<P> Sisko angrily confronts Garak, who admits he planted a bomb on Vreenak's ship in case the forgery was not accepted . Garak also admits he killed Tolar in order to keep his work secret . Garak maintains that when the Romulans scan the wreckage and find the rod, any imperfections will be attributed to damage from the explosion, and thus the recording will implicate the Dominion as planned . Garak asserts that Sisko included him in the plan to do the things that Sisko was unwilling to do . Garak also states that Sisko can ease his conscience with the knowledge that the Alpha quadrant may have been saved at the cost of the life of one Romulan senator, one criminal and the self respect of one Starfleet officer, which he calls a bargain . </P> <P> Subsequently, the Romulans join with the Federation against the Dominion and quickly start striking at nearby Dominion outposts . At the end of his log entry, Sisko admits that Garak was right about a guilty conscience being a small price to pay, and states, somewhat uncertainly, that he can live with his decision for the good of the Alpha Quadrant . He then orders the computer to delete the entire log entry . </P> <P> The episode has origins in a discussion the writing staff had about the Vietnam War, which quickly moved onto the Watergate scandal . They began working on an idea in which Jake Sisko discovered some incriminating information regarding Shakaar, the leader of the Bajoran Government . If revealed, it would bring down the Government, and so at a time of war, Captain Sisko would be forced to prevent his son from revealing the information . At this point, the episode was called "Patriot". The plot quickly evolved to become information on Sisko instead . Writer Michael Taylor wrote a screenplay which saw Jake Sisko attempting to interview Garak, but following the evasiveness of the Cardassian, he realises that something is amiss . Captain Sisko tells him to back off Garak, but Jake's investigation reveals that the duo were attempting to bring the Romulans into the war against the Dominion . The Captain tells his son that he would prevent the publishing of the story, but the writing team didn't buy into the conflict between those characters . </P> <P> Ronald D. Moore began working with Taylor to revise the screenplay, dropping Jake from the plot entirely . They were having trouble with the pacing of the story, but Moore realised while drinking late at night that it would work if it was told in flashbacks . He pitched the idea the following morning, and it was accepted by the writing team . The screenplay was entirely re-written . Taylor called the final version "brilliant" but admitted that it had mostly been written by Moore . Moore explained that the story needed something of weight in order to push Sisko along . The writing team discussed having the Dominion take one of the well known planets of the Federation . Vulcan was considered, but it was felt to be too important and so Betazed was chosen instead . Ira Steven Behr added the final line of the episode, "I can live with it", as a reference to the 1962 film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance . The title of the episode came from the line in the 1989 "Batman" film, "Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?". </P>

When do the romulans join the dominion war