Stopped from heading to a quiet medical conference, Doctor Bashir is locked down with the crew of Deep Space Nine when internal investigations officer Sloan arrives. Apparently Deep Space Nine has a security breach. Information’s being leaked to the enemy and all leads point to one person: Julian Bashir.
It’s a nice rarity when this era of Star Trek plays out it’s story of the week without a B-Plot and Inquisition does it all quiet nicely. Especially as everything’s played out from the perspective of Bashir as he’s separated from his colleagues which enhances the tense paranoia of whats happening as Sloan probes through evidence that points to the doctor betraying the Federation.
Thematically it’s a story told many times before, even previously told in Star Trek, but with DS9’s tone becoming a little darker by this stage, it worked perfectly here. Sloan’s investigation points to Bashir being the bad guy, which means either Sloan himself is a plant, arriving to frame Bashir, or perhaps everything we’ve seen before had a secret underneath. After all, Bashir’s already been the plot twist a few times. A year prior Bashir was in a Dominion prison camp for several weeks, indicating that a Founder had been treating the crew unaware. And not long after it turned out he’s been hiding his true genetic identity from Starfleet all this time…
Of course, Deep Space Nine has toyed the this kind of idea in the past and if they didn’t dare have Kira be a Cardassian all this time, there’s no way they were going to have Bashir being a Dominion turncoat. But the idea’s played well, even with Weyounn welcoming Bashir on board a Dominion ship for scones and an explanation on how they used his humanity to turn him against the Federation. Betray the uniform, save lives in the bigger picture. A play theme we saw with Bashir before when he pushed for surrendering to save the future of humanity in Statistical Probabilities.
The background and episodes that came before really do make it all work and cast that doubt that Sloan may not be the bad guy here and how it’s played out with even Bashir doubting his own memories knowing they can be altered so easily gave the right amount of doubt and tension throughout.
There are some great themes that Star Trek rarely touched at the time. The Bashir we knew was played out on the screen, filled with morality and a brooding hopeful outlook. Re-examining his actions with a character looking from the outside combined with what we know about Bashir, there’s a dual concept of us not really knowing the inner workings of anyone around us and for Bashir, not trusting his own mind or memory. We also know the kind of war he’d wage and the spy games he’s loved to play. But the end result and who Sloan really was let the themes simmer to giver us a new wedge of lore to break our minds.
It wasn’t an expose of Bashir. It was a simulation designed to test Bashir ahead of being offered a new job in Section 31: A clandestine rogue intelligence agency who can offer Bashir the chance to take that morality into his own hands and break the rules he’s been shackled by before. It was a tease for new stories down the line, an idea that again played on old elements of the show that highlighted why the Maquis formed or how they maintain Earth as a paradise in a chaotic universe.
But much like Bashir’s experience, it leaves you questioning if any of it’s real. Were Section 31 a real thing? Is there really a secret force behind the Federation who operate in the shadows to keep it safe? If they are legit, what about the Federation itself? Does paradise exist because of the strength of their ideals? Or is that all part of the lie that the existence of Section 31 exposes?
All this time we’ve only ever seen Starfleet intelligence and the odd undercover operation with operatives hired at random as long as they were in the main cast. If Section 31 exists, and acts with the same secrecy and cunning as Romulus’ Tal Shiar or Cardassia’s Obsidian Order, then is the Federation really any better than it’s enemies?
Can we turn a blind eye to them and still claim the moral high ground? Or are they only acting in the interests of Starfleet, and not really a part of it as even the likes of Sisko can’t get confirmation that they exist or not.
We’d have some answers to the questions later when we learn that Section 31 does play a part in the war and have an Admiral or two on their side. Over the years the idea of secrecy would be diluted with them showing up in prequel series Enterprise through to their actions during the Dominion War being a core plot element of Picard’s third season. And of course we see them in action on Discovery, operating with their own stealth ships and command structures answering to the Admiralty.
We’ll likely learn a little more about Section 31 in the upcoming Paramount+ feature launching this month, but the introduction and original intent for the division made for a fascinating reveal decades before we got a peek behind the curtain…
About the author
Site & Service Updates July 2026
It's been a strange year as we adapt to then changing landscape of the Star Trek franchise with recent corporate shenanigans in the media industry, as well as adjusting to and anticipating new regulation sin our home base of the UK which has taken up more brain power than we'd expected!Still, despite distractions, we've been working away in the background with a revised Admin schedule to ensure at the very least every Sunday we can check off some items on the to do list and keep everyone updated on the changes whether minor, major or a bit pointless! On Screen Additions After being placed on the low priority list for a while, the On Screen Mission Log section has begun taking shape. Previously the On Screen section had it's own section per show since the launch of Discovery, however with […]
New Unit Application Guide
Account Academy Database Fleet Updates Calendar Latest Entries Explore Database Index Starfleet Academy Help & Support ⯇ DATABASE INDEX ACCOUNT HUB NEw Unit Application Guide Clarification This section is both for information and for making formal applications for creating or importing a new unit into SFCQ2. Applications can also be made directly to Fleet Administration. All applications are considered for review. × JOIN THE CAPTAINS TABLE Every Star Trek fans dreams of being the captain of their own Starship. Although running an SFC Quadrant 2 Unit is (probably) easier than commanding a starship, both roles require commitment and dedication.Unit’s are, and always will be, the core of SFC. It is within them that members can indulge in their shared interests for Star Trek and science fiction while enjoying the company of fellow fans and like minded people. At their best, […]
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[Retro Review] The Galileo Seven
Pulled in two directions, the Enterprise has to deliver critical medical supplies to avert a plague and conduct vital research at the same time. Unable to turn down the order, Kirk thinks on his feet by carrying forward to save the planet, while sending Spock to lead a research team on the Galileo shuttle to carry out their mission until the Enterprise has finished it's mission of mercy. It's a good idea. Until it isn't. Isolated form the Enterprise, the Galileo runs into a bit of bother. Thrown off course by plot, the shuttle crash lands on a primitive planet. Alone with a broken ship and a people who are as barbaric as they are terrified by the shuttles sudden arrival, Spock has to lead his own team through fear and frustration with cool and calming logic. On the first […]
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SFC has always structured it's internal reward and recognition system on the command structure of Starfleet on screen. Newbies are cadets. When they become full members, they become Ensigns. And those eager to take on a leadership role can rank up to Commander or Captain. Even the board of directors are mirrored within the theme as Commodores and Admirals! It's always been the way, but the path of an officer isn't for everyone... Despite the original idea of all star ship personnel being highly trained astronauts, therefore nullifying the need for enlisted crew, the enlisted ranks have existed in some form since the original series. More defined in the film era, particularly under the revision of style and structure in The Wrath of Khan, they have been slightly more prominent since. Most notable of the enlisted members of Starfleet was […]
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