The Vorta are the genetically enhanced administrators, negotiators, politicians, and scientists of the Dominion. (Star Trek: The Magazine vol. 1, Issue 6: "Briefing: The Dominion")
History and specifics[]
They are loyal to the Founders, and are assigned to command the Jem'Hadar. (DS9 episodes: "To the Death", "Rocks and Shoals")
Each Vorta is in charge of distributing a drug known as Ketracel-white among the Jem'Hadar under their command, the event is somewhat of a ritual with the Jem'Hadar pledging their loyalty to the Founders before receiving their vials of the drug. (DS9 episode: "To the Death")
The Vorta care little for the Jem'Hadar under their command, seeing them as no more than tools to get a job done and will quite happily sacrifice them all in order to prolong their own survival. (DS9 episode: "Rocks and Shoals")
Biology[]
The Vorta were once small timid ape-like creatures that lived in hollowed out trees and living in fear of the many predators that would hunt them for food. One day a changeling happened upon a Vorta family while it was running from an angry mob who was trying to kill it. The Vorta family took the changeling in and hid it from the mob, saving its life and earning its gratitude. In response for their kindness towards a changeling, something the Founders rarely, if ever, experience from solid life-forms, the changeling promised them a position of power within the Dominion. (DS9 episode: "Treachery, Faith, and the Great River")
The Vorta, thanks to the genetic modifications made by the Founders, have excellent hearing, though they have no appreciation for art and have poor eyesight. They also have a limited sense of taste; they cannot taste anything beyond the nuts, fruits and berries of their home world - which is seen by Vorta as a reminder of where they came from and what they owe the Founders. Vorta are also immune to most forms of poison, something which Weyoun once remarked was a useful ability for a diplomat. (DS9 episodes: "Treachery, Faith, and the Great River", "Favor the Bold", "Ties of Blood and Water")
Some Vorta possess telekinetic abilities, and are able to generate telekinetic blasts of energy that can knock out humans and disable energy barriers. (DS9 episode: "The Jem'Hadar", DS9 video game: The Fallen)
Vorta reproduction occurs only by cloning. When a Vorta dies, they are replaced by their copy, offering them a kind of immortality. On occasion, a clone is "defective" and does not behave like a typical Vorta, the reason for this is unknown, but any defective Vorta are killed without question. (DS9 episode: "Treachery, Faith, and the Great River")
The memories and experiences of Vorta are documented by transcorder implants. (DS9 - Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel: The Dominion: Olympus Descending)
All Vorta have termination implants in their brain which, upon activation, cause instant death. Vorta are expected to use these implants if captured or defective. They are made to believe that the process is painless, but that isn't the case. (DS9 episode: "Treachery, Faith, and the Great River")
The Vorta are incapable of dreaming. Though defective Vorta are able to dream. (DS9 - Tales of the Dominion War short story: "What Dreams May Come", DS9 episode: "Treachery, Faith, and the Great River")
Mirror universe[]
In the mirror universe, the Vorta were servants of the Founders and members of the mirror Dominion. However, these Vorta were far more vicious than their counterparts in the primary universe and possessed more advanced telekinetic abilities to use in their role as either diplomats or assassins. (Decipher RPG module: Through a Glass, Darkly)
Known individuals[]
| This article or subsection has an associated category. | Vorta |
|---|
- Borath
- Deyos
- Eris
- Eris (mirror)
- Gelnon
- Keevan
- Kilana
- Loriss
- Luaran
- Methras
- Neman
- Rayik
- Sejeel
- Tholun
- Vannis
- Verisel
- Weyoun
- Weyoun (mirror)
- Yelgrun
- Yeor
Appendices[]
Appearances and references[]
Appearances[]
- TNG novel: The Battle of Betazed
- DS9 episode: "The Jem'Hadar" (first appearance)
- DS9 episode: "The Search, Part II"
- DS9 episode: "To the Death"
- DS9 episode: "The Ship"
- DS9 episode: "By Inferno's Light"
- DS9 episode: "Ties of Blood and Water"
- DS9 episode: "In the Cards"
- DS9 episode: "Call to Arms"
- DS9 episode: "A Time to Stand"
- DS9 episode: "Rocks and Shoals"
- DS9 episode: "Behind the Lines"
- DS9 episode: "Favor the Bold"
- DS9 episode: "Sacrifice of Angels"
- DS9 episode: "Statistical Probabilities"
- DS9 episode: "The Magnificent Ferengi"
- DS9 episode: "Waltz"
- DS9 episode: "Far Beyond the Stars"
- DS9 episode: "One Little Ship"
- DS9 episode: "Honor Among Thieves"
- DS9 episode: "Inquisition"
- DS9 episode: "In the Pale Moonlight"
- DS9 episode: "Tears of the Prophets"
- DS9 episode: "Image in the Sand"
- DS9 episode: "Shadows and Symbols"
- DS9 episode: "Treachery, Faith, and the Great River"
- DS9 episode: "Penumbra"
- DS9 episode: "'Til Death Do Us Part"
- DS9 episode: "Strange Bedfellows"
- DS9 episode: "The Changing Face of Evil"
- DS9 episode: "Tacking Into the Wind"
- DS9 episode: "The Dogs of War"
- DS9 episode: "What You Leave Behind"
- DS9 novella: The Badlands, Part IV
- DS9 - Mission Gamma novel: Lesser Evil
- DS9 novel: Rising Son
- DS9 - Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel: The Dominion: Olympus Descending
- DS9 novel: Warpath
- DS9 novel: The Never-Ending Sacrifice
- DS9 novel: The Long Mirage
- DS9 video game: Dominion Wars
- DS9 video game: The Fallen
- VOY - Myriad Universes - Infinity's Prism novella: Places of Exile
- SCE novel: Malefictorum
- ST - Typhon Pact novel: Raise the Dawn
- ST - Mirror Universe novel: Rise Like Lions
- ST - Section 31 novel: Disavowed
- ST - Tales of the Dominion War short story: "Night of the Vulture"
- ST - Tales of the Dominion War short story: "Twilight's Wrath"
- STA - Tales of the Dominion War short story: "What Dreams May Come"
Connections[]
| Gamma Quadrant races and cultures | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aarruri • Alorex • Amaralan • Anndii • Aresai • Argrathi • Ascendant • Bekkir • Calligar • Changelings • Cheka • Chiaran • D'Naali • Dosi • Drai • Drang • Eav'oq • Ecocid • Errikang native • Eunacian • Groxxin • Horgin • Iconian • Inamuri • Innerol V native • Jem'Hadar • Karemma • Kendarayan • Kendo • Lampusan • Merakordi • Nyazen • Ourentia • Overne • Parada • Prentara • Rakhari • Rindamil • Saltah'na • Sen Ennis • Skrreea • Stakoron • T-Rogoran • Teplan • Thepnossen • Tosk • Trelian • Uradi • Vahni Vahltupali • Vanton • Verathan • Vorta • V'Xaji • Wadi • Yaderan • Yentis • Yrythny • Zarian • unnamed Gamma Quadrant races and cultures | 
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
External link[]
- Vorta article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.