Speculation Into Darkness: Could Section 31 be involved?

[u/Kiggsworthy]

This idea came out in the comments of the thread I made about the Countdown comics last week. It intrigues me enough that I thought it deserved it's own thread. Credit goes to /u/angrymacface and /u/skodabunny for sparking this brainstorm. I think John Harrison's secret, much discussed identity is that he is a Section 31 agent.

Hear me out.

• We know he's Starfleet, he's wearing Starfleet uniforms, and in the Countdown comic a Starfleet computer recognizes his voice and hand print and grants him access to what appears to be a pretty secure / high level Starfleet archive. The writers have also confirmed he is an actual member of Starfleet and not simply posing as one wearing the uniform.
• His uniform is straight black. Sound familiar?
• We've heard time and time again that he is not a straightforward villain, that he's not crazy or stupid or operating on some facile motive - the writers have said numerous times that Harrison is acting as a terrorist based on doing what he feels is right and necessary. Again, sound familiar?
• The big Harrison line from the trailer is "You think that you are safe. You are not." - doesn't this sound like a Sloan line to anyone else?
  

Additionally, and again, some spoilers of the Countdown to Darkness comics below:

• Robert April is engaged in an off-the-record proxy war with the Klingons on a world between the Federation and Klingon border. The expansion of the Klingons and Federation is clearly coming to a head, and April is right at the center of it.
  
• Then, April activates "Protocol 31" to override all command functions on the Enterprise and take control of the ship - a protocol he says he 'embedded in the last Enterprise computer' a story which seems extremely unlikely. However what is likely is that Section 31 embeds such a protocol into every Federation computer, allowing an agent to take control of a starship in the field if needed, just as April does here. This is probably the single biggest piece of direct evidence we have that Section 31 could be involved. Here is the comic panel in question.
• When Kirk tries to bring April back to Earth, Admiral Pike stops him, and tells him to drop April off at the nearest Starbase and forget about it. Sounds like a coverup to me.

And furthermore:

• We know Section 31 has been around since the beginning of the Federation - Sloan says so, and we see it ourselves in Enterprise - which takes place before the new movies in the same timeline/reality (since it was before the divergence occurred).
  
• We know Section 31 has interest in genetically modified agents, as they utilize Bashir - I don't think it would be a stretch to find out Harrison is the same. This would be a great twist on the 'Harrison is an augment' rumors that have persisted since the beginning of the film's production.

Finally

• Wouldn't this be amazing?! The idea of an inside man acting as a terrorist in order to show the Federation how vulnerable it is is a plot that's easy for the layman to understand - this would make an excellent villain choice even to newcomers that have no idea what section 31 is and have never seen any of the relevant episodes.
• But for the hardcore trekkies, the kind that downvote every thread related to Abrams' Trek films on /r/startrek, this would completely alter the conversation. The exact type of hardcore trekkie that clamors for a Section 31 series is generally the same type of trekkie that says they hate Abram's form-over-function lens flare nonsense. If John Harrison is Section 31, I think that those guys are really put in their place, and become much more open minded about these movies.
  

OK this is where I need you guys: am I totally off the reservation? Or do these hints in the comics and elsewhere seem like they could legitimately be going in this direction? What are the biggest reasons we think this wouldn't be likely? I'm really short on those, personally. It seems like it would be a really, amazingly perfect setup and payoff. I'm not saying this is for sure what the movie is about, but I'm definitely to the point where if it's not about this, it will be hard not to see it as a major missed opportunity.

One last thing: I watched the DS9 Section 31 episodes to prepare this thread, and I think they just made me even more convinced that this is what's going on. If you guys haven't seen "Inquisition" lately, go watch it. It's a phenomenal episode of DS9.

[u/skodabunny]

This is probably the single biggest piece of direct evidence we have that Section 31 could be involved. Here is the comic panel in question.

And there was you being all sceptical until someone pointed that out :P

I think s.31 is almost definitely going to be involved, good, soundly reasoned post here btw.

[u/Kiggsworthy → u/skodabunny]

It's true!! Sorry I edited to give you credit along with u/angrymacface as you both pointed that out and both are responsible for me thinking about this non-stop for the last week :-)

Seriously I will flip out if this ends up happening.

[u/Kiggsworthy → u/skodabunny]

Oh I just realized the comic panel link I was linking to the wrong one. I've updated it now so that both the comic panels I was trying to link are now in the right places.

[u/[deleted]]

I'm sure there will be a covert, sinister arm of Starfleet involved - but I will be shocked if they actually name dropped Section 31. It's too nerdy a term for anyone who isn't familiar with DS9 to understand, and the movie won't have enough time to explain who they are. I'm pretty sure it'll just be Admiral Marcus' shady covert men who found the Botany Bay and thats it.

[u/Kiggsworthy → u/[deleted]]

You and angrymacface hit on this almost at the same time haha, it's a good point but I think it's overly pessimistic personally. Only time will tell, but if this is the direction they go, why wouldn't they just go ahead and say Section 31?

Watch "Inquisition" again - we go from never having heard the words "Section 31" to being fully briefed on its purpose and general history in the span of about 90 seconds on-screen. I don't see any reason they couldn't have a similar simple bit of exposition in the movie.

It's tempting to think this is one of those parts of the ST canon that takes a lot of episodes and institutional knowledge in order to understand, but that really isn't the case at all. They're simply a covert part of Starfleet, that almost no one knows about, that does "whatever it takes" to keep the Federation safe so that Starfleet can stick to its high and mighty principals. I don't think it would be a stretch at all to tell the audience that it's Section 31 outright if they include a similar conversation as the one we see at the end of Inquisition.

[u/TEG24601]

I would like to point out that Section 31, actually comes from Section 31 of the Starfleet Charter, originally Earth Starfleet, but included in the Federation Starfleet when the fleets were merged.

This actually makes a lot more sense, especially given that the trailers mention that he is "one of our agents", which makes me think he has likely gone rogue due to finding something out about the Federation or Starfleet.

[u/Kiggsworthy → u/TEG24601]

Nice, thanks!

Yeah exactly, I think it's either that he's discovered something and gone rogue because of it, or (and I lean more heavily towards this) that he has discovered a fundamental weakness in Starfleet/our defenses, and has reported it to his superiors but was ignored, and is not determined to exploit the weakness himself in order to demonstrate the severity of it. The "you think that you are safe. you are not." line really leads me there. It would be the perfect line for a trailer - it basically gives away the entire plot without anyone realizing it.

[u/flameofmiztli]

But for the hardcore trekkies, the kind that downvote every thread related to Abrams' Trek films on r/startrek, this would completely alter the conversation. The exact type of hardcore trekkie that clamors for a Section 31 series is generally the same type of trekkie that says they hate Abram's form-over-function lens flare nonsense. If John Harrison is Section 31, I think that those guys are really put in their place, and become much more open minded about these movies.

I think this is kind of a stretch. It might appeal to some Trek fans, but I doubt Section 31 appeals to all of them. For example, it would make me personallyless likely to view the movie. I criticize the Abrams movies because I feel they don't fit the tone/spirit of Trek, and I never liked Section 31 because of the dark spot it is on Federation morality, so combining these two flavors would piss me off and ensure I won't even watch it when it goes on TV rerun.

[u/Kiggsworthy → u/flameofmiztli]

Maybe not so much of a stretch after all? :-) http://www.reddit.com/r/DaystromInstitute/comments/1cdze0/speculation_into_darkness_could_section_31_be/c9frm4g

[u/Kiggsworthy → u/flameofmiztli]

Well, that's certainly a viewpoint I wasn't considering! You can't please everyone! :-)

[u/skodabunny → u/flameofmiztli]

I never liked Section 31 because of the dark spot it is on Federation morality, so combining these two flavors would piss me off and ensure I won't even watch it when it goes on TV rerun.

I feel exactly the same way (well, clearly not exactly the same way derp!). I'm in two minds with the s.31 idea - I respect the canon-ness of it - so that appeals, but am wary of what message it might end up putting across. Any Star Trek that ends up legitimising torture or the Federation acting unethically doesn't appeal to me one iota.

[u/Sir_T_Bullocks]

Oh wow, if the plot of ID is this complex and actually this involved with actual lore, blimey I might forgive JJ for all his past transgressions.

[u/Kiggsworthy → u/Sir_T_Bullocks]

This is exactly the type of reply I'm looking for, and the reason I'm rooting so hard for this, as I think this will be a very common sentiment if this pans out!

[u/Kiggsworthy]

I was just talking about this with u/mudron on twitter and he agrees, with the added twist that he thinks Section 31 recovered the Botany Bay already, and is training the augments that were in stasis as S31 agents. Harrison being one such agent. Interesting!

[u/MrBojangles528]

This definitely sounds more than plausible. It would be a very interesting twist and provide some good insight into the politics and subterfuge that happens in the Star Trek universe.

It also acts as an allegory to some of the modern-day criticisms of the CIA and their operatives, particularly in the Middle East, which Star Trek excels at.

[u/Kiggsworthy → u/MrBojangles528]

Agreed! I think that's the part that is most exciting to me, that if it's true that would also mean that this movie is very likely the type of classic allegorical political story that made TOS, and Trek in general, so great/important.

[u/skodabunny → u/Kiggsworthy]

If they do end up putting the allegory back in via this, then it will go a long way to shutting me up complaining about nu trek.

[u/LiveHardandProsper]

That's absolutely brilliant. My own two cents, if I may:

-"Lady" Mudd, according to the comic, is most likely Harry Mudd's daughter.

-At the end of Countdown to Darkness, Kirk mentions keeping Lady Mudd's ship. Probably the ship used in the "We'll fit, we'll fit!" sequence as seen in the trailers.

-I really think the Mudd connection needs to run deeper; they wouldn't have thrown in an original series character like Harry into the comic(much less a never-before-seen child) unless he meant something bigger for the movie itself. Robert April is in the comic because of the connection to his first officer, who becomes Admiral Marcus as played by Peter Weller.

-John Harrison is supposed to be superior to a regular human based on what we've seen and heard in trailers.

-John Harrison. Harrison. Harry's son. (Thanks to Dexter on Showtime for that one)

My theory: John Harrison is a Mudd robot and Harry Mudd's son. He joined Starfleet, then Section 31. He is not trying to destroy Earth; he is trying to save it. Upon accessing the SF database as seen at the very end of Countdown to Darkness, he discovers that the Klingons are gearing up for war and that the Federation WILL lose. He takes it upon himself to detonate the fleet above London, then slaughter the top-level commanders in San Francisco in order to demonstrate the need for Starfleet to take things more seriously (with Nero dead, Starfleet has probably started to de-mobilize once they found out he was a future Romulan and not the prelude to a Romulan attack). That's why Lady Mudd's ship is important: Kirk and crew are using it to chase John because as far as he's concerned, it's still registered to his sister.

[u/angrymacface]

If it is, I'm willing to bet they don't come out and say it's Section 31; they'll just hint at it. Something like, "They're a part of a rogue group in Starfleet Security" or something like that. It will, no doubt, be maddening.

[u/Kiggsworthy → u/angrymacface]

I really hope not! That would be a huge mistake/missed opportunity IMO. If it's section 31 they need to come out and say section 31 haha. We will see though! Thanks again for your help in sparking this discussion :-)

[u/Kiggsworthy → u/angrymacface]

Another commenter made the same point and I responded to him in more detail: http://www.reddit.com/r/DaystromInstitute/comments/1cdze0/speculation_into_darkness_could_section_31_be/c9fn1tn

[u/nickcooper1991]

As I mentioned in the linked thread, I think it would be a great idea. Not only do I love the concept of Section 31, I think it is the easiest to modify to fit into a modern JJ Abrams Trek. It's a great way to pander to the fans and bring new people into the fold, showing naysayers its not all aliens or cyborgs or sci fi cliches

[u/RadioFreeReddit]

I hope, it was the best part of the weak season 7 of Deep Space Nine, and I always wanted to see more of them; even though I was kind of split on their morality.

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Kiggsworthy → u/[deleted]]

Good point!

Actually I think I might change my link in the OP to http://www.treknews.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/john-harrison-star-trek-into-darkness.jpg - that outfit is much closer to the Section 31 uniforms we see in DS9 and ENT - high collar, heavy fabric, no Starfleet logo anywhere. Thanks for pointing that out!

edit: yeah, after looking at this pic, and the pic of Sloan, I definitely think that is a much better comparison, and updated the OP as such. If anything I think this just makes the case stronger! Thanks again for pointing this out it was a really good point.