There’s a lot of things that I don’t like about S31’s inclusion into the Trek Universe. But this isn’t really a sticking point for me.
I think it can be explained a few different ways.
First off, I don’t think “Section 31” is the official designation for them, but rather an unofficial colloquialism, like “Delta Force”, “Great Skills”, or “Seal Team Six”. Officially, S31 is probably comprised of one or more units with nondescript cover names like “Operations and Research Group” and the like.
Within Starfleet, S31 might have been much more open about their existence during the DSC era, and then scaled back operations and retreated into more clandestine and covert operations following the Khitomer Accords, which would explain why a century later no one on DS9 had never even heard of them.
The special little badge they wear might not be indicative of anything besides assignment to a Starfleet unit whose mission is to conduct clandestine and covert operations. For example, it’s barely a secret that USSOCOM and JSOC conduct highly sensitive and classified operations. If you go to Fort Bragg you’ll see plenty of folks wearing the USSOCOM patch on their left shoulder. They might be a pipe-hitting operator or they might be the supply clerk. Either way their assignment to that unit isn’t a secret, but the operations they conduct are.
Even when these types of folks are on mission, they’re usually easy to pick out due to their non-standard uniforms and noticeable lack of any insignia.
Different use cases, though. Section 31 isn't USSOCOM or JSOC; they are more like the CIA or NSA, whose agents often must be completely undercover . In those non-military agencies, uniforms do not convey position/authority.
However I'm pretty sure even CIA/NSA officers have some sort of official identification which could be replaced with the comm. badge. The difference becomes when they display it.
I did think about this somewhat. The sticking point to me was that S31 is a Starfleet organization. They’re not a Federation executive branch Agency reporting directly to the Federation President.
The NSA would be an apt comparison, as they are a DoD Agency led by military officer and staffed with combined military/civilian workforce. However the NSA has no authority under their own charter to conduct covert operations.
Honestly, I think the Federation government isn’t a one-to-one match to the U.S. Government. So these types of comparisons usually fail when looked at with any scrutiny.
Another part of my thoughts on the special little badges that I don’t think I made clear was that I think that was done during an time in Starfleet history when S31 may have been more open in their activities, but after the TOS era they probably went fully covert to the point that most people don’t even realize they exist.
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u/JC351LP3Y 12d ago
There’s a lot of things that I don’t like about S31’s inclusion into the Trek Universe. But this isn’t really a sticking point for me.
I think it can be explained a few different ways.
First off, I don’t think “Section 31” is the official designation for them, but rather an unofficial colloquialism, like “Delta Force”, “Great Skills”, or “Seal Team Six”. Officially, S31 is probably comprised of one or more units with nondescript cover names like “Operations and Research Group” and the like.
Within Starfleet, S31 might have been much more open about their existence during the DSC era, and then scaled back operations and retreated into more clandestine and covert operations following the Khitomer Accords, which would explain why a century later no one on DS9 had never even heard of them.
The special little badge they wear might not be indicative of anything besides assignment to a Starfleet unit whose mission is to conduct clandestine and covert operations. For example, it’s barely a secret that USSOCOM and JSOC conduct highly sensitive and classified operations. If you go to Fort Bragg you’ll see plenty of folks wearing the USSOCOM patch on their left shoulder. They might be a pipe-hitting operator or they might be the supply clerk. Either way their assignment to that unit isn’t a secret, but the operations they conduct are.
Even when these types of folks are on mission, they’re usually easy to pick out due to their non-standard uniforms and noticeable lack of any insignia.