Sarina and Section 31 (ZSG spoilers)

[kkozoriz1]

Section 31 jumped the shark with the mini series. Not only did they encounter every crew but their existence was also discovered by them all. How this organization managed to remain secret is the biggest mystery. They might as well be wearing matching t-shirts at this point.

 

[Christopher]

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.

Well, personally I'd be happy if we never saw another Section 31 story again, except perhaps for the tale of them finally being exposed and brought down once and for all. But I don't think ZSG was just gratuitously "falling back" on S31 as a plot trope. The idea was to pick up on threads from the DS9 novels. I was privy to some of the early discussions behind the Pact novels, and I don't recall Section 31 even coming up at that early stage; it was just logical to use Bashir as a focus character in a spy novel that also featured Ezri, because that was an opportunity to follow up on established DS9 character threads. But Section 31's interest in recruiting Bashir is also an established, ongoing DS9 thread, both in the show and in the novels. So it kinda stands to reason that if you're doing a novel about Bashir being involved in an intelligence mission, Section 31 would come into play. It's not a gratuitous use of the organization, but a logical extension of one of Bashir's established character threads.

 

[kkozoriz1]

I can see the use of Bashier in a spy story but there should have been some sort of medical connection to the mission. Bashier on an engineering/demolition mission just felt wrong. SI wanted him because of his genetic enhancements. Seeing how he feels about his genetic background and not using his abilities gratuitously it gel out of character for him to be used as the Federation equivalent of a Jem'Hadar, a genetically altered soldier.

I can see cases where Bashier would be willing to use his superior abilities on a spy mission, I just didn't feel he was used to his full potential here. Either SI was simply using him because of his genetic abilities and not for his knowledge and expertise or SI is more closely connected to Section 31 than we've been led to believe. Either way, it doesn't look good for Starfleet or the Federation.

 

[KingstonTrekker]

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.

Well, personally I'd be happy if we never saw another Section 31 story again, except perhaps for the tale of them finally being exposed and brought down once and for all. But I don't think ZSG was just gratuitously "falling back" on S31 as a plot trope. The idea was to pick up on threads from the DS9 novels. I was privy to some of the early discussions behind the Pact novels, and I don't recall Section 31 even coming up at that early stage; it was just logical to use Bashir as a focus character in a spy novel that also featured Ezri, because that was an opportunity to follow up on established DS9 character threads. But Section 31's interest in recruiting Bashir is also an established, ongoing DS9 thread, both in the show and in the novels. So it kinda stands to reason that if you're doing a novel about Bashir being involved in an intelligence mission, Section 31 would come into play. It's not a gratuitous use of the organization, but a logical extension of one of Bashir's established character threads.

Very valid points.

However, I would suggest that rather than being "a logical extention of Bashir's established character threads" the re-introduction of Section 31 is just taking us back to where we have been before, rather than charting a fresh course for Bashir and, by extension, the DS9 line.

 

[Christopher]

I think it's doing both -- it's not just going back, but moving the story arc forward in a way that does chart a different course for Bashir.

It just goes to show you can't please everybody. If these books had just abandoned the lingering threads of the Relaunch and taken the DS9 characters somewhere completely new, a lot of other people would've complained about the lack of resolution.

 

[Starbreaker]

Re: Sarina and Section 31

I'm right in the middle of this book.

 

[Enterprise1981]

Guess we can add "Forced at gunpoint to read this thread" to the poll choices.

That it ended where it did, suggests more is going on than was indicated. Amoral slut-bag would be more Lauren's specialty. But by December of 2383, Julian may be echoing this George Michael lament. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

[Defcon]

Guess we can add "Forced at gunpoint to read this thread" to the poll choices.

One does not have to read the thread to be spoiled by the thread title. Everyone with half a brain can count 2 and 2 together when they read the title.

I personally don't mind reading spoiler, but I'm surprised that the mods have allowed this thread to keep it's current title. It could justa as well be named Sarina (ZSG spoilers), Zero Sum Game ending or something similar.

 

[Turtletrekker]

^ Yeah, I agree. I don't see what the point of warning about spoilers in thread title is when the same thread title contains the very spoiler being warned about. I had already finished ZSG when this thread started, so it didn't effect me, but I can see myself being a little irked by the title if I hadn't finished the book.

 

[Starbreaker]

Guess we can add "Forced at gunpoint to read this thread" to the poll choices.

It's in the title.

 

[Enterprise1981]

The thread title needn't necessarily mean a voluntary association with Section 31. It could mean Section 31 is interested in Sarina as an agent or she completely disagree with their principles. I guess whoever inserted the spoiler warning probably agrees with that logic.

 

[JD]

Yeah, but the fact that S31 is involved doesn't even come out until the end of the book. Or at least it hasn't yet by page 141.

 

[Christopher]

Yes, even mentioning that Section 31 is involved in the book is a pretty blatant spoiler.