One would imagine they need at least one building to construct and maintain their fleet of advanced ships?

I don't like section 31 either, a bit too CIA for my liking and they don't really fit into the Federation ideal.

Those ideals would crash in a nano-second without the necessary security forces to protect them.

It's a bit like saying the U.S. could have won the Cold War without the N.S.A. or C.I.A. Not a chance.

Indeed, but this is of course fantasy. I don't Gene had section 31 in mind when he started out.

I do think they fitted in a little better with the 'dark' side of DS9 though. They added nicely to the 'space opera' feel of the show.

That's all we need - A SPACE OPERA

gawd damn i LOVE revisionist history!

who on earth told you THAT claptrap???

since the 25 year statute of limitations has well and truly past, a lot of CIA info is available on the net under the FOI act. i suggest you do some research.

don't confuse the shambolic SU of the eighties with what it was in the fifties, sixties and seventies...

and besides - you're agreeing with my point. even if it wasn't the CIA, the US still relied on covert intelligence in the Cold War. Whether it was the NSA, CIA or AFI is irrelevent...

Wow...I had to read your post twice Janusi...I was wondering where/how Student Unions fitted into the Cold War...!

They don't necessarily need their own buildings... they probably had admirals pulling the strings, so they had offices already, and they probably do have their own starships, but I doubt they are marked with fed symbols or colors. I'd say they are all black (or vary dark colored) and some probably had a cloak (algeron doesn't matter cuz they don't exist).

Well they would probably have aliases as well...ever wonder where the Orion Pirates came from?

Ignoring the historical facts of course...

yeah, ive got a massive StarTrek book collection, so where can i find this book written by Scatter?

if that's some sort of put down... wtf???

if it's a genuine question that i've just read wrong... it's not published, it's a fanfic - http://illustrious.bur.st

It's pretty good too... I can't wait for the next ep to post...:::hint, hint:::

no, i want to read your book. I did not mean it as a put down. I just have like 500 Star Trek books and now im looking for good online fanfics - just to read. I like StarTrek novels. Thats all.

you could actually call me a collector

np mate, i just didn't know how to take your question. apolgies for not taking it at face value - i'm a little cynical with newbies until they prove they're not messageboard trolls. maybe i should "bury my cynicism along with my repressed emotions" once in a while.

feel free to register at the site and leave some feedback - i'm always looking for it, and would like to get some from someone who reads a lot of trek.

janusi - i get what your saying, i just think the CIA (especially) received a lot of stereotypical press, especially during the eighties. a lot of lazy journalism that was either ignorant of the facts, or just looking for an easy scapegoat. as the highest profile intelligence agency in the states, the CIA always copped a lot of undeserved flak imo.

look at the aftermath of 9/11. nearly a decade of budget and human resource cuts, and who's the first lot blamed for the intelligence failure?

Ah Moe, always good for a laugh.

I was being serious...

I can't help not being American! American history isn't taught in school...

Well, I'd definately have to say that the Cold War is more World history than it is US history...

Either way, it probably would have been more clear if Janusi put USSR instead of SU.

errrr... they're the same thing...

lol, i think most unite in getting drunk TOO MUCH THE NIGHT BEFORE LECTURES

Yes...that person will remain anonymous...