The Seventh Order – Cardassian Military Overlays
By Molotov

Cardassian Military Overlays
Several Cardassian Military Overlays are given below, along with brief information on each Branch. The Cardassian Military, reporting to the Central Command, consists of several Orders. The largest and most influential such Order, the Seventh Order, is used to model the below Overlays. Different Orders may have differing goals; their skills may vary somewhat (and their Law specializations are likely to reflect those of their own Order).

Command
Communications/Intelligence
Engineering
Medical Officer
Operations
Political Officer
Security
Science
Appendix I – Ranks
Appendix II – Design Notes/Acknowledgements

(Bold = Primary skills)

Command
The Command branch provides the bulk of Cardassian Guls ("Captains"), COs, and Flag Rank Officers. Starbase, starship, and ground units are frequently led by members of the Command Branch.

Command (choose Specialization) 2 (3)
Law (Seventh Order Regulations) 2 (3)
Tactics, Any (choose Specialization) 2 (3)
Shipboard Systems (choose Specialization) 2 (3)
Strategic Operations (choose Specialization) 2 (3)

Communications/Intelligence
The Communications Officer is charged with operating all communications equipment onboard the ship or station. They handle all ship to ship and ship to planet communications. The officer is also the official Intelligence Officer.

Espionage (Intelligence Techniques) 2 (3)
Shipboard Systems (Communications) 2 (3)
Strategic Operations (choose Specialization) 2 (3)
Systems Engineering (Communication Systems) 2 (3)
Language (choose two Languages) 1

Engineering
This officer is charged with responsibility for the operations and maintenance of the ship's power, environmental, and other key systems.

Computer (choose Specialization) 2 (3)
Engineering, Any (choose two Specializations) 2 (3)
Engineering, Any other (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Science, Physical or Space (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Shipboard Systems (choose two Specializations) 2 (3)

Medical Officer
The officer charged with responsibility for the health and wellbeing of the ship's crew. The chief medical officer does not have the authority to relieve a Gul of his command as a medical officer aboard a Federation vessel can. The medical officer can make a recommendation to the Political Officer if they feel the commanding officer is unfit for command.

First Aid (choose Specialization) 2 (3)
Life Science (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Medical Science (choose Science) 2 (3)
Personal Equipment (Medical Dri-Corder) 2 (3)
Shipboard Systems (Medical Systems) 2 (3)

Operations
The Operations branch staffs both the Flight Controller and Operations Manager positions on board Cardassian ships. The Flight Control Officer is responsible for both helm and navigational duties, and pilots the ship. On a space station, the flight control officer is assigned to the shuttle bays or as the Flight Control Officer aboard any attached support vessels. The Operations Manager is responsible for coordination of the various divisional (departmental) functions aboard the ship. Operations also has the ability to scan planetary bodies with the ship's sensors.

Shipboard Systems (Flight Control and one other Specialization) 2 (3)
Space Sciences (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Systems Engineering (choose Specialization) 2 (3)
Vehicle Operation (choose two Specializations) 2 (3)

Political Officer
The Political Officer is outside the normal chain of command as a member of the Political Officer Corp. A body charged with maintaining Central Authority's control over the military. The political officer is also responsible for all diplomatic negotiations and must retain a broad base of knowledge regarding foreign powers and alien races. The Chief Political Officer may countermand orders by the CO which contradict the Central Authority’s wishes. Of course, the CO reports to the Central Command, who may not see things the same way.

Diplomacy (choose Specialization) 2 (3)
Law (Central Authority Regulations) 2 (3)
Social Sciences (Political Science) 2 (3)
Strategic Operations (choose Specialization) 2 (3)
Language (choose one Language) 1
Intimidation (choose Specialization) 1 (2)

Security
The security division is charged with maintaining the ship's security at all times. This includes but is not limited to policing the crew, repelling boarding parties and providing security on away missions. The security division also places an officer at the tactical position on the bridge. Any security officer can fill in for the tactical position, but only a certified tactical officer would normally man the post.

Energy Weapon (Phaser) 2 (3)
Security (Security Systems) 2 (3)
Shipboard Systems (Tactical) 2 (2)
Systems Engineering (Security) 1 (2)
Tactics, Any (choose Specialization) 1 (2)
Unarmed Combat (Cardassian Martial Arts) 2 (3)

Science
The science division is charged with conducting all scientific studies and investigation needed onboard the ship or station.

Computer (choose Specialization) 2 (3)
Personal Equipment (Dri-Corder) 1 (2)
Science, Any (choose two Specializations) 2 (3) and (4)
Science, Any other(choose Specialization) 2 (3)
Shipboard Systems(Sensors and one other Specialization) 2 (3)

Appendix I - Cardassian Military Ranks
(Star Fleet Rank equivalent)

Appendix II - Design Notes/Acknowledgements
Design notes: This article was developed, in part, from information and details provided at the Seventh Order web site, with their kind permission (esp. the Branch descriptions, which are nearly verbatim). If you are interested in additional information on the Cardassians, do take a look.

The author makes no claim as to the validity of this information in terms of Star Trek:The Next Generation canon. Note: Dri-Corder is a Cardassian Tricorder. Feedback, suggestions and corrections welcome.

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