Cardassian system

The Dominion withdrawal to Cardassia Prime, a planet in the Cardassian system, during the Dominion War, shown on "Tactical Display 7624N"

The Cardassian system was an inhabited planetary system. This system was located in the Cardassian sector. This sector was a region of space in the Alpha Quadrant. The system consisted of a primary and at least five planets. One of the planets, Cardassia Prime (Cardassia II), was inhabited by the Cardassians, a warp capable species. This planet was the capital of the Cardassian Union. (DS9: "Explorers") The planets Cardassia III, Cardassia IV, and Cardassia V were colonized by the Cardassians. (DS9: "The Homecoming", "Shadowplay", "Prophet Motive") In 2375, the Dominion began their withdrawal to Cardassia Prime during the waning days of the Dominion War. The Allied Forces, or Allied Fleets, planned a risky and costly military operation to end the war by penetrating the system and engaging the forces stationed in orbit of Cardassia Prime. (DS9: "The Dogs of War")

Background

It was never stated in the canon if Cardassia I was an inhabited planet.

"Tactical Display 7624N" was reproduced for the Star Trek: Star Charts, and appeared on page 49.

According to this same book (pgs. 36, 42-43), the system primary was named Cardassia. Cardassia was a K class star with a magnitude of -1, which was a hundred times brighter than Sol. There were eight planets in the system, four of which were inhabited, and two asteroid belts. The system was visited by a Bajoran solar-sail vessel in 1571. Distance between Bajor and Cardassia was 5.25 light years.

Apocrypha

• The RPG book Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Narrator's Toolkit, provides the following information:
  • the star was a bright red dwarf (M2 V type)
  • the first two planets were class F
  • Cardassia Prime was the third planet in the system
  • Cardassia VI and VII were class J gas giants
  • Cardassia VIII was class G