A story arc (also narrative arc ) is the chronological construction of a plot in a novel or story. It can also mean an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television , comic books , comic strips , board games , video games , and films with each episode following a dramatic arc . On a television program , for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story arc is common in sitcoms , and even more so in soap operas . In a traditional Hollywood film, the story arc usually follows a three-act structure . Webcomics are more likely to use story arcs than newspaper comics , as most webcomics have readable archives online that a newcomer to the strip can read in order to understand what is going on. Although story arcs have existed for decades, one of the first appearances of the term was in 1973 by Time Magazine for a synopsis of the movie The Friends of Eddie Coyle : "He accomplishes this with no sacrifice to the pacing of his action sequences or the suspenseful development of his story's arc."
115-453: Federation Alliance victory Treaty of Bajor: Federation Alliance Dominion Alliance Supported by: United Federation of Planets: Klingon Empire: Cardassian Liberation Front/Union: Dominion: Cardassian Union: Breen Confederacy: The Dominion War is an extended plot concept developed in several story arcs of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , an American science-fiction television series produced by Paramount Pictures . In
230-646: A galactic coordinate system . Galactic quadrants within Star Trek are based around a meridian that runs from the center of the galaxy through Earth's Solar System , which is not unlike the system of quadrants used by non-fictional astronomers. However, rather than have the perpendicular axis run through the Sun, as is done in astronomy, the Star Trek version runs the axis through the Galactic Center . Also, rather than ordinals, quadrants are designated by
345-582: A Dominion foothold in the Alpha Quadrant, in exchange for being made ruler of Cardassia. Realizing the danger, the Federation and Klingons join forces to slow the Dominion build-up, cooperating to plant a minefield across the entrance to the wormhole to prevent further invasion. Nevertheless, the Dominion begins to advance, and seizes control of Deep Space Nine. After a brief retreat, Sisko executes
460-515: A Founder aboard the Defiant , incorporating some narrative elements at first intended to commence Season Four, while offering a more self-contained plot and using existing sets to reduce production costs. Rick Berman , Robert Hewitt Wolfe , and Ira Steven Behr originally expected to open Season Four with a two-part episode, postponed from the end of Season Three, that ultimately became " Homefront " and " Paradise Lost ". Paramount determined that
575-511: A colony on the surface, where the colonists rejected most forms of advanced technology and attempted to create a utopian society. Some time after their arrival, the colonists discovered that "metaphasic radiation" from the Briar Patch has become concentrated in the planet's rings, continually rejuvenating their genetic structure; unbeknownst to the outside universe, the Ba'ku planet is effectively
690-439: A continuing series. Short story arcs are easier to package as trade paperbacks for resale, and more accessible to the casual reader than the never-ending continuity that once characterized US comics. A corollary to the absence of continuity, however, is that, as exemplified in 1950s DC Superman comics, no permanent change to characters or situations occurs, meaning no growth can take place. Thus, storylines repeat over time in
805-472: A fountain of youth. The Klingon system Klach D'Kel Brakt is also given the designation "Briar Patch" by Dr Arik Soong in the Star Trek: Enterprise episode " The Augments ". At least two inhabitable planets exist there; Soong and his band of Augments attempt to reach the system and use it as a hideout. In 2272, it was also the site of a dramatic Romulan / Klingon confrontation, which
920-426: A loop. The purpose of a story arc is to move a character or a situation from one state to another, in other words, to effect change . This change or transformation often takes the form of either a tragic fall from grace or a reversal of that pattern. One common form in which this reversal is found is a character going from a situation of weakness to one of strength. For example, a poor woman goes on adventures and in
1035-525: A meeting or hiding place because of its treacherous navigation. It is also known to harbor some planets hidden within the clouds and nebulae. In " Caretaker ", the pilot episode of Star Trek: Voyager , the titular starship pursues a Maquis ship into the Badlands before being pushed by an energy wave to the Delta Quadrant . In "Erigah", the seventh episode of Star Trek: Discovery season 5 ,
1150-579: A military confrontation and diplomatic breakdown, and the Klingons attempt to seize Deep Space Nine. This seems to further the Founders' goal of the destabilization of the Alpha Quadrant as a prelude to their own invasion. In " Hippocratic Oath ", the characters of Dr. Bashir and Chief O'Brien debate curing a group of Jem'Hadar soldiers of an addiction in the hope that they will rebel against
1265-463: A network, with several providing command functions. Because the spheres are cloaked, their exact number is unknown. Triannons believe that there are thousands of spheres. Xindi scientists, including Degra , determined that there were at least 78 spheres. The Triannons call the Expanse the " Chosen Realm ", and formed a religion around the spheres and the mythology of their creation. In 2037,
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#17327721415951380-565: A number of cloaked spheres the size of small moons were constructed throughout the Expanse by trans-dimensional beings as a prelude to invasion; their purpose was to alter the fabric of space in the region, to make it habitable for the Sphere Builders . One area of the Expanse, 700 million kilometers wide and centrally located within a group of spheres, has already been distorted into a bubbling particle soup with an organic appearance. The spheres use artificial intelligence and operate as
1495-539: A particular show follow and discuss different story arcs independently from particular episodes. Story arcs are sometimes split into subarcs, if deemed significant by fans, making it easy to refer to certain episodes if their production order titles are unknown. Episodes not relevant to story arcs, such as " villain of the week " episodes) are sometimes dismissed as filler by fans, but might be referred to as self-contained or stand-alone episodes by producers. Manga and anime are usually good examples of arc-based stories, to
1610-501: A powerful empire in the Gamma Quadrant, is introduced; and over the course of the second and third seasons, more information about the Dominion is revealed. Conflict escalates through the fourth and fifth seasons, as the Dominion infiltrates Alpha Quadrant powers and eventually forms an alliance with Cardassia; open warfare begins at the end of the fifth season, when the Dominion briefly occupies Deep Space Nine, and continues until
1725-401: A representative to Deep Space Nine with the message that no further intrusions into Dominion space will be tolerated and to hand Major Kira Nerys a list of colonies and ships already eliminated for trespassing. The Federation dispatches a rescue team that returns Sisko's group to the station, but, while retreating back to the Alpha Quadrant, a Jem'Hadar ship launches a kamikaze run against
1840-547: A secret, pre-emptive strike to destroy the Founders' homeworld, hoping that the Founders and the rest of the Dominion will collapse. The Dominion successfully lures the fleets of the Tal Shiar and the Obsidian Order into a trap, eliminating both organizations. The plot establishes an atmosphere of suspicion amongst the Alpha Quadrant powers, initiated by the shapeshifters' abilities to assume other identities, which forms
1955-476: A single small idea, the creation of the Dominion villain and story arc was "very much thought out." Behr said that the earliest mention of the Dominion was purposely planted in the comic Season Two Ferengi episode, " Rules of Acquisition ", to leave the audience with an impression of "how important could it be?" It was decided that the Gamma Quadrant would need an ambience that would distinguish it from
2070-425: A society with rules different from those of his native culture. Avery Brooks , directing this episode, has emphasized the story as a metaphor for African-American adolescents in the 20th century and their struggles with addiction and violence, their integration into American society, and how their upbringing might contribute to these problems. Brooks ensured that Odo continued to support the maturing Jem'Hadar despite
2185-478: A story arc to create characters, stories, and even curricula. Several have published their use of the story arc to create memorable tomes in record time. Story arcs on television and radio have existed for decades. They are common in many countries where multi-episode story lines are the norm (for example the UK's Doctor Who ), as well as most anime series. One notable example, from the so-called "Golden Age of Radio",
2300-587: A successful return to the space station, but the wider conflict continues. More setbacks hinder the Alpha Quadrant alliance as additional races, such as the Breen , offer their support to the Dominion. Questionable tactics are adopted in the search for victory: Sisko uses manufactured intelligence and a murdered senator to convince the Romulans to ally with the Federation; and the Federation's covert-operations agency, Section 31 , disseminates an engineered virus among
2415-533: A temporally divergent starship Enterprise from 2154 becomes stranded in the Expanse; it becomes a generational ship , dedicated to countering the Xindi threat destined to arise in the 2150s. In about 2133, a group of Klingons enter the Expanse, but return anatomically inverted (and still alive). Unsuccessful attempts to explore the region are also made by the Vulcan ships Seleya and Vaankara . The Seleya
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#17327721415952530-510: A terrorist attack. This leads to an armed conflict between Starfleet vessels for the first time in a century, according to the Star Trek in-universe timeline . Sisko is able to force Admiral Leyton to abandon his efforts to impose martial law by telling him: "You're fighting the wrong war!" Behr's favorite line from the episode is " Paradise never seemed so well-armed", highlighting one of many occasions when Deep Space Nine would point out
2645-582: Is a nebula in sector 441 in the Star Trek universe. It was first introduced in the 1998 film Star Trek: Insurrection . While the nebula's visual characteristics are reminiscent of astronomical photographs, many of its more interesting properties were invented to support the film's storyline. Located in Federation territory, the Briar Patch is a region of space that starships usually avoid; various radiation sources and energy fluctuations impair communications systems, making it difficult for vessels inside
2760-590: Is encountered again in the episode " Is There in Truth No Beauty? ", where the Enterprise becomes lost within the barrier and is saved by the astounding navigational skills of an alien passenger. The barrier had also damaged an alien ship from outside the galaxy, as explained in the episode " By Any Other Name ", stranding the aliens until they try to steal the Enterprise and return to their home galaxy, Andromeda . In Star Trek: Discovery season 4 ,
2875-554: Is later discovered with its crew driven mad due to exposure to Trellium-D , and subsequently destroyed. In about June 2153, the Earth Starfleet ship Enterprise (NX-01) enters the Expanse to locate the Xindi. It is followed later in the year by the Andorian ship Kumari . On February 13, 2154, the Enterprise destroys the network of Spheres, reverting the distorted space to its natural form, and gradually dissipating
2990-572: Is located about 50 light-years from Earth . It is the home of the previously unknown hostile races collectively known as the Xindi , but the crew of the Enterprise (NX-01) discovers that the Xindi are being manipulated into their enmity by other forces with vested interests in the region. Intense gravitational distortions, similar to quantum singularities , make travel through the Expanse extremely difficult, as it seems that space does not obey
3105-468: Is one of a few in this season to explore themes of suspicion and paranoia and their effect upon societies and relationships, building up to "Homefront" and "Paradise Lost". After the events of "The Die is Cast", fear about the identities of the infiltrator changelings leads the Klingons to suspect Dominion involvement in the new Cardassian civilian government. Their refusal to break off an invasion, even after Dominion involvement has been disproved, results in
3220-629: Is one of the most aggressive antagonists in the Deep Space Nine TV series, control a large portion of the Gamma Quadrant. The Alpha Quadrant comes in contact with the Dominion through the Bajoran wormhole , which is the setting and primary source of conflict in the series. In Star Trek: Prodigy , Federation bases in the Gamma Quadrant are mentioned. Most of the information about the Delta Quadrant and its inhabitants comes from
3335-469: Is outfought and destroyed. The Dominion is revealed to be a ruthless empire, using " carrot and stick " methods to control others, with three distinct races performing crucial roles. The Dominion's Jem'Hadar shock troops capture Commander Sisko , Quark, and an alien named Eris , who is later identified as a double agent and one of the Vorta , the Dominion's negotiators and administrators. The Jem'Hadar send
3450-428: Is the 1946 NBC Radio Summer-run docudrama serial The Fifth Horseman , which featured a four-episode arc regarding a hypothetical chain of events (spanning nearly two full "future" decades) surrounding a fictitious nuclear holocaust . Many arc-based series in past decades, such as V , were often short-lived and found it difficult to attract new viewers; they also rarely appear in traditional syndication . However,
3565-491: Is the Klingon Chancellor, Gowron , who is a Changeling, intended to induce the Federation to assassinate Gowron and further intensify the rift between the Federation and Klingons. The Founders' plan fails when the assassination team, led by Sisko, realize that Martok, not Gowron, was the actual shapeshifter. The disgraced Cardassian officer Dukat forges an alliance between Cardassia and the Dominion, establishing
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3680-689: The Enterprise is the only Federation ship in the quadrant. Maps produced by the art staff for the series show that the Alpha/Beta border runs through the Solar System. The Star Trek Star Charts claim that the Beta Quadrant contains the core worlds Vulcan ( 40 Eridani ), Andoria ( Procyon ), Risa , and the Rigel ( Beta Orionis ) systems; the Alpha Quadrant contains Tellar ( 61 Cygni ), Trill , and Betazed . The Dominion , which
3795-598: The Changelings , the Vorta and the Jem'Hadar . These three were intended to represent the front of an ancient civilization held together by fear, to contrast with the unity of the Federation enabled by bonds of friendship. Behr, Wolfe, writer Peter Allan Fields and Jim Crocker attended meetings to develop the concepts of these species and found general inspiration in Isaac Asimov 's Foundation Trilogy novels. Toward
3910-617: The Dragon Ball manga, each with its own ultimate antagonist, along with original story arcs created for the TV series. List of Star Trek regions of space#Alpha Quadrant Several films and episodes of the science fiction franchise Star Trek are set in distinct astrographical regions of space . Some of these fictional locations exhibit anomalous physical properties; others are defined as sensitive buffer zones under various fictional political accords. This list describes some of
4025-805: The Encyclopedia , the Federation is largely on the Alpha Quadrant side, but with parts in the Beta Quadrant, whereas the Klingon and Romulan Empires are mainly in the Beta Quadrant but extend in part into the Alpha Quadrant. The Star Trek Star Charts have the Romulans and Klingons entirely within the Beta Quadrant, as well as the Gorn Hegemony , the Son'a Solidarity , and the Metron Consortium . The Star Trek Star Charts further locate in
4140-610: The Galactic Barrier (also referred to as the Great Barrier or Energy Barrier ) is an energy field that surrounds the Milky Way Galaxy. The field completely encompasses the galactic disk, preventing a conventional starship from traveling beyond the edge of the galaxy. It is not clear whether the energy barrier is a natural or artificially created phenomenon. Although numerous attempts to travel outside
4255-557: The Gamma Quadrant , composed of hundreds of dominated alien species. The Dominion is commanded by The Founders , a race of shapeshifters (or Changelings as they are often referred to), responsible for both the creation of the Dominion and all strategic decisions undertaken through its history. The Dominion is administered by the Vorta, clones specifically genetically engineered by the Founders to act as field commanders, administrators, scientists and diplomats. The Jem'Hadar, also engineered by
4370-636: The Greek letters Alpha , Beta , Gamma , and Delta . According to StarTrek.com, "if the great plane of the galaxy is viewed as a clock face and the 6 o'clock position bisects the Sol system" (when viewed from the galactic north pole), then the four fictional quadrants are as follows: The Alpha Quadrant and the nearby areas of the Beta Quadrant comprise the primary setting of Star Trek: The Original Series , Star Trek: The Next Generation , Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , and Star Trek: Enterprise . According to
4485-685: The Ocampa , the Hirogen , and the Malon. Star Trek: Prodigy , which takes place several years after the end of Star Trek: Voyager , also explores the Delta Quadrant. The crew of young aliens who serve as the main characters start the series as slaves on the Tars Lamora prison colony in the Delta Quadrant where they find and steal the derelict USS Protostar . It is later revealed that the Protostar
4600-522: The Odyssey , resulting in the destruction of both ships. With the third season, Ronald D. Moore and others started to write regularly for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine following the completion of Star Trek: The Next Generation . Robert Hewitt Wolfe joined Ira Steven Behr in scripting episodes developing the Dominion plotline, beginning with " The Search ". Behr became full executive producer at
4715-568: The Alpha Quadrant the First Federation , Breen , Ferengi , Tzenkethi , Cardassians , Bajorans , Talarians , and Tholians . Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country implies that the Alpha/Beta border runs through, or is relatively close to, Federation space. The Star Trek Encyclopedia attributes this decision to rationalize a line in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , in which James T. Kirk claims that
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4830-460: The Alpha Quadrant. The Dominion were mentioned for a second time in the later second-season episode “ Sanctuary ” but this time giving a hint that they were an aggressive power. The producers wanted to portray the region as something other than "uncharted space", and avoid imitating the adventures of Star Trek: The Next Generation with another series of plots focusing primarily on themes of exploration. After 18 months of Deep Space Nine exposition,
4945-551: The Alpha Quadrant. The Founders, led by a character identified only as the " Female Changeling ", acquiesce to Odo's request in the hope that he will ultimately rejoin them. Another facet to the Dominion was evaluated more closely in Season Three – the Jem'Hadar. In " The Abandoned ", a juvenile Jem'Hadar is found alone and matures under Odo's guidance. The crew of Deep Space Nine witnesses the Jem'Hadar's difficulty in adjusting to
5060-565: The Badlands are determined to be the temporary location of a next clue to finding vital creation-of-life technology. The Badlands are also mentioned in the computer game Star Trek: Armada II , where the Borg build up forces in that area close to the Federation . In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Bajoran wormhole is a spatial anomaly located within 160,000,000 kilometres (1.1 au ) ( DS9 S1Ep2: " Emissary (Part 2) ") of
5175-654: The Bajor-B'Hava'el system in the Alpha Quadrant to the Idran system in the Gamma Quadrant , which are seventy thousand light-years apart. Due to the strategic importance of such a phenomenon, the Deep Space Nine space station is moved out of Bajor 's orbit and repositioned 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the wormhole, where it acts as a gateway. Starfleet Commander Benjamin Sisko and Lieutenant Jadzia Dax are
5290-546: The Bajoran sun, leaving the path open for Dominion fleets to enter the Alpha Quadrant. In the following episode, "By Inferno's Light", the Cardassians become a member of the Dominion, and the Federation and Klingon Empire resolve to cast aside their mutual distrust and unite against the common threat. A garrison of Klingon troops is stationed on Deep Space Nine , under the command of the real General Martok, rescued from Dominion incarceration with Bashir. In "Blaze of Glory",
5405-705: The Bajorans, and these mystical artifacts are the basis of Bajoran religion. Via one of the Orbs, the wormhole is closed by one of the Pah Wraiths , malevolent non-corporeal beings who are enemies of the Prophets. The wormhole is later restored via an additional Orb discovered by Sisko, who is prophesied to be the Prophets' Emissary. Regions called the Briar Patch feature in more than one series. The Briar Patch
5520-761: The Changeling and retook control of the Defiant . The quadrant was plunged into conflict when the Klingon Empire accused the Cardassian Union of being under the control of the Founders. When the Federation condemned the Klingon attack on Cardassia , Gowron banished Federation citizens from Klingon space, recalled their ambassadors and withdrew from the Khitomer Accords. The Federation and Cardassians fought months of armed combat against
5635-546: The Dominion War to be the focus of three or four episodes, but Behr intended to expand the plotline all along. Moore has stated that Berman sometimes questioned the writing staff about the degree of violence included in some episodes. Berman also expressed concern about the portrayal of long-term consequences for the main characters, such as the loss of a character's leg in Season Seven. The writers argued in favor of
5750-545: The Dominion War would last for a limited number of episodes before a prompt resolution. Planning the arc, Ira Steven Behr , Ronald D. Moore , and the writers conceived a longer chain of first five, then six connected episodes, stretching from " A Time to Stand " to " Sacrifice of Angels ", as themes increased demands for greater narrative development. No writer had previously contributed to a series involving arcs of such length, and Moore, Behr, and novice scripting partner & supervising producer Hans Beimler have all stated that
5865-435: The Dominion War, faces themes of the moral dilemmas of conflict. New plot elements permitted Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to examine themes in a manner unlike preceding Star Trek productions, as characters are forced to re-evaluate their beliefs. The production staff resolved to start the season with a six-episode arc, the first attempted in the history of the Star Trek franchise. Rick Berman originally pictured that
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#17327721415955980-459: The Dominion begins to send ships through the Wormhole, the Alpha Quadrant allies build a minefield at its mouth to cut off the supply line. The plot considers whether it is better for the planet Bajor to stand with their Federation friends or remain neutral in the coming war to protect themselves. Sisko persuades them that neutrality is the favorable course. Season Six, charting the turmoil of
6095-495: The Dominion cannot attain through trade is forcibly seized. These reports are justified in " Sanctuary ", when a large fleet of Skrreea ships appears in the Alpha Quadrant, in search of a new homeworld in light of the conquest of their original planet by Dominion forces. The actions of the Dominion are contrasted with the reactions of the regular characters to the Skrreea refugees. Executive producer Michael Piller has suggested that
6210-427: The Dominion is finally defeated in the series finale. The Dominion War arcs present themes that challenge the values of the characters in a manner not attempted in earlier series of Star Trek . Developing the plot of the Dominion War also altered how the series was scripted, shifting the emphasis from an episodic to a serialized narrative format. The Dominion is an interstellar state and military superpower from
6325-539: The Dominion, when the Ferengi character Quark hears whispers of a powerful union of civilizations in the Gamma Quadrant with which he may be able to trade. Dialogue that seems inconsequential within the framework of a light-hearted episode was planned to ultimately create major change in the dynamics of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . As Alpha Quadrant races begin to colonize planets in the Gamma Quadrant and their presence becomes known, disturbing reports indicate that what
6440-554: The Dominion. As a result of this incident, it was discovered that the reclusive Founders of the organization (previously unseen) were the Changelings. The Changelings justified their actions by the need to protect their species against persecution by "solids", and also spoke of a duty and inclination to "impose order on a chaotic universe". As a result of the continued Dominion threat, numerous Alpha Quadrant powers acted with increased preparations and paranoia, one expression of which
6555-488: The Dominion. There is discussion about the identity of the true enemy, the limits of duty, and whether soldiers are responsible for the actions of their leaders. " To the Death " further investigates the themes of soldier duty and loyalty, and it contrasts the opposing rules of discipline that regulate Starfleet officers and Jem'Hadar troops. In addition, this episode introduced the Vorta representative Weyoun, who would become
6670-540: The Dominion. They are rescued, but Jem'Hadar destroy the Federation ship USS Odyssey and Bajoran colonies in the Gamma Quadrant as a warning not to re-enter Dominion space. Soon, it is revealed that a race of shapeshifters , known as " Changelings " or "the Founders", are the rulers of the Dominion. The Cardassian and Romulan intelligence agencies, the Obsidian Order and the Tal Shiar , attempt to eradicate
6785-428: The Founders by their new creations. Over 200 years before first contact with Deep Space Nine, the Changelings' Great Link (a planet in the Gamma Quadrant where Changelings exist in their natural "gelatinous" form) had sent out 100 Changeling infants in containers through the universe in order to see how other (alien) races react to the presence of Changelings. Of those sent out, three have been accounted for: The Dominion
6900-440: The Founders to protect the Alpha Quadrant, but their plans are compromised by Changeling infiltration, and their fleet is ambushed and destroyed. The Founders initiate a campaign of sabotage and terror against the Alpha Quadrant, which leaves many governments fearful of Changeling infiltrators, who are able to assume any physical form. When Earth is attacked, a band of Starfleet officers illegally attempt to impose martial law at
7015-464: The Founders' homeworld and cripple the Dominion. Due to intensive Changeling manipulation, this attack force was ambushed while assaulting an abandoned planet that was believed to be the supposed Founder homeworld, and was completely crushed. It is later revealed that the main advocate of attacking the Dominion was a Changeling infiltrator. This failure weakened the Cardassians and Romulans and paved
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#17327721415957130-463: The Founders, are the military arm of the Dominion and one of the most powerful military forces in the galaxy during the Dominion's height. The Dominion incorporated a vast number of planets, and their resident species, into its military and civilian ranks, including: Little is revealed regarding the Dominion's inner workings, other than the fact that the Jem'Hadar and Vorta fulfill the main military and administrative roles respectively. The Dominion
7245-433: The Founders. Dukat's successor as Cardassian leader, Damar , launches a successful resistance movement against the Dominion; in response, the Dominion attempts genocide against the entire Cardassian race. Eventually, the Dominion is forced back to the planet Cardassia Prime where it is cut off from reinforcements. The Changeling in command informs Odo, a renegade Changeling on the side of the Federation, that they will fight to
7360-478: The Klingons. It was later revealed by Benjamin Sisko , Worf , Miles O'Brien and Odo that it was the Klingons themselves who unknowingly had a Changeling in their midst, pretending to be General Martok . Gowron rejoined the Khitomer Accords and joined to fight the Dominion. In " Emissary ", the pilot episode, the United Federation of Planets dispatches Commander Benjamin Sisko to take command of
7475-546: The USS Discovery must venture past the galactic barrier in the 32nd century to make contact with an alien race known as Species 10-C who are using a gravitational anomaly to mine boronite from the Milky Way galaxy, threatening the existence of anything that crosses its path. By this point in time, the energies of the galactic barrier had grown strong enough that shields were actually weakened by passing through, forcing
7590-401: The USS Odyssey , was destroyed by a kamikaze attack after the Federation rescued Sisko, as the Dominion demonstrated not only an ability to penetrate shielding, but a fanatical devotion to their cause as the suicide attack was made on a retreating ship, solely to drive the point home to the Federation. As a result of this incident, the Federation pulled the USS Defiant out of storage (which
7705-447: The alien's regression to Dominion custom, as a commentary on how modern society should engage with young people. " Improbable Cause " initiates a two-part adventure concerning the search for the Founders' homeworld, which concludes in " The Die is Cast ". Following first contact with the Founders, the Obsidian Order – a covert Cardassian intelligence force – ally themselves with the Tal Shiar , their Romulan counterpart, and launch
7820-423: The barrier, a ship's engines shut down and navigational systems become erratic. The Galactic Barrier makes its first appearance in the original series episode " Where No Man Has Gone Before ", in which the crew of the USS Enterprise must deal with those affected by the psychic powers of the field—as did the crew of the ill-fated SS Valiant, which encountered the same barrier two centuries earlier. The barrier
7935-406: The basis of plots for Season Four. The Season Three finale turned out to differ significantly from the production staff's conceptual vision. Paramount did not favor the idea of a season-end cliffhanger which would have revealed the presence of shapeshifters on Earth. To continue the theme of paranoia about shapeshifters and the Dominion, " The Adversary " was instead scripted to set up a hunt for
8050-443: The characters confront the issue of ethnic cleansing when the Maquis – a resistance group of former Federation citizens now living in Cardassian space – are hunted down and ask for the assistance of Sisko , who used to criticize their methods. The Season Five finale, " Call to Arms ", sets the scene for the commencement of full-scale war between the Dominion and the Federation during the final two seasons of Deep Space Nine . When
8165-408: The conceptual stages. Moore has stated that the filming of Star Trek: Voyager occupied more of Berman and Piller's time from Deep Space Nine 's third season, which allowed Behr to defend his creative decisions more successfully. Following the completion of Star Trek: The Next Generation , the writing staff could dedicate more time to working on scripts for Deep Space Nine . The writers admired
8280-446: The connection between Odo and his people, and their conflicting attitudes toward "solid" sentient lifeforms. The Defiant enters the Gamma Quadrant on a peace mission to locate the Founders in "The Search", and it is discovered that the Founders are of the same race as Odo. Despite a burning desire to return to his home, he finds his people's philosophy – that which you can control cannot hurt you – abhorrent, and he asks to return to
8395-459: The course of the five preceding seasons. The principal setting of the series is the Starfleet -controlled space station Deep Space Nine , located adjacent to the mouth of a stable wormhole near the planet Bajor . The Bajoran wormhole provides instantaneous travel to the Gamma Quadrant , a region on the other side of the galaxy. During the second season of Deep Space Nine , the Dominion ,
8510-490: The crew to find and hide in bubbles of stable space to enact repairs before continuing their travels. After Discovery convinced Species 10-C to stand down, the aliens used their wormhole to return Discovery to Earth, negating the need for travel back through the barrier. In the Star Trek: Discovery series finale "Life, Itself," Discovery used its spore drive to send a Breen dreadnaught and scout ship to
8625-560: The end makes a fortune for herself, or a lonely man falls in love and marries. Another form of storytelling that offers a change or transformation of character is that of the "hero's journey", as laid out in Joseph Campbell 's theory of the monomyth in his work, The Hero with a Thousand Faces . Christopher Vogler 's The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers details the same theory specifically for western storytelling. Many renowned novelists and writers claim to use
8740-474: The end of Season Two production executive producer Michael Piller suggested the idea that the Founders of the Dominion be the race to which Odo belongs, and discovered that Behr and Wolfe had also discussed this possibility. This character had been introduced with no knowledge of his true origins. Piller asserts that the endeavor to create a new villain was one of the most difficult tasks he undertook in his work on Star Trek . Wolfe perceives similarities between
8855-436: The end to prevent any counter-attack by the alliance into the Gamma Quadrant. Odo assures her that the Federation would not do that while the other parties would be too weak to. Odo cures her of the disease afflicting her and the other Founders with the antidote he received, and the Dominion agrees to surrender. In 2002, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine producer Ira Steven Behr stated that unlike some plots, which originated from
8970-611: The fictional Star Trek universe, the Dominion War is a conflict between the forces of the Dominion , the Cardassian Union , and, eventually, the Breen Confederacy against the Alpha Quadrant alliance of the United Federation of Planets , the Klingon Empire and, later, the Romulan Star Empire . The war takes place in the final two seasons of the series, but has been gradually built up to over
9085-476: The fictional Founders and the Roman Empire , in that the species first uses diplomacy, deception and cultural imperialism to achieve their aims before ultimately resorting to coercion. Wolfe also characterized the Dominion as a " carrot and stick " empire, with the Vorta offering the carrot and the Jem'Hadar holding the stick. According to writer Ronald D. Moore , co-creator Rick Berman originally intended
9200-469: The first people to make contact with the wormhole's mysterious creators, who dwell inside it. Though these incorporeal beings are simply referred to as "wormhole aliens" by the Federation , they are revered as Prophets in the Bajoran religion, and the wormhole itself is referred to as the "Celestial Temple". It is these "Prophets" who provided the Orb-like energy artifacts (or " Tears of the Prophets ") to
9315-417: The galactic barrier. Commander Rayner noted that it would take a couple of decades for the ships to return, but the crews would survive. A second barrier at the core of the Milky Way is first revealed in the motion picture Star Trek V: The Final Frontier . Being the only encounter ever shown, the only known reference is the " Great Barrier ". This energy barrier at the core is thought to be impenetrable like
9430-447: The galaxy are made, with various degrees of success, the barrier usually damages or destroys ships that try to pass through it. It also has psychoactive effects; some personnel gain powerful telekinetic and telepathic abilities when traveling near the barrier (as seen in " Where No Man Has Gone Before "). The barrier appears as a pink band of light and, upon entering it, a ship is surrounded by dazzling clouds of colorful energy. Inside
9545-407: The heart of the Federation. The Klingon Empire invades Cardassia on the incorrect suspicion that the Dominion is influencing its government; this idea turns out to have been planted by a Changeling infiltrator posing as Martok , an influential Klingon general. The invasion of Cardassia leads to a dissolution of the Federation's alliance with the Klingons. The Founders plant false intelligence that it
9660-415: The increased violence, asserting that it was justified in view of the plotlines detailing the progression of the Dominion War. Piller supported the idea that the repercussions of past episodes should continue to be felt, and that characters should "learn that actions have consequences", even if such consequences were to lead off in directions Piller had not originally imagined when Deep Space Nine remained in
9775-627: The known laws of physics in this region. Travelers risk injury, disfigurement, and death if their vessels are not lined with the protective metal Trellium-D . Species native to the Expanse include the Loque'eque , the Skagarans , the Triannon, and the Xindi. Featured locations of the Expanse include Azati Prime , the Calindra system, Oran'taku, Triannon, and Xindus . Thousands of years ago,
9890-516: The major Season Five episodes concerning the Dominion. In the Season Five opener, "Apocalypse Rising", Odo discovers that his race is capable of deceiving their own kind, as well as "solids", when he is led to believe that Klingon Chancellor Gowron is a Changeling instead of the General, Martok . This plot was planned to shift the focus of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes back toward
10005-529: The midpoint of the season, after the departure of Michael Piller . In the two-part season opener, "The Search", Commander Sisko returns from Starfleet Headquarters on Earth with a Defiant -class prototype starship, the USS Defiant . Executive producer Rick Berman had to be convinced that the introduction of the Defiant would not distract the audience from the main starship of the latest Star Trek production, Star Trek: Voyager . The decision
10120-423: The more significant settings for Star Trek films or story arcs over multiple television episodes. The Badlands comprise an area of space that appears (or is referenced) in episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager . Located in Star Trek ' s Alpha Quadrant, the Badlands are characterized by constant plasma storms and funnel clouds . The Maquis use it in several episodes as
10235-507: The most prominent Vorta in the rest of the series. In "Homefront", the mistrust generated by the shapeshifters continues, with Captain Sisko suspecting his own father and recommending a state of emergency be declared on Earth. In "Paradise Lost", some Starfleet officers go further and attempt to implement a coup d'état against the President of the Federation after it is revealed that shapeshifters have infiltrated Earth and committed
10350-512: The nebula to make contact with those outside the nebula. Cloud pockets of "metreon gas", a highly volatile substance of unknown composition, make travel through the nebula difficult as well; warp drives cannot be used, and even impulse drives are undermined. The planet featured in Star Trek: Insurrection is a class-M world; it is unusual for its possession of an intricate planetary ring system. The Ba'ku have established
10465-413: The one at the edge of the galaxy; however, it is revealed that only mankind's natural fear of the unknown is keeping mankind from entering it. Various books try to explain the existence of the galactic barrier, although none of these are canonical : In the original Star Trek , "quadrant" is used interchangeably with "sector". However, beginning with Star Trek: The Next Generation , the term refers to
10580-409: The planet Bajor . It appears as an aperture of swirling golden-white light surrounded by blue clouds, which appears whenever a vessel approaches or exits from it and disappears again afterwards. The wormhole can only be traversed by ships traveling at impulse (sub-light speed) velocities. The Bajoran wormhole is discovered in the first episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . It is found to connect
10695-572: The plot evoked real-world debate surrounding Proposition 187 , a Californian law concerning the rights of illegal aliens . The finale of Season Two, " The Jem'Hadar ", permitted writer Robert Hewitt Wolfe to surprise the audience and challenge their opinions concerning the safety of the Federation and Starfleet , when the USS Odyssey , a Galaxy -class starship similar to the USS Enterprise from Star Trek: The Next Generation ,
10810-667: The point that most series shorter than twenty-six chapters are a single arc spanning all the chapters. This makes syndication difficult, as episodes watched in isolation often confuse viewers unless watched in conjunction with the series as a whole. Series of thirty chapters or longer usually have multiple arcs. Neon Genesis Evangelion , for example, is a single story arc spanning twenty-six episodes. Other longer anime have multiple story arcs, such as Bleach , Gin Tama , One Piece , Naruto , Yu-Gi-Oh! and Fairy Tail . The anime Dragon Ball Z adapts four different story arcs from
10925-433: The practical issues revolving around maintaining the peaceful culture of the Federation and the moral or immoral choices made to achieve this ideal. In the fifth season, the Dominion invasion of the Alpha Quadrant gathers pace, appearing in episodes such as " Apocalypse Rising ", " In Purgatory's Shadow ", " By Inferno's Light ", and " Blaze of Glory ". Robert Hewitt Wolfe and Ira Steven Behr were again responsible for
11040-482: The producers decided to characterize The Dominion as "anti- Federation ". Writer and script editor Robert Hewitt Wolfe has explained that this move also distinguished Deep Space Nine from its successor series, Star Trek: Voyager , which stars a lost Federation ship traversing the chaotic and divided Delta Quadrant of the Milky Way . Instead of introducing one alien race, three were introduced simultaneously:
11155-538: The return of a character from Star Trek: The Next Generation – the Klingon Worf – as a permanent officer aboard Deep Space Nine . While both the new plot and character offered interesting possibilities, the producers felt that their vision for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was put off-course for almost one year. Season Four begins with " The Way of the Warrior ", which marks the arrival of Worf. This episode
11270-498: The rise of DVD box sets of complete seasons, as well as streaming, has worked in arc-based productions' favor as the standard season collection format allows the viewer to have easy access to the relevant episodes. One area of television where story arcs have always thrived, however, is in the realm of the soap opera, and often episodic series have been derisively referred to as "soap operas" when they have adopted story arcs. Arc-based series draw and reward dedicated viewers and fans of
11385-438: The scripting techniques used for Star Trek: The Original Series : Moore cites the episode " Errand of Mercy " (1967) as a strong influence on his treatment of the Dominion War. The plot of the Dominion War is presented in a succession of shorter story arcs which span Seasons Two through Seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and are linked editorially by the decisions of the producers and writers. After conceptual meetings,
11500-864: The series Star Trek: Voyager . This quadrant is largely unexplored by the United Federation of Planets , apart from the return voyage of the USS Voyager , the USS Equinox , the USS Raven , briefly the USS Enterprise -D , and the Federation citizens assimilated into or de-assimilated from the Borg. The Delta Quadrant is home to the Borg Collective , the Kazon , the Vidiians , the Talaxians,
11615-469: The ships are unaware that they are entering a region of space controlled by the Dominion , a union of planets ordered by force and intimidation. During the second season, Quark , a Ferengi bartender sent by his government to begin trade negotiations in the Gamma Quadrant, makes contact with the Karemma, a Dominion member race. Some time later, he and Sisko are captured by the Jem'Hadar , the soldiers of
11730-513: The space station Deep Space Nine . During the episode, it is discovered that the station is located near a stable wormhole connecting the Alpha Quadrant to the Gamma Quadrant of the Milky Way Galaxy , nearly 70,000 light years away. Deep Space Nine is moved from the orbit of the planet Bajor to the Alpha Quadrant terminus of the wormhole to lay claim. Starships begin to enter the wormhole to explore, colonize and trade. The crews on
11845-427: The struggle with the Dominion, which had been postponed in earlier production discussions with Paramount in favor of bringing Worf and a Klingon -based plotline into the series. In "In Purgatory's Shadow", it is discovered that Dr. Bashir has been kidnapped, imprisoned for weeks, and, in the interim, replaced by a Changeling. The shapeshifter double sabotages efforts to close the Wormhole and attempts to destroy
11960-529: The thermobaric cloud barrier. The Expanse thus ceases to exist, becoming a normal, unthreatening region of space. Although the Enterprise 's Captain Jonathan Archer is shown a possible timeline in which the Expanse becomes a major threat to the future United Federation of Planets , this eventuality appears to be eliminated by the successful destruction of the Spheres. In the Star Trek universe,
12075-459: The way for Dominion intrusion into the Alpha Quadrant. A Changeling impersonating Federation Ambassador Krajensky informed newly promoted Captain Sisko that there was a coup on Tzenketh. The Changeling later sabotaged the Defiant and reprogrammed it to target the Tzenkethi in the hopes that the attack would trigger a war, allowing the Dominion to conquer the Alpha Quadrant. The Federation stopped
12190-401: The writers began to introduce allusions to the Dominion into episodes of Season Two. The intention was to gradually increase the audience's awareness that there was a large and pervasive polity at work behind apparently innocuous events in the Gamma Quadrant . The Dominion and its methods are revealed across three episodes of the season. " Rules of Acquisition " marks the first mention of
12305-482: The writers needed to come up with a much different opener to satisfy the audience but without giving specific instructions. The production staff decided to begin a plotline based around suspicions between the Federation and the Klingons , finally leading to conflict between the former allies, which was inspired by a line from the Season Three episode " The Die is Cast ". With the Klingons set to reappear, Berman suggested
12420-438: The writing process changed as a result, with more production collaboration and interaction than for earlier seasons of Deep Space Nine . The potential for serialization that Rick Berman had perceived from the start of Deep Space Nine came to fruition as a result of the multiple plotlines accumulating to form the Dominion War. Story arc Many American comic book series are now written in four- or six-issue arcs, within
12535-449: Was established between two thousand and ten thousand years before the events of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , by the Changelings, a race of liquid lifeforms capable of shapeshifting , as a means of defending themselves against the widespread persecution they faced from humanoid races (whom they called "solids"). These Changelings genetically engineered a series of slave races to act as the foot soldiers of their new empire, and were dubbed
12650-429: Was led on the Klingon side by the future Dahar Master Kor , who frequently re-enacts the battle with his fellow veterans and Dahar Masters, Koloth and Kang . The Delphic Expanse , commonly shortened to "the Expanse", is the setting for the entire third season of Star Trek: Enterprise, first aired in 2003 and 2004. The Expanse is about 2000 light years across, surrounded by thick thermobaric clouds . Its edge
12765-488: Was made on the basis that a ship was needed to provide an avenue for stories set off the Deep Space Nine space station and that such a vessel would need the potential to oppose the Jem'Hadar, who had already been portrayed obliterating large ships. Audience research had also suggested that young male viewers were hoping for more action-oriented episodes with greater jeopardy. Season Three's Dominion stories explore
12880-419: Was originally designed to combat the Borg ), complete with a Romulan cloaking device , and began preparations for a drastic increase in Deep Space Nine's defensive capabilities. A Federation mission the next year to find and make peace with the Founders ended disastrously, when the peace expedition was captured and subjected to hallucinogenic manipulation to test the willingness of the Federation to appease
12995-665: Was sent to continue the mission of exploration began by Voyager . In the second season, now-Vice Admiral Kathryn Janeway returns to the Delta Quadrant in the Voyager -A to stop the threat posed by the Vau N'Akat. On some Star Trek maps of the center of the galaxy, the galactic core is regarded as its own area, not part of any of the four Quadrants. The Cytherians, from the Next Generation episode " The Nth Degree ," are located near this area. In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier ,
13110-472: Was the Romulan attempt to forcibly collapse the wormhole. Despite the Dominion's warnings, the Federation continued to chart the Gamma Quadrant. Founders began infiltrating the Alpha Quadrant, even wreaking havoc on Earth itself. In 2371, the combined intelligence organizations of the Cardassian Union and Romulan Star Empire attempted a strike into the Gamma Quadrant with a cloaked fleet, seeking to destroy
13225-404: Was unknown to the Alpha Quadrant powers until the discovery of the Bajoran wormhole in 2369, which facilitated exploration of the Gamma Quadrant . In 2370, Jem'Hadar troops annihilated numerous Bajoran and Federation colonies and ships in the Gamma Quadrant and captured Commander Benjamin Sisko , as the Dominion demanded the Federation stay on their side of the "anomaly". A Federation starship,
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