In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Section 31 is an autonomous intelligence and defense organization that carries out covert operations for the United Federation of Planets. Created by Ira Steven Behr for the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Inquisition", the organization was intended to act as a counterbalance to the utopian portrayal of the Federation.
Section 31 settings and characters have appeared in dozens of episodes, novels and comics, including the 2025 television film, Star Trek: Section 31.
Production
Ira Steven Behr was inspired by a line of dialogue from Deep Space Nine episode "The Maquis" spoken by Commander Benjamin Sisko: "It's easy to be a saint in paradise." Behr said in the 1999 reference companion to the series, "Why is Earth a paradise in the twenty-fourth century? Well, maybe it's because there's someone watching over it and doing the nasty stuff that no one wants to think about." Such measures included malicious sabotage of enemy installations and technology, biological warfare, and preemptive assassination.
According to Ronald D. Moore there was considerable debate on the origin of the organization, in particular on how it was formed and how long ago.
Costume designer Bob Blackman chose the black leather costumes worn by Section 31 agents to appear fascistic. Moore replied to criticisms of betrayal saying, "The idea that there's a rogue element within the Federation doing dark deeds outside the normal chain of command is certainly a provocative one."
Characters
In order of appearance:
{| class="wikitable"
! Actor
! Character
! First appearance
! Notes
|-
| colspan="4" | '
|-
| William Sadler
| Luther Sloan
| "Inquisition"
|
|-
| colspan="4" | '
|-
| Dominic Keating
| Malcolm Reed
|
|
|-
| Eric Pierpoint
| Harris
| "Affliction" ‡
|
|-
| colspan="4" |
|-
| Noel Clarke
| Thomas Harewood
| colspan="2" |
|-
|
| John Harrison
| colspan="2" |
|-
| Peter Weller
| Alexander Marcus
| colspan="2" |
|-
| colspan="4" |'
|-
| Shazad Latif
|
|
|
|-
|Michelle Yeoh
| Philippa Georgiou (alternate)
|
|
|-
| Jayne Brook
| Katrina Cornwell
|
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | Alan van Sprang
| Leland
|
|
|-
| Tara Nicodemo
| Patar (Vulcan)
|