View source for Section 31

'''[[Section 31]]''' was the name of an officially-nonexistent and autonomous clandestine organization which claimed to protect the [[security]] interests of United Earth and, later, the [[United Federation of Planets]]. Loosely speaking, it was [[Starfleet]]'s black-ops division, operating separately from and usually without the knowledge of [[Starfleet Intelligence]] (though it often recruited members of [[Starfleet Intelligence]]). [[Section 31]] was also somewhat comparable to the [[Romulan]] Tal Shiar or [[Cardassian]] [[Obsidian Order]] – unlike these other organisations, however, [[Section 31]]'s very existence was a deeply buried secret, known only to a handful of people beyond its own membership. 

Perhaps [[Section 31]]'s darkest aspect was that, while it had existed since the beginning of [[Starfleet]], it was practically autonomous, having operated for over two centuries with no oversight or accountability whatsoever, even free to kill those it deemed a threat to [[Federation]] interests at its own discretion. Some high-ranking [[Starfleet]] admirals and intelligence personnel at times seemed to be vaguely aware that [[Section 31]] existed, though giving them only very broad objectives. At other times, [[Section 31]] appeared to be an outright puppet master to [[Starfleet]], directing the actions and even overall political policies of the [[Federation]] itself. [http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Section_31 Source: Memory Alpha]

[[Category:Other Organisations]]