Citizendia
Your Ad Here

This article is about the Star Trek universe. For the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Cardassians", see Cardassians (DS9 episode). "Cardassians" is an episode of the Television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, the fifth episode of the second season
Cardassian Union
Cardassians

Gul Dukat
Founded 19th Century
Founder Tret Akleen
Homeworld Cardassia Prime
Official language Cardassian, (see: universal translator)
Currency the lek

Cardassians are a spacefaring race in the fictional Star Trek universe. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Cardassians are a spacefaring race in the fictional Star Trek universe The universal translator is a fictional device common to many Science fiction works especially on television The universal translator is a fictional device common to many Science fiction works especially on television There are many elements that show up throughout the fantasy genre in different guises The Cardassian Union was introduced in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Wounded". Star Trek The Next Generation ( STTNG or TNG) is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning science fiction television program created by Gene Roddenberry " The Wounded " was the 86th episode of the Science fiction Television series Star Trek The Next Generation and the 12th installment Cardassians were one of the main parts of the storyline in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The Cardassian homeworld is Cardassia Prime in the Alpha Quadrant. In the television series Star Trek and its spin-offs Galactic quadrant refers to an area of the Milky Way Galaxy (although it's apparently no longer called

A major figure in Cardassian history is Tret Akleen, revered as the "father" of the Cardassian Union. During the Dominion War, Akleen's family home lay in Dominion-controlled space; Elim Garak suggested that recapturing it would lead to a major propaganda victory for Federation forces. In the Fictional Star Trek universe the Dominion War was a war between the Dominion, Cardassian Union and the Breen Confederacy In the fictional Star Trek universe the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races Elim Garak is a Fictional character in the television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, in which he is portrayed by Andrew J The United Federation of Planets, (also known as the "The Federation" or UFP) is a fictional interplanetary state depicted in the Star Trek ("Tears of the Prophets")

Although the Cardassian Union was referred to as an "empire" on more than one occasion, little if anything is known about which races (aside from, for some decades, the Bajorans) the Cardassians have conquered in their imperial ambitions. For the objects which are sometimes called the Tears of the Prophets see Prophet (Star Trek#Orbs. An empire (from the Latin " Imperium " denoting military Command within the ancient Roman government) is a State that Bajorans, a race of Humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe were introduced in the Next Generation series and played Prior to joining the Dominion, the Cardassians had no strong allies among other major powers but enjoyed comparatively good relations with various non-aligned species, such as the Lissepians, as mentioned in "Progress", "Indiscretion", and other episodes. In the fictional Star Trek universe the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races "Progress" is an episode of Star Trek Deep Space Nine, the fifteenth episode of the first season " Indiscretion " is an episode of Star Trek Deep Space Nine, the fifth episode of the fourth season

Contents

Biology

Cardassians are humanoid in form, but have distinctive ridged arches connecting their shoulders to the tops of their necks. The term " humanoid " refers to any being whose body structure resembles that of a Human. They also have ridges on either side of their foreheads, ridges surrounding their eyes, and protrusions on their chins and below their noses. They also have spoon-shaped features starting in the centers of their foreheads and running down the lengths of their noses. A spoon is a Utensil consisting of a small shallow bowl at the end of a handle used primarily for serving and eating Liquid, or semi-liquid foods and solid foods This has earned them the derogatory name of "spoonheads. " The spoon shape is also on their chest. Based on their general appearance, it is possible that Cardassians evolved from reptiles. Reptiles, or members of the class Reptilia are air-breathing Cold-blooded Vertebrates that have skin covered in scales as opposed to hair or feathers

Their skin is tan or gray in color and hair is dark brown or black. Their eye color is usually dark-brown, however there are some exceptions to this rule, such as Gul Dukat and Garak, who have blue eyes. Elim Garak is a Fictional character in the television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, in which he is portrayed by Andrew J Since scale patterns on Cardassian necks have been shown to change from appearance to appearance (Garak, for example), makeup artist Michael Westmore has theorized in a 2005 issue of Star Trek Insider that Cardassians continually shed and regrow scales. Michael George Westmore (born March 22, 1938) is an Academy Award winning American Make-up artist best known for his work in various In the episode Profit and Loss, an intimate encounter between Quark and his starcrossed lover Natima Lang displayed that stroking the neck ridges of a Cardassian female produces an erogenous reaction. Whether this is true for males has not been explored. It is common for female Cardassians to use blue-tinted cosmetics on their neck ridges and forehead.

Compared to humans, Bajorans, and many other humanoid races, Cardassians prefer warmer and darker climates. Elim Garak once noted that Deep Space Nine's environment was very cold and very bright by Cardassian standards.

Cardassians have a wide variety of food and drink that they enjoy:

In an episode of Deep Space Nine, Elim Garak mentions that Cardassians do not have as good a sense of hearing as do humans (DS9 "Distant Voices". " Chain of Command " is an episode of Star Trek The Next Generation that aired in two parts during the sixth season of the series Elim Garak is a Fictional character in the television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, in which he is portrayed by Andrew J

Star Trek
TV series
Original Series · 80 episodes
Animated Series · 22 episodes
Next Generation · 178 episodes
Deep Space Nine · 176 episodes
Voyager · 172 episodes
Enterprise · 98 episodes
Films
The Motion Picture · II: Wrath of Khan
III: Search for Spock
IV: Voyage Home · V: Final Frontier
VI: Undiscovered Country
Generations · First Contact
Insurrection · Nemesis · Star Trek (XI)
Major nations & races
UFP · Human · Vulcan · Romulan · Q
Klingon · Cardassian · Bajoran · Borg
Ferengi · Dominion · Mirror Universe
Spin-off fiction
Phase II · Novels · Comics · SFU · CCG
Games · Fan productions · Experience
Further reading
Canon · Characters · Starfleet · Wars
Chronology · Timeline · Ships by class
Planets classification · Physics
Prime Directive · Law · Wiki
Cultural influence
Trekkies · Motto · Sexuality
Star Trek Portal


Culture

Cardassians tend to be predatory in nature, like wolf packs, always seeking out the dominant position in any social gathering. Star Trek is a Science fiction Television series created by Gene Roddenberry that aired from September 8, 1966 through This is a complete list of Star Trek The Original Series episodes Star Trek The Animated Series (also known as The Animated Adventures of Gene Roddenberry 's Star Trek) is an Emmy Award winning This is a list of Star Trek The Animated Series episodes' The 22 episodes of the series were originally aired on NBC Star Trek The Next Generation ( STTNG or TNG) is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning science fiction television program created by Gene Roddenberry This is the complete episode listing for Star Trek The Next Generation. The following is a complete list of episode descriptions for Star Trek Deep Space Nine, in broadcast order This is an episode list for the Science fiction Drama Star Trek Voyager. Star Trek Enterprise (simply titled Enterprise prior to season three is a Science fiction Television program created by Brannon This list of Star Trek Enterprise episodes is accompanied by each episode's original airdate on UPN in the United States, along with its Star Trek The Motion Picture is a 1979 Science fiction film from Paramount Pictures. Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan is the second feature film based on the Star Trek Science fiction Television series, following Star Trek III The Search for Spock ( Paramount Pictures, 1984) is the third feature Film based on the Star Trek Star Trek IV The Voyage Home ( Paramount Pictures, 1986) is the fourth feature Film based on the Star Trek Science fiction Star Trek V The Final Frontier ( Paramount Pictures, 1989) is the fifth feature Film based on the Star Trek Science Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country is the sixth feature film based on the Star Trek Science fiction Television series. Star Trek Generations is a 1994 Science fiction film and the seventh feature film based on the Star Trek science fiction television Star Trek First Contact is a 1996 Science fiction film and the eighth feature film based in the ''Star Trek'' fictional universe Star Trek Insurrection is a 1998 Science fiction feature film the ninth based on the Star Trek television series Star Trek Nemesis ( 2002) is the tenth feature Film based on the Star Trek television series Star Trek is a Science fiction film directed by J J Abrams and written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. This is a list of sentient species and races from the Fictional universe of Star Trek. The United Federation of Planets, (also known as the "The Federation" or UFP) is a fictional interplanetary state depicted in the Star Trek In the Star Trek Science fiction universe Humans/Terrans ( Homo sapiens) are one of the races undertaking interstellar travel Vulcans are a Humanoid species in the fictional Star Trek universe who hail from the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt Romulans are an alien species in the Star Trek universe that are related to the Vulcans and are at war or in an uneasy truce with the United Federation of In the Star Trek universe the Q Continuum is an extradimensional plane of existence inhabited by a race of extremely powerful hyper-intelligent beings known as Klingons ( Klingon: tlhIngan; Pronunciation /ˈt͡ɬɪŋɑn/ are a warrior race in the fictional Star Trek universe Bajorans, a race of Humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe were introduced in the Next Generation series and played The Borg are a fictional pseudo- race of Cyborgs depicted in the Star Trek franchise The Ferengi (pronounced) are a Fictional extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe In the fictional Star Trek universe the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races The Mirror Universe (MU is a Fictional parallel universe in which the plots of several Star Trek television episodes take place The Star Trek franchise has produced a large number of novels comic books video games and other materials which are generally considered non-canon. Star Trek Phase II was a planned television series based on the characters of Gene Roddenberry 's Star Trek. This is a list of the various Star Trek novels novelisations short story collections that have been published since 1968 The Star Fleet Universe (SFU is the variant of the Star Trek Fictional universe detailed in the series of Star Fleet Battles games ( The Star Trek Customizable Card Game is a Collectible card game based on the Star Trek universe The enduring popularity of the Star Trek science fiction franchise has led to numerous games in many different formats beginning in 1967 with a Board game based on the This article deals with fan-made productions using elements of the Star Trek franchise Star Trek The Experience was a themed attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, based on the Star Trek The Star Trek canon is usually defined as comprising the television series ''Star Trek'', Star Trek The Next Generation, Star Trek Deep Space This article lists characters in the various canonical incarnations of Star Trek. This article describes the Starfleet organization in the Star Trek universe for other uses see Starfleet (disambiguation In the Fictional universe The below is an abridged Timeline of events established in the group of Television shows and Feature films set in the Fictional Star Trek universe The fictional Star Trek universe includes several spacegoing species and groups listed in the articles linked below Borg starships This is a list of the fictional Star Trek universe's Starfleet ships organized by Ship class. In the fictional Star Trek universe the Planet Classification System is a system developed by the United Federation of Planets to categorize Planets The science-fiction media franchise Star Trek has borrowed freely from the scientific world to provide storylines In the Fictional universe of Star Trek, the Prime Directive, Starfleet 's General Order #1 is the most prominent guiding principle of the Law in Star Trek refers to the legal procedures and processes as seen in the Star Trek Fictional universe. Memory Alpha (often abbreviated to MA) is a Wiki that is an encyclopedic reference for topics related to the Star Trek fictional universe Star Trek is one of the most culturally influential television shows – and perhaps the most influential science fiction TV series – in history Trekkie (or Trekker) is a term used to describe a fan of all or part of the Star Trek Fictional universe. " Where No Man Has Gone Before " is the second pilot episode of the Television series Star Trek (later known as Star Trek Sexuality in Star Trek refers to the wide range of sexual practices seen in the Star Trek franchise In normal courting behavior, Cardassian couples routinely act bitter and snap at each other. Cardassian society generally exhibits little or no gender bias; for example, both men and women can rise to high ranks in the military. However, some fields are not so diverse, such as the scientific community which is mostly female.

Cardassia's educational system is legendary throughout the quadrant. From a very young age, Cardassian children are trained in techniques such as photographic memory which allow them to retain vast amounts of information. Eidetic memory, photographic memory, or total recall is the ability to recall Images Sounds, or objects in Memory Cardassian mental disciplines are rumored to be so complete that a Cardassian will prove almost totally resistant to torture; a Vulcan mind meld is also usually ineffective against a Cardassian who is properly trained. Vulcans are a Humanoid species in the fictional Star Trek universe who hail from the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt Vulcans are a Humanoid species in the fictional Star Trek universe who hail from the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt

Cardassians generally believe the state is more important than the individual. Certainly their Orwellian government is powerful and the intelligence service, the Obsidian Order, excels in ruthless efficiency. The adjective Orwellian describes the situation idea or societal condition that George Orwell identified as being destructive to the welfare of a free-society Cardassians are a spacefaring race in the fictional Star Trek universe Cardassians seen on Deep Space Nine are generally proud and patriotic, and reference is occasionally made to their xenophobic tendencies, although they are often seen co-operating with other races with no apparent friction. Xenophobia is an intense and/or irrational dislike and sometimes fear of people from other countries In many ways Cardassian society loosely mirrors that of the Soviet Union, everything from the name of the empire, the system of government, the prominence of the military in society, the ruthlessly efficient intelligence service, the lack of respect shown for the justice system, and the acts and omissions made criminal by the empire. When representatives of the science ministry visited DS9 in "Destiny", they were noticeably less nationalistic than most Cardassians seen previously. " Destiny " is an episode of Star Trek Deep Space Nine, the fifteenth episode of the third season

They are generally cunning and suspicious. This is evident in battle, as evidenced in "Soldiers of the Empire" in which a Klingon speaks admiringly of Cardassian adversaries who always had 'a plan within a plan within a plan leading to a trap'. "Soldiers of the Empire" is an episode of the television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, the twenty-first episode of the fifth season Klingons ( Klingon: tlhIngan; Pronunciation /ˈt͡ɬɪŋɑn/ are a warrior race in the fictional Star Trek universe A popular Cardassian board game is 'Kotra', which, as Garak describes it, favours bold tactical manoeuvres over defensive play; hence Garak's criticism of Nog's attempts to regroup his pieces during a game they played in the episode "Empok Nor". Elim Garak is a Fictional character in the television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, in which he is portrayed by Andrew J NOG may refer to NOG mouse Nogales International Airport (Mexico N-Oxalylglycine " Empok Nor " is an episode of Star Trek Deep Space Nine, the twenty-fourth episode of the fifth season

In Cardassian criminal trials the defendant is presumed guilty and in fact the punishment is already decided before the trial begins; the purpose of the trial (effectively a show trial) is merely to help the defendant acknowledge his wrongdoing. The term show trial is a pejorative description of a type of highly Public trial. In Cardassian mystery novels, everyone is always guilty, the puzzle being to work out who is guilty of what.

Cardassians are also very concerned about their families. For example, Garak enters a Dominion prison camp to speak with his father, Enabran Tain, one last time before Tain died. Elim Garak is a Fictional character in the television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, in which he is portrayed by Andrew J This is a list of minor characters from the Science fiction television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine. In another incident Gul Dukat is driven insane when his daughter Tora Ziyal dies. This is a list of minor characters from the Science fiction television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine. In Cardassian society, advanced age is seen as a symbol of power and dignity; in Cardassian families, it is common for many generations to live together under one roof. Also, an old Cardassian tradition is that of shri-tal, an ancient ritual in which a dying person reveals his or her secrets to the rest of the family, for use against their enemies.

Cardassian literature often confounds humans, and vice-versa. For example, humans see all Cardassian mystery stories as having an identical plot: the inevitable result is that all the suspects are eventually proved guilty of the crime and proving the supremacy of the state. One of their most revered forms of literature is the repetitive epic, which traces a family throughout history, focusing on each generation's virtually identical allegiance to the state.

Conversely, most Cardassians figure out during the first act of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar that all the conspirators are going to kill him, but cannot understand why Caesar cannot figure this out (or is willfully blind to an impending coup d'état) until the knives are literally coming at him from all directions. William Shakespeare ( baptised Julius Caesar is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599

Obsidian Order

The Obsidian Order is a Cardassian intelligence organization in the fictional Star Trek universe. Security Chief Odo of Deep Space Nine remarked that it was one of the most brutally efficient organizations in the galaxy. Odo, played by René Auberjonois, is a main character on the science fiction television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine. The Space station Deep Space Nine ( DS9) is the main setting of the Science fiction Television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine The Order kept very close tabs on all Cardassian citizens to ensure loyalty, and was greatly feared. It was said that the average Cardassian could not sit down to dinner without the contents of the said meal being noted and logged by the Order. Odo also noted that the Order caused people to disappear for even less than eating something of which the Order did not approve, although this statement may have just been an exaggeration for effect. A forced disappearance occurs when an organization forces a person to vanish from Public view either by Murder or by simple Sequestration. The Obsidian Order's agent training program is so advanced that they are made immune to most forms of interrogation, including Vulcan mind melds. Vulcans are a Humanoid species in the fictional Star Trek universe who hail from the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt Vulcans are a Humanoid species in the fictional Star Trek universe who hail from the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt

The Obsidian Order frequently clashed with Central Command (the Cardassian military), partly because even the highest ranking Command officers are not immune from Order inquiries. According to the Cardassian governmental charter, the Order is expressly forbidden from developing or possessing military equipment of any kind. (DS9: "Defiant") Elim Garak was a member of the Order, before being exiled from Cardassia to Deep Space Nine by his father, Enabran Tain. " Defiant " is an episode of Star Trek Deep Space Nine, the ninth episode of the third season Elim Garak is a Fictional character in the television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, in which he is portrayed by Andrew J Cardassians are a spacefaring race in the fictional Star Trek universe This is a list of minor characters from the Science fiction television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine. Tain had retired for a time, the only director to ever live long enough to do so. Garak became an ally of the Federation who used his knowledge to aid them in the war against the Dominion. The United Federation of Planets, (also known as the "The Federation" or UFP) is a fictional interplanetary state depicted in the Star Trek In the fictional Star Trek universe the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races In 2371, the Obsidian Order and their Romulan equivalent, the Tal Shiar, allied in an attempt to destroy the Dominion. Romulans are an alien species in the Star Trek universe that are related to the Vulcans and are at war or in an uneasy truce with the United Federation of the Star Trek Fictional universe, the Tal Shiar is a Romulan intelligence organization comparable to the CIA and the KGB To this end, the Order began stockpiling a fleet of ships, even though its governmental charter strictly forbade it from possessing or developing military equipment of any kind. The plan, originated by Tain, involved a fleet of cloaked Romulan and Cardassian vessels traversing into the heart of Dominion territory in the Gamma Quadrant where they would annihilate the homeworld of the Founders. In the television series Star Trek and its spin-offs Galactic quadrant refers to an area of the Milky Way Galaxy (although it's apparently no longer called Changelings are an alien race from the Star Trek universe Members of this race have the unique ability to Shapeshift.

The Founders soon learned of the plan and saw it as an opportunity to eliminate the two dangerous organizations. When the Romulan/Cardassian fleet arrived at the Founders' homeworld, they bombarded it, only to realize that the planet was deserted except for a token beacon. Moments later, the Dominion sprung the trap they arranged and a fleet of 150 Jem'Hadar fighters emerged from hiding in a nearby nebula and proceeded to wipe out the fleet. In the fictional Star Trek universe the Jem'Hadar are the Shock troops of the powerful Dominion located in the Gamma Quadrant. At least a few Romulan and Cardassian officers survived to be taken prisoner. Tain himself survived for two years in a Dominion internment camp before dying of heart failure. The disastrous results of this attack (and perhaps fear that the Order had clearly become too independent) led to the downfall of the Obsidian Order. The downfall of the Obsidian Order is thought to have contributed to a political shakeup that led to the renewed empowerment of the Detapa Council. This in turn paved the way for invasion of Cardassia by the Klingon Empire and eventual Dominion membership. Klingons ( Klingon: tlhIngan; Pronunciation /ˈt͡ɬɪŋɑn/ are a warrior race in the fictional Star Trek universe After Cardassia joined the Dominion, an organization similar to the Obsidian was formed, which was called the Cardassian Intelligence Bureau.

Military ranks

Cardassian military ranks are similar to those used by the United Federation of Planets, but with some key differences. The United Federation of Planets, (also known as the "The Federation" or UFP) is a fictional interplanetary state depicted in the Star Trek For example a Legate is similar to an Admiral, but with considerably more political sway. Little is known about the exact command structure of the Cardassian Union, but several ranks have been identified.

Gil
Gil is either a non-commissioned officer or junior officer rank. Space stations typically carry enough lifeboats only for personnel down to, and including, the rank of Gil.
Glinn
Glinn is a staff officer rank.
Gul
Gul is a command officer rank. Guls hold command ranging in size from vessels to Orders (approx. 500,000 personnel).
Legate
Legate is the highest rank in the Cardassian military, and while it resembles the rank of Admiral in some respects, it is more of a political position than a rank. Since the Cardassian government is a military-controlled stratocracy, Legates serve both military and governmental functions simultaneously.

Technology

Main article: Cardassian starships

Known Cardassian starships include the Galor-class warship, a medium-sized cruiser which, throughout The Next Generation, was the most powerful vessel in Cardassian service. This is a list of Starship classes in use by the Cardassian Union in the Star Trek Fictional universe. This is a list of Starship classes in use by the Cardassian Union in the Star Trek Fictional universe. The Galor is armed with two large phaser cannons (possibly plasma cannon), one forward and one aft. They are also armed with numerous secondary phaser cannons mounted at other points across the hull, and they may carry a complement of photon torpedoes. The Star Trek Fictional universe contains a very large number of weapons. Estimates vary, but it is thought a Galor class vessel would be roughly comparable to a Federation Excelsior-class starship in a conflict. The Excelsior class is a fictional class of Starship in the Science fiction franchise Star Trek. According to some Trekkies with an eye for detail, it is unclear how a fleet of such ships would be powerful enough to seriously threaten the Federation. Trekkie (or Trekker) is a term used to describe a fan of all or part of the Star Trek Fictional universe. It has been speculated that the Galor Class (and perhaps the entire Cardassian fleet) was, at some point after its introduction, upgraded. However, it can also be intuited that Cardassian technological deficits could be balanced by superior numbers and/or exceptional tactical cunning. Given that the Cardassian fleet is almost entirely optimized for military operations (unlike Starfleet) it could be surmised that they have larger numbers of these pure warships than the Federation. It is believed that Galor-class ships are weaker than later Federation vessels, so that it takes at least two Galors to seriously challenge a large starship like a Galaxy-class vessel. The Galaxy class is a fictional class of Starship in the Science fiction franchise Star Trek.

A more powerful Cardassian ship is the Keldon class starship (which is similar to the Galor-class with more defined aft wings and a large trapezoidal pod atop the main hull). This is a list of Starship classes in use by the Cardassian Union in the Star Trek Fictional universe. This ship class is assumed to be comparable to the Galaxy-class in tactical capability; why they have not been seen in greater numbers is uncertain. However, the Federation only built a handful of Galaxy-class vessels itself, so perhaps large numbers of the similarly advanced Keldon should not be expected. The Cardassian Obsidian Order kept a fleet of Keldon class starships which were used in conjunction with the Romulan Tal Shiar during the sneak attack in the Omarion Nebula. Cardassians are a spacefaring race in the fictional Star Trek universe Romulans are an alien species in the Star Trek universe that are related to the Vulcans and are at war or in an uneasy truce with the United Federation of the Star Trek Fictional universe, the Tal Shiar is a Romulan intelligence organization comparable to the CIA and the KGB In the fictional Star Trek universe the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races

The Cardassians have also been known to operate small attack craft such as the Hideki class scout. It is a small attack craft composed of a semi-elliptical fore with a short aft extension ending in a pincer-shaped disruptor weapon. Due to the ship's limited offensive power the Hideki class is confined to border patrol duties during peace time. During the Dominion War the class was present in several major conflicts, they operate in large groups and swarm enemy ships, this allows them to overpower much heavier vessels.

All Cardassian warships seen so far are painted ochre, and have backwards-swept delta winged hulls (resembling an ankh); the delta wings resemble fins, giving the Cardassian ships the appearance of predatory rays. Ankylosis progressive homolog (mouse, also known as ANKH, is a human Gene.

Cardassia Prime

Cardassia Prime from high orbit
Cardassia Prime from high orbit

The Cardassians' homeworld, Cardassia Prime (also known simply as "Cardassia"), is the seventh planet of its system. The planet's climate is warmer than that preferred by several species—human and Bajoran characters, among others, make comments throughout Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's run about Cardassians' preference for heat, while characters like Elim Garak complain about the uncomfortably cool temperatures preferred by non-Cardassians. Bajorans, a race of Humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe were introduced in the Next Generation series and played Elim Garak is a Fictional character in the television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, in which he is portrayed by Andrew J Its landscape is often arid, though animal and plantlife are still plentiful on the surface.

History

Pre-Dominion membership

In Cardassia's early history, its inhabitants were a peaceful and spiritual people. In the days of the First Hebitian Civilization, the Cardassians collected works of art from all over the Alpha Quadrant and the planet boasted a vast wealth of art and culture; the people were said to have elaborate burial vaults with unimaginable treasures. In the television series Star Trek and its spin-offs Galactic quadrant refers to an area of the Milky Way Galaxy (although it's apparently no longer called Unfortunately, Cardassia's lack of natural resources caused terrible famine, and the Hebitian civilization fell into decay. Natural resources are naturally occurring substances that are considered valuable in their relatively unmodified ( natural) form A famine is a widespread shortage of food that may apply to any Faunal species which phenomenon is usually accompanied by regional Malnutrition, Starvation Its ruins were plundered by starving Cardassians who sought to sell whatever they could to provide for themselves. A military dictatorship soon came to power, building fleets of warships and invading nearby worlds. A military dictatorship is a Form of government wherein the political power resides with the Military; it is similar but not identical to a Stratocracy, Of particular note is Bajor which was occupied for fifty years, and the end of whose occupation destabilised the Cardassian government. Bajorans, a race of Humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe were introduced in the Next Generation series and played Bajorans, a race of Humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe were introduced in the Next Generation series and played

The date of first contact between the Cardassians and Starfleet is unknown, but is likely to have occurred mid-to-late 22nd Century, as a Cardassian exile, Iloja of Prim, lived on Vulcan during that time period. Vulcans are a Humanoid species in the fictional Star Trek universe who hail from the planet Vulcan, and are noted for their attempt Sometime before 2347 the Cardassians attempted to expand into Federation territory and war broke out, lasting around twenty years. The United Federation of Planets, (also known as the "The Federation" or UFP) is a fictional interplanetary state depicted in the Star Trek Captain Edward Jellico spearheaded successful attempts by Starfleet to negotiate a peace treaty which ended the war. Starfleet ranks and insignia are fictional titles and badges that form the Hierarchy of Starfleet in the Star Trek television shows and movies This article describes the Starfleet organization in the Star Trek universe for other uses see Starfleet (disambiguation In the Fictional universe

Shortly after the Cardassians withdrew from Bajor, a Federation presence was established aboard Terok Nor, renamed Deep Space Nine, to assist the Bajoran Provisional Government in rebuilding Bajor. The Space station Deep Space Nine ( DS9) is the main setting of the Science fiction Television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine The Space station Deep Space Nine ( DS9) is the main setting of the Science fiction Television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine Bajorans, a race of Humanoids in the fictional Star Trek universe were introduced in the Next Generation series and played However, the Federation officers discovered a wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant close to the station ("Emissary"). In the television series Star Trek and its spin-offs Galactic quadrant refers to an area of the Milky Way Galaxy (although it's apparently no longer called " Emissary " is the Pilot episode of the Television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine. Roughly four months later, the Federation-Cardassian borders were redefined, with the two sides buffered by a demilitarized zone. However, the new border treaty gave Cardassia control of several worlds inhabited by Federation colonists and the Federation colonies inhabited by Cardassians. Disgruntled colonists in the area, feeling that their opinions and wishes had been ignored by both sides, formed a resistance movement known as The Maquis. The Maquis were a Fictional group in the Star Trek universe who were introduced in the Television series Star Trek Deep Space

In January of 2372 (Stardate 49011) the Klingon Empire attacked the Cardassia, believing the Detapa Council of Cardassia (which had just come to power in the wake of the Cardassian Central Command being overthrown, making it the first civilian government of the Cardassian Union with Gul Dukat as military advisor) had been infiltrated by the Dominion ("The Way of the Warrior"). Stardates are a means of specifying absolute dates in the fictional Star Trek universe. Klingons ( Klingon: tlhIngan; Pronunciation /ˈt͡ɬɪŋɑn/ are a warrior race in the fictional Star Trek universe Cardassians are a spacefaring race in the fictional Star Trek universe " The Way of the Warrior " is a feature-length episode of the Television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine. The attack was led by General Martok who, it turned out, had been himself replaced by a shapeshifter, one of the leaders of the Dominion (first revealed in "Apocalypse Rising"; see also "In Purgatory's Shadow"). Martok is a recurring character in Star Trek Deep Space Nine, played by actor J This is a list of sentient species and races from the Fictional universe of Star Trek. "In Purgatory's Shadow" is an episode of the Television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, the fourteenth episode of the fifth season

Dominion membership

Then, sometime between October 2372 and February 2373, with a Dominion attack on Deep Space Nine imminent, Gul Dukat announced the Cardassian Union's entry into the Dominion, shocking not only the Federation but most Cardassians as well. At the same time, Gul Dukat announced his ascension as leader of the Cardassian Union. Five days later, nearly the entire Maquis movement was slaughtered by the Dominion (except for those on the USS Voyager, that was lost in the Delta Quadrant at the time). The Maquis were a Fictional group in the Star Trek universe who were introduced in the Television series Star Trek Deep Space The fictional ''Intrepid''-class Starship USS Voyager is the primary setting of the Science fiction Television series In the television series Star Trek and its spin-offs Galactic quadrant refers to an area of the Milky Way Galaxy (although it's apparently no longer called Otherwise, nearly all the other Maquis who had not died were in Federation prisons.

The Cardassians (as members of the Dominion) captured DS9 ("Call to Arms"), but the Federation managed to block the Bajoran wormhole with self-replicating mines, preventing the Dominion from sending reinforcements from the Gamma Quadrant. " Call to Arms " is the title of the twenty-sixth and final Episode of the fifth Season of the Television series Star Trek

Gul Damar discovered a way to disable the self-replication of the mines and completed the procedure and fired on the minefield seconds before Rom and Kira disabled DS9's weapons in hopes to prevent just that. Damar was a recurring character in the Science fiction television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, played by Casey Biggs. Rom is a recurring character on Star Trek Deep Space Nine. He is played by Max Grodénchik. Kira Nerys, played by Nana Visitor, is a main character in Star Trek Deep Space Nine. The USS Defiant attacked DS9 and managed to take it back when the Bajoran Prophets destroyed an entire Dominion fleet, sent to reinforce Dominion lines, on its way through the wormhole. The USS Defiant (NX-74205 is a fictional Starship in the television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine (DS9 and the Feature film In the fictional Star Trek universe the Prophets, also known as Wormhole Aliens, are non-corporeal beings who inhabit the artificially constructed Bajoran wormhole Gul Dukat was captured after his daughter Ziyal was killed by Gul Damar, who was then promoted to Legate ("Sacrifice of Angels"). This is a list of minor characters from the Science fiction television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine. Damar was a recurring character in the Science fiction television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, played by Casey Biggs. " Sacrifice of Angels " was the sixth episode from the sixth season of Star Trek Deep Space Nine.

Under the leadership of Damar, the Cardassian Union, along with the Dominion, continued to gain ground over the Klingon-Federation alliance, and even after Benjamin Sisko and Garak tricked the Romulans into breaking their nonaggression treaty with the Dominion and joining the alliance ("In the Pale Moonlight") they still managed to keep the upper hand. Klingons ( Klingon: tlhIngan; Pronunciation /ˈt͡ɬɪŋɑn/ are a warrior race in the fictional Star Trek universe Benjamin Lafayette Sisko, played by Avery Brooks, is the main character of the Television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine. Elim Garak is a Fictional character in the television series Star Trek Deep Space Nine, in which he is portrayed by Andrew J Romulans are an alien species in the Star Trek universe that are related to the Vulcans and are at war or in an uneasy truce with the United Federation of "In the Pale Moonlight" (working title Patriot) is the 19th episode of the sixth season of Star Trek Deep Space Nine.

Opposition to the Dominion

Damar, however, was not happy. While he had hoped that Cardassia's joining the Dominion would strengthen their power, he felt that they were no longer in control of even their own planet, having to report to the Dominion representative Weyoun and the Founders, and Cardassian troops were being sacrificed seemingly meaninglessly without his permission. Weyoun (played by Jeffrey Combs) is second-in-command of Dominion forces in the Alpha Quadrant, on Star Trek Deep Space Nine Changelings are an alien race from the Star Trek universe Members of this race have the unique ability to Shapeshift. For a time, Damar sank into heavy drinking. Shortly after the Breen joined the Dominion, almost guaranteeing the Dominion's victory, Damar organised a revolt but was betrayed by a man he approached in order to bring into the conspiracy. The Breen are a fictional extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek Science fiction franchise A Cardassian named Broca became Legate and puppet ruler of Cardassia after with his information, and treason within the Revolt, the Dominion crushed it and forced Damar into hiding.

The revolt started out as just a small legion of troops headed by Damar, but during the final assault on The Dominion over Cardassia Prime by the Federation-Klingon-Romulan alliance, Damar managed to get an open revolt started on Cardassia itself. In response to Cardassian citizens engaging in acts sabotage, the Dominion punished the Cardassians by destroying Lakarian City killing millions of men, women, and children in the process of reducing it to ashes. In the Fictional Star Trek universe the Dominion War was a war between the Dominion, Cardassian Union and the Breen Confederacy As a result, the Cardassian fleet switched sides during battle and assisted the alliance, opening a hole in the Dominion lines and forcing the Jem'Hadar and the Breen to establish a new defense perimeter around Cardassia Prime itself. In the fictional Star Trek universe the Jem'Hadar are the Shock troops of the powerful Dominion located in the Gamma Quadrant. The Breen are a fictional extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek Science fiction franchise Cardassians are a spacefaring race in the fictional Star Trek universe When word of the fleet's defection reached the Dominion command center, the Female Changeling ordered every Cardassian on the planet killed. The Female Changeling (also known as the Founder Leader in spin-off texts no actual name for her is ever given played by Salome Jens, is a Fictional character

With the Cardassian fleet helping the alliance and the rebel's attack on the Dominion headquarters on Cardassia, the Dominion surrendered, ending the Dominion War. In the Fictional Star Trek universe the Dominion War was a war between the Dominion, Cardassian Union and the Breen Confederacy

The Cardassian cost due to the Dominion War was the highest of all the major powers. The homeworld was severely damaged by the Dominion, whose Founders ordered a "scorched earth" approach to the Cardassians' homeworld for their betrayal during the final battle of the war. A scorched earth policy is a military strategy or operational method (possibly more often referred to as a tactic but this is not entirely correct as there is a difference between Cardassia was in much worse shape than Bajor and would require years of rebuilding. The long term effect on the ecology of the planet remains to be seen. Over 800 million Cardassians died on Cardassia alone. It remains to be seen if the Cardassian race will be able to recover from this disaster.

Mirror universe Cardassians

In the Mirror Universe, the Cardassians formed an alliance with the Klingon Empire after conquering the Terran Empire. The Mirror Universe (MU is a Fictional parallel universe in which the plots of several Star Trek television episodes take place Klingons ( Klingon: tlhIngan; Pronunciation /ˈt͡ɬɪŋɑn/ are a warrior race in the fictional Star Trek universe In the Fictional universe of Star Trek, the Terran Empire is the Mirror Universe counterpart of the United Federation of Planets Beyond that, the Cardassians of the Mirror universe appear to be more or less identical to their more familiar counterparts.

In the Voyager episodes "Futures End", Captain Braxton, after having been thrown into the 20th century, describes a police officer as being "pseudo-Cardassian". This seems to suggest both that Cardassia and Starfleet are still not on good terms, and also that despite the reforms after the end of the Dominion War, the Cardassia is still a militaristic police state.

References

External links

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic