True Way

"The True Way? Oh, that’s a long story."

- Elim Garak on the True Way.

The True Way was a fundamentalist group in Cardassian society. The group sought to return Cardassia to the old ways.

The group had been founded during the early days of the Cardassian Union when their society was still under the control of several powerful families. The True Way was founded by these families to keep control of Cardassia as the society changed.

By the 2370s the True Way had become a terrorist group dedicated to overthrowing the new Detapa Council, and restoring Cardassia to its former glory. They began targeting the Federation and Bajoran government. True Way operatives assassinated two Bajoran officials and attempted to assassinate First Minister Shakaar. They also destroyed the runabout USS Orinoco.

Largely silent during the Dominion war, the True Way returned after the war as it opposed the democratic reforms underway in Cardassian society.

Novel Continuity
In the 2380s the True Way worked with the Bajoran Collaborator Baras Rodirya to assassinate Federation President Nanietta Bacco. Their operatives assassinated Bacco on the new Deep Space Nine during dedication ceremonies. While Baras tried very hard to pin the blame on the Typhon Pact in order to start a war with them, he and the True Way were exposed due to the efforts of officers such as Jean-Luc Picard and William Riker.

Online Continuity
The True Way reemerged as a terrorist group in order to expel the Federation from its Cardassia and to reinstate the old government. In the 2380s they were led by Gul Madred.