We’re getting closer to the release of the long-awaited Star Trek: Section 31 movie, the franchise’s first foray into a straight up espionage thriller, starring Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh as former-Emperor-turned-Agent Phillipa Georgiou as part of a ragtag team protecting the Federation from the shadows.
Joining Georgiou are Alok (Omari Hardwick), Rachel (Kacey Rohl), Quasi (Sam Richardson), Fuzz (Sven Ruygrok), Zeph (Robert Kazinsky) and Melle (Humberly Gonzalez). We know nothing about these characters, except that Rachel will eventually become Captain Garrett on the doomed Enterprise-C, as seen in The Next Generation‘s “Yesterday’s Enterprise.”
But what exactly is Section 31? Paramount has released a video on the history of the organization
The United Federation of Planets has long held lofty beliefs as to the purity of their mission. Their Starfleet is about the exploration of planets, uniting the galaxy together in a common goal for scientific exploration and personal betterment. But as Benjamin Sisko famously commented in “The Maquis, Part II”: “It’s easy to be a saint in paradise.”
Section 31 actually predates the founding of the Federation. The organization gained its name from Article 14, Section 31 in the original Starfleet Charter. The section made allowances for bending Starfleet regulations in times of extraordinary threat. From these allowances, an organization was formed. It was a covert black ops division, comparable to the Romulan Tal Shiar or Cardassian Obsidian Order. The difference being that those empires had no compunction for underhanded activities, while Starfleet wanted to maintain their innocent appearance.
Over the centuries, Section 31 would remain a shadowed presence. They would interact with mainstream Starfleet in times of great crisis, such as the Federation-Klingon War of 2256-2257 and the Dominion War of 2373-2375. But there was just enough wiggle room in the charter that “extreme circumstances” could mean all times. Starfleet needed Section 31 to do what it didn’t have the stomach for.
In preparation for Star Trek: Section 31, here are some episodes to watch that highlights the organization:
Inquisition
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Season 6, Episode 18
Section 31 is introduced in this episode, deep in the Dominion War. Julian Bashir is investigated by Luther Sloan, from Starfleet Internal Investigations, for potentially being a spy for the Dominion.
Once Bashir figures out he’s in a holographic simulation, it’s revealed Sloane is with Section 31 and testing whether or not Bashir would make a good Section 31 asset. Once he’s taken back to Deep Space Nine, Bashir is shocked that Starfleet would condone such covert operations. Odo points out that it would be surprising for them not to.
This episode is a claustrophobic thriller, with Bashir finding himself stripped of all support. It’s a good way to introduce such a shady organization.
Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Season 7, Episode 16
The title translates to “In times of war, the law falls silent”, a good motto for Section 31 (if they were to have a motto. Which they might. After all, they do have cool badges, which as William Boimler pointed out is strange for a covert ops division).
Luthor Sloan appears again, deciding to exploit Bashir as an asset. He wants Bashir to spy on the Romulans at a conference, thinking that once the Dominion War is over that the Federation and the Romulan Empire will war over control of the Alpha Quadrant.
“Inquisition” introduced viewers to Section 31, but it is this episode that really cements what they’re about. We see them operating outside of just gaslighting Bashir, how they operate in plain sight in Starfleet and how anyone– even people we’ve known for years– could be an operative.
Extreme Measures
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Season 7, Episode 23
This episode draws to a close the trilogy of Section 31 episodes on Deep Space Nine. It also sets up some of the finale of the series. Odo has been suffering from a disease, one which will kill him in a few weeks. But Bashir realizes that the disease isn’t natural and suspects that Section 31 is behind it, in order to wipe out the Founders.
After his experiences with Section 31 previously (as well as his friendship with Garak), Bashir is able to engage in spycraft against Sloan. But the revelation that Section 31 is willing to commit genocide against the Changelings shows how far the organization will go.
Affliction / Divergence
Star Trek: Enterprise Season 4, Episodes 15 & 16
Chronologically, the first episodes to feature Section 31, although the organization is never referred to directly by name (although the Starfleet Charter article is mentioned).
In these episodes, Section 31 seemingly works against Starfleet by assisting virus-stricken Klingons in kidnapping Doctor Phlox, and delaying his rescue by using long-dormant operative Malcolm Reed.
While the previous episodes took place in the middle of a war, these episodes firmly establish that Section 31 is always active, because “Earth’s got a lot of enemies.”
Point of Light
Star Trek: Discovery, Season 2, Episode 3
Section 31 really starts to get fleshed out once Georgiou joins their ranks in Star Trek: Discovery. The reintroduction of the organization sees Georgiou spying on L’Rell and Ash Tyler and directly trying to affect the leadership of the Klingon Empire to one that is advantageous for the Federation. When Ash’s death is faked for the Klingons, he joins up with Section 31 himself.
Saints of Imperfection
Star Trek: Discovery, Season 2, Episode 5
While the previous Star Trek series had Section 31 operating as a clandestine organization, during this time period it was a little more well known. Captain Pike butts heads with Leland and Tyler, who are tasked with finding the missing Spock. With the appearances of the Red Angel suggesting time travel, Admiral Cornwell tasks Pike to work along with the Section 31 agents.
Light and Shadows / If Memory Serves
Star Trek: Discovery, Season 2, Episode 7 & 8
The search for Spock comes to a head in these episodes. While Section 31 tries to find the wayward Vulcan, Michael Burnham is insistent on finding him first. This brings her face to face with the doppelganger of her former captain. But surprisingly, Georgiou has Burnham knock her out and escape. Despite being a Section 31 agent, Georgiou has her own agenda. While Burnham helps Spock recover his fractured mind, the Discovery crew have to stop Section 31 from apprehending them.
Project Daedalus
Star Trek: Discovery, Season 2, Episode 9
While Section 31 was a nuisance to the Discovery crew before this, trying to apprehend Spock before they could find him, this episode cements them as a true threat and one even some of their own operatives were unaware of. While Georgiou mentioned in the previous episode Section 31’s overreliance on the Artificial Threat Assessment Control, this episode establishes that Control is now Section 31, murdering all of the agents at headquarters by turning off life support. Discovery crew member Airiam was also infected by a virus to work as a spy for Control and was only stopped by killing her.
Perpetual Infinity
Star Trek: Discovery, Season 2, Episode 11
Section 31 continues to deteriorate under Control, as Leland is taken over by the artificial intelligence. Control attempts to download the Sphere data, something that would in the future bring about the end of biological life in the universe.
This episode would also show a change in Georgiou after Gabrielle Burnham recognizes a goodness in Georgiou that even the Emperor herself denied.
While Section 31 is corrupted by Leland/Control, Agents Georgiou and Tyler work with the Discovery crew for Section 31’s original mandate: to protect the Federation.
Such Sweet Sorrow
Star Trek: Discovery, Season 2, Episode 13 & 14
The Section 31/Control arc comes to an end in the finale of Discovery season two, with Discovery, the Enterprise and all of the allies they’ve acquired over the past two seasons coming together to fight control for the future of all organic life.
This is the last time Section 31 is seen in any form until Deep Space Nine. Perhaps, after everything with Control, it takes nearly a hundred years for the organization to truly reconstitute itself.
An honourable mention goes to the 2013 movie Star Trek: Into Darkness, which features Section 31 at its darkest, willing to forcibly recruit tyrant Khan Noonien-Singh to their ranks and attempt to spark a war with the Klingon Empire by having the Klingons destroy the Enterprise. It’s in an alternate reality, but I’m contractually obligated to mention the Kelvinverse at any opportunity.
While you’re watching all of these episodes, make sure to also watch the teaser trailer for Star Trek: Section 31
Star Trek: Section 31 is written by Craig Sweeny and directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi, executive produced by Alex Kurtzman, Craig Sweeny, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth and Michelle Yeoh and is produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. It will be released on Paramount+ on Friday January 24th.
