Quark?

[Captain Kathryn]

I'm still on Season 1 of DS9 so this might sound newbie-ish...but I am just wondering to anyone who has watched more DS9 than myself...why is Quark allowed to run that casino/bar? And what do people use for payment? It seems like, at least in Season 1, Quark doesn't actually have a technical function on the station other than to make money for himself through his business. Why keep him there from a command point of view? I don't know if its just because I'm used to the Starship structure where things are more strict? I understand that the station's basic job is to keep an eye on the Wormhole (at least in Season 1) and other reasons as well and that it doesn't have a strict mission as of Season 1 like some other Trek series do, but I would think they would have more regulations? But I suppose with so many ships docking all the time and different species and people coming in and out all the time, it's not as restricted as a Starship.

I really love Quark as a character and find him to be the main source of comedic relief...I am just wondering why the rules seem to be so lenient on the station?

I think its funny that Odo gets on his case all the time about his activities. Is there a reason Quark is allowed to continue doing what he does anyhow?

 

[R. Star]

Even the Pentagon has restaurants in it. All the people who work there are going to want some civilian entertainment.

The Ferengi currency is gold pressed latinum... is is pretty much the US dollar of Star Trek as every other culture but the Federation uses currency.

And you pretty much said it. Ships from all over the place are coming and going, so they're all going to want shore leave and the Promenade is basically one big mall for all the civilians.

You don't expect Starfleet to provide a place to drink, gamble or have sex in holodecks do you?

And Odo... well he's a bit of a fascist at times... he'll regularly detain Quark without due cause, never gives him a lawyer, wants to break up unions and peaceful protesters because they're disorderly and things like that. I like him but he does have a ironfisted streak in him.

 

[Captain Kathryn]

The Ferengi currency is gold pressed latinum... is is pretty much the US dollar of Star Trek as every other culture but the Federation uses currency.

No, this I knew. I was wondering how the Federation officers would pay. I suppose just with the same? But then how would they obtain it? It can't be replicated.

I found this thread made on another forum about the same issue:
http://www.startrek.com/boards-topic/33343578/how-do-they-pay

Even the Pentagon has restaurants in it. All the people who work there are going to want some civilian entertainment.

True. Maybe I am being a bit too Odo-ish lol.

 

[sonak]

Quark bring visitors and attention to DS9, something Sisko and the Bajorans would want.

 

[Captain Kathryn]

Yeah I guess I am taking it too seriously.

After spending 2 months watching so much Voyager, I feel like the DS9 staff is so...loosely regulated? With the exception of Odo haha. At least in Season 1 anyway. It's refreshing though.

 

[Shanndee]

^ lol! You just have to keep in mind that the shops on the promenade deck are, well, shops! They are civilian run, not Starfleet run. The station is a place where people with families work and live, not just political and military personnel from Starfleet and Bajor.

 

[Captain Kathryn]

Haha...so happy...just got to my first DS9 Q episode. I love Q~

There's a character who can do whatever the he wants and I love it regardless.

 

[Captain Kathryn]

^ lol! You just have to keep in mind that the shops on the promenade deck are, well, shops! They are civilian run, not Starfleet run. The station is a place where people with families work and live, not just political and military personnel from Starfleet and Bajor.

True. I need to keep in mind its NOT a Starship lol.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Quark is a civilian running a private establishment. Why shouldn't be be allowed to stay? The Federation may have a socialist economy but it's not a communist dictatorship. Private citizens can own property and do whatever they want.

Why do they let him get away with so many minor offenses? Because they know in the long run he's harmless, because he's a source of information, because he brings people to the station, because his establishment is good for entertaining people.

 

[Melakon]

And in legal terms, Bajor owns the station, Starfleet just operates, maintains, and provides a military presence.

Regarding the gambling, I'm sure Quark offers a generous exchange rate for Federation credits. Generous for himself that is.

 

[Sigokat]

If DS9 was real I'd totally go and just hang out at Quark's Bar!

 

[USS Firefly]

Watching DS9 for the first time, im jealous

 

[Captain Kathryn]

And in legal terms, Bajor owns the station, Starfleet just operates, maintains, and provides a military presence.

Regarding the gambling, I'm sure Quark offers a generous exchange rate for Federation credits. Generous for himself that is.

Yeah, it's a Bajor station. I just watched the episode "Dax" last night which reminded me of that fact.

I suppose I noticed it because Quark ONLY mentions gold latinum (like in the episode Q-Less where he has the auction for Gamma Quadrant artifacts). But in that part, I understand, because he is Ferengi and he is selling so-called "valuable" and expensive items. But what do latinum-less Federation officers use to pay at the bar? Credits? lol.

And yeah, to the other poster, if I was on that station, I would pretty much live at Quark's Casino and Bar.

 

[Dover]

At the beginning of the series, DS9 is in the middle of nowhere, Bajor's government and economy is on the verge of collapse, and all the civilians are moving off the station. They're about to be left with no services of any kind.

Sisko convinces (blackmails) Quark to stay, and his bar becomes the focal point for entertainment on the station. With a place to spend their leisure time, the Starfleet and Militia personnel will have better morale, traders will be more likely to stop at the station, and civilians will be more likely to live there and open up other shops, continuing to make the station a nicer place to live.

They don't like all the shady stuff he does, but Quark does play a big part in keeping the station running.

 

[Timo]

This.

But actually they probably do like Quark's shady stuff, because it brings in the sort of intelligence and contacts Starfleet itself would be hard pressed to gather here on the very edge of the UFP sphere of influence. Plus the pettier end of Quark's criminal record is a neat way to blackmail him to doing Starfleet's bidding without actually driving him into such a corner that he would walk away from the deal altogether.

Later on, it also turns out that Quark is a good contact to the Ferengi Alliance in general, and its Grand Nagus in particular, as the Nagus has seen profit in using Quark as his personal front in Gamma Quadrant dealings. Everything indicates that the Ferengi are an important local power, having been longterm business partners with the Cardassians and being very active in forging business ties with civilizations at both ends of the wormhole.

Quark is useful for Starfleet. The business Quark attracts is good for Bajor. And Odo probably greatly enjoys the way Quark attracts and concentrates crime in the neighborhood, making Odo's work all the easier.

Personally, I would have enjoyed the heroes finding and befriending other "uneasy allies" of this sort, in addition to Quark and the invaluable Garak. Perhaps some ruffian from Gamma could have become their streetwise contact to the Quadrant, or possibly a scientific expert to complement Dax? Possibly they could have gained a religious expert from, say, Bareil, to help Sisko out with his Emissary role? How about a Romulan insider, say, the chaperon for the cloaking device? Such opportunities came and went; one or two might have been made more use of.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Captain Kathryn]

I really like Quark! I meant no hate against him at all. I was just curious what the Federation officers use for currency.

 

[Dale Sams]

And Odo... well he's a bit of a fascist at times

*But*, keep in mind that SF...and Odo it seems, have incredibly advanced views on penal theory. Smuggling? 1 month in the brig.

As opposed to say 10 frigging years in a hellhole run by gangs.

 

[indolover]

Well DS9 is not an exclusive military location. I guess since the wormhole was discovered the station became an open port operated by Starfleet and the Bajorans. So as there are a large number of civilians, it figures that Quark has a presence there.

 

[Timo]

It's actually something of a miracle that no other business of note emerged aboard the station to compete with Quark on both honest customers and crime contacts!

As for Odo's leniency, his jurisdiction is limited to the station; he's not particularly liked elsewhere. He can't exactly enforce ten-year jail terms when he has no proper jail, and even forced labor sentences aboard the station would task his resources considerably. So he throws people in the cells to sober up, and if he thinks they deserve particularly severe punishment, he keeps them there a bit longer and visits them every day...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Dal Rassak]

The reason for Quark's presence is actually given in the pilot. Basically Quark is all ready to pack his things and go, reckoning the place has got a bit unstable - no good for profit! - and he's probably not going to be too popular with the new people in charge, seeing as he ran the establishment under the Cardassians.
It's Sisko who basically blackmails him into staying because he needs someone to show everybody that the station is worth remaining on. If the last shop closes, that sends the message that there really isn't a point.
The station is a total wreck when the Federation take it over since the Cardassians destroyed everything they could on departure (a little gesture of welcome), and people were leaving it like rats off a sinking ship. What better way to persuade them there's better days ahead than someone like Quark going, "well, you still might not have a proper mattress to sleep on, but come by and have a drink, and another drink, and there's fun to be had...!"

As for some of his shady activities being tolerated to an extent, Quark is usually sailing close to the wind in that he's hovering round the edges of outright crime as a third-man facilitator, and with Odo keeping such a hawk's eye on him, Quark is useful in leading security to some of the much bigger fish that are his associates. Quark's small fry, they can let him skim a bit here and there.

P.S. if holosuites had been invented, I wouldn't be out of there for HOURS on end! (grin)