THE BADLANDS is the name given to the region of space along the Tholian / Cardassian / Federation border. It was noted for being an inhospitable region at the best of times. When the Federation first encountered the Cardassian Alliance, this region was the setting. The Badlands are notorious for the nebulaeonic 'pockets' that litter the vast reaches of it's asteroid belts and dead systems. Several small stars, usually 'white dwarf' types provide the nucleus for several systems in this region. The Cardassian occupation of Bajor and the Cardassian-Federation conflicts led to the 'Marquis' rebel group operating out of this region for years. With the Allied victory concluding the Dominion Wars, Starfleet promised the Klingon and Romulan Empires that they would patrol this area, but claim no territory within it. It has become an 'unacknowledged' Neutral Zone similar to the Outlands, and serves as one of the 'last frontiers' of known space.

CURRENT FEDERATION STATUS: NEUTRAL