Background

No One Expects The Starfleet Inquisition! Retro Review: Inquisition, DS9 S6E18

Article arrow_drop_down

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

About the author

ADM JT Marczynka, DoFA

Creator of things, writer of words, caffeine addict. Director of Communications for Starfleet Command Quadrant 2.

More posts Follow

trending_flat
Fleet Support Recruitment: Alpha Quarter 2025

Following SFC's 50th anniversary, and looking ahead to whats to come in 2025 and beyond, we've been working on bolstering our fleet-wide operational support and opening the floor for officers to take a larger role in our operations. As part of our redefining our Fleet Support department, five roles were opened up to give more room for members to contribute beyond their unit and help shape the next generation of the club. Our first recruitment event saw two members brought on board to the Fleet Support panel and as we race through our first quarter of the year, we have the final three roles ready for recruitment! FLEET SUPPORT SFCQ2's Fleet Support division has been designed to aid and supplement membership opportunities and solidify a helpful, informative and supportive structure. Each role acts as a secondment to allow members to […]

trending_flat
For The Uniform: The Muted Tones of The Motion Picture

Starfleet's wardrobe always seems to change. Different producers and designers always bring something new to the table, whether it's a need to create a more militarised uniform, something nice and simple for a more real-world feel, or sometimes – just sometimes – space pyjamas. In the 1960s, colour television was all the rage and Star Trek was at the forefront of that huge leap in visual technology. It's outfits and set design were crafted to be bold and brash, resulting in the bright paintwork, scenes lit with vibrant pinks and purples and of course the now iconic division coloured uniforms. In both the planned launch of Phase II in 1978 and the earlier animated series in 1973, the iconic look of Starfleet was retained in all its bright and colourful glory. But when plans were scrapped and Paramount opted to […]

trending_flat
A Fistful of Star Trek Online’s Best Bits!

This week marks fifteen years since the launch of whats become Star Trek's most consistent and longest reigning video game, Star Trek Online. Developed following the relaunch of a new movie franchise, STO told the other side of the story. While NEro went back in time and created the Kelvin Timeline offshoot, STO focused on the galactic politics following the collapse of the Hobus Star. Customising your player character, you begin at the Academy, get yourself a star ship and rank up as you balance exploration, politics and shooting a lot of things! Over the years the game has changed and developed with expansions, new additions, rotating Executive Producers - and now new owners! - using multiple guest appearances into the mix for story mission while allowing group events, developing annual traditions and generally letting us all play with cool […]

trending_flat
Upcoming Away Missions in Glasgow & Edinburgh for the Tesla!

As we enter 2025 (or... 2402...?) there's no rest for the crew of the Tesla as the team are already back in action making a return to two of the biggest events in Scotland! One of the most active and welcoming crew, the year is already off to a flying start with more to come through the year! The first events of the year include.... Capital Sci Fi Con February 15th & 16th, O2 Academy Edinburgh Always the best way to kick start the year, Tesla is once again heading to Edinburgh for their first away mission in 2025! This years guest line up is one for the Whovians! This year the Fifth Doctor himself Peter Davidson will be in attendance for photo and autograph opportunities alongside co-star Janet Fielding, better known in the TARDIS as Fifth Doctor Companion Tegan! […]

trending_flat
Across The Universe! Black Ops Missions & Lifetime Achievements!

The year begins with a New Trek bringing us to even strange new worlds while franchise - both old and new - celebrate upcoming awards ceremonies. Section 31 Released... After a long, long wait the potentially least anticipated project in the Star Trek Universe was released on January 25th as Section 31, starring Michelle Yeoh reprising her role as reformed (kinda) Emperor Georgiou displaced in time and recruited to rejoin Section 31 for a dangerous mission to protect the Federation in the most non Federation way possible. Initially developed as a full series exploring the nature of the organisation's questionable origins and motives, the project was placed in the hands of new writers to transform the concept into a made for streaming movie as a condensed action piece that limited the original intention and replaced it with something a little […]

trending_flat
Boldly Going Nowhere: Section 31 Quick Review

REVIEW SCORE   FLEET SCORE   Focused on the outliers of the Star Trek Universe, the idea of the Section 31 film was to go beyond Starfleet and present the universe from a different perspective and in a different way. An idea thats been done with some hit and miss success over the past ten years. Section 31's initial pitch and writing team was something that had the potential to be something we could enjoy and even with mild hesitation, we were eager to see where the once series would go now a new writer had condensed the vague idea into a one off experiment, a streaming based movie to add to the tapestry of different flavours Star Trek has offered in resent years. It was also an experiment in offering a first real glimpse at a batch of heroes […]

Related

trending_flat
[Retro Review] Generations (1994)

Kirk's era my have started the phenomenon, but 1994 was a different era. Picard's Enterprise crew had just finished more than twice the amount of seasons of the original with one spin off finding it's feet and another in the pipeline. With the original crew having said their goodbyes in the Undiscovered country, the old was already out and the not quite as old were ready to take over the film branch of the Star Trek franchise. But not without a weird handover ceremony. Years after his final voyage as captain, Kirk is dragged out of retirement to sit in a chair and smile politely as a new captain launched with a new Enterprise. Of course, the new captain was typically useless so when the Enterprise was the only ship in range again, and the ship was dragged into an […]

trending_flat
[Retro Review] Schisms; TNG Season 6

Alien abduction isn't exactly an innovative or creative plot device. Long before the X Files became the most popular brand of alien conspiracy in media, we had everything from the memorably dazzling abduction in Close Encounters of the Third Kind to the found footage wonder The McPherson Tape. For Star Trek, however, it's an odd concept to include. Humanity is a space faring species and some of our best pals are aliens. If one crept into your bedroom in the middle of the night and took you on board their ship, that's more of a diplomatic nightmare than a horrific conspiracy. So when it did happen in Next Gen's Schisms it all felt a bit weird and creepy. Mostly in a good way.

trending_flat
[Retro Review] The One With The Whales (1986)

Closing off an accidental trilogy, Kirk and his disgraced crew wrap up chilling out on Vulcan to go back to Earth for a bit of a wrist slapping. While they saunter back home in a stolen Klingon ship, an alien probe pops round for tea and biscuits on Earth. Except, there's neither tea nor biscuits buit a confusing sense of chaos as it sucks everything around it of power and soaks up Earths oceans for what seems like no apparent reason.

trending_flat
[Retro Review] The Search For Spock (1984)

The Wrath of Khan was the end of the road, or so many thought. So killing off Spock was a way to close that chapter of their lives and move on to other projects. But of course, the second outing was also a success, but director Nick Meyer had a feeling it would be and put in a caveat. Before his death, Spock mind melded with Dr McCoy and told him to remember...

trending_flat
[Retro Review] Unification; Next Generation S5E708

Over several era's and realities within the Star Trek Universe, there are very few who can tie them all together. Kirk may have met Picard thanks to the Nexus, and Riker may have joined the crew of the Cerritos, but before those events crossed over there was one landmark event that not only helped to bridge the worlds of the original series and the Next Generation, but would begin a thread that would help spawn both the Kelvin Timeline era as well as the new revival of Star Trek. During it's time the Next Generation had a cameo or two from the original series. Even right at the beginning as a much older Dr McCoy, now an Admiral, had a brief scene comparing Data to his old friend Spock in the first of many “passing the torch” moments for the […]

site2025m

Serving the fan community since 1974, SFC is an international not for profit fan organisation bringing together collective of fans collectively enjoying strange new worlds in science fiction media.

Star Trek and all related, derived or inferred ideas are the intellectual property of Paramount and Paramount Global. No infringement is intended in the use of this material. Starfleet Command Quadrant 2 (SFCQ2) does not generate any income or profit from their endeavours as a fan organisation, no part of which is sanctioned by the Paramount Global group or any sub-division of the legitimate copyright holders.

Core Website layout by Ghostpool. Managed and Maintained by Aim to Misbehave on behalf of Starfleet Command  Quadrant 2

© 2401 Starfleet  Command Quadrant 2 (SFCQ2)

Login to enjoy full advantages

Please login or subscribe to continue.

Go Premium!

Enjoy the full advantage of the premium access.

Stop following

Unfollow Cancel

Cancel subscription

Are you sure you want to cancel your subscription? You will lose your Premium access and stored playlists.

Go back Confirm cancellation