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As some of you may know, I am no Historian. I will attempt to retell the tale of how the greatest Empire to ever span the galaxy was born. A great deal of this page will be about Kahless the Unforgettable, who came forth and forged the Empire we know today.
THE EPIC OF KAHLESS THE UNFORGETTABLE 1,500 years ago - The time of Kahless the Unforgettable. According to the Epics, Kahless fought his brother, Morath, for twelve days and twelve nights. Morath had lied and brought shame to their family. A tyrant by the name Molor seizes power and enslaves all in his wake..
Sometime after, Kahless would raise an army to unseat Molor, the fiend who had declared himself "Ruler of the Lands and Seas". One night while sleeping, Kahless had a vision. The Gods of Sto-Vo-Kor appeared to him and gave him the designs and instructions for constructing "a weapon like no other has seen." The next day Kahless awakened, and walked among his soldiers until he happened upon a young weapon smith named Toragh. (Who was known to be the best weaponsmith of his time.)
" I am need of your services. I ask you now Toragh, will you follow me into fire?"
Toragh eagerly replied "Fire is the tool of my trade, my Lord."
Kahless and Toragh began a trek to the volcano of Kri'stak. As they marched along Kahless described the weapon in his dream. Toragh drew the weapon's design as Kahless described it to him on an animal hide with a sharpened piece of coal.
Together they reached the foot of the Kri'stak volcano. Kahless handed Toragh a bag of coins.
" I must do this alone. Take this and go to the nearby village on the Lake of Lursor. This should enlist the services of their forge. i will meet you there soon."
Toragh then journeyed to the village, while Kahless ascended the volcano. When Kahless reached one of the fresh lava flows, he took a lock of his hair and dipped it into the fresh "blood of Q'onos.". When he removed it, he began to mold the rock to the shape he needed, Toragh had the forge ready when Kahless came into the village later that night.
" Here it is. I have done all I can. The rest is up to you." Kahless handed Toragh the roughly shaped object.
Toragh unfurled the animal hide scroll bearing the design Kahless had described, took his mupwI' and began his work. Kahless, tired from his climb and hike to the village, took a nearby room and slept. Toragh hammered feverishly all the night. He would later write "that it was like he was a man possessed" and that he could hear the metal "scream to him with every blow. Screaming the screams of a future being born.."
Just before morning Kahless awoke to find Toragh collapsed of exhaustion before the forge. He quickly wakened Toragh and asked him..
"Is it finished? Is it done?"
"It only needs to be cooled and quenched my lord. " Toragh wearily replied.
Kahless took the still hot piece of metal in his gloved hand and marched to the shore of Lake Lursor. Upon reaching the edge of the water, he plunged the sword into the lake. Kahless reached down into the water with both hands and lifted the newly formed sword over his head. As he stood there, proudly displaying the new weapon, the Q'onos sun appeared on the horizon, illuminating the steam around him as it rose from the lake. Kahless would then return to his army with his newly formed weapon, the first bat'leH (Sword Of Honor). He would use it to defeat Molor, and unite all the warring families. The people, all now united as KLINGONS, gave Kahless the title "EMPEROR OF THE LANDS AND SEAS, AND ALL THE SKIES ABOVE THEM." As for Toragh: "After Molar was defeated Kahless asked Toragh to take any of the tyrant's possessions as payment and Toragh refused saying 'I want nothing that miserable petaQ has called his own.'
As a matter of honor, Kahless insisted that Toragh name a payment. He thought about it for a moment and replied 'I will take the land from the western peak of Kri'stak to the waters of Lursor as payment.'
'So be it !' Kahless replied, 'Our debt is settled. You are an honorable warrior and my good friend.......your request will be honored.'
Toragh built his house in the shadows of Kri'stak and used the *blood* of Q'onos itself to forge his weapons. The secrets of Toragh have been passed down through the generations and now reside with K'Daq - an ancient Klingon warrior.
Through treachery the House of Toragh has almost vanished from the Empire. When K'Daq reached the *Age of Wisdom* he petitioned for and was welcomed into the House of Kasara. It was his desire to spend the end of his days working among honorable Klin - looking for one to which he could pass the gift of the blade. " -excerpt from the House Of Toragh Line History Heart of Kri'stak Forge (And legend has it that to this day, in the center of the fortress of the House of Toragh there is a small but dignified shrine. On it is Toragh's mupwI', wrapped in the animal hide that bears the design to the Sword Of Kahless..)
Some years later, while on his deathbed, Kahless pointed to a star in the Constellation Tracker, and stated "Remember that you are ALL KLINGONS. Look for me, for I will return there.."
????- An Alien race from the Gamma Quadrant known as the HerQ lands on Q'onos and enslaves the Klingon race. A revolt by the Klingon people drove the HerQ off the planet a few years later. The alien race takes with them the Sword Of Kahless, but in exchange the Klingons have taken a great deal of their technology. Within a few decades the Klingons master the advanced technology and take their empire to the stars. One of their first major travels is to Boreth in the Constellation Tracker; the world in orbit of the star Kahless had pointed to on his deathbed. They build a monastery on Boreth where a group of monks form the Clerics of Boreth. Together they await the return of Kahless, and aid fellow Klingons in questions of faith.
2218- First contact with the Klingon Empire by the Federation. A disastrous event that led to nearly a century of hostility between the two powers.
2237- The Klingons land on a planet in the Beta Quadrant. On this barren world they find the remains of an advanced civilization that was wiped out by a period of solar flares a thousand years before. The scorched, scarred planet is named MeqwI' Hegh (Flaming Death).
2257- MeqwI' Hegh is officially named the Klingon Outer Capital. The area of space in the surrounding area of the Beta Quadrant is designated MeqwI' Hegh mIch'a (Flaming Death Quadrant).
2267- Negotiations between the Federation and the Klingon Empire were on the verge of breaking out into an all out war. The Klingons issued an ultimatum to the Federation to withdraw from disputed areas claimed by both sides. The hostilities come to a head at a planet named Organia, the only class M planet in the disputed area. Unknown to either combatants, the Organians were incredibly advanced noncorporeal life forms. The Organians, who abhor violence, stop the impending space battle. The Organian Peace Treaty is forced on both parties, thus effectively ending armed hostilities.
Around 2268 - The Klingons enter into a brief alliance with the Romulan Star Empire. An agreement between the two powers results in the sharing of military technology and spacecraft designs. The Romulans build heavy cruisers using the Klingon D-7 design. By the mid-2280's, Klingons are building starships described as Birds-of-Prey that are equipped with cloaking devices built from Romulan designs.
2287- The Klingons leave MeqwI' Hegh mIch'a under the direct command of Chancellor Gorkon. The Romulans send an armada to seize control of the area. The Romulan armada is never seen or heard from again.
2290- I.K.C. T'Ong, a K'Tinga Class Cruiser, is launched on an exploratory mission under the command of Captain K'Temok. Because of the extended nature of the mission, the entire crew spend most of the transit time in hibernation.
2288-2292- The Klingon Military begins to experiment with Birds-Of-Prey and create a prototype that can fire photon torpedoes while cloaked.
2293- A catastrophic explosion on Praxis causes serious environmental damage to the homeworld. In the economic disarray that follows, the Klingon Chancellor Gorkon finds that the empire can no longer afford its massive military forces. Gorkon launches a peace initiative, offering to end some 70 years of hostilities with the Federation. Chancellor Gorkon also officially proclaimed "Any who enter MeqwI' Hegh mIch'a from this day forward will be put to death". Just prior to a major peace conference, Gorkon is assassinated by Federation and Klingon interests who want to maintain the status quo. Gorkon's successor, Azetbul his daughter, continues her father's work and successfully establishes the Khitomer Accords with the Federation later that year.
2344- The Romulans attack a Klingon Colony at Narendra III. The USS ENTERPRISE NCC-1701-C sacrifices itself defending the colony from the Romulan onslaught. The Klingons view this as a great act of honor by the Federation.
2346- The Khitomer Massacre- The Romulans launch a brutal attack on the Klingon outpost of Khitomer. 4000 Klingons are killed in the onslaught leaving only two known survivors: Worf, Son of Mogh, and Kahlest, the child's nursemaid. The attack was made possible by a Klingon named Ja'rod (Father to Duras) who provided the Romulans with Khitomer's secret defense codes. The USS Intrepid, a Federation Starship, responds to the distress call. All relations with the Romulan Star Empire are severed and all Ambassadors are recalled. The Federation-Klingon Alliance soon follows.
2365- The I.K.C. T'Ong returns from its extended mission. Captain K'Temok begins attacking Federation targets assuming that the Federation and Klingon Empire are still at war. Thanks to the quick action of Federation Emissary K'Ehleyr and USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D Security Chief Worf, the T'Ong is saved and her crew are assimilated into the 24th Century.
2366- High Council member Duras, son of Ja'rod, attempts to falsify evidence regarding the Khitomer Massacre to implicate Mogh. The Sons of Mogh, Worf and Kurn, return to Q'onos and challenge the accusations against their father's honor. Worf learns that if he reveals the truth about Ja'rod, it would split the Empire and cause a Civil War. So to protect the Empire, Worf accepts discommendation and leaves.
2367- The Klingon High Council was a hotbed of political intrigue that nearly plunged the Empire into civil war when Chancellor K'mpec died by poison at the hands of Duras. 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. Duras then killed K'Ehleyr, a half-human half-Klingon woman who was the Ambassador to the Federation for K'mpec (and Worf's mate..), after she began to uncover Duras' treacherous secrets. Worf claimed the Klingon Rite of Vengeance and killed Duras. Political newcomer Gowron emerged as the sole candidate for council leader.
2368- Gowron is named Chancellor of the Klingon Empire. Forces loyal to a powerful Duras family unsuccessfully attempted to block Gowron, plunging the Empire into a brief but bitter Civil War. Chancellor Gowron, in appreciation of Worf and Kurn's actions that saved his life from a Duras attack, restored the House of Mogh's family name and honor. The Civil War was brought to a quick conclusion a few months later when the Federation Starship USS Sutherland, captained by Lt. Commander Data, proved that the Duras were receiving aid and supplies from the Romulan Star Empire.
2369- The 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 Chancellor Gowron was installed as the ceremonial Emperor of the Klingon people.
2372- The newest class of Klingon vessel, the Negh'Var class Battleship, neared completion. After her shakedown cruise later that year, she is commissioned as Chancellor Gowron's Flagship.
2373- A coup on the planet Cardassia caused Chancellor Gowron to believe that the Cardassians were infiltrated by Changelings from the Dominion. An armada consisting of over 30% of the Klingon Navy is assembled at Federation Station Deep Space Nine. Captain Benjamin Sisko, Station Commander, had Lt. Commander Worf assigned to Deep Space Nine to help deal with the Klingons. Gowron visited the station and asked Worf to rejoin the Klingon Imperial Navy. Worf refused, leading to the Fall of the House of Mogh later that year. The Klingon Invasion of Cardassia began soon after. The Cardassian Provisional Government fled Cardassia Prime to Deep Space Nine with the assistance of the USS Defiant. The Klingon armada attacked Deep Space Nine as a result. The battle was a stalemate. Chancellor Gowron revoked the Khitomer Accords. The Federation-Klingon Alliance is at an end. Lt. Commander Worf accepted a posting on Deep Space Nine.
2374- Gowron's Chief Military Advisor, General Martok, is discovered to be a Changeling from the Dominion. the real General Martok, with the aid of Worf and others, escaped the Dominion Penal Asteroid they were being held at. Gul Dukat betrayed the Alpha Quadrant and formed the Cardassian-Dominion Alliance with Cardassia under his rule. The Klingons are forced to leave Cardassian space after an attack by superior Dominion forces. The Khitomer Accords are put back into effect, and the Federation-Klingon Alliance is reformed. A Klingon Force is left on Deep Space Nine under the command of General Martok. Deep Space Nine is taken by the Dominion later that year, but not before the Wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant is mined with self replicating mines. Bajor signed a nonaggression Pact with the Dominion to keep the planet out of danger.
2375- An attack to retake Deep Space Nine by Federation-Klingon forces nearly ended in failure when the Cardassians destroyed the minefield that blocked the wormhole. Dominion reinforcements entered the wormhole, but were stopped due to the intervention of the "wormhole aliens". Gul Dukat was driven mad after his First Officer Damar killed his daughter. Damar takes power over Cardassia. Deep Space Nine is retaken but at a massive loss to Klingon and Federation forces. An invasion of Cardassia began, with the Federation-Klingon forces taking out a network of Dominion defense satellites.
2376- The Dominion conflict remains a stalemate, with heavy casualties on both sides. The Breen entered the Dominion this year. As it turned out the Breen possessed a "Leech" weapon that effectively disabled Federation starships by knocking out their power systems; Klingon vessels were immune. The Breen demanded concessions for their support, so the Dominion started to sign over Cardassian territories to them.(The Breen and Cardassians having been deadly enemies for centuries.) Legit Damar leads a revolt against the Dominion.. General Martoq's victories against the Dominion gave him a great deal of political favor in the Klingon High Council. Gowron noticed this, and began to send General Martoq's forces on fools errands and suicide missions in which failure was guaranteed. Worf began to notice this, and after Gowron began to assign Genral Martoq to attack Peridian(One of the most heavily fortified positions on the Dominion front.)Worf challenged Gowron for Leadership. A battle to death ensued, with Worf as the victor. Worf however abdicated Leadership of the High Council to General Martoq. Supplemental- The Dominion Prefect of Cardassia makes the sad mistake of declaring Genocide to the Cardassian Race. Word spreads from Cardassia Prime to the ships of the Cardassian Fleet. The Cardassian vessels turn on their Dominion allies as a Joint attack by Klingon, Fedration and Romulan forces ensues. Cardassia Falls. The Dominion has no choice but to surrender in exchange for a cure to a deadly virus that Section 31 had inflicted them with. The War is over. Our Empire is once again victorious.
