In DS9 Profit and Loss, three Cardassian political fugitives arrive at the station after evading the Cardassian military. Garak alerts the Cardassian Central Command of their presence. Gul Toran passes by his shop and tells Garak that he would be allowed to return home to Cardassia if he made sure the trio did not leave the station. Garak then successfully intercepts Lang, Rekelen, and Hogue as they board their ship to escape, and claims to be about to kill them… until Gul Toran swings by, tells Garak that he won’t be returning home regardless, and relieves him of his weapon. When Toran goes to shoot Lang himself, Garak produces a second phaser, vaporizes Toran, and allows the trio to escape. He justifies this to Quark in the closing moments of the episode by stating that “I love Cardassia.”

This is typical of Garak’s twisty tales and unclear motives, but it stands out as a case where Garak came extremely close to actually doing one thing, and winds up doing the exact opposite. Which leaves the question: what was he actually planning here? Did he intend to kill the three dissidents until he learned he wouldn’t personally benefit from doing so? Did he never intend to kill them, but wanted to lure Gul Toran into a trap and allow them to escape after? Or do his motives run even deeper somehow?