The writers and producers of "Q-Less" developed the episode to show that "DS9" was still connected to the "Star Trek" universe. To facilitate this idea, two "TNG" characters, Vash, played by Jennifer Hetrick, and Q, played by John de Lancie, returned to "DS9". Vash made her first appearance on "TNG" in the episode "Captain's Holiday", and then returned in "Qpid"; Q had appeared in most seasons of "TNG" since the . "TNG" writer Hannah Louise Shearer, known for writing episodes such as "" and "", also crossed over to "DS9". "Q-Less" was the last "Star Trek" writing credit for Shearer.