They are a humanoid race with grey, scaley skin and bony protective eye ridges that has been involved in a bitter, extended conflict with the Federation. An uneasy truce was finally reached in 2366.
In the past, the Cardassians were a peaceful and spiritual people. They are descended from the ancient Hebitian civilization, whose ruins still litter Cardassia. Their burial vaults were uncovered in the late 2160's and they were magnificant, filled with many jewelled artifacts. However the tombs were plundered by the military to finance the war. They were known for their pursuit of philosophy and art. But because their planet had poor-resources, starvation and disease were rampant causing millions of people to die.
With the rise of the military to power, new territories and technology were acquired by violence, at the cost of millions of lives sacrificed to the war effort. The military knew that the only way to survive was to acquire new territory, to expand into the galaxy, enslaving entire races and plundering planets for mineral wealth. The Cardassians changed from being a starving peaceful race to one that was well fed but greedy for wealth, territory and power.
Cardassia or Cardassia Prime is the Homeworld of the Cardassian Union. It may be poor in natural resources, but in ancient times, it was home to a splendid civilization whose legendary ruins are still considered some of the most remarkable in the galaxy.
Cardassians are famous for their photographic memories. Children are placed in intensive mind training programs at an early age (4). This enables some Cardassians to resist a Vulcan Mind Meld.
Familiies of upto four generations often live under the same roof. Caring for parents, as well as children, is of great social and ethical importance.
Favourite foods include Yamok Sauce, Taspar Eggs and Kanar.
Pets include the white and furry Wompat
The Cardassian legal system presumes guilt before the trial even begins; no defense is expected and the trial itself is just a sham, designed to reassure the viewing public that no crime goes unpunished. It is barbaric by Human standards. The accussed is guilty until proven innocent. The verdict is known before the trial and is always guilty. Citizens enjoy watching justice triumph over evil, they find it comforting. All crimes are solved, all crminals are punished. The court is presided over by the Chief Archon, The Conservator is the counsel and the Nestor is Advisor.
The Cardassians have a place for everyone and they are all firmly in their place. Duty and sacrifice are the foremost considerations of any Cardassian, but in practice it is every Cardassian for themselves, as they scheme and plot against each other, looking for signs of weakness or lapses from duty that can be exploited.
Above everything is the Obsidian Order, the secretive intelligence wing of the Cardasssian government. They are more efficient than the Romulan Tal Shiar. It is said that a Cardassian citizen cannot sit down to dinner without each dish being noted and recorded. They obsessively keep information and anything else that comes into their possession, never knowing when it might come in handy. They are meticulous, regimented and deeply suspicious. The Obsidian Order have Keldorn class warships which are much faster than the standard Keldons issued to the Cardassian military.
Cardassian heirarchy:
Guls
Glinns
Inquisitors
Legates
Archons
Conservators
The Cardassian Fleet:
Galor Class Warship
Cardassian weapons include Neurosene gas which is fatal to non-Cardassians. Terok Nor had a Neurosene gas defense system. Their torture device is a surgcal implant placed in the chest cavity which is connected to nerves throughout the subject's body. The device can inflict pain in any area of the body by the push of a button on a remote control device. Pain is severe, even on the lowest setting. Their personal phasers look similar to a Romulan disruptor.
The Cardassians are currently allies with the Dominion after Gul Dukat went into secret negotiations with them and invited Weyoun into the Alpha Quadrant. Gul Dukat used to be head of the Cardassian government before he became mentally ill after the death of his daughter. Now Dumar is in charge under the careful supervision of Weyoun. The Cardassian and Dominion alliance is currently at war with the Federation, Klingons and the Romulans.
They were first seen in "The wounded (TNG)"
Quotes about Cardassians:
'The Cardassians have no honor' - Worf
'The Cardassians like to make war' - Captain Benjamin Maxwell
'Cardassians are like timber wolves - predators. They're bold in large numbers but cautious by themselves. They have an instinctive need to establish a dominant position in any social gathering.' - Captain Edward Jellico.
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