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Elim Garak

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Elim Garak
Orbital elements
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Orbital circumference
Eccentricity (orbit)>Eccentricity (e)
Perihelion>Perihelion distance (q)
Aphelion>Aphelion distance (Q)
Orbital period>Orbital period (P)
Synodic period>Synodic period
Avg. orbital speed
Max. orbital speed
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Inclination (i)
Longitude of the ascending node>Longitude of the
ascending node (Ω)
Argument of perihelion (ω)
Mean anomaly>Mean anomaly (M)
Physical characteristics
Dimensions
Surface area
Volume
Mass
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of north pole
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}|| style="white-space: nowrap; width:7em; font-size: 88%;" bgcolor="#e6e9ff" | Home planet: | style="font-size: 82%;" | Cardassia Prime |- valign="top" }}} |}

Elim Garak was a character in the fictional universe, played by Andrew Robinson. He was technically classified as a recurring character but many fans considered him to be a regular given his importance to the story arc and his presence in many episodes. Through the development of the character, viewers of the series became more familiar with the Cardassians, making them less of a stereotypical "villainous species" and more an accumulation of individuals with distinct personalities. Like many other Star Trek characters, Garak has a complicated good/evil duality. Although he is portrayed initially as a deceitful, unprincipled Machiavellian capable of torture and murder, he eventually becomes one of the series' heroes.

Contents

Overview

[Spoiler warningSpoiler warning]: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Formative Years

Elim Garak was born on Cardassia Prime. Enabran Tain was his father, but very little else about his background is known from the series. In the non-canon novel A Stitch in Time it was revealed that his mother was Tain's housekeeper Mila. He was raised by Mila and Tolan Garak who lived in Tain's house. Tolan was not his biological father, however. He did not learn, until much later on, that Tolan was his uncle, and Tain was his real father.

A quick learner and an excellent student, Garak attended the prestigious military training school of Bamarren as a young man. Most of the skills and traits associated with Garak can be said to have been picked up at Bamarren. He rose through the ranks and gained the respect of his peers and teachers, though he was ultimately betrayed by Palandine's fiancé. Palandine later became his lover. Garak was often punished as a child by being locked in a cupboard by Tain, especially after he noticed his claustrophobia. In the series this was believed to be the root of his claustrophobia. These events were formative to his character and general disposition.

After Bamarren, Garak began his career at the Obsidian Order, one of the premiere intelligence agencies of the Alpha Quadrant. Always a quick learner, he proved exceptional at his job and rapidly increased in rank and influence, becoming the right hand man of Enabran Tain, head of the Obsidian Order.

Exile

At the peak of his power and career, Garak was perceived to have succumbed to sentimentality and had an affair with Palandine (a married woman whose husband was the target in a complex plot by the Order). He was caught and, because of his father's important role in Cardassian society, was exiled from Cardassia Prime. He was relocated to Deep Space 9, then still Cardassian and called Terok Nor, and assigned to work as a tailor by Gul Dukat. During the withdrawal from Bajor by the Cardassians, Garak was deceived and left to the mercy of the Bajorans. He soon after tried in vain to win the favor of his government by spying on the Bajor-Federation negotiations. Garak has since made use of his extensive knowledge and abilities in aiding the Federation on numerous occasions.

On Deep Space 9, Garak continued his business as a tailor. Several other characters suspected that his tailor's shop was a mere front and he was still working for the Obsidian Order. Garak had also, supposedly, served as an undercover operative for the order in the past; he revealed to Odo that he was a gardener at the Cardassian embassy on Romulus. (Coincidentaly, several Romulan diplomats died that same year.) On several occasions, Garak denied having ever been involved with espionage, claiming he was just "plain, simple Garak" and that his difficulties with the Cardassian government were a result of tax evasion.

Garak was a practiced liar, and had a rare gift for obfuscation.

Garak was frequently at odds with Gul Dukat, the station's former commander. This was due to the fact that, as a member of the Obsidian Order, Garak was responsible for the execution of Dukat's father. Garak eventually befriended Dukat's half-Bajoran daughter, much to Dukat's outrage.

After the Federation started administering the station, Garak struck up a friendship with Dr. Julian Bashir. While his exact motives for choosing Bashir are unknown, it is known that Garak wanted a Federation officer with whom he could regularly exchange "back channel" information with the Federation while keeping in communication with his contacts on Cardassia. Captain Sisko encouraged Bashir to pursue the relationship, although warning Bashir that Garak was probably not to be trusted. Bashir was most likely chosen because of his naïveté, intelligence, and trusting nature. However, despite the nature of their clandestine relationship, Garak and Bashir grew to be good friends despite their cultural and personality differences. The two often shared lunch together, where they discussed politics, the arts, and other topics. Their friendship grew deeper after Bashir helped Garak kick his addiction to a device that stimulated the pleasure center of Garak's brain, enabling the Cardassian to cope with his outcast status aboard DS9.

In the final episode, What You Leave Behind, Garak finally returned to his homeworld. Sadly, by then the planet was in ruins from the war.

"Let me tell you the the story of a dashingly handsome man who, through no fault of his own, found himself exiled and alone. He decided that instead of running for the rest of his life, he would find a home in the place no one would expect to find him. In the stronghold of his peoples' most hated enemies."

The Dominion War

Garak provided essential intelligence on Cardassia to the Federation during the Dominion War. His unique abilities can be said to have influenced the outcome of the war in the episode "In the Pale Moonlight" by getting the Romulans to abandon their neutrality and fight alongside the Federation by making his assassination of a pro-Dominion senator look like the work of the Dominion. He also assisted the Federation victory at the Chintoka system in the episode "Tears of the Prophets".

The extensive help given to the Federation against his own people led to his mental breakdown, though he believed he was ultimately helping Cardassia by assisting the Federation in defeating the Dominion. He later directly participated in forming an anti-Dominion revolution on Cardassia alongside Kira and Damar.

Despite the efforts of Gul Dukat, Garak befriended Dukat's daughter Tora Ziyal when she sought refuge on DS9 after her rescue from the Breen. Ziyal fell in love with Garak, but he often called her interest "misguided." Ziyal persisted however, not only in pusuing a relationship with Garak, but also in taking sides against Cardassia and the Dominion. Her rejection of her father's wishes led to her death at the hands of Dukat's aide Corat Damar when the Federation was on the verge of re-occupying the station.

Post-War Involvement

The Federation-led alliance won the war and Garak returned to his people. What was supposed to be his moment of triumph turned into a pyrrhic victory given the death of 1 billion Cardassians and the destruction of much of Cardassia Prime's infrastructure.

Garak has since assisted in the rebuilding and recovery of Cardassia, while also supporting democratic reforms for its government. He believes that the Dominion War and destruction of Cardassia was partially caused by its military-led government.

The Deep Space Nine novel A Stitch In Time, written by Robinson, is supposedly Garak's memoir, and gives a great deal of information about his past and current circumstances. While the novels are not officially considered part of the Star Trek canon, this book can, given its author, be considered a fairly definitive portrait of the character. As such, much of this information was obtained from his book. Garak's memoirs, of course, contain an ironic post-series twist; a memoir written by a practiced liar is questionable history, at best.

Memorable quotes

From "Past Prologue"
Doctor Julian Bashir
From "Cardassians"
Garak
From "Cardassians"
Garak
From "Profit and Loss"
Bashir
From "The Wire"
Bashir
From "Second Skin"
Garak
From "Improbable Cause"
Bashir
From "Improbable Cause"
Garak
From "The Way of the Warrior"
Garak (Shooting attacking Klingons with phaser)
From "The Way of the Warrior"
(After Garak was attacked by several Klingons)
Bashir
From "Our Man Bashir"
Garak
From "Call to Arms"
Odo
From "By Inferno's Light"
Garak
From "In Purgatory's Shadow"
Garak

Appearances

Garak appeared in the following episodes:

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

Season 6

Season 7

External links

Regular characters on Star Trek
   Kirk | Spock | McCoy | Scott | Uhura | Sulu | Chekov — : Arex | M'Ress
   Picard | Riker | Data | La Forge | Worf | B. Crusher | Troi | W. Crusher | Yar | Pulaski
   B. Sisko | Kira | J. Dax | Odo | Bashir | O'Brien | Worf | J. Sisko | Quark | Rom | Nog | E. Dax | Garak | Martok | Damar | Dukat | Weyoun | Winn
   Janeway | Chakotay | Tuvok | Paris | Torres | Kim | Doctor | Neelix | Seven | Kes
   Archer | T'Pol | Tucker | Reed | Phlox | Sato | Mayweather

 

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