Would the Federation expand?

[McAvoy]

800 million dead plus millions dead on other worlds. The homeworld is devastated. Other planets outside the the sphere when the Dominion probably devastated. Shipyards destroyed or damaged.

Perhaps a fragment of its self without a government.

[Teaos]

Same as Germnay after WWII and they came back strong.

[SomosFuga]

The UFP is always in expantion. Bayor joins after the end of the war. I believe the cardassians or the CU as a whole may join also, althought the animosity between bajorans and cardassians may be an obstacle.

Do we know somethink about what happened with the worlds in DMZ? After the dominion war the previous treaty between UFP and CU probably is no longer valid so those worlds should have return to UFP. Plus KE and RSE would like to claim some space/territory from the defeated.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

They'd probably have to absorb the DMZ into itself to keep the peace there.

[SomosFuga]

I believe the cardassians would join the UFP sooner than later, especially if there are other powers trying to get what is left of the CU resources by force.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Ooh, that's a good point. Better the Federation than the Klingons or Romulans.

[McAvoy]

Possibly. I think that would make a huge impact poltically with the rest of Alpha and Beta Quadrant. The UFP would gain a considerable amount of planets, resources and even ships, something that maybe even the Klingons may not like.

Perhaps that is what tips the scale in the Federation's favor. I always had this feeling that the Dominion War put the Federation past all the other powers for good. From then on, everyone else is playing catch up, and if the UFP takes in the Cardassian Union, well that would just further the gap.

[Teaos]

And the other sides get desperate to even the feild and start playing with weapons like omega to even the feild.

[McAvoy]

Perhaps. I mean imagine the political implications if for example Mexico joined the US as bunch of more states. Not many would welcome that the US just gained a considerable amount of territory and resources, as well as manpower. Yes Mexico has issues, and it would take a long time for the US to correct them (if at all).

Cardassians would kinda be like that.

[SomosFuga]

That is a good analogy. I don´t know if mexicans would like it though.

[Tyyr]

Didn't the Cardassians turn fascist because of resource shortages? With access to Federation aide and resources it's possible that the main reason for going full Nazi could be eliminated and the more spiritual side of the Cardassians could reassert itself.

Then again if Star Trek Online is to be believed the Cardassians aren't just going to join they're going to take over. Half my DOffs are Cardassians.

[Deepcrush]

Cardassians are a martial culture, so its not a surprise that so many would want to find some for of Civil Service in life.

[McAvoy]

Considering now that they truly are resource poor because they are relying on the UFP to control its allies and trying rebuild a heavily devastated world, the Cardassians could be in situation similar to 1920's to early 1930's Germany if UFP doesn't pay close enough attention.

I do wonder if pride will prevent the Cardassians from joining too soon after the DW.

[Teaos]

Also lets remember that a lot of people in the federation really really hate the Cardassians... maybe they wont be welcome.

[Deepcrush]

Pride brought them into the DW, pride caused them to pick a fight with the people helping them and in the end they turned about. I think they've paid their dues enough and also they are really lacking any other options.