Dukat's Secret Dominion Negotiations...

[Farscape One]

I don't know if this has been brought up before, but I have had this question in my mind since "BY INFERNO'S LIGHT" aired 25 years ago.

How and when was Dukat able to conduct negotiations for Cardassian membership into the Dominion?

It's almost certain it would be while he had his Bird of Prey, and we know he didn't go to the Gamma Quadrant. (No dialogue mentions this, anyway.)

My gut says it might have been a side mission of Bashireling, but that would mean the Dominion had contact with Dukat before Bashireling is on DS9.

And the Changelings are extremely good at covering their tracks, so I doubt Dukat had an opportunity to find one on his own.

Any theories, folks?

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

I just assume he went to the Gamma Quadrant to negotiate.
He used the Bird of Prey to get there undetected.
Flying cloaked when other ships passed through the wormhole to not trigger the opening animation on his own.
Ironic that that was exactly what the Dominion faked early on to stoke paranoia.

 

[at Quark's]

Perhaps they simply have a web page for it? 'JoinOurDominion.com'

"Benefits of joining the Dominion include bragging rights over your competitors. Your powerful new ally will teach them a lesson. Get installed into a position of power in your government or on a conquered planet, under our enlightened leadership! Extend your species' range of influence into regions that formerly belonged to your enemies!'

Applicants should fill in their contact details clearly. Do not forget to provide details for a secondary contact, just in case the main contact is captured or in case that communication line has become insecure for other reasons.

Also, please give a clear indication of the resources (military, raw materials) your prospective member world has. Applications should be aware that Dominion Membership might entail just a little exploitation of the non-ruling classes, to more expediently extract the resources we need to further our goals.

Our administration will review your application, and, if they think you are fit for membership, contact you in due course to discuss the details and finalize your membership. Do not try to contact us in any other way; such attempts will go unanswered.

To finalize and send your application, please press the weirdly appropriately named Submit button.

Ha. Ha. Just a harmless little Dominion joke. In fact, we're all good friends here."

<Applicant pushes 'submit'>

"Thank you for your application! Please allow our administration up to 28 days to process your application and contact you.

The Dominion wishes you a nice day. "

Joking aside, it's a very interesting question. One to which I don't have a plausible answer as of yet.

 

[Oddish]

A more pressing question is why Cardassia followed him. He was merely a mid-level military official who had been disgraced (and left by his family) for fathering a half-Bajoran daughter.

 

[Legate Duhmar]

A more pressing question is why Cardassia followed him. He was merely a mid-level military official who had been disgraced (and left by his family) for fathering a half-Bajoran daughter.

Although Dukat is shown as the key force behind the union, its likely he had negotiated with at least some part of the Cardassian government to probe diplomatic relations with the Dominion. It probably wasn't a difficult pitch, the Dominion was powerful and could give Cardassia the edge over the Federation it sorely needed. Plus from their perspective they could already see the Dominion eyeing the Alpha quadrant and instead of becoming a beachhead for invasion, they joined and participated as a full ally. Dukat likely went on the mission with a promise to return with a treaty but the Dominion is sort of like a mafia or biker gang in that once you enter into a relationship with them, the terms can change quickly based on the whims of the Founders.

Once Dukat had secured the alliance, he went from mid level back to a high level official in the new government, the souring of the Cardassians on Dukat only happened once the Dominion fully took over political affairs AND started losing in the war. Until then the political elite of Cardassia seemed fine with the situation as they prioritize real politik policies that deliver strength and dominance.

 

[Citiprime]

The Dominion was behind the Klingon invasion through the Martok-Changeling.

My guess is that once the Klingon invasion settled into a protracted Klingon occupation and attack of Cardassian space, the Changleings reached out to Dukat and played him. The most likely moment would be when he was playing insurrectionist aboard the Bird of Prey.

Dukat transports Sisko and the crew to Ty'Gokor for the mission that unmasks the Martok-Changeling. However, the original plan was to go after Gowron though, since the Founders had planted the idea in Odo to cause a deepening of hostilities between the Federation and Klingon Empire.

So it's conceivable that Dukat might have already been working with the Dominion at that point, and went along with being Sisko's ride in order to fulfill the Founders' intentions.

 

[DS9forever]

A more pressing question is why Cardassia followed him. He was merely a mid-level military official who had been disgraced (and left by his family) for fathering a half-Bajoran daughter.

Dukat was a dictator by this point. He likely had his enemies executed.

 

[at Quark's]

A more pressing question is why Cardassia followed him. He was merely a mid-level military official who had been disgraced (and left by his family) for fathering a half-Bajoran daughter.

Another possibility is that some changelings already had infiltrated Cardassia on key positions, Dukat struck some kind of 'devil's agreement' with them the terms of which included him being manipulated back into power or at least an influential position by them, after which he would officially join the Dominion.

 

[shivkala]

Another possibility is that some changelings already had infiltrated Cardassia on key positions, Dukat struck some kind of 'devil's agreement' with them the terms of which included him being manipulated back into power or at least an influential position by them, after which he would officially join the Dominion.

We know at this point they had infiltrated the Klingon Empire (Martok) to distract the Federation with a war. They also further sought to destabilize the Federation with a well-placed Changeling on Earth. While the Klingon gambit was working, the Earth one ultimately failed thanks to Sisko. Then, again, thanks to Sisko, Martok was revealed to be a Klingon, which while it didn't end the Klingon/Federation War, most likely caused a setback there.

They also dealt a crippling blow to the Tal'Shiar and the Obsidian Order, weakening both the Romulans and the Cardassians. We don't see the effects on the Romulans, per se, though we do know that the fall of the Obsidian Order did lead to the Detapa Council seizing control of the Cardassian Empire.

So with the plan to destabilize the Federation not making much headway, they most likely sought the next best move to seize the Wormhole, which would be Cardassia due to their proximity to it, as well as the animosity the Bajorans had towards the Cardassians.

Your idea has merit, as the Cardassian Empire becoming part of the Dominion did nearly help them win the war. I agree that they infiltrated the Detapa council and paved the way for Dukat to broker an agreement.

A more pressing question is why Cardassia followed him. He was merely a mid-level military official who had been disgraced (and left by his family) for fathering a half-Bajoran daughter.

True, but "Return to Grace" saw the Detapa Council restore his position as Military Advisor, though he turned it down. It's possible that, when he approached them with a plan to join the Dominion, they did, ultimately, trust him.


I do wonder why the Dominion never did more than get Bajor to sign a non-aggression pact. Most likely this would have failed due to Sisko's role as Emissary, but that was never a "sure thing." A Founder could have easily swayed Kai Winn to their side, pushing for a diminished Federation presence. Or, perhaps the Founder could have stoked the population into believing the Emissary should be on Bajor, not commanding the station. Or something along those lines.

 

[Oddish]

A Founder could have easily swayed Kai Winn to their side, pushing for a diminished Federation presence.

Or just replaced Kai Winn altogether.

 

[at Quark's]

Which makes me wonder, did they ever consider trying to replace Sisko ?

 

[Oddish]

Undoubtedly they considered it. Though they probably didn't see him as a priority target, given that there were plenty of high ranking officials on Bajor, and gobs of Starfleet admirals on Earth.

 

[at Quark's]

It's exactly your Winn comment that got me thinking. I was wondering whether a fake Emissary wouldn't be able to exert even more influence than a fake Winn.

 

[Farscape One]

It's exactly your Winn comment that got me thinking. I was wondering whether a fake Emissary wouldn't be able to exert even more influence than a fake Winn.

THAT would have made a great episode.

 

[kkt]

The prophets would probably know he was going to be replaced even before it happened.

 

[Verteron]

When I go back over these episodes I often notice that Dukat was always careful to describe Cardassia as "joining with", as in "allying" with the Dominion in his broadcasts to the people, "partners in all things", whereas it was actually very obvious that Cardassia as agreeing to be fully annexed as a Dominion client state ultimately subservient to the Founders.

Not sure how long he could have kept up this duplicity, although in a dictatorship with complete control over information I suppose you can tell your people whatever you want. So long as they feel safe and are getting fed.

And if they'd won the war they'd have vast swathes of the Federation and Klingon Empires to administer so they'd have been plenty busy. I get the feeling that client states in the Dominion are mostly left alone so long as they provide the Dominion with what it requires and don't set their aspirations too high when it comes to self-determination or expansion.

 

[at Quark's]

Isn't that generally the language used by people that sell out their country to a stronger aggressor and take over the government in a puppet regime? I think you can find several examples of that in history.

Cardassia might have survived under Dominion rule if they hadn't given the Dominion too much trouble, but I doubt Dukat would have. He simply didn't have the character to keep submitting himself to the Dominion and there is a statement he made to Damar that indicates that he may have planned to get rid of the Dominion after they won the war (he'd probably have failed in that, though).

 

[Verteron]

Cardassia might have survived under Dominion rule if they hadn't given the Dominion too much trouble, but I doubt Dukat would have. He simply didn't have the character to keep submitting himself to the Dominion and there is a statement he made to Damar that indicates that he may have planned to get rid of the Dominion after they won the war (he'd probably have failed in that, though).

Agreed. The Female Founder recognised Dukat's tactical brilliance (especially when it came to using the Cardassian fleet), and I'm sure was largely keeping him around for that reason alone, until the defeat during Operation Return. Even if he hadn't totally lost it over Ziyal's death, I suspect his career (and life...) might have been quite short.

 

[publiusr]

The ultimate untrustworthy solid as a way to take all solids down..except maybe the Breen, whom the Founders seemed to hold in reverence for some reason…

 

[Lynx]

Perhaps they simply have a web page for it? 'JoinOurDominion.com'

"Benefits of joining the Dominion include bragging rights over your competitors. Your powerful new ally will teach them a lesson. Get installed into a position of power in your government or on a conquered planet, under our enlightened leadership! Extend your species' range of influence into regions that formerly belonged to your enemies!'

Applicants should fill in their contact details clearly. Do not forget to provide details for a secondary contact, just in case the main contact is captured or in case that communication line has become insecure for other reasons.

Also, please give a clear indication of the resources (military, raw materials) your prospective member world has. Applications should be aware that Dominion Membership might entail just a little exploitation of the non-ruling classes, to more expediently extract the resources we need to further our goals.

Our administration will review your application, and, if they think you are fit for membership, contact you in due course to discuss the details and finalize your membership. Do not try to contact us in any other way; such attempts will go unanswered.

To finalize and send your application, please press the weirdly appropriately named Submit button.

Ha. Ha. Just a harmless little Dominion joke. In fact, we're all good friends here."

<Applicant pushes 'submit'>

"Thank you for your application! Please allow our administration up to 28 days to process your application and contact you.

The Dominion wishes you a nice day. "

Joking aside, it's a very interesting question. One to which I don't have a plausible answer as of yet.

With something like this as advertising universe-wide: