Section 31 has been a sorely divisive concept for “Star Trek” fans ever since it was introduced in “Deep Space Nine.” Some view its the covert, autonomous organization's existence as contradictory to Gene Roddenberry’s vision of a utopian future, where the United Federation of Planets is guided by a sense of scientific exploration, cultural openness and acceptance.
What need would an evolved society have for a clandestine branch of special agents greenlit to engage in subterfuge, assassinations, and other grim dirty work? Starfleet has its own sanctioned intelligence subject that works within the rulebook; that’s fair. Black-ops agents empowered to complete their missions by any means necessary are so 21st century.
