In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is an interstellar state and
military superpower from the Gamma Quadrant, composed of hundreds of
dominated alien species. The Dominion is commanded by Changelings/The
Founders, a race of shapeshifters responsible for both the creation of
the Dominion and all strategic decisions undertaken throughout its
history. The Dominion is administered by the Vorta, clones
specifically genetically engineered by the Founders to act as field
commanders, administrators, scientists and diplomats. The Jem'Hadar,
also engineered by the Founders, are the military arm of the Dominion
and one of the most powerful military forces in the galaxy during the
Dominion's height.The Dominion first appeared in season 2, episode 26
"The Jem'Hadar" of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
and unsuccessfully waged war on the United Federation of Planets after
silently annexing Cardassia in the Alpha Quadrant.The Dominion first
appeared in season 2, episode 26 "The Jem'Hadar" of the television
series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and unsuccessfully waged war on the
United Federation of Planets after silently annexing Cardassia in the
Alpha Quadrant.In 2002, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine producer Ira Steven
Behr stated that unlike some plots, which originated from a single
small idea, the creation of the Dominion villain and story arc was
"very much thought out." Behr said that the earliest mention of the
Dominion was purposely planted in the comic Season Two Ferengi
episode, "Rules of Acquisition", to leave the audience with an
impression of "how important could it be?" It was decided that the
Gamma Quadrant would need an ambience that would distinguish it from
the Alpha Quadrant. The producers wanted to portray the region as
something other than "uncharted space", and avoid imitating the
adventures of Star Trek: The Next Generation with another series of
plots focusing primarily on themes of exploration.:97 After 18 months
of Deep Space Nine exposition, the producers decided to characterize
the Dominion as "anti-Federation". Writer and script editor Robert
Hewitt Wolfe has explained that this move also distinguished Deep
Space Nine from its successor series, Star Trek: Voyager, which stars
a lost Federation ship traversing the chaotic and divided Delta
Quadrant of the Milky Way.Instead of introducing one alien race, three
were introduced simultaneously: the Changelings, the Vorta, and the
Jem'Hadar. These three were intended to represent the front of an
ancient civilization coupled together by fear, to contrast with the
unity of the Federation enabled by bonds of friendship. Behr, Wolfe,
writer Peter Allan Fields, and Jim Crocker attended meetings to
develop the concepts of these species and found general inspiration in
Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy novels.:153 Executive producer
Michael Piller suggested the idea that the Founders of the Dominion be
the race to which Odo belongs, toward the end of Season Two
production, and discovered that Behr and Wolfe had also discussed this
possibility.:158â€"159 This character had been introduced with no
knowledge of his true origins. Piller asserts the endeavor to create a
new villain was one of the most difficult tasks he undertook in his
work on Star Trek. Wolfe perceives similarities between the fictional
Founders and the Romulan Empire, in that the species first uses
diplomacy, deception and cultural imperialism to achieve their aims
before ultimately resorting to coercion.:167 Wolfe also characterized
the Dominion as a "carrot and stick" empire, with the Vorta offering
the carrot and the Jem'Hadar holding the stick.:154 Dominion (Star Trek) Top Movies & Young Movies