Date: 12 May 2010 21:24 Title: Ranks of the Cardassian Guard
This ranking system sure makes sense, considering Dukat had a lot of responsibility for someone whose rank was the rough equivalent of Captain. Plus, I never bought that a dalin outranks a glinn, as the Pocket Books works seem to indicate according to Memory Beta. The etymology of these titles certainly fits in with the hierarchical structure of Cardassian society.
Author's Response:
A senior gul, I think, is likely to receive additional responsibilities due to age. A legate ultimately has more responsibility.
And I am glad to see I wasn't the only one who thought that bit about dalins (man, that plural form feels WRONG...) outranking a glinn. The duties of a glinn seem too extensive for that. Of course, that did leave me having to explain a couple of items--namely, why Macet would bring both his glinns aboard the Enterprise (and Lemec would insincerely repeat the gesture), and why Dukat would be doing cleanup after the decompression aboard the Kornaire, but I have explained both. Macet did what he did as an attempt to establish trust (by taking the risk of having all three of his ship's senior officers in enemy territory, he is trying to show Picard he's willing to go out on a limb), Lemec did what he did in an insincere attempt to copy Macet's gesture (and of course it backfired because he was dealing with Jellico), and Dukat...either no one else would do it, he was being punished by his gul, or he thought before he saw it that it would be some sort of "noble" gesture that would make him look good to his crew and therefore increase his standing.
Date: 28 May 2009 17:03 Title: Ranks of the Cardassian Guard
A very cool rank system here Nerys-helps a lot.
Author's Response:
Thanks...I think it'll help The Thirteenth Order to make more sense. :-)
Date: 27 Apr 2009 21:56 Title: Ranks of the Cardassian Guard
Very insightful and considered view of the Cardassian ranking system. What else would we expect from yourself Nerys. Detailed and thoughtful analysis that brings new eyes to what can often be passed over in a story detail. Well done and thank you very much for such wonderful world building.
Now we just need someone to do so for the Vulcans, Andorians, ... I think that would be a dream come true. In the meantime, I'm more than happy to revel in your Cardassain world.
Author's Response:
Thanks...that's one of the great things about not a lot being established in canon. It gives me room to play. ;-) Glad you like it!
[Report This]Date: 11 Apr 2009 16:07 Title: Ranks of the Cardassian Guard
Oooh, very useful indeed! Thank you SO much for making guides to your universe. Saves much brainpower.
Author's Response:
Awwww! Thanks for reading!!! :-)
[Report This]Date: 19 Feb 2009 18:48 Title: Ranks of the Cardassian Guard
You know, how in life, you have those small little mysteries that just add up over time..and you hope to get around to them in time...well, I can scratch one off my list. Why did the Cardassians use a Roman rank (Legate). Now I know...
Very interesting read here, Ghemor. You must be either GUL DUKAT or GARAK reborn on Earth...You obviously either did a lot of reading or a lot of thinking about this subject....I think I'd like to be a Dailin. I wouldn't care for a higher rank, just one in the middle. And the job description of Dalin is almost what I do now...
Rob
Great read!!!
Author's Response:
Well, I did make heavy modifications on the system that was presented in the Terok Nor novels, to the point where this is almost entirely my own canon.
"Legate" was somebody's creative idea of how to translate the true term, because that "th" sound represents something kind of hard to pronounce for a native English-speaker. I THINK Arabic might have something close, but I'm not sure...
My current rank in my company would be gor...I'm a shift manager in one of the stores.