The Perch above the main floor of Section One.
Section One is an international and covert antiterrorism unit that is tasked with pursuing terrorists and their organizations outside the structure of traditional diplomatic authority. With sophisticated technology, highly trained operatives, and skilled support staff, Section One is a highly effective and valuable tool in containing the spread of terrorism. Its success comes in part from the brutality of its approach towards its targets and the clinical evaluation of its personnel.
Section recruits personnel from prisons, the military, and other walks of life that have been evaluated to have the essential raw materials to become successful operatives. Potential recruits are given the option of service to Section or death. Recruits that accept the offer are trained for a period of two years in disciplines that range from fire arms, technology, hand to hand combat, languages, current events, seduction, and deportment.
Main floor of Section One.
Section One corridor outside Systems
Interrogation room inside Section One.
History[]
Section One was founded by Adrian during the Cold War.
After the conflict in Korea in the 1950s, several factions in the West were frustrated by the failures of Communism. They wanted to take down the capitalist regimes that they saw as impeding their ideologies. They began to target civilian populations in Western metropolitan areas. It was the birth of modern terrorism. The CIA, MI-5, Mossad, NATO and others all worked together to help prevent terrorism from escalating. That federation of international agencies gave Adrian the idea to start the Sections. An extremely intelligent individual, Adrian analyzed intelligence and utilized game theory to produce scenarios. She performed all the functions normally would be done by a Cray super computer.
There are multiple Sections throughout the world. Each serve their purpose, but it's at Section One where the power really resides.
As its creator, Adrian was the first head of Section One but she was eventually ousted when Paul Wolfe, who took on the title of Operations. Alongside Madeline they took control of the Section and became the recognized heads of Section One. Adrian retreated from public life where she quietly assembled her own organization and waited for the right opportunity to try and regain control of Section.
Location[]
Operations & Michael leave Section One just before it self-destructs in season three.
Section One's facilities are subterranean and located 500 feet below ground. A series of tunnels and elevators connect it to the surface. Until Season Three, the location of Section One had remained ambiguous. The episode "I Remember Paris" confirmed that it was located in Paris and not far from the Eiffel Tower in either the 7th arrondissement or one near it. After its intentional destruction to avoid infiltration by Glass Curtain, Section One was relocated outside of the city.
Organizational Structure[]
Section One has a chain of command similar to the military. The head of Section One is Operations. His second in command is Madeline who is the Executive Strategist. On several occasions, when necessary Michael, one of several Level Five operatives in Section, takes temporary command of Section. Everyone in Section is given a numerical level classification depending on their experience, seniority, and importance to Section One. Access to restricted areas of Section One and the ability to access certain databases within its computer systems are also regulated by an operative's classification. Level One operatives are newly promoted recruits and other entry level individuals. Level Five is generally considered the highest an operative can achieve without heading an entire essential department like Comm or Munitions. Department heads can range from Level Five to Level Eight. Operations is considered Level Nine.
Nikita is "welcomed" back to Section One after her betrayal.
Michael and Madeline in the Perch
View of the Briefing Table from the Perch
The Perch[]
Office of the Section One's Operations. It is a wide glass enclosure that juts out over the main floor of Section above the briefing table. It has no furnishings and is equipped with a large bank of flat screen monitors on the wall opposite the window for video playback, maps, and intel display. When privacy is required, it can be darkened via remote control.
The Briefing Table[]
Located right below the Perch on the main floor of Section One, all mission briefings are led by Operations. Operatives sit on rolling chairs on one side while Operations is opposite them. A center console that runs the length of the table allows for the projection of holographic images detailing intel on the mission target.
Comm[]
Nikita working a mission from Comm with Birkoff
The head of Comm is Seymour Birkoff. It is the technological center of Section. All Section missions are run from Comm. Kate Quinn serves as the head after Birkoff's death late in season 4.
Munitions[]
All the weapons and gear that are used in missions by field operatives are distributed by Munitions. Walter is the head of this department. Although rarely seen, Munitions extends far beyond its entrance and has an upper level for additional storage of inventory. A metal grate seals that portion off when Walter is not available.
"The White Room"[]
Madeline questions Nikita about insurrection within Section.
Section One's interrogation space. It is a circular, white room with a large, steel door serving as its only entrance.
Profiling[]
Although where they do their work is never seen, mission profilers are responsible for preparing the parameters and logistics of the missions that Section One undertakes. However, team leaders have the flexibility to prepare their own mission profiles.
Housekeeping[]
This department is tasked with sanitizing a site after a mission or if an Operative has been compromised.
Madeline's Office[]
Madeline's second office.
Madeline's office was originally a warmer and more organic space within Section that also served as a wardrobe and styling location for operatives. The space comprised of two levels, with clothing selections located on the second level. In addition to a changing room and vanity area, guest seating of a sofa and arm chairs were present on the first level. At the beginning of Season Two, Madeline relocated to a different and much more sparsely furnished office space. The only decorative elements was a grow window that allowed Madeline the opportunity to grow orchids, bonsai, and other plants.
Containment[]
The exterior of Containment.
Detained hostiles are often housed here prior to their interrogation.
Systems[]
Systems just before Section One self-destructs.
Smaller briefings involving the actual logistics of a mission are often held in Systems. The central table at Systems can display three dimensional graphics so that operatives can visualize structures targeted during missions and assist with the identification of hostile personnel placement or where explosive charges will be set. It is also the location where operatives can review data from their old missions and file their mission reports.
Committee[]
A private meeting room within Section that is more of a dark lounge rather than office space.
The Tower[]
Private quarters in Section One that is utilized by Operations for meetings of a personal nature. It can serve as a living space.
Abeyance[]
Marginal performers within Section One are categorized as Abeyance operatives to assist in high risk missions where operative mortality is predicted to be high. It is not an actual location but rather a classification status.
Van Access[]
Entrance to Van Access
The main departure point for all missions. During season one, there was an actual van parked at the door opening. It was replaced with an elevator that transports operatives to another level where the Section van awaits.
Medical[]
All injured Operatives are treated in Medical.
Data Retrieval & Verification (DRV)[]
This department processes intel that is acquired worldwide and is used to inform missions. A normal shift for an operative serving in this department is 12 hours. (LFN S3E17 All Good Things)
Facility[]
The Section One facility consists of 30 levels (LFN S4E02). Little is known about many of the levels.
Levels[]
Level One[]
Operatives on probationary status are housed in this level.
Level Two[]
Contains an "undocumented area" where Nikita retrieves important files for Adrian (LFN S2E21).
Level Three[]
Houses "reprogramming," where Nikita goes to re-train after having been away from Section for six moths (LFN S2E01). A debrief occurs on this level (LFN S2E21).
Level Four[]
This level is used to house a dying woman, Sarah Gerrard, who Section has turned into an asset (LFN S3E15). Boris Tyco, a prisoner which Section allowed to escape, re-wires systems on this level to transmit sensitive data to Glass Curtain (LFN S3E16). Nikita distracts Red Cell's second in command, Satin Tate, on this level with a simulation while a briefing takes place (LFN S4E17).
Level Five[]
Contains "buffered hostiles," including Louis Armel, the civilian son of Joaquin Armel (LFN S2E11).
Level Six[]
Michael is sent here, "with everyone else," when he is demoted (LFN S3E18).
Level Eight[]
Houses "retirement," a mysterious place where older operatives are sent after they have outlived their usefulness. Walter describes it as "medical experiments, pain tolerance, harvested body parts,” before he is briefly sent there, but after his experience he says it was "better than heaven" (LFN S3E22). This level also contains a genetics lab where Nikita finds a group of children working on computers, including a little blonde girl who won't give her name. The lab is all rolled up and disappears when Nikita comes back later with Michael (LFN S3E05).
Level Nine[]
After the successful conclusion of the Vachek mission, Operations suggests to Madeline that she should proceed with her proposal for Level Nine. His conversation with George suggests that there will be little resistance to her suggestions. (LFN S3E03)
Level Eleven[]
At the direction of George, Nikita almost kills Operations on this level before Madeline stops her (LFN S4E08).
Level Seventeen[]
This level contains a lab where Adrian is being used to experiment on with the Gelman mind-control process (LFN S4E02).
Level Twenty[]
This level is "Clearance One" and only two people have access. Dori suspects there is an exit on this level, but she finds only an elaborate simulation (LFN S4E02).
Unnumbered Levels[]
- Adrian describes the "most secure" area of Section as being four levels directly below the Perch (S2E22).
- Nikita travels to the "top level," which is one level above Systems (S2E22).
Behind the Scenes[]
The set for Section One was situated at the very center of the studio space used by the La Femme Nikita production team. As seasons went on. additional corridors and sets were added to connect the spaces. Production Designer Rocco Matteo compared it to connecting circles that rippled out when a stone hit the surface of the water.
References[]