Founders / Changelings

First appeared:   Stardate 48211.6 / "The Search, part I" [DS9] Type:   Shapeshifter, original form is gelatinous

Founder in humanoid form

Long ago, the Changelings, or the Founders, where explorers, roaming the stars in search for other races. But unfortunately they were met with distrust and hatred from other "solid" races wherever they went. Eventually, the Founders started to build up an empire to protect themselves, and to impose order on a chaotic universe. The empire, called the Dominion, is now the most powerful force in the Gamma Quadrant.

The Founders can shape into almost everything, even a cloud, and they can also change their mass. While shaped into something else, it is practically impossible to tell the difference between a Founder and the real thing. The only drawback is, that they have to return to their original gelatinous state every 16 hours, to regenerate.

They live together in the "Great Link", which is the very foundation of their society. This is a state of merging of both form and thought, and with a sharing of idea and sensation, which provides a meaning to their existence.

The day-to-day administration of the Dominion is delegated to the Vorta, wile the military section is taken care of by the Jem'Hadar. The main traders are the Karemma.

[The Dominion] [The Founders / Changelings] [The Jem'Hadar] [The Vorta]