost was the life of one Romulan senator, one criminal, and the self respect of one Starfleet officer. I don't know about you, but I'd call that a bargain."

Sisko said it himself, It's easy to be a saint in paradise.

“Don’t push the pink skins to the thin ice” Wait...

You ever notice that nobody ever counts the senator's staff as part of the loss?

DS9 really is one of the greatest series ever. It is just so damn underrated and written off as a Babylon 5 clone but damn it, they still had great writers to come up with stuff like this.

This shows the range of Avery Brooks and Andrew J. Robinson's acting in this scene.

One of my favorite episodes. The best part of DS9 is seeing how much grittier and believable it is. The “star fleet is 100% moral at all times” crap we got from the other series got old.

It also shows the difference how traditional Starfleet can't seem to think beyond 2 steps ahead. Section 31 could have pulled something like this off. Perhaps, getting ahold of a genuine Cardassian optolythic data rod would have been the biggest obstacle for them. But, (spoilers) if they can work with an asset as head of the Tal Shiar, they could have done this type of operation.

The Ferengi bar owner was right. Give the humans food and entertainment and they are the nicest people but take that away they become just as vicious as Klingons

CBS - don't you DARE touch this video.

DS9 made Starfleet and the Federation more realistic imho.

"I have foresworn myself. I have broken every law I have sworn to uphold, I have become what I beheld and I am content that I have done right!" -Eliot Ness, The Untouchables

Their soul? No. They still have their ideals - and now, an understanding of what level of pressure will make them abandon them. Their innocence and naivete? Oh yes. That's gone.

Love ♥ DS9👍 This episode is different & Dark for Star trek✴

Best ever episode of Star Trek and I could of summed up Sisko's actions in one sentence "sometimes doing the wrong thing is doing the right thing, see one sentence justifieds Sisko's actions

"Former" Cardassian spy ;) My guess is he truly dropped that role when Cardassia and the Dominion parted ways.

Starfleet went full Trigon with their morale and growth.

You should do a comparison between this episode and the Klingon civil war, particularly Picards closing statements to Data regarding Picards view on soldiers who committed atrocities “while following orders” versus those who defied orders to prevent atrocities. Given that Starfleet admiralty signed off on what Sisko did it says a lot about the federations ideal only matters when, as you put it, it’s not being pressed into the mud.

How *did* Garak ensure that data rod didn’t get destroyed?

Always watch out for a person who asks: "What do you want?"

In the end when everything is at risk, values become flexible when it's a choice of life and death

Garak is one of my absolute favorite characters because of this episode.

The trouble with wars, in general, is that after a certain point - let's call it "the Godzilla Threshold" - basically, things you wouldn't normally do, start to become reasonable options, no matter how terrible they are, or what their consequences may be, because things become desperate. The hindbrain desire to survive starts overwhelming the forebrain principles of fair play. In the case of the Sisko plan, basically, that's what happened: full-on desperation. They needed a way to turn the tide, and the normal Starfleet protocols - send in the Oberths! Let enemies hammer our shields down! - didn't suffice. As they wouldn't. I personally view the whole Dominion War arc as an extension to Wolf 359, the continued dressing-down of a Federation drowning in hubris. The Federation fundamentally mishandled the Dominion, literally from day one. The Federation never accounted for dealing with a fundamentally intolerant, expansionistic opponent. It did not take steps; Rom - of all beings - was the only one smart enough to realize that mining the wormhole so that Dominion reinforcements couldn't come through was a good start, and he was aligned with the Bajoran Militia...but even still, didn't figure that out until a pending invasion of DS9. Worse, the Federation demonstrated that it failed to learn from ANY of its previous conflicts, including the Earth-Romulan War. A lot of the conflicts the Federation got itself into, was due to failing to understand its neighbors - the Romulans were spooked by United Earth's expansion and colonization, the Klingons were spooked by the Federation's expansion (especially after Archer got done with them), the Tzenkethi and Cardassians were also pressured by Federation expansion, and now the Dominion. While the Dominion DID NOT play fair, and indeed actually started the war, the Federation, the "enlightened" Federation, not only failed to account for its actions, it failed to prepare for the worst possible outcomes. DS9 never should've been left undefended, ever, by any of the Alpha/Beta powers. In addition to, at their worst, being arrogant, the Federation is also stupid. Sisko did what had to be done to save the Federation, and Klingons, and even the Romulans from Dominion occupation. The outcome was "good". However, the process that led to it is - charitably - a comedy of failures driven by too-large Federation egos, that the Federation never learned from. It's justifiable to say much, much worse things, too. Sisko prevailed, the Federation prevailed, and I'd go so far as to say the dream of a peaceful future galaxy prevailed...but I wouldn't say they "won" much of anything.

I agree with your supposition about Garak being capable of keeping some of the biomemetic gel for himself, but I don’t think that it’s used as an explosive. I believe that as a weapon it’s used to create bio-warfare devices. Spread by torpedo or other explosives certainly. But the Romulan ship was blown up, not infected.

I absolutely love that gel-bomb theory. It's actually plausible.

This spoonhead saved the whole damn federation...

O no I hear it CBS is coming run

Holy hell! I had not caught onto that. That Sisko may have supplied the bomb with that gel!

There's a difference between a fall and a sacrifice

In a way, can still blame the dominion. They were pressing in far to hard and its easy to see why. But I will quote Sun Tzu; "When you surround an enemy, let an outlet free. Never press a desperate foe to hard." What that means is dont pressure your enemy so much they get insanely desperate or they will make you pay far worst for it.

Section 31 almost certainly had a hand in approving the mission -- they no doubt had operatives on DS9 given its strategic importance, literally right next to the worm hole. They probably filtered any & all messages going to/coming from DS9.

Starfleet Command: Yup, he is ready to be promoted to Admiral.

I always imagined that when Garak finished talking someone clears their throat and Sisko and Garak look over there and there's a Romulan sheepishly standing there wanting to pay for a garment. LoL

The idea that Garak wanted the bio-memetic gel to make the bomb to blow up Vreenak feels pretty weak to me. He'd already smuggled one bomb on station before to blow up his own shop. He clearly has access to both explosives and the know-how to assemble and use them. I'm virtually certain that he had much simpler, cheaper, and far more certain alternatives to make a bomb to blow up Vreenak's ship than to try to con Sisko into giving him some bio-memetic gel to make the bomb.

Why hate on Garak? The Federation Secret Police is far more secret and far more ruthless than the Cardassian version. Than the Romulan version too. Because they are into more than simple intimidation they are not as widely known.

All this is the depth of trek Of old you don’t get nowdays

As a friendly reminder, in the episode S7E24 The Dogs of War Odo gets rather upset because of the whole 'genocide against the Founders thing' and as a consequence we find out that Starfleet, which is now formally and officially aware of the genocide... and Starfleet flat out refuses to give the cure to the Dominion. Not saying that's right (or wrong) but it's worth keeping in mind.

I do not think Starfleet actually did anything that was against their values... they used a story to tell the truth (because the Dominion would have attacked Romulus at some point, and probably quite soon) The Killing bit was 100% on Garak, whilst the rest, it's within the realm of what was acceptable for a good cause. we see such white lies quite commonly in TNG and TOS, like every time they have to deal with PD and somehow pretending not to be from outer space... they tell facts but will change the story of how they know what they know.

Man that extra detail about the metagel was something I missed, and does wrap up the story quite nicely.

well, we all know for an in universe fact that Garak burns in hell *(sorry, the fire caves...) we do not know what kind of existence the prophets prepared for the emissary, but it is not unlikely it's also an existence of pain and eternal suffering wherever he is . that is, they both paid for the evil of who they were. it's not like star-trek ever shied away from having villains...

If the Universe doesn’t like what Star fleet did to save its lively hood then the Cardassians and dominion shouldn’t have forced their hand. Desperate times calls for desperate measures

Coming from HUMINT, decades ago, I understand appreciate this episode. Considering it one of my favorites in the series and Andrew Robinson played the role perfect. It's like watching the Dalton Bond movies. No glory or honor or any of that nonsense that isn't present in conflict. People that are critical of the episode I'm reminder of the line from the movie "Bridge of Dragons" when Princess Halo tells Dolph Lundgren's character he didn't fight with honor. He just responds I wasn't fighting for honor. I was fighting to win.

STILL wouldnt say Garak was some secret enemy to the Federation. He REALLY has more reason to in reality have a grudge against the Dominion and even his own people, then the only major power that really accepted him.. Harsh truth is SOMEONE HAD to do what Sisko did... PERIOD. Their way of thinking is nieve and a luxury the Feds no longer had. He knew right from wrong the whole episode is him anguished and feeling remorse and guilt over it.. trying to justify WHY it was required and could it have been possible another way... which.. ultimately it happened probably only way it could. An in the end Garak.. got his home back and his people loved him again so winning the war for the Feds actually worked in his favor with them being, seemingly as is. That's how it is in real life too. People like Sisko and in the middle of the sorta war and the position the Federation and Sisko was in... such nieve values were gonna be destroyed entirely had they lost. Feds BIGGEST problem is not willing to do what it takes when such things are required. An sisko too must've known it or we'd not had this episode

I've always had two questions. First, why didn't Vremak radio Romulus after he took off and tell them of the deception? Second, how did they get the data rod to survive the explosion? Garak would have had to sneak onto the shuttle again to place it somewhere to ensure it survived OR he had TWO data rods and placed one to ensure it survived.

I have held for many years the theory that Garak used a portion of the bio-mimetic gel to create the explosive to destroy Vreenak’s shuttle. It makes a lot of sense, especially when the writers subtly include in Bashir’s protest to Sisko that the substance can be used to create organic explosives. Now we don’t really know enough about bio-mimetic gel to say what residue it would leave after being used for that purpose. Namely something that the Romulans might detect when they investigate the wreckage, and potentially tip them off to Federation involvement. No doubt it’s left ambiguous so that the writers don’t create more questions than they answer in the story. Fair enough. As a matter of pure speculation due to lack of on-screen explanation, it would make sense that Garak create an organic explosive. It might - stressing the word “might” - not be something Vreenak’s shuttle sensors would be able to clearly identify. Even if it did, it might not even appear unusual to those piloting the doomed craft. Or when the Romulans investigate the wreckage, even if it did leave some signature, that it would lead them to suspect or conclude Federation involvement. Specifically given how tightly the Federation controls that substance - even in war. The Romulans might overlook the realistic plausibility of Federation involvement on that basis alone. Odd as that may sound for such a notoriously paranoid culture, with an immense aptitude for deception themselves. Simply put, we just don’t know enough to say. Though since it is a false flag operation, with Garak being a master of such things, whatever he really planted, he did it with the foremost priority of leaving no sign of Federation involvement. The importance of plausible deniability in this case is paramount. Garak would know that better than anyone. Without plausible deniability, all Sisko would have accomplished is creating a new belligerent ally for the Dominion. What I’m curious about, since the apparent Dominion orchestrated assassination was the Romulan casus belli, is how the Romulan government used the dead Vreenak in their wartime propaganda. “Remember Soukara”? “Fight Back for Vreenak”?

Garak also destroyed a high-ranking Romulan's lawn by indiscriminately mowing in uneven rows, when he was a gardener.

Ok not head cannon. Just a theory. What if the reason why the romulans would think the dominion is guilty because Koval the head of the Tal Shiar who was "opposed" to the treaty, was actually aiding in convincing the Continuing Committee in the joining the war. We know Koval was working for Starfleet Intelligence, quite possibly working for Section 31, and since he helped with the Federation with their war, the Federation helped him to get rid of a political enemy on Romulus ergo Senator Cretack.

Interesting notion about the bio-mimetic gel being used for the bomb, but I doubt that was the case. Aside from the fact that turning it into an explosive probably required specialist biochemical knowledge that I doubt Garak had, he probably would want any trace evidence from the explosion to be definitively tied to the Dominion, which would mean using a known Cardassian explosive, which he certainly would've had more ready access to.

Perhaps the leaders of Starfleet were not human or humanoid anymore. Maybe the Founders became Starfleet and lost the war intentionally to make the other world's believe they won but are now controlled by the Founders.

Romulans should obviously know the senator visited ds9 prior to blowing up.

I've had twenty years to think about what I would have done if I were in Capt. Sisko's position. In all this time, I've experienced a lot. I would have definitely done EXACTLY what Sisko did in this same situation. I lives of billions is worth more than the lives of three men and my self-respect. Also in twenty years I've learned that we can all be redeemed. Sisko and Starfleet did what it had to do to survive. I know I would have. What about the rest of you.

Biomimetic Gel as the explosive used to destroy the Romulan shuttle. That's so Garrick. And it makes sense that can be used as an organic explosive as Doctor Bashir pointed out

This episode was absolutely perfection, it shows what happens when you let the writers team work uninterrupted and the cast literally go with the flow. Storytelling magic.

Your wrong! Sisco by now had stopped seeing Garak as a threat. He doesn't trust Garak and keep's a close eye on him, but he respects the intelligence that Garak has shown.

Sisko does say that he notified Starfleet about his plans but is not very specific about who he told. In addition, Starfleet is full of utopian Picard types and it seems unlikely that no one would step up and try to prevent Sisko from deviating from the Starfleet directive. Sisko said it himself that his attempted deception could turn the Rumulans even more against the Federation, so who was he to make a decision that would embroil billions to his cause? The plan's rogue-ness and unilateral nature did point to the desperate state of affairs in the alpha-quadrant, but keep in mind that this is not the first time the Federation faced a dire situation either. I just felt it would have been realistic to have seen Sisko reprimanded (even to a slight degree) in a later episode to symbolically ensure that the directive was still to be taken seriously. After all, the prime directive is what makes Star Trek, STAR TREK! IMO.

There really is no point in holding on to values and virtues that can be broken by circumstance. Virtues and values governed by the most primal instincts and nature are absolute; survival behaviour. Star Trek is the future of the world for the political idealist, Starship Troopers is the future of the world for a political realist. The federation must become the Terran Federation. There is no truth in fabricated ideals and altruistic views. But there is truth in survival behaviour. Anything done in the name of survival; manipulation, deception, lies and war are all virtuous when they maintain and strengthen survival.

Garak might have saw the Senator as a rival and his appearance on DS9 was too good of an opportunity to let go by. Both at one (time), had been high level members of their people’s respective intelligence agencies. Sisko probably should have taken that into consideration.

Bashir said it can be used to make Biogenic weapons which I personally don't think come as the explosive type but it's possible I guess

I wouldn't be shocked to know that Section 31 knew all about Garak's plan, or at least knew better than anyone what he was doing to Sisko. Its the same sort of crap that Sloane does manipulating Dr Bashir's morality and sense of honor in order to get what they wanted.

Nice. Thank you so much for making this series. As soon as I see a video in it I watch since it is so cool. Love the channel, please keep up the great work.

The Federation is backed into a corner and faces a Catastrophic defeat so what would you do to prevent that coming to pass? All empires pass so was it the Federation's time to fall? Efficient ,intelligent and social cooperative Modern human's out survived all other Human variants to dominate and survive on planet earth over thousands of years then we pushed into space carrying that survival instinct with us and then achieved what those other human variants couldn't do 0n Earth that was to find a way out of situation that could have destroyed us as a civilization. In the end Sisko is only doing what our Ancestors did to out survive our competition anything less is fiddling while Rome burns and a gun is pointed at your head and in that regard I believe Garak and Sisko use each other to justify their actions .

Plot twist: Garak gave the gel to the Romulans to clone the senator and blow the clone up.

by the domion founder own word after the k;ingons and federation wore finished they would attack the romulains

one aspect of Garak that I wish would have been revealed in this episode was that he was a very capable pugilist, you have to assume he was more than a match for Sisko and even Worf. On the two occasions he got into a physical altercation with them I would have felt it served the story better if he had wiped the floor with them or at a minimum given them a stalemate.

Garak would never use biomimetic gel as an explosive. Something that rare is far easier to trace than a generic explosive.

You should do a comparison between this episode and the Klingon civil war, particularly Picards closing statements to Data regarding Picards view on soldiers who committed atrocities “while following orders” versus those who defied orders to prevent atrocities. Given that Starfleet admiralty signed off on what Sisko did it says a lot about the federations ideal only matters when, as you put it, it’s not being pressed into the mud.

Anyone else found it odd, that the Senator decided to carry message of that deliberate deceit in person and not on a "secure channel"? Is that plausable or appropriate?

What is Star fleet worth if they are conquered and dissolved? Desperate times make for desperate measures.

Garick playing Chess Sisko was playing checkers

🖖

The UFP IS the shining city on the hill. Many will not be allowed to reside there.

This is what Ronald Moore would bring to BSG . One of the best ever .

Two of the greatest creations in the star trek world are Garak and Q, in my opinion.

That is seriously one of my favorite episodes of any Star Trek series.

while garak speek was fantastic I prefer the ending epilogue form sisko where in the end he would do it all over again

Star fleet already approved a genocide. This is not the loss of soul.

I love that episode, its my favorite of all of Trek. And named with a Batman line.. Lore, this was a great video tainted by your use of 'irregardless.' *shudder*😕😕😕😕 😋😆

Wasnt vreenak also the rock monster in galaxy quest?

This guy must be a Star Wars dork.

I think cbs is going to set phasers to kill lore but hey the video was excellent as always

....why'd the episode abruptly end?

Whats the point of values and morals if theres no one around to practice them?

Second bitches!!! I'm special

Inter arma eneim silent legas, in the time of war the law Falls silent.

Why was the single best scene in all of Star Trek cut short?

Space Commies never had a soul to lose in the first place.

4:41 One of the greatests scenes in Television history.

The British did the same thing to the US during WW2

I don’t think the federation has lost it soul or ideals by sanctioning this operation. I think the higher up finally realized that fighting the dominion using a rule book that the dominion doesn’t is like playing soccer the traditional way while the opposing team is using their hands to throw the ball. The Dominion didn’t care about the ideals or ethics. There were no non-combatant no soft targets. The federation wouldn’t shoot down escape pods the dominion would. How do you beat someone like that? Only by say fuck you to those ideals were they able to win. Inter arma enim silent leges. Both the saying and the episode are great examples of this. In times of war, you can be concerned with the laws or your high ideals. People are dying around and you are clinging to those morals will result in more deaths. Nietzsche said it best what is done in war is beyond good and evil. Good and evil have no place in a fight for survival. The first episode with Keevon, Sisko said it is about survival when it comes to them or us there is no choice. What makes this one any different?

It's a very powerful message.

Im so glad someone finally made a video on this episode

?!?..."irregardless"?!? Are you sh!++ing me? THAT'S NOT A WORD!!!

And this is why we all love plane old Garak : )

Hey, Lore, considering that you published that clip CBS would have no reason to slap you with any claims. Deep Space 9 is over 20 years past the episode's original air date, copyright claims aren't legally possible because of that 20 year time frame right there. Don't let CBS walk on you just because they feel like it. I remember watching In The Pale Moonlight when it first aired while I was in middle school and I'm 35 now. It was one of the most jarring and realistic episodes of any Star Trek series simply for the methods used by Garak and Sisko.

Odd way to close, but good video as usual.

Actually - I kind of suspect that Starfleet command was fine recovering evidence from Cardassia... I am not sure Sisko told them about faking it...

Garak is such a brilliant character.

Bio-Memedic Gel couldn't be used for the bomb. If even a hint of it is found, there is only 1 supplier (For some reason) in the quadrant..

I love Garak and his games

A loose end, Dr. Bashir knew of the Captain taking some bio-memetic gel, Bashir knew a dangerous substance was taken and used for an unknown purpose. And Garak never tried to find out if Bashir had any suspicion over it. And Bashir being the super genius he is would easily have been able to connect the dots. So how did they keep Bashir silent on the whole thing?