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Bajor is the planet closest to Deep Space Nine, inhabited by deeply spiritual and mystical
people. The Bajorans have been involved in an age-old conflict with the Cardassians that
has resulted in several bloody battles and the near destruction of their lovely planet,
renowned for its striking architecture and sweeping landscapes.
The Cardassians are volatile people who conquered the planet Bajor a century ago. After
years of battle with Bajoran terrorists, the Cardassians unilaterally withdrew from
Bajoran space -- but not before ravaging the planet by poisoning wells, scorching the land
and desecrating the ancient temple that is the center of Bajoran spiritual worship.
Changelings are a species of intelligent life with the power to alter its molecular
structure into that of other life-forms. Security Chief Odo (Rene Auberjonois) was a
Changeling until the Dominion Stripped him of his shape shifting powers. He maintained a
humanoid form while at work, but returned to his natural form, a glutinous orange fluid,
every 16 hours.
The Defiant is a Starfleet ship originally built to combat the evil Borg encountered in
"Star Trek: The Next Generation." The Defiant is a powerful, fully-weaponed ship
that is approximately three times the size of the existing runabouts on Deep Space Nine.
The addition of the Defiant allows the senior staff to travel as a team into the Gamma
Quadrant.
Deep Space Nine was assembled over several years by Cardassian and Bajoran work teams. It
began as a Cardassian station in the Bajoran system during the Cardassian occupation. When
the Cardassians abandoned Bajor, they stripped the space station of all advanced
technology and defense capabilities. Thus, the Starfleet team is constantly plagued with
operational challenges. Approximately 200 people reside permanently on the station, where
they serve as Starfleet officials, run businesses on the Promenade, and cater to the
highly unusual and intriguing array of aliens, explorers, merchants and spies that make
stops enroute to their final destinations.
Ferengi are a technologically sophisticated humanoid race. Possessing a strict code of
honor, the Ferengi follow a philosophy which ruthlessly embraces the principles of
capitalism. They are also sexist in the extreme, and do not allow female Ferengi the honor
of clothing, although Ferengi males often find human females very attractive. Shortly
after first contact with the Federation, Ferengi entrepreneurs saw new opportunities and
quickly assimilated themselves into Federation commerce, as did Quark, who established a
bar at Deep Space Nine.
Klingons are a humanoid warrior race originally from the planet Qo'noS. A proud, tradition
bound people who value honor, the aggressive Klingon culture has made them a military
power to be respected and feared. The most famous to viewers is Worf, portrayed by Michael
Dorn.
Operations Control Center , located in the heart of Deep Space Nine, houses the Operations
Table, Main Viewer, Engineering and Science console -- basically all of the station's
primary controls. The facility is structured in a multi-tiered fashion, and is a constant
hub of activity. The Ops Center also contains a Transporter pad.
The Promenade is a vast, multi-level, circular thoroughfare that is the financial and
social center of Deep Space Nine. Not only are several stores located there, but one will
find the infirmary, the tailor shop of Garak, the enigmatic Cardassian and Odo's Security
office. The Promenade is also the address of Quark's Bar, the meeting place for all
residing on the space station.
A wormhole is a tunnel in the fabric of space, which enables one to take shortcuts from
one part of the galaxy to another part. All known wormholes previously encountered in the
Star Trek universe have been unstable and tended to last for brief periods of time before
collapsing in on themselves. Bajor's enviable position near the first stable wormhole
grants it the possibility of becoming the leading center of scientific exploration and
commerce in its sector.
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