Was Siscos file really deleted...
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If Sisko had deleted it all, the incident wouldn't be on our DS9 DVDs.
Who knows, it might have been possible for them to re-construct it. They would have had to have a reason to look at deleted files in the first place though.
Unless they had specific reason to look at files that were deleted, I'd think they would be more interested in intelligence reports or other info that he sent out or his non-deleted logs which would still require security clearance to even view.
Unless they had specific reason to look at files that were deleted, I'd think they would be more interested in intelligence reports or other info that he sent out or his non-deleted logs which would still require security clearance to even view.
If it is anything like current (late 20th C, early 21st C) file systems, while the file might be "deleted", all that really would mean is that the reference to the file is deleted. The space is available for future use. Depending upon the length of time and utilization of the file system between the deletion and any forensic analysis, some % of the file could be retrieved. Most FAT/NTFS/HPFS/EXT2 file systems have deleted files relatively asymptomatically approach full overwrite (meaning you lose most of the file quickly, but the last residuals can take a LONG time to be overwritten). Journaling file systems (EXT3/4 etc). will retain more of the file for longer.
Of course, all of this will be quite literally ancient history by the time the 24th C rolls around. I could only begin to guess what file system technology will be like in 30 years, let alone 300.
Of course, all of this will be quite literally ancient history by the time the 24th C rolls around. I could only begin to guess what file system technology will be like in 30 years, let alone 300.
In most episodes, when they're trying to recover a file, it had been stored and there were all sorts of trails leading to it in the computer.
When Sisko was making his log, he hadn't actually saved it yet, so its "deletion" would be inherently more thorough. Let's face it, though. What with the Dominion War and all that going on, nobody would be looking for it anyway.
When Sisko was making his log, he hadn't actually saved it yet, so its "deletion" would be inherently more thorough. Let's face it, though. What with the Dominion War and all that going on, nobody would be looking for it anyway.
Even when the erasure of a file was found out, our heroes typically did not manage to recover this file. All they could do was hunt down who had commanded the erasure.
Also, Sisko would probably have the full authority to delete this file, whereas in the typical plotline a criminal would be attempting to delete something he didn't have legitimate access to. The results in the first case would certainly be more thorough than in the second.
Kirk always seemed to manage to keep key parts of his adventures secret from Starfleet Command, even if he mentioned them in his logs as the episode progressed. Khan's fate was never revealed, Spock's little sexual escapade wasn't made known, and supposedly Kirk even managed to hide from himself the eventual outcome of "Requiem for Metusaleah" (although that ending can be interpreted in many ways).
Similarly, Picard and Data seemed to do a thorough job in "Clues". Perhaps complete erasure takes a combination of authority and skill, but we could argue that the Picard/Data and Kirk/Spock combos possessed both. Did Sisko perhaps have a computer wizard help him? Dax would certainly have had both the skill and the moral flexibility...
Timo Saloniemi
Also, Sisko would probably have the full authority to delete this file, whereas in the typical plotline a criminal would be attempting to delete something he didn't have legitimate access to. The results in the first case would certainly be more thorough than in the second.
Kirk always seemed to manage to keep key parts of his adventures secret from Starfleet Command, even if he mentioned them in his logs as the episode progressed. Khan's fate was never revealed, Spock's little sexual escapade wasn't made known, and supposedly Kirk even managed to hide from himself the eventual outcome of "Requiem for Metusaleah" (although that ending can be interpreted in many ways).
Similarly, Picard and Data seemed to do a thorough job in "Clues". Perhaps complete erasure takes a combination of authority and skill, but we could argue that the Picard/Data and Kirk/Spock combos possessed both. Did Sisko perhaps have a computer wizard help him? Dax would certainly have had both the skill and the moral flexibility...
Timo Saloniemi
Maybe he had Chief O'Brien perform a low level format of that section of the data drive just to be safe? 
What was it that Sisko admits to Starfleet in the book Hollow Men? Starfleet Command may not know all the little details but in general they would know what happened. They're the ones who authorized the operation, or at least Garak's 'A' plan to give false evidence to Vreenak.
Once they hear that Vreenak's shuttle was destroyed and the Romulans enter the war, Starfleet Command would know what happened.
Robert
Once they hear that Vreenak's shuttle was destroyed and the Romulans enter the war, Starfleet Command would know what happened.
Robert
And I bet they didn't mind what Sisko did since it got them the results, although they would never admit it, of course. They allowed Section 31 to attempt a genocide through biological weapons against the Founders. Sisko's actions in ITPM are a child's play compared to that.
One thing- they were going to trust that the criminal they hired to do the forgery was going to keep the secret!
Or at Sisko was - I'm not sure if Garak was going to do away with him whether the ploy worked or not, but they were taking a major risk with him....
Maybe they could have wiped his recent memory?
Or at Sisko was - I'm not sure if Garak was going to do away with him whether the ploy worked or not, but they were taking a major risk with him....
Maybe they could have wiped his recent memory?
I suspect that memory wipes are a rare commodity in the UFP or in Starfleet. Kate Pulaski had them down pat - but she mysteriously disappeared (perhaps because of her special skills?), and Bev Crusher never managed to wipe anybody's memory to satisfaction.
However, Julian Bashir was another known master of the memory wipe technique - or at least his wiping of Kurn seemed to work all right in short term. Probably Sisko could have asked him to help there, especially since the deed wouldn't be particularly against medical ethics (as compared with the Kurn thing, say), whereas all its alternatives would be.
Timo Saloniemi
However, Julian Bashir was another known master of the memory wipe technique - or at least his wiping of Kurn seemed to work all right in short term. Probably Sisko could have asked him to help there, especially since the deed wouldn't be particularly against medical ethics (as compared with the Kurn thing, say), whereas all its alternatives would be.
Timo Saloniemi
#$!%* Spell checker! 
I feel pretty certain that Garak would have offed him anyway.
It's the Obsidian Order thing to do.
Given that they have FTL, and detection devices sensitive enough to easily find neutrinos and gravitons, in theory a listener could have just flown sufficiently far into the log-entry's future light cone and sampled.
Based on the way that character was portrayed, it seems like that was first thing he might do after he left, to offer the information to the highest bidder-the Romulans or the Dominion.
On the other hand, could he risk putting himself in danger because he would have to incriminate himself too?
On the other hand, could he risk putting himself in danger because he would have to incriminate himself too?
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