Changes: Bajoran wormhole

Revision as of 03:33, 10 March 2016

"I remember when I first saw the gate of the Celestial Temple – I was on the Promenade. When it burst into view, this whirlpool of color and light, the people all around me were in awe. They said they could feel the love of the Prophets washing over them."

– Kai Winn Adami, 2375 ("Strange Bedfellows")

The Bajoran wormhole was the only stable wormhole known to exist in the Milky Way Galaxy. It was the home of extra-dimensional beings who were worshiped by the Bajorans as gods, known as the Prophets. Before the wormhole was discovered by Commander Benjamin Sisko and Lieutenant Jadzia Dax in 2369, it was considered to be a myth. (DS9: "Emissary")

Names

The Bajoran wormhole was referred to as the Celestial Temple in Bajoran religious context. Kor, a Klingon, once called the wormhole the "Eye of Destiny". In the Gamma Quadrant, the wormhole was known as "the anomaly" by the Jem'Hadar, and to the Skrreea, according to their mythology, it was the Eye of the Universe. The wormhole was known to the Changelings as the "passageway". (DS9: "Emissary", "Sanctuary", "The Jem'Hadar", "The Search, Part II", "The Sword of Kahless")

Astronomical data

File:Voyager flight path Astrometrics.jpg

A star chart depicting the location of the Gamma Quadrant terminus of the wormhole

Bajoran wormhole schematic — A schematic of the Bajoran wormhole

The Bajoran wormhole connected two points in the Milky Way Galaxy together 70,000 light years apart. One terminus was located in the Alpha Quadrant, in the Denorios belt of the Bajoran system. The other terminus was located in deep space in the Gamma Quadrant, 4.7234 light years away from the Idran system. (DS9: "Emissary") For the fastest Federation starship in 2369, it would have taken 67 years to cross the distance, but through the wormhole the passage was nearly instantaneous. (DS9: "Captive Pursuit", "Battle Lines")

Because it was stable, the Bajoran wormhole did not have any of the usual resonance waves found in other wormholes. (DS9: "Emissary") It was theorized by Starfleet that the wormhole was formed by verterons, particles that were self-sustaining in nature. (DS9: "In the Hands of the Prophets") Highly elevated levels of neutrinos were also commonly detected prior to the appearance of the wormhole's event horizon, and as a vessel traversed the passage. It was believed that verteron nodes inside the wormhole played a large part in keeping the wormhole stable. (DS9: "In the Hands of the Prophets", "Captive Pursuit"; VOY: "Child's Play")

History

Bajoran wormhole opening — The wormhole opens

Bajoran historical records indicate that the wormhole had most likely been in existence for at least the past ten thousand years by the late 24th century. The nine Orbs which had appeared on or near Bajor in that time, and are revered as active links between the Bajoran people and the Prophets, are thought to have come from the wormhole. There were also several unexplained incidents over the centuries that were later attributed to the wormhole after its discovery. In the 22nd century, at least two Bajorans encountered the wormhole: Kai Taluno, whose ship was disabled inside the Denorios belt for several days and reported that "the heavens opened up and nearly swallowed the ship."; and Akorem Laan, whose lightship was damaged in an ion storm, drifted into the Denorios belt, and was then swallowed by the wormhole, where it, and Akorem, would stay with the Prophets until 2372.

Due to the Denorios belt being generally avoided by interplanetary traffic, the wormhole remained undiscovered until 2369, shortly after the end of the Cardassian Occupation of Bajor. When Starfleet took over the operation of the space station Terok Nor in orbit of Bajor, Commander Benjamin Sisko and science officer Lieutenant Jadzia Dax investigated the many reported anomalies in the belt aboard the USS Rio Grande, and became the official discoverers of the wormhole. Shortly thereafter, the station, renamed Deep Space 9, was relocated at a position near the terminus of the wormhole. (DS9: "Emissary", "Accession")

Keiko O'Brien's classroom aboard Deep Space 9 in 2369 featured a wall chart with an image of the Bajoran wormhole beside other Federation starships. She discussed the history and scientific roots of the wormhole in her lessons, though in a secular fashion, which angered some of the Bajoran devout. (DS9: "The Nagus", "In the Hands of the Prophets")

On one occasion, the wormhole transported a runabout and two crew members to a parallel universe in 2370. This was due to a plasma injector leak which caused the runabout to enter the wormhole with an only partially-collapsed warp field. The two crew members, Major Kira Nerys and Doctor Julian Bashir, were later able to return to their own universe by recreating the accident and returning through the wormhole. (DS9: "Crossover")

The wormhole had an enormous impact on interstellar politics in the Alpha Quadrant. In the first two years, many races eagerly sent explorers and freighters through the wormhole to open relations with new trading partners, and to establish new colonies. However, the wormhole also brought the powers of the Alpha Quadrant into contact with the Dominion, a powerful government that controlled a large swath of territory in the Gamma Quadrant. (DS9: "The Jem'Hadar")

File:BajoranWormholeinside.jpg

The interior of the wormhole

In 2371, Starfleet initiated a joint scientific project with the Bajoran and Cardassian governments to establish a trans-wormhole subspace communications relay, to make it possible for ships in the Gamma Quadrant to contact home, as well as to provide early warning of any Dominion attack. The mission was complicated by a warning from Bajoran Vedek Yarka, who cited Trakor's Third Prophecy, about the potential destruction of the Celestial Temple. This prophecy was unexpectedly validated soon after with the approach of a previously-unknown, long-period comet. This comet was infused with silithium, which had the potential to permanently destabilize the wormhole if it interacted with the verteron particles in the passage. Unable to alter the comet's trajectory, a shuttlepod from the USS Defiant used a deflector shield to prevent the comet's material from contaminating the wormhole. During the transit, trace amounts of silithium inadvertently leaked through the shields, however, the small amounts did not destabilize the wormhole, but instead created a subspace filament inside the wormhole that allowed normal communication between the quadrants. (DS9: "Destiny")

In 2373, when a Dominion invasion became inevitable, Starfleet ordered the entrance to the wormhole be collapsed. Doctor Lenara Kahn of the Trill Science Ministry had devised a means, using a phase-conjugate graviton beam to seal the wormhole without causing damage to it or harming the Prophets. Deep Space 9 was able to rig the phase-conjugate beam by remodulating the station's deflector grid frequencies and projecting it through its graviton emitters. Unfortunately, when executed, it was discovered that the emitters were sabotaged and, as a result, the phase-conjugate graviton beam had the exact opposite effect on the wormhole, and rendered the wormhole's spatial matrix even more stable than before, so stable in fact that not even trilithium explosives could destroy the wormhole. Thus, Starfleet was unable to prevent a series of Dominion fleets from entering the Alpha Quadrant. (DS9: "In Purgatory's Shadow")

A few months later, Starfleet was forced to blockade the wormhole with self-replicating mines in order to prevent the growing Dominion threat to the Alpha Quadrant. Deep Space 9 was subsequently lost to the Dominion in the opening battle of the Dominion War, but the minefield was successfully planted, preventing further Dominion ships from traversing the wormhole. The minefield was eventually destroyed while the Federation attempted to retake the station. The Dominion fleet that was passing through the wormhole at the time was destroyed by the Prophets however, since the Prophets' Emissary chose to die trying to stop the Dominion fleet rather than heed their will. After this event, no further traffic passed through the wormhole until the end of the war.

Ronald D. Moore commented that, after the invading Dominion fleet was destroyed, "the Prophets probably would stop any Dominion ship from coming through the wormhole." (AOL chat, 1997)

With the wormhole considered impassable, the Dominion introduce a new breed of Jem'Hadar, the Alphas, in 2374. (DS9: "One Little Ship")

In a possible deleted or unfilmed scene from the episode, Nog stated his opinion that the introduction of the Alphas could mean the Dominion would not need to bring reinforcements through the wormhole.

Wormhole collapsing — The wormhole collapses.

The wormhole was apparently destroyed in late-2374, when Dukat, acting as a conduit for the exiled Pah-wraiths, attacked the Orb of Contemplation, which was then housed on Deep Space 9. Following Dukat's attack, all of the Orbs went dark, and the wormhole itself disappeared. Dukat's aim was to force the Prophets out and make the wormhole passable again for Dominion reinforcements, although he did not anticipate that the wormhole would collapse. (DS9: "Tears of the Prophets", "Covenant")

The disappearance of the wormhole and the apparent loss of contact with their deities caused great consternation and fear among the Bajorans, as well as the rise of the Cult of the Pah-wraiths. The wormhole remained closed for the next three months, until Benjamin Sisko, acting as the Emissary of the Prophets, discovered the Orb of the Emissary on Tyree in early-2375. The discovery of the previously-unknown tenth Orb caused the re-opening of the wormhole. (DS9: "Image in the Sand", "Shadows and Symbols")

Later that year, Dukat told Damar that he had no regrets in failing to reopen the wormhole by killing the Prophets. (DS9: "Penumbra")

Jake Sisko, along with Colonel Kira Nerys, watched the wormhole opening from the Promenade after Captain Sisko's encounter with Dukat in the Fire Caves. (DS9: "What You Leave Behind")

Bajoran system

B'hava'el

Bajor I • Bajor II • Bajor III • Bajor IV • Bajor V • Bajor VI • Bajor VII • Bajor VIII • Bajor IX • Bajor X • Bajor (Bajor XI) • Bajor XII • Bajor XIII • Bajor XIV

Jeraddo • Derna • Denorios belt • Bajoran wormhole

Appendices

Background information

The visual effect for the wormhole was created by Rhythm & Hues.

According to the Stellar Cartography: The Starfleet Reference Library ("Stellar Cartography", p. 42), the wormhole "cut a 70,000 light-year journey between the two quadrants down to two minutes".

Apocrypha

In the novelization of "Emissary", immediately after Dukat is rescued from the wormhole, he attempts to lay claim to it based on Cardassia's long-standing Occupation of Bajor, before Sisko coolly informs him that he has reached an agreement with the Prophets on behalf of the Federation and Bajor that they will control the wormhole, and anyone trying to go through it without the permission of those sides would find themselves lost somewhere mid-way between the wormhole's entrances (Although given later events with various sides using the wormhole this may have been at least partly a bluff).

In the Deep Space Nine book trilogy Millennium, there was a second Bajoran wormhole, a Pah-wraith wormhole that opened when the three Orbs of the Pah-wraiths were brought together in Quark's. The second wormhole actually opened inside of Quark's, ripping Deep Space 9 to pieces. The opening of the second wormhole nearly spelled Armageddon for the entire universe as, in an alternate future, Kai Weyoun triggered a gravimetric explosion that brought both wormholes together, causing them to connect to each other and swallow the entire universe. However, thanks to the actions of Ben Sisko, the crew of the USS Defiant, and Elim Garak, Quark, and Jake Sisko (who were close enough to the wormholes to be absorbed directly into the dimension of the Prophets and the Pah-Wraiths when the wormholes opened rather than being consumed), these events were undone when they took advantage of a temporal anomaly inside the wormhole dimension- putting them in touch with DS9 prior to its destruction and in the last days of the Occupation- to alter the events leading up to the destruction of Deep Space 9- without altering anything that would prevent them being in a position to make those changes-, culminating in them destroying a ship from that alternate future and using the energy to prevent the second wormhole forming in the first place.

In the DS9 relaunch series and the subsequent Typhon Pact series, a renegade branch of the Typhon Pact – an alliance of the Federation's enemies – manage to create an artificial wormhole that 'connects' to the Bajoran wormhole so that they can enter the Gamma Quadrant in secret in the novel Raise the Dawn, believing that Dominion technology will help them develop their own version of the quantum slipstream drive. This artifical wormhole is destroyed by Kira Nerys, but her attack apparently costs her her life and closes the Bajoran wormhole, leaving Odo trapped in the Alpha Quadrant. The wormhole remained sealed for two years until the official 're-opening' of the new DS9 in The Fall: Revelation and Dust.

External links

Bajoran wormhole at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
Bajoran wormhole at Wikipedia

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{faupdate}}
 [[File:Bajoran wormhole.jpg|thumb|The Bajoran wormhole, as seen from [[Deep Space 9]]]]
-:"''I remember when I first saw the gate of the Celestial Temple &ndash; I was on the [[Promenade]]. When it burst into view, this whirlpool of color and light, the people all around me were in awe. They said they could feel the love of the Prophets washing over them.''"
+{{article quote|I remember when I first saw the gate of the Celestial Temple &ndash; I was on the Promenade. When it burst into view, this whirlpool of color and light, the people all around me were in awe. They said they could feel the love of the Prophets washing over them.|[[Kai]] [[Winn Adami]]|2375|Strange Bedfellows}}
+The '''Bajoran wormhole''' was the only stable [[wormhole]] known to exist in the [[Milky Way Galaxy]]. It was the home of extra-dimensional beings who were worshiped by the [[Bajoran]]s as [[god]]s, known as the [[Prophet]]s. Before the wormhole was discovered by [[Commander]] [[Benjamin Sisko]] and [[Lieutenant]] [[Jadzia Dax]] in [[2369]], it was considered to be a myth. ({{DS9|Emissary}})
-::- '''[[Kai]] [[Winn Adami]]''', [[Strange Bedfellows (episode)|2375]]
+==Names==
-The '''Bajoran wormhole''' is the only stable [[wormhole]] currently known to exist in the [[Milky Way Galaxy]]. The terminus nearest to the [[Federation]] is located in the [[Denorios belt]] in the [[Bajoran system]], and crosses some seventy thousand [[light year]]s to a point near the [[Idran system]] in the [[Gamma Quadrant]].
+The Bajoran wormhole was referred to as the '''Celestial Temple''' in Bajoran religious context. [[Kor]], a [[Klingon]], once called the wormhole the "Eye of Destiny". In the [[Gamma Quadrant]], the wormhole was known as "the [[anomaly]]" by the [[Jem'Hadar]], and to the [[Skrreea]], according to their mythology, it was the [[Eye of the Universe]]. The wormhole was known to the [[Changeling]]s as the "passageway". ({{DS9|Emissary|Sanctuary|The Jem'Hadar|The Search, Part II|The Sword of Kahless}})
+== Astronomical data ==
-The wormhole is the home of extra-dimensional beings who are worshiped by the [[Bajoran]]s as the [[Prophet]]s, and therefore is sometimes referred to as the '''Celestial Temple'''. [[Kor]], a [[Klingon]], once called the wormhole the "Eye of Destiny". In the Gamma Quadrant, the wormhole is known as "the [[anomaly]]" by the [[Jem'Hadar]]. To the [[Skrreea]], the wormhole is known as the [[Eye of the Universe]] in their mythology. ({{DS9|Emissary|The Sword of Kahless|The Jem'Hadar|Sanctuary}})
+[[File:Voyager flight path Astrometrics.jpg|thumb|A [[star chart]] depicting the location of the Gamma Quadrant terminus of the wormhole]]
+[[File:Bajoran wormhole schematic.jpg|thumb|A schematic of the Bajoran wormhole]]
+The Bajoran wormhole connected two points in the Milky Way Galaxy together 70,000 [[light year]]s apart. One terminus was located in the [[Alpha Quadrant]], in the [[Denorios belt]] of the [[Bajoran system]]. The other terminus was located in deep [[space]] in the [[Gamma Quadrant]], 4.7234 light years away from the [[Idran system]]. ({{DS9|Emissary}}) For the fastest [[Federation]] [[starship]] in 2369, it would have taken 67 years to cross the distance, but through the wormhole the passage was nearly instantaneous. ({{DS9|Captive Pursuit|Battle Lines}})
-Although the working of the wormhole was not fully known to the [[Federation]], it was theorized the wormhole was formed by unique particles that are called verterons, which are self-sustaining in nature. ({{DS9|In the Hands of the Prophets}})
+Because it was stable, the Bajoran wormhole did not have any of the usual resonance waves found in other wormholes. ({{DS9|Emissary}}) It was theorized by [[Starfleet]] that the wormhole was formed by [[verteron]]s, particles that were self-sustaining in nature. ({{DS9|In the Hands of the Prophets}}) Highly elevated levels of [[neutrino]]s were also commonly detected prior to the appearance of the wormhole's event horizon, and as a vessel traversed the passage. It was believed that verteron nodes inside the wormhole played a large part in keeping the wormhole stable. ({{DS9|In the Hands of the Prophets|Captive Pursuit}}; {{VOY|Child's Play}})
+{{clear}}
 == History ==
 [[File:Bajoran wormhole opening.jpg|thumb|The wormhole opens]]
-Bajoran historical records indicate that the wormhole has most likely been in existence for at least the past ten thousand [[year]]s. In that period of time, nine [[Orb]]s have appeared on or near [[Bajor]], and are revered as active links between the Bajoran people and their [[god]]s.
+Bajoran historical records indicate that the wormhole had most likely been in existence for at least the past ten thousand [[year]]s by the late [[24th century]]. The nine [[Orb]]s which had appeared on or near [[Bajor]] in that time, and are revered as active links between the Bajoran people and the Prophets, are thought to have come from the wormhole. There were also several unexplained incidents over the centuries that were later attributed to the wormhole after its discovery. In the [[22nd century]], at least two Bajorans encountered the wormhole: [[Kai]] [[Taluno]], whose ship was disabled inside the Denorios belt for several [[day]]s and reported that "the heavens opened up and nearly swallowed the ship."; and [[Akorem Laan]], whose [[lightship]] was damaged in an [[ion storm]], drifted into the Denorios belt, and was then swallowed by the wormhole, where it, and Akorem, would stay with the Prophets until [[2372]].
+Due to the Denorios belt being generally avoided by interplanetary traffic, the wormhole remained undiscovered until [[2369]], shortly after the end of the [[Cardassian]] [[Occupation of Bajor]]. When [[Starfleet]] took over the operation of the [[space station]] [[Terok Nor]] in orbit of Bajor, [[Commander]] [[Benjamin Sisko]] and [[science officer]] [[Lieutenant]] [[Jadzia Dax]] investigated the many reported [[anomaly|anomalies]] in the belt aboard the {{USS|Rio Grande}}, and became the official discoverers of the wormhole. Shortly thereafter, the station, renamed [[Deep Space 9]], was relocated at a position near the terminus of the wormhole. ({{DS9|Emissary|Accession}})
-There were several unexplained incidents that are now attributed to the wormhole, although it remained undiscovered until the [[24th century]]. In the [[22nd century]] at least two Bajorans encountered the wormhole: [[Kai]] [[Taluno]], whose ship was disabled inside the Denorios belt for several [[day]]s, reported that "the heavens opened up and nearly swallowed the ship."; and [[Akorem Laan]], whose [[lightship]] was damaged in an ion storm, and drifted into the Denorios belt, where he opened the wormhole and would stay with the Prophets until [[2372]]. In [[2337]], an unknown, unpiloted alien ship appeared in the Belt, with a [[Changeling|shapeshifting being]] on board (later named [[Odo]]).
+[[Keiko O'Brien]]'s [[classroom]] aboard Deep Space 9 in 2369 featured a wall chart with an image of the Bajoran wormhole beside other [[Federation starship]]s. She discussed the history and scientific roots of the wormhole in her lessons, though in a secular fashion, which angered some of the Bajoran devout. ({{DS9|The Nagus|In the Hands of the Prophets}})
-Because the Denorios belt was generally avoided by all interplanetary traffic, the wormhole remained undiscovered until [[2369]], shortly after the end of the [[Cardassian]] [[Occupation of Bajor]]. When [[Starfleet]] took over operation of the station, [[Commander]] [[Benjamin Sisko]] and [[science officer]] [[Lieutenant]] [[Jadzia Dax]] investigated the many reported [[anomaly|anomalies]] in the belt aboard the {{USS|Rio Grande}}, and became the official discoverers of the wormhole. Shortly thereafter, [[space station]] [[Deep Space 9]] was relocated to a position near the Bajor terminus of the wormhole. ({{DS9|Emissary|Accession}})
+On one occasion, the wormhole transported a [[runabout]] and two crew members to [[mirror universe|a parallel universe]] in [[2370]]. This was due to a [[plasma injector]] leak which caused the runabout to enter the wormhole with an only partially-collapsed [[warp field]]. The two crew members, [[Major]] [[Kira Nerys]] and [[Doctor]] [[Julian Bashir]], were later able to return to their own [[universe]] by recreating the accident and returning through the wormhole. ({{DS9|Crossover}})
-[[Keiko O'Brien]]'s [[classroom]] aboard Deep Space 9 featured a wall chart with an image of the Bajoran wormhole beside other [[starship]]s. She also discussed the history and scientific roots of the wormhole in her lessons. ({{DS9|The Nagus|In the Hands of the Prophets}})
+The wormhole had an enormous impact on interstellar politics in the [[Alpha Quadrant]]. In the first two years, many [[race]]s eagerly sent [[explorer]]s and [[freighter]]s through the wormhole to open relations with new trading partners, and to establish new [[colony|colonies]]. However, the wormhole also brought the powers of the Alpha Quadrant into contact with the [[Dominion]], a powerful government that controlled a large swath of territory in the Gamma Quadrant. ({{DS9|The Jem'Hadar}})
-There is no full understanding of the scientific principles that allow the wormhole to remain stable. Much information, however, has been gained through observation since its discovery. Highly elevated levels of [[neutrino]]s are commonly detected prior to the appearance of the wormhole's event horizon, and as a vessel traverses the passage. It is believed that [[Verteron|verteron nodes]] play a large part in keeping the wormhole stable. ({{DS9|In the Hands of the Prophets|Captive Pursuit}}; {{VOY|Child's Play}})
-On one occasion, the wormhole transported a [[runabout]] and two crewmembers to [[mirror universe|a parallel universe]]. This was due to a [[plasma injector]] leak which caused the runabout to enter the wormhole with an only partially-collapsed [[warp field]]. The two crewmembers, [[Major]] [[Kira Nerys]] and [[Doctor]] [[Julian Bashir]], were later able to return to their own [[universe]] by recreating the accident and returning through the wormhole. ({{DS9|Crossover}})
 [[File:BajoranWormholeinside.jpg|thumb|The interior of the wormhole]]
-In [[2371]], [[Starfleet]] initiated a joint scientific project with the Bajoran and Cardassian governments to establish a trans-wormhole [[wormhole relay station|subspace communications relay]] to make it possible for ships in the [[Gamma Quadrant]] to contact home, as well as to provide early warning of any [[Dominion]] attack. The mission was complicated by a warning from Bajoran [[Vedek]] [[Yarka]], who cited [[Trakor]]'s [[Trakor's Third Prophecy|Third Prophecy]] about the potential destruction of the Celestial Temple. This prophecy was unexpectedly validated soon after with the approach of a previously-unknown, long-period [[comet]]. This comet was infused with [[silithium]], which had the potential to permanently destabilize the wormhole if it interacted with the [[verteron]] particles in the passage. Unable to alter the comet's trajectory, a [[shuttlepod]] from the {{USS|Defiant|2370}} used a [[deflector shield]] to prevent the comet's material from contaminating the wormhole. During the transit, trace amounts of silithium inadvertently leaked through the [[shields]]. However, the small amounts did not destabilize the wormhole, but instead created a [[subspace filament]] inside the wormhole that allowed normal communication between the quadrants. ({{DS9|Destiny}})
+In [[2371]], [[Starfleet]] initiated a joint scientific project with the [[Bajoran provisional government|Bajoran]] and [[Cardassian Union|Cardassian]] [[government]]s to establish a trans-wormhole [[wormhole relay station|subspace communications relay]], to make it possible for ships in the [[Gamma Quadrant]] to contact home, as well as to provide early warning of any [[Dominion]] attack. The mission was complicated by a warning from Bajoran [[Vedek]] [[Yarka]], who cited [[Trakor]]'s [[Trakor's Third Prophecy|Third Prophecy]], about the potential destruction of the Celestial Temple. This prophecy was unexpectedly validated soon after with the approach of a previously-unknown, long-period [[comet]]. This comet was infused with [[silithium]], which had the potential to permanently destabilize the wormhole if it interacted with the [[verteron]] particles in the passage. Unable to alter the comet's trajectory, a [[shuttlepod]] from the {{USS|Defiant|2370}} used a [[deflector shield]] to prevent the comet's material from contaminating the wormhole. During the transit, trace amounts of silithium inadvertently leaked through the [[shields]], however, the small amounts did not destabilize the wormhole, but instead created a [[subspace filament]] inside the wormhole that allowed normal communication between the quadrants. ({{DS9|Destiny}})
+In [[2373]], when a Dominion invasion became inevitable, Starfleet ordered the entrance to the wormhole be collapsed. [[Doctor]] [[Lenara Kahn]] of the [[Trill Science Ministry]] had devised a means, using a [[phase-conjugate graviton beam]] to seal the wormhole without causing damage to it or harming the [[Prophet]]s. Deep Space 9 was able to rig the phase-conjugate beam by remodulating the station's [[deflector grid]] [[frequency|frequencies]] and projecting it through its [[graviton emitter]]s. Unfortunately, when executed, it was discovered that the emitters were sabotaged and, as a result, the phase-conjugate graviton beam had the exact opposite effect on the wormhole, and rendered the wormhole's [[spatial matrix]] even more stable than before, so stable in fact that not even [[trilithium]] explosives could destroy the wormhole. Thus, Starfleet was unable to prevent a series of Dominion fleets from entering the Alpha Quadrant. ({{DS9|In Purgatory's Shadow}})
-The wormhole had an enormous impact on interstellar politics in the [[Alpha Quadrant]]. In the first two years, many [[race]]s eagerly sent [[explorer]]s and [[freighter]]s through the wormhole to open relations with new trading partners, and to establish new [[colony|colonies]]. However, the wormhole also brought the powers of the Alpha Quadrant into contact with the [[Dominion]], a powerful government that controlled a large swath of territory in the Gamma Quadrant. ({{DS9|The Jem'Hadar}})
+A few months later, Starfleet was forced to blockade the wormhole with [[self-replicating mine]]s in order to prevent the growing Dominion threat to the Alpha Quadrant. Deep Space 9 was subsequently lost to the Dominion in the opening [[Second Battle of Deep Space 9|battle]] of the [[Dominion War]], but the [[mine]]field was successfully planted, preventing further Dominion ships from traversing the wormhole. The minefield was eventually destroyed while the Federation attempted to [[Operation Return|retake the station]]. The Dominion fleet that was passing through the wormhole at the time was destroyed by the Prophets however, since the Prophets' [[Emissary of the Prophets|Emissary]] chose to die trying to stop the Dominion fleet rather than heed their will. After this event, no further traffic passed through the wormhole until the end of the war.
-In [[2373]], when a Dominion invasion became inevitable, Starfleet ordered the entrance to the wormhole be collapsed. [[Doctor]] [[Lenara Kahn]] of the [[Trill Science Ministry]] had devised a means using a [[phase-conjugate graviton beam]] to seal the wormhole without causing damage to it or harming the [[Prophet]]s. Deep Space 9 was able to rig the phase-conjugate beam by remodulating the stations [[deflector grid]] [[frequency|frequencies]] and projecting it through its [[graviton emitter]]s. Unfortunately, when executed, it was discovered that the emitters were sabotaged and, as a result, the phase-conjugate graviton beam had the exact opposite effect on the wormhole by making the wormhole's [[spatial matrix]] more stable. So stable, in fact, that not even [[trilithium]] explosives could destroy it. Thus, Starfleet was unable to prevent a series of Dominion fleets from entering the Alpha Quadrant. ({{DS9|In Purgatory's Shadow}})
-[[File:Bajoran wormhole schematic.jpg|thumb|A schematic of the Bajoran wormhole]]
-A few months later, Starfleet was forced to blockade the wormhole with [[self-replicating mine]]s in order to prevent the growing Dominion invasion of the Alpha Quadrant. Although Deep Space 9 was subsequently lost to the Dominion in an [[Second Battle of Deep Space 9|attack]], the [[mine]]field was successfully planted, preventing further Dominion ships from departing it. Although the minefield was eventually destroyed during the Federation attempt to [[Operation Return|retake Deep Space 9]], thanks to Sisko appealing to the Prophets themselves for aid, the Dominion fleet currently passing through the wormhole was destroyed by the Prophets, who protected the wormhole from Dominion incursion for the entire [[Dominion War]]. ({{DS9|Call to Arms|Favor the Bold|Sacrifice of Angels}})
 {{bginfo|[[Ronald D. Moore]] commented that, after the invading Dominion fleet was destroyed, "''the Prophets probably would stop any Dominion ship from coming through the wormhole.''" {{AOLchat|Ronald D. Moore|ron068|1997}}}}
-The impassibility of the wormhole made the Dominion introduce a new breed of Jem'Hadar, the [[Alpha (Jem'Hadar)|Alphas]]. ({{DS9|One Little Ship}})
+With the wormhole considered impassable, the Dominion introduce a new breed of Jem'Hadar, the [[Alpha (Jem'Hadar)|Alphas]], in [[2374]]. ({{DS9|One Little Ship}})
-{{bginfo|In a possible deleted or unfilmed scene from the episode, [[Nog]] stated his opinion that the introduction of the Alphas could mean the Dominion would not need to bring reinforcements through the wormhole.}}
+{{bginfo|In a possible [[deleted scene|deleted]] or unfilmed scene from the episode, [[Nog]] stated his opinion that the introduction of the Alphas could mean the Dominion would not need to bring reinforcements through the wormhole.}}
-Later that year, Sisko was willing to let the Prophets bring about the [[Reckoning]] as they had saved the Alpha and [[Beta Quadrant]]s by destroying the Dominion fleet. They were also blocking any additional enemy ships from coming through. ({{DS9|The Reckoning}})
 [[File:Wormhole collapsing.jpg |thumb|The wormhole collapses.]]
-The wormhole was apparently destroyed in late-[[2374]], when [[Dukat]], acting as a conduit for the exiled [[Pah-wraith]]s, attacked the [[Orb of Contemplation]] which was then housed on Deep Space 9. Following Dukat's attack, all of the Orbs went dark, and the wormhole itself disappeared. Dukat's aim was to force the Prophets out and make the wormhole passable again for Dominion reinforcements, although he did not anticipate the wormhole to collapse. ({{DS9|Tears of the Prophets|Covenant}})
+The wormhole was apparently destroyed in late-[[2374]], when [[Dukat]], acting as a conduit for the exiled [[Pah-wraith]]s, attacked the [[Orb of Contemplation]], which was then housed on Deep Space 9. Following Dukat's attack, all of the Orbs went dark, and the wormhole itself disappeared. Dukat's aim was to force the Prophets out and make the wormhole passable again for Dominion reinforcements, although he did not anticipate that the wormhole would collapse. ({{DS9|Tears of the Prophets|Covenant}})
-The disappearance of the wormhole and the apparent loss of contact with their deities caused great consternation and fear among the Bajorans, as well as the rise of the [[Cult of the Pah-wraiths]]. The wormhole remained closed for the next three [[month]]s, until Benjamin Sisko, acting as the [[Emissary of the Prophets]], discovered the [[Orb of the Emissary]] on [[Tyree (planet)|Tyree]] in early-[[2375]]. Sisko's discovery of the previously-unknown tenth Orb signaled the re-opening of the wormhole. ({{DS9|Image in the Sand|Shadows and Symbols}})
+The disappearance of the wormhole and the apparent loss of contact with their deities caused great consternation and fear among the Bajorans, as well as the rise of the [[Cult of the Pah-wraiths]]. The wormhole remained closed for the next three [[month]]s, until Benjamin Sisko, acting as the Emissary of the Prophets, discovered the [[Orb of the Emissary]] on [[Tyree (planet)|Tyree]] in early-[[2375]]. The discovery of the previously-unknown tenth Orb caused the re-opening of the wormhole. ({{DS9|Image in the Sand|Shadows and Symbols}})
 Later that year, Dukat told [[Damar]] that he had no regrets in failing to reopen the wormhole by killing the Prophets. ({{DS9|Penumbra}})
-[[Jake Sisko|Jake]] watched the wormhole, where his father now was, opening from the Promenade after [[Captain]] Sisko's encounter with Dukat in the [[Fire Caves]]. ({{DS9|What You Leave Behind}})
+[[Jake Sisko]], along with [[Colonel]] [[Kira Nerys]], watched the wormhole opening from the Promenade after [[Captain]] Sisko's encounter with Dukat in the [[Fire Caves]]. ({{DS9|What You Leave Behind}})
 {{Bajoran system}}
 == Appendices ==
-=== Background ===
+=== Background information ===
 The visual effect for the wormhole was created by [[Rhythm & Hues]].
+According to the ''[[Stellar Cartography: The Starfleet Reference Library]]'' ("Stellar Cartography", p. 42), the wormhole "cut a 70,000 light-year journey between the two quadrants down to two minutes".
 === Apocrypha ===
-*In the [[Emissary (novel)|novelization]] of {{e|Emissary}}, immediately after [[Dukat]] is rescued from the wormhole, he attempts to lay claim to it based on [[Cardassian Union|Cardassia]]'s long-standing [[Occupation of Bajor]], before [[Benjamin Sisko|Sisko]] coolly informs him that he has reached an agreement with the [[Prophet]]s on behalf of the Federation and Bajor that they will control the wormhole, and anyone trying to go through it without the permission of those sides would find themselves lost somewhere mid-way between the wormhole's entrances (Although given later events with various sides using the wormhole this may have been at least partly a bluff).
+In the [[Emissary (novel)|novelization]] of {{e|Emissary}}, immediately after [[Dukat]] is rescued from the wormhole, he attempts to lay claim to it based on [[Cardassian Union|Cardassia]]'s long-standing [[Occupation of Bajor]], before [[Benjamin Sisko|Sisko]] coolly informs him that he has reached an agreement with the [[Prophet]]s on behalf of the Federation and Bajor that they will control the wormhole, and anyone trying to go through it without the permission of those sides would find themselves lost somewhere mid-way between the wormhole's entrances (Although given later events with various sides using the wormhole this may have been at least partly a bluff).
-*In the ''[[Pocket DS9|Deep Space Nine]]'' book trilogy ''[[Millennium]]'', there was a second Bajoran wormhole, a [[Pah-wraith]] wormhole that opened when the three [[Orb]]s of the Pah-wraiths were brought together in [[Quark's]]. The second wormhole actually opened ''inside'' of Quark's, ripping Deep Space 9 to pieces. The opening of the second wormhole nearly spelled Armageddon for the entire universe as, in an alternate future, Kai [[Weyoun]] triggered a gravimetric explosion that brought both wormholes together, causing them to connect to each other and swallow the entire universe. However, thanks to the actions of Ben Sisko, the crew of the USS ''Defiant'', and [[Elim Garak]], [[Quark]], and [[Jake Sisko]] (who were close enough to the wormholes to be absorbed directly into the dimension of the Prophets and the Pah-Wraiths when the wormholes opened rather than being consumed), these events were undone when they took advantage of a temporal anomaly inside the wormhole dimension- putting them in touch with DS9 prior to its destruction and in the last days of the Occupation- to alter the events leading up to the destruction of Deep Space 9- without altering anything that would prevent them being in a position to make those changes-, culminating in them destroying a ship from that alternate future and using the energy to prevent the second wormhole forming in the first place.
+In the ''[[Pocket DS9|Deep Space Nine]]'' book trilogy ''[[Millennium]]'', there was a second Bajoran wormhole, a [[Pah-wraith]] wormhole that opened when the three [[Orb]]s of the Pah-wraiths were brought together in [[Quark's]]. The second wormhole actually opened ''inside'' of Quark's, ripping Deep Space 9 to pieces. The opening of the second wormhole nearly spelled Armageddon for the entire universe as, in an alternate future, Kai [[Weyoun]] triggered a gravimetric explosion that brought both wormholes together, causing them to connect to each other and swallow the entire universe. However, thanks to the actions of Ben Sisko, the crew of the USS ''Defiant'', and [[Elim Garak]], [[Quark]], and [[Jake Sisko]] (who were close enough to the wormholes to be absorbed directly into the dimension of the Prophets and the Pah-Wraiths when the wormholes opened rather than being consumed), these events were undone when they took advantage of a temporal anomaly inside the wormhole dimension- putting them in touch with DS9 prior to its destruction and in the last days of the Occupation- to alter the events leading up to the destruction of Deep Space 9- without altering anything that would prevent them being in a position to make those changes-, culminating in them destroying a ship from that alternate future and using the energy to prevent the second wormhole forming in the first place.
-=== External links ===
-* {{NCwiki}}
-* {{wikipedia}}
+In the DS9 relaunch series and the subsequent ''[[Star Trek: Typhon Pact|Typhon Pact]]'' series, a renegade branch of the Typhon Pact &ndash; an alliance of the Federation's enemies &ndash; manage to create an artificial wormhole that 'connects' to the Bajoran wormhole so that they can enter the Gamma Quadrant in secret in the novel ''[[Raise the Dawn]]'', believing that Dominion technology will help them develop their own version of the [[quantum slipstream drive]]. This artifical wormhole is destroyed by Kira Nerys, but her attack apparently costs her her life and closes the Bajoran wormhole, leaving Odo trapped in the Alpha Quadrant. The wormhole remained sealed for two years until the official 're-opening' of the new DS9 in ''[[Star Trek: The Fall|The Fall]]'': ''[[Revelation and Dust]]''.
-{{featured|date=June 2004|id=17763}}
+=== External links ===
+*{{mbeta}}
+*{{wikipedia|List of Star Trek regions of space#Bajoran wormhole|Bajoran wormhole}}
 [[de:Bajoranisches Wurmloch]]