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Who runs the Imperial Bureaucracy when everyone is a warrior?
This is an issue, moreso in the TNG/DS9 era Klingon Empire than at any other time in Star Trek. Now, with the coming storm, I thought it would be a good time to delve into some of my spurious thoughts about Star Trek's most beloved/overused race.
Many, Many Hats.
Discovery's creators purport to have expanded the Klingon culture to include numerous different Klingon ethnicities and subcultures. I think this is actually a pretty great idea. Too often, Star Trek creates a monoculture to which all members of a specific race belong. All Romulans are sneaky and cruel. All Vulcans are cold and Logical. All Sheliak are enameld jackets held up by the same sort of supports they used for the muppets. So on, so Forth. this is sometimes referred to as the species' hat. The thing that all of them wear. (metaphorically, of course. I'm not insinuating that Romulan shoulder pads are the manifestation of cruelty... or am I?)
The Klingons have suffered from this more than most races. In TNG through Voyager, the Klingons are WARRIORS. they go to WAR to be WARRIORS that fight WARS for GLORY and HONOUR because there is nothing more HONOURABLE and GLORIOUS than WAR... you get what I mean? That shit's stupid. A people that only ever fight isn't going to go anywhere. More on that later. So introducing new, previously unseen facets to the Klingons as a race is a fundamentally good idea, in my books.
To give the TNG/DS9/VOY Klingons their due, there were attempts to make them more than just warriors. We saw examples of Klingons that thought the empire was growing too soft. We saw the unpoliticising Martok and we even got to see a Klingon Lawyer. A whole, adult Klingon who's life doesn't orbit around the concept of dying in a horrific fashion on a battlefield. This is good development. Something that mostly came about in DS9 because they had already seen the benefits of expanding 3 alien races beyond their initial "hats". The Cardassians, Bajorans and Ferengi all found huge depth in DS9 because they spent enough time exploring their own complex and schismatic backgrounds for them to seem grounded. I fell like this was done best with the Cardassians. A race that started out as nothing but "scaly Roumulans" grew to have mere depth and to be more relateable almost than the humans of the 24th century.
And this is why I'm at least curious to see where discovery takes them. Will we see Klingons that hold fundamentally different values? maybe even Klingons that have more in common with the Federation than their own birth-world. That's a pretty interesting concept and, if done well, could expand hugely on an established race, given future actions and decisions more weight. Of course, there's the crux. It has to be done well. And there also has to be, in my mind, a clear delineation between these new Klingons and the old. Maybe some stuff about... I don't know... a whole subclass of marginalised Klingons...
At any rate, I think that broadening the scope of what the Klingons are and why they do the things they do is an interesting, if potentially superfluous angle. This was sort of an impromtu micro-rant. I'm not sure that I've fully decided how i feel about the whole new angle their taking with Discovery, but I'm determined to be at least open to it. At any rate, We shall now return to our scheduled shit-fuckery.
The Klingons have suffered from this more than most races. In TNG through Voyager, the Klingons are WARRIORS. they go to WAR to be WARRIORS that fight WARS for GLORY and HONOUR because there is nothing more HONOURABLE and GLORIOUS than WAR... you get what I mean? That shit's stupid. A people that only ever fight isn't going to go anywhere. More on that later. So introducing new, previously unseen facets to the Klingons as a race is a fundamentally good idea, in my books.
To give the TNG/DS9/VOY Klingons their due, there were attempts to make them more than just warriors. We saw examples of Klingons that thought the empire was growing too soft. We saw the unpoliticising Martok and we even got to see a Klingon Lawyer. A whole, adult Klingon who's life doesn't orbit around the concept of dying in a horrific fashion on a battlefield. This is good development. Something that mostly came about in DS9 because they had already seen the benefits of expanding 3 alien races beyond their initial "hats". The Cardassians, Bajorans and Ferengi all found huge depth in DS9 because they spent enough time exploring their own complex and schismatic backgrounds for them to seem grounded. I fell like this was done best with the Cardassians. A race that started out as nothing but "scaly Roumulans" grew to have mere depth and to be more relateable almost than the humans of the 24th century.
And this is why I'm at least curious to see where discovery takes them. Will we see Klingons that hold fundamentally different values? maybe even Klingons that have more in common with the Federation than their own birth-world. That's a pretty interesting concept and, if done well, could expand hugely on an established race, given future actions and decisions more weight. Of course, there's the crux. It has to be done well. And there also has to be, in my mind, a clear delineation between these new Klingons and the old. Maybe some stuff about... I don't know... a whole subclass of marginalised Klingons...
At any rate, I think that broadening the scope of what the Klingons are and why they do the things they do is an interesting, if potentially superfluous angle. This was sort of an impromtu micro-rant. I'm not sure that I've fully decided how i feel about the whole new angle their taking with Discovery, but I'm determined to be at least open to it. At any rate, We shall now return to our scheduled shit-fuckery.
The Klingon Empire is Dead. Long live the Empire.
There's an interesting conversation between Worf and Ezri towards the end of DS9. While discussing the increasing pettiness of Gowron towards Martok, Ezri makes a statement that really stuck with me. Worf says that the Empire is dying. Ezri suggests that perhaps the best course of action is to let it die. As I've discussed before, the Empire's political caste is rotten to the core. When Gowron and Duras were competing to ledership of the Empire, Gowron was only just the better man. His competitor was a literal Romulan puppet and he still had a hard time convincing the Empire that he was the better choice.
Once in power, of course, Gowron was Immovable. He quickly learned that he easiest way to keep power is to ruin your adversaries before they become a real threat. Much like K'mpec, he continues to manipulate the Empire and appease the most powerful members of the high council. His policies have essentially ruined the Klingon people and brought the Empire to death's door.
Ezri's assertion isn't that the Klingon people need to die, but that maybe their Empire needs to die and be reborn as something else. Their entire leadership caste are just as liable to kill each other and set their houses to war against one another as they are to support the Emperor and Chancellor. Their ridiculous, ancient traditions make progress an impossibility and make all transfers of power bloody. This is an old system, artificially preserved trough constant expansion.
Would the Klingon people be better off starting from scratch? Building a new state with new rules and better, more honourable leaders? I think that they would. I think that's what Ezri is getting at. The Klongon people can cling on (heh) to the past or they can build a new future. One where they aren't just a race of drunken murder-samurai.
And that's the glimmer of hope We're supposed to feel for the Klingons at the end of DS9. Martok as Chancellor. Worf as his confidant and friend. Together they're going to breathe new life into the Empire and start to right the wrongs of the past century...
...Except the Empire is already dead. I'm not talking in metaphors here. The Klingon Empire at the end of DS9 is fucked. Let me explain.
The Klingons have been at war for the longer than the Federation and Romulan Empire. And it's clear that they've suffered much heavier losses, relative to their population size. This is in fact, the first prolonged, serious conflict the Klingon empire has been in for quite some time. There have been border skirmishes with the Romulans and Cardassians. There have been internal conflicts aplenty. But the Klingon Cardassian war, leading into the Dominion War, is the first time since the destruction of Praxis that the Klingon Navy has truly been tested.
A navy made of of ships supplied by the various houses of the empire. Houses that, as we've discussed are fractious and factional. Captains demonstrate more loyalty to their house than to the Empire frequently. And it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest to learn that nepotism makes more than a few lousy captains within the KDF. But for the most part it seems like the Klingon go along with this new era of war. Barring the house of Mogh, which is promptly destroyed by the Chancellor they helped crown.
The Inital war goes well for the Klingons. Their losses are acceptable and the Empire has the industrial strength and reserves to quickly replace lost ships with new ones. Even when they end up fighting the Federation, they seem fairly confident in their eventual victory. Losses are heavier as Starfleet are getting the opportunity to test out their anti-borg turned anti-dominion fleet on Yesterday's Enemy.
But the klingon expulsion from Cardassian space is costly. Gowron speaks of heavy losses. He even makes good with the Federation (a whole different rant for another day) and promptly goes to war against the Dominion. This is, after all, the real enemy that the Klingons have claimed to be safeguarding against with their unapologetic land-grab of Cardassian space.
But things do not go well in this new war. In short order, the Empire's resource strength and reserves are quickly expended and the Klingon fleet finds itself undersupplied and understaffed. In order to avert this chronic manpower shortage, Gowron hammers the first nail into the coffin of the Empire. He begins conscripting retired soldiers, children and Klingons outside of the military service. Martok's flagship has to make do with farmers and the next generation of warriors as crewmembers. This is a big deal because it means the Klingon Empire won't be up to strength for some time to come. Worse, the Industrial machine of the Empire is being ground down for soldiers. Klingons that should be tending to the fields or building or designing new ships are instead dying in droves against an enemy for which manpower simply isn't an issue.
This is relatively early in the Dominion War, as well. It will be another 18 or so months before Cardassia falls and there will be numerous bloody and costly battles for the Klingons and their "allies". These losses are compunded when the Jem Hadar begin ramming Klingon ships.
Gowron's next move is then to take direct control of the Empire's forces in an attempt to destroy Martok. This is at a crucial time when the Klingons need to be prudent in their attacks and strategic movements because they can't rely on the Federation or Romulan forces to suport them. So naturally, in an attempt to kill or disgrace Martok, Gowron throws dozens of ships away on obvious suicide missions. Ships crews and supplies that are irreplaceable are lost.
Gowron's death isn't even a boon, now. It does allow Martok to wage a sensible war, but it also lays the seeds for the next Klingon civil war. Gowron has kept power by appeasing numerous powerful houses. Houses that have much to lose wih Martok, a commoner, in charge. Worse, Martok's acsension has happened in the worst possible way imaginable. A disgraced Klingon, a lapdog of the Federation and son of a notorious traitor, has been allowed into Martok's house. He has fought Martok's battle for him and pronounced him Chancellor. I am in no doubt that the Klingon houses have no intention of his rule being long or prosperous.
So, at the end of the war, the Klingon Empire has:
Lost much of its fleet strength.
Destroyed its own industrial strength and left to few people to operate the Empire in peace time.
Gained a leader who is popular with the average Klingon but extremely unpopular with the great houses.
Gained nothing of value.
The Empire will not be able to maintain an occupation of Cardassian space, let alone to crew it's own fleet. I submit to you that the Klingon empire cannot survive the aftermath of the Dominion war in it's current state and that a civil war/revolution is almost certainly coming. It is the Ottoman Empire, well past it's zenith and approaching its nadir. Whatever about the Klingon people, but the Empire in it's current form will fail soon.
Once in power, of course, Gowron was Immovable. He quickly learned that he easiest way to keep power is to ruin your adversaries before they become a real threat. Much like K'mpec, he continues to manipulate the Empire and appease the most powerful members of the high council. His policies have essentially ruined the Klingon people and brought the Empire to death's door.
Ezri's assertion isn't that the Klingon people need to die, but that maybe their Empire needs to die and be reborn as something else. Their entire leadership caste are just as liable to kill each other and set their houses to war against one another as they are to support the Emperor and Chancellor. Their ridiculous, ancient traditions make progress an impossibility and make all transfers of power bloody. This is an old system, artificially preserved trough constant expansion.
Would the Klingon people be better off starting from scratch? Building a new state with new rules and better, more honourable leaders? I think that they would. I think that's what Ezri is getting at. The Klongon people can cling on (heh) to the past or they can build a new future. One where they aren't just a race of drunken murder-samurai.
And that's the glimmer of hope We're supposed to feel for the Klingons at the end of DS9. Martok as Chancellor. Worf as his confidant and friend. Together they're going to breathe new life into the Empire and start to right the wrongs of the past century...
...Except the Empire is already dead. I'm not talking in metaphors here. The Klingon Empire at the end of DS9 is fucked. Let me explain.
The Klingons have been at war for the longer than the Federation and Romulan Empire. And it's clear that they've suffered much heavier losses, relative to their population size. This is in fact, the first prolonged, serious conflict the Klingon empire has been in for quite some time. There have been border skirmishes with the Romulans and Cardassians. There have been internal conflicts aplenty. But the Klingon Cardassian war, leading into the Dominion War, is the first time since the destruction of Praxis that the Klingon Navy has truly been tested.
A navy made of of ships supplied by the various houses of the empire. Houses that, as we've discussed are fractious and factional. Captains demonstrate more loyalty to their house than to the Empire frequently. And it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest to learn that nepotism makes more than a few lousy captains within the KDF. But for the most part it seems like the Klingon go along with this new era of war. Barring the house of Mogh, which is promptly destroyed by the Chancellor they helped crown.
The Inital war goes well for the Klingons. Their losses are acceptable and the Empire has the industrial strength and reserves to quickly replace lost ships with new ones. Even when they end up fighting the Federation, they seem fairly confident in their eventual victory. Losses are heavier as Starfleet are getting the opportunity to test out their anti-borg turned anti-dominion fleet on Yesterday's Enemy.
But the klingon expulsion from Cardassian space is costly. Gowron speaks of heavy losses. He even makes good with the Federation (a whole different rant for another day) and promptly goes to war against the Dominion. This is, after all, the real enemy that the Klingons have claimed to be safeguarding against with their unapologetic land-grab of Cardassian space.
But things do not go well in this new war. In short order, the Empire's resource strength and reserves are quickly expended and the Klingon fleet finds itself undersupplied and understaffed. In order to avert this chronic manpower shortage, Gowron hammers the first nail into the coffin of the Empire. He begins conscripting retired soldiers, children and Klingons outside of the military service. Martok's flagship has to make do with farmers and the next generation of warriors as crewmembers. This is a big deal because it means the Klingon Empire won't be up to strength for some time to come. Worse, the Industrial machine of the Empire is being ground down for soldiers. Klingons that should be tending to the fields or building or designing new ships are instead dying in droves against an enemy for which manpower simply isn't an issue.
This is relatively early in the Dominion War, as well. It will be another 18 or so months before Cardassia falls and there will be numerous bloody and costly battles for the Klingons and their "allies". These losses are compunded when the Jem Hadar begin ramming Klingon ships.
Gowron's next move is then to take direct control of the Empire's forces in an attempt to destroy Martok. This is at a crucial time when the Klingons need to be prudent in their attacks and strategic movements because they can't rely on the Federation or Romulan forces to suport them. So naturally, in an attempt to kill or disgrace Martok, Gowron throws dozens of ships away on obvious suicide missions. Ships crews and supplies that are irreplaceable are lost.
Gowron's death isn't even a boon, now. It does allow Martok to wage a sensible war, but it also lays the seeds for the next Klingon civil war. Gowron has kept power by appeasing numerous powerful houses. Houses that have much to lose wih Martok, a commoner, in charge. Worse, Martok's acsension has happened in the worst possible way imaginable. A disgraced Klingon, a lapdog of the Federation and son of a notorious traitor, has been allowed into Martok's house. He has fought Martok's battle for him and pronounced him Chancellor. I am in no doubt that the Klingon houses have no intention of his rule being long or prosperous.
So, at the end of the war, the Klingon Empire has:
Lost much of its fleet strength.
Destroyed its own industrial strength and left to few people to operate the Empire in peace time.
Gained a leader who is popular with the average Klingon but extremely unpopular with the great houses.
Gained nothing of value.
The Empire will not be able to maintain an occupation of Cardassian space, let alone to crew it's own fleet. I submit to you that the Klingon empire cannot survive the aftermath of the Dominion war in it's current state and that a civil war/revolution is almost certainly coming. It is the Ottoman Empire, well past it's zenith and approaching its nadir. Whatever about the Klingon people, but the Empire in it's current form will fail soon.