Kevin Thomas Riley wrote:CX wrote:A civilian contractor would still be sent to a Federal prison today though. Although this is one more example of how, despite what Archer said about Starfleet not being a military, it showed us that it is. Would NASA have its own prison system? I kinda doubt it.
Quite! Which is why I tend to think that Soong wasn't a civilian but had a commission with Starfleet. Unless of course Earth itself in this era is much more militaristic/fascist/communist (take your pick) than we're lead to believe.
I think Soong either had a (reserve?) commission w/Starfleet or he was in employment w/them. Maybe he was working for Section 31? I don't think even S31 would ignore someone of Soong's brilliance (even if he was a bit loopy) and NOT try to recruit him somehow.
And I think you might be right, KTR. Even though Starfleet might seem like the noble instituition, it really isn't THAT long after the Eugenics Wars and First Contact, so it makes sense that Earth might still have some "protective measures" in place for its civilians. Starfleet and Earth still has a ways to go before TNG, or even TOS.