Makbar was a Cardassian female who served as a Chief Archon on Cardassia Prime during the late-24th century.
History[]
In 2370, she presided over Miles O'Brien's trial for smuggling weapons to the Maquis. In fact, Makbar was part of an elaborate scheme to attempt to discredit the Federation's policies and to establish grounds to invade the DMZ to eliminate the Maquis. They attempted to portray the Maquis as "savage, Federation-born killers" who were operating with secret but official sanction from Starfleet Command. The plot failed when Commander Sisko discovered that it was a Cardassian agent disguised as Raymond Boone who used O'Brien's recorded voice to steal the weapons from Deep Space 9. Makbar immediately recognized the ersatz Boone when he was brought in, along with the unspoken threat from Sisko he would publicly expose the plan if O'Brien were convicted, embarrassing Cardassian Central Command in front of all Cardassia, and potentially risking a new conflict with the Federation. She quickly declared that O'Brien, though "guilty", would be released into Federation custody in the spirit of improving Federation-Cardassian relations, thus indicating she was part of the plot and acted so that it would not be publicly exposed. (DS9: "Tribunal")
Memorable quotes[]
"Mrs O'Brien, there's nothing for you to prepare. Your husband's verdict has already been determined. He is guilty. The trial will reveal how this guilt was proven by the most efficient criminal investigation system in the quadrant."
- - Makbar, to Keiko O'Brien
"Mr O'Brien is being treated with great care and respect."
"Good, because if he is not, I will hold you personally responsible. And if that sounds like a threat, it is."
"Gul Dukat's told me about you. You live up to your reputation, Commander."
"That's right. I do."
- - Makbar and Benjamin Sisko
"His execution is scheduled for next week."
"How can you schedule an execution before the trial even begins?"
"We believe in swift justice."
- - Makbar and Keiko O'Brien
"The offender, Miles O'Brien, Human, officer of the Federation Starfleet has been found guilty of aiding and abetting seditious acts against the state. The sentence is death. Let the trial begin."
- - Makbar, introducing Miles O'Brien's trial
"Gul Evek has tied the Maquis to this plot by quoting reliable sources. I think we deserve to know who these reliable sources are."
"Can you provide any details, Gul Evek?"
"I'm afraid that information cannot be revealed without risk to national security, Madame Archon."
"That's an acceptable answer."
- - Odo, Makbar and Evek
"Once again the Cardassian system of jurisprudence has worked to protect its people. A guilty man has been brought to justice. But, never let it be said that there is no room in this system for compassion. I sense in Mister O'Brien, a man with strong family ties, the potential for rehabilitation. And I'm sure he has gained a new appreciation of Cardassian law through this difficult process. Therefore, I am pleased, in the spirit of furthering Cardassian-Federation relations, to hereby set aside the verdict and to release Mister O'Brien into the custody of his Commander, Benjamin Sisko."
- - Makbar, after the plot to discredit the Federation is revealed
Appendices[]
Background information[]
Makbar was played by actress Caroline Lagerfelt.
The final draft script for "Tribunal" gave the pronunciation of Makbar's name as "MOCK-bahr" and went on to describe her as simply "a Cardassian woman". [1]
The character was used to personify the cold, even grinding, philosophy of the Cardassian judicial system. In her hairstyle, hair department head Josée Normand incorporated some of the unique design details from the Cardassian courtroom. "It was one of those times that I went over to the set for inspiration," she said. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, pp. 149 & 150)
Two of the costumes worn by Lagerfelt as Makbar were later sold off in the It's A Wrap! sale and auction. The first, a royal blue, velvet, long-sleeved, full-length jumpsuit, was sold for US$153.50 [2](X) while the second, a long-sleeved, full-length blue and black patterned jumpsuit, was sold for US$410.65. [3](X) The jumpsuit was also worn by background actress Susan Lewis on Deep Space Nine as indicated by a costume tag.
In his review of "Tribunal", author and screenwriter Dale Kutzera thought the character of Makbar, "not only makes a weak Cardassian, but runs counter to the races previously all-male hierarchy." (Cinefantastique, Vol 26 #1, p.111)
Apocrypha[]
In the Star Trek: Typhon Pact novel Raise the Dawn, set after the Dominion War, Makbar presides over the trial of Denison Morad, who has destroyed a Federation industrial replicator in Lakat. Makbar, a member of the True Way, is lenient towards Morad and sentences him to just one hundred days in the Hutet labor camp, with the intention of recruiting him into the group when he is released.
Makbar is also featured in the Star Trek Customizable Card Game.
External link[]
- Makbar at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works