Cardassia Prime

**Cardassia Prime**, also known as **Cardassia** or the **Cardassian homeworld**, was the second planet in the system, inhabited and therefore considered the system's prime planet. The planet is known to have one moon. Cardassia Prime was seen as the capital of the Cardassian Union, and the homeworld of the Cardassians, a warp-capable humanoid species.

In comparison to Humans, Cardassians preferred a darker, warmer and more humid environment, most likely reflecting the surface conditions on their homeworld.

Two major cities were Lakarian City, destroyed by the Jem'Hadar, and Lakat. Common animals were the vole, gettle, riding hounds, taspars, and wompats.

## Planetary History

Prior to the militarization of the Cardassian government, Cardassia was home to some of the finest art and architecture in the galaxy. However, due to the planet's scarcity in natural resources, the Cardassian civilization fell in to severe decay. Impoverished from famine and disease, millions died. In their recorded 19th Century, the Detapa Council, Cardassian Central Command, and Obsidian Order were jointly established, forming what was eventually known as the Cardassian Union. By the mid-22nd century, Cardassian interstellar space travelers had been covertly observed by the Organians. The "First Republic" existed as of the early-23rd century, and was known for its serialist poetry. As an impoverished species, the Cardassians turned to militaristic ways to keep things in order, and their population alive.

The Cardassian people relied heavily on their military's expansion into the galaxy, obtaining the natural resources they needed to keep Cardassia's people alive. In order to sustain the population, the military colonized numerous worlds, and in return had complete power over the people, ruling as a totalitarian military dictatorship. In order to battle recurring famines on Cardassia, the military would occupy nearby planets, subjugating the native people to work as forced laborers. The Cardassian occupation of neighbor Bajor began in 2319, before the planet was formally annexed in 2328, under Federation pressure. Their expansion also brought the Cardassians into conflict with the Klingon Empire, as well as the Federation, which led to the creation of the Federation-Cardassian Demilitarized Zone.

When the Cardassian Obsidian Order no longer existed, and unable to keep the population in line, a fanatical separatist group began to unleash their frustration on the Federation and Bajor, through terrorism and sabotage. They blamed the Federation for Cardassia's economic and political problems, and strongly opposed the Bajoran-Cardassian Treaty signed the prior year. During the Dominion War, the Cardassian Union's borders returned to their pre-war state. Under the Dominion rule, Cardassian government was purely for show, and Cardassians become second-class citizens within their own territory. With the Dominion destruction of Lakarian City, the remaining Cardassian troops switched sides in the war, helping the Federation to defeat the Dominion. However, the Dominion had ordered the Jem'Hadar to punish Cardassia for their betrayal, and the planet was left devastated.

Over eight hundred million Cardassians were slaughtered in the Jem'Hadar's planet-wide genocide. The Cardassian military was reduced greatly from two years of total war against the Federation Alliance, and their economy was crippled. In the Treaty of Bajor, the Cardassian Union agreed that all Alpha Quadrant territories would revert to the status before the Dominion's entry into the quadrant.

## Timeline

* **Ancient history**: The spiritual and peaceful First Hebitian civilization thrives on Cardassia Prime, leaving behind burial vaults and artifacts of jevonite.

* **16th century**: By stumbling upon tachyon eddies, Bajoran explorers in their lightships reach Cardassia Prime, crashing on the planet and possibly initiating first contact.

* **19th century**: The Detapa Council, Cardassian Central Command and Obsidian Order are jointly established, forming what is eventually known as the Cardassian Union.

* **Mid-22nd century**: By this time, Cardassians travel through interstellar space. Also during that century, the impoverished Cardassian population discovers and plunders the ancient First Hebitian burial vaults.

* **Early-23rd century**: As of this time, the First Republic exists on Cardassia.

* **2319**: Around this year, the Cardassian Union begins "to help and develop" Bajor, starting its de facto occupation.

* **2328**: Bajor is formally annexed by the Cardassian Union.

* **2346**: Gul Dukat becomes Prefect of Bajor and begins the 5 years-long construction of Terok Nor, an ore-processing and command station.

* **2360**: Dukat assumes command of the now-completed Terok Nor.

* **2367**: The Federation and the Cardassian Union sign an armistice, ending the Federation-Cardassian War.

* **2369**: The Cardassian Union withdraws from Bajor, ending the Occupation.

* **2370**: A Cardassian scheme to reassert their influence over Bajor fails. Later that year, the Federation-Cardassian Treaty is signed, leading to the establishment of the Demilitarized Zone, but also the formation of a resistance movement, the Maquis.

* **2371**: The Bajoran-Cardassian Treaty initiates the normalization of relations between both governments. Later that year, the Obsidian Order is wiped out by the Dominion in the Battle of the Omarion Nebula.

* **2372**: The Cardassian dissident movement overthrows Central Command and full authority is restored to the Detapa Council. Fearing Dominion involvement in the recent civilian takeover, the Klingon Empire starts the Klingon-Cardassian War and occupies parts of Cardassian territory. A terrorist group known as the "True Way" soon emerges and blames the Federation for Cardassia's troubles.

* **2373**: Gul Dukat leads his people into becoming a full member of the Dominion. With Jem'Hadar assistance, the Maquis are destroyed, and the Klingons are expelled from Cardassian territory. Toward the end of the year, the Dominion-Cardassian forces conquer Deep Space 9, starting the Dominion War.

* **2374**: After an initial string of successes, the Federation succeeds in retaking DS9, forcing the Dominion to withdraw to Cardassian territory. Leadership of the Cardassian Union is transferred to Damar. Later that year, the Federation Alliance manages to occupy the Chin'toka system, the first part of Cardassian territory lost during the war.

* **2375**: The Breen join the Dominion's side in the war. The Cardassian Rebellion is launched against the Dominion. The Rebellion incites a civilian uprising on Cardassia, to which the Dominion responds by destroying Lakarian City. This causes the Cardassian fleet to switch sides and join the Federation Alliance during the Battle of Cardassia. The Female Changeling's last order to exterminate the entire Cardassian population is never carried out and the Dominion surrenders after at least 800 million Cardassians (including Damar) have been killed and Cardassia Prime is in ruins. The Cardassian Union subsequently becomes a signatory of the Treaty of Bajor, formally ending the Dominion War.