Section 31
Encyclopedia
In the Star Trek
fictional universe
, Section 31 is an autonomous intelligence and defense organization. It is presented as a special security operation, manned by Federation
citizens, that is not subject to the normal constraints of Starfleet
ethical protocols. The organization appears, or is mentioned, across eight episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
and Star Trek: Enterprise
.
's and, later, the Federation
's security. Its operating authority stems from a 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.
Unlike other secret police
organizations in the Star Trek universe, such as the Romulan
Tal Shiar and the Cardassian
Obsidian Order, Section 31 is not an actual branch of government. Accountable to no one, Section 31 focuses on external threats, and pursues those it identifies by whatever means it sees fit.
Little of Section 31's history has been revealed on-screen. Most references to the organization appear in episodes of Deep Space Nine, although Section 31 also appears in Star Trek: Enterprise
. Several works of Star Trek spin-off fiction expand on Section 31's operations; Pocket Books
published a four-part series profiling connections between Section 31's operations and the missions of James T. Kirk
, Jean-Luc Picard
, and the crews of Deep Space Nine
and the USS Voyager
. These novels explicitly link 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
. Section 31 is also heavily featured in the Star Trek: Enterprise novel The Good That Men Do, in which Trip Tucker joins the organization after his supposed "death".
TV series, genocide
, the crime that is most opposed by the Federation. The genocide involves the creation, by Section 31, of a virus designed to kill a single species, the Founders, with the aim of destroying the Dominion
. Section 31 deliberately infected Odo with this virus, knowing he would spread it to other founders.
Throughout the series, several Deep Space Nine officers, including Julian Bashir
, infiltrate Section 31. One of their aims was to obtain a cure for the virus which was threatening Odo's life, however, under orders from Captain Sisko, they ultimately collude in hiding the crime. This is part of a pattern of overall loss of moral credibility by Starfleet, in comparison to that which it had in the original series and The Next Generation. The Deep Space Nine series and the film Star Trek: Insurrection
both "position the Starfleet authorities in a very dubious light".
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek novels
Star Trek Comics
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
fictional universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
, Section 31 is an autonomous intelligence and defense organization. It is presented as a special security operation, manned by Federation
United Federation of Planets
The United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
citizens, that is not subject to the normal constraints of Starfleet
Starfleet
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet or the Federation Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory, peacekeeping and military service maintained by the United Federation of Planets . It is the principal means by which the Federation conducts its exploration, defense, diplomacy and research...
ethical protocols. The organization appears, or is mentioned, across eight episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
and Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
.
Overview
Within Star Trek, Section 31 exists outside Starfleet Intelligence's influence and deals with threats to EarthEarth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
's and, later, the Federation
United Federation of Planets
The United Federation of Planets, also known as "The Federation" is a fictional interplanetary federal republic depicted in the Star Trek television series and motion pictures...
's security. Its operating authority stems from a provision of the Starfleet
Starfleet
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet or the Federation Starfleet is the deep-space exploratory, peacekeeping and military service maintained by the United Federation of Planets . It is the principal means by which the Federation conducts its exploration, defense, diplomacy and research...
charter—Article 14, Section 31, from which its name is derived—that makes allowances for "bending the rules" during times of extraordinary threats.
Unlike other secret police
Secret police
Secret police are a police agency which operates in secrecy and beyond the law to protect the political power of an individual dictator or an authoritarian political regime....
organizations in the Star Trek universe, such as the Romulan
Romulan
The Romulans are a fictional alien race in the Star Trek universe. First appearing in the original Star Trek series in the 1966 episode "Balance of Terror", they have since made appearances in all the main later Star Trek series: The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager...
Tal Shiar and the Cardassian
Cardassian
The Cardassians are an extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek science fiction franchise. First introduced in the 1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Wounded", the species originating on the fictional Alpha Quadrant planet Cardassia Prime...
Obsidian Order, Section 31 is not an actual branch of government. Accountable to no one, Section 31 focuses on external threats, and pursues those it identifies by whatever means it sees fit.
Little of Section 31's history has been revealed on-screen. Most references to the organization appear in episodes of Deep Space Nine, although Section 31 also appears in Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
. Several works of Star Trek spin-off fiction expand on Section 31's operations; Pocket Books
Pocket Books
Pocket Books is a division of Simon & Schuster that primarily publishes paperback books.- History :Pocket produced the first mass-market, pocket-sized paperback books in America in early 1939 and revolutionized the publishing industry...
published a four-part series profiling connections between Section 31's operations and the missions of James T. Kirk
James T. Kirk
James Tiberius "Jim" Kirk is a character in the Star Trek media franchise. Kirk was first played by William Shatner as the principal lead character in the original Star Trek series. Shatner voiced Kirk in the animated Star Trek series and appeared in the first seven Star Trek movies...
, Jean-Luc Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
, and the crews of Deep Space Nine
Deep Space Nine (space station)
Deep Space Nine is a fictitious space station, and is the eponymous primary setting of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It serves as a base for the exploration of the Gamma Quadrant via the Bajoran wormhole, and is a hub of trade and travel for the sector's denizens...
and the USS Voyager
USS Voyager (Star Trek)
The fictional Intrepid-class starship USS Voyager is the primary setting of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager. It is commanded by Captain Kathryn Janeway....
. These novels explicitly link Section 31 to Fleet Admiral Cartwright's actions in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country is the sixth feature film in the Star Trek science fiction franchise and is the last of the Star Trek films to include the entire main cast of the 1960s Star Trek television series. Released in 1991 by Paramount Pictures, it was directed by Nicholas Meyer and...
and Vice Admiral Matthew Dougherty's actions in Star Trek: Insurrection
Star Trek: Insurrection
Star Trek: Insurrection is a 1998 American science fiction film directed by Jonathan Frakes, written by Michael Piller , and with music composed by Jerry Goldsmith. It is the ninth film in the Star Trek franchise, and the third to feature the cast from the television series Star Trek: The Next...
. Section 31 is also heavily featured in the Star Trek: Enterprise novel The Good That Men Do, in which Trip Tucker joins the organization after his supposed "death".
Controversial topics
The implications of Section 31 have been described as "troubling" and its goals and methods "deeply questionable". Its methods include brainwashing, torture, assassinations and, as revealed by the end of the Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
TV series, genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
, the crime that is most opposed by the Federation. The genocide involves the creation, by Section 31, of a virus designed to kill a single species, the Founders, with the aim of destroying the Dominion
Dominion (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
. Section 31 deliberately infected Odo with this virus, knowing he would spread it to other founders.
Throughout the series, several Deep Space Nine officers, including Julian Bashir
Julian Bashir
Lieutenant Julian Subatoi Bashir, M.D., played by Alexander Siddig, is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Bashir is the chief medical officer of space station Deep Space Nine and the USS Defiant.-Overview:...
, infiltrate Section 31. One of their aims was to obtain a cure for the virus which was threatening Odo's life, however, under orders from Captain Sisko, they ultimately collude in hiding the crime. This is part of a pattern of overall loss of moral credibility by Starfleet, in comparison to that which it had in the original series and The Next Generation. The Deep Space Nine series and the film Star Trek: Insurrection
Star Trek: Insurrection
Star Trek: Insurrection is a 1998 American science fiction film directed by Jonathan Frakes, written by Michael Piller , and with music composed by Jerry Goldsmith. It is the ninth film in the Star Trek franchise, and the third to feature the cast from the television series Star Trek: The Next...
both "position the Starfleet authorities in a very dubious light".
Agents
Section 31 agents include the following characters:- Luther Sloan: Star Trek: Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
- Harris: Star Trek: EnterpriseStar Trek: EnterpriseStar Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
- Malcolm ReedMalcolm ReedMalcolm Reed, played by Dominic Keating, is a fictional character on the television series Star Trek: Enterprise. He is often confused with Martin Short, with whom he shares an uncanny appearance....
: Star Trek: Enterprise - Novels only:
- Charles Tucker IIICharles Tucker IIICharles "Trip" Tucker III , played by Connor Trinneer, is a fictional character in the television series Star Trek: Enterprise, which is the last generation of the Star Trek seriesTucker was the chief engineer on the Enterprise, and also briefly served as chief engineer aboard...
(Star Trek: Enterprise; novel The Good That Men Do) - Admiral Cartwright (Star Trek VI; novel Section 31: Cloak)
- Admiral Dougherty (Star Trek: Insurrection; novel Section 31: Abyss)
- Commander Cortin Zweller (Star Trek: The Next Generation; novel Section 31: Rogue)
- Ambassador Aubin Tabor (Star Trek: The Next Generation; novel Section 31: Rogue)
- Ensign Roberta Luke (Star Trek: Voyager; novel Section 31: Shadow)
- Charles Tucker III
Appearances
Star Trek: Enterprise- Although produced later, these episodes come chronologically before the below Deep Space Nine episodes.
- "AfflictionAffliction (Enterprise episode)"Affliction" is the title of a Star Trek: Enterprise television episode from season four.-Plot:The Enterprise returns to Earth to take part in the maiden launch of the newest NX class ship, Columbia, captained by Erika Hernandez. Shortly after taking shore leave with the others, Phlox is kidnapped...
" - "DivergenceDivergence (Enterprise episode)"Divergence" is the title of a Star Trek: Enterprise television episode from season four.-Plot:As the Enterprise crew race to prevent the impending destruction of the Enterprise , Phlox fights a desperate battle against time to come up with a cure for the virus before a Klingon task...
" - "Demons"
- "Terra PrimeTerra Prime (Enterprise episode)"Terra Prime" is the title of a Star Trek: Enterprise television episode.John Frederick Paxton, the leader of the human xenophobic group Terra Prime introduced in the previous episode, threatens to destroy Starfleet Command, using a meteorite-blasting array on Mars, unless all aliens leave Earth...
"
- "Affliction
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
- "InquisitionInquisition (DS9 episode)"Inquisition" is a season six episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Plot:Dr. Bashir, scheduled to leave for a conference the next day, tends to Chief O'Brien, who has dislocated his shoulder while kayaking in a holosuite. Bashir wakes up the next morning feeling tired, and is summoned to a meeting...
" - "Inter Arma Enim Silent LegesInter Arma Enim Silent Leges (DS9 episode)"Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges" is an episode from the seventh season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The episode's title is a paraphrase from Cicero's Pro Milone, Latin for "In times of war, the law falls silent."-Plot:...
" - "When It Rains..."
- "Tacking Into the WindTacking Into the Wind (DS9 episode)"Tacking Into the Wind" is an episode from the seventh season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the sixth of the ten final chapters. The episode was very well received by fans, mostly because of the ending of the Klingon story arc, and has an average rating of 4.5/5 on the official Star Trek website...
" - "Extreme MeasuresExtreme Measures (DS9 episode)"Extreme Measures" is an episode from the seventh season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the seventh of the ten final chapters. The episode was well received, and has an average rating of 4/5 on the official Star Trek website ....
"
Star Trek novels
- The Good That Men DoThe Good That Men DoThe Good That Men Do is a Star Trek: Enterprise relaunch novel, which was released in March 2007.-Synopsis:Over two hundred years ago, Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker III died in the line of duty...or did he? Commander Riker investigates the situation and the conspiracy to re-write...
(Enterprise novel) - Kobayashi MaruKobayashi Maru (novel)Kobayashi Maru is a Star Trek: Enterprise relaunch novel, which was released on August 26, 2008.-Synopsis:To protect the cargo ships essential to the continuing existence of the fledgling Coalition of Planets, the captains of the United Earth's Starfleet are ordered to interstellar picket duty,...
(Enterprise novel) - The Romulan War: Beneath the Raptor's WingThe Romulan War: Beneath the Raptor's WingThe Romulan War - Beneath the Raptor's Wing is a Star Trek: Enterprise relaunch novel, released on 20 October 2009.The book focuses on the Earth-Romulan War, which has never been seen on-screen during any of the Star Trek series, only mentioned...
(Enterprise novel) - Star Trek: Section 31: RogueRogue (Star Trek)Rogue is a Star Trek: Section 31 novel written by Michael A. Martin and Andy Mangels.-Synopsis:Section 31, Starfleet's rogue spy arm, involves the Starship Enterprise; this endangers a tumultous world they are visiting. The novel also focuses on Lieutenant Hawk, an openly gay...
by Michael A. MartinMichael A. MartinMichael A. Martin is an American author.Most of Martin's works have been written in collaboration with partner Andy Mangels, who brought him aboard as a co-writer in 1997 for the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine comics at Marvel...
and Andy MangelsAndy MangelsAndy Mangels is an American science fiction author who has written novels, comics, and magazine articles, and produced DVD collections, mostly focusing on media in popular culture...
(June 2001) - Star Trek: Section 31: ShadowShadow (Star Trek)Shadow is a Star Trek: Section 31 novel written by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch.-Synopsis:Section 31, an amoral, rogue branch of Starfleet, manages to affect the starship Voyager, lost on the other side of the galaxy. 'Seven', a new and trusted crewmember rescued from the Borg, is...
by Dean Wesley SmithDean Wesley SmithDean Wesley Smith is a science fiction author, known primarily for his Star Trek novels, movie novelizations, and other novels of licensed properties such as Smallville, Spider-Man, X-Men, Aliens, Roswell, Men in Black, and Quantum Leap...
and Kristine Kathryn RuschKristine Kathryn RuschKristine Kathryn Rusch is an American writer. She writes under various pseudonyms in multiple genres, including science fiction, fantasy, mystery, romance, and mainstream....
(June 2001) - Star Trek: Section 31: CloakCloak (Star Trek)Cloak is a Star Trek: Section 31 novel written by S. D. Perry.-Synopsis:Captain Kirk learns the cloaking device he stole from the Romulan Star Empire months ago is being used for sinister purposes...
by S.D. Perry (July 2001) - Star Trek: Section 31: AbyssAbyss (Star Trek)Abyss is a Star Trek: Section 31 novel written by David Weddle and Jeffrey Lang-Synopsis:Shortly after the Deep Space Nine series finale, Dr. Julian Bashir is once again confronted by Section 31. The group is Starfleet's 'black ops', answerable to no one...
by David WeddleDavid WeddleDavid Weddle is an American television producer and writer, best known for episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , The Twilight Zone , Battlestar Galactica , and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation with writing partner Bradley Thompson...
and Jeffrey Lang (July 2001)
Star Trek Comics
- Star Trek: Year FourStar Trek: Year FourStar Trek: Year Four is the first of two Star Trek comic book mini-series released by IDW Publishing. The first issue was released on July 26th, 2007 with a cover price of $3.99. It featured three variant covers...
Enterprise Experiment issue 2 published by IDWIDW PublishingIDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
.