THE BADLANDS
 
The Badlands is the name given to a dangerous region of space in the Alpha Quadrant, close to the Demilitarised Zone, that seperates Federation Space from Cardassian Territories.  The region contains several unstable, highly charged plasma fields.  Many reports of severe local neutrino disturbances within the Badlands have also been recorded.  Several vessels have know to have been lost in the Badlands, and all starships are warned to stay away.  At Warp 7 the Badlands are approximately six hours travel from the Deep Space Nine Station.
 The Badlands have recently become an important area of operations for the Marquis, a group that is opposed to the creation of the Demilitarized Zone.  The Maquis believe they must act to protect themselves from the often violent Cardassian aggressors.  Both the Federation and the Cardassians consider the Marquis to be outlaws, but in their own minds they are Freedom Fighters.  As it is very difficult to navigate through the Badlands in a starship and becuase Warp Drives can not be used in plasma storms,  The Marquis have a great advantage in their small ships to be able to hide in the Badlands from the Federation and the Cardassians.  Only the most advanced and smaller Federation ships can safely navigate the Badlands, like the Intrepid Class and the Defiant.