Sarina and Section 31 (ZSG spoilers)

[Enterprise1981]

Since this was one of the most talked about subjects in the "Zero Sum Game" review thread, I think it deserves its own thread. I'm fairly certain there's more going on than the final passage of the book indicates. I, myself, was surprised at first, but it also seemed like a fitting plot twist given Julian Bashir's history with Section 31 and his own hubris. And it's a twist that's eerily similar to one of my recent fan fiction stories where a Sarina "doppelganger" becomes entangled with Section 31.

Mack, on the other hand, I think did make a point of saying as little as possible in terms of how certain lines of dialogue were said, such as when Sarina said, "That shouldn't be a problem. He adores me."

 

[ares93]

Re: Sarina and Section 31

I can sum it all up in three letters "WTF". I knew something was shady about her. But S31? No... Didn't see that one coming.

But then again, that's Mr. Mack for you. For the love of god, i cant understand his fascination with cliff hangers. On the other hand, he does 'em so well...


(I'm picturing the following scenario: Julian finds out, and he goes running back to Ezri, telling her she was right all along. )
Mr. Mack. Make it so!

ENT1981: I know you disagree so please don't shoot me

 

[nickyboy]

Re: Sarina and Section 31

I expected it, and given her character transformation since season 7 it seemed in character for her. I look forward to the continuance of the story and hope that the wait is not too long.

 

[Shon T'Hara]

Re: Sarina and Section 31

Where's the option for, "What the hell? Julian's getting a plot recycled from Harry Kim?"

 

[ares93]

Re: Sarina and Section 31

Where's the option for, "What the hell? Julian's getting a plot recycled from Harry Kim?"

Well, at least Harry Kim didn't have a mid life crisis. For gods sake, doc! Get yourself a sport car or date a 20 year old for all I care. But do something (or someone)!

 

[BillJ]

Re: Sarina and Section 31

Where's the option for, "What the hell? Julian's getting a plot recycled from Harry Kim?"

This or "Why is yet another minor character that I don't give a shit about making an appearance in TrekLit?".

 

[Enterprise1981]

Re: Sarina and Section 31

It's pretty clear that Sarina does know what she's doing from her speech about being a member of SI and the passage shown at the front of the book about making "special arrangements" to get rid of residual evidence of their having been someplace. On the other hand, I have to think Section 31 is using her as much as she appears to be using Bashir. Check out my interpretation based on the "facts" at hand as well as Rush's tale of how Sloan became entangled with Section 31.

It was kind of amusing that for a brief moment, Julian thought Cole was the SI recruiter but then quickly brushed it aside. Whatever unfolds next, at least he got to hit that at least twice (ares, you know what I'm talking about ).

 

[ares93]

Re: Sarina and Section 31

^ Indeed. Now. I don't say this often, but: lucky bastard...

Hell.. The doctors always get the girls. What do we paramedics get? Christ... What do we paramedic trainees get?

 

[Bec]

Re: Sarina and Section 31

Where's the option for "I dunno, I haven't read the book yet but somebody just revealed it on a forum so I doubt I'll be too surprised now when I do get to read it." Cause yeah, that gets my vote.

 

[shanejayell]

Re: Sarina and Section 31

I'm willing to wait & see where it goes.

 

[Csalem]

Re: Sarina and Section 31

Where's the option for "I dunno, I haven't read the book yet but somebody just revealed it on a forum so I doubt I'll be too surprised now when I do get to read it." Cause yeah, that gets my vote.

That was my thoughts as well considering the book has only made it over to this side of the Atlantic in the last week or so.

 

[KingstonTrekker]

Re: Sarina and Section 31

[This or "Why is yet another minor character that I don't give a shit about making an appearance in TrekLit?".[/QUOTE]

This gets my vote!!!

This "plot twist" didn't surprise me at all -- I thought early in the book that she was likely working for Section 31.

 

[Christopher]

^I think there's a tendency among many fans to assume that anything remotely intelligence-related or devious has Section 31 involvement. So it's kind of hard to make that a surprise anymore.

 

[BillJ]

^I think there's a tendency among many fans to assume that anything remotely intelligence-related or devious has Section 31 involvement. So it's kind of hard to make that a surprise anymore.

Then it may be time to put it to rest for a while.

 

[VDCNI]

I'd lost interest way before that scene - not sure I can be bothered with yet another Bashir, Section 31 story either.

Given that Sarina was written to fufil a plot function in the book rather than as a character I don't really care what happens to her next.

 

[kkozoriz1]

I'd lost interest way before that scene - not sure I can be bothered with yet another Bashir, Section 31 story either.

Given that Sarina was written to fufil a plot function in the book rather than as a character I don't really care what happens to her next.

I feel much the same way about Bashier and I used to really like the character.

 

[Sci]

^I think there's a tendency among many fans to assume that anything remotely intelligence-related or devious has Section 31 involvement. So it's kind of hard to make that a surprise anymore.

Then it may be time to put it to rest for a while.

I'm not sure how you can say that, considering that Section 31 hasn't appeared in any 24th Century novels since A Time to Heal, published in 2004.

 

[Christopher]

^Yeah, that's my point. The fans see Section 31 behind everything, but the actual facts don't bear that out. Which is pretty much the nature of conspiracy theories: people imagine connections that don't exist. So even though Section 31 is used rarely and judiciously in actual fact, there are too many readers out there who expect them by default to be involved in anything devious.

 

[BillJ]

^Yeah, that's my point. The fans see Section 31 behind everything, but the actual facts don't bear that out. Which is pretty much the nature of conspiracy theories: people imagine connections that don't exist. So even though Section 31 is used rarely and judiciously in actual fact, there are too many readers out there who expect them by default to be involved in anything devious.

Which means, like the Borg, they should probably be retired.

 

[KingstonTrekker]

^Yeah, that's my point. The fans see Section 31 behind everything, but the actual facts don't bear that out. Which is pretty much the nature of conspiracy theories: people imagine connections that don't exist. So even though Section 31 is used rarely and judiciously in actual fact, there are too many readers out there who expect them by default to be involved in anything devious.

I do feel that Section 31 has been overused...just my opinion...they even appeared in Enterprise!

Despite what you may think, I don't read a Trek book looking for conspiracies or seeing if Section 31 is lurking around the next page. However, I do hope that the author will be creative (no that is not a slam at Mr. Mack --- I love his work --- however ZSG was not his best book.)

Bottom line: I wish the editors and writers would raise the bar a bit and not fall back on Section 31 -- which is what happened in ZSG.