Madred

Gul Madred was a Cardassian male in the Star Trek universe He appeared on the episode Chain of Command: Part II and was the Cardassian Gul who tortured Captain Jean-Luc Picard in an attempt to break the man.

As a child Madred was a homeless and starving resident of the city of Lakat on Cardassia. Finding some taspar eggs, he starting eating the eggs before an older boy found him and took the eggs, breaking one of Madred's arms in the process. Later Madred joined the Cardassian military and came to see them as the saviors of the Cardassian people since the military helped eliminate the rampant poverty on Cardassia.

In 2369 the Cardassian military decided to capture Picard in order to uncover Starfleet's plans regarding the defense of Minos Korva. They manufactured evidence that they were building a metagenic weapon capable of being transmitted via theta-band subspace carrier waves on Celtris III. The ruse was successful. Being the only active Starfleet Captain with experience in theta-band carrier waves Starfleet sent him to Celtris while leaving Captain Edward Jelico in command of the Enterprise. Soon after arriving on Celtris III the Cardassians soon captured Picard.

Madred then went to work on Picard. Madred had a device implanted in Picard that he could use to inflict pain on the Captain. He then used drugs to attempt to uncover the plans. He then used torture, using methods designed to strip Picard of his individuality by denying him clothing and referring to Picard simply as human. He then would shine four bright lights in Picard's face, and tell Picard that there were five lights. Throughout the process Picard refused to say that there were anything other than four lights, for which Madred inflicted pain on him. Madred even allowed his daughter Jil Orra to witness his work activities, mocking humans in her presence as being uncaring of their children.

The Enterprise crew figured out what the Cardassians were truly up to, and were able to force the invasion force heading for Minos Kova to abandon their plans. Jelico demanded the return of Picard, to which the Cardassians agreed.

Madred attempted one final session with Picard to see if he could break his will. Again he shined the four lights in Picard's face and tried to get Picard to say there were five lights. Picard hesitated when answering Madred's questions. Meanwhile Gul Lemec came in and ordered Picard's immediate release. Before leaving Madred's presence Picard yelled "THERE...ARE...FOUR LIGHTS!" at Madred.

An exhausted Picard was transported back to the Enterprise, resuming command of his ship. He admitted to Troi that while Madred didn't break him, he had come close to doing so, and that for a few seconds Picard thought he actually saw five lights.