Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Section 31: Abyss

By David Weddle and Jeffrey Lang

 

It's important to note right up front that Abyss, while part of the Section 31 "miniseries" that ran through most of the Star Trek fiction line, does not require you to have read any of the other Section 31 novels, nor does it set up any of those other stories.  The Section 31 books were designed to stand alone completely independent of one another, somewhat like the Captain's Table books, which likewise did not have a continuing story but rather a unifying theme.  It is equally important to note that this is the third book published in the relaunch of the Deep Space Nine books that were published after the conclusion of the television series, and thus is an important book in establishing the new DS9 continuity.

In a story vaguely reminiscent of Joseph Conrad's classic novella, Heart of Darkness, Dr. Julian Bashir is approached by Sloan, an operative for the shadowy black ops organization which operates secretly from within the Federation known as Section 31.  Apparently, Section 31 had recruited Ethan Locken, a genetically enhanced human, to assist them in secret operations during the recently concluded Dominion War.  Predictably, Locken then went rogue, setting himself up as "the new Kahn," in charge of his own group of Jem'Hadar soldiers on a planet hidden in the unstable area of space known as the Badlands.  Not a good situation, and one that Sloan hopes Bashir (who is also genetically enhanced) can help them to resolve.  Reluctantly, Bashir agrees to the mission, partly in hopes of exposing Section 31, whom he has had dealings with in the past.  Bashir's girlfriend, Ezri Dax, now on the Command Track in Starfleet, Chief of Security Ro Laren, and Taran'atar, the Jem'Hadar sent by Odo to live and work with the crew of DS9, accompany Bashir on his mission.  A further, intriguing wrinkle is added to the story when Bashir comes to expect that DS9's new first officer, commander Elias Vaughan, may have a connection to Section 31.

Bashir's group is separated during a crash landing on the planet where Locken is hiding.  While Ro Laren and Taran'atar work with the natives of the planet to fight against Locken's Jem'Hadar soldiers, Bashir and Ezri Dax are captured, and it seems as though the charismatic (and clearly insane) Locken may be tempting Bashir to the dark side.

Although I like the concept of Section 31, I have never been a huge fan of those stories involving Bashir's genetic enhancement, and so a lot of this admittedly well constructed novel fell flat for me.  I never really bought that Bashir would be tempted for even a moment to switch to Locken's side, and Locken himself comes across as Kahn Lite.  Years later, Star Trek: Enterprise would revisit the concept of genetically enhanced humans in a much more interesting fashion.  Still, for DS9 fans, this is probably a must read, particularly for the insights into some of the new characters, specifically Elias Vaughan and Taran'atar.  Ultimately this is a solid, early entry in the well-conceived Deep Space Nine relaunch.

This Month in Star Trek Books: April 2012

The following Star Trek books are available this month.

 

 

Star Trek Volume 1

written by Mike Johnson, drawn by Steve Molnar
available: now

From the Publisher:

The adventures of the Starship Enterprise continue in this new story that picks up where the blockbuster 2009 film left off! Featuring the new cast of the film, these missions re-imagine the stories from the original series in the alternate timeline created by the film, along with new threats and characters never seen before! With creative collaboration from Star Trek writer/producer Roberto Orci, this new series begins the countdown to the much-anticipated movie sequel premiering in 2012!

 

 

Star Trek: DTI: Forgotten History

by Christopher L. Bennett

available: 4/24/2012  

 

 

 

From the Publisher:

 

The agents of the Department of Temporal Investigations are assigned to look into an anomaly that has appeared deep in Federation territory. It’s difficult to get clear readings, but a mysterious inactive vessel lies at the heart of the anomaly, one outfitted with some sort of temporal drive disrupting space-time and subspace. To the agents’ shock, the ship bears a striking resemblance to a Constitution-class starship, and its warp signature matches that of the original Federation starship Enterprise NCC-1701—the ship of James T. Kirk, that infamous bogeyman of temporal investigators, whose record of violations is held up by DTI agents as a cautionary tale for Starfleet recklessness toward history. But the vessel’s hull markings identify it as Timeship Two, belonging to none other than the DTI itself. At first, Agents Lucsly and Dulmur assume the ship is from some other timeline . . . but its quantum signature confirms that it came from their own past, despite the fact that the DTI never possessed such a timeship. While the anomaly is closely monitored, Lucsly and Dulmur must search for answers in the history of Kirk’s Enterprise and its many encounters with time travel—a series of events with direct ties to the origins of the DTI itself. . . .