Places of Worship

Bajoran Temple
Located on the Bajora, the Temple is the center of faith for those who live on Starbase 968 and follow the Bajoran faith. Continuing the purely Bajoran architectural theme of the Bajora, the Temple has services twice daily, and can hold 100 beings comfortably in its sanctuary. There are also private prayer areas for those worshipers wishing to have solitude as they pray to the Prophets.

The Temple is maintained by Prylar Talirah, a middle-aged Bajoran who was once a former member of the Bajoran Resistance. Leaving behind those days, he has doned the cloth of the Bajoran clergy in an effort to continue serving his people. His aura exudes peace to all those in his presence. His words and uncanny ability to sense those whose paghs are troubled make him well sought after by those both Bajoran and non-Bajoran. Talirah can often be found outside the Temple, ringing the traditional chimes that announce the beginning of services.

First Baptist Church of Bajora
Located on Level One of the Promenade, the First Baptist Church of Bajora is a change of pace from the usual Bajoran temple or other religous domains on the base. Reflecting a traditional Bibilical backing, the church is adorned with sparse decorations, but has the essentials of a Baptist church. The traditional cross above the pulpit as well as a baptistry behind the pulpit provide all the modern comforts of the old Southern churces back on Earth. Red carpet offsets the oak pews which are 18 in number.

Reverand Michael Hampton is the presiding minister of the church and is always available for counsel at the slightest bit of notice. He runs the church with a firm yet gentle hand. His goal is not only to spread God's word throughout the galaxy, but to pave the way for the spiritual sanctity on board Starbase 968.

Public Places

Bajora
The entirety of Recrecreational Deck 6 (Deck 335) is known as the Bajora and is a home away from home for the large Bajoran population of the Starbase. The centerpiece of the Bajora is the Emissary Fountain. The other parts of the Bajora include the Bajoran Temple and a marketplace comprised of many stalls selling fresh produce, clothing, religious pieces, arts and crafts, and a Bajoran tour company. Performers also wander the area, entertainig the enormous crowds that visit this piece of Bajor daily.

Promenade
The Promenade occupies three decks of Starbase 968, from Recreational Decks 1-3 (Decks 330-332). Like the Bajora, the Promenade has a multitude of vendors and merchants, all selling wares from across the known and unknown universe, and services to suit any being's needs. Activity here is constant, with visitors from all sectors of the Federation and beyond making the Promenade amongst the first places they stop upon their arrival. While a great deal of the Promenade is open-air, there are crosswalks spanning the space, allowing one to traverse from one side to another. Levels are connected by turbolifts and stairwells.

Jadzia Dax Memorial Library
Occupying the entirety of Recreational Decks 4-5 (Decks 333 and 334), this library is named in memorium for the eighth Trill host of the Dax symbiont, murdered onboard Deep Space Nine during the Federation/Dominion War. While it would seem antiquated, the library is filled with not only hard-bound books and records, but also has data terminals that can access all major datanets and newsfeeds. Access to this information is free of charge. As such, the library is often used by the public or independent scholars for research.

Park Recreation Deck, Deck 550
This is popular area of the starbase is the only "natural" space on the station. It is often visited by those who have been in space for extended periods of time, or who can't go planetside to Bajor. The park is filled with a multitude of non-threatening flora and fauna from throughout the Alpha Quadrant. At its center is a large lake, which is suitable for a number of aquatic activities. A trail that surrounds the lake is often used for jogging, walking, and cycling. Benches are also scattered throughout the park for those just wanting to sit and do nothing at all. The "sky" for the park is generated by a large-scale holographic net, and can be used to simulate any planet's sky, synched to correlate with the day and night shifts of the starbase. Its lush green grass and shade-providing trees are inviting to those wanting to escape the confines of the starbase or a starship.

Restaurants and Bars

Sharma's
Sharma's was one of the first establishments of its sort to open on Starbase 968. Found on Level One of the Promenade, this bar is a popular hangout for the Starfleet and civilian population, and is well known as one of the best hangouts in the sector.

The proprietor of the bar, Sharma, was a former mercenary who during her exploits aided Connor Andrews, former CO of Starbase 968. Because of her selfless assistance, Andrews has been indebted to her. When SB 968 went online and began to garner new business enterprises, it's no surprise that Sharma was readily able to get a Federation starbase business license.

Standing at just over seven feet in height, Sharma is a 30ish human from Jamaica, Earth. Her dark, ebon skin and accent give away her land of origin. Like the people of that small island, there's nothing she enjoys more than a good party and a good time. As such, she sees to it that her customers leave her establishment feeling better than any when they arrived. This graceful and quick-witted woman loves the role of hostess, and dotes on her customers constantly.

The restarants decor is a mix of Jamaican tropical and Bajoran. Other than authentic Jamaican, the restaurant serves no particular style of food, instead preferring to serve any and all varieties of food. This lack of specialization means that the quality of a particular style of food is just a step below the authentic style. Sharma prides herself as having a kitchen with a broad range of foods, thus allowing her to serve any and all that grace her door. She also takes pride in her bar, for its mix of both synthehol and real alcohol. As such, any drink can be had, but for drinks such as Romulan Ale, expect to pay a few extra strips of latinum.

Sharma's has a mix of games and entertainment, ranging from Terran billiards to gambling games such as dabo. There are also ten holosuites available for renting on an hourly basis. Finally, there is always some sort of music playing, either recorded or live, with an open mike night held weekly. Anyone fortunate enough to wake up just before the bar opens gets treated to hearing Sharma singing a song or two. She may even allow one to sing an early morning duet with her.

The Battling Bat'leth
The Battling Bat'leth is a bar run by the aging female Klingon T'Quilla of the House of Toramal. Located on Level Two of the Promenade, its entry portal is surrounded by ancient Klingon script which reads, "Those with a warrior's heart may enter." The decor is decidedly Klingon, with its dark corners and torch/firepit lighting. Fights are known to break out commonly in the Bat'leth, which only serves to attract the more hardier visitors and inhabitants of the starbase. Still, T'Quilla doesn't allow the fighting to get to the point of destroying her property. If it does, be certain that this retired officer of the Empire will quickly put an end to it before starbase Security can intervene.

T'Quilla keeps her family's antique bat'leth hanging behind the bar, well within distance of her hand. Rumor has it that the last person who attempted to steal the bat'leth from the bar suffered a fate worse than death. If pressed, T'Quilla will neither confirm nor deny the rumors, but will caution against learning the truth first-hand.

Entertainment varies at the bar from Klingon storytelling and poetry readings, to the out of place strains of the Bajoran house band. T'Quilla is known to often tell stories that can excite and interest any listener.

The food is typical Klingon fare. Rokegh blood pie, qagh, heart of targ, bloodwine, and a multitude of other Klinzhi delicacies are on the menu. T'Quilla refuses to serve anything that isn't Klingon. Her belief is that "if anyone cares for a meal not fit for a warrior, they can go to Sharma's or Lee-ta's!" As for drinks, an infamous quote from T'Quilla is:

"Synthahol! Not in my bar! I only serve REAL drinks, none of that replicated garbage!"

Like its owner, the bar is outgoing, boisterous, and a challenge for the faint of heart.

Leeta's
Leeta's on the Bajora, or simply Leeta's, is run by a middle-aged human woman, Selina Marks. Selina, originally from Seattle, Washington, Earth, chose the name of the restaurant in honor of a friend she was close to when she herself was a dabo girl in the DS9 bar know as Quark's. This fine dining establishment serves purely traditional Terran cuisine of the highest caliber. A minimum of semi-formal dress is required, as are reservations.

Despite her success as a restaurantuer, Selina is far from being elitist or haughty, as one would assume from a visit to her establishment. Instead, she well remembers her "working class" roots, and is accessible to any who wish to speak to her. Still, she has learned to appreciate the finer things in life, and her style of dress and graceful manner exemplify this best.

The interior design of the restaurant is best described as romantic, with soft lighting often provided by candlelight. Selina chose to place secluded, intimate booths about the perimeter of the restaurant, leaving the center open for the large well-stocked bar, bandstand, and hardwood dance floor. The air is perfumed with spices and flora common to Earth. The overall mood suggests an atmosphere to be shared by close friends or lovers.

Be advised that Leeta's is not inexpensive, but you pay for what you get. Just be sure to bring enough Fed creds, latinum, or your Ferengi Express Latinum card to cover what is guaranteed to be an enjoyable evening for all.

The Golden Sky
Located on Level Two of the Promenade, the Golden Sky is a fine dining experience. With its distinctly Bajoran decor of Bajoran plants, and a fishpond at its center teeming with Bajoran fish, the atmosphere is warm, relaxing, and inviting. The fare is Bajoran, both traditional and modern. The Sky is reputed to serve the best hasperat on the station.

The owner, Calna Janat, is a Bajoran woman that wanted to forget the bad times of the past and start anew. The unmarried middle-aged woman is always upbeat, but her bright blue eyes always seem to express more than she is willing to talk about.

Starbase 968's Best Doughnuts
Located on one of the crosswalks of the Promenade's second level, this small shop is run by a family of Kuth'wati, small, tentacled green aliens. They seem to regard doughnuts, and the proper preparation thereof, as being of nearly religious importance.

Fleet officers in the know often say that the confections which come from this shop are the best in the sector, but what is certain is that the truly are Starbase 968's best doughnuts.

Grand Nagus Prophet/Profit
Located on Level One of the Promenade, the Grand Nagus Prophet/Profit is an establishment owned by the Ferengis Zenark and Nume, and is managed by Sgt. Feargus Kinnelly of the SFMC. After getting stuck on the station after a deal to sell neo-tribbles went bad, Zenark and Nume formed a partnership to open a pub with Sgt. Kinnelly to fulfil the need for a quiet place to make a deal, have a good beer, and indulge in vices. It serves as an alternative to the fine food and bright lights of Sharma's, and the multiple knife wounds in the back at the Battling Bat'leth.

The pub is decorated in the old pub style with hardwoods and assorted posters, football team jerseys, and oddities from across the galaxy, with mostly low lighting. It features a full line of authentic beers and spirits from Sigma Iotia, as well as a range of alcoholic and syntheholic drinks from around the known galaxy. Food is strictly pub variety, though Nume has been known to surprise with some amazing Italian dishes.

A range of gambling...from cards to dabo is available. The Bajoran Dabo Twins, Steris and Sterail, ensure that patrons, regardless of preference, have a handsome and attentive host at the dabo tables...and the off duty Marines who frequent the pub make sure the two are treated with respect. An antique dart board, with a plaque commemorating other famous bars and drinkers in the Bajor system hangs in a back corner. For more private interests, holosuites can be rented for either entertainment sims or private meetings.

Prominent is large monitor listing the exact distance from the pub to other places in the galaxy. Currently, it lists Ferenginar (home of Zenark and Nume) and Galway, Ireland (home of Kinnelly). An interesting bit of trivia: the neon sign outside randomly changes from "Prophet" to "Profit".

Mario's Old New York
Located on Level Two of the Promenade, the restaurant is build around a holographic replication of an old New York diner run by Mario Cusso and his daughter Theresa. Normally there is a long counter with built in chairs on the "street side" (longest wall) and the left wall, with four-person tables and chairs on a hardwood floor in the centre of the room. On all the walls other that the entrance is a full time hologram of scenes from the city. Through a window, cars can been seen flying by over the street out on the long wall, with pedestrian traffic, and the occasional argument or fistfight in the crowd. The two short walls show an alleyway also thought windows, with some pedestrian traffic, and a random mugging on very rare occasions.

The food served is mostly North American junk food, but Mario is known best for his fine Italian cuisine. He can cook just about any common Terran dish. After 1900 hours, everyday except Sunday, all the tables and chairs in the center of the room are taken out of the program, chairs are set around the room and the dance floor is opened, all computer programmed and controlled. The holographic DJ known as "Losing Lou" provides music with the appropriate light show. On Sunday nights, the place becomes a small movie theatre, also a program controlled hologram.

Shops and Stores

Muddy Waters Exotic Food Shop
Muddy Waters is a quaint, 20th century style shop, located on Level One of the Promenade, specialising in exotic foods, and teas of the universe. The decor is predominantly 20th century "corner dairy". The shelving covers two walls, with a U shaped counter in front of it, and it is very well stocked. There are very few things that cannot be bought or ordered from Muddy Waters...for a price. The interior is painted in soft pastel hues, and a long beaded curtain hanging from a doorway separates the shop from the back rooms. The first thing you notice on entering is the mixture of fine aromas. There is also a faint incense fragrance which hangs in the air. Near the back of the shop, almost hidden from view, there is a small fish tank with two brightly coloured fish, which bubbles softly. The owner, Geena Coseila, opened the small shop after a relationship went sour, and she could not afford to return to Earth.

Lee Kang Chi's Antiques
Found on Level Two of the Promenade, this shop is off the beaten track of the main thoroughfare of the deck. One of several specialist shops found on the base, Lee Kang's specialises in antiques from across the galaxy. Lee takes pride in his ability to track down those hard to find items, even those belonging to long gone civilizations.

Visitors to the shop are greated by a sign in Chinese lettering over the door. The sign wishes all who pass through this door luck, fortune, and good health. The store is always open, as Lee Kang works during the night, and his son managing things during the day.

A tiny ringing bell announces a one's arrival as they pass through the intricately carved hinged antique wooden door. Spread throughout the shop are antiques, curios, Chinese remedies, art supplies, and assorted other objects. It is always crowded with objects on shelves, hanging from ceilings, and kept in neat rows of drawers. The rear of the shop is hidden from view by a beaded curtain.

The shop's owner, Lee Kang Chi, is an older human of Chinese descent. Beyond this, little is known about him other than rumor. He is always of good humor, and has a bit of wisdom kept ready for all who care to listen. He is also well known as a source of information, through sources which still remain a mystery. If the rumors about him are correct, and he truly is well over 160 Terran years of age, then perhaps it is no wonder that Lee Kang Chi has managed to shroud his past.