Star Trek: The Klingon Empire Page 10
Narendra III Colonial Museum
This museum, dedicated to the Romulan attack and its aftermath, is located in the Mojatahl colony’s eastern quarter. It charts a full history of the settlement, the events leading up to that tragic day, and, of course, an extensive exploration of the attack itself, highlighted by recorded interviews from survivors and other witnesses. The museum is also host to a special annex of the Hall of Honor on Qo’noS, containing a permanent exhibit on the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-C and the role it played in the battle, commemorating the sacrifice of Captain Rachel Garrett and her crew and examining the subsequent shift in the Empire’s relations with the Federation. The museum is built atop a small plateau where its great glass dome catches the rays of the morning sun and redirects them to illuminate the tomb of K’pec’Ja, the leader of the colony’s security contingent who perished on the day of the attack while defending civilians from the Romulan onslaught. Using only a disruptor rifle from the outpost’s small armory, K’pec’Ja disabled four Romulan assault craft and led a group of eighteen settlers to safety before being mortally wounded. He was posthumously awarded the Order of the Bat’leth by Chancellor Kravokh and interred here, so that the story of his courage and sacrifice will be remembered forever.
SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT
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While initially reluctant to embrace tourism, the locals have recently been warming to the idea as the tragic history of the colony continues to resonate within the Empire and the Federation, driving a steady stream of visitors to the area. A small assortment of shops can be found scattered around the colony, but Mojatahl has no major retail center. Other merchants simply operate boutiques from their homes or farms. The colonists prefer this approach as it allows them greater opportunity to showcase the local creative talent, in everything from foodstuffs to candles, clothing, art, and sculpture.
Sleeping Klongat Curio Shop
A statue of a giant slumbering klongat cast in gold sits next to this dilapidated disaster shelter turned general store. South of Mojatahl and positioned for maximum effect just outside the spaceport hub where charter transports arrive and depart, the Sleeping Klongat stands ready to provide travelers with the sort of must-have items that are always forgotten during a vacation. Lha’drel, the retired farmer who owns the decrepit structure, is one of the few remaining survivors of the Romulan attack. If you ask respectfully, he’ll regale you with tales of heroism and tragedy from that day and the years afterward. Enjoy the stories, but keep an eye on your watch, or else you’re liable to become so engrossed that you miss your ride back to Qo’noS.
DINING
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While there are a few culinary options to choose from, remember that the majority of the vendors here are still working toward being able to cater to the increasing number of tourists in their midst. As such, the fare will largely be to the likings of the locals, which means it’ll crawl off its plate and point you back to your charter transport if you’re rude about the menu.
K’vaad’s Eatery
Situated near Mojatahl’s veng SuvwI’ botlh, or “town center,” this open-air restaurant is a favorite of colonists and is also one of the few establishments that caters to offworlder tastes. A replicator is on hand to fulfill non-Klingon dietary requirements, but if you’re looking to try something daring, then you can’t leave without sampling the ri’yatla liver. Taken from one of the planet’s larger game animals, this local delicacy is prepared by dousing it in a thick, spicy sauce known locally as qul nIm tlhagh or “fire butter,” which, according to one of our reviewers, tastes like it may have been extracted from the planet’s molten core. Tread carefully.
LODGING
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There are a handful of inns and lodges scattered around the main settlement, but those are limited as the colony’s infrastructure isn’t presently able to accommodate large numbers of outsiders. However, community leaders have seen the advantage of providing for longer stays by offworlders, and plans are afoot to expand the planet’s tourist accommodations as part of ongoing expansion efforts.
Sol’taj Rocks
Look closely and you’ll see that this quaint collection of bungalows overlooking the Sol’taj River, east of Mojatahl, is actually built on the remains of an emergency disaster relief camp, hastily erected in the days following the Romulan attack. Over time, the temporary housing shelters were replaced with more permanent structures as reconstruction efforts continued. Fed from waterfalls in the foothills of the Jo’vrong Mountains to the northeast, a fast-moving river runs through the area, cascading over large boulders littering the riverbed to create a series of challenging rapids that many choose to brave during the summer rafting season. A footbridge across the water will take you to the Monument to the Fallen, which, at night, looms like a dark, silent sentry above the trees lining the river.
HOW TO TALK TO KLINGONS (WITHOUT INSULTING THEM)
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Despite a reputation for being incredibly complex, in reality Klingon etiquette is rather straightforward and can be summarized by a simple axiom: Don’t insult a Klingon or a Klingon’s honor. What can make it tricky to abide by this rule are the sheer number of rituals and traditions that permeate Klingon culture. It’s therefore essential to familiarize yourself with such things before venturing into the Empire for your holiday excursion.
For example, Klingons respect strength and self-assurance, so don’t step back if a Klingon encroaches upon your personal space. Stand your ground, look directly at the Klingon you’re addressing, and speak in a bold, confident voice. This communicates that you are not offended by their proximity. Respond to insults not by questioning a Klingon’s opinion, but instead by offering your own observation about that Klingon. For example, if a Klingon steps up to you and informs you that you possess the warrior might of an insect, observe that they smell like the stable of an unwashed targ. As often as not, the response you’ll receive will be raucous laughter at having passed their little test and an invitation to share a drink.
It’s not just talk when it comes to dealing with a Klingon, either. There might even be instances during encounters of this sort where striking the other party is not only a viable option, but necessary. If a Klingon questions your honor or courage, it’s entirely acceptable to hit that person across the face. This demonstrates that you do possess your own personal honor and are therefore worthy of respect. However, there is, of course, room for misjudgment. When defending your honor in this way, do so with your fist, rather than an open hand. The former will gain you the genuine respect of the other party, while the latter signals that you find the person contemptible and are now challenging them to a battle to the death. We definitely recommend the first option.
Although violent confrontations between Klingons and hapless visitors were a much larger problem in years past, with the recent increase in tourism, most Klingons are learning to be more accepting of travelers who may not always be aware of the myriad and seemingly contradictory nuances of Klingon culture. This, along with outsiders’ increased awareness of Klingon customs and courtesies, has helped to alleviate the regularity of such occurrences. What you are more likely to encounter is locals amusing themselves by pretending to be offended by your bad Klingon language skills just to see the panic in your face. In all such situations, be bold, aggressive, and ready to run like a saber bear if the Klingon produces a d’k tahg knife.
QUIN’LAT
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MAP OF QUIN’LAT
GETTING AROUND
SIGHTS AND ACTIVITIES
Quin’lat Citadel
Museum of Military Triumph and Conquest
Three Turn Bridge
Great Domes of Qo’noS
SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT
nagh bIS’ub
Khamlet
DINING AND NIGHTLIFE
mIplIj yIjon
por SuS Tea House
Quark’s Bar, Grill, Gaming House, and Holosuite Arcade, Quin’lat
Quin’lat Plaza
bIQ’a’ retlh
SIDE TRIP: BORETH
GETTING AROUND
SIGHTS AND ACTIVITIES
Lullgh
Boreth Botanical Gardens
Spires of Boreth
lay’bogh DISmey
SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT
Sa’ vlrurqu’law’
DINING
LOCATED IN THE SUPERCONTINENT’S southern region and inland from the western shores facing the PoSbIQ’a’ Ocean, Quin’lat forms the southern boundary of the Qo’noS primary trade corridor that was established more than a thousand years ago. That route links this modestly sized metropolis to the First City, as well as destinations scattered across the continent.
The area was first claimed in the ninth century by Emperor Kaldon, who ordered the construction of a military fortress to provide protection for the deepwater port to the southwest and the access points north toward the First City. The original Quin’lat Citadel was a massive undertaking, with a ten-meter high stone wall encircling a compound that could house two thousand soldiers. Lookouts and long-range observation outposts served as satellites for the citadel, providing early warnings of potential invasion by sea or from the plains and mountains to the north and east.
After the renegade dictator, Me’droq, seized control of the citadel, as well as a nearby network of small villages and a monastery to the north known as the Great Domes of Qo’noS, Kaldon ordered a massive sea and land campaign to take them back. The unconventional tactics employed by Kaldon’s generals and the armies they commanded resulted in an early victory for the Empire and the total defeat of Me’droq, whom Kaldon later killed with his own d’k tahg blade. After the citadel and the surrounding region were reclaimed by imperial troops, the Klingon Empire made a firm commitment to ensuring it stayed out of the hands of marauders like Me’droq, and with investment in its defenses came the expansion and evolution of the scattered villages into a single city, Quin’lat.
Today, Quin’lat serves as the epicenter for the Klingon military industrial complex on Qo’noS, with most of its economy driven by the presence of dozens of factories and hundreds of warehouses that surround the city. Thousands of civilian employees and military personnel are concentrated here, manufacturing a broad spectrum of vital components for the Klingon Defense Force’s fleet of warships before they’re transported to orbital dockyards around the planet, or other space-based shipbuilding and repair facilities throughout the Empire. The city itself is a mix of architectural styles and infrastructure spanning more than six centuries. Ancient stone structures stand alongside modern buildings, and a conscious effort has been made to preserve as much of the original construction as possible. The most challenging aspect of this endeavor is the original citadel, which has begun to succumb to the ravages of time. A renewed push for restoring the historically significant bastion is currently under way.
GETTING AROUND
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Like most midsize cities on Qo’noS, Quin’lat possesses a reliable, if not stellar, mass-transit system, along with several options for securing privately chartered ground and air vehicles. With a network of transporter hubs and an anti-grav rail system also available, getting to any of the city’s major boroughs and landmarks is relatively easy. Aerial tours of Quin’lat offer the most picturesque way to appreciate the range of architectural styles on display in the city. Public transportation will get you to the grounds on which the original citadel stands, but you’ll have to walk the structure itself, as modern conveyances are not permitted inside the ancient fortress’s stone wall perimeter.
QUIN’LAT: A TURNING POINT FOR THE EMPIRE
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[First published in the 2295 Edition]
The importance of Quin’lat cannot be understated. I admit to personal bias, as the city is the place of my birth, and I still return here whenever my duties permit. However, there is no denying that the city’s role in Klingon history is one of distinction. It is a pivotal location that served to bring into sharp focus the Empire’s early struggles to unite the Klingon people, as personified by the conflict between Emperor Kaldon and one of his most storied nemeses, Me’droq.
Following his victory over his would-be rival, Kaldon set into motion a grand scheme to return Quin’lat to its former glory. Befitting its place in our history, the city was expanded in size as well as influence, a process that continued for centuries as Quin’lat became a nucleus for trade and commerce as well as the heart of the Klingon military machine. Every Klingon who has commanded a warship to victory has done so in a vessel constructed from components forged here, each crafted with the same dedication that any soldier would give to constructing their own personal weapon. In times of strife and great challenge, the men and women of this city have given their all toward furthering the security of all Klingon people.
Founded not through conquest but instead upon the simple principle of expansion and security for a people striving for unity, Quin’lat was and remains an anchor point not just in the beginning of our civilization but also in our future prosperity.
—Azetbur, Chancellor of the High Council
SIGHTS AND ACTIVITIES
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For the most part, Quin’lat has plenty to see and do, and many of the most intriguing points of interest naturally revolve around the city’s origins and history. The exhibits and landmarks you’ll find here paint an accurate, if sometimes unpleasant, picture of the events that provide Quin’lat with its indelible mark on Klingon history. Most of the city’s outlying areas—specifically the military facilities and factories—are off-limits to visitors. The military production plants are active around the clock, so expect congestion during peak travel times as workers move to and from these areas via mass transit.
Quin’lat Citadel
At the very core of the city rests the original fortress, which marks the Empire’s initial footprint in the region. Much like the Alamo and the Flavian Amphitheater from Earth’s ancient history, or the small military outpost around which the city of ShiKahr was constructed on Vulcan, the citadel stands alone, defying the modern architecture and technology that have encroached up to the very threshold of the castle’s ancient fortifications. To a casual observer, the archaic buttresses and the enclosure they protect are an anachronism at the heart of a modern, thriving metropolis. Inside the citadel’s courtyard, visitors will find restored battlements that house some of the original cannons and catapults from an age before handheld projectile and energy weapons. An honor guard permanently assigned to the bastion represents the longest-serving military division on the planet. Its responsibilities include attending to the structure itself, as well as the timeworn implements of war it contains. It also carries out morning and evening ceremonial flag processions. If their duties permit, every member of the guard unit is authorized to conduct a guided tour of the fortress and offer insight and stories about the castle and the battles to which it bore silent witness.
Museum of Military Triumph and Conquest
Located on the city’s southern outskirts, this museum is an evolving monument to the innumerable warriors who have fought and died in service to the Empire, as well as the battles they won and lost. Housed within a modernized reliquary that was originally built during Emperor Kaldon’s reign nearly 1,500 years ago, the museum spans seven chambers filled with exhibits and artifacts, including thousands of pieces seized following Klingon conquests across the quadrant. Many noteworthy battles are chronicled here, along with information on enhancements in warfare technology and tactics, and invaluable accounts from participants on all sides of the conflicts. Not only is the museum the first repository to provide a complete account of the evolution of Klingon warfare, it also holds the distinction of being the first such institution recognized by the High Council as bearing major historical and cultural significance. To that end, the museum receives considerable financial and governmental support aimed at ensuring the conserva
tion and increased public availability of its ever-growing storehouse of artifacts and documents. In addition to the exhibits themselves, visitors can observe Klingon preservation technicians as they work to refurbish or repair various artifacts. Everything from thousand-year-old bat’leth and armor to Jem’Hadar fighter craft seized during the Dominion war are brought here for restoration.
Three Turn Bridge
Located north of Quin’lat on the way to the First City, the bridge spans a gap between two small atolls at the tail end of the minor HuD’mach mountain range, offering a spectacular view of the YIjatlhQo’ ngech Valley. On a clear day, you can also see the outskirts of the First City. According to Klingon mythology, it was here that Kahless the Unforgettable placed himself between the capital and the army poised to invade it. Sworn to protect his home in the name of the budding Klingon Empire, Kahless stood alone at the midpoint of the mighty bridge, wielding the bat’leth he had forged with his own hands and vowing that no enemy would pass. Accounts vary from retelling to retelling, but all claim that no less than five thousand enemy soldiers fell that day, victims either of the emperor’s blade or his bare hands. There’s no way of confirming that number, or whether the epic battle even took place, but all agree that it’s an enthralling story, as evidenced by the hundreds of thousands of Klingons and offworlders that visit the bridge each year. Constructed from the wood of the mighty, indomitable SIHbe’ Sor tree, the bridge stands unbowed against the ravages of time.