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THE STAR TREK ENCYCLOPEDIA: A REFERENCE GUIDE TO THE FUTURE BAJORANS 31

wormhole broke up, leaving behind a trail of silithium particles in ~~ mother is essential. Participants at the birthing ceremony play the wormhole. These particles created a subspace filament that rhythmic instruments to help her reach a fully relaxed state facilitated the propagation of radio signals across the wormhole. When the child arrives, all present verbally welcome the child (“Destiny” [DS3]). The Bajoran wormhole undergoes a subspace into the world. (“The Begotten" [DS9]) inversion every fifty years. It underwent one in 2372. (“The Visitor" Bajor was claimed as Cardassian territory from about 2328 [DS9]). In 2373, in response to an imminent Dominion attack, the (“Ensign Ro” [TNG]). The Darra caste system was abolished in staff of Deep Space 9 attempted to permanently close the Bajoran the 24th century when all Bajorans, regardless of D'jarra, were wormhole by using the station's graviton emitters to send out called upon to fight Cardassian oppression. (“Accession phase conjugate graviton beams at the terminus to collapse the [DS9]). The Cardassians formally annexed Bajor in 2339, and wormhole's spatial matrix. (“In Purgatory’s Shadow” [DS9)]). The occupied the planet until 2369, when Bajoran resistance fightplan to seal the wormhole failed because the station's equipment ers finally drove them away. (“Emissary” [DS9]). A Bajoran prowas sabotaged by a Founder in the guise of Dr. Julian Bashir. visional government assumed authority for planetary governThe result was that the wormhole's spatial matrix was made even ment, led by the Bajoran Chamber of Ministers, which was more stable. Even trilithium explosives would not be able to headed by the Bajoran First Minister. (“The Homecoming" destroy it. (“By Inferno's Light" [DS9]). [DS9)). Also highly influential in governmental affairs is the religious Vedek Assembly, led by the kai. (“In the Hands of the Prophets” [DS9]). Upon the departure of the Cardassians, the Bajoran provisional government requested Federation assis. v) Nor, now designated Deep Space 9. (“Emissary” [DS9)]). After tance in operating the former Cardassian space station Terok Le the Cardassian occupation, the Federation Council agreed to HN provide the provisional government with two industrial replica- tors to help them rebuild their economic base. (“For the Cause” [DS9)). A deeply religious people, Bajorans look to their spiritual leader, the kai, for leadership and guidance. (“Emissary” [DS9)) The Bajoran religious faith was a powerful force in their society, and helped give the Bajoran people the spiritual strength to surBajorans. Humanoid civilization from the planet Bajor. Bajoran vive the brutal Cardassian oppression. (“In the Hands of the culture flourished a half-million years ago, when humans on Prophets” [DS9]). The Bajoran religion believes that ships are Earth were not yet standing erect. The Bajoran people are safely guided through the wormhole by the Prophets and that deeply spiritual, but their history also recorded many great the Celestial Temple dwells within the passage. SEE: Orb architects, artists, builders, and philosophers. Bajoran culture Some conservative Bajoran religious leaders, notably Winn, declined seriously during decades of Cardassian occupation in tried to suppress scientific theories of the wormhole's creation, the 24th century, during which most Bajorans were driven from believing that the teaching of science lessened the religious their homeworld. (“Ensign Ro" [TNG]). Bajorans traveled in leaders’ political power. (“In the Hands of the Prophets” [DS9)). space at least eight centuries ago, using Bajoran solar-sail In 2371, newly elected Kai Winn began the process of healing vessels to explore their star system. Some ancient Bajoran her people’s wounds with the signing of a historic peace accord space travelers even made it all the way to Cardassia. with the Cardassians. The news of the treaty sent shock waves (“Explorers" [DS8)). SEE: First Republic. As recently as the throughout the entire quadrant. (“Life Support” [DS9)) 22nd century, Bajoran society was strictly divided into D'jarras, An old Bajoran saying holds that “The land and the people or castes. A family's D’jarra determined its status in society, as are one.” Major Kira Nerys mentioned this to Commander Sisko well as what occupation its workers could hold. (“Accession™ regarding the dispute between the Bajoran factions, the Paqu [DS9]). Under Bajoran custom, a person's family name is first and the Navot, (“The Storyteller” [DS9]). Traditional Bajoran followed by the given name. Most Bajorans wear an ornamental beliefs hold that the soul of the dead is far more important than earring, a symbol of their spiritual devotion. SEE: Ro Laren. the physical remains. (“Indiscretion” [DS8]). (In an alternate (“Ensign Ro" [TNG]). Bajoran women carry their children for less quantum reality, the Bajorans overpowered the neighboring than five months. Because they have a relatively short gestation ~ Cardassians, and became increasingly hostile towards the period, they vascularize very quickly. Mother and child form a Federation as well. In this alternate reality, a Bajoran ship fired complex interconnecting network of blood vessels. Bajoran upon the Enterprise-D as it was investigating a quantum fiswomen often have fits of uncontrollable sneezing while preg sure the crew discovered in 2370. The energy discharge nant. (“Body Parts” [DS9], “Looking for par'Mach in All the caused the fissure to destabilize and allow incursions from Wrong Places” [DS9)). In Bajoran childbirth, relaxation of the other quantum realities into that one.) (“Parallels” [TNG]). niltary military general prylar kai vedek [ES