The PowWow

A recent update gave us the option to make a Cardassian character, but not as their own faction. They're still fun to play though.

Name:  Saris Mindall

DOB:  Stardate 59703.12 (Earth calendar- 6 February 2383)

POB:  Cardassia Prime

Service History:

Cardassian Defense Force- 2406-2409

Starfleet Academy- 2409-2410

Starfleet- 2410-Present (Officer Exchange Program)

Current Command:

CUV Trager II, Keldon Class

Background:

Saris was born in Cardassia several years after the Dominion War officially ended.  Growing up in a devastated Cardassia Prime, she knew only hardship.  The restored Detapa Council and the newly established Cardassian Defense Force struggled to maintain order in the wake of the war even with help from the Federation, and many Cardassian civilians suffered as a result.  This instability created an opening for extremist groups such as the True Way to challenge the Detapa Council's authority.

In 2389, the True Way detonated an explosive device in a crowded marketplace killing many Cardassian civilians, including Saris' mother and father, leaving her an orphan.  Despite social reforms on Cardassia, orphans were still ostracized by many Cardassians, and Saris was found living on the streets and struggling each day to survive until she was taken in by a newly established orphanage in the city of Lakat.

Despite her basic needs now being met, life did not improve much for Saris.  The Cardassians running the orphanage were not the kind and compassionate adults that are found in orphanages throughout the Federation and considered those children as more of a burden than anything else.  Abuse and neglect were commonplace, and this caused Saris to become resentful towards the Cardassian government that she felt was responsible for all the hardships she was forced to endure.

Now in her teens Saris began to secretly attend underground meetings organized by True Way operatives.  Even though the True Way was responsible for her parents’ deaths, they were able to convince Saris that it was really the Detapa Council and the Federation that were at fault.  Saris attended more meetings and desired to join the True Way until she witnessed the brutality that they were capable of.

Up to that point, the True Way operatives only expressed the need to restore order and security and blamed the Detapa Council and the Federation for the lack thereof.  This prompted an elderly Cardassian attending the meeting to ask what made the True Way worthy to lead the Cardassian people, and he was brutally beaten to death by the operatives in full view of everyone in attendance.  Saris was shocked, and she fled the meeting.

Fearing for her life, Saris approached the Cardassian authorities and told them what she had witnessed.  The True Way operatives were quickly apprehended, and Saris was returned to the orphanage but not before she also informed the authorities how her and the other children were being treated there.  The Cardassian authorities quickly moved in and arrested the administrators over the orphanage.  Life improved for Saris and the children of the orphanage after this, and she began to see the Detapa Council and the Federation in a new light.

Upon reaching the age of adulthood, Saris left the orphanage to find work and start her own life.  Having developed an affinity for the sciences during her formative years, she found work as an assistant with a Cardassian scientist working the development of improved sensor suites for Cardassian Self-Defense Force starships.

Saris' work put her in close proximity with members of the Cardassian Self-Defense Force, and in 2406 she decided to join them to help defend Cardassia against an increasingly aggressive True Way.  Saris served with distinction, and using her talents in electronic warfare, she became a constant thorn in the side of True Way forces.

In the wake the Iconian War and prior to the outbreak of the Hurq invasion, Cardassia signed an agreement with the Federation in 2410 which allowed for Cardassian Self-Defense Force officers to join Starfleet in an officer exchange program.  The program is designed to provide Cardassian officers with knowledge and experience operating with Starfleet that will enable the CDF to better coordinate with them during joint operations.  This program requires those officers to attend an abbreviated course at Starfleet Academy and serve a tour of duty on a Federation starship.

Saris was among the first to sign up for this program and was accepted into the academy as a science officer.  Upon graduation, she was posted to the Miranda class USS Johnston.  During her first mission the Johnston responded to a distress call from a Federation colony that was under attack by the Borg.  Her captain was abducted and assimilated, forcing Saris to take command.  The Johnston fought valiantly, and with the timely arrival of reinforcements, managed to stop the Borg advance.  The Johnston's captain was rescued after a successful boarding operation conducted by Saris and the other bridge officers.  She returned to Earth Space Dock for repairs and a debriefing and was given command of the Johnston by Admiral Quinn.

Saris commanded several Federation starships before returning to the command of a Cardassian Galor class cruiser CUV Avenger.  She served with distinction at this posting, and upon her promotion to Captain, she was awarded command of the Keldon class warship, CUV Trager II named in honor of the Galor class cruiser, Trager, that successfully destroyed a Dominion cloning facility as part of Damar's Cardassian Liberation Front during the Dominion War.

Psychological Profile:

Saris is a transplant from the Cardassian Self-Defense Force, but she has managed to integrate well into Starfleet.  She displays many of the mannerisms associated with Cardassians and is very social, but unlike the stereotypes often associated with Cardassians, Saris is not scheming or egotistical towards others.  She is a skilled science officer, but where she really excels is in the use of electronic warfare to confuse her foes and prevent them from targeting her or her allies.

Her command style can sometimes be compared to the over-protective big sister.  She still carries the trauma of her past, especially her initial treatment at the orphanage on Cardassia, which causes her to become very protective of her crew at times.  She also carries a deep-seated hatred for the True Way not only for their role in the deaths of her parents but also because of the shame she feels for allowing them to convince her into believing their lies.  Encounters with the True Way usually result in Saris firing first and not even bothering to ask questions.