Info

Species Physiology 

Bajorans appear mostly human except for four to seven horizontal ridges on their noses. The top of the ridges can either have one ridge going straight up from the middle of the nose, or two ridges extending over the eyebrows. Skin tones vary from light to dark, although the dark-toned ones seem to be in the minority. The Bajoran heart is mirrored horizontally where the human heart is mirrored vertically. A stab into the lower ventricle is an instantly fatal wound. Their blood is iron-based, and turns red when exposed to oxygen. Bajorans live over 100 years, possibly longer. An arbiter said she was 100 years old, however, she looked as active as a human would in their early seventies

As with most Humanoid species, Bajorans have two sexes, male and female, and Bajoran women carry their children for a term of 5 months due to the intricate network of blood vessels between mother and child. Bajorans have a heightened sense of smell, but expecting mothers are prone to bouts of uncontrolled sneezing. The traditional Bajoran birthing ceremony is attended by the mother’s family and a midwife. The purpose of the ceremony is to induce complete relaxation through percussion music and breathing exercises, allowing the woman to give birth without pain. If the mother does not give birth within a given amount of time, the endorphin levels will climb to toxic levels.

Culture

The planet Bajor is a beacon of civilization in the Alpha Quadrant. While humans on Earth were not yet standing erect, ancient Bajoran culture flourished producing many great architects, artists, builders, and philosophers. Centuries before most nearby races had developed space flight, the Bajorans had already flown their first solar sail vessel to other planets and even crossed into interstellar space at faster than light speeds.

Bajoran names are structured with their surnames preceding their birth names, a practice common on Earth in many societies (particularly in Asia). For example, Captain Kira Nerys of Deep Space Nine is referred to as “Captain Kira” professionally and “Nerys” to friends.

Bajorans wear large, chained earrings and ear cuffs called d’ja pagh as symbols of their religious faith. It is said the d’ja pagh connects Bajorans to the Celestial Temple and is used by the spirit after death to find their way home. Prior to the occupation, the earring also symbolised one’s d’jarra, or caste. The symbols on the earring cuffs can be used to determine the family line of the wearer, in a similar way to the Klingon cranial ridges. The earring can be worn on either ear, however it is more commonly worn on the right ear.

The D’jarra was a caste based system that the Bajoran people adhered to prior to the Occupation of Bajor by the Cardassian Union. All Bajorans were born into a specific D’jarra based on their family, which determined their occupation in their lives. Members of the lower-ranking D’jarra were expected to show both respect and deference to those in the higher ranks. The system was abandoned when the Cardassians occupied Bajor, as every Bajoran was expected to fight for their homes, regardless of caste. D’jarras never returned after the Occupation, as for the Federation, the D’jarras were also a source of great concern since caste-based discrimination would disqualify Bajor for Federation membership.

Bajorans celebrate a number of holidays and festivals throughout the year. Due to their strong faith centred culture most of these are religious in nature.

The Peldor Festival, also known as the Gratitude Festival is an annual Bajoran celebration of great importance. It is celebrated throughout December to welcome in the New Year. During the holiday, participants write down their problems on Renewal Scrolls, then place them to be burned in a special brazier so that their troubles can symbolically turn to ashes.

Bateret leaves are traditionally burned like incense during the festival. The festival has been celebrated as far back as 20,000 years ago. During this holiday, “peldor joi” is the greeting commonly used. “Tesra Peldar Impadre Bren. Bentel Veytan Olan Sten.” – “As the scrolls burn, may our troubles turn to ashes with them.”

Ha’mara is the holiday held on the anniversary of the Emissary’s arrival. During Ha’mara the Bajoran people show their gratitude to the Prophets for sending the Emissary to them, by fasting and celebrating the Festival of Lights.

Religion

The Bajoran religion is a united one, and only one orthodox faith is present on the planet. The Kai is the elected spiritual leader of the people and sits at the head of the Vedek assembly. The assembly consists of 112 Vedeks from Orders throughout Bajor.

An Order can also be called a parish, except that it does not always cover a definable area. An Order is rather the people who follow the ideas and beliefs of a particular Vedek or Vedeks. Most Orders are called mainstream in that their views are traditional and conservative, however there are a few small extremist Orders that have radical beliefs. Such radical Orders preach things such as the superiority of the Bajoran over all other life, death to the Cardassian people and other such extremist views.

Fortunately these Orders are small, but they should not be discounted as support for some of these ideas can be found in many people not publicly following the Order, such an example was the coup in 2370 when an extremist group called the Alliance for Global Unity (a.k.a. The Circle) attempted with the backing of radical Orders to take control of the then Provisional Government.

Vedeks, including the Kai, can be easily identified by the bright orange robes they wear. They also have more intricate and larger earrings than the general populace. Many wear a tiered head-dress as well. Nowadays, the faith is open to all Bajorans, and even outsiders.

The Way of the Prophets

The religion has a steep hierarchy based around the Vedek Assembly which is an important part of Bajoran Culture and government. Vital to the Bajoran self image, the belief in the Prophets guidance and understanding of the proverbs shapes the daily lives of the Bajoran people. The Religious orders are key to the celebration of Bajoran holidays, wedding services and other ceremonies.

  • Emissary – The Emissary of the Prophets is a pivotal figure who, according to prophecy, can speak to the Prophets. The Emissary has the authority to perform several Bajoran ceremonies and blessings, and is often looked to by the people for guidance. The annual holiday of Ha’mara celebrated the arrival of the Emissary. Captain Benjamin Sisko, though reportedly uncomfortable with the role, was named the Emissary in 2369.
  • Kai – Religious leader of all Bajorans, and head of the Vedek Assembly. There is only one Kai on all of Bajor, and the Assembly votes on the position. The Kai holds influence not only in the religious sector, but is important in Government and even advises the Ministry. Performs daily functions similar to those of a Vedek.
  • Vedek – Vedeks are established within the faith. They may stay with in the order they began or they may start their own. They are each permitted to interpret the Prophets teachings, as well as the proverbs. They preside over religious holidays, and train healers and Acolytes. Not all sit on the Vedek Assembly, there are a limited number of seats, and one must be selected to join the ranks.
  • Prylar – Head of a shrine or temple. They must follow the teaching of a classical order and those of an established Vedek. They are allowed to reside over religious holidays, though they do not have a voice within the Vedek Assembly. They have completed all of their training, but need to establish themselves before they can start their own order. Many continue to serve as healers.
  • Monk – Assistants to the Prylars and Vedeks, Monks play an important role in aiding during services. They are still learning the faith, and are not yet allowed to lead ceremonies. They may help to teach Acolytes in the beginning stages of the faith, and many also server as healers.
  •  Acolyte – Trainees of the faith. Acolytes will learn all Bajoran holidays and customs. Training will take place on Bajor, at the Monastery under the supervision of the Monks and Vedeks.

The Bajoran religion, also called the Way of the Prophets, is a unique one unlike so many others in the galaxy, in that the religious figures are in fact physical (but non-corporeal) entities, although not on the same plane of existence. The Prophets, or Wormhole Aliens (as they are referred to by Starfleet) exist within the wormhole between the Alpha and Gamma quadrants, the Alpha end being located within the Bajoran system. This wormhole, and home of the Prophets, is referred to as the Celestial Temple by the Bajoran people.

As prophesied, the Celestial Temple of the Prophets was discovered in 2369 by The Emissary, Captain Benjamin Sisko, along with Lt. Cmdr. Jadzia Dax. Bajoran belief holds that the Celestial Temple is the eternal home of the Prophets, the central figures in the Bajoran religion. Historic references to the Celestial Temple go back for millennia, including a reference by Kai Taluno, claiming the heavens opened up and almost swallowed his ship.

The Temple has since become the subject of controversy, as secular and scientific interests have called it a wormhole, allowing passage to the Gamma Quadrant. In addition, the wormhole is a political nexus due to its strategic importance. Pressures from Cardassian, Federation, and now Klingon interests have exerted themselves on Bajor’s administration of the wormhole.

The Prophets exist as timeless beings, however their motives remain unclear; on several occasions they proclaim their disinterest in the physical world, while at other times actively participate in the physical world, most often in the general interest of Bajor and its people.

The Holy Orbs

The word of the Prophets has guided Bajor for tens of thousands of years, and over the years, nine orbs, or “tears of the Prophets,” have emerged from the wormhole. Appearing as hourglass-shaped energy fields, the Orbs defy conventional scientific analysis.

They produce temporary but intense metaphorical hallucinations on people in the immediate vicinity, which seems to be a form of direct or indirect communication with the Prophets. However, only individuals whom the Prophets permit will experience these visions.

These orb experiences often provide some form of personal insight or divination into the future, and many were recorded in the form of ancient Bajoran prophesies. After an encounter with an Orb, individuals sometimes experience continued visions known as orb shadows.

These experiences are not restricted by species: Humans have had orb experiences, and at least two Cardassians, had religious experiences directly tied to their people’s faith – the Oralian Way. One orb can even be said to be directly responsible for the revival of the Oralian Way throughout Cardassia. The reason for the orbs’ species-specific effects upon receptive people is currently unknown.

During the Cardassian occupation of Bajor, all but one of the nine orbs were taken by the Cardassians for study. By September of 2376, all nine orbs had been returned to Bajor. In addition, a tenth orb, the Orb of the Emissary was discovered by Benjamin Sisko on the planet Tyree in 2375.

  • The Orb of Contemplation – This is currently housed in the Bajoran Temple aboard the space station Deep Space Nine.
  • The Orb of Wisdom – This orb was discovered after the Occupation on Cardassia III by Ferengi Grand Nagus Zek.
  • The Orb of Time – Recovered from Cardassia Prime by the USS Defiant, this orb is stored in the Temple of Iponu at Ashalla on Bajor.
  • The Orb of Prophecy and Change – The only orb Bajor managed to retain throughout the Cardassian occupation. It had a profound effect on many, including the spiritual writer Trakor, who encountered the orb around 3,000 years before the 24th century, and later wrote a series of prophecies concerning the Emissary of the Prophets.
  • The Orb of Memory – Recovered from the Cardassian freighter Kamal in 2376 by the USS Enterprise-E.
  • The Orb of Destiny – In 2376, this orb, the orb of souls, and the orb or unity were discovered in an Obsidian Order bunker in Cardassia City’s Munda’ar sector. Elim Garak arranged the return of the two orbs to Deep Space Nine.
  • The Orb of Truth – This Tear of the Prophets was held at the Kendra Shrine on Bajor before the Occupation, however now is stored in the Temple of Iponu at Ashalla on Bajor.
  • The Orb of Souls – According to Kai Opaka Sulan, the Orb of Souls is the least understood of all nine orbs, and encounters with it are also more tasking than any of the other orbs. Not many willingly look into the Orb of Souls, though it has been known to ‘call’ to individuals as a sort of summons.
  • The Orb of Unity – Stored in the Temple of Iponu at Ashalla on Bajor.
  • The Orb of the Emissary – The Tenth Orb was discovered in 2375 by Captain Benjamin Sisko, Emissary to the Prophets. It was originally believed that only nine orbs existed, however it ended up buried in a desert on Tyree. It can only be opened by the Emissary.

Prophecy

Bajoran religion engulfed their entire society with even those that rejected the faith being able to quote from the Sacred Texts, in addition they believe the “pagh” is a person’s spiritual life-force, from which one gains strength and courage. Bajorans believe their pagh is replenished by the Prophets who reside in the Celestial Temple.

A “pagh’tem’far” is a sacred vision commonly brought about by an orb experience. Higher religious figures, including Kai’s and Vedeks are believed to be able to divine the pagh by grasping the ear.

The Bajoran “Sacred Texts” are the religious writings of the Bajoran faith. They include the prophecies of Trakor, a Bajoran from the ancient time, who encountered the Orb of Change 3,000 years ago and wrote several prophecies based on his visions.

The Sacred Texts

Trakor’s Third Prophecy predicted, ‘When the river wakes, stirred once more to Janir’s side, three vipers will return to their nest in the sky.’ Trakor added, ‘When the vipers try to peer through the temple gates, a sword will appear in the heavens, the temple will burn, and the gates will be cast open.’

This prophesy came to pass in 2371, when three silithium-laden comet fragments ignited within the Bajoran wormhole, causing the wormhole to remain slightly open, shortly after the Qui’al Dam restored water to Janir city.

Trakor’s Fourth Prophecy predicted that the Emissary would face a fiery trial and that he would be forced to make a difficult decision.

Zocal’s Third Prophecy was an ancient text written after an encounter with an Orb. His third prophecy stated that only someone touched by the Prophets could find the ruins of the sacred lost city of B’hala, and this prophecy was fulfilled when the Emissary, touched by pagh’tem’far, did precisely this.

Non-Orthodox Religions

As mentioned earlier, The Way of the Prophets is the only orthodox religion on Bajor, however there are a couple of fringe religious groups that have followers in reasonable numbers. These are the “Cult of the Pah Wraiths” and the “Ohalavaru”, both of which are deemed heretical by orthodox Bajorans, and both of which have caused major unrest within the Bajoran Religion.

Similarly to Lucifer from Terran Christianity, Kosst Amojan (The Evil One) was a Prophet who was forced out of the Celestial Temple after a failed attempt to seize control, with the other Pah Wraiths. In several other incidents over time, the Pah Wraiths attempted to leave their physical prison of the Fire Caves and return to take control of the Celestial Temple, but none of these attempts succeeded.

There continues to be a minority group on Bajor who worship the Pah Wraiths as the True Prophets, but they are generally shunned as outcasts and heretics. They can be identified by their use of red earrings and armbands. The imprisonment and release of the Pah-wraiths was detailed in the Book of the Kosst Amojan, an ancient religious text. The book was considered highly dangerous, and its viewing was restricted to the Kai alone, as it contained detailed instructions on how to release the Pah-wraith from their imprisonment in the Fire Caves of Bajor. Prior to its removal in 2375 it had remained in the archives untouched for over seven hundred years. Kai Winn Adami and the Cardassian Gul Dukat took the text to the Fire Caves, and were in the process of releasing the Pah-wraith when they were stopped by the Emissary of the Prophets, Benjamin Sisko. The book was destroyed in the ensuing struggle, consumed by the fires of the Pah-wraith.

The Ohalavaru are a group whose name translates as “Ohalu truthseekers”. It was given to those members of the Bajoran faith who believed in the Ohalu texts. The Ohalu Prophecies were a set of prophecies written by a Bajoran called Ohalu in approximately 30000 BC. The prophecies foretold events, in incredibly accurate detail, throughout what would become Bajoran history, well into the late-24th century.

Ohalu himself was considered a heretic by the leaders of the Bajoran faith as he claimed the Prophets were not gods, but an alien race; teachers, who learnt as much from the Bajorans as they did from them, and as a result the Vedeks did their best to prevent knowledge of the prophecies becoming widespread.

For centuries the cult protected the book, and over time and successive generations they built up the sacrifice predicted in the Prophecy of the Avatar as each of the guardians was mummified and entombed in a massive tomb in B’hala designed to hold the bodies of the ten thousand necessary to die before the coming of the Avatar; hoping they would contribute to the eventual new age of peace and understanding on Bajor.

B’hala, and the cult with it, disappeared for thousands of years, and remained little more than a rumour amongst the Vedeks. In 2373 the lost city was rediscovered by Benjamin Sisko, and as excavations of the site commenced the Vedek Assembly kept an eye out for several things, including Ohalu’s prophecies, ready to immediately discredit them and sweep them neatly under the rug should they ever be rediscovered.

In 2376 the book was found, by Prylar Istani Reyla who was astounded by its accuracy. In fact every one of Ohalu’s prophecies has come true, the last of which, the prophecy of the Avatar occurring in 2376 when Kasidy Yates gave birth to her daughter, Rebecca Jae Sisko (the prophesied Avatar), with Kai Opaka Sulan serving as midwife.

Church & Politics

The Bajorans answer to two authorities: the church and the state. Unfortunately, these powers are not always in agreement, and the disputes between them occasionally led to conflict and bloodshed. In a great number of civilizations across the galaxy, the dividing line between the power of religion – the church – and the seat of governmental authority – the state – is broad and strongly defined. Yet an equal number of races blend the two agencies together, and one such culture is that of the Bajoran people.

Vedek Assembly

To the Bajorans, life is a highly spiritual and religious exercise, and the edicts of the Bajoran church are often granted the same weight and import as the laws of the state. When the rule of law combines with the rule of religion, however, the relationship is not always a harmonious one, and on a number of occasions church and state have come into conflict; a delicate situation, given the passionate nature of the Bajoran people.

In matters that pertain to the Bajoran church and all concerns of a spiritual nature, the Vedek Assembly is the supreme authority. This body governs the myriad temples to the prophets, as well as other ecumenical matters. The Vedek Assembly is comprised of several high ranking Bajoran priests known as Vedeks and at their head is the Kai, elected by the Vedeks from within their ranks. The Kai is the spiritual leader of all Bajor’s populace and although they do not directly wield power (such as the ability to make or alter laws), the influence of such a powerful religious authority is easily able to sway events and people.

During the occupation of Bajor by the Cardassians for example, the Kai was a figure from which the Bajorans could take strength and draw conviction. In more recent years, however, since the Cardassian withdrawal in 2369, the Kai’s influence has frequently become a point of division, rather than union. It is to be assumed that any person who ascends to take on the role of Kai is of such high character that abuse of this great position is out of the question, but in reality, there have been those in the post who have used it to their own advantage.

Government

In contrast, the Bajoran state government is a younger entity, and to many observers it appears to have a far weaker hold on the hearts and minds of its subjects than the Kai and the church. The original Bajoran government was swept away in the invasion and occupation of Bajor in the latter 2320’s, replaced after the world was annexed by the Cardassian Union by a puppet state of figurehead lawmakers. As such, in the years that followed the departure of the Cardassian oppressors, the free Bajoran government that rose from the ashes to take control of the planet was regarded by many of the populace with the same degree of suspicion as its lapdog predecessor.

Nevertheless, the Bajoran Provisional Government assumed planetwide authority, constructing a cabinet of civil servants known as the Chamber of Ministers, led in turn by the First Minister. Despite their place as the de facto lawmakers of Bajor, the Chamber of Ministers continued to find their authority weakened and often challenged by the elder statesmen of the church. On several key occasions, the friction between the church and state of Bajor has led to conflict, in the halls of government and violently in the streets of the nation.

Perhaps the most testing time for the relationship between Bajor’s church and state came early in 2370. At this point, tension had already been building, following the religiously motivated bombing of a schoolhouse on the space station Deep Space Nine in late 2369, alleged by many to have been motivated by the then-Vedek Winn.

Into this charged situation, a violent group of Bajoran isolationists known as the Alliance for Global Unity (more commonly known as The Circle) began a campaign of terrorism and sabotage, with intent to drive out the influence of the United Federation of Planets. The developing situation was revealed to be part of a plot by Jaro Essa, a member of the Chamber of Ministers, whose plans for Bajor involved an exclusion of Federation influence and his installation as First Minister.

Jaro entered a clandestine alliance with Vedek Winn – promising her the post of Kai if his coup d’etat is a success – and proceeded to push Bajor and its people to the brink of a bloody civil war. It was only the actions of then-Commander Benjamin Sisko, his crew on Deep Space Nine, and Li Nalas, a Bajoran war hero, that forestall the planned insurrection before lives were lost.

Unfortunately this did not remove all influence of corruption and conspiracy from the church and state. Jaro’s plot was thwarted, but Vedek Winn’s lust for power went on unchecked. Jaro’s duplicity shamed the provisional government, tarnishing its reputation even further in the eyes of the Bajorans, while Winn’s abuse of the church’s power remained hidden.

In later years, Winn manoeuvred herself to take the post left by Kai Opaka in 2369, and assumed the role of supreme religious authority on Bajor, cementing her control. In 2371, however, even Winn stepped too far over the line between church and state when she set her sights on the office of First Minister, following the death of the previous incumbent, Kalem Apren.

At first her election appeared to be a certainty, but the Kai’s involvement in pressuring a group of farmers led by Shakaar Edon (a former freedom fighter during the occupation) drew Deep Space Nine’s Major Kira Nerys into the situation and once more nearly led Bajor into civil war. Winn’s hope to take her place at the head of both of Bajor’s ruling cadres was undone by Shakaar, whose past deeds gained him the office of First Minister instead. Thus, the clear separation between Bajor’s church and state was finally affirmed.

During 2369, in the very first months of the provisional government’s life, the body was divided over many of its decisions, in particular the call to apply for membership in the United Federation of Planets. Several factions within the government insisted on an isolationist policy in the aftermath of the Cardassian invasion, while others pressed the issue and petitioned the Federation for economic and military assistance.

In response, Starfleet sent a contingent of officers and materials to Terok Nor, the former Cardassian ore-processing facility in orbit around Bajor, taking control of the station’s administration and renaming it Deep Space Nine. As part of this agreement, the Federation began a program of aid that defended Bajor from outside aggressors and supported the planet’s economy, providing items such as medical supplies and industrial replicator units. The unforeseen discovery of a stable wormhole in the Bajor system changed the political dynamics of the sector, and soon after the provisional government found itself under pressure from outside as well as within.

 The turning point for the provisional government came in 2371, when First Minister Kalem Apren died suddenly of heart failure. As mentioned earlier, Major Kira Nerys prepares the way for Shakaar Edon to rise to the post of First Minister in a landslide election. Under Shakaar’s governance, the congress finally achieves a degree of stability, enough to weather Captain Sisko’s radical advice not to accept membership within the Federation in 2373.

History

Brief Canon History

Bajor has a very long history, dating back hundreds of thousands of years. Not as much is known as Federation historians would like, but it is enough to keep an archaeologist busy for their entire career. The Prophets influenced much of Bajor’s history after their orbs were found by Bajorans and they began to worship them as gods. The most well-known part of Bajoran history is the Cardassian Occupation which lasted from 2319 to 2369.

Bajoran civilization stretches back a million years, long before Humans learned to make tools or to speak. The Bajorans of the ancient past were well-known for their science, art, philosophy and mathematics. The greatest of the early Bajoran civilizations is the First Republic which existed from 25,000 to 20,000 years ago. This was the civilization that built the ancient city of B’Hala, which was known for its advanced science and art at the time it existed. The city was lost to time until Captain Benjamin Sisko rediscovered it.

The next era of note in Bajoran history is 10,000 years ago when the Orbs of the Prophets were discovered in orbit around the planet. These artifacts, known to Bajorans as the Tears of the Prophets, ushered in a new spiritual awareness for the Bajoran people and a closer relationship with their gods. In the 16th century Bajorans had created sublight space vessels equipped with solar sail technology that allowed them to explore their home system. A crew of Bajorans even made it so far as the home Cardassian system, several light-years away, and this was proven possible by Captain Sisko and his son Jake.

In 2172, or the Bajoran year 9174, one of Bajor’s greatest poets left his home planet in a solar vessel. Akorem Laan’s ship was damaged and he ended up in the Denorios Belt, where it entered the wormhole and he would stay with the Prophets until 2372. When he returned, it was thought that he was the Emissary as a Bajoran Vedek predicted that the Prophets would “give the Emissary back his life” after he died. It was proven that the Emissary was indeed Captain Benjamin Sisko. During the 22nd Century, Kai Taluno unknowingly reported a sighting of the Bajoran wormhole when the “heavens opened up and swallowed his ship”. No Bajoran realized what actually lay in the Denorios Belt until the 24th Century.

Despite its advancements, Bajor continued to exist in nation-states as evidenced by the Paqu-Navot Treaty of 2279, which defined the two nations’ border. Until the Cardassian Occupation, Bajorans had a caste system called D’jarras.

The Cardassian Occupation of Bajor (Simply known as the Occupation) lasted from 2319 to 2369 during which Bajor was under the control of the Cardassian Union. During the Occupation, the Cardassians had forced labor camps on Bajor in which the Bajorans strip-mined their planet for their Cardassian overseers. Genocide was also common. The treatment of the Bajoran people by the Cardassians gave rise to the Bajoran resistance, which finally succeeded in drving away the Cardassians in 2369. Some Bajorans simply left the system and settled all over the quadrant, although they remained separate from other peoples, living under poor conditions.

When the Cardassians finally left, the Bajorans set up a provisional government headed by a Chamber of Ministers, with the First Minister acting as the chair of that body. With the aid of the Federation, the Bajorans took control of the space station Terok Nor, a former refining facility in orbit of the planet, and placed it near the wormhole that had been discovered in the Denorios Belt. This put Bajor on the galactic map as a center for commerce and brought with it many jobs. The planet’s soil however had been badly damaged by the fighting and mining caused by the Occupation and the provisional government invented soil reclamators, although the supply was limited, causing fights among the farmers. Today, the soil is fertile and good for farming. Kai Winn took the first steps towards normalizing the relationship with the Cardassians in 2371.

Bajor originally applied for Federation membership in 2373, however recanted it due to the insistence of the Emissary. The two governments continued a cordial relationship until Bajor’s admittance into the Federation. Before the start of the Dominion War, the Bajoran government signed a nonaggression pact with the Dominion, allowing Bajor to avoid disaster a second time in the same century. Bajor joined the fight after Operation Return took Deep Space Nine back under the control of the Federation Alliance in 2371. 

Proposed Post-War History

In 2384 the Bajoran Republic officially resubmitted their bid to become a member of the United Federation of Planets. Without the influence of Captain Benjamin Sisko, and other dignitaries from the time of the first request to join, they were requested to go through several legal procedures before their request was to be considered. Without the pressure of Cardassian interference and with a good working relationship already in place between the UFP, Bajor, the militia, and Starfleet there was no need to expedite the process. They were granted provisional membership not long after, allowing for a transitional period where the Bajoran government and its military arm were allowed to implement required changes to adhere to Federation legislation.

Once all requirements were satisfied Bajor became a full member of the Federation in the year 2390, following a near unanimous vote in the Federation Council.

Key Facts

A visual representation of the Bajorans, a fictional species.
Facts Table
Name:Bajoran
Home PlanetBajor VII
Physical:Humanoid
UFP Status:Member