Empok Nor
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In the fictional Star Trek universe, Empok Nor was a Cardassian space station similar in configuration to the Terok Nor space station (renamed Deep Space Nine when transferred to Bajoran control). "Empok Nor" was also the name of the fifth season (1997) Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode in which the station was introduced.
The original purpose of the Empok Nor station has not been revealed. Empok Nor was later abandoned by the Cardassians, and laid largely forgotten for some time. Later, Chief Miles O'Brien of Deep Space Nine found that DS9 required parts, and that the best option would be to salvage the parts from Empok Nor. He led a team of Starfleet engineers, as well as Ensign Nog to the station. They were accompanied by Garak who went along to help deactivate any security devices left behind at the station.
The team was able to salvage the materials required. However they found three stasis tubes. Two tubes were empty, the other contained a Cardassian corpse who had been dead for about one year. The other Cardassians were loose on the station with a bio-engineered component in their system which turned them into killing machines. While on the station, Garak also became infected with the component. In a biologically induced insane state, Garak killed the other Cardassians on the station, as well several other members of the engineering team before he was finally subdued and cured of the component.
The station again sat empty for a time. The Dominion forces eventually kidnapped Ishka, the mother of DS9 bar owner, Quark. They arranged with the family to exchange her for a Federation prisoner of war, a Vorta named Keevan, at Empok Nor. While at the station, Quark's brother Rom accidently mentioned that the Negus had offered a reward of 50 bars of gold-pressed latinum, instead of the 20 bar reward that Quark had told the rest of the team. As a result, the rest of the team gets angry at Quark for lying, and Quark's cousin tries to kill Quark with a phaser. However, the assailant misses and accidentally hits Keevan, killing him. Using neural stimulators, however, Nog is able to revive Keevan's motor functions (although he is still dead) and enable Quark to complete the transaction. Of course a snag occurs during the prisoner exchange, forcing the Ferengi to act quickly to avoid getting killed by their Dominion contacts. The Ferengi were able to double-cross and capture the Vorta sent to meet them at the station.
Later, former Cardassian leader Dukat founded a colony of Bajorans on the Empok Nor station who followed the teachings of the Pai-Wraiths — the false Prophets who were cast out of the Celestial Temple of the Bajoran Prophets. Dukat eventually betrayed the colonists and attempted to kill them, however his plans were foiled by Major Kira, whom Dukat had kidnapped and brought to the station. After Dukat disappeared, Starfleet evacuated the people on the station.
It is not known if either Starfleet or Dominion forces used the station further during the course of the war. The ultimate fate of the station has not been revealed.
External links
- StarTrek.com: Empok Nor (the station) (http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/library/ships/article/123783.html), "Empok Nor" (the episode) (http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/DS9/episode/69016.html)