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Founders (Star Trek)

The Dominion
Founded circa 7600 B.C.
Founder The Founders
Home world Founders' homeworld, Gamma Quadrant
Official language(s) Dominionese, (see Universal translator)
Currency Isik
Affiliation Vorta
Jem'Hadar

In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is an interstellar state and military superpower from the Gamma Quadrant, composed of hundreds of dominated alien species. The Dominion is commanded by the Founders, a race of shapeshifters responsible for both the creation of the Dominion and all strategic decisions undertaken throughout its history. The Dominion is administered by the Vorta, clones specifically genetically engineered by the Founders to act as field commanders, administrators, scientists, and diplomats. The Jem'Hadar, also engineered by the Founders, are the military arm of the Dominion and one of the most powerful military forces in the galaxy during the Dominion's height.

The Dominion first appeared in Season 3, episode 1 "The Search" of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and unsuccessfully waged war on the United Federation of Planets after silently annexing Cardassia in the Alpha Quadrant.

The Dominion incorporated a vast number of planets, and their resident species, into its military and civilian ranks, including:

Little is revealed regarding the Dominion's inner workings, other than the fact that the Jem'Hadar and Vorta fulfill the main military and administrative roles respectively.

The Dominion was established over two thousand years before the events of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, by the Changelings, a race of liquid life forms capable of shapeshifting, as a means of defending themselves against the widespread persecution they faced from humanoid races (whom they called "solids"). These Changelings genetically engineered a series of 'slave races' to act as the footsoldiers of their new empire, and were dubbed the Founders by their new creations.

The first mention of the Dominion is in "Rules of Acquisition" when Quark was seeking 100,000 vats of tulaberry wine. There were various vague references to them as a major Gamma Quadrant power throughout Deep Space Nine's second season.


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