Ever noticed how many corrupt or at least morally ambiguous some admirals are in star trek. Considering Human are meant to be so enlighted at that point there sure are a lot of bad eggs at the top.
Admiral Satie tried to remove peoples freedoms by seeing traitors everywhere.
Colonel West and
Admiral Cartwright both involved in the khitomer conspiracy in ST VI.
Admiral Pressman covered up the peagus incident. was believed to have co-conspirators
Admiral Leyton tried to declare martial law on earth and have the defiant destroyed.
Admiral Dougherty prepared to relocate 600 people against their will and have the enterprise destroyed.
Admiral Ross helped section 31 set up his romulan friend because her political views might prove dangerous later.
Admiral Janway changed history for the past couple of decades because it did not fit what she wanted.
Admiral Kennelly he was more duped than evil, but got had by the cardassians.
Admiral Jameson Sold weapons to a warlord and covered it up.
Admiral Nechayev helped sign away federation worlds and wanted forced relocation of some citizens .
any others I've missed? Now I know some of those do it for the greater good, but that does not make their choices any more right.
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But Admiral Janeway was probably one of the worst. She even got promoted over Picard. Maybe she ordered the Doctor to wipe out the minds of Starfleet Command. It wouldn't surprise me.
You could add the STIV charges too.
From Memory-Alpha Star Trk IV: The Votage Home: "He then lists the charges and specifications against the Enterprise crew: conspiracy, assault on Federation officers, theft of Federation property, starship Enterprise, sabotage of the USS Excelsior, willful destruction of Federation property, USS Enterprise, and disobeying direct orders of the Starfleet commander."
One might also argue That Kirk commisioned the creation of a weapon of mass destruction. The Genesis Device. Kirk is intelligent and tactically minded. I find it difficult to believe you wouldn't have realized the military applications of Genesis when Carol Marcus proposed it to him.
I was trying to just stick with the big stuff, but your point is valid
so because so many people died on the way home does that make it right? how many people died in the new time line that never died before because history is now different? how many people who lived were no longer born because of her changes. how many were born that never should have existed? how many people in the delta quadrant who's lives were touched by the crew of voyager in those other 16 years have had their lives altered?
if it was the crew alone that was affected you could argue it was the right thing to do, but everyone is affected in some small way.
That's why Temporal Mechanics end up giving everyone a headache
Onions have layers...
If I pealed an Admiral, would I find layers?
How many Admirals does Starfleet have (Pre-STO)? Probably a lot.
And now the most important question:
How interesting, and how memorable, would a story be about a clean, regular old desk-jockey Admiral who just does his job?
This happens throughout written history. There are a bunch of Generals and Admirals who are remembered for great deeds, and a whole other handful who are remembered for fiascos and corruption. Now, how many Generals and Admirals does the United States have? Probably hundreds more who don't get much attention, but get their job done.
Yes, there are corrupt Admirals, but they more than likely aren't the majority. The majority just aren't interesting to write about.
Besides, I think I can let Dougherty and even Satie SOMEWHAT off the hook. They're not corrupt, just zealously loyal to the Federation, and dedicated to its "Betterment"
Or maybe Starfleet decided to to promote her as far away from the command chair as they possibly could without looking too much like a punishment.
Besides which, you couldn't drag Picard out of the captain's seat of a starship, let alone ones named Enterprise, if you stuck a black hole over his shiney head. Probably the biggest reason Riker finally gave up waiting; he knew Picard wasn't moving out of that seat anytime soon.