Summary
Star Trekhas always been an optimistic franchise.The Original Seriesintroduced audiences to the Federation, a utopian society that showed what the future could look like if people from different backgrounds worked together towards a common good. However, things grew more complex inDeep Space NineSeason 6, Episode 18 “Inquisition”, which introduced audiences to Starfleet’s mysterious intelligence agency Section 31. This agency showed a side of the Federation that was more complex, to say the least.
Section 31 would go to extreme measures to secure the interests of the Federation, and they had carte blanche to kill perceived threats at their own discretion. Although controversial to someStar Trekfans who feelSection 31 goes against Gene Roddenberry’s original vision, this shadowy side to the Federation has sparked the imagination of various writers over the years. In 2025, a film focusing on the organization, namedSection 31of course, will be making its debut on Paramount+.
While fans had known that Michelle Yeoh would be reprising her role as the ruthless Emperor Philippa Georgiou, there were some surprises with the casting announcements. For instance, Kacey Rohl has been tapped to playRachel Garrett,the first female captain of the Enterprise. Thus far, Captain Rachel Garrett (originally portrayed by Tricia O’Neil) hasonly one proper appearance inThe Next Generation, along with a statue of her seen inPicard. So who is she, and why is she important enough to bring back forSection 31?
Interrupted Timelines and Garrett’s Tragic End
InThe Next GenerationSeason 3, Episode 15 “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” Picard and his crew come across a temporal rift as well as the Enterprise-C, a ship 22 years out of time. Captain Garrett and Lt. Richard Castillo arrive on board the Enterprise-D. They explain that they had responded to a stress call from a Klingon outpost, Narendra III, when they wereattacked by the Romulans. Since their ship was removed from time, it was not clear what happened to them. Had the Klingons known that a Federation ship perished while coming to their defense, theKlingons would have considered them honorable. However, since that never happened, in the alternate timeline, the Klingons and the Federation end up at war with each other — again.
Throughout the episode, Picard struggles with whether to send Enterprise-C’s 125 survivors back to where they were. If they are sent back, they will face immediate death at the hands of the Romulans, but millions of lives could be potentially saved if the war was avoided. Guinan, the only one on board who is sensitive to the changes in the timeline, advises Picard to send the crew back. Garrett accepts this sacrifice, but before she can send the Enterprise-C back, she is killed in action when aKlingon Bird of Prey attacks her shipand a piece of shrapnel strikes her head. In the end, Castillo ends up sending the ship back, avoiding a war and setting the timeline back in order.
The “Red Lady” Statue
Prior to the upcomingSection 31movie, Garrett’s only other appearance is a red statue as seen inPicardSeason 3, Episode 1, “The Next Generation.” In that episode, “Red Lady” is a code name eventually revealed to be for a red statue of Garrett that was due to be unveiled during a pre-Frontier Day recruitment drive at M’Talas Prime. This statue was intended tohonor Garrett’s sacrifice, which helped ensure peace between Starfleet and the Klingons.
Raffi Musiker heard from her dealer that something was “going down” with the Red Lady in connection with Operation: Daybreak. However, Musiker didn’t know what the code name referred to until she saw the Garrett statue on television. Muskier understood that this marked the statue’s location as the site of an upcoming terror attack; however, she was too late to stop it.
A Past as a Spy?
Up until now, Garrett has only been portrayed as a hero, but the reveal of her character in theSection 31teaser implies that there’s more to her than meets the eye. The teaser shows Rohl in colorful hairstyles, a departure from herTNGappearance. Her involvement in Section 31 implies that she is a spy andmay change her appearance for undercover purposes. This provides an exciting dimension to her character and expands her ties to Starfleet beyond manning the Enterprise-C. Introducing her prior to her tragic death also introduces the opportunity to showcase even more of her in other Star Trek media that takes place beforeThe Next Generation.
The upcomingSection 31film is exciting forStar Trekfans for many reasons, not least of which is the return of Captain Rachel Garrett. Although her canon appearance has, up until now, been brief, she made an impression. She chose to make a sacrifice in order to save millions of lives and ensure peace. That kind of strength is emblematic of what it takes to be a great Starfleet captain.Section 31will show who she was before she became that hero, an opportunity her character has long deserved.
