| “ | Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. | „ |
| ~ Garak to Julian Bashir during their first meeting. |
Elim Garak was a Cardassian male introduced in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode Past Prologue.
Growing up believing himself to be the son of Tolan Garak, he lived in the home of Enabran Tain, a man he thought to be his uncle. He was actually the son of Tain and Tain's housekeeper Mila.
Going into the Obsidian Order, Garak became a close confidant of Tain, who by now was the leader of the Obsidian Order. The two men had a falling out, and Garak was exiled to Deep Space Nine as the Cardassians left and the Federation was invited in to take over.
Garak would serve as the eyes and ears of the Cardassian Union on the station. He also became friends with the new doctor Julian Bashir.
During the Dominion War Garak sided with the Federation against his people, realizing that if they remained under the Dominion's thumb they would all die, even if the Dominion won the war.
After the war Garak was finally able to return home to Cardassia, however it was a devastated world following the attempted genocide of the Cardassians. Garak worked to help rebuild Cardassian society into a more peaceful society, and eventually rose to become the Castellan of the Cardassian Union.
A major issue during his time as Castellan was the compilation and publication of a report detailing Cardassian crimes during the Occupation of Bajor. Feeling that Cardassia needed to acknowledge its crimes, he supported the report, promising that any Cardassian still living - regardless of rank or position - who had committed war crimes would be brought to account, even himself if need be.
Garak decided in 2388 not to run for re-election, and supported Natima Lang to succeed him as Castellan.
Quotes[]
| “ | Truth is in the eye of the beholder, doctor. I never tell the truth because I don't believe there is such a thing. That is why I prefer the straight line simplicity of cutting cloth. | „ |
| ~ Garak to Bashir (DS9: "Cardassians") |
| “ | I believe in coincidences. Coincidences happen every day. But I don't trust coincidences. | „ |
| ~ Garak to Bashir (DS9: "Cardassians") |
| “ | I can't belive that after all our lunches together over the years, you still distrust me." "Well i..." "There may be hope for you yet, Doctor. |
„ |
| ~ Garak is proud Bashir maintains a healthy paranoia about him |
Trivia[]
- Garak feels proud of his allies if they don't have complete trust in him (which is why he gets along so well with Odo and Sisko, whom openly voice distrust of him); some apprehension is often a good trait in the intelligence agency.
- He agrees with Quark that Root beer is an excellent metaphor for the Federation; cloying, happy and is enjoyable the more it's in your life.
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