Pol Straken was a Cardassian engineer working for the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance. In 2372, Straken was arrested by Captain Klag and Gul Macet in an investigation over a possible security breach in the Alliance. After a brief interrogation, Straken was attached to a mind sifter and left insensate. Macet agreed to do this as he believed that Straken was not the mastermind behind the breaches and so was not worthy of a trial.
Straken claimed to have had one brother. He used this brother's alleged gambling debts from tongo to Nausicaans on Elvok Nor as a justification for being involved in the conspiracy. The money was 2000 leks. He was also a collector of the works of Tor Yakros. (DS9- Shards and Shadows novel: Family Matters)