Approximately 60 light years from the Bajoran Wormhole of the Alpha Quadrant, the planet
of Ferenginar stood as the homeworld of the Ferengi species and the seat of the government
for the Ferengi Alliance.
Developing into a powerful economic force among the various governments in the area,
they were primarily motivated by a desire for profit, guided by a set of rules and regulations
meant to protect their free-enterprise values and while preserving the unity of the Alliance
as a whole.
The Ferengi were humanoids with wrinkled noses, sharp teeth and large sensitive ears, referred
to as lobes, which made their hearing extremely acute.
Known to live over a hundred years, they had a strong immune system and a four lobed brain
which could not be read by most telepaths.
Shorter than the average human, their diet consisted primarily of insects and slugs,
though only from their homeworld, considering the insects of other planets unappealing.
It took approximately 10,000 years the Ferengi to establish themselves as an interstellar
power in the Alpha Quadrant, with a male named Gint becoming the First Grand Nagus, the ultimate
political and economic authority in their society.
Having purchased warp technology to spread beyond their home system, individual Ferengi
were often very independent, united only by their values and adherence to the rules and
regulations set forth by their government institutions.
Such as The Ferengi Commerce Authority, led by a board of Liquidators whose offices were
located on the 40th floor of the Tower of Commerce in the Sacred Marketplace of Ferenginar
and who oversaw the enforcement of Ferengi Trade By-Laws and Codes.
Their was also the Ferengi Trade Mission responsible for overseeing business relations with other
species, the Ferengi Health Commission who had the ability to revoke trade licenses,
and the Ferengi Gaming Commission who regulated casinos and gambling.
Donations and bribery were a readily accepted part of government and public life, with Ferengi
expected to pay when dealing with the government, and for government employees to pay off their
superiors in order to seek favour and promotion.
Even their religion centered around profit, having to pay for their prayers heard and
believing they could take their wealth with them after death, using the funds collected
over the span of the lives to bribe the Blessed Exchequer and enter the Divine Treasury.
Once inside the Celestial Auctioneers present their lots so you might bid on your next life.
A poor Ferengi who lacked the funds needed to pass through the divine treasury, might
be cast into the Vault of Eternal Destitution, their spirit lost forever.
In addition to the many institutions and regulation that guide their society, Ferengi business
men revere nothing more that sacred Rules of Acquisition written by the First Grand
Nagus as 173 rules to help his species pursue profit.
The Rulebook was later expanded to 285 by the 24th century, and included such suggestions
like The First Rule of Acquisition
Once you have their money, you never give it back.
Other well known and interesting rules, Are number 10, Greed is Eternal
Number 17, A contract is a contract is a contract... but only between Ferengi
Number 34, War is good for business Number 35 Peace is good for business
Number 111, Treat people in your debt like family... exploit them.
And Number 211, Employees are the rungs on the ladder of success.
Don't hesitate to step on them.
Although most Ferengi desired nothing more than to establish themselves financially,
using profit to elevate themselves within society, there were varying degrees of relentlessness
and greed among their species.
With some even rejecting the pursuit of profit, to follow a path of their own choosing which
sometimes meant abandoning the laws and customs of their society.
Through their persistent pursuit of new financial ventures throughout the Alpha quadrant, they
established relations with many any other worlds and species, largely adhering to a
policy of neutrality, preferring to settle their disputes through negotiation and economic
pressure, rather than warfare.
Although many other species see the Ferengi and greedy, dishonest and manipulative, they
often see themselves as examples of a morally superior culture, because their desire for
nonviolent, financially beneficial solutions, saw them avoid many of the atrocities committed
by others.
The Ferengi had no history of genocide or military occupation and conquest, and had
never been involved in a large scale war.
They even claimed to have never practiced slavery, although their treatment of females
in society contradicts that claim.
However because Ferengi did not consider women as anything more than property, they did not
consider their oppression as a moral failing.
Females in the Alliance were forbidden from pursuing profit, participating in government
or even wearing clothes in public.
They were expected to devote themselves entirely to serve the men in their lives, and to birth
children for their husbands.
And while women were largely dismissed by men in their society, mothers were highly
valued by their sons, with the 31st rule of Acquisition making it clear that one must,
"Never make fun of a Ferengi's Mother.”
Though the Ferengi Alliance was not known as a military power, they did maintain a fleet
of of D’Kora class Mauraders which were used defensively, to protect their trade missions
and business ventures outside their territory.
And while the Ferengi were often stereotyped as cowards, often emitting a high pitched
scream when frightened, not all could be described in this way, as demonstrated in the Battle
of Prexnak in the year 2374, where ten ferengi stood alone against an 273 Lytasians, fighting
valiantly until the bitter end.
Ferengi were known to have interacted with humans as early as 2151, and had another encounter
in 2355, when a Ferengi vessel attacked the USS Stargazer under the command of a young
Jean Luc Picard, who proved victorious at the battle of Maxia.
Yet the Stargazer was so badly damaged they had to evacuate and abandon the ship.
Official first contact then came in 2364 when DaiMon Bok sought vengeance against Jean Luc
Picard, for the death of his son, who commanded the ship destroyed at Maxia.
Yet his plan was ultimately foiled and he was relieved of his command by First Officer
Kazago, who deemed this personal vendetta an unprofitable venture.
What few know however, is that their species actually made first contact with humans in
the year 1947, when the Ferengi Quark, Rom and Nog were transported through time and
studied by 20th century humans in America, before making their escape.
These Ferengi males, who lived and worked for many years on the Federation Outpost Deep
Space Nine, and played an important role in the future of the Ferengi Alliance and their
relations with the Federation.
Nog, the son of Rom became the first Ferengi to join Starffleet, becoming an officer on
Deep Space Nine, and fighting as a soldier of the Federation Alliance during the devastating
conflict known as the Dominion War of the late 24th century.
With the discovery of the Bajoran Wormhole, leading from the Alpha Quadrant into the Gamma
Quadrant, a great power known as the Dominion soon invaded.
The Ferengi, eager to establish new trade and business relation with the species of
the Gamma Quadrant, were the first to travel deep enough into the territory to learn of
this great military power, said to be ruled by a race of changeling gods called the Founders,
and defended by a warrior race known as the Jem Hadar.
Unwilling to submit to the invading force, an alliance of Alpha and beta quadrant power
rose to oppose them, leading to wide scale warfare and deaths of countless millions.
Yet while the Federation, Klingon Empire, Romulan Empire, Cardassian Union, Breen Confederacy
and many others came to be involved in the conflict on one side or the other, the Ferengi
maintained their neutrality, keeping busness relations with both factions and sometimes
even serving as intermediaries between them.
Nevertheless, The ferengi government was well aware that there natural business interests
were tied to the established powers of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, and so tended to
favour the Federation Faction.
Yet while the Ferengi were able to avoid becoming involved directly in the Dominion War, the
Alliance faced its own internal struggle and revolution and the end of the 24the century
under Grand Nagus Zek, which came to fundamentally transform their society.
However the changes in their society did not originate with the Grand Nagus, but rather
with a Ferengi female named Ishka, mother of Quark and Rom, who refused to be constrained
by the archaic rules of their culture.
Working in secret she broke the law forbidding women from earning profit, and built a business
so large she became immensely wealthy, and coming to the attention of the government
leading to her arrest, confession and the forfetture of her profits.
Yet she was undeterred by the setback and continued in her rebellious ways, eventually
coming to the attention of Grand Nagus Zek and beginning a romantic relationship with
the old man.
As they spent more time together, Ishka was able to influence the Nagus tremendously,
coming to rule the Alliance from behind the scenes as Zek’s mental health deteriorated
in his later years.
By 2374, her influence was so profound she convinced the Grand Nagusto to pass an equality
amendment to the bill of opportunities, which would allow females to wear clothes in public
and earn profit just like males.
Ishka had explained to him that over half the population was female, yet they contributed
practically nothing to their economy and that by allowing them to enter the financial world,
the profits and prosperity of the alliance could only increase.
And while this argument was enough to persuade the Grand Nagus, this radical notion sent
Feriginar into an uproar, even leading Zek to be deposed by the Ferengi Commerce Authority.
However Ishka worked with her son Quark to ensure Zek was reinstated, allowing them to
continue making more progressive reforms, establishing the congress of economic advisors
and collecting taxes to fund social programs like wage subsidies for the poor, retirement
benefits for the elderly and healthcare for all.
In 2375, Grand Nagus Zek was at last ready to retire with Ishka, and so Rom, younger
brother of Quark was chosen to succeed as the new Grand Nagus.
For a time, Quark believed that he was going to be chosen as the successor, outraged to
hear of the reforms being passed.
And so he immediately declared his intention to reverse these progressive changes at the
first opportunity, remarking that he must act before everything Fereginar stood for
was destroyed.
Quark even unknowingly invoked the words of Captian Jean Luc Picard, to say that “the
line has to be drawn here.
This far, and no further.”
Yet Quark was ultimately passed over, precisely because he represented the greedy, cutthroat
traditions of the past, whereas his brother Rom was gentle and kind, more concerned with
people than profit, and would therefore ensure the progressive changes reforming their society
continued into the next Generation.