Star Trek: Section 31 Can Explain Where Chameloids Were During DS9’s Dominon War

Summary Star Trek: Section 31 could explore the mystery of the Chameloids' absence during DS9 Dominion War, shedding light on their loyalties.

Detroiters co-creator Sam Richardson will play a Chameloid in the upcoming movie, suggesting a relationship with Section 31.

Section 31 may have retained Chameloids as intelligence operatives, withholding information from Federation for their benefit.

Star Trek: Section 31 has an opportunity to shed some light on where the Chameloids were during the 24th century's Dominion War. The upcoming Star Trek spy movie, starring Michelle Yeoh as former Terran Emperor Philippa Georgiou, is set to bring back the Chameloids for the first time since their debut in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. The return of the Chameloids could address why the species were never seen again after Star Trek 6, perhaps explaining why the franchise's other shapeshifting aliens never appeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

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Detroiters co-creator and star Sam Richardson's role in the cast of Star Trek: Section 31 has been confirmed as a member of the Chameloid race. Originated by supermodel and actress Iman in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, the Chameloids are shape-shifting aliens that can mimic any form. Not to be confused with Deep Space Nine's Changelings, the Chameloids have never been seen as a major player in the Star Trek universe. This was despite the Federation waging war against another shapeshifting alien race during DS9's Dominion War, raising the question of where the Chameloid's loyalties lay.

Chameloids Were Nowhere To Be Seen In Star Trek: DS9’s Dominion War - But Why?

Given how the Changeling threat impacted the civil liberties of people living on Earth during Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's season 4 two parter, "Homefront/Paradise Lost", it's strange that the rights of other shapeshifters never came up. There's a solid production reason for this oversight, as DS9's writers would have been keen to avoid confusion by introducing a different race of chameleonic aliens. Still, the in-universe explanation for the Chameloids' absence from the Dominion War never came. If they were allies of the Federation, the Chameloids would surely be a vital ally in the war against the Changelings.

...rounding up and imprisoning Chameloids to prevent them allying with the Changelings would be a normal day's work for Starfleet's shady intelligence organization.

Alternatively, if the Chameloids were enemies of the Federation, then there could be darker reasons for their absence from Deep Space Nine's Dominion War. Section 31's Dominion War crimes were extensive, and rounding up and imprisoning Chameloids to prevent them allying with the Changelings would be a normal day's work for Starfleet's shady intelligence organization. However, if a Chameloid was a former Section 31 asset or operative, then the organization may have looked on the shapeshifting species more favorably, offering them protection during the Dominion War.

Section 31 Can Finally Explain Chameloids 30 Years After Star Trek VI

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Star Trek: Section 31 will explore the relationship between Sam Richardson's Chameloid character and the intelligence organization first introduced in Deep Space Nine. As all information about Section 31 and its operatives was erased at some point prior to DS9 season 6, episode 18, "Inquisition", it's possible that details about the Chameloids were also redacted. In Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Martia (Iman) assists the Khitomer conspirators with their plan to have Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) killed, which suggests an existing relationship between Section 31 and the Chameloids.

The Star Trek: Section 31 novel Cloak revealed that Admiral Cartwright (Brock Peters) was an operative, suggesting the organization played a role in Star Trek VI's Khitomer Conspiracy.

Perhaps Section 31 retained the services of the Chameloids and then withheld information about their existence from the wider Federation. Kirk refers to the Chameloids as "mythical" in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, implying that encounters have been incredibly rare. A near-mythical race of shapeshifters would make for excellent intelligence operatives, meaning Star Trek: Section 31 can finally reveal what covert activities the Chameloids were up to before they retreated back to their mythical status.