10 Most Shocking Betrayals In Star Trek
5. Malcolm Reed - Affliction
To understand why Malcolm working for someone other than Archer was such a shock is to understand that, above all others on Enterprise, Malcolm Reed believed in duty and the chain of command. Though far more stringent than a certain genetically engineered doctor in his future, he shared many traits that made him appealing to Section 31.
The shadowy side organisation has a patchy history in Star Trek. Introduced as a highly enigmatic organisation in Deep Space Nine, they fell foul of overexposure. In both Inquisition and Inter Arma Enim Silent Legis, they are a powerful and frightening wing of the Federation. By Extreme Measures, they had become somewhat of a joke.
Bringing them back for Enterprise was a risk. While it had been established that they existed at the time of the original charter, it was hard to do the same type of story justice. However, their coercion of Reed was handled well - he was already a member, while his dues had simply lapsed.
Reactivated as an agent, he was fully aware of the role that Section 31 played in Starfleet. He was also aware that when issued orders by them, they outranked Archer. This man who believed in control and the chain so heartily could do nothing else other than obey his former masters. For the audience and for Archer in particular, this was a truly shocking betrayal. However, for Reed, upsetting as the situation was - it made perfect sense.