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| conflict_name = Dominion War |
| conflict_name = Dominion War |
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| image = USS Sitak and USS Majestic hit.jpg |
| image = USS Sitak and USS Majestic hit.jpg |
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| − | | imagecap = {{USS|Sitak}} (bottom left) is destroyed and {{USS|Majestic}} ( |
+ | | imagecap = {{USS|Sitak}} (bottom left) is destroyed and {{USS|Majestic}} (upper right) is badly damaged during ''[[Operation Return]]'' |
| date = [[2373]]–[[2375]] |
| date = [[2373]]–[[2375]] |
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| location = [[Alpha Quadrant]] |
| location = [[Alpha Quadrant]] |
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| − | | result = [[Federation Alliance]] victory<br /> |
+ | | result = [[Federation Alliance]] victory<br /> |
| + | :[[Treaty of Bajor]]<br/><br/>Collapse of the Cardassian Union<br/><br/>Permanent withdrawal of Dominion forces to the Gamma Quadrant<br/><br/>Resumption of Federation-Romulan Cold War |
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<!-- combatant 1 --> |
<!-- combatant 1 --> |
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| combatant1 = '''[[Federation Alliance]]''' |
| combatant1 = '''[[Federation Alliance]]''' |
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| − | :[[Federation]]<br />[[Klingon Empire|Klingon Empire]]<br />[[Romulan Empire|Romulan Star Empire]] (2374)<br />[[Bajoran Provisional Government]] (2374)<br />[[Cardassian Liberation Front]] (2375)<br /> [[Cardassian Union]] (2375) |
+ | :[[Federation]]<br />[[Klingon Empire|Klingon Empire]]<br />[[Romulan Empire|Romulan Star Empire]] (2374)<br />[[Bajoran Provisional Government|Bajor]] (2374)<br />[[Cardassian Liberation Front]] (2375)<br /> [[Cardassian Union]] (2375) |
| − | | commander1 = |
+ | | commander1 = [[William Ross]]<br />[[Benjamin Sisko]]<br />[[Martok]]<br/>[[Gowron]]†<br/>[[Neral]]<br>[[Kimara Cretak]]<br/>[[Letant]]<br/>[[Velal]]<br/>[[Shinzon|Shinzon of Remus]]<br/>[[Shakaar Edon]]<br/>[[Kira Nerys]]<br/>[[Damar]]† |
| − | | strength1 = |
+ | | strength1 = Thousands of ships |
| − | | losses1 = |
+ | | losses1 = Extremely heavy |
<!-- combatant 2 --> |
<!-- combatant 2 --> |
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| − | | combatant2 = '''[[Dominion-Breen Alliance]]''' |
+ | | combatant2 = '''[[Dominion-Breen Alliance]]''': |
| + | [[Dominion|The Dominion]] |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | * [[Jem'Hadar]] |
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| ⚫ | | commander2 = |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | | losses2 = Over 807 million [[Cardassian]]s, near complete destruction of [[Jem'Hadar]] forces in the Alpha Quadrant, unknown number of [[Breen]] losses |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | | losses2 = '''Cardassian''':<br/>7 million troops killed<br/>800 million civilians killed<br/><br/>Unknown Jem'Hadar and Breen losses, though likely very heavy |
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}} |
}} |
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{{aquote|The Alpha Quadrant seems wracked with chaos – it could use some order....''"<br />"''Imposing your type of 'order' on the Alpha Quadrant...may prove more difficult than you imagine.|The Female Changeling''' and '''Odo|2371|The Search, Part II}} |
{{aquote|The Alpha Quadrant seems wracked with chaos – it could use some order....''"<br />"''Imposing your type of 'order' on the Alpha Quadrant...may prove more difficult than you imagine.|The Female Changeling''' and '''Odo|2371|The Search, Part II}} |
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| − | The '''Dominion War''' was a major interstellar conflict, fought |
+ | The '''Dominion War''' was a major interstellar conflict, fought from [[2373]] to [[2375]], though related conflicts began earlier. The war involved all major powers of the [[Alpha Quadrant|Alpha]] and [[Gamma Quadrant|Gamma Quadrants]], formed into two opposing military alliances; the [[Federation Alliance]] and the [[Dominion-Breen Alliance]]. Marked by massive civilian casualties, including the [[Battle of Cardassia|Jem'Hadar bombardment of Cardassia]] (in which approximately 800 million Cardassians were killed), and the mobilisation of military fleets on a scale never seen prior, it was one of the bloodiest and most destructive wars in galactic history. |
| − | + | After a series of calculated steps to [[Dominion cold war|destabilise the political landscape of the Alpha Quadrant]], the Dominion [[Second Battle of Deep Space 9|launched an attack on Deep Space 9]] after the Federation provocatively mined the [[Bajoran wormhole]]. After a sluggish start, the Dominion rapidly conquered vast swathes of Federation and Klingon territory. In mid-2374, Allied forces [[Operation Return|recaptured Deep Space 9]], though the Dominion soon recovered, [[Battle of Betazed|conquering Betazed]]. |
|
| + | After the death of [[Senator]] [[Vreenak]], the [[Romulan Star Empire]] declared war on the Dominion in late 2374. Allied forces [[First Battle of Chin'toka|launched a joint invasion of Cardassian space]] late in the year. Requiring additional manpower, the Dominion signed a treaty with the [[Breen Confederacy]], and, with their aid, launched a [[Breen attack on Earth|raid on Earth]], and [[Second Battle of Chin'toka|recaptured the Chin'toka system]]. |
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| ⚫ | Political instabilities within the precarious Dominion alliance |
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| ⚫ | Political instabilities within the precarious Dominion alliance triggered a [[Cardassian Liberation Front|major rebellion by Cardassian military forces]], rendering the Dominion position untenable. As the [[Dominion-Breen Alliance]] began to unravel, the Allies [[Battle of Cardassia|launched a massive invasion of Cardassian space]] in late 2375, sealing the final defeat of the Dominion. |
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| − | The war resulted in the collapse of the Cardassian Union as a major power, heavy damage to the Klingon Defense Force, and a severe death toll on both sides. The [[Treaty of Bajor]] formally ended the fighting in 2375. |
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| + | |||
| + | The [[Treaty of Bajor]] formally ended the fighting in late 2375. |
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== Prelude == |
== Prelude == |
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| + | ''Main article: [[Dominion cold war|Dominion Cold War]]'' |
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| − | "''You have no idea what's begun here.''<br /> |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | Following initial [[Alpha Quadrant]] expeditions into the [[Gamma Quadrant]], rumours began to filter through of a ruthless race of conquerors known only as "The Dominion". In [[2370]], first contact was officially made between the [[Federation]] and the [[Dominion]], when the Jem'Hadar destroyed the [[Starfleet]] vessel [[USS Odyssey|''Odyssey'']]. A state of cold war rapidly developed thereafter between several of the [[Alpha Quadrant|Alpha Quadrant's]] major powers and the Dominion. A Dominion invasion was widely regarded as inevitable, as the [[Founders]] were driven by a xenophobic need to exert absolute authority over all other civilisations. ({{DS9|The Search, Part II}}) |
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| − | Following the [[Federation]]'s first official contact with the Dominion in [[2370]], a [[Dominion cold war|cold war]] developed between several of the [[Alpha Quadrant]]'s major powers and the Dominion. A Dominion invasion through the [[Bajoran wormhole]] was widely regarded as inevitable, as the [[Founder]]s of the Dominion were driven by the need to exert absolute control over all other civilizations. ({{DS9|The Search, Part II}}) By replacing important Alpha Quadrant individuals with [[Changeling]]s, in the course of three years the Dominion was able to [[Battle of the Omarion Nebula|wipe out]] the [[Obsidian Order]], drastically degrade the [[Tal Shiar]], nearly trigger war between the Federation and the [[Tzenkethi]], and manipulate the [[Klingon Empire]] into [[Klingon-Cardassian War|invading the Cardassian Union]] and the [[Federation-Klingon War (2372-73)|Federation]]. ({{DS9|The Die is Cast|The Adversary|The Way of the Warrior|Apocalypse Rising}}) |
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| + | |||
| + | The Dominion began to infiltrate the [[Alpha Quadrant]] with [[changelings]] masquerading as important officials, in an attempt to destabilise the fragile political landscape between the major powers. By manipulating a plan originating with [[Enabran Tain]], the Dominion destroyed the [[Obsidian Order]] and nearly crippled the [[Tal Shiar]] at the [[Battle of the Omarion Nebula]] in [[2371]]. The subsequent power vacuum left in the absence of the Obsidian Order led to a [[coup]] on [[Cardassia]], resulting in the overthrow of the [[Cardassian Central Command]] by the [[Detapa Council]]. |
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| + | |||
| + | By manipulating frustrated warrior sentiments in the [[Klingon Empire]], and implanting false information that the Cardassian coup had been engineered by the Founders, the Dominion was able to trigger the [[Klingon-Cardassian War]]. The [[Federation]] condemned the Klingon invasion, leading to a severe deterioration of relations between the two powers, ultimately concluding with the [[Federation-Klingon War (2372-73)|Federation-Klingon War]]. |
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| + | |||
| + | Concurrently, the Dominion was almost able to instigate a war between the Federation and the [[Tzenkethi]], and caused mass hysteria on Earth following the bombing of a conference. ({{DS9|The Die is Cast|The Adversary|The Way of the Warrior|Apocalypse Rising|Homefront}}) |
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[[File:Dominion invasion.jpg|thumb|left|The Dominion invades the Alpha Quadrant]] |
[[File:Dominion invasion.jpg|thumb|left|The Dominion invades the Alpha Quadrant]] |
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| − | The |
+ | The Klingon invasion of Cardassia had all but destroyed Cardassian infrastructure. In mid-[[2373]], frustrated at the apparent cowardice of the [[Detapa Council]], and the broken state of the Cardassian people, [[Gul]] [[Dukat]] negotiated the entry of the Cardassian Union into the Dominion. Dukat himself was placed as head of the constituent Cardassian state. The Dominion rapidly began fortifying [[Cardassia]] with heavily armed convoys on a weekly basis. Within three days of their arrival, the [[Jem'Hadar]] had expelled the Klingons from Cardassian space entirely, and completely annihilated the [[Maquis]] in the [[Demilitarized Zone]]. In the face of the new Dominion foothold in the Alpha Quadrant, the Federation and the Klingons renewed the [[Khitomer Accords]]. ({{DS9|By Inferno's Light|Blaze of Glory}}) It can be argued that the Dominion specifically manipulated events so that Cardassia would be substantially weakened and thereby made an easy target for the Dominion's political advances as it was a Changeling in disguise who instigated the Klingon invasion of Cardassia which destroyed the Cardassian Union's home planet and infrastructure and thereby made them vulnerable to manipulation. It should be noted that the Dominion had no real interest in helping Cardassia, but rather, saw the Cardassian people as a tool, a means to an end in order to facilitate their invasion into the Alpha Quadrant. |
| + | |||
| + | Although open war did not begin immediately, violence along the [[Cardassian border]] escalated, with ships such as the [[USS Tian An Men|''Tian An Men'']]'' ''and the [[B'Moth|''B'Moth'']]'' ''being reported missing, likely destroyed. The Dominion began making strategic political inroads in the Alpha Quadrant, signing [[nonaggression pact|non-aggression pacts]] with the [[Tholian Assembly]], the [[Miradorn]], [[Bajoran Provisional Government|Bajor]], and, perhaps most significantly, the [[Romulan Star Empire]]. With five large convoys having entered the Alpha Quadrant unopposed, the [[Federation Alliance]] realised they would soon face an impossible strategic position. |
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| − | + | In late 2373, the Federation decided to mine the entrance to the [[Bajoran wormhole]] with [[self-replicating mine|self-replicating mines]], in a last-ditch effort to permanently stop the flow of Dominion reinforcements into the Alpha Quadrant. Both sides knew that this act would lead to open war. ({{DS9|Soldiers of the Empire|In the Cards|Call to Arms}}) |
|
| − | == |
+ | == Open war begins == |
| − | [[File:Dominion fires.jpg|thumb|The first shots of the |
+ | [[File:Dominion fires.jpg|thumb|The first shots of the Dominion War, fired on Deep Space 9]] |
| − | "''We're losing the peace, which means a war could be our only hope.''" |
+ | "''We're losing the peace, which means a war could be our only hope.''" |
:- '''Benjamin Sisko''', [[Call to Arms (episode)|2373]] |
:- '''Benjamin Sisko''', [[Call to Arms (episode)|2373]] |
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| − | Intent on |
+ | Intent on preventing the Federation from completing the minefield, Weyoun arrived on [[Deep Space 9]] and delivered an ultimatum; either Sisko would remove the mines, or the Dominion would. Sisko refused the ultimatum, and, two days later, a large Dominion fleet [[Second Battle of Deep Space 9|attacked and captured Deep Space 9]]. Trusting that the minefield would be activated in time, the [[Federation Alliance]] opted not to reinforce the station, but used the opportunity to take advantage of the diverted Dominion ships to [[Torros III|destroy the Dominion shipyards at Torros III]]. Though the minefield was successfully activated, the Allies was forced to retreat from the [[Bajoran system]], and the station was subsequently garrisoned by Dominion forces. ({{DS9|Call to Arms|Behind the Lines}})[[File:Dukat and weyoun.jpg|thumb|left|Dukat and Weyoun confer over Dominion strategy]] |
| + | Over the following months, Allied forces were forced to retreat on all fronts in the wake of several decisively successful Dominion campaigns. At each instance, the Allies suffered catastrophic losses. During this campaign, [[Starfleet]] suffered one of its worst defeats of the war when the [[Seventh Fleet]] was dispatched to halt the Dominion's blitzkrieg advance at the [[Tyra system]]. In the subsequent battle, 98 starships were destroyed out of a fleet of 112, leaving thousands dead. Morale among the forces of the [[Federation Alliance]] plummeted, and it became a question of when, not if, the Alliance would be defeated. ({{DS9|A Time to Stand}}) |
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| + | While the Allies suffered repeated defeats in large fleet actions, [[Starfleet]] and [[Klingon]] ships had greater success in raiding operations and in combating small patrols of Jem'Hadar ships. Such operations included the destruction of the Dominion's primary [[ketracel-white]] storage facility in the Alpha Quadrant, and the destruction of a massive Dominion [[sensor array]] in the [[Argolis Cluster]]. The Dominion began suffering a shortage of [[ketracel-white]], greatly concerning the Cardassians in particular. [[Glinn]] [[Damar]] even proposed that the last rations of white be poisoned if new supplies could not be secured, preventing the Jem'Hadar from running amok. |
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| − | In the wake of the evacuation, [[Major]] [[Kira Nerys]] activated [[Program Sisko 197]] to sabotage the station's systems, rendering it a nearly lifeless hulk before turning it over to Dominion control. The station was subsequently repaired and, under its original Cardassian name [[Terok Nor]], served as Dukat's command post as he directed the war. However, initial Dominion efforts to dismantle the minefield proved futile due to the [[self-replicating mine|self-replicating nature]] of the mines. ({{DS9|Call to Arms|Behind the Lines}}) |
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| + | Nevertheless, the Dominion continued to conquer large swathes of Federation and Klingon territory, even approaching the [[Vulcan]] and [[Bolian]] systems. On Deep Space 9, efforts to dismantle the [[minefield]] surrounding the wormhole were finally beginning to bear fruit. Although Allied forces scored several minor successes in single-ship duels and in small groups, the inexorable Dominion advance compelled them to continually retreat. Morale sunk lower, with even the Klingons doubting they could defeat the Dominion. ({{DS9|Behind the Lines|Favor the Bold}}) |
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| − | == Dominion advances == |
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| − | [[File:Dukat and weyoun.jpg|thumb|left|Dukat and Weyoun discuss the evidently imminent Dominion victory over the Federation]] |
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| − | Over the next three months, Federation and Klingon forces clashed with the Dominion across multiple [[sector]]s but were repeatedly forced to retreat with massive losses. In one battle, an attempt by the Federation [[Seventh Fleet]] to stop the Dominion advance in the [[Tyra system]] failed with 98 of 112 ships destroyed. Morale among Starfleet and the Klingon Defense Forces plummeted. While the [[Federation News Service]] apprised citizens at home of the grim situation on the front lines, the reality was even worse. ({{DS9|A Time to Stand}}) |
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| + | == Counter-offensive == |
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| − | Allied victories were few and far between; these included the destruction of the Dominion's primary [[ketracel-white]] storage facility in Cardassian space and the destruction of a massive Dominion [[sensor array]] in the [[Argolis Cluster]]. Their dwindling supplies of white greatly concerned the Dominion, with [[Glinn]] [[Damar]] even proposing that the last rations of white be poisoned if new supplies could not be secured. Nevertheless, the Dominion continued to push deeper into Federation territory, approaching the [[Vulcan]] and [[Bolian]] home systems. On Deep Space 9, Dominion efforts to dismantle the [[minefield]] surrounding the wormhole were beginning to bear fruit, and the [[Female Changeling]] arrived to oversee the war effort. ({{DS9|Behind the Lines|Favor the Bold}}) |
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| + | "''Earth isn't the key to the Alpha Quadrant, the wormhole is, and, whoever controls Deep Space Nine, controls the wormhole.''" |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | By the latter half of [[2374]], the Allies were perilously close to defeat. A major victory was needed, if anything to boost morale. [[Captain]] [[Benjamin Sisko]], knowing the Dominion would likely figure out how to disable the minefield, proposed to [[Starfleet Command]] the [[Federation Alliance]] had to go on the offensive. Sisko's plan was to assemble a task force to recapture Deep Space 9, the most strategically important site in the [[Alpha Quadrant]], at the mouth of the [[Bajoran wormhole|wormhole]]. Despite misgivings that it would leave [[Earth]] vulnerable, Starfleet approved the plan. |
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| + | The Klingons proved more difficult to convince; [[Chancellor]] [[Gowron]] held the same concerns as [[Starfleet]], in committing as many ships as would be required to re-take [[Deep Space 9]], it would leave the Empire vulnerable. While [[General]] [[Martok]] and [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Worf]] made [[Starfleet|Starfleet's]] plea to Gowron in person, Federation forces began assembling at [[Starbase 375]]. Unfortunately, Starfleet soon received intelligence from active resistance members on Deep Space 9 that the minefield was only three days from being destroyed. |
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| ⚫ | By the |
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| − | + | With no word having arrived from the Klingons, and only two-thirds of the Starfleet force assembled, [[Vice Admiral]] [[William Ross]] authorised [[Benjamin Sisko]] to lead the 627 ships assembled in an effort to prevent the Dominion from removing the mines. In response, Dukat pulled 1,254 warships from the front lines to intercept the Federation fleet, stalling Dominion advances into Allied territory. ({{DS9|Favor the Bold}}) |
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| − | [[File:Klingon fleet, Sacrifice of Angels.jpg|thumb| |
+ | [[File:Klingon fleet, Sacrifice of Angels.jpg|thumb|Klingon warships in combat during [[Operation Return|''Operation Return'']]]] |
| − | + | Though outnumbered two to one, [[Operation Return|Starfleet engaged the Dominion fleet]]. With the timely arrival of the Klingon forces, the Dominion lines collapsed, and the fleet dispersed. Though the [[USS Defiant (2370)|''Defiant'']] breached the lines, it was unable to prevent the destruction of the minefield. With no options remaining, Sisko took the ''Defiant'' into the wormhole, and was able to strike a bargain with the [[Prophet|Prophets]] to remove the Dominion forces to protect [[Bajor]]. 2,800 Dominion ships were destroyed in the wormhole, and with 200 Allied ships approaching [[Bajor]], the Dominion position on Deep Space 9 became untenable. The Dominion withdrew all forces to Cardassian territory, giving the Allied forces a decisive victory. |
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| + | [[Dukat]] suffered a mental breakdown at the defeat, along with the concurrent murder of his daughter, [[Tora Ziyal]], and was captured by the victorious Allied forces. [[Damar]] was subsequently promoted to [[Legate]], and succeeded him as leader of the [[Cardassian Union]]. ({{DS9|Sacrifice of Angels}}) |
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| − | == Temporary stalemate == |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | == Lull == |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | Following the decisive Allied victory in recapturing Deep Space 9, the Dominion forces withdrew to Cardassian space, and major operations temporarily ceased. ({{DS9|Resurrection}}) [[Legate]] [[Damar]] extended an olive branch to the [[Federation]], hoping to negotiate a cease-fire and end the war. [[Weyoun]] proposed to redraw the [[Federation-Cardassian border]] to give disputed [[star systems]] to the side with ''de facto'' control, an arrangement which generally favoured the Federation. However, a think-tank of [[genetically engineered]] individuals led by [[Julian Bashir]] deduced that the Dominion's true goal was to obtain the [[Kabrel system]]. Though strategically unimportant, the Kabrel system would enable the Dominion to produce near-endless amounts of [[ketracel-white]]. |
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| − | Some weeks later, Dominion activity began to increase all along the border, putting lie to hopes that the war would end with the retaking of Deep Space 9. Allied losses mounted, including the destruction of the {{USS|Honshu}} and the {{USS|Cortez}}. ({{DS9|Waltz|Far Beyond the Stars}}) Dominion agents established ties with the [[Orion Syndicate]] in an unsuccessful plot to undermine the [[Treaty of Alliance|Federation-Klingon alliance]]. ({{DS9|Honor Among Thieves}}) Since obtaining Gamma Quadrant reinforcements remained impossible due to the Prophets, the Dominion began breeding legions of [[Jem'Hadar]] in the Alpha Quadrant and pushed shipbuilding to full capacity. ({{DS9|One Little Ship|In the Pale Moonlight|The Reckoning}}) The issue of ketracel-white shortage was eventually mitigated via new supplies manufactured by the [[Son'a]]. ({{DS9|Penumbra}}; {{film|9}}) |
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| + | Bashir advised that the Federation accept the peace proposal; while many suspected the Dominion would renege on any agreement to buy time to re-group, the Allies were in a far greater need of a respite than the Dominion. Instead, the Federation made a counter-proposal and the talks ended inconclusively. ({{DS9|Statistical Probabilities}}) |
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| − | In late 2374, the Dominion [[Battle of Betazed|invaded]] [[Betazed]] from the [[Kalandra sector]], overrunning the planet and its outlying colonies in under ten hours. With control of this key Federation territory, the Dominion was in a position to threaten {{dis|Vulcan|planet}}, [[Andor]], [[Tellar]], and [[Alpha Centauri]]. For the Federation Alliance, suffering from shortages of ships and manpower, defeat seemed only a matter of time without a change in the ''status quo''. After the fall of Betazed, Captain [[Benjamin Sisko]] concluded that the Allies had to bring the [[Romulan]]s into the war by whatever means necessary. ({{DS9|In the Pale Moonlight}}) |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | Several weeks later, Dominion activity began to increase all along the border, putting lie to hopes that the Allied recapture of Deep Space 9 would signal the end of the war. Allied losses began to mount, including the destruction of the [[USS Honshu|''Honshu'']]'' ''and the ''[[USS Cortez|Cortez]]''. ({{DS9|Waltz|Far Beyond the Stars}}) In an effort to weaken the [[Treaty of Alliance|Federation-Klingon alliance]], Dominion agents established ties with the [[Orion Syndicate]] in an unsuccessful plot to instigate a Klingon Civil War by assassinating a Klingon diplomat. ({{DS9|Honor Among Thieves}}) |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | |||
| + | With the Prophets barring passage of the wormhole to ships from the Gamma Quadrant, the Dominion began breeding legions of [[Jem'Hadar]], tailoring their genetic profiles specifically for combat in the Alpha Quadrant, and pushed their shipyards to full construction capacity. ({{DS9|One Little Ship|In the Pale Moonlight|The Reckoning}}) The issue of the ketracel-white shortage crisis was eventually mitigated when the Dominion acquired new supplies manufactured by the [[Son'a]]. ({{DS9|Penumbra}}; {{film|9}}) |
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| + | |||
| + | Having recovered from the loss of Deep Space 9, in late 2374, the Dominion launched [[Battle of Betazed|a surprise invasion of Betazed]] from the [[Kalandra sector]], overrunning the entire system and its outlying colonies in less than ten hours. With control of a key Federation member world, the Dominion had scored a decisive strategic success; it was now in a position to launch offensives against [[Vulcan]], [[Andoria]], [[Tellar Prime]] and [[Alpha Centauri]]. The [[Second Fleet]] launched three counter-attacks in just one month against Betazed; however all were repulsed. For the Federation Alliance, suffering from shortages of ships and manpower, defeat once again seemed only a matter of time. ({{DS9|In the Pale Moonlight}}) |
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| + | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
:- '''Jadzia Dax''', [[In the Pale Moonlight (episode)|2374]] |
:- '''Jadzia Dax''', [[In the Pale Moonlight (episode)|2374]] |
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| − | The [[Romulan Star Empire]] had |
+ | The [[Romulan Star Empire]] had hitherto remained neutral in the Dominion War, although they were turning a blind eye to Dominion warships crossing through their territory to ambush Federation convoys and shipping. [[Captain]] [[Benjamin Sisko]] reasoned that the addition of the Romulan military could prove decisive in reversing the fortunes of the Dominion. With [[Elim Garak]], and the approval of [[Starfleet Intelligence]], a covert mission was carried out to implicate the Dominion in a planned invasion of [[Romulus]], and the assassination of [[Senator]] [[Vreenak]], the most ardent pro-Dominion advocate in the [[Romulan Senate]]. From the wreckage of Vreenak's destroyed ship, the [[Tal Shiar]] recovered a recording of an alleged top-level Dominion conference bringing forward the timetabling of the invasion. |
| + | In response, the Romulan Empire officially declared war on the Dominion. Within hours, the Romulans struck fifteen bases along the Romulan-Cardassian border, opening a second front to the war. Although progress remained slow for the allies, the Romulans drove Dominion forces off of [[Benzar]] within months of joining the war effort. During this campaign, [[Shinzon|Shinzon of Remus]] distinguished himself in the [[Romulan military]], having led twelve major engagements against the Jem'Hadar, all of them successful. ({{DS9|In the Pale Moonlight|The Reckoning}}, {{film|10}}) |
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| ⚫ | The Federation |
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| ⚫ | The Federation, desperate for additional support, continued to extend diplomatic ties to neighbouring species. In 2374, the [[Federation Council]] conveyed an official diplomatic message to [[Grand Nagus]] [[Zek]] of the [[Ferengi Alliance]], which [[Jake Sisko]] speculated was a proposal for opening of formal relations between the two powers. In [[2375]], the Federation accepted the [[Evora]] as a [[protectorate]], despite their having achieved warp drive only the previous year. ({{DS9|In the Pale Moonlight|Valiant}}, {{film|9}}) |
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| ⚫ | |||
| − | With the Romulans now part of the [[Federation Alliance]], an [[First Battle of Chin'toka|offensive into Cardassian space]] became possible. The Romulans had reservations that such an attack could succeed only at horrendous cost, but Sisko convinced them that the only path to victory was to eliminate the military infrastructure that allowed the Dominion to make war. The [[Chin'toka system]] was chosen as the target, as its defenses had been thinned to provide more ships for the Romulan front. However, the Cardassians had recently deployed a network of [[orbital weapon platform]]s in the system, which came online during the Allies' attack. The platforms wreaked havoc on Allied ships until Garak and Chief [[Miles O'Brien]] devised a way to destroy their central power source. Once the platforms were neutralized, Allied forces took control of the system. ({{DS9|Tears of the Prophets}}) |
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| ⚫ | |||
| − | The successful invasion of Chin'toka was a tremendous boost to Federation Alliance morale, yet stiff Dominion resistance prevented the Allies from advancing further into Cardassian space as had been hoped. At [[Monac IV]], a Klingon fleet was repulsed with at least thirty percent casualties. ({{DS9|Image in the Sand}}) Chin'toka was subjected to constant counterattacks by Dominion ships and ground troops. One significant gain for the Allies in Chin'toka was the capture of a Dominion [[subspace relay station]], [[AR-558]], which in time provided a trove of military intelligence. ({{DS9|The Siege of AR-558}}) |
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| + | With the Romulans now fully committed to the [[Federation Alliance]], options for a general offensive into Cardassian territory became a viable possibility. The Romulans had reservations that such an attack could succeed only at horrendous cost, favouring to contain the Dominion within Cardassian space. However, [[Benjamin Sisko]] convinced the delegation that the only course to victory was to destroy the Dominion's industrial infrastructure. The Allies agreed they would commit their efforts to the [[Chin'toka system]], its defences having recently been thinned to provide additional support for the Romulan front. |
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| + | In late 2374, the Federation Alliance launched their [[First Battle of Chin'toka|first offensive into Cardassian space]], capturing Chin'toka after a hard fight. ({{DS9|Tears of the Prophets}}) Although the planned attack against [[Cardassia]] itself was not realised, owing to heavy losses taking Chin'toka, the successful invasion was a tremendous boost to Allied morale. The Allied hold on Chin'toka was tenuous at best; the system remained under almost constant attack, making it extremely difficult to reinforce the garrisoned forces. Further offensives were bloodily repulsed; a Klingon fleet lost thirty percent of its strength attacking [[Monac IV]]. ({{DS9|Image in the Sand|The Siege of AR-558}}) |
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| − | On other fronts, the Federation Alliance enjoyed more success. Based on intelligence provided by Garak, Allied forces launched a new offensive in the [[Kalandra sector]] and retook the [[Kalandra system]] from the Dominion. ({{DS9|Afterimage|The Emperor's New Cloak}}) Capitalizing on the speed and stealth of [[Klingon Bird-of-Prey|Klingon Birds-of-Prey]], General [[Martok]] launched a [[cavalry raid|raid]] into Cardassian space that damaged several key targets. ({{DS9|Once More Unto the Breach}}) Cooperation in the war also led to improved diplomatic relations between the Federation and the Romulans. ({{DS9|Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges}}) On the opposing side, Legate Damar was becoming increasingly disillusioned by the Dominion and embittered by Weyoun's callous disregard for Cardassian lives and interests. ({{DS9|'Til Death Do Us Part}}) |
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| + | On other fronts, the Allies enjoyed greater success. [[Elim Garak]] began working for [[Starfleet]] in an unofficial capacity breaking Cardassian military codes; one such breach enabled the Alliles to retake the [[Kalandra system]] from the Dominion. ({{DS9|Afterimage|The Emperor's New Cloak}}) While the Allies consolidated their new front, [[General]] [[Martok]] launched a deep penetration raid into Cardassian space that severely damaged several key military targets. ({{DS9|Once More Unto the Breach}}) |
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| ⚫ | In early 2375, the Federation learned of a development that would ultimately determine the course of the war: |
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| ⚫ | In early [[2375]], the Federation learned of a development that would ultimately help determine the course of the war: a deadly [[morphogenic virus]] had infected the [[Great Link]]. Despite the Dominion's technological prowess, they were unable to find a cure, and it was determined it would only be a matter of time before the [[Founders]] would die. ({{DS9|Treachery, Faith and the Great River}}) It would be later discovered that the virus had been engineered by [[Section 31]], a rogue branch of [[Starfleet Intelligence]]. Although [[Julian Bashir]] did find a cure, the [[Federation Council]] decided to withhold it from the Dominion for strategic concerns. Some protested this act as abetting [[genocide]]. ({{DS9|Extreme Measures|The Dogs of War}}) |
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| − | == New allies == |
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| + | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | == Cardassian rebellion == |
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| ⚫ | |||
:- '''Benjamin Sisko''', [[The Changing Face of Evil (episode)|2375]] |
:- '''Benjamin Sisko''', [[The Changing Face of Evil (episode)|2375]] |
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| + | Meanwhile, the Alliance's slowly encroaching front-line had begun to seriously strain relations in the precarious Dominion-Cardassian alliance. The [[Founders]] and their [[Vorta]] underlings tended to rest blame upon the [[Cardassian military]] for the failings of the [[Jem'Hadar]] in battle, an accusation that [[Legate]] [[Damar]] found particularly galling. With Dominion xenophobia clashing with Cardassian pride, many Cardassian soldiers grew distrustful and resentful of the Dominion, while the Dominion continued to erode Cardassian autonomy. |
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| − | Seeking to rescue their war effort, in late 2375 the [[Female Changeling]] began secret negotiations with the reclusive [[Breen Confederacy]] for an [[Dominion-Breen Alliance|alliance]]. She promised the [[Breen]] unspecified Cardassian territorial concessions in exchange, to which Damar objected but was summarily overruled. ({{DS9|Penumbra|'Til Death Do Us Part}}) The new alliance further sidelined the Cardassians, which, along with the [[Invasion of Septimus III|massacre]] of the [[Eleventh Order]] at [[Septimus III]], finally spurred Damar to rebel against the Dominion. ({{DS9|Strange Bedfellows|The Changing Face of Evil}}) |
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| + | Seeking to rescue the war effort, in mid [[2375]], the Dominion conducted secret negotiations with the elusive [[Breen Confederacy]] to propose a military alliance; negotiations which the Cardassians were not privy to. The Dominion granted the [[Breen]] unspecified Cardassian territorial concessions in exchange, concessions which [[Legate]] [[Damar]] had neither seen nor agreed to. His objections were summarily overruled. ({{DS9|Penumbra|'Til Death Do Us Part}}) |
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| ⚫ | |||
| − | The Breen entered the war with a shocking attack on [[Starfleet Headquarters]] on Earth. Though their attacking force was destroyed, the Breen inflicted significant death and destruction on [[San Francisco]], and dealt a heavy psychological blow to the Federation. The Breen subsequently joined Dominion forces in a [[Second Battle of Chin'toka|massive counterattack on the Chin'toka system]], breaking through the Allied defenses in two places before a relief force of 312 starships could be dispatched from Deep Space 9. In the ensuing battle, the Breen unleashed a hitherto unknown [[energy-dampening weapon]] that disabled all but one of the Federation Alliance ships. The Dominion thus easily retook Chin'toka, but at their hour of triumph Damar announced the formation of the [[Cardassian Liberation Front]] and their attack on the Dominion [[cloning facility]] on [[Rondac III]]. ({{DS9|The Changing Face of Evil}}) |
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| + | Damar grew concerned with further Allied advances, specifically the garrison of the [[Eleventh Order]] on [[Septimus III]], which would fall without [[Jem'Hadar]] assistance. The Dominion refused to render aid, regarding it as an acceptable sacrifice. The Klingons subsequently invaded the planet and massacred the garrison. This action finally spurred Damar to rebel against the Dominion. ({{DS9|Strange Bedfellows|The Changing Face of Evil}}) |
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| ⚫ | The only Allied |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | However, the Allied |
||
| + | The [[Breen Confederacy]] entered the war in late [[2375]] with [[Breen attack on Earth|a bold raid on Starfleet Headquarters]], sending shock waves through the Alliance. Able to now mobilise a large fleet to hazard out offensive operations, the [[Dominion-Breen Alliance]] launched a [[Second Battle of Chin'toka|massive counter-attack against the Chin'toka system]]. The battle would prove to be the worst Allied defeat of the entire war; of the 312 ships engaged, all but one were destroyed. However, they could not press their advantage, as soon after, the [[Cardassian Liberation Front]] attacked the Dominion military installations on [[Rondac III]], diverting vital resources from the front. ({{DS9|The Changing Face of Evil}}) |
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| ⚫ | The only Allied warship to escape the Breen [[Energy dissipator|energy dissipators]] at Chin'toka was a Klingon warship, the ''[[Ki'tang]]'', owing to a chance modification of the ship's propulsion matrix. [[General]] [[Martok]] ordered the modifications across the entire Klingon fleet, and had 1,500 warships ready for deployment the following day. With the [[Federation]] and [[Romulan]] fleets effectively useless in the interim until a countermeasure could be developed, the Klingons were left with the daunting task of holding the front-line against the [[Dominion-Breen Alliance]]. ({{DS9|When It Rains...}}) |
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| − | [[File:Damar preaches freedom.jpg|thumb|Damar rallying popular support on Cardassia against the Dominion]] |
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| − | Meanwhile, the Cardassian rebels had gone into hiding after losing half their forces in the assault on Rondac III. The Federation supplied [[replicator]]s and weapons to the rebels, and dispatched [[Kira Nerys]] (newly commissioned as a Starfleet [[commander]]), Garak, and Odo to Damar to train his troops in guerrilla tactics. ({{DS9|When It Rains...}}) With their help, the Cardassian liberation carried out a number of sabotage attacks on Dominion targets, and was able to deliver an intact Breen energy-dampening weapon to the Allies. ({{DS9|Tacking Into the Wind}}) Unfortunately their success was short-lived, as Gul [[Revok]]'s treachery allowed the Dominion to find and destroy all eighteen rebel bases. ({{DS9|The Dogs of War}}) Damar, Kira, and Garak took refuge with [[Mila]] on [[Cardassia Prime]] after the end of the military rebellion. There, they learned that Damar's brief but effective campaign had left quite an impression on the Cardassian people. After bombing a Jem'Hadar barracks, Damar was able to rally the Cardassian civilian population into overt resistance against the Dominion. |
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| ⚫ | However, the Allied defensive efforts were soon jeopardised by [[Chancellor]] [[Gowron]], whose political position had become threatened by [[Martok|Martok's]] popularity in the Empire. Gowron took direct command of the Klingon fleet and repeatedly ordered Martok on hopeless attacks, intending for him to be killed or disgraced. With the safety of the [[Alpha Quadrant]] at stake, [[Benjamin Sisko]] ordered [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Worf]] to deal with Gowron. Worf directly challenged his leadership, and slew him in single combat. Worf then proclaimed [[General]] [[Martok]] as the next [[Chancellor of the Klingon High Council]]. ({{DS9|Tacking Into the Wind}}) |
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| − | ==End of the war== |
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| − | Although the Cardassian rebellion had ostensibly been crushed, the development of a countermeasure to the Breen energy dampening weapon by the Allies again put the Dominion at a disadvantage. Consequently, the Female Changeling ordered her forces to withdraw from all occupied territories and establish a new fortified defense perimeter within Cardassian space. The hope was that the Federation Alliance would balk at the cost of breaching the perimeter, giving the Dominion time to rebuild. While the prospect of containing the Dominion within its present borders was discussed among the Allies, Captain Sisko, Chancellor Martok, and other commanders successfully argued that the Dominion must not be allowed a respite due to its superior shipbuilding and troop recruitment capabilities. Instead, the Federation Alliance committed to a decisive, three-pronged strike toward the heart of the Dominion in the Alpha Quadrant: [[Cardassia Prime]]. ({{DS9|Tacking Into the Wind|The Dogs of War}}) |
||
| − | [[File: |
+ | [[File:Damar preaches freedom.jpg|thumb|Damar rallying the Cardassian people against the Dominion]] |
| + | Meanwhile, the [[Federation Alliance]] saw a strategic opportunity in the [[Cardassian Liberation Front|Cardassian rebellion]] to keep the [[Dominion-Breen Alliance]] constantly off-balance. The Federation supplied [[replicator|replicators]], [[phaser|weapons]] and food supplies to the rebels, and dispatched [[Kira Nerys]] to train Damar's troops in guerrilla tactics. ({{DS9|When It Rains...}}) |
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| − | The Allied invasion fleet launched from Deep Space 9 and engaged Dominion and Breen forces in [[Battle of Cardassia|the battle]] that would decide the war. As the battle raged, over a third of the Allied ships were destroyed, including the Romulan [[flagship]]. At the same time, in a coordinated effort Cardassian rebels sabotaged power, transportation, and communications systems across Cardassia Prime, causing a planetary blackout and cutting off [[Dominion Headquarters]] from its forces engaged in the field. In retaliation, the Jem'Hadar annihilated [[Lakarian City]] and its two million inhabitants. Instead of quelling the rebellion, this atrocity led to the Cardassian fleet switching sides in the midst of battle. With the Cardassian military turned against them, the Dominion had no choice but to order a full retreat back to Cardassia Prime. Infuriated, the Female Changeling ordered the Cardassian puppet leadership executed and the entire Cardassian population exterminated. Jem'Hadar troops began to destroy Cardassian cities building by building, slaughtering millions. |
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| + | The Cardassian rebels began carrying out a number of sabotaging attacks on Dominion ships and military installations, and was able to deliver a functioning Breen energy-dissipator to the Allied forces. ({{DS9|Tacking Into the Wind}}) Unfortunately, however, the success of Damar's revolt was short-lived. [[Gul]] [[Revok]], a prominent soldier in the [[Cardassian Liberation Front|Liberation Front]], betrayed them to the Dominion. [[Jem'Hadar]] and [[Breen]] ships rapidly destroyed all eighteen rebel bases, ending the organised resistance against the Founders' rule. ({{DS9|The Dogs of War}}) |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | |||
| − | The war was effectively lost for the Dominion, yet the Female Changeling remained unswayed in her goal of neutralizing the Alpha Quadrant powers. She ordered her Jem'Hadar and Breen forces to fight to the last, resolving to make victory so costly for the Allies that they could pose no threat to the [[Great Link]] in the Gamma Quadrant for the foreseeable future. As Federation, Klingon, Romulan, and Cardassian ships surrounded Cardassia Prime, Cardassian resistance fighters breached Dominion Headquarters, though Damar was killed in the process. Kira and Garak captured the Founder, and Odo beamed down and linked with her. Odo convinced her to surrender her forces and stand trial for war crimes, in exchange for him returning to the Great Link and saving the Founders from the [[morphogenic virus]]. ({{DS9|What You Leave Behind}}) |
||
| + | ==Invasion of Cardassia== |
||
| + | Although the [[Cardassian Liberation Front|Cardassian military rebellion]] had ostensibly been crushed, [[Starfleet]] and [[Romulan]] engineers were able to develop a countermeasure to the Breen energy dissipator, thus denying the Dominion their one major tactical advantage over the Allies. Facing a renewed counter-offensive on a wide front, the Dominion-Breen forces withdrew from all conquered territories and established a fortified perimeter within Cardassian space. Their hope was that the Allies would baulk at the cost of breaching the perimeter, giving the Dominion time to rebuild. |
||
| + | |||
| + | While containing the Dominion within its present borders was a tempting move, the senior Allied commanders argued the Dominion could not be afforded any respite. Instead, the Allies would mobilise all their available ships to launch a single, decisive strike against the heart of Dominion power in the Alpha Quadrant: [[Cardassia]]. ({{DS9|Tacking Into the Wind|The Dogs of War}}) |
||
| + | |||
| + | [[File:Federation Alliance fleet departs DS9.jpg|thumb|left|The Allied fleet departs Deep Space 9 to invade Cardassia]] |
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| + | On Cardassia itself, the remnants of the resistance had not been idle. The bold revolt, though ultimately defeated, had left a scintillating impression upon the Cardassian people. Buoyed with this knowledge, [[Damar]], [[Garak]] and [[Kira Nerys]] successfully bombed a [[Jem'Hadar]] barracks, rallying the civilian population into a popular uprising against the Dominion. |
||
| + | |||
| + | Meanwhile, the Allied fleet crossed into Dominion space and [[Battle of Cardassia|engaged the Dominion-Breen forces in battle]]. Concurrently, popular revolt on Cardassia sabotaged the planet's power grid, cutting off transportation and communication systems, causing a planetary blackout. The fleet defending Cardassia was completely cut off from [[Dominion Headquarters]]. In retaliation, hoping to discourage further attacks, the [[Jem'Hadar]] destroyed [[Lakarian City]], killing two million civilians. Instead, it had the opposite effect; the [[Cardassian military]] abrogated their alliance, fracturing the Dominion lines, forcing it to retreat. Infuriated, the [[Founders]] ordered the [[Jem'Hadar]] to exterminate the Cardassian population. |
||
| + | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | While the Jem'Hadar rampaged across the planet, the Dominion-Breen fleets in orbit of [[Cardassia]] were ordered to fight to the death, ensuring only a pyrrhic Allied victory. As the Allies laid siege to Cardassia, rebels breached Dominion Headquarters, capturing the Founder. [[Odo]] convinced the Founder to surrender rather than fight; in exchange he would return to and cure the [[Great Link]] of the [[morphogenic virus]]. The Founder agreed, and the Dominion forces surrendered; the first time it had ever done so in battle. ({{DS9|What You Leave Behind|}}) |
||
== Aftermath == |
== Aftermath == |
||
"''This is a moment worth savoring. To victory! Hard fought, and well earned.''"<br /> |
"''This is a moment worth savoring. To victory! Hard fought, and well earned.''"<br /> |
||
"''Suddenly I'm not thirsty.''"<br /> |
"''Suddenly I'm not thirsty.''"<br /> |
||
| − | "''Neither am I''" |
+ | "''Neither am I''" |
:- '''Martok''', '''Benjamin Sisko''' and '''William Ross''', [[What You Leave Behind (episode)|2375]] |
:- '''Martok''', '''Benjamin Sisko''' and '''William Ross''', [[What You Leave Behind (episode)|2375]] |
||
| − | [[File:Female Changeling signs Treaty of Bajor.jpg|thumb|The Treaty of Bajor is signed |
+ | [[File:Female Changeling signs Treaty of Bajor.jpg|thumb|The Treaty of Bajor is signed on Deep Space 9]] |
| − | The instrument of surrender, the [[Treaty of Bajor]], was signed on |
+ | The instrument of surrender, the [[Treaty of Bajor]], was signed on Deep Space 9 between representatives of the [[Federation Alliance]] and the [[Dominion-Breen Alliance]] several days after the surrender at Cardassia. The treaty stipulated the Dominion would affect a complete military withdrawal to the [[Gamma Quadrant]], while Alpha Quadrant territories were reverted to their boundaries as of [[stardate]] 50564.0, just prior to the Dominion's initial incursion into the Alpha Quadrant. ({{DS9|What You Leave Behind}}) |
| + | In its wake, the war completely shifted the power dynamics of the Alpha Quadrant. The [[Cardassian Union]] had all but collapsed as a major power in the quadrant; eight hundred million civilians had been killed by the Jem'Hadar in mere hours, as well as over seven million troops, severely damaging Cardassian political integrity. The [[Breen Confederacy]], a hitherto elusive race with little external contact had emerged and established themselves as a major military power. |
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| − | The Dominion War had long-term repercussions for all parties involved. The strength of the [[Klingon Empire]] set back by a decade, and a nascent struggle for influence between the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire erupted into a [[Battle of the Bassen Rift|short conflict]] in [[2379]]. However, foremost in the aftermath was the state of [[Cardassia Prime]]. Eight hundred million civilians had been killed by the Jem'Hadar, including many of the best and brightest minds in the Cardassian Union. The Alpha Quadrant had lost a major power, and the effects on the galaxy would be felt for many years to come. ({{DS9|Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges|What You Leave Behind}}; {{film|10}}) |
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| + | The [[Klingon Defense Force]], having previously suffered heavy casualties in the [[Klingon-Cardassian War]], had been set back for at least a decade. The [[Romulan Star Empire]] rescinded diplomatic ties following the war, and entered into a nascent power struggle for influence against the [[United Federation of Planets]]. This resumption of cold war would last until [[2379]], when a coup led by noted Dominion War commander [[Shinzon|Shinzon of Remus]] led to [[Battle in the Bassen Rift|a brief conflict]], and improved relations with the Romulan Empire. ({{DS9|Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges|What You Leave Behind}}; {{film|10}}){{clear}}{{Dominion War battles}} |
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| − | {{clear}} |
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| − | {{Dominion War battles}} |
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{{Federation wars}} |
{{Federation wars}} |
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=== Background information === |
=== Background information === |
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[[File:Dominion War Treaty.jpg|thumb|The cease-fire treaty prop]] |
[[File:Dominion War Treaty.jpg|thumb|The cease-fire treaty prop]] |
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| − | [[Ira Steven Behr]] and [[Ronald D. Moore]] were the writers most involved with the creation and development of the Dominion War. [[Rick Berman]] wanted the war to be over within three or four episodes at the most. Behr and Moore knew the series would never be able to wrap up the war in that many episodes. Berman also criticized the "depressing" and "violent" stories. Moore later said "''It's a f___in' war! What do you mean it's too violent?!''" |
+ | [[Ira Steven Behr]] and [[Ronald D. Moore]] were the writers most involved with the creation and development of the Dominion War. [[Rick Berman]] wanted the war to be over within three or four episodes at the most. Behr and Moore knew the series would never be able to wrap up the war in that many episodes. Berman also criticized the "depressing" and "violent" stories. Moore later said "''It's a f___in' war! What do you mean it's too violent?!''" {{TrekWeb.com|stories.php?aid{{=}}3fd2828e8365a&tid{{=}}3fd297e330a24&cid{{=}}3fd39cec1a6ac}} |
[[Armin Shimerman]] had hoped to have seen the [[Ferengi]] involved more in the Dominion War arc. Shimerman commented: "''It would have been very interesting to see how people made profits off of wars, to see a black market during the war, to see how the Ferengi, who were basically neutral during the war, behaved. We did a bit of that but we didn't delve into that as much as we could have''". ("The Once and Future Ferengi: Armin Shimerman Reflects on Quark", [[Star Trek: Communicator issue 130|''Star Trek Communicator'', issue 130]]) |
[[Armin Shimerman]] had hoped to have seen the [[Ferengi]] involved more in the Dominion War arc. Shimerman commented: "''It would have been very interesting to see how people made profits off of wars, to see a black market during the war, to see how the Ferengi, who were basically neutral during the war, behaved. We did a bit of that but we didn't delve into that as much as we could have''". ("The Once and Future Ferengi: Armin Shimerman Reflects on Quark", [[Star Trek: Communicator issue 130|''Star Trek Communicator'', issue 130]]) |
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* {{Wikipedia}} |
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| − | {{featured|date=May 2004|id=40215|re-date=March 2012|re-id=1379020}} |
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[[bg:Войната с Доминиона]] |
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Revision as of 01:32, 13 April 2016
| Federation Alliance | Dominion-Breen Alliance |
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"Imposing your type of 'order' on the Alpha Quadrant...may prove more difficult than you imagine."
The Dominion War was a major interstellar conflict, fought from 2373 to 2375, though related conflicts began earlier. The war involved all major powers of the Alpha and Gamma Quadrants, formed into two opposing military alliances; the Federation Alliance and the Dominion-Breen Alliance. Marked by massive civilian casualties, including the Jem'Hadar bombardment of Cardassia (in which approximately 800 million Cardassians were killed), and the mobilisation of military fleets on a scale never seen prior, it was one of the bloodiest and most destructive wars in galactic history.
After a series of calculated steps to destabilise the political landscape of the Alpha Quadrant, the Dominion launched an attack on Deep Space 9 after the Federation provocatively mined the Bajoran wormhole. After a sluggish start, the Dominion rapidly conquered vast swathes of Federation and Klingon territory. In mid-2374, Allied forces recaptured Deep Space 9, though the Dominion soon recovered, conquering Betazed.
After the death of Senator Vreenak, the Romulan Star Empire declared war on the Dominion in late 2374. Allied forces launched a joint invasion of Cardassian space late in the year. Requiring additional manpower, the Dominion signed a treaty with the Breen Confederacy, and, with their aid, launched a raid on Earth, and recaptured the Chin'toka system.
Political instabilities within the precarious Dominion alliance triggered a major rebellion by Cardassian military forces, rendering the Dominion position untenable. As the Dominion-Breen Alliance began to unravel, the Allies launched a massive invasion of Cardassian space in late 2375, sealing the final defeat of the Dominion.
The Treaty of Bajor formally ended the fighting in late 2375.
Prelude
Main article: Dominion Cold War
Following initial Alpha Quadrant expeditions into the Gamma Quadrant, rumours began to filter through of a ruthless race of conquerors known only as "The Dominion". In 2370, first contact was officially made between the Federation and the Dominion, when the Jem'Hadar destroyed the Starfleet vessel Odyssey. A state of cold war rapidly developed thereafter between several of the Alpha Quadrant's major powers and the Dominion. A Dominion invasion was widely regarded as inevitable, as the Founders were driven by a xenophobic need to exert absolute authority over all other civilisations. (DS9: "The Search, Part II")
The Dominion began to infiltrate the Alpha Quadrant with changelings masquerading as important officials, in an attempt to destabilise the fragile political landscape between the major powers. By manipulating a plan originating with Enabran Tain, the Dominion destroyed the Obsidian Order and nearly crippled the Tal Shiar at the Battle of the Omarion Nebula in 2371. The subsequent power vacuum left in the absence of the Obsidian Order led to a coup on Cardassia, resulting in the overthrow of the Cardassian Central Command by the Detapa Council.
By manipulating frustrated warrior sentiments in the Klingon Empire, and implanting false information that the Cardassian coup had been engineered by the Founders, the Dominion was able to trigger the Klingon-Cardassian War. The Federation condemned the Klingon invasion, leading to a severe deterioration of relations between the two powers, ultimately concluding with the Federation-Klingon War.
Concurrently, the Dominion was almost able to instigate a war between the Federation and the Tzenkethi, and caused mass hysteria on Earth following the bombing of a conference. (DS9: "The Die is Cast", "The Adversary", "The Way of the Warrior", "Apocalypse Rising", "Homefront")
The Dominion invades the Alpha Quadrant
The Klingon invasion of Cardassia had all but destroyed Cardassian infrastructure. In mid-2373, frustrated at the apparent cowardice of the Detapa Council, and the broken state of the Cardassian people, Gul Dukat negotiated the entry of the Cardassian Union into the Dominion. Dukat himself was placed as head of the constituent Cardassian state. The Dominion rapidly began fortifying Cardassia with heavily armed convoys on a weekly basis. Within three days of their arrival, the Jem'Hadar had expelled the Klingons from Cardassian space entirely, and completely annihilated the Maquis in the Demilitarized Zone. In the face of the new Dominion foothold in the Alpha Quadrant, the Federation and the Klingons renewed the Khitomer Accords. (DS9: "By Inferno's Light", "Blaze of Glory") It can be argued that the Dominion specifically manipulated events so that Cardassia would be substantially weakened and thereby made an easy target for the Dominion's political advances as it was a Changeling in disguise who instigated the Klingon invasion of Cardassia which destroyed the Cardassian Union's home planet and infrastructure and thereby made them vulnerable to manipulation. It should be noted that the Dominion had no real interest in helping Cardassia, but rather, saw the Cardassian people as a tool, a means to an end in order to facilitate their invasion into the Alpha Quadrant.
Although open war did not begin immediately, violence along the Cardassian border escalated, with ships such as the Tian An Men and the B'Moth being reported missing, likely destroyed. The Dominion began making strategic political inroads in the Alpha Quadrant, signing non-aggression pacts with the Tholian Assembly, the Miradorn, Bajor, and, perhaps most significantly, the Romulan Star Empire. With five large convoys having entered the Alpha Quadrant unopposed, the Federation Alliance realised they would soon face an impossible strategic position.
In late 2373, the Federation decided to mine the entrance to the Bajoran wormhole with self-replicating mines, in a last-ditch effort to permanently stop the flow of Dominion reinforcements into the Alpha Quadrant. Both sides knew that this act would lead to open war. (DS9: "Soldiers of the Empire", "In the Cards", "Call to Arms")
Open war begins
The first shots of the Dominion War, fired on Deep Space 9
"We're losing the peace, which means a war could be our only hope."
- - Benjamin Sisko, 2373
Intent on preventing the Federation from completing the minefield, Weyoun arrived on Deep Space 9 and delivered an ultimatum; either Sisko would remove the mines, or the Dominion would. Sisko refused the ultimatum, and, two days later, a large Dominion fleet attacked and captured Deep Space 9. Trusting that the minefield would be activated in time, the Federation Alliance opted not to reinforce the station, but used the opportunity to take advantage of the diverted Dominion ships to destroy the Dominion shipyards at Torros III. Though the minefield was successfully activated, the Allies was forced to retreat from the Bajoran system, and the station was subsequently garrisoned by Dominion forces. (DS9: "Call to Arms", "Behind the Lines")
Dukat and Weyoun confer over Dominion strategy
Over the following months, Allied forces were forced to retreat on all fronts in the wake of several decisively successful Dominion campaigns. At each instance, the Allies suffered catastrophic losses. During this campaign, Starfleet suffered one of its worst defeats of the war when the Seventh Fleet was dispatched to halt the Dominion's blitzkrieg advance at the Tyra system. In the subsequent battle, 98 starships were destroyed out of a fleet of 112, leaving thousands dead. Morale among the forces of the Federation Alliance plummeted, and it became a question of when, not if, the Alliance would be defeated. (DS9: "A Time to Stand")
While the Allies suffered repeated defeats in large fleet actions, Starfleet and Klingon ships had greater success in raiding operations and in combating small patrols of Jem'Hadar ships. Such operations included the destruction of the Dominion's primary ketracel-white storage facility in the Alpha Quadrant, and the destruction of a massive Dominion sensor array in the Argolis Cluster. The Dominion began suffering a shortage of ketracel-white, greatly concerning the Cardassians in particular. Glinn Damar even proposed that the last rations of white be poisoned if new supplies could not be secured, preventing the Jem'Hadar from running amok.
Nevertheless, the Dominion continued to conquer large swathes of Federation and Klingon territory, even approaching the Vulcan and Bolian systems. On Deep Space 9, efforts to dismantle the minefield surrounding the wormhole were finally beginning to bear fruit. Although Allied forces scored several minor successes in single-ship duels and in small groups, the inexorable Dominion advance compelled them to continually retreat. Morale sunk lower, with even the Klingons doubting they could defeat the Dominion. (DS9: "Behind the Lines", "Favor the Bold")
Counter-offensive
"Earth isn't the key to the Alpha Quadrant, the wormhole is, and, whoever controls Deep Space Nine, controls the wormhole."
- - Benjamin Sisko, 2374
By the latter half of 2374, the Allies were perilously close to defeat. A major victory was needed, if anything to boost morale. Captain Benjamin Sisko, knowing the Dominion would likely figure out how to disable the minefield, proposed to Starfleet Command the Federation Alliance had to go on the offensive. Sisko's plan was to assemble a task force to recapture Deep Space 9, the most strategically important site in the Alpha Quadrant, at the mouth of the wormhole. Despite misgivings that it would leave Earth vulnerable, Starfleet approved the plan.
The Klingons proved more difficult to convince; Chancellor Gowron held the same concerns as Starfleet, in committing as many ships as would be required to re-take Deep Space 9, it would leave the Empire vulnerable. While General Martok and Lieutenant Commander Worf made Starfleet's plea to Gowron in person, Federation forces began assembling at Starbase 375. Unfortunately, Starfleet soon received intelligence from active resistance members on Deep Space 9 that the minefield was only three days from being destroyed.
With no word having arrived from the Klingons, and only two-thirds of the Starfleet force assembled, Vice Admiral William Ross authorised Benjamin Sisko to lead the 627 ships assembled in an effort to prevent the Dominion from removing the mines. In response, Dukat pulled 1,254 warships from the front lines to intercept the Federation fleet, stalling Dominion advances into Allied territory. (DS9: "Favor the Bold")
Klingon warships in combat during Operation Return
Though outnumbered two to one, Starfleet engaged the Dominion fleet. With the timely arrival of the Klingon forces, the Dominion lines collapsed, and the fleet dispersed. Though the Defiant breached the lines, it was unable to prevent the destruction of the minefield. With no options remaining, Sisko took the Defiant into the wormhole, and was able to strike a bargain with the Prophets to remove the Dominion forces to protect Bajor. 2,800 Dominion ships were destroyed in the wormhole, and with 200 Allied ships approaching Bajor, the Dominion position on Deep Space 9 became untenable. The Dominion withdrew all forces to Cardassian territory, giving the Allied forces a decisive victory.
Dukat suffered a mental breakdown at the defeat, along with the concurrent murder of his daughter, Tora Ziyal, and was captured by the victorious Allied forces. Damar was subsequently promoted to Legate, and succeeded him as leader of the Cardassian Union. (DS9: "Sacrifice of Angels")
Lull
Following the decisive Allied victory in recapturing Deep Space 9, the Dominion forces withdrew to Cardassian space, and major operations temporarily ceased. (DS9: "Resurrection") Legate Damar extended an olive branch to the Federation, hoping to negotiate a cease-fire and end the war. Weyoun proposed to redraw the Federation-Cardassian border to give disputed star systems to the side with de facto control, an arrangement which generally favoured the Federation. However, a think-tank of genetically engineered individuals led by Julian Bashir deduced that the Dominion's true goal was to obtain the Kabrel system. Though strategically unimportant, the Kabrel system would enable the Dominion to produce near-endless amounts of ketracel-white.
Bashir advised that the Federation accept the peace proposal; while many suspected the Dominion would renege on any agreement to buy time to re-group, the Allies were in a far greater need of a respite than the Dominion. Instead, the Federation made a counter-proposal and the talks ended inconclusively. (DS9: "Statistical Probabilities")
Kudak'Etan, one of the first Alpha Jem'Hadar
Several weeks later, Dominion activity began to increase all along the border, putting lie to hopes that the Allied recapture of Deep Space 9 would signal the end of the war. Allied losses began to mount, including the destruction of the Honshu and the Cortez. (DS9: "Waltz", "Far Beyond the Stars") In an effort to weaken the Federation-Klingon alliance, Dominion agents established ties with the Orion Syndicate in an unsuccessful plot to instigate a Klingon Civil War by assassinating a Klingon diplomat. (DS9: "Honor Among Thieves")
With the Prophets barring passage of the wormhole to ships from the Gamma Quadrant, the Dominion began breeding legions of Jem'Hadar, tailoring their genetic profiles specifically for combat in the Alpha Quadrant, and pushed their shipyards to full construction capacity. (DS9: "One Little Ship", "In the Pale Moonlight", "The Reckoning") The issue of the ketracel-white shortage crisis was eventually mitigated when the Dominion acquired new supplies manufactured by the Son'a. (DS9: "Penumbra"; Star Trek: Insurrection)
Having recovered from the loss of Deep Space 9, in late 2374, the Dominion launched a surprise invasion of Betazed from the Kalandra sector, overrunning the entire system and its outlying colonies in less than ten hours. With control of a key Federation member world, the Dominion had scored a decisive strategic success; it was now in a position to launch offensives against Vulcan, Andoria, Tellar Prime and Alpha Centauri. The Second Fleet launched three counter-attacks in just one month against Betazed; however all were repulsed. For the Federation Alliance, suffering from shortages of ships and manpower, defeat once again seemed only a matter of time. (DS9: "In the Pale Moonlight")
The Tide Turns
"Think about it, they're in the perfect position. They get to sit back and watch as their biggest rivals slug it out in a long, bloody war. No one's threatening their interests. Why should they risk their necks? There's simply no reason for them to get involved in our war."
- - Jadzia Dax, 2374
The Romulan Star Empire had hitherto remained neutral in the Dominion War, although they were turning a blind eye to Dominion warships crossing through their territory to ambush Federation convoys and shipping. Captain Benjamin Sisko reasoned that the addition of the Romulan military could prove decisive in reversing the fortunes of the Dominion. With Elim Garak, and the approval of Starfleet Intelligence, a covert mission was carried out to implicate the Dominion in a planned invasion of Romulus, and the assassination of Senator Vreenak, the most ardent pro-Dominion advocate in the Romulan Senate. From the wreckage of Vreenak's destroyed ship, the Tal Shiar recovered a recording of an alleged top-level Dominion conference bringing forward the timetabling of the invasion.
In response, the Romulan Empire officially declared war on the Dominion. Within hours, the Romulans struck fifteen bases along the Romulan-Cardassian border, opening a second front to the war. Although progress remained slow for the allies, the Romulans drove Dominion forces off of Benzar within months of joining the war effort. During this campaign, Shinzon of Remus distinguished himself in the Romulan military, having led twelve major engagements against the Jem'Hadar, all of them successful. (DS9: "In the Pale Moonlight", "The Reckoning", Star Trek Nemesis)
The Federation, desperate for additional support, continued to extend diplomatic ties to neighbouring species. In 2374, the Federation Council conveyed an official diplomatic message to Grand Nagus Zek of the Ferengi Alliance, which Jake Sisko speculated was a proposal for opening of formal relations between the two powers. In 2375, the Federation accepted the Evora as a protectorate, despite their having achieved warp drive only the previous year. (DS9: "In the Pale Moonlight", "Valiant", Star Trek: Insurrection)
The Federation Alliance captures the Chin'toka system in 2374
With the Romulans now fully committed to the Federation Alliance, options for a general offensive into Cardassian territory became a viable possibility. The Romulans had reservations that such an attack could succeed only at horrendous cost, favouring to contain the Dominion within Cardassian space. However, Benjamin Sisko convinced the delegation that the only course to victory was to destroy the Dominion's industrial infrastructure. The Allies agreed they would commit their efforts to the Chin'toka system, its defences having recently been thinned to provide additional support for the Romulan front.
In late 2374, the Federation Alliance launched their first offensive into Cardassian space, capturing Chin'toka after a hard fight. (DS9: "Tears of the Prophets") Although the planned attack against Cardassia itself was not realised, owing to heavy losses taking Chin'toka, the successful invasion was a tremendous boost to Allied morale. The Allied hold on Chin'toka was tenuous at best; the system remained under almost constant attack, making it extremely difficult to reinforce the garrisoned forces. Further offensives were bloodily repulsed; a Klingon fleet lost thirty percent of its strength attacking Monac IV. (DS9: "Image in the Sand", "The Siege of AR-558")
On other fronts, the Allies enjoyed greater success. Elim Garak began working for Starfleet in an unofficial capacity breaking Cardassian military codes; one such breach enabled the Alliles to retake the Kalandra system from the Dominion. (DS9: "Afterimage", "The Emperor's New Cloak") While the Allies consolidated their new front, General Martok launched a deep penetration raid into Cardassian space that severely damaged several key military targets. (DS9: "Once More Unto the Breach")
In early 2375, the Federation learned of a development that would ultimately help determine the course of the war: a deadly morphogenic virus had infected the Great Link. Despite the Dominion's technological prowess, they were unable to find a cure, and it was determined it would only be a matter of time before the Founders would die. (DS9: "Treachery, Faith and the Great River") It would be later discovered that the virus had been engineered by Section 31, a rogue branch of Starfleet Intelligence. Although Julian Bashir did find a cure, the Federation Council decided to withhold it from the Dominion for strategic concerns. Some protested this act as abetting genocide. (DS9: "Extreme Measures", "The Dogs of War")
Cardassian rebellion
"Legate Damar may be the key to saving the Alpha Quadrant."
- - Benjamin Sisko, 2375
Meanwhile, the Alliance's slowly encroaching front-line had begun to seriously strain relations in the precarious Dominion-Cardassian alliance. The Founders and their Vorta underlings tended to rest blame upon the Cardassian military for the failings of the Jem'Hadar in battle, an accusation that Legate Damar found particularly galling. With Dominion xenophobia clashing with Cardassian pride, many Cardassian soldiers grew distrustful and resentful of the Dominion, while the Dominion continued to erode Cardassian autonomy.
Seeking to rescue the war effort, in mid 2375, the Dominion conducted secret negotiations with the elusive Breen Confederacy to propose a military alliance; negotiations which the Cardassians were not privy to. The Dominion granted the Breen unspecified Cardassian territorial concessions in exchange, concessions which Legate Damar had neither seen nor agreed to. His objections were summarily overruled. (DS9: "Penumbra", "'Til Death Do Us Part")
Damar grew concerned with further Allied advances, specifically the garrison of the Eleventh Order on Septimus III, which would fall without Jem'Hadar assistance. The Dominion refused to render aid, regarding it as an acceptable sacrifice. The Klingons subsequently invaded the planet and massacred the garrison. This action finally spurred Damar to rebel against the Dominion. (DS9: "Strange Bedfellows", "The Changing Face of Evil")
Allied ships are annihilated during the Breen counter-attack on Chin'toka
The Breen Confederacy entered the war in late 2375 with a bold raid on Starfleet Headquarters, sending shock waves through the Alliance. Able to now mobilise a large fleet to hazard out offensive operations, the Dominion-Breen Alliance launched a massive counter-attack against the Chin'toka system. The battle would prove to be the worst Allied defeat of the entire war; of the 312 ships engaged, all but one were destroyed. However, they could not press their advantage, as soon after, the Cardassian Liberation Front attacked the Dominion military installations on Rondac III, diverting vital resources from the front. (DS9: "The Changing Face of Evil")
The only Allied warship to escape the Breen energy dissipators at Chin'toka was a Klingon warship, the Ki'tang, owing to a chance modification of the ship's propulsion matrix. General Martok ordered the modifications across the entire Klingon fleet, and had 1,500 warships ready for deployment the following day. With the Federation and Romulan fleets effectively useless in the interim until a countermeasure could be developed, the Klingons were left with the daunting task of holding the front-line against the Dominion-Breen Alliance. (DS9: "When It Rains...")
However, the Allied defensive efforts were soon jeopardised by Chancellor Gowron, whose political position had become threatened by Martok's popularity in the Empire. Gowron took direct command of the Klingon fleet and repeatedly ordered Martok on hopeless attacks, intending for him to be killed or disgraced. With the safety of the Alpha Quadrant at stake, Benjamin Sisko ordered Lieutenant Commander Worf to deal with Gowron. Worf directly challenged his leadership, and slew him in single combat. Worf then proclaimed General Martok as the next Chancellor of the Klingon High Council. (DS9: "Tacking Into the Wind")
Damar rallying the Cardassian people against the Dominion
Meanwhile, the Federation Alliance saw a strategic opportunity in the Cardassian rebellion to keep the Dominion-Breen Alliance constantly off-balance. The Federation supplied replicators, weapons and food supplies to the rebels, and dispatched Kira Nerys to train Damar's troops in guerrilla tactics. (DS9: "When It Rains...")
The Cardassian rebels began carrying out a number of sabotaging attacks on Dominion ships and military installations, and was able to deliver a functioning Breen energy-dissipator to the Allied forces. (DS9: "Tacking Into the Wind") Unfortunately, however, the success of Damar's revolt was short-lived. Gul Revok, a prominent soldier in the Liberation Front, betrayed them to the Dominion. Jem'Hadar and Breen ships rapidly destroyed all eighteen rebel bases, ending the organised resistance against the Founders' rule. (DS9: "The Dogs of War")
Invasion of Cardassia
Although the Cardassian military rebellion had ostensibly been crushed, Starfleet and Romulan engineers were able to develop a countermeasure to the Breen energy dissipator, thus denying the Dominion their one major tactical advantage over the Allies. Facing a renewed counter-offensive on a wide front, the Dominion-Breen forces withdrew from all conquered territories and established a fortified perimeter within Cardassian space. Their hope was that the Allies would baulk at the cost of breaching the perimeter, giving the Dominion time to rebuild.
While containing the Dominion within its present borders was a tempting move, the senior Allied commanders argued the Dominion could not be afforded any respite. Instead, the Allies would mobilise all their available ships to launch a single, decisive strike against the heart of Dominion power in the Alpha Quadrant: Cardassia. (DS9: "Tacking Into the Wind", "The Dogs of War")
The Allied fleet departs Deep Space 9 to invade Cardassia
On Cardassia itself, the remnants of the resistance had not been idle. The bold revolt, though ultimately defeated, had left a scintillating impression upon the Cardassian people. Buoyed with this knowledge, Damar, Garak and Kira Nerys successfully bombed a Jem'Hadar barracks, rallying the civilian population into a popular uprising against the Dominion.
Meanwhile, the Allied fleet crossed into Dominion space and engaged the Dominion-Breen forces in battle. Concurrently, popular revolt on Cardassia sabotaged the planet's power grid, cutting off transportation and communication systems, causing a planetary blackout. The fleet defending Cardassia was completely cut off from Dominion Headquarters. In retaliation, hoping to discourage further attacks, the Jem'Hadar destroyed Lakarian City, killing two million civilians. Instead, it had the opposite effect; the Cardassian military abrogated their alliance, fracturing the Dominion lines, forcing it to retreat. Infuriated, the Founders ordered the Jem'Hadar to exterminate the Cardassian population.
Cardassia Prime in ruins after the Jem'Hadar bombardment
While the Jem'Hadar rampaged across the planet, the Dominion-Breen fleets in orbit of Cardassia were ordered to fight to the death, ensuring only a pyrrhic Allied victory. As the Allies laid siege to Cardassia, rebels breached Dominion Headquarters, capturing the Founder. Odo convinced the Founder to surrender rather than fight; in exchange he would return to and cure the Great Link of the morphogenic virus. The Founder agreed, and the Dominion forces surrendered; the first time it had ever done so in battle. (DS9: "What You Leave Behind")
Aftermath
"This is a moment worth savoring. To victory! Hard fought, and well earned."
"Suddenly I'm not thirsty."
"Neither am I"
- - Martok, Benjamin Sisko and William Ross, 2375
The Treaty of Bajor is signed on Deep Space 9
The instrument of surrender, the Treaty of Bajor, was signed on Deep Space 9 between representatives of the Federation Alliance and the Dominion-Breen Alliance several days after the surrender at Cardassia. The treaty stipulated the Dominion would affect a complete military withdrawal to the Gamma Quadrant, while Alpha Quadrant territories were reverted to their boundaries as of stardate 50564.0, just prior to the Dominion's initial incursion into the Alpha Quadrant. (DS9: "What You Leave Behind")
In its wake, the war completely shifted the power dynamics of the Alpha Quadrant. The Cardassian Union had all but collapsed as a major power in the quadrant; eight hundred million civilians had been killed by the Jem'Hadar in mere hours, as well as over seven million troops, severely damaging Cardassian political integrity. The Breen Confederacy, a hitherto elusive race with little external contact had emerged and established themselves as a major military power.
The Klingon Defense Force, having previously suffered heavy casualties in the Klingon-Cardassian War, had been set back for at least a decade. The Romulan Star Empire rescinded diplomatic ties following the war, and entered into a nascent power struggle for influence against the United Federation of Planets. This resumption of cold war would last until 2379, when a coup led by noted Dominion War commander Shinzon of Remus led to a brief conflict, and improved relations with the Romulan Empire. (DS9: "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges", "What You Leave Behind"; Star Trek Nemesis)
| Major battles of the Dominion War |
|---|
| 2373: Second Battle of Deep Space 9 • Battle of Torros III |
| 2374: Battle of the Tyra system • Operation Return • Battle of Betazed • Liberation of Benzar • First Battle of Chin'toka |
| 2375: Destruction of Monac shipyard • Raid on Trelka V • Siege of AR-558 • Battle of Ricktor Prime • Invasion of Septimus III • Breen attack on Earth • Second Battle of Chin'toka • Battle of Rondac III • Attack on Avenal VII • Battle of Cardassia |
Appendices
Background information
The cease-fire treaty prop
Ira Steven Behr and Ronald D. Moore were the writers most involved with the creation and development of the Dominion War. Rick Berman wanted the war to be over within three or four episodes at the most. Behr and Moore knew the series would never be able to wrap up the war in that many episodes. Berman also criticized the "depressing" and "violent" stories. Moore later said "It's a f___in' war! What do you mean it's too violent?!" [1](X)
Armin Shimerman had hoped to have seen the Ferengi involved more in the Dominion War arc. Shimerman commented: "It would have been very interesting to see how people made profits off of wars, to see a black market during the war, to see how the Ferengi, who were basically neutral during the war, behaved. We did a bit of that but we didn't delve into that as much as we could have". ("The Once and Future Ferengi: Armin Shimerman Reflects on Quark", Star Trek Communicator, issue 130)
Majel Barrett criticized the arc in a letter published in Star Trek Communicator, claiming that Gene Roddenberry would have never approved of a continuing war in a Star Trek series. Berman has espoused similar sentiments, noting that his opposition "was all based purely on the fact that Gene had been very specific to me about not wanting Star Trek to be a show about intergalactic wars, interspecies wars. He didn't want it to be about humans fighting wars against other species." Dominion War at StarTrek.com Responding to the former, Moore admitted, "She's probably right. It would've been very hard to argue Gene into going this way and maybe he'd have never gone for it. However, I would've still argued for doing the Dominion War with him and if he'd rejected it, I would've thought he was wrong. I respect Gene and his work, but I don't think he was always right and I'm not going to pretend that I do. The Dominion War has been one of the better storylines we've come up with whether Gene would've agreed or not." (AOL chat, 1999)
Bjo Trimble commented: "I feel that Gene might have come to like DS9, had he lived to see it. There might have been some changes. Majel recently said that GR would have hated the war in DS9, but frankly I am amazed that she cannot see the same theme in much of what Gene did, including his recent "discovery" of Earth: Final Conflict. The only reason there were not full battles in early Trek is lack of funds to pull it off, and lack of technology to show it. Otherwise, GR would certainly have added it; he knew what audiences liked. I don't know about Voyager; I can't see where it's going, and I don't feel GR would have liked that. I don't think he would have liked the last couple of movies; they were very far removed from the Trek Gene came up with". [2]
The Dominion War was directly referred to on three occasions outside of Deep Space Nine: VOY: "Message in a Bottle", Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis.
Apocrypha
In Rising Son, it is revealed that the inhabitants of the Gamma Quadrant refer to the war as the "Quadrant War".
The war is frequently mentioned in Pocket Books novels and reference books, and there is also a section on it in the Star Trek: Star Charts.
Novels
- Tales of the Dominion War
- Star Trek: The Dominion War
- What You Leave Behind
- The Battle of Betazed
- Hollow Men
Video games
See also
External links
- Dominion War at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
- Dominion War at Wikipedia