What's the concept for the series?
The Cardassian Empire (introduced on the Next Generation episode "The Wounded") had occupied the planet Bajor for fifty Earth-years.  During that time, the population had been enslaved, and Bajor's natural resources were stripped away.  By the end of Next Generation's fifth season (Earth-year 2371), the Cardassians had withdrawn from Bajor and the planet was free.  In order to assist its reconstruction- which would eventually result with membership in the United Federation of Planets- the Bajoran government allowed Starfleet to assume control of the abandoned Cardassian mining space station Terok Nor.  Rechristened Deep Space Nine, Starfleet continues to operate the station as an outpost of Bajor and as a waystation for the Gamma Quadrant, accessible through the only known stable wormhole in the galaxy.  DS9 has become a major commercial, political, and strategic player in the Federation, and its value has piqued the interests many of the Federation's greatest foes, including the powerful Dominion from the Gamma Quadrant.

Who are the people that make up the regular cast of Deep Space Nine?
-Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) serves as the station's commander.  Before coming to DS9, he was first officer aboard the USS Saratoga; the ship was destroyed at Wolf 359 during the first-attempted Borg invasion (see Next Generation's "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II" for further details).  Sisko's wife died during the battle, and he grieved her death fo many years.  Originally reluctant to command the station, he has since demonstrated his ability and conviction  for the post.  In addition, he has the distinction of being the "Emissary" between the Bajoran people and the "Prophets" who live in the "Celestial Temple" (the Bajoran wormhole).
-Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) is the liason from the Bajoran government and Captain Sisko's first officer.  She was a freedom fighter in the Bajoran Resistance movement against the Cardassian occupation.
-Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois) is the station's chief of security.  Odo is a Changeling (shape-shifter) and a member of a race called the Founders.  The Founders act as rulers over most of the Gamma Quadrant as collective group called the Dominion.  Separated from the Founders after his birth and sent through the wormhole into Bajoran space years before, Odo does not share the ideals of his people.  He has served as security chief since before the Cardassians left Bajor.
-Lieutenant Commander Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) is the station's science officer.  Dax is a joined Trill, and one of only 10 percent of her homeworld's population to have that honor.  Jadzia is the eighth host to the Dax symbiont, which is over 300 years old.  Dax's previous host Curzon was a Federation diplomat and Captain Sisko's good friend.
-Doctor Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) is the station's chief medical officer.  Young and idealistic, Dr. Bashir came to DS9 fresh out of Starfleet Academy to practice "frontier medicine.  A capable and gifted scientist, Dr. Bashir has performed his duty with precision and skill.
-Chief Miles Edward O'Brien (Colm Meaney) is the station's chief of operations.  His ability to meld Federation and Cardassian technology- and make it work- has made him an invaluable resource.  He formerly served aboard the Enterprise-D as a transporter chief.  His wife Keiko and children Molly and Kirayoshi also live on DS9.
-Lieutenant Commander Worf (Michael Dorn) is the station's strategic operations officer.
The only Klingon in Starfleet, Worf's prior position was security chief aboard the Enterprise-D.  After the ship's destruction, Worf served in a reduced capacity until he was requested by Captain Sisko to assist with a crisis between Cardassia and the Klingon Empire.  With the crisis over, Worf remained on DS9 as a member of the command staff.
-Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton) is Benjamin Sisko's son.  Jake has literally grown up on DS9 over the last few years, and has even attended a school taught by Keiko O'Brien.  He has been encouraged to join Starfleet in the past, but has always declined.  He is pursuing a career as a writer.
-Quark (Armin Shimerman) runs a bar aboard the station.  A quintessential Ferengi, he always has a hand in whatever profit-making scheme should come through the station.  Like Odo, he was on the station during Cardassian jurisdiction.  He has assisted the staff on several occasions, but he always has his own interests at heart.

Who are the recurring characters?
-Gul Dukat (Mark Alaimo) was the former commander of Terok Nor.  After the Cardassians left Bajor, he maintained a prominent postion in the military's Central Command.  He left Cardassian affairs after a civilian government came to power, but he has since returned as dictator after Cardassia Prime was annexed by the Dominion.
-Rom (Max Grodenchik) is Quark's "idiot" brother.  He is not out for profit like his brother, but he is a good tool-and dye man.   He originally worked for Quark, but joined the station's staff as an engineer.
-Nog (Aaron Eisenberg) is Rom's son.  He also worked in Quark's bar, but when Jake came aboard the two became fast friends.  Nog didn't want to pursue the Ferengi ways, so he asked Captain Sisko for help in joining Starfleet.  He is currently the only Ferengi at the Academy.
-Leeta (Chase Masterson) is one of Quark's dabo girls (dabo is a game like roulette).  As a Bajoran, she has had the will to stand up to Quark on several occasions, but she remains loyal to him.  She and Rom were married at the end of the fifth season, in the episode "Call to Arms".
-Elim Garak (Andrew J. Robinson)- runs a tailor shop on the station.  Years before, Garak was a member of Cardassia's intellegence corps, known as the Obsidian Order.  Garak fell from grace and was permanantly exiled to Terok Nor, where he remains.  His past is still mysterious, and he does not volunteer much about it.

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