OSFI Section 31 Factfile
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- INFORMATION CLASSIFICATION: TOP SECRET- CSI
- RELIABILITY CLASSIFICATION: C (recent direct contact by limited Star Fleet/OSFI assets)
INTRODUCTION
" Star Fleet Intelligence shall, from time to time and as deemed reasonably prudent and necessary to protect the security and safety of the Federation, conduct both domestic and foreign intelligence and counterintelligence activities."
- Federation Constitution: Article I, Part 4, Chapter 7, Section 31
Almost everyone who reads the above Section 31 believe this to be no more than a broad description and authorization of OSFI's and SECIS' duties. However, there are those who believe this innocent-sounding section of the Federation Constitution to be much, much more.
Summary
"Section 31" is the name given to the rumored, ultra-secret third intelligence organization, taken from the provision in the Federation Constitution "authorizing" its activities. Of particular importance in this provision is the reference to conducting domestic espionage activities- this is specifically forbidden in OSFI's charter, and SECIS, the organization charged with internal security, typically involves itself in standard security operations and investigative operations, in such cases working hand-in-hand with SFJAG. Neither of these organizations engage in outright spying on Federation citizens without due cause for obvious reasons- no Federation organization would ever be authorized to do such things.
Ironically, it is just such naivety that allows Section 31 to exist. Ultimately their goal is the same as Star Fleet itself- to promote the security and stability of the United Federation of Planets and its peoples. However, they do so by performing the "dirty jobs" no one wants to do, such as termination missions (forbidden under both OSFI's and SECIS' charters) and domestic espionage. Typically, much of Section 31's time and resources are devoted to ferreting out spies within the Federation and Star Fleet, traitors within Star Fleet, and protecting the Federation from within. Basically, they would spend the bulk of their resources spying on Federation citizens.
Their approach is more Machiavellian than that of OSFI or SECIS; to them, the end result of their mission justify the means they use to accomplish it. In other words, this organization does not see a "right" and "wrong" way of doing things- they simply see the most efficient way. This lack of morality allows them to break the very rules, laws and regulations they are protecting. Their sole concern is in eliminating threats to Federation security, whether they be internal or external, regardless of the means used.
The most important thing to understand about Section 31 is, despite their claims to the otherwise, this organization is NOT officially sanctioned by the Federation. Its agents are to be treated as hostile operatives.
HISTORY OF CONTACT
The first officially confirmed contact with known agents of Section 31 was made by CAPT Cayle Veld, then an O-4, in the aftermath of the 2nd Battle of the Tybiiran Complex (commonly referred to as "2nd Tybiiran") in 2412. Agents acting on behalf of Section 31 abducted Veld from the bridge of USS Spitfire as she collided with a Gorn vessel, and kept her for several weeks of intense and brutal interrogation. She was later rescued by then-LTMAJ Molly Sharpe and Linkri Saresh, now an Ambassador of the Gorn Hegemony to the Gorn Confederacy.
This contact led to a major breakthrough for Star Fleet in its dealings with Section 31- it led to the first concrete proof of its existence. CAPT Veld, while working for SECIS on Section 31, was able to apprehend two Gorn government administrators- Tarniki S'Skerrot, Chief of Cestus III Security, and Nidara G'Darn, Chief of Cestus III Customs- who were working to secure large quantities of biomimentic gel from Section 31 through Orion intermediaries. Interrogation of these officials confirmed Veld's reports.
Though the first documented contact with Section 31 agents occured in 2412, it is believed that many such contacts took place prior to that date, unbeknownst to the agents and parties involved.
ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY
Much of the details regarding Section 31's birth and subsequent growth are, understandably, vague and hazy at best. However, a few puzzle pieces have become clear in recent months.
Section 31 seems to have been born out of the purge that claimed OSFI's predecessor, Star Fleet Intelligence Assosication, or SFIA. In a widespread investigation of its methods and operations, many SFIA agents were found to be running unauthorized black operations. Details of these operations are classified TOP SECRET, and, as such, are not contained herein; however, it is beleived that a large number of these former SFIA operatives, disillusioned with Starfleet's reluctance to "fight fire with fire," so to speak, decided to form a very secret, hidden, organization outside of Starfleet's jurisdiction.
Section 31's is believed to come from the clause in the Articles of the Federation that, these rogue agents believe, gives them the right to conduct black operations if the situation merits.
At some point in the recent past, Section 31's power waned- perhaps as the rogue SFIA agents aged or were removed from influential posts- and looked to be fading out of existence. However, events would take place on Cardassia, oddly enough, that would ensure Section 31's survival and eventual growth.
In 2405, Section 31 was exposed and destroyed- nearly- in very much the same way as SFIA was a few years earlier. A short time after these events, two OSFI agents- Guillaume Hoyt and Acier Dumont- were running twin deep-cover information-gathering operations on Cardassia Prime, designed primarily to compliment one another and act as a redundant system, should one agent be exposed. In the course of their operation, they uncovered a double-agent working within the Obsidian Order that was placed by a Federation organization other than OSFI, a man by the name of Torval Dak. Through Dak, they found a conduit of information, money, and other sensitive material. This conduit led to a man known then as Zametov, also known as "Methuselah," "Niccolo" and, more colorfully, "The Man in Black"- the man who was rebuiding Section 31 by capitalizing on Obsidian Order assets. (1)
Dak later exposed Hoyt and Dumont, nearly costing the two OSFI agents their lives.
It is not currently know if there remains some connection between Section 31 and the Obsidian Order.
TECHNOLOGICAL PROFILE
Section 31 is an intelligence organization, and, as such, deploys technology comparable to that of most domestic organizations (see the "OSFI Player's Handbook Chapter 3: Tools of the Trade," for a complete rundown). That being said, many of its operations involve the sale of controlled or illegal technologies to interested parties- primarily the Gorn Hegemony- in order to help counterbalance the strengths of the Romulan Star Empire. Such technologies include Federation-design warp drives, Romulan weapons systems, and biogenic weapon components.
STRATEGIC AIMS
Section 31 has one primary goal, and it is the same as Star Fleet's: to protect and serve its charges. However, while OSFI, Star Fleet proper, and every other office or division of the Federation recognizes that certain restrictions must be applied to the actions of an organization in order to preserve a truly free society, Section 31 does not. Their goal is simply to protect and serve- by whatever means necessary.
This complete absence of ethical and moral standards gives them the freedom to ignore governmental boundaries and the basic individual rights of sentient beings, if they deem the threat warranted. And, as a rule of thumb, Section 31 does not act unless it's "warranted."
However, they also never act unless the mission's success somehow strengthens and/or protects Federation interests. They are a rogue organization, but they do not see themselves that way. They see themselves almost as the Federation's "black knights," doing the things that need to be done in order to ensure the Federation's continued existence and prosperity. As such, this usually means that they regard Starfleet and particularly OSFI as being "naive" about the manner in which intelligence operations are conducted.
EQUIPMENT
Please see OSFI Player's Handbook Chapter 3: Tools of the Trade," for a complete rundown of the types of tools normally employed by Section 31 and other intelligence operatives.
Footnotes
- (1)- DS13- "Bad Men Playing Bad Games"- Dated SD 120312.
Credits
- 'Section 31' was inspired by the organization of the same name depicted in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes. However, the details contained herein are the creation Scott Lusby, Ted Swedalla, Noah Rains and Jeffrey Jenkins.
