Onial was a Bajoran man, a sergeant in the Bajoran Militia. In 2372, Sergeant Onial accompanied Lieutenant Carlien Anra to Deep Space 9 to take Quark and Rom into custody. Quark and Rom had defied a edict passed on Bajor that ordered all Ferengi to leave Bajoran space due to the current crisis over Grand Nagus Zek's refusal to return the Orb of Wisdom. (DS9 novel: The 34th Rule) Onial and Carlien were later assigned to the protection detail of First Minister Asarem Wadeen. (DS9 novel: Ascendance)