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Cardassian: Difference between revisions
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==Physiology== | ==Physiology== | ||
===Overview=== | ===Overview=== | ||
The Cardassians evolved from reptilian ancestors, and they prefer a darker, hotter, and more humid environment than [[human]]s. | The Cardassians evolved from reptilian ancestors, and they prefer a darker, hotter, and more humid environment than [[human]]s. | ||
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===Family=== | ===Family=== | ||
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. | 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. | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
===Arts=== | |||
The Cardassian people consider the arts to be less important than many other races do. In the resource-hungry society of Cardassia, where starvation and need are recent memories, literature, poetry and sculpture are of secondary importance. A career as an artist is considered slightly shameful in a culture whose essence is duty and service. | |||
The Cardassian State keeps a tight reign on its artists. It recognizes that art can be a powerful motivational force. Only state sanctioned writers can be published. Only the work of state sanctioned painters and sculptors may be exhibited, and only in state-run galleries. Each individual work must undergo a long and involved approval process by the Ministry of Arts before publication or exhibition. | |||
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. | |||
Cardassians who travel and the upper classes have access to non-Cardassian literature. Dante's ''Inferno'', Tolstoy's ''War and Peace'', K'Ratak's ''The Dream of the Fire'' are all highly regarded works. The Cardassians appreciate Shakespeare's dramas but despise the comedies - particularly ''Romeo and Juliet'', in which the two lovers chose love over family. | |||
The visual arts - painting, sculpture and holo-photography - are not highly regarded by the general populace. Spending time admiring such works is considered wasteful. There are only a handful of galleries on Cardassia prime, all of which are filled with depictions of family life and Cardassians at war. Cardassia IV maintains a museum of Hebitian works that have not been sold off in the past, such as the bone carvings from the First Hebitian period. | |||
Many Cardassians express themselves artistically in the privacy of their homes and only their friends and family ever view their work. The practical mentality of Cardassians means that many use crafts as a creative outlet. Elaborately carved furniture or highly decorated potteries are more appreciated than ''objects d'art'' by many Cardassians. | |||
The underground movement attracts artists of all varieties who seek freedom of expression. Writers' work is distributed through the organization. Members of the movement hold secret exhibitions and readings. But this is not without risk; the labor camps on Cardassia IV are filled with writers whose work criticizes the government. These artists experienced unprecedented freedom during the rule of the Detapa council. For eighteen months in 2371-2372, a large number of previously banned books were printed, satirical cartoons were published and plays were performed that openly criticized the Cardassian State and way of life. This halcyon era ended abruptly when the Cardassian Union joined the [[Dominion]]. The Jem'hadar visited those writers, satirists and actors who did not flee quickly enough. | |||
===Cuisine=== | |||
Mealtimes are of great importance to Cardassians. Traditionally, the main meal of the day was a time for the whole family to sit down together. In modern times, the evening meal is still considered a time for family, even if modern lifestyles make it more difficult for the family to eat together. A meal is just as important to lone Cardassians or those away from their family, they will never take work to their meal table; a meal should be a time for conversation amongst friends or intellectual discussion between comrades. | |||
To a Cardassian, a meal is not just food to be consumed; it is a feast of color and artistry. The laying of the table, the color of the dishes and the shape of the kanar bottle are all as important as the food itself. Even a simple act, such as pouring a glass of wine, is savored. Typically a Cardassian will pause to admire the color of the drink before pouring it. Perhaps he will even caress the elaborate spiral bottle before lifting the glass and savoring the aroma. Only then will he take his first sip. | |||
Food is also used as a symbol of power. With whom you share your table is a measure of status on Cardassia. If a powerful Cardassian eats alone, he is stating that he considers no one else is his equal. During the occupation of Bajor, 'comfort women' taken from refugee camps were rewarded with the promise that their families would be well fed. | |||
On the surface the Cardassian approach to food makes them seem like an over-indulgent species, but an examination of recent history shows there are more concrete reasons. When drastic food and resource shortages brought about a revolution, the new military government plundered Cardassia's artistic and archaeological treasures to fulfill their promise to put food on every Cardassian's plate. With much of Cardassia's great art gone and a government that restricted new art, the Cardassians established a new form of artistic appreciation through their food and mealtime rituals. | |||
Cardassians are omnivores, though many of their dishes are meat or egg based. These are generally cooked. Meat dishes include Sem'hal stew and zabo meat steak, both of which are enjoyed by non-Cardassians. Taspar eggs and Regova eggs can be prepared in a number of ways, similar to Terran chicken eggs. Many dishes are flavored with yamok sauce, a condiment that is found on every meal table in the Cardassian Union. Hot fish juice, a broth-like drink, is highly favored for breakfast. | |||
Kanar is the Cardassian spirit of choice. It comes in several varieties; it can be similar to whiskey, wine or liqueur. It is highly intoxicating and the strong taste takes some getting used to. | |||
In recent years kanar has proved popular outside the Cardassian Union, but the Dominion War has made it as difficult to find as Romulan Ale in the twenty-fourth century. Kanar has a tendency to spoil, so keeping a supply on-hand is difficult for bartenders outside the Union. | |||
==Social structure== | ==Social structure== | ||
By the dawn of the Second Hebitian period, a class system evolved on Cardassia. This class structure has survived for centuries, even though the government and society that spawned it did not. The social classes are, from lowest class to highest; Scralan, Ti'alek, Hibalek, Amarlek, Ra'malek, and Trelek. | By the dawn of the Second Hebitian period, a class system evolved on Cardassia. This class structure has survived for centuries, even though the government and society that spawned it did not. The social classes are, from lowest class to highest; Scralan, Ti'alek, Hibalek, Amarlek, Ra'malek, and Trelek. | ||
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==The Feeds== | ==The Feeds== | ||
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. | 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 along. 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. | 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 along. 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. | ||
==Cardassian education== | |||
Education is important to the Cardassians, and all children living within the Union are instructed via the state's education system. | |||
===Primary education=== | |||
At the age of four, Cardassian children are given intensive mental training. At the age of six, they are placed into the primary school system where specialized instructors monitor the | |||
student's progress. These instructors, called ''Te'alakesh'', are adept at finding what a particular student is apt to excel in. During this time, a Cardassian child lives with her family. | |||
The ''Te'alakesh'' are arguably some of the most powerful Cardassians in the Union, for it is on their determination where a child will be placed for his future. Most ''Te'alakesh'' have great amounts of vesala as parents romance them for their child's placement. ''Te'alakesh'' work for the Ministry of Education, and some even whisper that this is merely a branch of the Obsidian Order, but there have been no foundation to these claims. | |||
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. | |||
A sponsor is essentially putting his neck out on the chopping block for the pupil, as a sponsor is responsible for all actions that a student makes at her new school up until graduation. Should the student stumble, the sponsor will receive punishment and public humiliation. This makes sponsorship quite a commitment for both the student and the sponsor, but challenging the minds of the youth is something that most adult Cardassians enjoy doing. Once a Cardassian completes her advanced training years, the sponsorship ends and the sponsor is relieved of all responsibility for the young adult. Some dedicated sponsors will follow the career of the youth and watch over them, effectively becoming a patron to them. | |||
A child completes public school at the age of nine or ten. One of a student's last acts as a child is to give a molar to the state for identification on their tenth birthday. This is seen as a rite-of-passage, and is celebrated among the family with a small informal party. | |||
===Advanced education=== | |||
At the age of ten, a Cardassian will be placed into their advanced schooling. These advanced schools specialize in the subjects that they teach. They are structured around a three-term program consisting of three years apiece (totaling nine standard years). This program will instruct the student in whatever occupation she will eventually fill in Cardassian society with little emphasis on personal interests. There are no breaks for the student during this time, and it is unlikely that she will see her families during their advanced educations (though, regular contact is kept via the comm channels and Data-net). At the end of each term, a review of the student is held. If the student fails review, she will either repeat the term again, or, in the case of specialized schools (such as Intelligence school or the Ba'dorah Military Academy), the failed student will be placed into less prestigious school with a different, more mundane focus. These advanced academies are generally unforgiving; if the student cannot make the grade, the student does not belong in that line of work and needs more menial tasks to occupy them. | |||
The basic layout for all Cardassian advanced education campuses is roughly the same. The school is split into two wings, one half for the males and one half for the females. Keeping the two sexes from co-mingling is the best way to keep the young Cardassian's attentions on their work and off of the opposite sex. Each wing is broken down into dormitories, where the young Cardassians live during their tenure at their school. Each dorm is further broken down into units with twenty young Cardassians in a unit. This unit eats, sleeps, trains and recreates together. Each unit consists of both upper- and lower-classmen, and usually the upper-classmen will lead the unit unless a lower-classman shows uncanny ability. This structure teaches the Cardassian youth to both work as a group but keep the details of their work secret from the others. When one member of a unit breaks a rule, the entire unit is punished. As the upperclassmen graduate, the lower-classmen rise up in the ranks of their unit, perhaps one day to become leader of it. | |||
A typical day at a Cardassian Advanced School consists of rising before dawn for physical calisthenics. Morning meal is afterwards, where the students receive a hot breakfast and can briefly socialize with those outside of their unit. Classes begin shortly thereafter, where the Cardassian is taught their general studies. These classes are extremely challenging for the students. Midmeal is next, and more time is allocated to this endeavor so that the student mayenjoy her meal. After lunch comes an hour of 'free time', where the student can do as she pleases. Afterwards, the student goes into specialized classes that apply more directly to their future position in the Union. Next, the student eats dinner, then has 3 hours to finish their studies for the day. | |||
Upon graduation, the student immediately joins the ranks of the rest of the Cardassian citizens in their duty to the state: mandatory military service for two years. After their military time is served, they join their place in Cardassian society. | |||
==The justice system== | |||
Cardassian justice is swift and effective. The legal system both protects the Cardassian populace and shows them clearly that they are being protected. To Federation observers the system seems harsh and unfair because the accused is not permitted a defense and there is a significant possibility that innocent men and women might be punished. But to the Cardassians, the fate of a few innocents matters little when compared to justice for the Cardassian State and its people. | |||
The Cardassians boast that they have the most efficient criminal investigation system in the quadrant. Investigators have broad powers under Cardassian law, including torture. The DNA records of all Cardassians citizens are a powerful tool during an investigation. The Cardassian authorities even allow investigators to cross the borders of foreign powers to apprehend suspects. | |||
When a suspect is arrested he is told, "You have the right to refuse to answer questions although such a refusal may be construed as a sign of guilt." A suspect may be interrogated or tortured to establish his guilt. Once a convincing case has been made against the suspect, he is imprisoned to await trial. He is no longer considered a suspect; he is now an offender. | |||
The trial of an offender serves two purposes - to demonstrate the futility of behavior contrary to good order and to assure the Cardassian people that criminals are caught and punished. To facilitate this, trials are broadcast across Cardassia. Trials usually last less than a single day, to ensure that they are compelling viewing. | |||
An Archon presides over a Cardassian court. She is both the judge and prosecutor. A Public Conservator represents the offender. The Conservator may point out flaws in the Archon's case but he may not call witnesses nor bring new evidence. Conservators have occasionally won a case, but this incurs the wrath of the Cardassian legal authorities. The offender is permitted a single Nestor, an advisor appointed by the court. There is no public gallery, but the family of an offender is expected to attend in order that the Cardassian people may see them weep. | |||
A trial begins with a declaration of the charges against the offender and the sentence he is to receive. The trial only shows how the offender was found to be guilty. Witnesses are called and evidence is presented to prove the Archon's case. The Conservator may submit no evidence. The spouse of the offender is given the chance to testify against him so as to distance herself from his disgrace. The final testimony comes from the offender himself. He is compelled to testify. There is no right to silence under Cardassian jurisprudence. | |||
At the end of the trial, after the Archon sums up her case, the offender is expected to concede to the wisdom of the state and accept his sentence with equanimity. The Conservator will counsel him to express remorse for his actions. The offender is lead away to begin his sentence immediately. Executions are carried out within days if the sentence is death. | |||
Military and political prisoners are often submitted to the same trial procedure. Such a prisoner may be offered a lenient sentence if he agrees to confess all his crimes during a trial. When the only alternative to accepting such humiliation is further torture, a prisoner might easily succumb. When the Cardassian populace see a Federation officer confess to war crimes against Cardassian soldiers or a leading dissident admit to crimes against the State, they will be certain of the absolute superiority of the Cardassian way. | |||
==Science== | |||
The purpose of Cardassian science is to serve the state. The Central Command controls all research and exploration. It dictates which sectors of space are to be explored. It decides which research projects can proceed and which are of no value to the State. | |||
Cardassia's unparalleled education system and the renowned Cardassian attention to detail mean that Cardassia produces scientists of the highest caliber. A majority of Cardassian scientists are women, due the gender bias in Cardassian society. While many scientists are content to work for the improvement of the State, some are dissatisfied with the emphasis on practical projects. There are close links between the dissident movement and those researchers more interested in pure science. | |||
The Cardassian Institute of Science is the Union's pre-eminent centre for research. Most of the Union's weapons research takes place here. The Central Command strictly controls it and security is very tight. The staff jokingly estimates that one in three of their number is an Obsidian Order operative. Whether the Order is there to protect the Institute's secrets or steal them is unknown. | |||
Space exploration is carried out with the specific purpose of increasing Cardassia's resources. The discovery of new mineral-rich planets is of primary importance. When such a planet is located, it must be further appraised. Detailed requirements for mining must be determined, potential hazards investigated and the indigenous population must be evaluated to determine whether they can be employed as vassals or must be subdued. | |||
The military does not posses purpose-built explorer vessels. Instead, Galor-class warships perform a limited scientific role. They are equipped with laboratories and have a small complement of scientists. These scientists are usually assigned with specific missions in mind. The commanders of these ships are often women. Female officers who overcome the sexism in the military to rise to the rank of Gul frequently find themselves sidelined by being assigned to exploration vessels. These officers tend to be ruthless from the bitterness of their position in the Union. | |||
Advances in medical science are brought about for military purposes. Surgical techniques are developed to assist injured troops and vaccines are developed to allow Cardassian forces to fight on alien worlds. The treatment of ordinary Cardassian citizens is not considered important enough to devote research to. In particular, attempts to prolong the average Cardassian lifespan are considered contrary to the needs of the already overpopulated State. | |||
{{MAContent}} | {{MAContent}} | ||