I think of Section 31 as the Federation’s dirty little secret, operating off the books, weapon of last resort. I wasn’t surprised that the Federation was capable of things that didn’t fit its public doctrine when the utter destruction of the people of Federation by an outside, more powerful force was nigh. The Federation leans into diplomacy, but I never thought it impossible for them to have bag of tricks – Section 31. To me, the Federation would let the Federation fall because, say, member worlds left. But, not when something is about to destroy most or all of the people of the Federation.