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Information
from Sector 001 |
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USF Species
Databank |
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The
Klingons:
The Klingon Empire |
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Klingon Empire
The Klingon nation, founded some 1,500 years ago by Kahless the Unforgettable, who
first united the Klingon people, by killing the tyrant Molor. First contact with
the Klingon empire and the Federation took place in 2218, a disastrous event
that led to nearly a century of hostility between the two powers. In 2267
negotiations between the Federation and the Klingon Empire were on the verge of
breaking down. The Klingons had issued an ultimatum to the Federation to
withdraw from disputed areas claimed by both the Federation and the Klingon
Empire or face war. The hostilities came to a head at a planet Organia, the only
class M planet in the area. Unknown to either combatants, the Organians were
incredibly advanced noncorporeal lifeforms who imposed the Organian peace treaty
on both parties, thus effectively ending armed hostilities.
The Klingons entered into a brief alliance with the Romulan Star Empire
around 2268, when an agreement between the two powers resulted in the sharing of
military technology and spacecraft designs, providing the Romulans with Klingon
battle cruisers. By the mid-2280's, Klingons were using ships described as
Birds-of-Prey that were equipped with cloaking devices.
A new chapter in relations between the Klingons and the Federation was opened
in 2293 when a catastrophic explosion on Praxis caused serious environmental
damage to the homeworld. In the economic disarray that followed, the Klingon
chancellor, Gorkon, leader of the high council, found that his empire could no
longer afford its massive military forces. Gorkon therefore launched a peace
initiative, offering to end some 70 years of hostilities with the Federation.
Just prior to a major peace conference, Gorkon was murdered by Federation and
Klingon interests who sought to maintain the status quo. Gorkon's successor, his
daughter, Azetbur, continued her father's work , and successfully concluded the
Khitomer accords with the Federation later that year, ending nearly a century of
hostilities.
The Klingon High Council was a hotbed of political intrigue that nearly
plunged the Empire into civil war in 2367 when council leader K'mpec died of
poison. This murder, viewed as a killing without honor under Klingon tradition,
triggered a bitter struggle to determine K'mpec's successor. K'mpec had taken
the unorthodox precaution of appointing a non-Klingon, Jean-Luc Picard, as his
Arbiter of Succession. Under Picard's mediation, political newcomer Gowron
emerged as the sole candidate for council leader. Forces loyal to a powerful
Duras family unsuccessfully attempted to block Gowron, plunging the Empire into
a brief but bitter civil war in early 2368. Though their nation was called an
Empire, it had not been ruled by an emperor for more than three centuries. This
situation changed rather dramatically in 2369, when clerics of Boreth produced a
clone of Kahless the Unforgettable. Although their initial claim that the clone
was actually Kahless was quickly disproven, this clone was regarded as the
rightful heir to the throne and with the support of the high council leader
Gowron was installed as the ceremonial Emperor of the Klingon people.
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Klingon High Council
The Klingon High Council is the ruling body of the Klingon Empire. The
council was composed of about two dozen members and met in the Great Hall of the
First City of the Klingon Homeworld. The High Council has a long history of
political intrigue and power struggles. When council member Duras attempted to
unjustly convict the late Mogh of having betrayed his people at Khitomer, the
council, led by K'mpec, was willing to let the accusation stand fear the
powerful Duras family would plunge the Empire into civil war. K'mpec held the
position of council leader for longer than anyone in history, until his death in
2367. His successor, Gowron, successfully fought off a challenge by the Duras
family to place Duras's illegitimate son, Toral, as council leader. The struggle
culminated in a brief but bitter civil war between council factions in 2368.
Gowron's victory was in part achieved by his promise to restore rightful honor
to the Mogh family in exchange for military support by the sons of Mogh. d'k
tahg was once a member of the council.
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Honorific & Family Lines
HonorificTai, Vestai, Sutai, Zantai, Epitai
The Honorific in a Klingon's name (eg. Kahless Vestai-d'k tahg) is an
indication of how well thought of that person is within their family line. If
there is no Honorific then the person is probably to young to have done anything
noteworthy. Any ships officer would be "tai". Perhaps "vestai" if highly placed.
A captain of a major vessel would be "sutai" or if they had done something
famous or distinguished "zantai". An Admiral would be "zantai" certainly.
"epitai" is very rare and would only be used for the leader of a family (large
and powerful) line.
Family LinesFamily Lines: Klingon lines are more than families and less
then the great dynasties of old Earth. They are more like vast networks of
mutual obligations and defense agreements. Lines rarely feud because this
usually weakens both to the point of destruction. There comes a time when a line
becomes so big that some members adopt a new name and become line-founders. Most
fail because their first act, in order to become recognized by the High council,
is usually something foolishly bold. Still, all potential founder's are still
well respected in the Empire.
And though the cold brittles the flesh, The chain
of duty cannot be broken, For the chain is forged in the heart's own
fire Which cold cannot extinguish
Yet if my line should die, It
dies with its teeth in the enemy's throat, It dies with its name on the
enemy's tongue. For just as mere life is not victory, Mere death is not
defeat; And in the next world I shall kill the foe a thousand
times, Laughing, Undefeated.
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