Star Trek: 10 Best Cardassian Episodes

Major Kira awakes in a darkened room to find herself on Cardassia and much worse than that, a Cardassian herself. She is informed by Legate Tekeny Ghemor that she is his daughter, an Obsidion Order sleeper agent called Iliana. Kira furiously rejects this, she knows who she is and she is no Cardassian. The problem is, she becomes unsure of her own memories when she watches a video of herself, as Iliana, speaking before her supposed sleeper-mission.

Representing the Obsidian Order (and thus the true villain of the piece) is Entek, who is seeking to manipulate Legate Ghemor into exposing his links to the Cardassian dissidents. The dissidents believe quite rightly that the Obsidian Order and Central Command have too much control over the lives of the average Cardassian, that they live dangerously close to a police state. Entek believes that by exposing Legate Ghemor's weakness, his love for his missing daughter, he can drag the Legate out into the street and expose him as a traitor.

Fortunately for Kira and the Legate, the cunning tailor Garak still has a few contacts on Cardassia and helps Commander Sisko and Odo to foil the plot. Entek is killed, Kira is returned home and to her previous self. She and Legate Ghemor remain friends, with the old man determined that his daughter must still be out there.

Much as with the Roman Empire and many medieval courts, Cardassia is shown here to be riven with intrigue and political manoeuvring to rival even the Romulans. The Obsidian Order is hinted at being the real power on Cardassia.