One of the more disturbing revelations that occurred during the run of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was the discovery of Section 31 in the episode "Inquisition." Starfleet's own answer to the Romulan Tal Shiar and the Cardassian Obsidian Order, Section 31 is an independent, autonomous organization that acts with no regard to rules and laws, making their definition of the Federation's safety the end to which any means are justified. To anyone who feels Starfleet and the Federation are free of such methods, Section 31 is proof that they are not.

Two new books from Pocket Books tell two different stories exploring the enigmatic Section 31, "Rogue" by Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin featuring the characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation and "Shadow" by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch which tells a Star Trek: Voyager story. Though the stories themselves are unrelated, both deal with the notorious Section 31.

"Shadow" tells a fast-paced and compelling tale which is part adventure, part mystery, as Seven of Nine has been targeted for destruction by someone or something aboard the U.S.S. Voyager just as the ship and her crew are attempting to assist a massive colony ship containing over 800 million beings fleeing a collision of two suns which will obliterate their home system.

The book is a steady, solid Voyager adventure, and the characterization of Seven of Nine is particularly perceptive, allowing readers to see that her surface arrogance and brusque manner are defensive mechanisms that hide deeper insecurities, especially when a personal threat to her safety ends up threatening the rest of the crew.

The flashback prologue to "Shadow" sows the seeds of Section 31's influence. Prior to its mission in the Badlands against the Maquis, a Section 31 agent has been planted amongst Voyager's crew. How this prologue affects the action of the story is, well, for the reader to find out.

While Voyager's circumstances prevent the book from addressing some of the larger issues that Section 31 entails (the ship is in the Delta Quadrant, far from the political machinations of present-day Section 31), the TNG novel "Rogue" delves deeper and actually breaks yet another Star Trek barrier.

"Rogue" takes place in the timeframe between "Star Trek Generations" and "Star Trek: First Contact," and follows the U.S.S. Enterprise-E on a diplomatic mission to the Geminus Gulf, a void of sector after sector of empty space, with but one planet, Chiaros. The planet has applied for Federation membership, but the Romulans are also courting the planet, and no one can understand why. With limited resources and no strategic value, securing the Gulf would, on the surface, have little effect for either the Federation or the Romulans, either way the Chiarosans chose to go.

Behind it all is a plan by Section 31 to make a deal with the Romulan Tal Shiar which would, Section 31 believes, be best for the Federation in the long run. What follows is a smartly written and complicated story that demonstrates that life (and especially political intrigue) is not always good or evil, black or white, that in fact that those terms rarely apply at all.

One especially interesting element to the story is the Chiarosans themselves. A tall and aggressive warrior people, they sport extra joints in their long limbs, making them deadly and truly alien in combat. They are an honorable race, along the lines of the Klingons, and they're faced with a potential civil war as the populace chooses between Federation or Romulan control.

Along with Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his familiar crew are several other faces familiar to fans, such as contemporary versions of Picard's Starfleet Academy mates Marta Batanides and Cortin Zweller (who both appeared in the episode "Tapestry" in the flashback sequences). Batanides is now an Admiral in Starfleet Intelligence and Zweller a member of another starship's crew... and also a covert Section 31 agent.

Another familiar face is Lieutenant Sean Hawk, who was assimilated by the Borg and killed by Worf in "Star Trek: First Contact." As the story moves forward he becomes involved with the crisis and must also choose whether or not to be recruited into Section 31.

A tangential, almost inconsequential side note to the story is the bold move Pocket Books has allowed the writers in their shaping of Hawk's character. Hawk, like dozens of other Starfleet personnel aboard the Enterprise-E, has a significant other amongst the crew, which is nothing notable. What is significant in terms of Star Trek's continuing history of breaking down social barriers is that Hawk's partner is Lt. Commander Ranul Keru, and unjoined Trill and also a man.

Much the way the Original Series dealt with racial equality by simply depicting people of all races on the ship as colleagues and equals during a time when television was reluctant to break racial barriers, "Rogue" does not dwell on Hawk's orientation or even comment on it.

Mangels and Martin (and ultimately Pocket Books as well) use a smart story and well written characters to turn a social barrier into a non-issue. This is the future Gene Roddenberry envisioned, a Starfleet where anyone and everyone can function and pursue happiness regardless of origin or orientation, based solely on personal merit.

Both "Rogue" and "Shadow" are on sale now, and two Section 31 novels, "Cloak" by S.D. Perry, set in the Original Series timeline and "Abyss" by Jeffrey Lang and David Weddle featuring the DS9 characters are both due out later this summer.