Cardassian: Difference between revisions

fedstatus = Netural|

The [[ma:Cardassian|Cardassian]] race is a [[ma:Humanoid|humanoid]] species from the [[ma:Alpha Quadrant|Alpha Quadrant]]. The Cardassians are native to the [[ma:Planet|planet]] [[ma:Cardassia Prime|Cardassia Prime]], [[ma:Homeworld|capital world]] of the [[ma:Cardassian Union|Cardassian Union]].

Over the shoulder of every Cardassian citizen is the [[Obsidian Order]], peering into their public and personal lives. It is said that a Cardassian cannot sit down to eat without the meal being duly noted, categorized and approved by the Obsidian Order. This is not an exaggeration; indeed, the Obsidian Order spies on its own citizenry with great alacrity using every means at their disposal. Because of this invasion of privacy, few Cardassians living in the Union enjoy civil liberties unless powerful friends protect them. Free speech is unheard of, as people have been known to disappear for voicing their opinions. The right to bear arms is denied the civilian citizenry unilaterally, though some civilians keep some sort of weaponry in their home illegally. Assembly of the citizenry (for any reason) without proper license is grounds for arrest. Communiqués are regularly tapped, mail opened, and homes bugged. People are paid handsomely for turning in their treasonous neighbors and can usually gain ''vesala'' by doing so. Families are encouraged to do the same; after all, dedication to the state should come before blood.

Citizens are free to establish businesses so long as they have the requisite approvals from the Ministry of Industrial Affairs. The private sector exists to serve the state, and the state controls commerce with an iron hand. The military is the largest consumer for these businesses, for without the military's patronage a business is sure to fail.

Cardassian families are tightly knit. Usually, parents will have between three and ten children, and sometimes more. An only child is an anomalous occurence. Families live together in the Cardassian household, with the father being the head of the house. It is not uncommon for the family unit to be extended from unmarried aunts and uncles to grandfathers and grandmothers, all living together in the same household. The Cardassian people venerate age, and elder Cardassians are seen as wise to the ways of the universe.

Divorce is uncommon among the Cardassians, except in cases where the acts of the husband or wife would bring disgrace unto the house as a whole. Generally two Cardassians who marry will do so for life, howerver a certain amount of philandering is almost expected by the males of the species. While this is frowned upon by society, the people tend to turn a blind eye toward this type of behavior among the males. The female Cardassians do not enjoy this privilege, as they can be outcast for such loose moral character. A disgraced woman carries a heavy social burden.

Cardassian mating is different from other species, and sometimes those differences are very misunderstood by outsiders. A potential mate indicates interest by expressing a bickering, almost beligerent attitude. This bickering has caused more than one interstellar snafu as misunderstanding spring from hot debates between diplomats. Fertility is of paramount importance, as a mate that cannot bear children is shamed. Men prefer spirited women, and the females of the species tend to prefer strong, dominant males.

Literature is the most popular art form amongst the Cardassian populace and so it has the most restricted guidelines. Permitted books must actively promote Cardassian ideology or discredit Cardassia's enemies. Epics such as ''The Never Ending Sacrifice'', which describes the service of seven generations of a family to Cardassia, are favorites amongst Cardassian readers. These books are even preferred above tales of valorous Cardassian of.cers defeating the schemes of dastardly Starfleet officers bent on destroying the Union with their corrupt ideals of democracy and individuality.

The following section describes the six different social classes. When the text refers to population percentage it is referring to all Cardassians in the Union, and does not include non-Cardassians or client/servitor races.

A modern Cardassian Ti'alek, upon showing significant ability, can obtain a sponsor to attend a military academy. The same Ti'alek can now become an officer, achieve great things, and make a name for himself (and thereby his family). Once he has earned the respect of his peeers and supervisors, his family name could grow in status, and perhaps his children will be known as Amarleks, Ra'maleks, or even quite possibly (if his achievements are great enough) become a Trelek and join the ranks of nobility. Earning enough respect for this may be difficult, as those of the higher classes tend to cling harder to their titles than the lower classes.

Early in Cardassian history, the Obsidian Order learned that well-entertained masses are often too distracted to be mindful of revolution. The best way to remain in power was to placate the citizenry with the Feeds. The Feeds are a network of broadcast screens throughout the Cardassian city streets that broadcast propaganda to the masses all day long. Each home on Cardassia is required by law to have a Feed. On the streets, huge monitors show speeches, trials and executions. In the home, the Cardassian has a choice of five Feeds, however all of them are essentially the same. All extol the glory of the Union. All insist that service to the state brings happiness. And of course, the main Feed broadcast the appropriate propaganda of political speeches, trials and executions. Frequently the Feeds show the exact same thing on all channels, and the home feeds can be operated form the source, forcing the message to play in the home whether the homeowners want it or not. The same propaganda Feeds are broadcast throughout the Cardassian Union, not just on Cardassia.

Some unscrupulous individuals modify their Feed unit, allowing them to receive Federation broadcasts or to block the propaganda Feeds. These individuals are criminals, and the Feed units can report such alterations during random automated diagnostics, so most Cardassians choose to just leave them alone. At least one criminal a day gets executed for Feed unit alteration, and that keeps the citizens reminded that the Feed units are the property of the government and are not to be modified by unauthorized personnel.

Once the ''Te'alakesh'' has identified a child's strengths and weaknesses, the child is assigned an advanced school most benefitting of their place in society, and sometimes that means that a lower-classed Cardassian will attend the finest schools through sponsorship. The ''Te'alakesh'' help the child by finding a sponsor. By showing prominent Cardassians their student's work and making suggestions to the right people, the ''Te'alakesh'' can obtain a sponsor for a promising child. Some ''Te'alakesh'' have even used their personal ''vesala'' to move lower-classed children to the ranks of the fit.