In the Pale Moonlight

Alone in his quarters, Sisko records a personal log about the past two weeks. With Federation casualty lists growing, he decides the Romulans must be drawn into the war. He turns to Garak, but when evidence of a Dominion threat to Romulus cannot be found, Garak suggests creating some. After Betazed falls, Sisko agrees. They free the forger Grathon Tolar from a Klingon prison, Sisko trades away restricted materials for a genuine Cardassian data rod, and he quietly buys off Quark after Tolar stabs him. Tolar fakes a recording of Dominion leaders planning to invade Romulus, and Sisko shows it to Senator Vreenak, who spots the forgery at once. On his way home, Vreenak's shuttle is destroyed. Garak admits he planted the bomb, so the flawed evidence would be blamed on the Dominion, and that he has killed Tolar too. The Romulans declare war. Sisko concludes he can live with it, and deletes the log.