Star Trek: 10 Times Starfleet Officers Crossed The Line

8. Admiral Dougherty Condemns The Enterprise-E To Destruction - Star Trek: Insurrection

Just how far should a person go in their quest for the Fountain Of Youth? Star Trek: Insurrection is often unfairly maligned for its pacing and perceived lack of stakes following Star Trek: First Contact, though that does the film a disservice. 

Admiral Dougherty commands the mission to move the Bak'u from their home in the Briar Patch, perched upon the lofty ideals of the 'greater good' of Starfleet and the Federation. The radiation from the planet's rings could end up helping billions of people - surely, a price worth paying, even if it costs a few hundred people their home, one might argue?

He does then lose the moral high ground when he orders Ru'afo to send Son'a ships to 'escort' the Enterprise back to Baku - knowing full well that he is ordering the destruction of the Enterprise, Riker, and the crew. 

Whatever good intentions may have spurred the mission into motion are lost in the mire of 'evil sacrifice' here. Dougherty would pay the ultimate price for his decision, ending a distinguished career in disgrace.