Summary
Star Trek: Section 31has an opportunity to shed some light on where the Chameloids were during the 24th century’s Dominion War. The upcomingStar Trekspy movie, starring Michelle Yeoh as former Terran Emperor Philippa Georgiou, is set to bring back the Chameloids for the first time since their debut inStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. The return of the Chameloids could address why the species were never seen again afterStar Trek 6, perhaps explaining why the franchise’s other shapeshifting aliens never appeared inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Detroitersco-creator and star Sam Richardson’s role in thecast ofStar Trek: Section 31has been confirmed as a member of the Chameloid race.Originated by supermodel and actress Iman inStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, the Chameloids are shape-shifting aliens that can mimic any form. Not to be confused withDeep Space Nine’s Changelings, the Chameloids have never been seen as a major player in theStar Trekuniverse. This was despite the Federation waging war against another shapeshifting alien race duringDS9’s Dominion War, raising the question of where the Chameloid’s loyalties lay.
Changeling Vs. Chameloid: Star Trek’s Shapeshifters Differences Explained
What’s the difference between DS9’s Changelings and Star Trek’s earlier shapeshifting aliens, the Chameloids?
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 duringStar 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, asDS9’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 fromDeep Space Nine’s Dominion War.Section 31’s Dominion War crimeswere 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
Star Trek: Section 31will explore the relationship between Sam Richardson’s Chameloid character and the intelligence organization first introduced inDeep Space Nine. Asall information about Section 31 and its operatives was erased at some point prior toDS9season 6, episode 18, “Inquisition”, it’s possible that details about the Chameloids were also redacted. InStar 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.
TheStar Trek: Section 31novelCloakrevealed that Admiral Cartwright (Brock Peters) was an operative, suggesting the organization played a role inStar 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” inStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, implying that encounters have been incredibly rare. A near-mythical race of shapeshifters would make for excellent intelligence operatives, meaningStar Trek: Section 31can finally reveal what covert activities the Chameloids were up to before they retreated back to their mythical status.
