the Hisstory of the Dominion War

[Rebekah Anderson 0]

The history of the Dominion War

The Battle of Deep Space Nine

 

From Memory Alpha, the Free Star Trek Reference

The Battle of Deep Space 9 was the opening battle of the Dominion War, in which the combined forces of the Dominion and the Cardassian Union, led by Gul Dukat, launched an assault on the Federation-held starbase Deep Space 9. Although the station was captured by the Dominion, the battle was a strategic victory for the Federation because they successfully mined the Bajoran wormhole, preventing the Dominion from sending reinforcements to join the battle from the Gamma Quadrant. (DS9: "Call to Arms")

 

Prelude

Following the annexation of the Cardassian Union around stardate 50560 (DS9: "By Inferno's Light"), the Dominion began fortifying their foothold in the Alpha Quadrant by sending weekly convoys of warships and troops through the wormhole. As time went on, Cardassian space became a veritable fortress teeming with Jem'Hadar soldiers and their Vorta overseers.

 

Although a technical state of war did not exist, and neither side had fully committed to immediate combat, numerous skirmishes took place along the border during this period. Aside from the Dominion's attempt to destroy the Bajor System using a trilithium bomb, the Jem'Hadar and the Cardassians attacked and destroyed numerous Federation and Klingon patrol ships in a sustained campaign across the border sectors. (DS9: "In the Cards")

 

In addition to the military advances, the Dominion made major inroads into the Alpha Quadrant politically as well, signing nonaggression pacts with several regional powers, including the Miradorn and the Tholian Assembly, and offered similar pacts to Bajor and other independent worlds in the area. The Dominion's greatest diplomatic achievement, however, was the signing of a nonaggression pact with the Romulan Star Empire, the third major power in the region. The Dominion's goal seemed clear: to isolate the Federation politically and militarily. Its classic strategy of divide-and-conquer seemed to be succeeding admirably; aside from the Klingon Empire, the Federation stood virtually alone in opposition to the Dominion. With peaceful means failing to slow down the Dominion's advance, Deep Space 9 Captain Benjamin Sisko observed, "...a war may be our only hope."

 

Provocation

USS Defiant lays the minefield.

 

With its strategic advantage rapidly eroding, the Federation resolved to prevent the Dominion from sending further reinforcements into the Alpha Quadrant by mining the entrance to the Bajoran wormhole. Maintenance engineer Rom suggested using self-replicating mines equipped with cloaking devices for the blockade; not only would such a minefield be undetectable to approaching ships, but it would also be virtually indestructible, because each mine destroyed could be replaced by other mines in the vicinity. Miles O'Brien and Jadzia Dax quickly developed a working model, and the USS Defiant (NX-74205) immediately began laying the minefield.

 

This action could be seen as nothing less than a provocation for war, however, and the Dominion's primary overseer, Weyoun, demanded that the mining of the wormhole be halted immediately. Captain Sisko flatly refused.

 

An intricate dance of lies and intimations began: Weyoun claimed that the Cardassians, having suffered terrible damage during the Klingon-Cardassian War, required massive assistance in rebuilding their infrastructure and defenses following the Klingon invasion. Sisko played along, claiming to have had no idea that the Cardassians' situation was so bad. The two representatives arranged a deal, in which the Federation would remove the minefield, and the Dominion would restrict further convoys to non military personnel and material. However, both sides were merely using this repartee as a ruse to buy time Weyoun to prepare the Dominion fleet for the attack, and Sisko to complete the minefield.

 

With war imminent, Sisko, acting as Emissary, requested that the Bajoran Provisional Government sign the non-aggression pact offered to them by the Dominion, ensuring the planet and its people were kept out of the now-inevitable conflict.

 

The Battle

The first shots of the Dominion War.

 

Intent on preventing its lifeline to the Gamma Quadrant from being blocked, the Dominion launched a massive assault fleet towards Deep Space 9, with Gul Dukat himself in command. For reasons then unknown, the Federation had not reinforced its position at DS9, leaving only the Defiant and the IKS Rotarran to supplement the station's defenses. Anticipating the enemy attack, Sisko ordered the Rotarran to patrol the border and provide advance warning when the Dominion fleet approached.

The Dominion assault force comprised nearly 300 Jem'Hadar and Cardassian warships. Captain Sisko confidently refused Dukat's offer to surrender, and both sides prepared for the onslaught.

 

As the Dominion fleet opened fire, Weyoun and Dukat were unpleasantly surprised to find DS9's shields holding up under the barrage ϠFederation deflector shields had previously been impotent at defending against the Jem'Hadar's phased polaron beam weaponry. Dukat ordered more ships to open fire on the station. Meanwhile, the Defiant herself was coming under fire as she was laying the minefield. The Rotarran provided interference and covering fire, giving the Defiant enough time to complete and activate the minefield, sealing off the wormhole.

The Docking Ring under attack.

 

Using his knowledge as the station's former commanding officer, Dukat was able to cut main power to DS9's shields. With the wormhole now blocked, and the station becoming an impossible position to hold, Captain Sisko ordered all Starfleet personnel to evacuate Deep Space 9. As Dukat ordered his reserve units to enter the battle, the station's crew boarded the Defiant and the Rotarran, taking all sensitive equipment with them and leaving the station in the hands of the Bajoran Militia.

 

As the evacuation neared completion, Sisko addressed the remaining station residents on the Promenade, promising, "I will not rest until I stand with you again, here, in this place where I belong."

 

Once the Defiant and the Rotarran had safely departed the station, resistance elements remaining on the station activated Program Sisko 197, which totally sabotaged the station's computer and power systems, leaving the station a nearly lifeless hulk. The Dominion and Cardassian troops boarded the station, officially reclaiming Terok Nor, which they had abandoned in orbit of Bajor five years previously.

 

Aftermath

Dukat and the Dominion may have captured Deep Space 9 from the Federation, but the battle was ultimately nothing but a pyrrhic victory, because the minefield operated independently from the station and proved resistant to all initial attempts to dismantle it. Likewise, the sabotage of the station itself meant that it would serve little function other than as a command and supply outpost behind the front lines.

 

In addition, while the Dominion had thrown its full force towards capturing the station, a combined Starfleet-Klingon taskforce crossed the border into Cardassian territory and destroyed the shipyards at Torros III, nearly unopposed. This victory would have much greater impact in the short- and mid-term course of the war, as the Dominion's shipbuilding capabilities were seriously affected by the loss of that major facility.

Ultimately, the station would be recaptured by a joint Starfleet and Klingon assault in the Battle of Bajor approximately five months later.

 

Operation Return, also known as the Battle of Bajor, was the combined Starfleet and Klingon assault against Dominion and Cardassian forces in the Bajor Sector, launched in mid-2374. The objective of the mission was the recapture of starbase Deep Space Nine, which had been captured in the opening battle of the war approximately five months previously. It is considered one of the three most pivotal battles of the Dominion War. (DS9: "Favor the Bold", "The Sacrifice of Angels")

Prelude

In the opening months of the war, the Federation suffered an almost unbroken series of defeats at the hands of the Jem'Hadar, and (showed) little capability of stopping and turning back the Dominion's all-out offensive. In addition, Starfleet's few attempts to mount counteroffensives, such as the Starfleet Seventh Fleet|Seventh Fleet's attack on the Tyra System, were met with overwhelming losses. The Federation and her Klingon allies were unquestionably losing the war.

 

The status of Deep Space Nine and the Bajoran wormhole remained the sole positive (note) for the allies. The automated, self-replicating minefield deployed by USS Defiant (NX-74205) just prior to DS9's capture in 2373 remained intact and proved resistant to all of the Cardassians' attempts to destroy it; this prevented any Jem'Hadar reinforcements from entering the Alpha Quadrant and joining the conflict. Had the minefield not held, the Federation and her allies would undoubtedly have been quickly crushed. In addition, the massive sabotage inflicted on DS9 as Starfleet forces withdrew ensured that the station itself (then known under its Cardassian name, Terok Nor), remained vulnerable to attack for several months while the Cardassians made repairs; ultimately, the station served little purpose other than as a forward supply depot for Dominion operations in the Bajor Sector.

However, by the fifth month of fighting, both the Federation and Klingon fleet commanders were facing a crisis: aside from the initial victory at Torros III (DS9: "Call to Arms"), the allies had not won a single major engagement. Morale among both fleets was at an all-time low, presenting a serious problem for many unit commanders. In particular, the repetitive and unproductive succession of advances and retreats with little material gain was galling to many seasoned veterans of the Cardassian wars.

 

The Cardassians were certainly not idle on Terok Nor during this period; Glinn Damar, adjutant to Gul Dukat, was in charge of the operation to deactivate and destroy the minefield. Although Damar's team had little success in clearing the wormhole, it was considered only a matter of time before a means was found of destroying all of the mines.

The Plan

Sisko's plan to retake DS9.

 

In light of the situation, Captain Benjamin Sisko, commander of Deep Space Nine before its capture and then adjutant to Admiral William Ross, proposed a plan for the allies to launch a major offensive with the goals of recapturing the station, re-securing the wormhole, and forcing the Dominion to divert troops away from other theaters of action closer to the Federation homeworlds.

 

In the plan presented to Starfleet Command, Sisko proposed to assemble a task force composed of elements from the Starfleet Second Fleet|Second, Starfleet Fifth Fleet|Fifth, and Starfleet Ninth Fleet|Ninth fleets and reinforced by a large contingent of Klingon warships. Launching from Starbase 375, the fleet would advance across the Bajor Sector and mount an assault to retake Deep Space Nine from Dominion hands.

 

However, many senior officials in both the Federation and Klingon hierarchies had grave problems with this plan. Sisko's plans required that a large number of ships be diverted from several crucial theaters of combat, including the Vulcan (planet) Vulcan and Earth Terran sectors. The Dominion was expected to divert sufficient numbers of ships to counter the advance, which would relieve pressure on the remaining forces and slow the Dominion's advance into Federation territory. However, Coburn|Admiral Coburn objected to the strategy, fearing that the Dominion might choose to sacrifice Deep Space Nine in favor of launching a full-scale attack on Earth. With Sisko's forces advancing towards Bajor, reinforcements would be impossible within an acceptable time limit.

 

Ultimately, Sisko convinced Starfleet Command that the Dominion would not launch a new offensive while their potential supply line to their home territories in the Gamma Quadrant (via the wormhole) were threatened. However, Klingon chancellor Gowron remained unconvinced and refused to release any warships. In response, General Martok and Commander Worf departed for Qo'noS for private consultations with Gowron, hoping to convince him to aid the assault. Although Gowron eventually did agree to support the offensive, his delay proved critical to the timing and outcome of the battle.

 

Rushed Launch

The fleet departs Starbase 375.

 

Five days away from the planned launch of the offensive, alarming news arrived at Starbase 375: the Cardassians had finally devised a practical method of destroying the minefield. Based on information smuggled away from Deep Space Nine by resistance fighters Kira Nerys, Jake Sisko, and Quark operating aboard the station, and relayed by independent trader Morn, the allies discovered that an advanced anti-graviton emitter was in the process of deactivating each mine individually. The process would be complete within three days, at which point Jem'Hadar reinforcements would be free to pass through the wormhole, signaling utter defeat for both the Federation and the Klingon Empire.

 

Unfortunately, the fleet was only about 60% assembled; the Ninth Fleet had not yet arrived, and no indication of support had come from the Klingons. Starfleet saw no choice but to deploy the ships already assembled and mount a direct assault on Deep Space Nine, hoping to destroy the Cardassian anti-graviton emitter and keep the minefield intact.

 

Dominion intelligence was not inactive during this time. Gul Dukat was informed of the disengagement and redeployment of two major fleets, and correctly deduced the fleet's target. He ordered Jem'Hadar and Cardassian warships to be diverted to meet the incoming attack.

 

As the Starfleet force approached the Bajor System, some 600 starships strong, they were confronted by a massive formation of more than 1,250 enemy vessels. Finding the advance blocked and his fleet outnumbered, Sisko observed, "There's an old saying, 'Fortune favours’ the bold.' Well... we're about to find out."

 

The Battle

The Dominion and Cardassian fleet.

 

The Dominion fleet, outnumbering the Federation forces by more than two to one, unquestionably had time on its side. With the minefield around the wormhole due to be destroyed within eight hours, Gul Dukat chose to bide his time and establish a static blockade preventing the Federation advance. Starfleet was put at a grave disadvantage by being forced to take the offensive and seek a direct approach to Deep Space Nine.

 

Attempting to find a crack in the wall of enemy ships confronting him, Captain Sisko, commanding the fleet from USS Defiant, held back his Galaxy and cruiser wings, and instead ordered the attack fighters to probe the Cardassian front lines. Using cover fire from several destroyer wings, the fighter pilots were instructed to ignore the Jem'Hadar ships in favor of striking the Cardassian ships with quantum torpedoes, and then to break off and disengage; Sisko hoped to provoke the Cardassians into giving chase and opening a hole in the formation that Starfleet could exploit.

 

Gul Dukat, commanding the fleet from Deep Space Nine, recognized Sisko's strategy almost immediately. Strictly ordering his commanders to hold position, Dukat patiently accepted eight full strafing runs against his Galor-class destroyers. After approximately three hours of standoff bombardment and hit-and-fade attack runs, Dukat decided to deliberately break the stalemate. Ordering six attack fighter squadrons to break formation and chase the Federation fighters, he carefully opened a hole in his lines, with a large contingent of destroyers standing by to outflank and trap Sisko's forces as they advanced to take advantage of the gap.

As Dukat recognized his strategy, Captain Sisko also immediately saw the nature of the trap. However, time was in critically short supply. Detailing two ''Galaxy'' wings to engage the Galors, Sisko ordered the rest of the fleet to launch a full-scale attack on the Dominion's center. "Anyone who gets through," Sisko said, "doesn't stop until they reach Deep Space Nine."

 

At this point, the battle quickly degenerated into a melee as the Starfleet ships closed to point-blank range. With his ships so widely dispersed among the Dominion fleet, inter-ship coordination became more difficult. The melee then became a total free-for-all, with every ship fighting practically on its own (or at most in twos and threes) when the Dominion ships started jamming comm frequencies, cutting off starships' contact with each other.

 

For Starfleet, it was very quickly becoming a losing battle. Unable to concentrate their attack on specific points in the enemy fleet, the Dominion's superior firepower gradually wore down the swifter but less powerful Starfleet vessels. Many of the older Excelsior and Miranda-class starships, between 30 and 80 years old and considered antiquated by modern standards, were lost in this phase of the battle, overwhelmed by incoming fire from all sides.

 

The Klingons enter the fray.

 

After nearly two hours of sustained close-range combat, the battle was nearly hopeless. Indeed, the Starfleet flagship Defiant was itself near destruction, when a large force of some 300 Klingon warships decloaked and slammed into the Dominion's starboard flank. General Martok and Commander Worf had finally convinced Chancellor Gowron to lend his support. The additional firepower of Vor'cha-class attack cruisers and venerable Birds-of-Prey finally tipped the balance in the allies' favor. Opening a hole in the Dominion lines, the Defiant managed to slip past a formation of Jem'Hadar cruisers and escape the battlefield, speeding towards Deep Space Nine at maximum warp.

 

Strangely, Gul Dukat did not choose to order a pursuit, relying instead on the station's defenses to destroy the Defiant as it approached. Meanwhile, the Dominion lines were beginning to crumble as they were outflanked by the Klingon forces. Dukat, anticipating the destruction of the minefield, chose to ignore the situation pending the imminent arrival of several thousand Jem'Hadar warships.

 

The last mine's self-replication unit was deactivated, and DS9's weapons immediately opened fire on the minefield, eliminating the only impediment to ultimate Dominion victory just seconds before the Defiant arrived. With practically no options, Captain Sisko ordered the Defiant to enter the wormhole for a hopeless, last-ditch stand against the incoming enemy.

 

In the wormhole, though, an incredible turn of events occured, that could be considered nothing short of a miracle. The Bajoran Prophets, the inhabitants of the wormhole, spoke to Captain Sisko — their Emissary. Though enigmatic, the Prophets indicated that they did not wish Sisko to sacrifice his life. Arguing that the approaching Dominion fleet constituted a threat to Bajor, Sisko convinced the noncorporeal beings to intervene. Moments later, as the Defiant prepared to open fire, the Dominion ships simply... disappeared.

 

When the Defiant exited the wormhole, the Dominion leaders were first perplexed, then alarmed. Their monitoring outposts in the Gamma Quadrant confirmed that the fleet had entered the wormhole, but there was no sign of them exiting, and no sign that they were still in the wormhole. To the Dominion and the Cardassians, it appeared that one Starfleet ship somehow had apparently completely annihilated their fleet.

 

The bad news only got worse as, back at the main battle zone, a group of 200 allied ships broke past the Dominion lines and headed toward Deep Space Nine. In addition, the Bajoran Resistance had not been idle inside the station. Although they had been unable to act in time to prevent the destruction of the minefield, Kira and Rom sabotaged the power grid, disabling the entire weapons array and leaving the station defenseless against the incoming allied forces. Meanwhile, the Defiant had opened fire on the crippled DS9.

 

Stunned by the sudden turn of events, the Female Changeling ordered an evacuation and retreat to Cardassian territory. Dukat, already showing signs of megalomania enhanced by the imminent victory but now in cataclysmic shock at the impossible reversal, was dealt a further blow. His half-Bajoran daughter, Tora Ziyal, confessed that she had helped the Bajoran Resistance sabotage the station, and was then murdered by Damar as a traitor. Devastated, Dukat stayed behind on the station with his dying daughter, in the process of a total mental breakdown.

 

Starfleet re-occupies Deep Space 9.

 

With the station lost, the remaining Dominion forces in the battle zone turned in full retreat back to Cardassian space, bringing the battle to a quick conclusion.

 

Aftermath

Although the battle was a clear tactical and strategic victory for the Federation in the long run, aside from preventing fresh Jem'Hadar reinforcements there was little impact in the Dominion's offensive. Deep Space Nine had played only a minor role in the war thus far, and though it remained a crucial target, holding the station was not sufficient for victory on either side. Within weeks after the loss of DS9, the Dominion returned to the offensive, attacking more Federation worlds along the front lines, including Coridan and Betazed. (DS9: "One Little Ship", "In the Pale Moonlight")

 

For his crucial role in leading the attack, Benjamin Sisko was awarded the Christopher Pike Medal of Valor. (DS9: "Tears of the Prophets (episode)|Tears of the Prophets")

 

Statistically, numbers of ships and lives lost in the Battle of Bajor are uncertain. It is believed that up to 50,000 to 110,000 Starfleet officers died, and between 200 and 400 starships were destroyed. Klingon and Dominion losses are not known.

 

Significance

The importance of the Battle of Bajor to the outcome of the war cannot be underestimated. Had the Dominion established a reliable supply line through the Bajoran wormhole, they would have had a secure industrial base from which to send an enormous number of Jem'Hadar warships and soldiers that could not be touched by the allies. As it was, the Dominion's impressive capacity for rapid shipbuilding and cloning of Jem'Hadar gave them great staying power and the means to return from a major defeat with a new offensive within months. The Bajoran wormhole remained closed to Dominion traffic for the remainder of the war.

 

In addition, the battle provided a large boost to the allied forces' morale, definitively showing that the Federation and Klingon forces were capable of winning a major victory. It reversed the problem of plummeting confidence and strengthened the Federation's resolve for a total victory rather than a negotiated peace. For that reason, despite the reverses that would come later, the Battle of Bajor will always be remembered as the fight that set the Federation on the road to triumph

 

The First Battle of Chin'toka was the first offensive launched by the allied forces of the United Federation of Planets, the Klingon Empire, and the Romulan Star Empire into territory held by the Dominion and the Cardassian Union during the Dominion War. The battle, fought in late 2374, was a tactical and psychological victory for the allies, but failed to lead to a general invasion of Cardassian space. (DS9: "Tears of the Prophets")

 

Prelude

Apart from the short (and successful) campaign to retake starbase Deep Space 9 in the Battle of Bajor about eight months previously, the Federation and the Klingons were fighting a wholly defensive war. Key planets including Betazed, Coridan, and Benzar all fell to the Jem'Hadar, while the core worlds of Vulcan, Alpha Centauri, and Earth were coming into range of the Dominion war machine.

However, with the sudden entry of the Romulans into the war (c.f. DS9: "In the Pale Moonlight"), the allies had enough combined firepower to launch a full offensive on Dominion-held territory. Starfleet Command, in conjunction with the Klingon and Romulan high commands, agreed that the war could be won only by taking the war into enemy territory.

 

The invasion plan.

 

After some heated deliberation at Deep Space 9, the allies chose the Chin'toka System as the target for their attack. (Alternative targets included the Ventani System and the Torg'Q System.) Chin'toka was chosen because the Dominion had drastically weakened the complement of warships defending the system only five squadrons of Jem'Hadar attack ships were left to defend Chin'toka, while the rest were sent to fight on the Romulan border. Admiral Ross, General Martok, and Senator Letant ordered an immediate buildup of warships at Deep Space 9 for an attack on Chin'toka.

 

However, the Chin'toka System was not left as undefended as the allies believed. The Cardassians had developed a new type of orbital weapon platform that compressed a huge amount of weaponry into an independently-deployable hull barely fifty meters long. The platforms were protected by regenerative shields, and armed with 3 heavy disruptor cannons and 1,000 plasma torpedoes.

 

Orbital Weapon Platforms.

 

The allies' intelligence detected the deployment of these weapons barely three days before they were scheduled to go online. However, because of the lack of other vulnerable targets, the decision was made to take the small window of opportunity available and attempt to destroy the platforms before they became operational.

 

The Battle

As the combined fleet entered the Chin'toka System, it seemed as if the allies' projections had been true ϠChin'toka was practically undefended and the automated defenses were offline. Quick victory appeared within reach, with the odds overwhelmingly in the allies' favor.

 

The small contingent of Jem'Hadar attack ships defending the system had little care for the odds, though, and brazenly attacked the fleet's flank. In the space of just two minutes, the Jem'Hadar ships managed to cripple or destroy at least 15 Klingon warships Ϡmany by ramming the Klingons directly. Undaunted, the fleet advanced into the midst of the deactivated platforms and proceeded to demolish them without resistance.

 

The platforms open fire.

 

However, the Cardassians had prepared a trap for the allies, making it appear that the weapon platforms were deactivated. Moments after the fleet entered orbit, the platforms flared to life Ϡthe defense network had already been completed, and the Cardassians had merely been waiting for the allies to close to point-blank range before opening fire.

 

The orbital weapons platforms' effect proved devastating Ϡprotected by their powerful regenerative shields, the Cardassians could pour heavy fire upon the attacking fleet with practically no loss taken themselves. Several dozen starships were disabled or destroyed by the platforms' furious barrage. Rather than retreat, however, Captain Sisko chose to continue the fight, correctly believing that if the defense platforms could be defeated, then the system would fall to the allies.

In the chaos of the battle, an unusual anomaly was detected Ϡnone of the weapons platforms carried their own power source, but were instead powered by a single central generator. This generator was located on a small asteroidal moon in a low orbit around Chin'toka II-A. If it could be destroyed, the platforms would be powerless.

 

The allies attempted a frontal assault, but proved unable to penetrate the asteroid's defensive shields, even with the sustained fire from multiple starships. Chief Miles O'Brien of the USS Defiant proposed tricking the automated platforms to fire on their own power source. Using the ship's deflector array, O'Brien imprinted a Federation warp signature on the generator, making it appear as if it were an enemy vessel. The orbiting platforms immediately locked onto this large new signal, pouring fire into the asteroid and quickly destroying it.

 

The platforms' power generator explodes.

 

Without more incoming power, the orbital platforms quickly fell silent and were once again easy targets for the allied fleet. With near-orbit space secured, General Martok began transporting ground troops to the surface of both planets. Although there was some resistance from Dominion and Cardassian soldiers, the major population centers quickly fell to allied control.

 

The Aftermath

Although the hoped-for grand offensive into Dominion territory failed to develop after Chin'toka, the battle nevertheless had major consequences for the conduct of the remainder of the war. The Dominion was faced with their first major defeat since the Battle of Bajor six months previously, as well as the spectacular failure of the orbital weapons platforms, which had been a key plan for the Cardassians to upgrade their defensive capabilities.

 

Perhaps most importantly, however, the allies had the opportunity to examine large caches of Dominion weapons and technology (most notably Relay Station AR-558), which provided a crucial boost on the allies' knowledge of enemy capabilities. However, although the Chin'toka System was nominally in Federation control, it was constantly under attack by Dominion forces. (DS9: "The Siege of AR-558")

Ultimately, the first Battle of Chin'toka proved to have the most impact in terms of morale, as well as reversing the nearly-constant Dominion advances of the preceding six months as more Jem'Hadar had to be diverted for defensive reinforcements. Although the system was lost to the Dominion in the Second Battle of Chin'toka approximately eight months later, Chin'toka played an important role in the course of the entire war.

 

The Second Battle of Chin'toka marked the entry of the Breen Confederacy into the Dominion War in late 2375, in an attack against the Chin'toka System, a territory of the Cardassian Union held by the forces of the Federation, the Klingon Empire, and the Romulan Star Empire. The battle was a major tactical defeat for the allies Ϡand perhaps one of the most lopsided victories of the entire war, thanks to the use of the devastating and previously-unknown Breen energy dampening weapon. (DS9: "The Changing Face of Evil")

 

Prelude

Although the Federation had had contact with the Breen for at least the last decade, very little solid information was known about them. Isolated behind their full-body refrigeration suits, they remained shrouded in mystery, a mystery that was only enhanced by their isolationist policies. As a result, the Federation and its allies considered the Breen to be little more than a minor regional power.

 

In the second half of 2375, the Dominion was faced with the prospect of the war in the Alpha Quadrant dragging on for several more years their original plans projected their invasion of the Federation and the Klingon Empire to take six months at most. The Female Changeling, suffering the degenerative effects of the Founders' disease, sought additional allies to swell the Dominion's numbers and bring a quicker end to the conflict. After the initial contact, the Breen very eagerly agreed to join the war on the side of the Dominion.

 

The combined Dominion-Cardassian-Breen fleet.

Within days, the Breen launched a massive offensive against the Federation territories. Most damaging in terms of destruction and morale was a bold attack against Starfleet Headquarters on Earth Ϡthe first time open combat had taken place on Earth in over 200 years. A short time later, the Breen launched a combined offensive with the Jem'Hadar and Cardassian forces on the Chin'toka System, the only allied foothold in Dominion territory.

 

The Battle

In their initial assault on the allied positions at Chin'toka, the Dominion forces broke through the lines in two places, and managed to land a large ground force on Chin'toka II-A. As the Jem'Hadar, Cardassian, and Breen ships consolidated their position, Starfleet and its allies rallied their starships for a counterattack to drive the enemy fleet from the system, under the command of General Martok of the Klingon Defense Force.

The USS Defiant is hit by a Breen weapon.

 

Three hundred and twelve allied ships advanced on the combined Dominion fleet, and immediately opened fire in a massive volley as they entered weapons range. The Breen warships took heavy damage, and several were destroyed, but the rest launched a barrage of a totally unknown form of energy weapon. Inexplicably, nearly every allied ship was engulfed in a massive energy-draining field, drifting on emergency power only.

 

Adrift and powerless, their deflector shields inactive, the allied fleet became easy targets for destruction by conventional weaponry. Ship after ship exploded under plasma torpedo attack, many with all hands aboard. Strangely, as the few remaining ships managed to launch escape pods, the Female Changeling, overseeing the battle, ordered that the survivors be allowed to flee. She pointed out that the survivors would report back the story of the complete and utter defeat and spread fear among the rest of the allied fleets.

 

The wreckage of the allied fleet.

 

The allied escape pods were picked up by emergency rescue ships dispatched from the small reserve force that had held back at the edge of the system, and the survivors quickly retreated to Federation-held space.

 

Aftermath

The impact of the Second Battle of Chin'toka cannot be understated. It was a massive reversal for the allies, effectively ending all offensives against the Dominion for the next month, while engineers scrambled to develop a countermeasure. Although Klingon ships quickly developed a defense, thanks to a chance modification made to the IKS Ki'tang, a Klingon Bird-of-Prey, the Federation and Romulan navies were left vulnerable ϊ and the Klingons left to fight the war on their own, outnumbered twenty to one. (DS9: "When It Rains...")

It was extremely fortunate, therefore, that the Cardassian Rebellion, led by Legate Damar, launched its first attack on the Dominion's Vorta cloning center on Rondac III at about the same time. Therefore, a majority of the energies the Dominion would have devoted towards an all-out invasion of the Federation, Klingon, and Romulan empires instead had to be focused on quashing the uprising. This bought the allies precious weeks to develop an effective countermeasure, and gave them a chance to organize their forces for a single, coordinated strike against the center of the Dominion in the Battle of Cardassia two months later. (DS9: "Tacking Into the Wind", "What You Leave Behind")

 

The Battle of Cardassia was the final battle of the Dominion War, fought in late 2375. The allied forces of the United Federation of Planets, the Klingon Empire, and the Romulan Star Empire launched an invasion of the Dominion-held Cardassian Union, with the goal of capturing the Dominion's capital on Cardassia Prime. The battle would ultimately lead to the Dominion's unconditional surrender of all forces in the Alpha Quadrant.

 

The events of the battle must also be considered alongside concurrent events on Cardassia Prime in the final stages of the Cardassian Rebellion, led by Legate Damar. The sabotage committed by the Cardassian insurgents played an important role in disrupting Dominion communications and support behind the front lines, and ultimately led to the Cardassian ships in the battle switching sides. Before the battle was over, however, more than 800 million Cardassian civilians would be killed by Dominion genocide, leaving the once-proud capital planet in ruins. (DS9: "What You Leave Behind")

 

Prelude

By late 2375, the Dominion's massive offensives into the Alpha Quadrant had stalled, leaving its forces embroiled in a war of attrition spread across multiple sectors that it could not win under the present circumstances. Reinforcements through the Bajoran wormhole had been blocked since the beginning of the war (c.f. Battle of Deep Space Nine), and the existing industrial infrastructure in Cardassian territory was insufficient to maintain the offensive for a prolonged period of time.

The Dominion's last hope for a quick victory was its alliance with the Breen Confederacy and their mysterious energy dampening weapon, against which the allies had no defense. Although the Breen's weapon had a major effect in its first uses, particularly at the Second Battle of Chin'toka, the Dominion's chance at a quick offensive was lost by Legate Damar's rebellion, which caused massive disruptions behind the lines and forced the Dominion to devote considerable resources to quelling the uprising. By the time Damar's resistance cells were eradicated, the Federation and the Romulans had developed countermeasures after acquiring a stolen example of the weapon. (DS9: "Tacking into the Wind")

 

Apparently becoming disillusioned with the war, the Female Changeling ordered Dominion forces to effect a complete withdrawal from all territories held inside the Federation and the Klingon and Romulan empires. It was hoped that by reverting to pre-war territories, the Dominion could convince the Federation and her allies to sue for peace, rather than commit to a bloody invasion that would cost millions of lives. With less territory to defend, the Dominion could repel any attack and build up its forces for a renewed invasion several years later.

 

The allied assault fleet departs Deep Space 9.

 

This move could have signaled an end to the war Ϡthe withdrawal of all enemy forces from conquered territories was one of the major aims of the war for all allies. However, the Founder seriously miscalculated the allies' resolve to win the war at any cost. In addition, Captain Benjamin Sisko and Admiral William Ross recognized the threat of allowing the Dominion to remain in Cardassian space unchallenged. Therefore, the allies agreed to launch an invasion of Cardassia Prime itself, with the aim of decapitating the Dominion leadership and throwing its hierarchy into chaos. (DS9: "The Dogs of War")

 

The Battle

Phase One: Invasion

Launching their attack fleet from Deep Space 9, the allied fleet, more than 1,000 ships strong, made a beeline directly for Cardassia, crossing the five light-year distance in approximately one and a half days. The Female Changeling ordered as many ships as possible to meet them, perceiving the nearing endgame of the war. On the allied side, Chancellor Martok prophetically spoke of the allied victory, having brought a barrel of bloodwine (vintage 2309 the finest) in preparation of the celebration.

 

As the two enemy fleets made their final approach, the Female Changeling, the Vorta Weyoun, and Breen Thot Pran were inside Dominion Headquarters making final plans for the attack. Suddenly, nearly every Dominion installation on the surface of Cardassia lost power the Cardassian rebellion, led by Legate Damar, had inspired the Cardassian populace to rise up and overthrow their Dominion occupiers. The Dominion was completely cut off from any support from the surface of Cardassia.

 

In space, the two fleets bore into each other with abandon, the battle degenerating into a melee of close-quarters combat between the highly maneuverable Starfleet and Breen ships and the less-maneuverable but heavier Dominion, Cardassian, Klingon, and Romulan ships. Although the Dominion's lines were spread relatively thinly in the center of their formation, the Jem'Hadar forces heavily hammered the Romulan lines, destroying the Romulan flagship IRW D'ridthau. Captain Sisko marshaled several attack wings to reinforce the Romulan lines, while Admiral Ross and Chancellor Martok's forces targeted the Dominion center.

 

On Cardassia, when the Dominion regained access to their communications, they launched hard and swift punishment for the Cardassians' betrayal of the alliance. The Female Changeling ordered Jem'Hadar forces in orbit to bombard Lakarian City, destroying it utterly and killing two million men, women, and children in a matter of seconds. Weyoun announced to the public that another Cardassian city would be destroyed for each further act of sabotage.

 

In space, the allied lines were in danger of crumbling under pressure from the Dominion's right and left flanks. Losing ships at an accelerating rate through the protracted battle, success was in jeopardy as the Dominion pressed their advantage.

The Cardassian fleet changes sides.

 

Starfleet and the Romulans were preparing to retreat when the impossible happened the Cardassian fleet switched sides, turning on their erstwhile Dominion allies in response to the destruction of Lakarian City. Taking advantage of the sudden chaos amid the enemy forces, the allies rallied an attack on the Dominion's center, punching into the core of the defending fleet.

Furious, the Female Changeling ordered the Dominion and Breen forces to disengage and retreat to Cardassia Prime, proclaiming "there will be no more running." The defending forces withdrew from the battle, leaving the allies victorious.

 

Phase Two: Final Solution

The battle was not yet over, however. Captain Sisko convinced Chancellor Martok and Admiral Ross to press their advantage, despite having already lost an astounding 30% of their forces during the battle. Even with the Dominion's influence restricted to Cardassia Prime itself, its potential for rebuilding its forces would only prolong the inevitable. Recognizing this, the allies chose to press onwards.

On Cardassia, the Female Changeling, suffering from the final stages of the debilitating Founders' disease, seemed to grow completely frustrated with the Dominion's allies, ordered the Jem'Hadar to begin exterminating the entire Cardassian population. Rampaging across the planet, the Jem'Hadar summarily executed every civilian they came across and began destroying residences building by building.

 

Damar, along with Kira Nerys, Elim Garak, and a handful of Cardassian volunteers, mounted a daring assault against the Dominion headquarters compound, seeking to capture the Founder alive and force an end to hostilities. With so many of the Jem'Hadar guards sent to destroy the Cardassians, there were only a few left to guard the shapeshifter. Although Damar was tragically killed during the short but sharp fight, most of the remaining rebels fought their way to the headquarters' briefing room, capturing both the Female Changeling and Weyoun.

 

The Dominion's last stand.

 

In orbit, the allies found a daunting sight, with thousands of Jem'Hadar and Breen warships, plus thousands of the Cardassian orbital weapon platforms last encountered at the First Battle of Chin'toka a year before. Unwilling to turn back, they prepared to launch a three-prong attack on the Dominion's defenses Ϡan attack that was projected to cost up to 40% of their remaining forces, without even accounting for the following ground assault.

 

As the rebels on the surface tried to convince the Founder to surrender, her chilling plan became clear Ϡby ordering the Jem'Hadar and the Breen to fight to the very last man, she sought to make the allies' victory so costly that it would be only pyrrhic. With such a great cost of victory, she hoped to ensure that the Alpha Quadrant powers would never again threaten the Dominion.

 

Before the final assault began, however, Odo, recently cured of the Founders' disease, volunteered to try to convince the Female Changeling to surrender to the allies. By Linking with her, Odo managed to cure her of the disease and persuade her to call for an end to the fighting. The battle and the war were suddenly over.

 

Aftermath

The peace treaty is signed.

 

The instrument of surrender was signed at Deep Space 9 only days later. In it, the Dominion agreed to withdraw all of its forces to the Gamma Quadrant, and the Cardassian Union was occupied by the allies.

 

The result of the battle can be considered fortuitous, at the least. Had the Founder not chosen to surrender, the Jem'Hadar would have fought to the last man on Cardassia and on every other world in the Alpha Quadrant requiring a mop-up operation that would probably have taken years, and required incredible resources that the allies may not have had the stamina to provide.

 

As it was, the battle was nothing short of devastating for Cardassia, decimating a huge portion of its surface and killing over 800 million civilians. Hundreds of allied warships were lost at the cost of tens of thousands of lives. It was only in avoiding the final assault on Cardassia itself that more bloodshed was avoided.

[TJ Phaserman 2]

and this is why i stop debating....but you also forget that the reason the cardassians took the opportunity to join the dominoin in the first place, was becaue they were already in war with the federation. sisko had no other choice to end the fighting between the federation and the klingons to become allies in the first place.

 

a for the romulans sisko had no other choice to kill a small group of romulans with a dominion or cardassian (can't remember) signature device that garak made. which led the romulans to form an allanice with the klingons and the federation to gain control back in the alpha quadrant. the dominon just got desperate when they invited the breen to join them so it would end the war quicker. but to a very bold commander kira, they gained the means to counter-act the breen energy dampening weapons.

 

but you also forget that the cardassians repeated earths history in WWII. when an dictator decides to destroy every last person considered a rebel, you have to say "know what? i rather die with freedom than die at all. they joined the allanace at the last minute to help to win the war......ok...im done.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named 2]

That's true. The Cardassians (and I suppose the Breen) allied themselves with whoever it looked like would win the war at the time, kinda like Itally.

[Rebekah Anderson 0]

and this is why i stop debating....but you also forget that the reason the cardassians took the opportunity to join the dominoin in the first place, was becaue they were already in war with the federation. sisko had no other choice to end the fighting between the federation and the klingons to become allies in the first place.

 

a for the romulans sisko had no other choice to kill a small group of romulans with a dominion or cardassian (can't remember) signature device that garak made. which led the romulans to form an allanice with the klingons and the federation to gain control back in the alpha quadrant. the dominon just got desperate when they invited the breen to join them so it would end the war quicker. but to a very bold commander kira, they gained the means to counter-act the breen energy dampening weapons.

 

but you also forget that the cardassians repeated earths history in WWII. when an dictator decides to destroy every last person considered a rebel, you have to say "know what? i rather die with freedom than die at all. they joined the allanace at the last minute to help to win the war......ok...im done.

 

Actuallt the Cardassians were at war eith the Klingons not the Federation