Starfleet Intelligence

Starfleet Intelligence was a branch of Starfleet responsible for gathering and analyzing information concerning neighboring powers in the galaxy, and for carrying out covert investigations regarding possible threats to Earth and, later, the Federation.

Starfleet Intelligence employed agents for their field operations who were authorized to perform undercover investigations. Starfleet Intelligence agents (or "SI agents") reported to division heads who oversaw their agents' missions. The head of the organization was known as the Chief of Starfleet Intelligence.

One branch of Starfleet Intelligence was the Department of Internal Affairs, which was charged with keeping track of Starfleet operations to ensure that no security leaks occurred.

An Intelligence officer is a title given to an officer aboard a starship or space station who is responsible for intelligence matters. The officer typically keeps in contact with a central organization, such as Starfleet Intelligence, for the latest information.

Aboard Deep Space 9, Lieutenant Commander Worf held the position upon accepting assignment there. Doctor Julian Bashir briefly assumed the post in late-2373, while Worf was serving on the IKS Rotarran. It could only have been Bashir or Jadzia Dax, as only Starfleet officers with a class four security clearance could hold the position. He told Chief Miles O'Brien "All I can do is read these fascinating reports and analyses, and analyses of analyses and then keep it all to myself. Because no one else has a 'need to know'"

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.(citation needed • edit) 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.