Ruthless and tyrannical organization from the Gamma Quadrant, overseen by the Founders, and patrolled by their foot-soldiers The Jem'Hadar.

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

First formed around two thousand years ago by the Founders, this elusive civilization of shapeshifters have exerted their singular rule, and philosophy across vast proportions of their native Gamma Quadrant. Through special genetically bred super-soldiers, called the Jem'Hadar, their law and mandates are enforced, with extremely efficiency and brutality to ensure obedience and order.

It was said that millennia ago the shapeshifters were a hunted and persecuted species, and that the 'solids' (non-shapeshifting 'monoforms') feared and despised them for their incredible, and unpredictable capabilities. After settling up on a remote and isolated planetoid in the Omarian Nebula, they slowly and quietly rose to a level of some influence, and in an attempt to control the chaotic and 'inferior' solids they established the Dominion to exact their own kind of rule and discipline.

For centuries they strove to control many hundreds of worlds in the Gamma Quadrant with the Jem'Hadar, being genetically modified to be addicted to a substance called ketracel-white - the absence of the chemical ensured death, so it was provided as a means to secure loyalty. Many Jem'Hadar would die having never seen the Founders that control them, and the majority would in fact not live to any advanced age, but those who reached the age of 20 are considered 'Honoured Elders'.

The Founders, carrying themselves as mythical God-like figures ruled through fear, violence and oppression, but would continue to learn and explore the galaxy by sending their young into deep space on missions of exploration and discovery. These infant shapeshifters were programmed with the overwhelming desire to return one day to join the Great Link, a communal gathering and merging of their kind where all knowledge, sensation and thought is shared and combined into one. 

First knowledge of the Dominion filtered through to the Alpha Quadrant when the Ferengi and Federation attempted to open up trade and commerce channels in the Gamma Quadrant, by way of the newly discovered Bajoran wormhole. First contact with the Dominion race called the Karemma provided the first information, but it soon became evident that trade was not a possibility without direct Dominion involvement by way of their representatives the Vorta. The Vorta were cloned in large quantities, and operated in direct accordance to the Founders. They were also principally responsible for the control and deployment of the Jem'Hadar. When it was learned that the Dominion tolerated very little, and were greatly mistrusting of the new travellers from the other side of the galaxy, almost immediately Dominion spies were dispatched to the Alpha Quadrant on surveillance and intelligence gathering missions. They learned about the worlds and powers of Alpha Quadrant very quickly, and on discovering its diverse, and chaotic nature, plans were set in motion to gain a stronghold on Alpha Quadrant affairs.

The Dominion were seriously offended by Federation incursions through the wormhole and into their territory. So much so that in 2371, in a show of force to convey their objections, they destroyed the Federation Starship Odyssey in a seemingly unnecessary suicide run. The ship's destruction saw the loss of over one thousand people. To observers, this act alone demonstrated the power, influence and extreme threat the Dominion posed to the Alpha Quadrant.

In addition to this, the Jem'Hadar mercilessly wiped out an the entire colony of New Bajor on the Gamma Quadrant side of the wormhole. This was a disaster to the Bajoran government who were only just recovering and rebuilding, both resources and morale after years of Cardassian persecution and exploitation.

In yet further confrontations, agents of the Dominion went as far to abduct crew members of the Federation Starship Defiant. After manipulating their minds, the Dominion were able to gather information about how Federation and Alpha Quadrant forces may respond to an invasion. 

This new Federation ship, the Defiant, was specifically developed to counter further Dominion engagements. It was one of Starfleet's most effective ships in combat situations, and was equipped with powerful weaponry such as Phaser Canons, and multiple Quantum Torpedo arrays. The most significant addition to this vessel was the installation of a Romulan Cloaking Device, on loan from the Empire. The inclusion of this important tactical feature represented Romulan interests in Dominion movements and tactics. The device allowed the Defiant to operate in the Gamma Quadrant on missions of espionage and exploration without the threat of detection. Though in many scenarios the Cloaking Device was made redundant by the development of anti-proton scan techniques deployed by Jem'Hadar ships which rendered the Defiant detectable through the cloak.

TECHNOLOGY

Because of the Dominion's size and influence they are able to obtain many diverse and sophisticated technological systems to aid them in their ultimate goal of power, control and enforcement. The Jem'Hadar uses various types and design of vessel to exact their military influence. The Federation apply generalised classifications such as Warship, Battleship, and Attack ship for the Dominion's vessels, but early on little was known about the actual working technology behind propulsion, defensive and other tactical systems.

Such matters were only speculated at, but on one occasion Federation operatives were able to capture a damaged Jem'Hadar vessel that crashed on Torga IV. On top of a highly complex and advanced virtual display interface, scientists were able to establish the vessel used a sophisticated ion propulsion system and 'ventral impellers' which were ancillary atmospheric thrust devices. Weapons included a type of phased 'polaron' beam, similar to traditional phasers, and their superior shield grids ensured negative tractor locks. Federation forces discovered that Jem'Hadar transporters could beam subjects through their shields. In many battles Starfleet crews could find themselves boarded and engaged in hand to hand combat. The other measure that greatly curtailed allied forces during the war campaign were the anti-proton scans, which rendered the Defiant, as well as Romulan and Klingon forces open to detection when cloaked.

Perhaps the most startling revelation about the Jem'Hadar when first encountered were their portable, personalised cloaking devices carried by individual troops. This had the advantage of rendering a sudden, undetected sneak attack in face to face encounters.

DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY MATTERS

When 150 Jem'Hadar vessels easily defeated a large combined fleet of Cardassian and Romulan forces under control of both the Obsidian Order and Tal Shiar respectively, the warning klaxon was sounded to the entire Alpha Quadrant. This was further emphasised by the knowledge that shapeshifter imposters were among Starfleet ranks, as they sought to spy upon, influence and undermine Federation interests by taking the appearance of reputable personnel. 

If the Dominion were to arrive through the wormhole in great numbers the frontline would be located at Bajor, and the Federation station Deep Space Nine. The old Cardassian structure would become a key post for the allied forces in the coming war.

To facilitate their presence in the Alpha Quadrant, the Dominion forged close ties with the Cardassian Union, negotiated behind doors by Central Command's Gul Dukat. Seeking to gain a stronger footing for the Union, this alliance was hoped to become the stepping stone to power and expansion. This allowed the Dominion to base their operations in Cardassian space, and it was an ideal strategic location to build up vast fleets of warships, not relying on the Federation controlled wormhole alone for military backup and supply. The Dominion also took steps by way of Vorta representatives to secure non-aggression treaties with the primarily Beta Quadrant located Romulan Empire. Similar treaties were signed and agreed to by the Tholians an Miradorn.

Hundreds of Federation and Klingon vessels were lost in subsequent engagements, though the Dominion did suffer heavy losses when the allies attacked shipyards in the Torros system. Desperate to curtail Dominion advances through the wormhole, the Federation blockaded the entrance with a expanding minefield, but the cost was Deep Space Nine, as it soon fell into enemy hands.

The first turning point for the war was the Romulan Empire's sudden and controversial rescinding of their non-aggression treaty with Dominion. Having been fed disinformation by the Federation regarding the future exploitation and invasion of the Empire by the Dominion, the Romulan senate took a very dim view of their recently acquired allies. And hence, the treaty was abrogated. Their resulting involvement in the conflict greatly bolstered allied resolve, and resources. For the first time in history, Federation, Klingon and Romulan forces fought side by side against a common goal, and bit by bit occupied territory was reclaimed and liberated, climaxing in the allies taking the Chin'toka system, a major Dominion/Cardassian stronghold.

As time went by, more and more Cardassian resources were being squandered and arbitrarily 'sacrificed' by the Dominion, much to the horror of Legate Damar, and he was to grow ever more anxious, and increasingly uncertain with the terms of the alliance.

To increase and enhance their military strength, the Dominion soon allied themselves with the Breen in early 2375. Possessing highly destructive and potent weaponry, Breen vessels were responsible for some explosive incursions on the frontline, the pinnacle of which was a savage thrust into the heart of Federation space and a humiliating attack on Earth, resulting in the serious damage to the key city of San Francisco. Although no Breen vessel survived the duration of the assault, the devastation was immense with critical damage to Starfleet headquarters and associated complexes.

Shortly after, Federation scientists were successful in back engineering Breen disruptor systems to discover the biologically based technological secrets. As all starships were fitted and equipped with countermeasures, it ultimately rendered the Breen advantage redundant, and subsequent engagements with allied forces were less effective.

In a desperate attempt to destroy the Founder threat, members a security satellite agency of the Federation, Section 31, had introduced a deadly disease into the Founder's metamorphic matrix. As war reached its conclusive stage the effects began to accelerate striking the entire Great Link, and heavily afflicting the principal Founder leader in the Alpha Quadrant. As well as reducing her effectiveness as administrator and tactician, morale amongst worshippers, Vorta and Jem'Hadar alike began to flag.

As new innovations to counter the Breen weapons were developed and implemented, further ground was made to drive the enemy further and further into Cardassian space. 

As Dominion forces fell back and regrouped in the Cardassia system, the crucial moment came, when the Cardassian military leader Legate Damar ended the alliance and went underground to inspire a rebellion against the Dominion oppressors. Many reports were fabricated that he'd been captured or executed, but Dominion efforts to quell the uprising failed. Punishment was severe as the Jem'Hadar bombed Cardassian cities, and nearly a billion were lost seemingly overnight. But the damage to the Dominion was done.

With Cardassia under siege, Founder rebel Odo linked with the female changeling, healing her of the disease. And in realisation from the Link that there could be no victory, and that eventual peace with the solids could be attained, the final surrender came. The war was over.

The bitterest of defeats for the Dominion was by contrast the most stupendous of victories for the allies. Possibly the greatest threat to the Quadrant had been overturned. And even though millions on each side were lost, with fleet and resources decimated, the terrible struggle of around four years had reached an end....

Federation   Romulan Star Empire   Klingon Empire   Cardassian Union

Ferengi Alliance   Borg   Others...