Cardassian starships
Encyclopedia
This is a list of starship
classes in use by the Cardassian
Union in the Star Trek
fictional universe
.
dish and forward disruptor cannon occupy the bow; the deflector color may vary from blue to yellow or orange. Two additional impulse engines, various disruptor cannons and two warp engines are embedded in two large fin-shaped extensions to port and starboard. A fork-shaped disruptor beam weapon sits at the far aft protecting the stern. According to the non-canon Deep Space Nine Technical Manual, Starfleet Intelligence believed that 63 new Galor class starships were built in an average year. The Galor class starship is the backbone of the Cardassian fleet, much like the Excelsior class starship is to Starfleet, and formed the basis for the Keldon class starship.
In the episode The Wounded, a single ship proved to be no match for the Galaxy Class Enterprise D, though due to ships the following season being described as "type III", it is unclear what the standard tactical value of the ship is. The presence of subtypes may also help to explain the description of the weapons systems variously as phasers, disruptors, and phase-disruptors.
In reality, the Galor class was designed by Rick Sternbach
for Star Trek: The Next Generation
.
fore with a short aft extension ending in a pincer-shaped disruptor weapon. Due to the ship's limited offensive power the Hideki class is confined to border patrol duties during peace time. During the Dominion War
the class was present in several major conflicts, they operate in large groups and swarm enemy ships, this allows them to overpower much heavier vessels.
The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
episode "Defiant" introduced the Keldon class when Thomas Riker
reveals that the Obsidian Order was maintaining a number of enhanced Keldon class starships in the Orias system. The Order later used these ships, which also had cloaking device
s, in conjunction with the Romulan
Tal Shiar to attack the Dominion
("The Die is Cast"). Those were the only two episodes in which this class was featured. Keldon-class ships were mentioned by name by Lt. Dax in "The Die is Cast".
The Keldon class model was a modification, made by Tony Meininger, of the Galor class warship, originally built by Ed Miarecki.
It was a warp-capable vessel carrying 1,000 kilograms of matter
and 1,000 kilograms of antimatter
— enough to destroy a small moon. The missile
also carried a large cache of conventional weaponry, and was heavily shielded. Its onboard computer featured sophisticated artificial intelligence that used probabilistic reasoning and game theory to identify and neutralize any threat to its mission. Only one vessel is known to have been constructed.
The Cardassians sent Dreadnought to destroy a Maquis base. Though it penetrated Maquis defenses, the warhead failed to detonate, and the missile was captured and reprogrammed by then-Maquis agent B'Elanna Torres. Torres then sent Dreadnought to destroy a planet with a Cardassian target. However, it disappeared in the Badlands and was presumed destroyed, when in fact it was taken to the Delta Quadrant by the same phenomenon that later abducted USS Voyager
. Not realizing what had happened, it wandered the Delta Quadrant for more than two years searching for its target. Eventually it located a planet with a sufficiently close resemblance and attacked. Unfortunately, this planet was host to an innocent post-industrial society
. In a stroke of luck and timing, though, Voyager discovered the missile en route, and Torres, serving as chief engineer, worked to disable it. Dreadnought was destroyed seconds before it would have murdered millions.
The Dreadnought missile model was designed by Rick Sternbach
.
The Hybrid design is almost exactly like the Galor and Keldon classes. In fact, the center portion of the vessel is exactly the same in design. However, on the sides there are 2 "wings". These contain the Kessok Positrons and the forward Antimatter Torpedo tubes. At the ends on the "wings" are 2 Kessok warp engines, which add to the basic single warp engine at the rear of the main hull for a total of 3 warp engines (as opposed to the single warp engine on the Galor and Keldon). The Hybrid also has stronger shields and armour.
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
classes in use by the Cardassian
Cardassian
The Cardassians are an extraterrestrial species in the Star Trek science fiction franchise. First introduced in the 1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Wounded", the species originating on the fictional Alpha Quadrant planet Cardassia Prime...
Union in the Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
fictional universe
Setting (fiction)
In fiction, setting includes the time, location, and everything in which a story takes place, and initiates the main backdrop and mood for a story. Setting has been referred to as story world or milieu to include a context beyond the immediate surroundings of the story. Elements of setting may...
.
Galor class
The Galor class is a group of starships used by the Cardassian Union. Galor class destroyers have a low profile, are long and narrow and are usually painted in a burnt orange color. The ship has a special raised semicircular 'head' at the front, containing the bridge and command section; this head contains one yellow impulse engine. The navigational deflectorShields (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek fictional universe, shields refer to a 23rd and 24th century technology that protects starships, space stations, and planets from damage by natural hazard or enemy attack...
dish and forward disruptor cannon occupy the bow; the deflector color may vary from blue to yellow or orange. Two additional impulse engines, various disruptor cannons and two warp engines are embedded in two large fin-shaped extensions to port and starboard. A fork-shaped disruptor beam weapon sits at the far aft protecting the stern. According to the non-canon Deep Space Nine Technical Manual, Starfleet Intelligence believed that 63 new Galor class starships were built in an average year. The Galor class starship is the backbone of the Cardassian fleet, much like the Excelsior class starship is to Starfleet, and formed the basis for the Keldon class starship.
In the episode The Wounded, a single ship proved to be no match for the Galaxy Class Enterprise D, though due to ships the following season being described as "type III", it is unclear what the standard tactical value of the ship is. The presence of subtypes may also help to explain the description of the weapons systems variously as phasers, disruptors, and phase-disruptors.
In reality, the Galor class was designed by Rick Sternbach
Rick Sternbach
Richard Michael Sternbach is an illustrator who is best known for his space illustrations and his work on the Star Trek television series.- Early years :...
for Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
.
Known Galor class destroyers
- The Aldara
- Commanded by Gul Danar, the Aldara searched for Bajoran terroristTerrorismTerrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
Tahna Los after he stole an antimatterAntimatterIn particle physics, antimatter is the extension of the concept of the antiparticle to matter, where antimatter is composed of antiparticles in the same way that normal matter is composed of particles...
converter from a Cardassian outpost in 2369.
- Commanded by Gul Danar, the Aldara searched for Bajoran terrorist
- The Bralek
- Commanded by Gul Ocett, the Bralek was assigned to decode a four-billion-year-old genetically encodedCodeA code is a rule for converting a piece of information into another form or representation , not necessarily of the same type....
message from an ancient humanoidHumanoidA humanoid is something that has an appearance resembling a human being. The term first appeared in 1912 to refer to fossils which were morphologically similar to, but not identical with, those of the human skeleton. Although this usage was common in the sciences for much of the 20th century, it...
speciesSpeciesIn biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
circa stardate 46731.5 in 2369. The Bralek later attacked the KlingonKlingonKlingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...
Vor'cha classKlingon starshipsIn the Star Trek franchise, the Klingon Empire makes use of several classes of starships. As the Klingons are portrayed as a warrior culture, driven by the pursuit of honor and glory, the Empire is shown to use warships almost exclusively. This contrasts with the exploration and research vessels...
Maht-H'a and the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
over Loren III to prevent them from decoding the message.
- Commanded by Gul Ocett, the Bralek was assigned to decode a four-billion-year-old genetically encoded
- The Galor
- The starship Galor is the pathfinder of its class.
- The Kraxon
- Commanded by Gul Ranor, the Kraxon was ordered to search for the USS Defiant (NX-74205)USS DefiantThe USS Defiant is a fictional starship in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and the feature film Star Trek: First Contact...
when she was hijacked by MaquisMaquis (Star Trek)In the American Star Trek science-fiction franchise, the Maquis are a 24th Century paramilitary organization or terrorist group first introduced in the 1994 episode "The Maquis" of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, who subsequently also appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation and...
terrorists led by Tom RikerTom RikerThomas E. Riker is an American former professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the NBA. He was a 6'10", 225 lb...
in 2371. The Kraxon later took custody of Tom Riker.
- Commanded by Gul Ranor, the Kraxon was ordered to search for the USS Defiant (NX-74205)
- The Prakesh
- Commanded by Gul DukatDukat (Star Trek)Gul Dukat is the main antagonist of the fictional television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is a member of the fictional Cardassian species, and leader in the Cardassian Union. At times he is an enemy, whilst at others an ally of the series' protagonist Benjamin Sisko. He was played by actor...
, the Prakesh helped save members of the Detapa Council in 2372. The Prakesh was destroyed by Klingon forces later during the Klingon-Cardassian war.
- Commanded by Gul Dukat
- The Reklar
- Commanded by Gul Lemec in 2369, the Reklar rendezvoused with the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) circa stardate 46357.4 to conduct peace talks. At the same time, the Reklar was the flagship of a Cardassian invasion force to the Minos Korva system.
- The Trager
- Commanded by Gul Macet in 2367, the Trager attacked the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) circa stardate 44429.6 in response to attacks in Cardassian space by the Nebula class USS Phoenix (NCC-65420).
- The Vetar
- Commanded by Gul Evek, the Vetar surveyed Dorvan V prior to her handover to the Cardassian Union circa stardate 47751.2 in 2370. Later that year, the Vetar was attacked by Maquis fighters circa stardate 47941.7, suffering heavy damage, and was assisted by the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D). The Vetar was either heavily damaged, disabled, or destroyed by a plasmaPlasma (physics)In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
storm in the Badlands while pursuing a Maquis ship commanded by Commander ChakotayChakotayChakotay , played by Robert Beltran, is a character in Star Trek: Voyager. He is the First Officer of the USS Voyager.-Character biography:...
circa stardate 48315.6 in 2371. Fate uncertain.
- Commanded by Gul Evek, the Vetar surveyed Dorvan V prior to her handover to the Cardassian Union circa stardate 47751.2 in 2370. Later that year, the Vetar was attacked by Maquis fighters circa stardate 47941.7, suffering heavy damage, and was assisted by the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D). The Vetar was either heavily damaged, disabled, or destroyed by a plasma
Hideki class
The Hideki-class starship is a small attack craft composed of a semi-ellipseEllipse
In geometry, an ellipse is a plane curve that results from the intersection of a cone by a plane in a way that produces a closed curve. Circles are special cases of ellipses, obtained when the cutting plane is orthogonal to the cone's axis...
fore with a short aft extension ending in a pincer-shaped disruptor weapon. Due to the ship's limited offensive power the Hideki class is confined to border patrol duties during peace time. During the Dominion War
Dominion War
The Dominion War is an extended plot concept developed in a number of story arcs of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, an American science-fiction television series produced by Paramount Pictures...
the class was present in several major conflicts, they operate in large groups and swarm enemy ships, this allows them to overpower much heavier vessels.
Keldon class
Keldon class warships are similar to Galor class starships but have superior firepower. They are long and narrow, with a raised semicircle 'head' at the front, two large fin-shaped extensions to port and starboard near the front, and a fork-shaped disruptor weapon at the far aft.The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
episode "Defiant" introduced the Keldon class when Thomas Riker
Thomas Riker
William Thomas "Tom" Riker is a fictional character from the Star Trek universe, played by actor Jonathan Frakes. He is a duplicate of William Riker, a regular character on Star Trek: The Next Generation, also played by Frakes, who was created by a transporter accident when Riker served as second...
reveals that the Obsidian Order was maintaining a number of enhanced Keldon class starships in the Orias system. The Order later used these ships, which also had cloaking device
Cloaking device
Cloaking devices are advanced stealth technologies still in development that will cause objects, such as spaceships or individuals, to be partially or wholly invisible to parts of the electromagnetic spectrum...
s, in conjunction with the Romulan
Romulan
The Romulans are a fictional alien race in the Star Trek universe. First appearing in the original Star Trek series in the 1966 episode "Balance of Terror", they have since made appearances in all the main later Star Trek series: The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager...
Tal Shiar to attack the Dominion
Dominion (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
("The Die is Cast"). Those were the only two episodes in which this class was featured. Keldon-class ships were mentioned by name by Lt. Dax in "The Die is Cast".
The Keldon class model was a modification, made by Tony Meininger, of the Galor class warship, originally built by Ed Miarecki.
Dreadnought
Dreadnought, also known as missile ATR-4107, is an automated Cardassian weapon capable of unleashing massive destruction. Although officially referred to as a missile, it can also be considered a completely autonomous warship in its own right.It was a warp-capable vessel carrying 1,000 kilograms of matter
Matter
Matter is a general term for the substance of which all physical objects consist. Typically, matter includes atoms and other particles which have mass. A common way of defining matter is as anything that has mass and occupies volume...
and 1,000 kilograms of antimatter
Antimatter
In particle physics, antimatter is the extension of the concept of the antiparticle to matter, where antimatter is composed of antiparticles in the same way that normal matter is composed of particles...
— enough to destroy a small moon. The missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
also carried a large cache of conventional weaponry, and was heavily shielded. Its onboard computer featured sophisticated artificial intelligence that used probabilistic reasoning and game theory to identify and neutralize any threat to its mission. Only one vessel is known to have been constructed.
The Cardassians sent Dreadnought to destroy a Maquis base. Though it penetrated Maquis defenses, the warhead failed to detonate, and the missile was captured and reprogrammed by then-Maquis agent B'Elanna Torres. Torres then sent Dreadnought to destroy a planet with a Cardassian target. However, it disappeared in the Badlands and was presumed destroyed, when in fact it was taken to the Delta Quadrant by the same phenomenon that later abducted USS Voyager
USS Voyager (Star Trek)
The fictional Intrepid-class starship USS Voyager is the primary setting of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager. It is commanded by Captain Kathryn Janeway....
. Not realizing what had happened, it wandered the Delta Quadrant for more than two years searching for its target. Eventually it located a planet with a sufficiently close resemblance and attacked. Unfortunately, this planet was host to an innocent post-industrial society
Post-industrial society
If a nation becomes "post-industrial" it passes through, or dodges, a phase of society predominated by a manufacturing-based economy and moves on to a structure of society based on the provision of information, innovation, finance, and services.-Characteristics:...
. In a stroke of luck and timing, though, Voyager discovered the missile en route, and Torres, serving as chief engineer, worked to disable it. Dreadnought was destroyed seconds before it would have murdered millions.
The Dreadnought missile model was designed by Rick Sternbach
Rick Sternbach
Richard Michael Sternbach is an illustrator who is best known for his space illustrations and his work on the Star Trek television series.- Early years :...
.
Hybrid class
Seen in the Star Trek: Bridge Commander video game, the Cardassian Hybrid is a mix of Cardassian and Kessok* design, and can only be described as a battleship. Like with most vessels, its main firepower is in the front, with a Cardassian Compressor, 2 Kessok Positrons, 2 fast and highly-powerful Antimatter Torpedo tubes and a slow but large and powerful disruptor cannon located at the front of the ship. Because the ship utilizes Kessok Positrons, it has beams on the ventral and dorsal sections of the ship that cover the immediate top and bottom. Finally, there is one Antimatter Torpedo tube at the rear of the vessel.The Hybrid design is almost exactly like the Galor and Keldon classes. In fact, the center portion of the vessel is exactly the same in design. However, on the sides there are 2 "wings". These contain the Kessok Positrons and the forward Antimatter Torpedo tubes. At the ends on the "wings" are 2 Kessok warp engines, which add to the basic single warp engine at the rear of the main hull for a total of 3 warp engines (as opposed to the single warp engine on the Galor and Keldon). The Hybrid also has stronger shields and armour.
- The Kessok are an alien race in Star Trek: Bridge Commander who are helping the Cardassians in fighting the Federation. No mention of the Kessok, the Cardassian Hybrid or anything from Star Trek: Bridge Commander has been referenced in the TV shows or movies, so the canonicity of the game is questioned.
Freighter
Cardassian freighters were types of freighters of various designs, utilized by the Cardassian Union during the 24th century. The freighters is a modular design, with a power system and warp and impulse engines in a stern section and the crew quarters, computer systems and bridge in the bow section. Among these designs were the Bok'Nor type, Cardassian supply ship, and Cardassian military freighter.External links
- Cardassian Starships at Memory AlphaMemory AlphaMemory Alpha is a wiki that is an encyclopedic reference for topics related to the Star Trek fictional universe. Conceived by Harry Doddema and Dan Carlson in September 2003 and officially launched on December 5 of that year, it uses the wiki model and is hosted by Wikia, Inc. on the MediaWiki...
, a Star Trek Wiki