History Recap / StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS07E16InterArmaEnimSilentLeges

* SarcasticConfession: Ross plants the idea of Sloan having an accomplice in the diplomatic delegation and that it could be anyone -- even a member of the ''Bellerophon'' crew. Bashir and the audience don't realize Ross is talking about himself until the penultimate scene.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: With the Federation and Romulans now wartime allies, the Federation's 200-year old embargo against the Star Empire has been suspended. Romulan goods like their Ale are thus now legal in Federation space for the duration of the War.

** The reveal under FoulFirstDrink below, that Admiral Ross is one of the few Starfleet officers not to break the law so as to indulge in the forbidden Romulan ale, becomes rather ironic--he was willing to cross the far worse line of working with/for Section 31, manipulating Bashir, deceiving a war-time ally, and betraying a friendly senator (possibly to her death) to keep TheMole secret and further embedded in the Romulans' power structure...[[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking but not to evade trade sanctions for a bit of alcohol]].

** Being found out was part of Sloan's plan to make his man inside Romulus look even better.

* DramaticIrony: During Garak and Bashir's lunch early in the episode, Bashir argues that the Romulans are now the Federation's allies and hopes this could be the beginning of a new, lasting friendship between the two great powers. Only the audience knows this alliance [[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS06E19InThePaleMoonlight is built upon a lie -- and that Bashir's sitting across the table from the very man who helped orchestrate that deception]].

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Sisko initially agrees with Bashir's concerns about passing any intel to Sloan is a ''bad'' idea. But he changes his mind after a conversation with Admiral Ross, who persuades Sisko that Sloan has made a misstep. He's given them a unique opportunity to try and get someone inside Section 31, and Ross convinces Sisko that they should take it. It's the first clue that Ross is working with Sloan. He's ensuring that Sisko and Bashir don't accidentally sabotage the plan and that Bashir will play the part they need him to play in order to take down Cretak.

* ContinuityOverlap: As this back half of the final Season takes place after the release of ''Star Trek: Insurrection'', DS9 has now switched over to the new dress uniforms from the film.

* SpannerInTheWorks: Three retroactive ones for Sloan's predictions for Alpha Quadrant's post-war status quo. Section 31's assessment is mostly correct, but it's also ultimately hit by three x-factors the agency couldn't have anticipated: The Breen Confederacy's unexpected entry into the War during the Final Chapter, [[Film/StarTrekNemesis Shinzon's coup]], and [[Film/StarTrek2009 the supernova]].

* BrokenPedestal: The DS9 crew's worked closely with Ross for the better part of two years by this point, have gotten to know him well, and like him. Whatever personal respect Bashir may have developed for the Admiral is left in ruins by the end of the episode and the realization of Ross' role in Sloan's plan.

* SpannerInTheWorks: Two retroactive ones for Sloan's predictions for Alpha Quadrant's post-war status quo. Section 31's assessment is mostly correct, but it's also ultimately hit by two x-factors the agency couldn't have anticipated: The Breen Confederacy's unexpected entry into the War during the Final Chapter and [[Film/StarTrekNemesis Shinzon's coup.]]

* DramaticIrony: During Garak and Bashir's lunch early in the episode, Bashir argues that the Romulans are now the Federation's allies and hopes this could be the beginning of a new, lasting friendship between the two great powers. Only the audience knows this alliance [[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS06E19InThePaleMoonlight is built upon a lie -- and that Bashhir's sitting across the table from the very man who helped orchestrate that deception]].

To make matters worse, Ross suffers an aneurysm not long after. It's not serious, but until he recovers, Bashir is on his own. So he turns to the only other person he thinks he can trust: Senator Cretak. He asks her to help him get access to Koval's intelligence files to locate the mole. Cretak reluctantly agrees. But it would seem Bashir has managed to put himself on Koval's radar. The spymaster lures Bashir away from the conference to conduct a not-so-friendly interrogation. Bashir's genetic enhancements make him immune to the Romulans' infamous mind probes, but no matter. Cretak was also caught trying to hack Koval's files. Both of them are brought before the Committee, who are not pleased to hear their story, no matter how well-intentioned it may have been.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: Sisko initially agrees with Bashir's concerns about passing any intel to Sloan is a ''bad'' idea. But he changes his mind after a conversation with Admiral Ross, who persuades Sisko that Sloan has made a misstep. He's given them a unique opportunity to try and get someone inside Section 31 and Ross convinces Sisko they should take it. It's the first clue that Ross is working with Sloan. He's ensuring that Sisko and Bashir don't accidentally sabotage the plan and that Bashir will play the part they need him to play in order to take down Cretak.

--> '''Bashir:''' "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?