Klingon-Cardassian War

The Klingon-Cardassian War was a major interstellar conflict, resulting from the Klingon Empire invading the Cardassian Union, lasting from early 2372 to mid-2373.

The war devastated the Cardassian state, and greatly contributed to its eventual absorption into the Dominion, thus achieving what the Klingon invasion had claimed to prevent.

The manipulation of the Klingons into launching an unprovoked attack on the Cardassians would prove to be one of the greatest consequences of Changeling infiltration in the Alpha Quadrant.

Revolution

In 2372, reports emerged through Cardassian borders that the Cardassian Central Command had been overthrown by a popular uprising, restoring power to the civilian-led "Detapa Council."

One of the most oppressive regimes in the Alpha Quadrant had been removed, thanks to the growing strength of the Cardassian dissident movement. This was helped by the Cardassian government's loss of power, due to the collapse of the Obsidian Order following the disastrous Battle of the Omarion Nebula.

On Qo'noS, the news of Cardassia's fall was received in a different light. Chancellor Gowron and the Klingon High Council became convinced that the revolt on Cardassia Prime was instigated by the Dominion, and that the Detapa Council had been replaced by Founders. One of the most influential officers called for a massive invasion of Cardassian space to end the "Changeling threat." Many Klingons, who had grown restless after decades of peace, rallied around him.

The Klingon invasion of Cardassian space involved a third of the Klingon Empire's forces, with over one-hundred ships in the first wave alone. The plan was to act quickly, and conquer the Cardassian homeworld. The advance task force of over fifty warships was dispatched to Federation starbase Deep Space 9, under the guise of defending the station against a Dominion incursion.

Attempted Invasion

Captain Benjamin Sisko, commander of Deep Space 9, was suspicious of the Klingons' motives, and ordered Lieutenant Commander Worf to uncover the Klingons' true intentions. Once he learned of the planned invasion, Sisko urged the attack be called off, and informed the Klingons that the Federation would not support their attack. Ignoring his warning, the Klingons commenced their invasion. The Federation Council quickly condemned the invasion, and the enraged Klingon government withdrew from the Khitomer Accords, ending the alliance between the Klingon Empire and the Federation.

With Starfleet ordered not to interfere until the Federation Council could re-establish a dialogue, the Klingons were free to cross into Cardassian space. However, Deep Space 9 was able to send warning to the Chief Military Advisor to the Detapa Council. Although the outlying Cardassian colonies were overwhelmed almost immediately, the Cardassian fleet were able to mobilize in time, offering greater resistance against the Klingons.

Klingons broke through the Cardassian lines after a battle, leaving only 52 travel hours between them and Cardassia Prime. Realizing the planet could not hold, Sisko offered to shelter the Detapa Council aboard Deep Space 9. They were intercepted by several Klingon warships, and the USS Defiant was used to rescue them and bring the Council to safety aboard the Starfleet starbase. The Klingon fleet turned away from Cardassia and attempted to take the council members from Deep Space 9 by force. Fortunately, the weapons of the station had been heavily upgraded in anticipation of a Dominion invasion, and was able to withstand the siege long enough for Starfleet reinforcements to arrive.

Stalemate

Following defeat at Deep Space 9, the momentum of the Klingon invasion was slowed, and Cardassia Prime found itself out of danger. The Klingons refused to relinquish the colonies they had conquered, and began fortifying their positions and deploying orbital defense systems in preparation for a longer war of attrition.

In the following months, cloaked Klingon warships continued to rampage throughout Cardassian space, destroying targets of opportunity and plundering Cardassian shipping. The outmatched Cardassians responded with unconventional tactics such as holo-projections, which earned the respect of some Klingons.

Klingon attacks devastated the Cardassian infrastructure, resulting in a humanitarian crisis among the Cardassian people. Diseases once under control swept through Cardassian colonies, while their government struggled to meet the basic needs of its people. With their fleet occupied, the Cardassians were forced to ask the Federation for assistance, such as providing escort vessels for medical relief convoys. The Federation also provided twelve industrial replicators, though they were hijacked by a member of the Maquis.

• The war had granted the Maquis virtual free reign in the Cardassian Demilitarized Zone, as the Cardassians no longer had the resources to combat them.

Despite the losses of the Detapa Council, they remained unwilling to lose what was left of its fleet. The civilian-led Cardassian government remained on the defensive, hoping instead for a diplomatic solution.

Cardassia and the Dominion

As the war dragged on ineffectually into a second year, one Cardassian entered into secret negotiations for the Cardassian people to join the Dominion.

In mid-2373, a massive Jem'Hadar fleet crossed the wormhole and entered Cardassian space. In three days, they were able to inflict massive casualties on the Klingon forces. The Klingons were forced to issue a general retreat, with the intention of fortifying the Klingon Empire, preparing for a fight to the death.

Instead, Captain Sisko was able to revive the Khitomer Accords, and convince the Klingons to stand together with the Federation against the Dominion. After over a year of conflict, Klingon and Cardassian territories had returned to their pre-war state, only with the Klingon military substantially weakened, making the Dominion position that much stronger for the coming Dominion War.