Klingon History

Early History until the First General War

The Klingon Empire was founded sometime in the ninth century CE by Kahless the Unforgettable, who performed many heroic feats including the unification of the Klingon people when he killed the tyrant Molor. Kahless came to be revered in Klingon society to the point of near-deification, and many aspects of Klingon culture came to revolve around emulation of Kahless's life.

The warrior ethos has been an important aspect of Klingon society since the time of Kahless, but the warrior aspects became much more dominant beginning in the early 22nd century. Previously, Klingon society was regarded as socially balanced, but over time the warrior caste gained greater prominence, to the point where the Klingons widely came to be regarded as a "warrior race."

Because of their aggressive outlook, the Klingons have generally had poor relations with other species after they began to move out into space. Because the worlds of the Klingon Empire are resource-poor, the Klingons have developed an intense belief in the need for expansion and conquest in order to survive. The Klingons' relationship with Humans and the Federation has been rocky at best. Following the disastrous First Contact between Klingons and Humans, tense rivalries and unavoidable conflicts often developed between the two species.

In the year 2154, the Klingons gained access to the genetic material of human Augments, and tried to adapt this genetic engineering to improve themselves. An unanticipated side effect was that the Augment DNA caused the cranial ridges to dissolve. The test subjects did gain increased strength and intelligence, but then their neural pathways started to degrade and they died in agony. One of the subjects was suffering from the Levodian flu, which was modified by the Augment genes to become a deadly, airborne plague that spread rampantly among the Empire, from world to world. In the first stage of this plague, Klingons lost the ridges on their foreheads and began to look more human-like.

A Klingon's cranial ridges dissolving.

With the help of a Klingon scientist named Antaak, Dr. Phlox of the Earth starship Enterprise NX-01 was able to formulate a cure that halted the genetic effects of the virus in the first stage, retaining the changes in appearance along with some minor neural re-ordering, but with no development of stage two characteristics, such as enhanced strength, speed, or endurance. This left millions of Klingons, mostly in the warrior caste, without their ridges. These alterations were even passed on to their children.

Klingons were apparently so embarrassed by the fallout from their failed attempt at genetic enhancement that they refused to discuss the incident with outsiders. Due to the secrecy of the Klingon Empire, knowledge of the change became lost over time to the general population of the Federation. By the 24th century, the reason for smooth forehead Klingons was not widely known outside the Empire, and questions were generally met with a brusque answer along the lines of "we don't discuss it with outsiders".

In the year 2218, an incident occured between the Federation and the Klingon Empire which caused the two powers to become adversaries. By 2223, relations between the two powers had degenerated to a point of unremitting hostility, which would last for several decades.

Qo'noS on fire during the Civil War.

The lingering tensions between Klingons and humans continued to rise, eventually leading to the Battle Of Donatu V near Sherman's Planet in 2245, and later erupted into what was considered the first Federation-Klingon War in 2267, that was quickly ended by intervention by the Organians after only four days of fighting. Over the next several decades, an uneasy peace developed that was broken by brief but fierce skirmishes and conflicts. A true and lasting peace finally came in 2293 with the signing of the Khitomer Accords, thanks to the efforts of Chancellor Gorkon and the Human Star Fleet officer James T. Kirk. Since then, despite several periods of rocky relations, the Federation and the Klingon Empire have been steadfast allies, especially in the face of Dominion aggression in the 2370s.

The Klingon relationship with the Romulan people is also extremely unstable. A short-lived alliance and technology exchange notwithstanding, the Romulan Star Empire has been typically regarded by the Klingons as a "blood enemy" since at least the 23rd century. Sporadic Romulan attacks against Klingon colonies, such as the Khitomer Massacre, and interference in Klingon affairs, such as the Klingon Civil War, have continued to sour relationships between the two peoples.

After the destruction of the Klingon moon Praxis in 2293, the Empire grew closer to their former enemies, the Federation, through signing the Khitomer Accords. Hostility was still prevalent for decades, but the Federation continued to assist the Empire through the difficult times as ecological disaster struck. When the Enterprise-C helped defend the colony of Khitomer from Romulan attackers in 2346, however, minds began to change and the two powers became closer than ever. The Federation helped reveal Romulan involvement in the Klingon Civil War of 2367, resulting in Gowron taking power the following year.

After a short-lived break when the Federation would not assist the Klingons with their war on the Cardassians in 2372, Federation assistance in revealing Founder interference with the High Council brought the two back together in time for the Dominion War of 2373-2375, and the two powers would remain close afterwards, as well, with the Klingons providing tangential support during the Federation-Romulan War of 2379.

In the years following, the Klingons fought two wars with the Mirak Star League. The first would see the Empire claim three systems from the Mirak, while the latter would lose them once again. Despite the bad blood between them, the two powers would soon unite with the Federation and the Gorn Hegemony to protect themselves from the RDC, a union of the Romulan Star Empire, the Dominion, and the Cardassian Union in what came to be known as the First General War.

Klingon History Since the First General War

"Destroying an empire to win a war is no victory. And ending a battle to save an empire is no defeat." These words of Kahless the Unforgettable were at the forefront of Chancellor Martok’s mind in the waning days of the First General War. With the war in a stalemate on every front, and the Klingon Empire hemorrhaging men and materiel to a degree not seen since the Hur’q Invasions, Martok knew that something had to be done. When the Federation negotiated a peace – a status quo ante bellum to use their own terms – the chancellor reluctantly agreed to sign the treaty.

To say that this was unpopular at home would be similar to saying that Andoria was cold. The Great Houses were outraged, even though they all knew the same facts as Martok. The only thing that kept the Empire from devolving to civil war was that they had all been bled dry, and knew that launching an attack would be tantamount to suicide.

To attempt to mollify them, Martok instead launched a new expansion in the Beta Quadrant, past the Nelvana system and the Vodrey Nebula. Several new systems were claimed, and some minor species added to the Empire, much to the Federation’s chagrin though they were not in a position to do more than complain. Martok had been playing the game much longer than most Klingons – or even most politicians in the Federation, for that matter – and knew when he could push, and when he could not. In this instance, though, he knew that the Empire needed an outlet for their frustrations, and some easy victories would do nothing but help. For nearly a decade, the slow expansion kept the Empire stable, though that came to an abrupt end.

In 2402, the Borg invaded the Federation. A swift call to arms brought the Klingon fleet to the Federation border in time to meet a detachment of Borg Wedges head-on. The Klingon fleet won a pyrrhic victory, driving the Borg away at the cost of their own armada, an armada that Martok had led into battle personally. He did not come home.

Second Klingon Civil War

With no clear successor, the Emperor, the clone of Kahless, was chosen as the Arbiter of Succession, and the candidates competed for leadership, as had been done many times before. That is, until Tornak, Son of Por’van, was chosen as the final candidate. Krenn, son of Klavek, one of the other leading candidates, claimed that the choice of Kahless was invalid, as Kahless was not actually Kahless. Dismissed at first because everyone knew that he was a clone, Krenn instead put forth the claim that the blood used to clone him was actually that of Kahless’ brother Morath, and not that of Kahless himself.

The High Council broke into chaos, with several leaders of the council being slain before the room could be cleared. While Kahless challenged Krenn to a duel over the man’s claims, Krenn denied that the clone had the right to do so, and instead claimed that he was rightfully the new Chancellor. The Great Houses divided – most supporting Tornak and Kahless, while others fell in behind Krenn. While the Imperial side, Tornak’s side, outnumbered the rebels nearly two to one, Krenn’s followers were able to gain a momentum advantage fairly swiftly with some quick victories, but soon they fell by the wayside as 2402 stretched into 2403 and even 2404.

The war descended into a stalemate, a cold war, with neither side able to gain the upper hand. Battles were fought, territory exchanged, but neither side was able to gain a true advantage and end the bloody war. All of this changed, however, at the Battle of Vok-Nagaral in 2406. Led by Kahless himself, the Imperial forces were putting paid to Krenn’s rebels when suddenly they disengaged and retreated, leaving the stunned but grateful rebels alive. Soon, it would be discovered what had happened: Kahless had suffered a stroke and been rendered unable to command his forces.

Unfortunately, the decision of his supporters to seek aid for the revered Emperor rather than to charge into battle proved to be the deciding factor in the war. Kahless was rendered mute and nearly insensate, a husk of a Klingon and unfit to be considered a warrior, much less a leader of men. Within days, his body failed him, and he died in his sleep – the most dishonorable way for a warrior to die.

Upon hearing the news, both sides splintered. Many of the rebels considered the matter settled, since the Emperor was no more. Several of the Houses on the Imperial side called for Tornak to be replaced, as he had dishonored himself and his House by denying Kahless a death in battle, despite none of Tornak’s House being involved in the crucial battle. Some believed that since Kahless was just a clone anyway, they should have the masters on Boreth create another one to sit atop the throne, while others called for the time of the Emperor to be over and to abolish the throne entirely. There were even some who wanted to do away with the Great Houses entirely and move to a system of planetary representation, though these voices were crushed mercilessly by all of the other factions by unanimous agreement.

And so, in the most Klingon fashion, the war continued, with new battle lines being drawn and forces dwindling once more. By 2410, after nearly a decade of internecine conflict, all involved were weary. The Hur’q invaded, an ancient foe long thought slain, and began to attack the territory of one faction, led by a man known as Kalok the Infamous. Unable to withstand this foe alone, the KDF came to their aid, along with several of the other factions. Together, the forces of the Klingon Empire were able to defeat the Hur’q menace and destroyed the world that they called home in the process. No sooner was this completed, however, than some of the factions began attacking one another again.

Captain Gorram of the IKV Dreamslayer, leader of the Klingon Defense Force which had remained neutral throughout the civil war, finally had had enough. He brought the leaders of the different factions together – forcefully in some instances – to settle the matter once and for all by ritual combat. Running out of ships, men, and options, the Houses agreed. Once assembled on Qo'noS at the Imperial Palace, however, the Houses came to a startling agreement: they named Gorram Chancellor, elevating the House of Telargh to the highest office in the Empire.

Chancellor Gorram

Federation diplomats at the time believed that the Houses reached this decision out of pure self-interest. Surely, the Houses reasoned, a low-born such as Gorram would not have the strength to rein them in and they would be able to restart the war once we are ready, and at first it almost appeared they were right. The first thing that Gorram did was work with the masters of Boreth to create a new Emperor, cloning the fallen Kahless and installing the new Kahless III as Emperor – though as before, the position was ceremonial. Some of the Houses grumbled at this, but he showed his prowess in single combat upon his accession to the throne, and the Houses grudgingly accepted the matter, believing that biding their time was a wiser move given how weak they believed Gorram to be.

However, it became apparent by 2412 as the Krynar threat developed, that Gorram was much stronger than they had given him credit for. He was able to organize resistance to the Krynar, in concert with his Federation allies, though the war is eventually won through their scientific advancement. Upon the war’s end, Gorram attempted to get the secret of the Graser from the Federation, though they refused to part with it much to his anger.

Throughout the years of Gorram’s reign, it couldn’t help but be noticed that Kahless III’s appearances became fewer and fewer. In the early years, he would regularly attend Council meetings and feast days, leading events of ritual significance to the Klingon people. As the years went on, however, he slowly retreated from public life, and the few times that he did appear he began to seem… unhealthy. Was his hair thinner and greyer, some would ask, while others seemed to see him walking with a limp that wasn’t there before. By 2417, he had disappeared entirely, fueling speculation and a general unrest throughout the Empire.

For Gorram’s part, he took a neutral stance as the Federation 4th Fleet attempted to declare independence from the Federation fueled in part by their refusal to discuss the Graser, with the Empire taking a “wait and see” attitude instead of supporting one faction or the other – despite the conflict taking place on their literal doorstep. Throughout, several Houses – led by the House of Chang – called for the Empire to cast off the Khitomer Accords and take what was theirs by right of being Klingon: the entirety of the Federation. Gorram would have none of it however, recognizing that the Empire was stronger with the Federation as an ally than they could ever hope to be without them, despite the losses of recent years. During the 4th Fleet standoff, the House of Chang attempted to strike at them unilaterally, though this was turned back at the border by the KDF in a bloody battle.

In early 2418, the unthinkable happened as Kahless III was discovered dead in his chambers. He had been seen by none but his servants and Chancellor Gorram for nearly two years, but in death the lie could no longer be maintained. Clone deterioration had eaten at Kahless’ body, deforming his body and eating at his mind until what was left was little more than a child in a warped and grotesque body. The Council immediately called for Gorram’s head and title after this outrage, and the old divisions of what to do with the Imperial Throne came back to the forefront. Gorram, for his part, was relieved that the dishonor of his lie was now out in the open, and the lies were done. He accepted the Council’s will and stepped down from the Chancellorship, and the next day took part in the Mauk-to’Vor ritual, cleansing his dishonor at the cost of his life.

Succession Crisis

And so the great game began again, with the Houses vying for the Chancellorship once more. While sporadic fighting did break out, it stayed more contained this time, and swiftly the Houses polarized around two figures. First was Chang; young and charismatic, he convinced many of the weakness of the Federation, citing their change in policy to focus on exploration as a betrayal of the alliance with the Empire, as well as the recent attempted secession of a major part of the Federation. Many of the Great Houses backed his claim to leadership, hoping to exploit the situation to their own benefit.

Against him stood Kor, son of Pen’nak, of the House of Koloth. Descended from a long line of renowned generals, warriors, and statesmen, he represented stability. Older than his opponent, he had won renown for himself against the Hur’q and the Krynar as a captain and general and could even claim to have fought with Martok at the Battle of Ajilon against the Borg. The older Houses and the KDF all backed Kor, and while some Houses decided to remain neutral all of those not aligned with Chang were at least nominally on Kor’s side.

For days, debate raged in the High Council, with fights breaking out regularly as they debated who should lead after Gorram’s death. As they came to the end of the first week, however, Kor stormed into the council chambers after a recess, dragging an Orion servant with him by her hair. She was an assassin, he claimed, who had just tried to kill him in his private chamber. The chamber erupted again, accusations flying almost as fast as disruptor bolts, before finally order could be restored. At first Kor desired to challenge Chang to single combat there on the floor of the Council, but the Houses countered that an investigation needed to be carried out. Chang’s supporters wanted him cleared, while Kor’s wanted to be sure that it was him; there would be too many lingering questions and suspicion if they could not find the truth, no matter which of them won.

Knowing that no Klingon would be truly impartial on this, the Council agreed to ask the Federation Embassy for assistance. Ambassador V’lor tasked several of his security staff to assist and, while the investigation took much longer than the Klingons wanted, they arrived at a singular conclusion: the only person who could have ordered the assassination attempt was Kavok, son of Pre’nak, the head of Klingon Intelligence.

Kavok had been in his post for longer than most, being a relic of the First General War. Most of the Houses had considered him to be nothing more than a senile old fool, but did not realize he had been responsible for prolonging the Great Civil War, as the conflict from 2402-2410 had come to be called, feeding appropriate intelligence to each side. Kavok was also actively running several major criminal organizations within the Empire, as well as forging alliances with those in Federation space, and had been making a fortune from the conflict through arms deals and mercenary contracts. While initially a supporter of Gorram once the Houses decided to elevate him to the Chancellery, the strength of the man’s character and will eventually proved to make him an enemy of the intelligence chief. He attempted to frame Chang for the attempted assassination, but the Orion’s capture had proved to be his undoing. Having been discovered, he had fled before being discommendated in absentia and stripped of his position, house, and titles as well as being exiled from the Klingon Empire. Still, rumor has it that he is still strong and running his criminal enterprises from elsewhere.

Despite being exonerated of the crime, Chang’s support still dropped faster than a targ off a cliff. While five of the Houses still supported him, he no longer had the numbers to be a true contender for leadership of the Council, leading Kor to be appointed as Chancellor. Chancellor Kor, however, still has a lot of work to do to keep the Klingon Empire united.

Current Situation - 2421 and Onward

Chang’s faction has withdrawn from the High Council, and their territory is now quietly pulling away from the Empire as a whole. Though he has yet to make a move, the area is being called the “Shadow Empire” by some, and it is known to be unsafe for passers-by – especially for Federation-aligned races. The Houses here seek to return to the Old Ways, and seek to expand the Empire even – or especially – at the cost of the Federation. Chang still seeks to take over the Empire as a whole, and Kor believes it is only a matter of time before civil war erupts again.

Within Kor’s ruling faction, however, there is also division over whether or not to re-clone the Emperor and put him back on the throne. A vocal minority wished for that to happen – led by the high cleric of Boreth, he sought to maintain the “leadership” of Kahless by keeping a continuous clone of him on the throne, thereby granting him “immortality”. Most, however, saw what had become of Kahless III and decided that the clones were obviously faulty, and that they should instead go back to waiting for Kahless’ return, as they had done for hundreds of years prior to Boreth taking action. Another minority – Kor privately among them – believed that the time of the Emperor had passed, and sought to simply abolish the empty throne and make the High Council and the Chancellor the true leadership of the Empire, rather than simply the de facto leaders.

And so, as 2421 marches on, the Empire is at an uneasy peace. Chang’s Shadow Empire is still nominally part of the wider Klingon Empire, but have not contributed to the KDF or even attended a High Council meeting since late 2418. Chancellor Kor rules, but his people are still divided upon what form their government should take, while Kavok and his criminal empire still poisons the beating heart of the Empire. However, something may soon change, as Kor decides that the best method to unite his people is to present them an enemy to face…