Section 31
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Universe | Star Trek universe |
|---|---|
| Type | Intelligence agency |
| Founded | Established in Starfleet charter |
| Location | No established headquarters |
| Key people | Agent Harris (2150s) Agent Luther Sloan (2370s) |
| Purpose | Defend the United Federation of Planets by any means necessary |
| Affiliations | Certain members of Starfleet Command |
|
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In the Star Trek fictional universe Section 31 is the unofficial designation of a rogue and officially nonexistent intelligence and defense organization resembling secret police or a black-ops organization. The organization appears, or is mentioned, across eight episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The organization mentioned in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode The Pegasus (Admiral Erik Pressman, played by Terry O'Quinn, is a member, and conducted illegal tests of a cloaking device) may also have been Section 31.
The introduction of Section 31 has been controversial among Star Trek fans, some of whom feel it goes against the ideals of creator Gene Roddenberry.
[edit] Overview
Section 31 exists outside Starfleet Intelligence's influence and deals with threats to Earth's and, later, the Federation's security (DS9: "Inquisition").
Its operating authority stems from an obscure provision of the Starfleet charter — Article 14, Section 31, from which its name is derived — that makes allowances for "bending the rules" during times of extraordinary threats (ENT: "Affliction"). While the original intent may have been to give Starfleet personnel some leeway when it comes to unusual or extreme circumstances, some Federation Council and Starfleet officials have taken it a step further and secretly created a standing organization able to respond to any threat, preemptively if need be. Section 31 is similar to the Romulan Tal Shiar or Cardassian Obsidian Order in that it operates covertly; unlike those organizations, however, Section 31 does not exist to punish traitors or enforce the will of the state (the Tal Shiar and Obsidian Order were greatly feared among their populaces, but most Federation citizens never know that Section 31 even exists at all).
Little of Section 31's history has been revealed in on-screen canon. However, the Star Trek spin-off fiction expands on Section 31's operations. Pocket Books published a four-part series profiling connections between Section 31's operations and missions of James T. Kirk, Jean-Luc Picard, and the crews of Deep Space Nine and the USS Voyager. These novels explicitly linked Section 31 to Fleet Admiral Cartwright's actions in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and Vice Admiral Matthew Dougherty's actions in Star Trek: Insurrection (one novel describes the events of that film as "a failed Section 31 operation in the Briar Patch").
[edit] Appearances
Star Trek: Enterprise
- "Affliction" – Section 31 had negotiated a deal with the Klingons, therefore the Section calls on Malcolm Reed to slow down Enterprise in retrieving Phlox. Phlox has been captured by the Klingons, because they needed his help in creating a cure.
- "Divergence" – Continues "Affliction"'s story
- "Terra Prime" – Reed's Section 31 contact provides information to help the Enterprise crew infiltrate a Martian colony.
- "Inquisition" – Introduces Section 31, which uses a holodeck simulation to gauge Julian Bashir's suitability to join.
- "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges" – Section 31 calls upon Bashir to carry out a mission on Romulus
- "When It Rains..." – Bashir realizes that the disease affecting the Founders is a Section 31 creation
- "Tacking Into the Wind" – Miles O'Brien suggests that Bashir lure a Section 31 agent to Deep Space Nine
- "Extreme Measures" – Bashir and O'Brien capture a Section 31 agent
[edit] External links
- Section 31 article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki.
- Star Trek: The Section 31 Files, audio theater from Darker Projects
- Section 31 at The Star Trek Non-canon wiki
