Dominion war machine

[mlsnoopy]

The Dominion had 20000+ ships in the AQ. When compared with the AQ empires thats an impresive number. Why was than the founder woried that the Klingons or the Romulans would try to invade the GQ?

[Captain Seafort]

The Dominion had 20000+ ships in the AQ.

Not quite - the combined Jem'Hadar/Cardassian/Breen fleet was 30,000 strong. While the Dominion probably contributed most of this force, due to their superior construction techniques and their reliance on the bugs, we don't have exact numbers regarding the breakdown of the combined fleet.

When compared with the AQ empires thats an impresive number. Why was than the founder woried that the Klingons or the Romulans would try to invade the GQ?

Simple paranoia - given the size of the Dominion, and the fact that they'd be fighting for their very survival, it's highly unlikely that an allied offensive into the Gamma Quadrant would be successful.

On the subject of the poll, I think there should be an option for "a bit of both". The Dominion probably had a strong standing fleet, but they'd be daft not to build up their forces once they decided to take on the Alpha Quadrant.

[KuvahMagh]

I'm with Seafort on this as I figure it would be some sort of mix.

[Sionnach Glic]

Agreed.

[Tsukiyumi]

And, another agreement here.

[Teaos]

As section 31 proved you dont need numbers on your side to kick arse...

[Mikey]

I think that the Dominion fleet would have been largely a standing one, given their incredible xenophobia, but certainly SOME buildup would have occurred.

[Teaos]

I could see them having a large portion of their fleet in moth balls ready to be commisioned in a few weeks.

[KuvahMagh]

True, but I'd say there was still at least some new construction involved, perhaps limited to the assembly of prefab parts, but new ships none the less.

[Teaos]

Was the Dominion Battleship a "new" design or just new to the AQ?

[Captain Seafort]

I'm not sure - it must have been built in the AQ, since the Feds knew very little about it, and if it had come through the wormhole DS9 would have been able to have a good look. It was never mentioned whether the design was developed in the AQ, or whether it was an existing design that they'd brought the plans for. Given how quickly it was built, I assume the latter.

[Teaos]

Yeah planning something like that out cant be a quick job even for the Dominion. But then you have to wonder why they didnt bring any through with them.

[Captain Seafort]

Probably either a) they didn't want to tip off the Federation to their existence or b) they wouldn't fit through the wormhole. It's as big, if not bigger, than DS9, and there was one episode (can't remember which one unfortunately) where DS9 was bring dragged towards the wormhole by something, and it was mentioned that it wouldn't survive the passage.

[Teaos]

a) they didn't want to tip off the Federation to their existence or

Doubt it, its not the Dominions style.

b) they wouldn't fit through the wormhole. It's as big, if not bigger, than DS9,

I dont think its quite that big, Its long but not overly wide. You might be thinking of the Massive ones around Cardassia in the final. Those were a different make apparently.

[Captain Seafort]

Doubt it, its not the Dominions style.

The Dominion have consistently used deception to gain an advantage. The Founders are the most obvious example, but there's also the Jem'Hadar shrouds, the false sensor returns in the Battle of the Omarian Nebula, and the fake fleet sent in "By Inferno's Light". It wouldn't be at all out of character to do their utmost to conceal the battleship's existence.

I dont think its quite that big, Its long but not overly wide. You might be thinking of the Massive ones around Cardassia in the final. Those were a different make apparently.

Good point.