Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Section 31

4. Section 31 Wasn’t Originally Going To Be In Star Trek: Enterprise

Star Trek Section 31 Badge Luther Sloan
CBS

Star Trek: Enterprise co-creator and executive producer Rick Berman originally didn't think that Section 31 would appear on the series, saying, in a case of famous last words, "I doubt we'll see them on Enterprise." However, the fourth season episode Affliction, revealed that as an ensign, Malcolm Reed was recruited into a covert organization by a Starfleet Security officer named Harris.

This organization was never explicitly called Section 31, although production staff later confirmed that the clandestine organization on Enterprise and Section 31 were one and the same.

On-screen, various clues hint at the organization's true identity. Harris wears a black, fascist-looking uniform similar to the one worn by Luther Sloan and other Section 31 operatives on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Harris also refers to Article 14, Section 31 of the Starfleet charter. This alludes to Luther Sloan's contention on Deep Space Nine that Section 31 was created by the "original" Starfleet charter. However, this episode conflicts with Dr. Bashir's assertion that Section 31 had remained hidden for 300 years. As Ronald D. Moore clarified, this was a mistake and Bashir should have said around 200 years. It seems even genetically engineered genius doctors can make mistakes.

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Frank Chavez is a freelance writer, playwright, and screenwriter from the San Francisco Bay Area. They live in the Census Designated Place outside the small city, outside of Oakland with their wife and numerous cats.