Hanok, a Karemman, was elected chief overseer for the Commercial Authority twice. (TNG novel: Q & A) In 2372, Hanok met secretly with Captain Benjamin Sisko and the crew of the USS Defiant near a Class-J gas giant in the Gamma Quadrant. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the economic problems his people had with using the Ferengi as the middleman between his people and the United Federation of Planets. The Jem'Hadar discovered the meeting and Hanok's ship fled into the gas giant. Hanok was trapped with Quark after the Defiant was damaged after trying to rescue the ship. Hanok and Quark were able to deactivate the weapon and Hanok, impressed with Quark, agreed to continue doing business with the Ferengi and the Federation. (DS9 episode: "Starship Down")