Cardassians???

[Kronok]

I have some questions about the Cardassians.

When did the Federation first become aware of the Cardassians (First contact with them?)? (Were the Romulans, Klingons, or any other major race aware of their existence before the Federation?)

When did the Cardassian War start?

When did it end?

Was there a “Cold War” time period between the two races/groups? If so, when?

[Erik Filean]

Originally posted by Kronok
I have some questions about the Cardassians.

When did the Federation first become aware of the Cardassians (First contact with them?)? (Were the Romulans, Klingons, or any other major race aware of their existence before the Federation?)

Unknown, but one might guess that first contact took place in the very late 23rd or the early 24th century. LUGTrek gave a date of 2335, but I prefer an earlier date because of the proximity of Cardassia to Bajor and Picard's statement that he studied Bajor in grammar school. The fan-LUG Cardassians supplement suggested 2289, which I like better, but the real date could be between 15-20 years later without straining credibility much.

When did the Cardassian War start?

Apparently in the mid-2340s. Whether the incident at Setlik III triggered the conflict or was a part of a conflict already underway is not clear, but the usual date given for Setlik is 2347 if I recall correctly (my Chronology is in a different hemisphere right now).

When did it end?

Mid-2360s. The treaty was pretty new in 2367 when Maxwell took the Phoenix on his unauthorized "tour" of Cardassian shipping.

Was there a “Cold War” time period between the two races/groups? If so, when?

That's a matter of opinion, but I would say the answer is "possibly." The period between first contact and the 2340s might be a "cold war" era, but we can say very little. Since the twenty-year war seemed to have little effect on Starfleet's overall exploratory and diplomatic efforts in the first few seasons of TNG, I think one could reasonably suppose that the war itself was as much "cold" as "hot" (not unlike Klingon relations 50-100 years earlier, in some respects).

In short, if you're looking for continuity space for a Cardassian cold war in game or fanfic, go for it. There is little to stop you and plenty of room to make it work.

[Kronok]

Thank you so much for a fantastic response!!!

Any information about the other races?

[Eric R.]

The only other races past which has been mentioned has been the Klingons who supposedly fought a war with Cardassia in the mid-2280 over an event in Brektara (Sp/) nebula. (sorry for not being abole to recall specific episodes). That triggered the idea for the 2289 federation date as it was felt that the Klingons (a Beta Quadrant race) fighting a war with the Cardassians (a Alpha quadrant race) would not have gone unnoticed by the Federation. The Cardassians probably occupied but a perimeter thought in the Federation mind until colonization efforts brought the two closer together eventually triggering the war. Perhqps triggering cooler relations when Cardassians annexed Bajor in 2228 (?).

On the war I have felt there was a "hot" war fought between 2247 and 2255 for some time with possibly an armistice in force until the peacetreaty was signed in 2267, the period 2255-2267 being a "cold war". the 2255 date is compleletly arbitrary and of my own invention. The war was characterised by short hot planetary riading and very little "big" ship battles in my minds eye.

[Morticutor_UK]

betraka nebule, I think - from Way of the Warrior

[SIR SIG]

Going off Star Charts.

The Cardassian border and the Klingon border at there closest points are roughly 50 light years apart (2D).

And the Betreka Nebula is approximately midway between.

Curiously though, there are a number of 'low numbered' Star Bases within 20 light years of the Nebula's centre.

That could lend support to the Feds keeping an eye on this skirmish.

[Capt. K. Vaughn]

Maybe it's my lack of sleep but was there not mention of an incident between the Romulans and Cardassians as well?

Regards,
CKV.

[Erik Filean]

Originally posted by Capt. K. Vaughn
Maybe it's my lack of sleep but was there not mention of an incident between the Romulans and Cardassians as well?

Regards,
CKV.

I don't recall an "incident" as such. Garak mentioned spending time on Romulus (with veiled hints that he was there doing wetwork for the Obsidian Order), so I presume relations aren't exactly friendly, but they aren't so far south that the Tal Shiar and the Obsidian Order couldn't tag-team the Founders. Not that that did them any good.

But on the subject of non-Federation contact with the Cardassians: I suspect the Romulans became aware of the Cardassians at about the same time the Federation and/or the Klingons did, quite likely through spies in Klingon or Federation space. Since the two powers apparently have no shared border, contact may very well have developed more piecemeal from there.