While exploring the vastness of space, some chose to divide the Milky Way galaxy into
the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta Quadrants.
Though most of this space remained uncharted by the individual races of the Alpha Quadrant
and Beta Quadrants, two great events in the 24th century expanded their knowledge considerably.
The First came from the Opening of the Bajoran Wormhole in 2369, allowing them to travel
70,000 light years away into a region of the Gamma Quadrant near the border of the Dominion,
a vast Empire ruled by a species of Shape shifters called the Founders.
The second event resulted from the disappearance of the Starship Voyager, which was transported
to the Delta Quadrant by a powerful alien, allowing them to explore and meet local powers
as they made the long journey back to Earth.
Yet the most reliable and abundant information available related to the Alpha and Beta Quadrants,
where various species raced against each other, striving to learn more about their space,
often so they might exploit the information to use against their enemies.
Though some of these competing civilizations were located primarily in the Beta Quadrant,
by the 24th century, they were commonly referred to as Alpha Quadrant Powers.
Though information concerning their early history was limited, many believed a progenitor
species of humanoids existed roughly 4.5 billion years in the past, travelling throughout the
galaxy seeding worlds with their genetic material, resulting in the eventual evolution of Humans,
Romulans, Cardassians, Klingons, and thousands of others.
Some even link these early progenitors to a later species called the “Preservers”,
as they also brought life to various worlds by taking populations near extinction, including
some from earth, and transporting them to a new home where they might thrive.
However these groups were separated by so much time, many believe they are not related.
Among the other ancient species living billions of years in the past, there were those who
built the Guardian of Forever, a gateway with a sentient mind, allowing others to travel
through time and space.
There was also a species of Slavers who ruled over a galactic Empire, until a rebellion
wiped out most of the intelligent civilizations of the age.
The D’arsay species existed 87 million years ago, leaving behind many artefacts and stories
from their mythology, while the Lactrans were slug like telepaths who developed a technologically
advanced civilization, and the Organians evolved into being of pure consciousness.
As humanoid species continued to evolve throughout the galaxy, the T’kon Empire rose over 600
000 years before the Federation, a highly advanced people able to move entire planetary
and solar systems.
Their civilization thrived for many years, but eventually collapsed during the Age of
Makto, when their home system was destroyed by a supernova.
Around this same time, another species from the planet Arret began to make great advancements,
not only technologically as they colonized and seeded other worlds, but also physically
and mentally, coming to see themselves as gods.
Yet this attitude ultimately led them into a terrible civil war that destroyed the planet
and wiped out the population, leaving only a few who survived by transferring their consciousness
into special receptacles.
Later, a technologically advanced species known as the Iconians developed Gateways which
allowed them to travel to other worlds, earning a reputation as aggressive conquerors.
Referred to as “Demons of Air and Darkness”, enemies destroyed their home planet of Iconia
by orbital bombardment roughly 200 000 years before the rise of the Federation.
While many emerging powers expanded through violent conquest, the United Federation of
Planets had its origins in a defensive alliance between Humans, Vulcans, Andorean and Tellarites
as they resisted Romulan Aggression throughout the 2150s.
This relationship led to talks about forming a Coalition of Planets, which then became
the United Federation of Planets in 2161.
Though most of the great powers that emerged in this region of space, were led by a single
species that accrued power by destroying or subjugating their neighbours, member worlds
of the Federation joined voluntarily and remained semi-autonomous while also electing representatives
to speak for them in the central government.
Encouraging the idea of multiculturalism, all member worlds were nevertheless required
to operate within the confines of the Federation Charter, their constitution based on the enlightened
principals of equality, liberty and peaceful coexistence.
The protection and freedom offered by the Federation appealed to many and the 24th century
there were over 150 member worlds.
Unfortunately, not all species shared their values or trusted their intentions, sometimes
leading to misunderstandings, conflict and war.
Representing the military and scientific branch of the Federation, Starfleet was charged with
technological research and development, leading them to become one of the most advanced powers
in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants.
Though Starfleet Intelligence was primarily responsible for providing the government with
information about their neighbours and enemies, the need to work within the confines of the
law, led to the formation of Section 31, a rogue agency working without government oversight,
allowing them to use whatever means necessary to accomplish their objectives.
Founded in the 9th century by the legendary hero Kahless “the Unforgettable”, the
Klingon Empire was a feudal monarchy led by an Emperor and High Council.
A species of aggressive warriors, Klingons avoided civil strife by sending their people
to conquer alien worlds, thereby expanding the Empire and bringing glory to their Family
names.
Yet their need for battle also meant that when peace came to the Empire, Houses would
inevitably turn against each other, plotting, scheming and warring for power.
Though the Empire once traded a fleet of battlecruisers to the Romulan Star Empire, in exchange for
their cloaking technology, hostilities eventually led the Klingons to consider them a blood
enemy.
Similarly in the 23rd century, the Empire came into conflict with the Federation until
at last making peace with the Khitomer Accord of 2293, forming an alliance that made them
the greatest superpowers in the region, resulting in decades of relative peace.
A proud and courageous people, they were among the first to stand up against the Dominion
Invasion of the Alpha Quadrant in the late 24th century, and at one point held back the
entire enemy fleet by themselves, losing so many soldiers, ships and resources that when
the war was won, they retreated within their borders and spent years rebuilding.
The Romulan Star Empire was founded in the 5th century by Vulcan dissidents who abandoned
their homeworld to conquer the planets Romulus and Remus where they developed into paranoid
xenophobes, convinced of the superiority of their species.
Governed by a Senate, Praetor, Pro Consul, vice Proconsul and senate, the Tal Shiar served
as their intelligence agency, becoming a powerful political force in their society.
Upon discovering humanity, hostility and war soon erupted, however the people of Earth
fought alongside several allies, resulting in the defeat of the Star Empire in 2160 and
the establishment of the Neutral Zone border.
Following this defeat, the Romulans retreated into their territory for a century, before
resurfacing in 2266 to engage the Federation in small skirmishes along the border, thereby
establishing a state of cold war.
With the outbreak of the Dominion War in the 24th century, the assassination of a Romulan
Senator, seemingly murdered by Dominion agents, led them to join the Federation Alliance contributing
greatly to the defense of the Alpha Quadrant.
The Cardassian Union was founded in the 19th century, with the establishment of the Detapa
Council, who oversaw the Central Command, the military faction, and the Obsidian Order,
their Intelligence Agency.
But in truth the members of the Detapa Council were pawns for the other branches of government.
Though they were once a peaceful people with a rich spiritual culture famed for their art
and architecture, by the 19th century they faced widespread famine and disease, leading
to a revolution that replaced the government and reformed their society.
In order to save their people, the new leaders of the Cardassian Union focused their efforts
on military advancement and colonial expansion projects, conquering alien worlds and enslaving
the native populations in order to extract their mineral and agricultural wealth.
This proved a brutal but largely successful strategy, until the conquest of Bajor in the
24th century, a planet whose population refused to surrender, forming resistance movements
and terrorist cells which launched attacks for over 40 years, until the eventual retreat
of the Cardassians and liberation of Bajor in 2369
Sharing a border with the ever growing United Federation of Planets, the Cardassian military
believed war was inevitable and in 2347, launched a sneak attack on Setlik III, in the mistaken
belief that the Federation was gathering their forces in the region.
War then erupted, lasting for 20 years until at last ending in a stalemate with the Armistice
of 2367, and a formal treaty in 2370, creating a demilitarized border.
As a result of this agreement, several former former Federation worlds were now under the
harsh rule of the Cardassian Union, leading some to rebellion and terrorism as they fought
for independence.
Using the harsh environment of the badlands as cover for their ships, the Maquis demanded
their territories be freed, and while the Federation was officially on the side of the
Cardassians, many sympathized with the rebels and abandoned the Federation to join their
struggle.
Several years later, as war loomed between the Alpha Quadrant powers and the Dominion
species of the Gamma Quadrant, a pre-emptive strike was launched by the Obsidian Order
of the Cardassian Union and the Tal Shiar of the Romulan Star Empire.
Yet what they didn’t realize was that the Dominion wanted them to attack the Founder
homeworld, in order to trap their fleet, resulting in a crushing victory for the Gamma Quadrant
Forces.
This devastating loss, caused the fall of the Obsidian Order, allowing for Military
Central Command to take power within the Union.
Eventually a dissident movement grew, overthrowing Military leadership and re-established a Civilian
Government.
Gul’Dukat, who betrayed the Military to receive a favorable position in the new government,
then betrayed them as well by making a backdoor deal to ally with the Dominion invasion force,
in exchange for being made Ruler of the Cardassian Union.
Despite the efforts of Gul’Dukat, the Dominion-Cardassian alliance was eventually defeated, and having
been on the front lines, they endured most of the collateral destruction, leaving them
a shell of their former selves, forced to rebuild from the ashes of their fallen civilization.