Star Trek: The Klingon Empire Page 3
Nentay: Rite of Ascension. A two-part coming-of-age ceremony in which a young Klingon is officially recognized as a warrior.
QI’tu’: In Klingon mythology, paradise, or the source from which all life on Qo’noS sprang.
QuchHa’: The unhappy ones. Specifically, this term refers to those Klingons who were affected in the twenty-second century by the Qu’Vat virus, either directly or as a result of heredity. The main consequence of the virus was to rob the infected Klingons of their prominent cranial ridges. It also undermined or impeded their overall physiology so that they more closely resembled humans. QuchHa’ have all but died off, but you may well encounter the odd specimen during your travels.
R’uustai: A ceremony in which two individuals who are not linked by blood or marriage are bonded together, making them siblings and members of each other’s houses and families.
Sto-Vo-Kor: This is the afterlife sought by all Klingon warriors, comparable to Elysium from Greek mythology. It is here that those deemed worthy are accepted into everlasting service to the Empire, destined to fight an unending battle against great adversaries.
THE FIRST CITY
* * *
MAP OF THE FIRST CITY
GETTING AROUND
SIGHTS AND ACTIVITIES
The Great Hall
Hall of Warriors
Federation Embassy
The Old Quarter
Order of the Bat’leth Shrine
Kahless Historical Museum
Hall of Honor
The Caves of No’Mat
Museum of Reclaw
SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT
Pao’La Open Air Bazaar
Soridiem’s Klin zha Parlor
The Dream of the Fire
DINING AND NIGHTLIFE
‘lwlIj jachjaj
Votaq’s
Kiretek’s Inn
LODGING
Hapwlj nagh mebpa’mey
Hotel Jarantine
Riverfront Endave
LOOKING TO EXPERIENCE ALL OF QO’NOS in one handy package? You can’t do any better than a trip to the sprawling, storied metropolis that is the First City, or veng wa’Dich, as the locals call it. Not just the planet’s capital, it’s also the seat of power for all of the Klingon Empire.
Located near the western edge of the planet’s major continental landmass, the First City sits along the Qam-Chee River. In ancient times, the river facilitated commerce and trade as well as the movement of military forces to the Sea of Gatan and westward to the PoSbIQ’a’ Ocean. Originally a fortress set within the protective boundaries of a mountain range, the First City predates even the Age of Kahless. As Kahless’s influence continued to expand along with that of the budding Klingon Empire, the one-time stronghold was chosen to serve as the center of imperial power. The city that sprang up around the fortress would continue to grow during the ensuing years, eventually becoming the major metropolis it is today.
The First City is a visual delight for travelers looking to immerse themselves in the history and culture of a civilization as long-lived as the Klingon Empire. It is an amalgam of ancient and modern architectural styles spanning centuries of enduring and defunct dynasties and Great Houses. The oldest structures bear testimony to the city’s origins as a military fortress, with designs reflecting the necessity for defense against aerial assaults. Though constructed for martial purposes, these buildings still harbor a majestic beauty that must be experienced firsthand in order to be fully appreciated.
Offworlders live and work within the city’s boundaries, many of them diplomatic workers assigned to a variety of embassies located in the capital. There is also a large population of non-Klingon permanent residents, primarily beings from worlds that have recently become Klingon allies, along with the descendants of species subjugated by the Empire who later came to appreciate Klingon rule. The First City is also home to many merchants who hail from a wide range of races and planets. Tellarites in particular seem to find the city agreeable, and many natives attribute this to their Klingon-like temperament. While humans, Vulcans, and other prominent Federation-member worlds are represented thanks to the aforementioned embassy staffs or Starfleet contingents, you won’t find many Cardassians due to ongoing disputes between their people and the Klingon Empire. It’s also very unlikely you’ll see any Romulans, despite the very shaky truce their empire enjoys with the Klingons. Even Ferengi, who rarely pass up promising business ventures, have yet to fully embrace the opportunities that come with the growing tourism industry on Qo’noS. Unlike other planets, such as Vulcan, where outsiders have been permitted to build homes and businesses that retain some architectural connection to their own home worlds, the First City allows no such opportunities and retains its unshakable regal aesthetic.
GETTING AROUND
* * *
The city is divided into quarters, each of which was built independently from the others during different major periods of Klingon history. The Old Quarter, for example, contains the remains of the original settlements that sprang up in the shadow of the fortress that predates the city. Public transportation is abundant, though you’ll get the most from your visit by walking the streets that connect the historic districts with the more modern lodging, dining, and entertainment venues. It’s during such wandering that you’ll be able to experience aspects of Klingon culture less familiar to offworlders. You’ll find small cathedrals that have stood for hundreds of years, along with art galleries and libraries that celebrate the Empire’s past and present. Many of the city’s citizens, particularly on the outskirts, tend to their own gardens and greenhouses, so don’t be surprised if you’re offered a fresh pe’bot or some other specimen of succulent Klingon fruit or vegetable.
THE FIRST CITY: ALL THAT IS KLINGON
* * *
[First published in the 2379 Edition]
I carry the distinction of being the first Klingon to serve as a commissioned officer of the Federation Starfleet. Because of this and the experiences of my childhood, I like to think that I possess a unique perspective on both Klingon and Federation societies. Though I have spent the majority of my life away from Qo’noS, it is the planet of my birth and the world I call my true home. Despite all of this, it was only as an adult that I finally journeyed to the First City. I recall the awe I experienced as I beheld the Great Hall, and the sensation that Kahless himself was looking down upon me and welcoming me into the true birthplace of the Klingon Empire.
I sometimes wonder what my life would be like if my parents had not elected to take me to live on the Khitomer colony outpost. What might have happened if they had not perished during an attack by Romulan forces? I likely would have died as a result of that attack if I had not been found by Sergey Rozhenko, a benevolent human serving aboard the Starfleet vessel U.S.S. Intrepid. What path might I have traveled if Sergey and his wife, Helena, had not chosen to raise me alongside their own son, Nikolai, on the planet Gault?
There are those who think my youth was wasted, living as I was on a Federation farming colony. Those people are wrong. As an outsider from a very young age and seemingly forgotten by my own people, I was forced to find my place among those who were viewed as enemies of the Empire. As an adolescent, I endeavored to maintain a tangible connection to my Klingon heritage. I undertook the Rite of Ascension, intending to become a warrior in service to the Empire. However, it was while meditating in the Caves of No’Mat that I was visited by a vision of the Emperor Kahless, who told me I would go on to do something no Klingon had ever done. I do not know if he meant joining Starfleet, but I like to think so.
While my Starfleet career has been most satisfying, it has not lessened my dedication to the Klingon people. It was because of my appointment as the Federation’s ambassador to the Empire that I came to truly know and appreciate the First City and its heritage. I have walked these streets, speaking with the people who live here and immersing myself in the history they safeguard, and that has only served to deepen my bond with my home
planet. For a time, I considered remaining here, and perhaps ascending to a seat on the High Council, before deciding that I could be of greater use elsewhere.
The honor is to serve, and if my destiny is to serve as a bridge between the Empire and the Federation, then it is a legacy I am proud to bear.
—Commander Worf, U.S.S. Enterprise
SIGHTS AND ACTIVITIES
* * *
Despite the influx of offworlders in recent decades, the First City remains undeniably Klingon, and its distinguished history is etched into its every edifice. Centuries of war, strife, and even occupation by another conquering race have all failed to wipe away the ancestry enshrined here. Ancient architecture stands alongside modern infrastructure, all connected by an intricate network of timeworn stone streets and walking paths, as well as modern mag-rail lines and even the Qam-Chee River, which can be traversed by boat. Speaking of the river, there are those who believe it harbors a portal to Gre’thor, the Klingon underworld, where the Barge of the Dead ferries lost souls to eternal damnation. If you choose a riverboat as a means of getting around the city, don’t be surprised if your pilot regales you with such a story.
The Great Hall
Located near the center of the Old Quarter and housed within the original fortress that served as the seed from which the First City grew, the Great Hall is the figurative and literal heart of the Klingon Empire. The centerpiece of the hall is the immense chamber in which the High Council meets to deliberate issues of the day. Most proceedings are open to the public, with the exception of those pertaining to security or other sensitive matters, so don’t be surprised to see Klingon civilians alongside offworld travelers following the debates from the observer’s galleries. The hall also contains a statue of Kahless, as well as an extensive exhibit highlighting his indelible role in Klingon history. Children of all ages are invited to visit the exhibit’s learning center, where they will be treated to a performance by a Kahless impersonator entertaining audiences with tales of the legendary emperor’s more outlandish exploits.
Hall of Warriors
Situated in the city’s southeast quarter and overlooking the Qam-Chee River, the Hall of Warriors is one of the most revered locations on the planet, rivaling even the Great Hall itself. Enshrined here are statues showcasing notable Klingons who’ve distinguished themselves in a manner that exceeds even the exacting demands placed upon soldiers of the Empire. Originally conceived as a military memorial, the Hall has benefited from the recent addition of a wing devoted to civilians and even a few offworlders recognized for their significant contributions to the Klingon people. Prominent inductees here include Jean-Luc Picard, the famed Starfleet captain who holds the distinction of being the only non-Klingon ever to preside over the appointment of a new Chancellor of the High Council. Enshrinement in the Hall guarantees eternal respect from all Klingons until the end of time. Although the Hall carries no retail outlets, literature and holovisual documentary materials highlighting the various heroes can be found in nearby merchant shops.
DID YOU KNOW?
THE GREAT TRIBBLE HUNT
Klingon history is replete with engrossing tales of glorious combat, including acts of courage and daring by noble warriors who have fought and died in service to the Empire. From the ancient wars that form the bedrock of Klingon society to more recent conflicts with the Romulans, the Cardassian Union, and the Dominion, many a great battle is passionately celebrated in story and song.
Except one.
Klingons don’t deny that such a campaign was ever waged, but they also don’t go out of their way to acknowledge the bizarre crusade undertaken against the species Polygeminus grex, the small, seemingly harmless life-forms known throughout the quadrant by their common name, “tribbles.” Genetically primed for reproduction, these little, furry organisms seem to exist for one purpose: to multiply. The consumption of any food source accelerates a tribble’s pregnancy to alarming degrees, with but a single specimen capable of producing scores of offspring within hours. While humans and other life-forms tend to fawn over the creatures, Klingons had come to view tribbles as nothing more than a direct threat to the security of the Empire by the mid-twenty-third century.
Klingons came to know of these life-forms thanks to the untimely visit of the warship IKS Gr’oth to a Federation deep space station. The tribbles were already on their way to taking over the outpost, multiplying and spreading like a disease. Having made their way aboard a Starfleet battle cruiser, the U.S.S. Enterprise, they soon infiltrated the Gr’oth and multiplied to the point that they all but buried the ship’s crew.
Humiliated in the eyes of his fellow Klingons, the Gr’oth’s captain, Koloth, vowed not to rest until every tribble was destroyed. Leading a Klingon armada across space, Koloth tracked the tribbles from planet to planet, eradicating them at every turn until finally discovering the location of their home world, which he did not hesitate to obliterate.
And yet, tribbles survive.
No one knows for sure how any of them managed to escape total annihilation, but there’s no denying their continued existence. Rumors persist that a small number of the creatures were brought through time from a point in the past, prior to their supposed eradication. A more likely explanation is that some simply survived the Great Tribble Hunt and lived to breed another day.
Though no tribbles are allowed on Qo’noS, curious visitors can still learn about them and the Empire’s campaign against them thanks to an exhibit at the Hall of Warriors devoted to the life and achievements of Captain Koloth.
Federation Embassy
At first glance, it’s easy to mistake this massive, inverted pyramidal structure as one of several ancient relics maintained for historical value rather than what it is: an institution indicative of the more progressive nature of modern Klingon society. At one time a military garrison headquarters for legions of Kahless’s imperial guard, this eye-catching structure located southwest of the Great Hall in the wejDIch Quarter is the home of Federation authority on Qo’noS. Surrounded by a force-field barrier as well as a physical fence standing ten meters high, the embassy is sovereign Federation soil, and it’s here that Federation citizens with travel issues or other concerns can come for assistance. The embassy also contains a museum dedicated to the long, often tumultuous relationship between the Empire and the Federation. Included in the exhibit is a holographic re-creation of the 2372 invasion of the embassy by Klingon forces, which occurred when the Empire temporarily withdrew from its peace agreement with the Federation following a dispute with the Cardassian Union. Visitors will find artifacts, documents, and presentations highlighting the two powers’ joint history.
The Old Quarter
As the name indicates, this is the oldest part of the First City, located in its northeastern quadrant. It grew out of the first primitive settlements as Klingons from across the planet migrated here in the earliest days of the Empire under Kahless’s rule. During the first emperor’s reign, as he struggled to solidify his power base, frequent assaults on the city by ragtag armies—remnants of forces who once were loyal to Molor and who later fled to the outlying territories where they continued to act as marauders—forced the hasty construction of ever greater defenses. This spawned more settlements as increasing numbers of migrating Klingons arrived, seeking protection in the fortified city. Many of these new settlers had fled the oppressive rule of other tribal leaders, while others were looking for a new start after Kahless defeated their overlords’ forces in battle. The Old Quarter grew out of those original, disparate communities, evolving from simple military fortifications into a thriving city. These days, walking tours guide visitors through the remnants of the first villages that sprang up around the original fortress constructed here, and costumed performers entertain and inform visitors about the history of the burgeoning region. Traversing the web of side streets and walking paths, bridges and tunnels that connect the Quarter’s main thoroughfares to the rest of the city allow visitors to sample a variety
of retail shops, galleries, museums, and historical landmarks.
Order of the Bat’leth Shrine
Located adjacent to the Hall of Warriors along the Qam-Chee River, this memorial is small enough that it can easily be added to any excursion to this part of the First City. The site combines a monument, museum, and archive, which together provide visitors with insight into the Order of the Bat’leth—the most celebrated award that a Klingon warrior can receive. Created in the ninth century by Lady Lukara, widow to Emperor Kahless, the Order serves as a constant reminder that all Klingons should continually strive to meet the standard exemplified by her husband. Entry into the Order symbolizes the highest standards of personal honor, courage, and accomplishment in battle. The shrine’s museum chronicles the group’s history, enhanced by displays featuring artifacts, weapons, and other personal items spanning centuries of superlative service to the Klingon Empire by some of its most cherished warriors.
Kahless Historical Museum
Though there are many museums, galleries, and monuments dedicated to the life and accomplishments of Kahless the Unforgettable, this is the only archive that has existed since the time of his rule. The museum’s curators have been able to chronicle his career and accomplishments beginning with his first days as emperor through to his death. Many of these records were lost during the Hur’q occupation of Qo’noS, but in the centuries since, archaeologists and historians have traveled the planet seeking to rebuild this unique repository. Although the museum was originally an annex to the Great Hall, the sheer number of retrieved items, along with the need for dedicated conservation and restoration efforts, demanded a larger dedicated space. The result is this larger building located in the southwestern or wejDIch Quarter. Here, visitors are able to view an impressive collection of artifacts, including numerous items once possessed by Kahless and his immediate family.