Mortonn was a Cardassian/Ferengi hybrid and a low-level member of the Orion Syndicate. During the 2370s and 80s, he operated as an information broker on planet Eris II in the Demilitarized Zone. In 2372, Mortonn entered into an arrangement with Tal Shiar operative Vrian, who needed slave labor for his covert operations in the DMZ. Over the next seven years, Mortonn would set up over a thousand refugees to be kidnapped by the Tal Shiar, and provide disinformation to the Maquis to cover up Vrian's activities.