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.