Spotlight On: Deep Space Nine

by Charlie Plaine, Chairman

4th May 2008

"When I first took command of this post, all I wanted was to be somewhere else. Anywhere but here. But now, five years later, this station has become my home. And you've become my family. Leaving this place, leaving you, is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do... I promise, I will not rest until I stand with you again. Here. In this place. Where I belong." - Capt. Benjamin Sisko

Story

When the Cardassians left Bajor in shambles after a brutal occupation, the Bajoran government turned to the Federation for assistance in rebuilding. The abandoned mining station - Terok Nor - became starbase Deep Space Nine (DS9), her crew assigned to help Bajor prepare to join the Federation. But the discovery of the wormhole changed everything.

The station was moved from orbit of Bajor to the mouth of the wormhole to solidify Bajor's claim - and overnight, the Bajoran system went from a poor, isolated system to one of the key places in the Alpha Quadrant. The discovery of a stable wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant brought new resources and new friends to Bajor - as well as new enemies.

Deep Space Nine would become critically important to protecting the Federation (and the entire Alpha Quadrant), and received significant weapons and defensive upgrades several years after being taken over by the Federation. These became invaluable during a brief conflict with the Klingon Empire in 2372, and again during the opening battle of the Dominion War in 2373. It was during the latter conflict that Sisko and the Federation were forced to abandon DS9 to the Cardassian/Dominion alliance, although they retook the station several months later.

DS9 remained a critical outpost for trade, exploration, diplomacy and military command through the Dominion War, eventually playing host to the official surrender of The Dominion to the Alpha Quadrant Alliance of Klingons, Romulans and the Federation. With the war over, and Bajor ready to take its place as a key member of the United Federation of Planets, DS9 will remain a key outpost for decades to come.

The Crew

Captain Benjamin Sisko was initially furious and disillusioned to be assigned to DS9, but after a spiritual experience, became a dedicated and decorated officer. He came to love Bajor and the Bajoran people, embracing his destiny as the Bajoran Emissary of the Prophets, though it often brought him into conflict as a Starfleet officer. After leading the Alliance to victory over the Dominion, he fought a more important battle against Gul Dukat and the Pah-wraiths in the Bajoran Fire Caves. His fate remains unknown.

Kira Nerys was a former Bajoran Resistance fighter that became the liaison officer to the Federation and the First Officer of DS9. Originally very reluctant to accept the help of the Federation, she learned to respect their values and their determination to provide safety and protection for Bajor. With the disappearance of Captain Sisko, Colonel Kira was left in command of DS9.

Commander Worf joined the crew of DS9 in response to the dissolving of the Khitomer Accords and the renewed hostilities between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. After switching to a command specialty, he became the commander of the Defiant and an essential asset during the war. Having played a major part in the rise of Chancellor Martok, Worf joined his adopted father on Qo'noS as the Federation Ambassador.

Jadzia Dax was the Science Officer aboard DS9 and the helmsman of the U.S.S. Defiant until her death in 2374. Married to Worf, she was a fierce friend and a talented officer with a bright future. The Dax symbiant was transferred to Ezri Dax, who returned to DS9 and served as the station's counselor, and played a key part in the final months of the Dominion War.

Julian Bashir arrived on DS9 as a young, arrogant, naive officer fresh out of medical school. His experiences on DS9 taught him much, but the revelation of his genetic engineering shed much light on the doctor's character. Highly-intelligent, confident, and incredibly-skilled, he managed to conceal the truth for decades. His skill and talent allowed him to discover a cure for the illness that infected the Founders and played a critical role in ending the war.

Chief Miles O'Brien joined the crew of DS9 as an experienced engineer, soldier, and loyal crewman. He cunningly and creatively found ways to integrate crude Cardassian technology with that of the Federation, often having to work with minimal safeguards and poorly-maintained parts. He took special pride in serving as the chief engineer of the Defiant, but was deeply troubled by the outbreak of war against the Dominion. Once over, he took the opportunity to return to Earth with his family as an instructor at Starfleet Academy.

"Constable" Odo, the station's Chief of Security, knew little of his origin until making the terrifying discovery that his people were the Founders of the Dominion. This knowledge would tear at Odo, who had great respect for, and felt extreme loyalty to, the "solids" of the Alpha Quadrant, but longed to return home and be with his people. This duality would be key to ending the war, as well as Odo's decision to leave his true love - Kira Nerys - and rejoin his people as they entered a new era.

Quark was a devious, scheming, typical Ferengi that owned and operated a bar on the Promenade of DS9. Ready to abandon the station with the arrival of the Federation, he was "convinced" to stay at the coaxing of Sisko. Exposure to the Federation provided many opportunities for Quark to make considerable profit, and revealed that beneath his greedy, conniving nature, he was an honorable Ferengi.

In-Game

DS9 debuted in Second Edition as one of the Federation's sub-affiliations, and as one of the few sub-affiliations to have two headquarters to choose from (the station, which allows Bajoran, Federation, Cardassian and Ferengi to report, and a version of Earth). Since then, DS9 has gained valuable assets in almost every set, but particularly in Energize and These Are the Voyages.

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