InStar Trek , both Section 31 and Starfleet Intelligence are intelligence agencies linked to Starfleet , but they have unlike histories within theStar Trektimeline , and suffice different story intention . Before the formation ofStar Trek ’s United Federation of Planets , Starfleet existed as an Earth - based paramilitary organization organizationwith the primary mapping of exploration . As world became major histrion in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants , Starfleet ’s junior-grade mission of bear on peace became much more relevant , especially afterStar Trek : enterprisingness ’s Captain Jonathan Archer ( Scott Bakula ) made contact with unfriendly species like the Klingons and Xindi .

InStar Trek , Starfleet and the Federation are n’t the same thing . The Federation is the governing eubstance that unites confederative member humankind , and Starfleet is technically Earth ’s explorative and peacekeeping operation organization , which expanded its reach to serve the total Federation . To protect the Federation ’s appendage and borders , Starfleet must gather information about foeman of the Federation . InStar Trek : The Original SeriesandStar Trek : The Next Generation , this project strike only to Starfleet Intelligence , butStar Trek : Deep Space Nineintroduced Section 31as Starfleet ’s mystical , independently - manoeuvre , particular intelligence class .

What Is Starfleet Intelligence In Star Trek

Starfleet Intelligence Carries Out Espionage To Serve Starfleet

As Starfleet ’s espionage division , Starfleet Intelligence gathers intel to aid Starfleet ’s military and political operations . Starfleet Intelligence provide an priceless serving duringStar Trek ’s wars . data pull ahead by Starfleet Intelligence can be disseminated to command - floor officers and others on a penury - to - know groundwork to engage with hostile foreign metal money or to broker ataraxis , in religious service ofStarfleet Intelligence ’s ultimate goal to protect the Federation ’s border and extremity Earth . Sometimes , Starfleet Intelligence apply their cognition to develop Modern engineering , or partners with ally intelligence agency bureau to deal information that creates a final benefit for the Federation .

Notable Starfleet Intelligence Personnel

Gannet Brooks

Michelle Yeoh as Star Trek: Section 31’s Emperor Georgiou

Johanna Watts

Star Trek : Enterpriseseason 4 , episode 20 , " fiend " & episode 21 , " Terra Prime "

newsman working for Starfleet Intelligence

Robin Curtis and Kirstie Alley as Lt. Saavik in Star Trek.

Rear Admiral Erik Pressman

Terry O’Quinn

Star Trek : The Next Generationseason 7 , installment 16 , " The Pegasus "

Picard and Riker in season 1

develop faulty cloaking technology in irreverence of the Romulan pact

Chadwick

Michael Harney

Michelle Yeoh as Philippa Georgiou in Star Trek  Discovery and Michelle Forbes as Commander Ro Laren in Star Trek Picard

Custom image by Ana Nieves

Star Trek : Deep Space Nineseason 6 , episode 15 , " Honor Among stealer "

raise Miles O’Brien to infiltrate the Orion Syndicate during the Dominion War

Vice Admiral Fujisaki

Michelle Yeoh as Philippa Georgiou in Star Trek Section 31 & DS9 space station

N / A

Star Trek : Deep Space Nine

Deputy Chief of Starfleet Intelligence ; may have been murder by Section 31

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Commander Ro Laren

Michelle Forbes

Star Trek : Picardseason 3 , episode 5 , " Imposters "

Headshot Of Michelle Yeoh In The Gold House Hosts 2024 Inaugural Gold Gala at The Music Center.

TNG ’s Bajoran ensign turned Maquis fighter before refund to Starfleet

Commander Raffaela Musiker

Michelle Hurd

Headshot Of Omari Hardwick

Star Trek : Picardseason 3

give up with Admiral Picard , then returned as an underground intelligence federal agent

Starfleet Intelligence employs secret agent who are confide to protect Starfleet ’s arcanum . consecrated career officers manage their operation , but Starfleet Intelligence may also assign particular mission to irregular private eye , like Chief Miles O’Brien ( Colm Meaney ) when he was task with infiltrate the Orion Syndicate inStar Trek : Deep Space Nineseason 6 , episode 15 , " Honor Among Thieves " . Former officers , likeStar Trek : Picard ’s Commander Raffi Musiker ( Michelle Hurd ) andCommander Ro Laren ( Michelle Forbes ) , make expectant undercover tidings agents or informants . As Starfleet officers , intelligence agents are expected to operate according to Federation values , with conflict arising when they do n’t .

Star Trek: Section 31

What Is Section 31 In Star Trek

The Morally Gray Section 31 Does Starfleet’s Dirty Work

Star Trek ’s Section 31 operates independently of Starfleet Intelligence , more akin to the Romulan Tal Shi’ar or Cardassian Obsidian Order . Section 31 is n’t beholden to the value of the United Federation of Planets , so its secret agent are allowed — some might say bucked up — to use any substance necessary to carry through their goals . Without any oversight , Section 31 does the dirty employment that Starfleet ca n’t officially have on record . Section 31 is creditworthy for unethical operations likeStar Trek : Discovery ’s Control , planting minefields inStar Trek : Enterprise , and the morphogenic virus that destabilizedStar Trek : Deep Space Nine ’s changeling .

renowned Section 31 Personnel

Malcolm Reed

Dominic Keating

Star Trek : Enterprise

Former Section 31 factor hark back for a young missionary station

Philippa Georgiou

Michelle Yeoh

Star Trek : Discovery ; Star Trek : Section 31

Terran Emperor of the Mirror Universe

Leland

Alan van Sprang

Star Trek : Discoveryseason 2

Worked on Project Daedalus and Control

Ash Tyler

Shazad Latif

Former Klingon spy

Admiral Alexander Marcus

Peter Weller

Star Trek Into Darkness

Head of Starfleet ; Initiated Klingon War

Luther Sloan

William Sadler

Recruited Dr. Julian Bashir to Section 31

Julian Bashir

Alexander Siddig

Unwillingly recruited to do Section 31 missionary station inDS9season 6 & 7

William Boimler

Jack Quaid

Star Trek : Lower deck

conveyor belt clone who faked his death

Despite being fabricate forDS9,Star Trekprequels show that Section 31 has always subsist . Star Trek : Enterpriseretconned Section 31 ’s beingness to before the Federation ’s innovation , make a loophole that allow Section 31 operate outside Federation jurisprudence . Star Trek Into Darknessrevealed Section 31 existed in J.J. Abrams ' Kelvin Timeline . InStar Trek : Discovery , segment 31 was more of an open secret , since its beingness was freely discuss , and Section 31 agents were identified with black Starfleet badges . Paramount+ ’s upcoming film , Star Trek : Section 31,may address why Section 31 became more closemouthed between the 23rd and twenty-fourth century .

Why Starfleet Has 2 Intelligence Divisions & Why Section 31 Is Different

Section 31 Can Take Drastic Measures To Protect Starfleet

Starfleet ’s two intelligence operation divisions have different roles to play inStar Trek ’s greater narration . Starfleet Intelligence is the aboveboard espionage division of Starfleet , intended to uphold the United Federation of Planets ' values . Section 31 is in charge of missions that require agents to operate with dirtier hands ; as such , Section 31 agent have gratuitous rein to commit offense for keep the Federation ’s peace . Section 31 may be distasteful , butSection 31 is necessarybecause the gamy route is not always the victorious one when the rest of the beetleweed does n’t operate according to Federation law .

Academy Award - winner Michelle Yeoh headline Star Trek : surgical incision 31 , and here ’s what we know about Paramount+ ’s first Star Trek streaming picture show .

More than an rarified vision of the future , Star Trekalso reflects the political stage when eachStar Trekshow is get . Just likeStar Trek : The Original Seriescompared Starfleet ’s Klingon struggle to the Cold War , Star Trek : Deep Space Nineused Section 31 to gloss on 1990s - era conspiracy hypothesis . The darker boundary of the Dominion War played into that paranoia to build a story spark that tookStar Trekto Modern heights . Section 31 does not replace Starfleet Intelligence;instead , it keep on to represent distrust in institutions inStar Trek : Discoveryand the upcomingStar Trek : segment 31 .

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