Deep Space 9: Old Cardassian
mining station built in orbit of planet Bajor during the
Cardassian occupation. ("Emissary"[DS9]). Deep Space 9
was built in 2351 ('Babel' [DS9]) by the Cardassians, who called
the station Terok Nor, to exploit Bajo r's rich uridium deposits.
('Civil Defense' [DS9]). In 2362, Gul Dukat was the commanding
officer on Terok Nor. He retained that position until 2369.
("Cardassians" [DS9]). In that year, the Cardassians
relinquished their claim on Bajor and retreated from the region.
Starfleet assumed control of the facility shortly thereafter, at
the request of the Bajoran provisional government. Though
administered by the Federation, the station fell under the
jurisdiction of the Bajoran government and was subject to its
laws. ("Profit and Loss" [DS9]).
Starfleet officer Benjamin Sisko was placed
in charge of the station, and his staff included Bajoran Liaison 
Kira Nerys,
Security Officer Odo, Chief Medical Officer Julian Bashir,
Science Officer Jadzia Dax, and Chief of Operations Miles
O'Brien. Shortly thereafter, the station assumed great
commercial, scientific, and strategic importance when the Bajoran
wormhole was discovered, linking the Bajor system with the
distant Gamma Quadrant. Commander Sisko ordered the statio n
moved near the wormhole in order to solidify the Bajoran claim on
this remarkable phenomenon. ("Emissary" [DS9]). This
placed the station three hours from planet Bajor. ("The
House of Quark" [DS9]).
Major features of the station include the
Operations Cen ter (from which all station functions are
managed), the Promenade (a main thoroughfare containing numerous
service facilities and stores, including Quark's bar), three
massive docking towers, and several smaller docking ports on an
outer docking ring. ("E m issary" [DS9]). Incorporated
into the docking towers were several massive ore processing
facilities designed to refine uridium ore. ("Crossover"
[DS9], "Civil Defense" [DS9]). The extent of the
defensive shields around the station was almost 300 meters. (
" The Search, Part I" [DS9]). There are normally about
300 permanent residents on the station, not counting visitors and
crews of ships docked at the station. 
Weapons are stored
in the Habitat Ring, Level 5, and Section 3. ("Captive
Pursuit" [DS9]). The sta t ion has the capacity to
accommodate about 7000 people. ("Sanctuary" [DS9]).
Access conduits on the station were shielded with duranium
composites, making the interior of the conduits impervious to
sensors. ("The Siege" [DS9]). All Federation and
non-Bajor a n personnel were briefly evacuated from Deep Space 9
in early 2370 when Circle forces threatened the station's safety.
("The Siege" [DS9]). In 2370, Commander Riker contacted
Quark at the station, concerning the whereabouts of the Duras
Sisters. ("Firstbo rn" [TNG]).
In 2371,
Ben Sisko began a major program of upgrading the station's
defensive systems in anticipation of a feared Dominion invasion.
These preparations paid off handsomely a year later when they
enabled the Deep Space 9 to defend itself against a massive
Klingon fleet, when Chancellor Gowron suspected that Dominion
agents were
controlling the Cardassian government. ("The Way of the
Warrior" [DS9]). On stardate 49904.2, upper docking pylon
three was severely damaged in an attack by renegade Jem'H adar.
("To the Death" [DS9]). The pylon was subsequently
repaired.
In 2373, a new treaty between the Federation and the Klingon Empire resulted in the assignment of a detachment of Klingon warriors to Deep Space 9 to help defend against Dominion aggression. The move was designed to counter the alliance of the Dominion with the Cardassian Union. General Martok commanded the detachment. ("By Inferno's Light" [DS9]).
The station model was designed at the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine art department by Herman Zimme rman and Rick Sternbach. Contributing artists included Ricardo Delgado, Joseph Hodges, Nathan Crowley, Jim Martin, Rob Legato, Gary Hutzel, Mike Okuda, and executive producer Rick Berman. The miniature was fabricated by Tony Meininger.
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