Disclaimer: Luther Sloan is a character from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

The genetic experiments done by Humans in the late 20th century and its disastrous consequences, as well as the subsequent attempts and equally terrible results done by the Klingons were common knowledge for the Tal Shiar. However, again, Koval seemed to know more about the details of the Federation's activities than he was expected to. He had extensive reports of the later, and illegal, genetic engineering done at the other side of the Neutral Zone; most of it did not have any intelligence value. The interest was obviously personal.

Koval even closely monitored the lives of all those genetically modified people he was aware of. He had an extensive list of Humans. One of them attracted immediately Spock's attention, for he had already been mentioned by Koval before, and he had still other links to learn about.

Julian Bashir. A Starfleet medical officer. He had been the one who had made the discovery and following research on the Dominion's terrible biological weapon; most of the Federation's documents related to the Blight were signed by him.

And then there was the other reference he previously had on him. Bashir, willingly or not, had been a key instrument on the fall of Asfarst's mother, Cretak, and the consequent rise to further power of Koval. Fascinating.

Spock knew what Cretak thought of Bashir's implication. It was only logical, considering the amount of information Koval had on him, that he would obtain now his own version of the story. And he was not disappointed.

After listening first to Koval's profiling of Bashir, it was not a surprise to find out that Koval had manipulated the doctor since the beginning, and that he had in no moment being aware of being following Koval's agenda. Both Bashir and Cretak had fallen blindly into Koval's well planned trap.

But Koval's account of the incident also led Spock to the dark final question that needed to be answered: Was Koval a Federation agent or not? Because finally, after many hours of reviewing files, he had the first direct mention of the dangerous Section 31 and one of their agents, Sloan.

In the privacy of his home, Koval admitted working along the rogue operative, and added another name to the list of implicated people: Admiral William Ross. The three of them had schemed together to destroy Cretak's career and secure his seat in the Continuing Committee. Koval admitted his duplicity and affirmed his works for Section 31 and the Federation. However, he considered being also manipulating the clandestine organization and its supporters; he only served the Federation as long as it served him. He was a double agent, and as all double agents, his loyalties were unclear. Was Koval really a Federation mole in the Tal Shiar or a Romulan mole in Section 31? Considering his origin, Spock was more inclined to think of the later.

Koval was a deceitful man; he had hidden vital information to the Praetor and the Senate; he had his own illegal businesses. But the probabilities said he just played with the Federation, he did not at all work for them. And even if Koval plotted against Cretak, if he did not plot against the Romulan people, Cretak could not be saved by arresting him, which was all Asfarst wanted.

However, probabilities could be wrong, for Spock was about to do an astounding discovery that went against all probabilities.

Luther Sloan. There were several links attached to that name too. Many were references to Section 31's operations. Some had Koval as part of them. There were some incriminating documents: one included a recording showing Koval trading Romulan intelligence with the agent and being paid for. It had been recorded only two months ago.

After several links, however, the computer led Spock to a file he had already reviewed before. The moment it appeared before him, he rebuked himself for having been lenient. It was the list of the persons subjected to genetic resequencing at Adigeon Prime's facility. He had not read the names before; once he had spotted the name of Julian Bashir, he had stopped reading the list and went directly to learn about the doctor. But there it was, the other familiar name, Luther Sloan; he was also one of the genetically enhanced children. That was more than fascinating.

Another reference to Sloan; another again related to Bashir; another about a bio weapon, and another one he was aware of. Every piece of data seemed produced to defy logic, but Spock knew logic would finally prevail. Intrigued, he memorized all the information in his head and tried to find out the way everything made sense.

A previous video had Koval with Sloan only a few months ago; this new source said Sloan had killed himself longer than a year ago protecting the nature of the virus that had infected all the Founders' population; one created by Section 31 and uncovered by Bashir, who had been able to find a cure even after his suicide. Koval lamented Bashir's success; he wanted the shape shifters eliminated. He had been aware of the disease's existence all the time, and had considered it a reliable weapon.

Koval despised Bashir and appreciated him at the same time; he had a liking for the Human doctor, probably developed by all the time spent learning about his life. His link with Sloan, however, grew deeper, and it was more difficult to research. Several contents about him that Spock read next were also contradictory. For example, Sloan had died many times, but apparently was still alive; and Koval seemed to trust him more than any other. Somehow, Sloan's businesses were also Koval's.

It was also through Sloan that Spock reached to Koval's latest activities. Again, disquieting ones. Using trustworthy Tal Shiar operatives, he had contacted some former Obsidian Order agents who were now good positioned in the recently formed and still quite chaotic Cardassian government. After the Dominion forces retreated back to the Gamma Quadrant and an uneasy peace was established, both warring parts reached an agreement to free all prisoners of war. Many Jem'Hadar fell into Cardassian hands once the later successfully rebelled, but they were dangerous uncontrolled prisoners which Cardassians were grateful to release. Not all of them were returned to the Dominion, though, for Koval's first action during the days following Cardassia's recovered independence was to convince these spies to secure a number of Jem'Hadar prisoners for him. As he had done many times before, he created a parallel structure with both the Cardassian and the Romulan operatives, and recruited several local scientists too. His focus was once again bio engineering. Jem'Hadar were a master piece and he planned to dissect them and adapt them to his own purposes.

Many Jem'Hadar figured as part of his unofficial prisons. However, Spock realized that none in the Dominion had ever claimed them. They were as unimportant to the Founders as they were to Koval and his people; they were just expendable tools specifically designed to be used and discarded away; nobody missed them; nobody was really awaiting them home.

Again Spock's thoughts reached towards Saavik, who had known no home and had been utterly alone. Or not so alone. Because she had had T'Pren. And someone had come to her rescue, the Vulcan Symmetry crew, and the abandoned children, once subjects to cruel experimentation, have found a home.

Spock disliked the parallelisms his mind formed, but they were still there, a flagrant truth that could not be denied. The Jem'Hadar were not alone, neither were the other many victims of Koval's terrible plans. Spock was still unsure of what the Romulan's big scheme was, but he was determined to put an end to his atrocities now.

Spock gave the computer a new order. It was time to contact Saavik.