Tain and Garak on an Excursion to the Gamma Quadrant

This is a reply to a comment under a DS9 clip from "Improbable Cause".

Tain reveals to Odo and Garak his genocidal grand scheme. This is a warning sign, since Tain doesn't really want anyone to know much about his big beautiful plan, because the premise of the story is, that Tain wanted to off all of his former associates, including Garak.

Garak then expresses displeasure about the entire trip, and makes a correct assessment, that the mission is pointless by calling it an excursion. Garak apparently knows more about the Dominion than Tain.

Yet Tain does not, or chooses not to notice the analysis, dismissing it as Garak's throwing of shade. Another option could be Tain's magnanimity, and the fact, that the Obsidian Order and the Tal'Shiar as so far into the mission by then, that calling it off would discredit Tain.

Tain retorts, that Garak once betrayed him, perhaps asking, why should he spare the life of his former protégé, and so Garak pleads for his life by presenting an argument, that he came to save his mentor from the Romulans. Tain believes Garak for the first time in his life, suggesting, that it was the most honest thing he's ever heard Garak say.

Then Tain offers Garak an impression, that he will have Garak killed if Garak leaves, Odo confirms as much, to which Tain then offers a way out for Garak to work for him.

At the point where Garak looks at Odo, the simple tailor realises, that the Constable's warning was correct, so he makes a decision to side with Tain.

I also think, that Garak somehow gathers, that Odo is still on his side, despite Garak being a Cardassian, a former Obsidian Order operative, and Tain's former and soon-to-be right-hand man. This reverberates later, whereby Garak decides to be the one to interrogate Odo, and later on to go into the interview room to save the Changeling during the Battle of the Omarion Nebula.

I don't know exactly, if Tain changes his mind when Odo warns Garak, or if he wanted Garak by his side from the outset, given, that Garak still lives, and may prove himself a useful asset. Though, later on, Tain tells Garak, that he's missed him, so.

The story and dialogues are well structured, because all of those little actions have small reactions.