Founders' homeworld

Founders' homeworld
Alternate name(s):	The Great Link
Classification:	Class R, previously Class M
Location:	Omarion Nebula, Gamma Quadrant
Dominant species:	Changeling, Vorta
Population:	evacuated (2371)
Gravity:	0.85 G

The Founders' homeworld was a Class R planet located in the Omarion Nebula of the Gamma Quadrant. It was the home to the Founders, a group of Changelings, and served as the "capital" of an interstellar empire known as the Dominion. (DS9 episodes: "The Search, Part I", "The Search, Part II", Decipher RPG module: Worlds; ST reference: Star Charts)

Decipher lists the planet as being Class M, whereas, according to Star Charts, it is Class R. The planet was likely Class M in its distant past, but later became Class R when blasted out of its orbit.

History

Distant Past

At some point in the planet's distant past, it was blasted out of its original star system by the supernova which then led to the creation of the Omarion Nebula. Although it no longer had a fixed orbit, the planet stayed within the confines of the nebula.

Eventually the Founders came across this seemingly dead planet in an otherwise unimportant nebula after having experienced years of persecution from other races. It was from this world that the Founders sought to impose order on the Gamma Quadrant and launched attacks on other planets, bringing them under the control of the Dominion. In their efforts to subjugate other worlds, the Founders would create two races of servants, the Jem'Hadar who acted as the soldiers of their empire, and the Vorta who oversaw the Jem'Hadar.

While expanding their empire, the Founders also sent out infants of their kind across the galaxy. The infants were intended to gather information about other planets and cultures before being drawn back to the nebula and their homeworld. (Decipher RPG module: Worlds)

24th century

The planet within the Omarion Nebula would remain the home of the Founders until 2371 when the Cardassian Obsidian Order and Romulan Tal Shiar discovered its location and sent a fleet of cloaked ships to bombard its surface. It was hoped the attack would destablize the Dominion; however, the Founders learned of the offensive and had already abandoned the planet by the time the fleet arrived. (DS9 episode: "The Die is Cast")

Geography

Having experienced the shockwave of a supernova, almost nothing was to remain of the planet's original biosphere when it was cast adrift in space. Over time, most of the surface water evaporated, leaving a dry desolate landscape. Where they could, the Founders did attempt to keep some water on the planet's surface although it remained n insufficient quantities to produce lakes or seas.

While cold and lacking in water, the planet was able to support flora and primitive fauna. In various locations there was a water reclamation plant, an air circulation plant, and several heat exchangers which all worked together to sustain the planet and any life upon it. The water and heat engineering works drew upon subterranean sources. (Decipher RPG module: Worlds)

Points of Interest

• Great Link
• Vorta base

External link

• Founders' homeworld article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.