SuvwI’ ‘a’ ghaH ReQlaw ‘e’
qu’ qabDaj; jev ‘e’ rur
nom vIHchu’j  Hov  tIH rur
jupDajvaD  yoHbej ghaH
jaghDajvaD Heghna’ ghaH

Crashed their heads together in time to the beat of the song, hearts beat in time
Gowron had his food scanned for exotic toxins
Qo’noS, brown and green, banded with swaths of gray and white
Couplets of poems, paeans to her loveliness
Behind every smile there were clenched teeth, behind every word of praise, the promise of treachery
Worf knew Deanna would think psychologically about Martok ‘processing a transition.’ Ezri, greater understanding of Klingons, ‘get him to relax.’ Jadzia would have said ‘Take him to a party, get him drunk.’ Which is what Worf arranged.
P32 Captain K’tar, tells jokes, Negh’var 
Negh’var security chief arm-wrestles, smashing forehead into opponent’s nose a valid move
First City, on a normal day the streets would be crowded with petitioners and tourists and the halls of government temples would ring with voices of council members debating policy.
Ancient tradition dictated that ambassadorial residences and commerce buildings be built outside the first ring of government buildings. 
Councilors arrange themselves by rank and status, bickering
Klingon comnet
Worf has ever growing army of informants
Professional politicians from the middle tier of Klingon society, less than thrilled about Martok’s ascension, taking a wait-and-see attitude
Martok popular with military and lower classes
New Councillors, unknown quantities, have risen to power when openings appeared due to deaths in battle. Evenly split for and against Martok. More than one politician had resigned his position and taken up his bat’leth when Dom War began.
Markot – Poor boy of Common Lineage Makes good
Martok’s chief danger lay in threat from oldest and wealthiest families, threat to their status.
Klingons believe a warrior’s ability to lead in battle translated into an ability to manage an empire.
Gowron, only an adequate warrior, had not been a bad leader, at first. The emergence of Martok’s clearly superior ability had made Gowron’s personal ambitions drive him to more and more missteps
P35 yajchu’ghach = clear vision
The ticks and pings of automatic instruments
Acrid scent, Klingon flight or fight hormone
Air scrubbers
The mourning scream, the shout of rage and defiance that a Klingon bellows when a fellow warrior goes to meet Death, so that Death might know who he is about to face
The Great Hall, and the Plaza of Heroes is gone
Qo’noS street vendors sell pulpy melons from carts
Pay in handful of coins
Alexander usually struck with nausea on visiting the First City, sensitive to smells
P38 cauldrons of peppadugh spice; Incense of ancestral temples
Alexander honored his half-human mother for all her gifts to him, he wished that he’s inherited his father’s wholly-Klingon digestive system
Hovercars and their sirens
Pots of congealed rokeg blood pie
P39 vendors hawked souveniers, genuine beads allegedly worn by Lukara to var’Hama candles smithed by the mistresses of Emperor Todokh the Imperious
Alexander wears a chronometer.
Alexander  – incongruously, Alexander found himself thinking, well, that would be something to see. oh, hell. So sorry, really. Damn it all. Make the lesser of the bad choices, Alex. He admonished himself. And today started out so well. But then the sky fell. Counted as he ran, if he made it to three, if he made it to ten. The holy trinity of mob sounds. E cursed himself, will thinking about this keep you alive for even a few more seconds, you fool? Concentrate on the job at hand! A lot of things I would have liked to have done, he thought wistfully. Including, well, just about everything.
P39 the Taklar Temple, outside the first ring of First City
A gaggle of mangy targs
Alexander prefer to find a pup somewhere, order up a flagon of ale, watch the pomp of Martok’s installation from an anonymous stool
Alexander not interested in needlessly drawing attention to himself in crowds
Alexander – the fool son of Worf might accidentally dump bloodwine down the front of the chancellor’s cloak 
Alexander – his careful planning might be pointless
Alexander had accidentally activated Ya’Vang’s waste-ejection system, the one used when a power loss forced a choice between recycling and warp drive, during yesterday’s dry-dock landing. He had had to stay and clean it up. The captain had found the incident amusing instead of bat’lething Alexander. 
Worf was always a stickler for exactness
Alexander had planned on being able to enjoy, revel in, being a member of the Chancellor’s House. This condition had not been lost on his crewmates on ya’vang. For the most part they had treated him well enough after the initial adjustment period, but it was clear their estimation of his worth was higher than it would have been without the crest of House Martok on his uniform. If nothing else, it was always easier to get resupplied when the quartermaster learned that a member of the chancellor’s House was aboard ship. Ya’vang crew treated him just fine. It wasn’t their opinion of him that mattered, it was his opinion of himself. Not being ostracized wasn’t enough; he wanted to belong, but in Klingon society, he had learned, there were only so many ways to make a name for oneself.
Alexander was fairly confident that he did not have the makings of a great warrior. He had learned enough basic combat skills to not be treated as an out-and-out liability in a fight; the best he would ever be able to do. 
Even in the Defense Force, intellectuals and fine artists were honored almost as highly as fighters.
Alexander knew he was neither a genius or a songwriter
P41 engineers fix things with a roll of draq tape and a sharp glare
P41 Ka’Tarlk, difficult word to rhyme in Klingon
Alexander had been the ship’s lucky screw-up, but that had worn thin pretty quickly. Alexander had learned on Earth that people find that sort of thing amusing and then annoying. On a Klingon ship it could be fatal.
Sergei Rozhenko would have said he needed a new shtick
Alexander had found that students, and social groups, fall into several basic types – the popular crowd; the physically able; the smart ones; tech heads. Alexander perceived one category in human schools that was not present on a Klingon warship – the class clown.
Alexander decided to make his shipmates laugh, while avoiding having them laugh at him. Improve his chances to survive long enough to find something else he could do.
Alexander Rozhenko had a gift for making other people do stupid things.
Alexander decided privately that it had something to do with having done so many stupid things himself.
this morning Alexander had decided to make the change from ship’s fool to ship’s clown
p43 Lt. Charak, unfortunate and inexplicable tendency to belch loudly just before he stepped on a transporter pad
p43 Aktaj, Lt. Charak’s subordinate
expel gagh through nose; treated as a great victory, Alexander the general at the forefront
Alexander, if he was lucky enough to ever be an old man on his deathbed
Alexander took it as a good omen for the day
Shore-leave party
Crewman Rozhenko
Alexander found himself looking forward to seeing his father and actually being able to introduce his shipmates as friends
Cobbled streets of First City
Alexander – this might be more fun to watch drunk, now that I think of it
Alexander knew how much drunken behavior would displease his father
Alexander face his father’s scowling disapproval after imbibing
Alexander threaded his way
High Council members, finest ceremonial clothes, rank-dictated positions in the receiving line
Alexander wonders who were enemies of the House of Martok and thus his enemies
Alexander shifted his armor so it wouldn’t dig into his shoulder
Alexander horrified by injured people after blast
Hovercars churned over the heads of the crowd
Alexander fell back on his soldier’s training, he quickly assessed the situation, his mind racing through possibilities
Alexander knows if Martok’s enemies had decided to move, all those loyal to him, especially members of his House, would be targeted. Alexander wouldn’t be safe on ya’vang.
Qo’noS tiny northern ice cap; the pole’s magnetic fields played havoc with their cloak’s graviton emissions, helping further conceal the ship
Experienced warriors knew the tricks to finding cloaked ships, and even more tricks to finding a ship when magnetic fields garbled sensor readings.
Martok had been captain of the Negh’var. most important thing to secure the chancellor
Klingon comnet broadcasting banal public health announcements; warning citizens of First City about breathing without filter masks
His instinct to rant and roar
General Martok could rant, Chancellor Martok could not let emotions crowd his reason
Martok had fought in or overseen engagements that had involved cities, planets, even systems
K’tar the calmest, most rational officer in the fleet, deadly warrior. A warrior renowned across the empire for his icy calm. K’tar dies saving Martok from crashing machinery after Negh’var attacked. 
Cocked his head in a manner that communicated that this was already being done
Single-minded focus on their duties
He wished he could grant them the chance to sing their friends to the next world
P48 young female tactical officer named Tamal, Negh’var. rescued from destruction of ship.
Gowron turned into an animal that had to be put down like a diseased beast
Worf – the Starfleet officer would want to explore all options dispassionately, the Klingon warrior sensed how dangerous these waters were
Many surveillance satellites in orbit over Qo’noS
P50 Ka’Toth plains outside the First City.  Archaeologists and environmentalists argued about the origin of the wide plain around the First City
The Great Hall used to stand on the central hill in First City
To Alexander’s eye, he looked too pretty to be a battlefield-seasoned warrior
Alexander had had dealings with pretty warrior types; vain sons of high families whose primary focus was on demonstrating their superior skills before the lower house
Alexander thought – Show-off, this is staged.
Alexander knew honest reports from disaster sites didn’t have theatrical flair
The eyes always told the truth
P53 Morjod. Where once we were feared, now we are mocked. Where once we conquered, now we negotiate. Where once we were conquerors, now we Klingons are a subject people, nothing more than hirelings, servants, kuve. The Federation has meddled in our politics, corrupted our culture. Worf. Martok the Mongrel, the son of No One. I have brought down many Houses today because it is time to begin anew.
P55 kuve – lowly menials of another power.
The Council chamber housed the Klingon soul
Wrestle a wild Grishnar car
Alexander heard his father’s name invoked like a curse
Alexander figured Morjod must be using some kind of hypnotic technology
Alexander knew of hypnotic tech used on weak-willed, Klingons not weak-willed
Gate leads to third ring of First City
Atmospheric container vehicle, used to move heavy equipment or slow herd animals
Antigravs glowing a dull blue
Alexander, raised by Rozhenkos, with legends of Minsk; child-eating witches, baba yagas, snarling wolves that stole babies from cradles. Healthy childhood nightmares. Alexander wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, claws scraping at frosted windows. Alexander’s upbringing had been orientated toward his human side. Alexander wasn’t immune to the night terrors of a Klingon. Alexander knew the primitive stirrings of his ancestors’ fears. 
Alexander felt his gut clench, his fists curl, his nails dig into palms
Alexander knew without being told – Hur’q
Hur’q -  a meter taller than Klingons, huge low-slung heads, pupilless wide-set eyes, long gray tongue, narrow lips, rows of evenly spaced, small but blade-sharp teeth, two arms dangled below wide shoulders, three clever fingers and two opposable thumbs on each hand. 500 years after Kahless the Hur’q had come to Qo’noS, stripped it bare, slaughtered nearly every living thing. The survivors had finally driven off the plunderers with a little carnage of their own. Kahless was remembered as the one who had wrought the hearts and souls of his kind, it wasn’t until they’d fought the Hur’q that they had become Klingons. The Hur’q are supposed to be extinct. Screeched. Dropped his shoulders as if about to spring.
Alexander felt some ancient part of his brain speak – turn and run.
Alexander liked to believe he could control himself, and he managed not to run
Klingon bar tables tended to be set low to the ground, undersides frequently festooned with pointy objects, no reason why
Ferengi Pharh – one of his ancestors must have been intimate with a Klingon at some time, to explain how he could have such a big head and yet be so stupid. It must be bone in there.
From Ferenginar passage tp Qo’noS always cheap because basically no one besides Klingons ever wanted to go there
Pharh had been negotiating with Klingon government councilor to mine resources out of landfills on Qo’noS
Alexander in knife fight in bar. Someone recognized him just before he escaped First City. Alexander did something very few Klingons would do; he stepped backward in a fight, out of range. Alexander had long known he could not match most Klingons for strength or ferocity, so Alexander had studied Klingon nerve clusters. 
Alexander would have humbly accepted the chastisement from his father for being late, which would have pleased Worf
Alexander, being pragmatic, wondered if he would ever see his father again. The thought troubled him. They hadn’t been at their best the last time they spoke. Alexander had hoped they would do better. Worf had still be wallowing, in Alexander’s opinion, in doubt about defeating Gowron and anointing Martok chancellor. 
It was never easy for Alexander to know what would make Worf happy. 
Nerve cluster base of throat – paralyze for three minutes, quick recovery
Alexander knew what Worf would do in a fight. 
Alexander was exactly a good enough warrior to admit that he wouldn’t know a defensible position from a hole in the wall
walls all across cities on Qo’noS usually because somebody had grown tired of strangers using their backyards as a shortcut. Topped with some variation of razor wire.
Alexander tried thinking like his father, to analyze and devise a tactical solution. 
Alexander felt the hormonal rush drain through his feet
Waste his disruptor charge
Alexander had learned enough tactics to know how it would end
Alexander felt too often in his life like he didn’t have a choice
Alexander managed to gather his wits
Alexander was fairly certain there were innocent pawns and he didn’t want their blood on his hands
A flash of light and the beating of the oars as the Barge of the Dead pulled up to the curb to wait for him
Alexander extended his hand, terran fashion, to shake
Kahless and Pharh rescue Alexander from bar and mob fight. Alexander tells Pharh if there’s anything I can ever do for you, please just track me down and ask. I think I’m experiencing a profound life change right this moment, but if I live through it, I owe you both. 
Kahless – Time for us to go, the battle is joined. There are always options, young warrior. Though sometimes you have to look hard to find them.
Kahless, hooded warrior, hands deeply seamed and carried many scars. Wrist controlled aircraft, modified to be nearly silent. 
Alexander, part of him was just too curious not to go along with his mysterious benefactor.
Alexander found himself muttering
Kahless takes Alexander into his ship, leaves Pharh.
Ship systems - Power conduit exploded, breaker cut in before serious electrical damage. Air-filtration unit, compressor, and containment container. 
Klingons have extremely acute olfactory sense 
First-year cadets pushed into active duty to fill out the depleted ranks
P81 Captain Kevas, [f] the first commander Martok had served under as a bridge officer. A brilliant, ruthless, terrifying woman, the nearest thing to a deity Martok had seen
Pierced him like an assassin’s needle
Tell my wife I died thinking of her.
I will write a song in your honor
K’tar – Martok has a terrible voice
Roared at the void, announcing that K’Tar was standing at the gates of Sto-Vo-Kor.  It was meant to be a howl of victory, a moment of joy that the life of this fine warrior had had a noble end.  
An alliance with the Romulans, the first idiot Klingon to make such a mistake
Even the Negh'Var would be hard-pressed to defeat more than one big D'deridex warbirds
Bow camera, the one slung behind the belly photon torpedo launcher
Morjod has four Vor'cha attack cruisers, M'ganath; Ti'voH; Spear of Kaltad; Kerla and 6 birds of prey attacking Negh-Var. one bird destroyed. Four vor'cha class cruisers destroyed in Negh'Var warp core detonation
Bridge stations have work lights in emergency lockers, pull them out and fix them to breastplates when lights dim, power fails
A ship the size of Negh'Var not meant to go atmospheric, but could survive if piloted skillfully
Klaxon pounded out the double-time klang that even the most fearless veteran dreaded, a warp-core breach
Use it as a stanza in a song
I will see her again in Sto-Vo-Kor and we will speak of this glorious day of battle
Its main cannon glowed red
P90 Karg, associate consul to Federation Embassy on Qo'noS
Having Klingons tell bald-faced lies was as disturbing as massive explosions at the Great hall
Disruptors do a lot of collateral damage
Met death with stoic honor
Worf saves 20 or so from Negh'Var via transport relay to surface
Hills of the Ketha lowlands, nomadic residents of the plain. Letting too much Ketha rain get on you wasn't a good idea. As a boy Martok could cross the entire garbage strewn plain in full daylight, loaded with scrap metal, and not been found by security drone equipped with motion sensors and infrared. Too much radiation from the wrecks, impossible to scan. Smugglers conceal their bases here.
Once Martok could identify the exact composition of a burning pile of garbage by the depth of hue and the twist of the churl of smoke
Martok – the boy he had been would have laughed at the man he had become
p100 M'Kec, young officer rescued from Negh'Var
Darok still lives in Ketha, Shrana. Became gin'tak to the House of Martok years ago. Childhood visits to seaside where his grandfather owned a small boat. Sell fish to the local training-camp cooks. 
Reprehensible old reptile
Darok, gin'tak to the House of Martok
One did not have a mate such as Martok without anticipating that someday his enemies would make a move such as this
Sirella had long ago planned for such an event. She had network of alternative information sources. Sirella escaped from the First City in the afternoon. 
P102 Shrana. The breadbasket of Qo'noS. yellowish purple grain. Martok's vast compound, more than 25 kellicams. Situated on hill. Brook at bottom of hill. The south side had been designed to look appealing to someone trying to off-load an attack force. Not too attractive. Three pairs of hidden doors, cannons. Command bunker buried 50 meters under the center of the house, via two person elevator. Reinforced thermocrete walls. Staff, cooks and maintenance workers. House security force, concussion grenades, antimatter charge. Lands rough, purposefully allowed to become overgrown. Nearby narrow canyon lined with disruptor cannons. 
P103  Tor'aq. Darok grew up in slums of Tor'aq. His mother, Most Fearsome of All Women. Darok had never confused honorable with stupid. He knew that on occasion running away was the smart thing, and the right thing, to do. 
Hovership troop transports
Sirella presided over estate from ornately carved desk, flickering candles, tapestries. Sirella gazed on tapestries when she wanted to meditate. The tapestry told the story of her ancestress's challenge to the emperor's court. Sirella's relations had produced a magnificent vintage of bloodwine several seasons ago. 
Hur'q Carry disruptors and isomagnetic cannons
It is always worthwhile to see anything she does
Everything built be the empire in the previous century had been built to outlast its makers by many lifetimes
P106 Taarl, assistant chief engineer, rescued from Negh.Var
P106 Maapek, young communications officer
'what did you see on the hilltop, brother' is the first line of an ancient response song of Ketha. 
'I saw rivers of our blood, my brother, our mothers' and fathers', our sisters' and our wives' second line
'What did you see by the river, my brother? '  third line
'I saw mountains of corpses, the bodies of our sons and daughters'  fourth line
p108 Fool's Song, from the opera Malsandra's Death. Mothers used to sing it to their children, a finger-play song about a small shum that tried to crawl up a wall and was repeatedly washed away by a summer shower.
Boiled cabbage brings back memories for Worf.
P109 Kar-Tela, old deity. Destiny, carries a ch'tak, an edged club. Carries earthenware cup. Goddess of destiny before Klingons slew all their gods. Kar-tela was the only one of the old gods who escaped that slaughter, because she was Kar-Tela and no warrior could defeat destiny. Cup might hold water or poison. The penitent could accept the cup and take chance or dash it from her hand. If this happened Kar-tela would joyously offer battle.
There is no such thing as chance in Ketha. There is only fate, only destiny.
Destiny, Fate, never trust her, but it never hurts to try to bribe her
Klingons should not rely on gods.
Martok believes we ignore gods at our peril.
Sirella possesed the disconcerting abilit6y to remain completely and utterly at rest when she chose. 
Darok had seen full grown warriors, leaders of thousands, turn into twitching boys in Sirella's presence merely because she could sit still and stare for longer than seemed possible of a living being
Sirella, designed from birth to be formidable
P112 DiHnaq, bracelet worn on right wrist, symbol of control of household
Tradition of House Martok that when the lady was not there, the DiHnaq hung on a thin chain over the inner archway of the main door. 
P112 One day Sirella would be too old and weak and one of her daughters, Shen or Lazhna or a daughter in law would wrest the DiHnaq from her.
Sirella could break Ezri in half with a disapproving sneer.
If husband finds fault with wife's decision, he may meet her in a court of combat and attempt to divorce her.
To wantonly destroy our heritage runs counter to everything we believe in
Cursed them for tracking mud on the carpet
He could not conceive of how the circumstances would conspire in any other way if Sirella wished it to be so.
High-protein rations give some people diarrhea
Large maple tree in Rozhenko's backyard in Minsk.
Childhood treehouse for Worf. Nothing other children did ever made sense to Worf. Took a sad sick sort of pleasure in watching it decay when other children wouldn't play with him. He realized just how much he was enjoying it and stoically forced himself to feel nothing at all.
K'Ehleyr favored flamboyant outfits, neither completely Klingon or Terran, but always subtle intermeshing of the two. 
A decade, in a Klingon context, as a very long time
Alexander is grown, a soldier of the empire. Worf does not know him well enough to like or dislike Alexander. Alexander is much more like K'Ehleyr than he is like Worf. Alexander is serving the empire. He wishes to serve. He wishes to please his father. He could be doing something more constructive with his time. 
Klingons are always at war, whether we acknowledge it or not is another issue entirely
Dream K'Ehleyr tells Worf to ask Alexander what he wants to do to please himself
The Endless Day – Worf believed history would refer day Morjod destroyed great Hall
Worf uncertain Alexander strong enough or wily enough to weather the uncertainties and trials he would face if he stayed in the city. He hoped Alexander would have enough sense to make it to Federation embassy. Otherwise, lose himself in a crowd and keep quiet about family affiliation
Like Worf, Alexander held dual citizenship.
P124 Jaroun, K'Tar's second-in-command, ranking Defense Force officer rescued from Negh'Var. large and young and family considerable political clout. Father and uncle on High Council. 
Imperial Intelligence did not pursue Morjod's story because he did not match their model of a political threat to the government
P125 Morjod won his seat on the High council by winning a personal combat with V'Tec two years ago. Attracted a core group of followers to his cause, an Empire free of influence from the Federation and Romulans, a stronger military and a return to the Old Ways. He was laughed at by progressives and ignored by moderates, who were in power. Morjod moved allies via canny political maneuvering, reassignments, trials by cpmbat and assassinations. While the rest of the council was fighting the Dominion War, Morjod built a power base.
Trial by combat is a poor way to settle an argument, rare these days unless honor is at stake
P128 genTag, depth of character
Go swimming in full armour
P130 General Larok, Martok fought together with him on Heldriff's World, executed under Morjod.
P130 General Ag'hel, declared himself for morjod.
Starfleet padds were much prized among the more open-minded members of the Defense Force.
The Emperor's Amphitheater, the largest room in the emperor's official residence, the largest room on Qo'noS. only the emperor was permitted to speak from that place.
P132, vor'cha class M'ganath; Ti'voH; Spear of Kaltad; Kerla, destroyed 
Small eyes sometimes see things that their elders do not
Fairer to look upon, no doubt, but evil may wear many guises
Tradition dictated that landowner provide food to feed every member of his House, or contribute equivalent to the Empire since few members actually lived on his lands. As status grows, so do lands. 
Martok, Supreme Commander of the Allied Ninth Fleet, considerable landholds
Ketha far to the east of Shrana. 
Darok, veteran of scores of campaigns
P140 fek'lhrakt [a curse word]
Roads on Qo'noS – the Great Victory Thoroughfare, four lane blacktop; Local Service Road Number 82; not many markings, not clear maps, GPS instead
P142  n'Drel groundcar, meant for long slow overland journeys on decent roads, great machines if treated well, antigravs, propulsion units pulsing red. Activation key.
Single-seated hoverbike, usually traveled in pairs or trios.
Drex every bit as arrogant as Martok cautious, not the most creative soul. The boy had obviously learned something somewhere along the line; familiar arrogance
Drex fleeing in n'Drel groundcar
Don't contradict me
Admitting you don't know everything is the beginning of wisdom
Drex was with Sirella in First City during attack. Decided to separate. Sirella made it back to House without complications. Drex pursued, lost them three times, Hur'q  always found him again. Formidable opponents. Drex stopped at a tavern last night to get food. Hur'q slew tavern owner and wife, Drex fled
There is some pleasure to be had in playing at being prey, especially when the hunters are as careless as these fools
They might have caught up with me, but they never would have captured me
Smacking on cheek with open hand, not a challenge blow, the kind a nursemaid might use on a recalcitrant child.
Hur'q make long high ululating cry
Display common sense by allowing himself to know fear
P149 katcha sauce
Darok remembered meeting Alexander at Worf's wedding
Slapped combadge on his shoulder
Hur'q, wide clawed feet
You couldn't grow up in Ketha and mind the cold, wind howls down from north in winter, shred clothing
Martok job as a boy to gather household trash into large stone oven in the yard, father would light it ever week or so
Ketha teemed with life, despite appearance
P162 Lazhna, age 14, dau Sirella and Martok, attacked, cornered her in an alley, crippled two grown men. Sirella called Martok to inform him.
P169 sculpture images of Reclaw and his seven companions
Sculpture traditional depiction of Mow'ga and his wife
The holy warrior T'chen from the second Dynasty
Beggars had been a common sight in Ketha when Martok was a boy
P173 ChanTogh's troops had fallen back to Ketha a thousand years ago. His soldiers had dug trenches to fight from and live in. deforesting the plain for two seasons for fuel. Topsoil destroyed, people and animals left. 
First City to the west of Ketha, more than a two day walk
Warriors allowed themselves to be swept away on emotional tides, it was part of their nature, part of the romance of their caste
Leaders must deny themselves the luxury of indulging their passions
P175  scorca trees, gray, flinty
Hedgerow of iron thorn trees
Lower Ketha, worst of the wastelands
As a general of the Klingon Defense Force, Martok knew something known only to a handful of Qo'noS's citizens. Every Klingon-built vehicle on the planet had a device built into it that emitted a unique frequency, registered with Imperial Intelligence. Satellites could track and ID any vehicle on the surface. Transceivers
Almost lost himself in the red rage
A healthy whiff of coolant could damage throat and lungs
Any old hand in the Defense Force who had participated in a ground action had seen a Federation Sporak 460, ubiquitous for the past 50 years. Tough nimble vehicles transport personnel or supplies over long distances. Colonial equipment
P185 Tark, alias Martok uses
Ruins under First City much older than 1500 years, start of recoded history
Klingon fathers were supposed to be stern, demanding, ruthless. 
A Klingon child always knew precisely what his or her father wanted from him or her
Martok had felt that he was disappointing his father
This might be the right moment to bare my teeth and snarl
Sirella's internal clock, always accurate
A problem that would not linger if she were in charge
Sirella lived her lie believing that somewhere nearby, everywhere she went, there was a surveillance camera monitoring her
Her mother's and father's Houses had been powerful but never popular, not attempted to make alliances with the High Houses or curry favor with the Low Houses.
The House of Martok possessed merit.
Sirella believed Martok had risen to power because it was right. He was the only man who could lead the Klingon people through the dangerous days that she perceived before them.
A tall powerful Klingon woman, not some tiny alien thing
Moved in a slow stately manner that befitted a member of a noble house
Pride and dignity but also sense of humor, woman Sirella could call friend
There was no way to avoid the execution blow, so she would not dishonor herself or her family by trying
Sirella has always let her actions speak for her
Not waste last seconds with something as mundane as words
Sirella astonishing good memory for voices
My fate has been assured since the day I was born, the fate of all living things, I will die
She silently praised her mother's name for the opportunity
What a miserable little targ he looks
Children can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on how well they're raised
Sirella – Drex is his father's son. He reminds Sirella of Martok when they first met. Pride. Temper. Stubbornness. Martok did not develop wisdom until much later. Martok was a callow boy. Making Martok into a man had been difficult. He had possessed many of the virtues she required in a husband.
Men require guidance. Even when the raw stock is good they must be molded and shaped.
P205 Shen, eldest daughter on patrol with her ship, the Korrin. Left Klingon space in a small craft.
Lazhna, youngest, she fought well. My little warrior. Lazhna had been the most difficult of the three children. The most surly and unresponsive. Least like Sirella. Lazhna was thee girl Sirella wished she might have been if Sirella had been given the chance.
Sirella was in her twenty-first year, it had been a few years after Martok had repelled the Romulan attempt to seize Shivang's flagship and he had become famous through the Defense Force, infamous because of the lowly status of his family, when they first met. His prod bearing, calm, observant nature and obvious high regard of his crewmates had instantly transfixed her. Sirella had thought 'Here is a man of destiny. And only a woman of destiny should be permitted to claim him. Martok almost 26.
P208 tenor choir greets dead with jajlo' Sto-Vo-Kor a radiant sun glinting off the glorious gates and bloodwine gushing from stone. Jadzia Dax, his glorious wife, would be waiting for Worf, bat'leth in hand, a hint of feral seloh in her eyes
Alexander pats Worf on the shoulder and gives him water when Worf regains consciousness. Hello, Father
Worf – Are you doing what you want to do?
Alexander – I'm here with you, Father. So, yes, sure I'm doing what I want to do. For now I'm fine.
Worf – If you would rather do something else, you should.
Greeted in the fashion of old comrades, hands locked around each other's forearms
Forty two Klingons on DS 9 at the moment, a low number, 10 merchants. 4 diplomatic.
P213 the Kem'A, a scout ship, docked at DS 9. lost its main deflector array in a minor argument with an asteroid. Female gunner. Crew of about 26. 
P213 diplomatic personnel on DS 9 Sor'cha, Mubarak, and Klow, all known to Colonel Kira and Admiral Ross.
P213 Marasa, f, aide to High Council member Tor'ash. On DS 9. 
P213 Tor'ash, a key figure in a small but active coalition of reactionary xenophobic council members. Keeps a low profile. 
Communication from Qo'noS is nothing if not erratic
Kira believed that Dax's unbroken streak of unfailing loyalty to the Klingon people would continue.
Klingons didn't go in much fro hot food
P217  cranch, green goo a kind of algae grown in large vats and was usually served to very young children and or pets. Buy it by the gallon jug. Thick gritty texture, smell of fermented plant.
The chancellor's ring. Taken off Gowron's body and given to Martok. Martok didn't wear it until the ceremony. 
Moon rising in the east on Qo'noS
Guardsmen wore helmets while Defense Forces did not
Strange how few people had even mentioned the clone emperor's name in the past few days, almost as if they were looking for an excuse to forget him
P226  cha'ta'rok, literally the machine that tears, a torture execution device from the days before Kahless had unified the empire. Instrument of execution and test of a warrior's strength. Strapped down on platform, pole tied down to arms and legs and around the neck. By the standards of the era, mercifully quick. Strong warrior keep poles from snapping up. Legends tell of warriors keeping poles from snapping for hours.
P227 every young warrior was told the story of mighty Borma, who won his freedom by holding the poles bent for so long that the tops sprouted roots that grew into the earth. Thrilling heroic stories.
P227 Gratach, old woman gardener of  emperor's gardens. Martok had become friendly with her on his visits here. She had been tending the gardens since Urthog's day. [Martok's father] She reminded Martok of Darok, he enjoyed their conversations. She would have wanted to see Martok's installation, probably dead in attack on Great Hall.
A couriers weary pace
P228 Gorsh, alias Martok uses, ?name of guardsman he disabled
Gowron indifferent to day-to-day maintenance of security
P230  Dagh, means tooth
Arriving in Sto-Vo-Kor with a blade that had a name would be honorable
Administrative adjunct would receive couriers in main reception area
Martok loved his children but had not really known them, even Drex had only become fully formed in his mind when he became a soldier of the empire. And then there was the consideration of what kind of soldier, what kind of man, his son was. And the truth was, it was something Martok did not care to think about.
A childhood game – dare each other to speak a mythological demon's name three times while staring into a mirror. Would the demon appear behind the glass? 
Sirella, keeper of my soul and my honor
She only used his name when she needed to tighten her grip on him, one way or another
Shen and Lazhna are dead
I ask only for the chance to throw her off a cliff to Gre'thor once you've dispatched her to the afterlife
Big birds, long necks, large heavy bills, beady eyes, thick sharp talons, thick crest of red feathers over their eyes. Shear force of will levered themselves into the air
Sirella's voice put steel in him, especially when she was speaking seductively
An old D-5 junker with a clogged disruptor and ion propulsion
P247 Gothmara, of the House of Kultan. Martok served under her father's command
Martok father of Morjod
Sirella maintained strict rules about outsiders knowing their business
The duty that Klingons had drilled into them practically from birth, die well
Sirella an early riser and frequenter of the public markets
Hur'q the dark beast that hid under the bed of every Klingon child
A child who had never been disciplined, glories in torture and cruelty but understands nothing of the honor of battle. The child of every Klingon warrior who has not taught a child true honor
Worf shocked to find himself thinking of Klingons as something 'other'
Klingon disruptors notoriously fickle at highest setting
Hold up your weapon boy. Raise it or die.  The battle is not over until you are dead
They could continue their battle in the next world and bring down the gates of the eternal
Alexander did not wear his usual expression of anxious perplexity.
Alexander mans bird of prey Rotarran transporter rescuing Martok and Sirella from execution in First City
The room was sheathed in battle lighting and a klaxon screamed
Pressed to the deck, the antigravs and the inertial compensators were not coping well
Where in the Seven Hells have you been?
Rotarran Female doctor, Sickbay on bird of prey Rotarran, biobed hummed and coughed, no padding. 
Switch from thrusters to impulse power leaving planet
He had anticipated that death would dredge his memories, that he would journey through familiar landscapes as a spirit, confronting his enemies, rejoining fallen comrades, paying homage to those whom he still owed debts. Then he would arrive at the gates of Sto-Vo-Kor.
P279  a ch'tak, an edged club, ancient weapon
Klingons have a high tolerance for unpleasant odors
The usual Klingon rough battle first aid
You denied me an honrable death
No, I preserved an honorable life. And for that you now owe me a debt
All I ever wanted was to serve the empire as a soldier, to fight and die with honor
A crisis has been building for centuries. The clouds have burst and after generations of corruption and stagnation the Klingon people hunger for something to believe in again
The clone Kahless failed to rally the people, renew the Klingon soul, remind them of the ideals the true Kahless had lived and died for. It was a worthy challenge and the clone embraced it with all his heart.
Gowron was cunning, he accepted Kahless publicly to stave off civil war but blocked the emperor's efforts at every turn. Emperor grew frustrated, enraged, finally despaired
Klingons need more than a warrior, more than a politician, more than a shaman. They need a symbol. Martok
Ezri believes Worf's entire career had been leading up to ambassador to Klingon Empire.
Ezri feels Jadzia's glow of pride and amusement at the idea.
  Left Hand of Destiny part 2
a week after destruction of Great Hall
Part of Dax believed the Klingons had brought this latest catastrophe on themselves
The House of Martok has need of you
Dax was nothing if not loyal, honor obligations or die trying
Jadzia had sworn the oath, but Worf had made clear that Ezri had inherited all the privileges and responsibilities inherent in being a member of House Martok
Many medium-sized unremarkable clusters of asteroids studded the Klingon outmarches, trace amounts of kelbonite, inhibits sensor scans and transporter locks
P17 Ch'Tang [captain K'mtec male], B'Moth, Ya'Vang [captain b'Tak, male] and Orantho, Rotarran Three birds of prey and one K't'inga-class battle cruiser in House Martok arsenal, 1500 people, one female captain
Humid air, dimmer lighting, higher ratio oxygen to nitrogen atmosphere, a smell associated with Klingon vessels, unique to their culture
Curzon on odor of Klingon vessel – small of frying bacon, old-fashioned petroleum oil and the yeasty smell of truly exquisite beer
Rotarran airlock at rear of ship
Jadzia loved Klingons, she had a very romanticized view, so did Curzon. 
Klingons enjoyed, even indulged in their passions, but did not enjoy discussing them
Security sensors in front of doors to scan and clear people on ship, standard procedure on many Klingon ships
Martok did not favor scanning crew, 
If I cannot trust the least of my crew then I do not deserve to be their captain
Conference room on Klingon ship for issuing orders, not discussing options, long crescent shaped table
As a rule, Klingons despised meetings
Why discuss when a warrior should act?
Ezri believed this to be the Empire's problem – an unwillingness to examine the situation at hand and choose the proper course based on the situation's specifics. Instead, most Klingons believed battle-fever infused decision making to be superior to logical decision making
Caged Tika cat, eager to flee the room
Sirella and Martok, the best word that described their relationship was heat
Drex, a young warrior Ezri had only met once or twice in passing during the war
Jadzia and Ezri impressions of Drex – the personification of the contemporary Klingon warrior. Arrogant, fearless, quick to anger, and most of all, proud. Possessed none of his father's patience or humor and very little wisdom. Through Drex always enjoyed the high esteem of his fellow warriors. Drex embodied the attributes that hastened its ruin
Jadzia and Darok had shared a warm, open friendship based largely on the fact that Darok had known Curzon in his youth. 
Old Darok could no longer tolerate the blustering and posturing of the young.
Ezri had talked to Darok during the rocky adjustment period following her joining. She was certain he had been puzzled by her confused sense of knowing but not knowing
Alexander Rozhenko, stressed or uncertain, his usual expression to Ezri, now appears more calm and at peace with himself
What was it about Klingons that made them think they were above the needs of their bodies, redundant systems ort not?
My comrade-in-arms and sister of my heart
Daughter of the house of Martok
Morjod's Hammer – cloaked robot craft in upper atmosphere deployed diabolical weapon that crushed the Great Hall
Alliances with the Federation and the Romulans have made the Klingons feel weak
I vow it here with every warrior in this room as my witness
After finding the Sword of Kahless, Jadzia had studied the few archaeological surveys the Klingons had either performed or allowed other s to perform about the Hur'q. the entire occupation period remained a huge question mark. Klingon persona had emerged at least in part as a response to the trauma sustained during the Hur'q invasion. The sudden departure of the Hur'q also a mystery. They left behind the fiercest, most aggressive warriors in the quadrant. Compensation for nearly pathological feelings of vulnerability. 
Alexander winced at his own verbal clumsiness, dropping his eyes to the table
Alexander points out that Morjod's Hur'q move more like his pets
To know one's enemy is to know how to defeat him.
Converse in a stilted Klingon dialect to quickly to follow
Clone Kahless known as 'the clone emperor' 'the Ghost of Kahless' and 'Kahless the Forgotten'
Emperor Kahless called Martok to secret meetings before and after Gowron killed
Likeness of Kahless carved on many buildings and image on government documents, newsfeeds, even currency
Few will look into a beggar's eyes
Kahless enjoyed having an audience and could at times tire out even the most devout believer
Sirella not a clone Emperor fan, though Martok found they agreed on many issues. Sirella had been one of the most vocal protesters when the clone emperor came into power
Kahless clone remembers seeing enough wars to know that one should always carefully observe what happens around the ragged edges, where chaos reigns supreme
Sirella always prided herself on her ability to uncover useful information about her House's allies and enemies
P38 the Hromi Cluster, location of profitable illegal mining concerns for Ferengi and Orions, no Klingons
Klingons consider it distasteful to discuss commerce
P38 B'Tak, captain of the Ya'Vang. Commerce not a warrior's concern. The point of battle is battle. To do battle is a privilege. To die in battle is an honor.
Worf's oft-divided soul. He often felt compelled to reconcile people
Worf did not like to be surprised. He made it a point of his life to be prepared for every eventually thrown at him. [except Alexander]
p-40 the Chak'ok region on Qo'noS
p41 r'tak a swear word, the r'tak of Boreth
Klingons have very little tolerance for experimentation with genetic science
Gothmara had the idea to clone Kahless from the preserved blood of Kahless, planned and carried it out. 
Koroth and his order are scholars and priests, not scientists
P43 House Kultan. 
Sirella's father was active in the council. 
Empire at it's peak – made peace with the Federation, Romulans had not yet betrayed. Defense Force at its strongest in decades. Praxis crises over. Trade was excellent. Many world paid Klingons tribute. Didn't feel the need to crush every insurrection
Kahless and Lukara opera was performed before the entire Federation Council
P44 Lt. Martok met Gothmara when she was science officer on her father Kultan's ship Gothspar, named for her mother. Martok made tactical officer. Martok amazed and intrigued by her dedication
Just after Battle of Tcha'voth. Martok made a Lt. younger than 26
Kultan invited only the best to join his crew, warriors of proven abilities, he did not care about social rank or family status. Your value was measured in your worth to him. The most fanatically loyal crew in the empire. Any failure was sent away, broken and spent.
Glory in his service Martok has never felt anywhere else.
Strong back, keen vision and a willingness to serve.
Rumors the lower decks were chewing like cud – ignore them at your peril
Kultan financed his house by selling bioweapons
P46 Manx, the second-degree tactical officer on Gothspar, under Martok
Sirella's pride must be stinging with angry humiliation since she so despised discussing even the smallest personal detail outside the family
Imperial law had banned bioweapons, Klingon pride had spoken long before the legal ruling. A warrior should face a foe looking him in the eyes while he slew him. Even in space, equal combatants. Bioweapons were cringing and cowardly.
Stroking the ridge above his eyes, their warm slick bodies sliding together
Love intense and palpable
An admiration for their familial closeness was one of the characteristics that had brought Martok into Kultan's service, such a strong House!
data spike, the recording showed 
maintenance engineer
Kultan delivered bioshielded case to Orion trader in exchange for a credit chip, a case of virulently mutagenic organisms unknown in current taxonomies
Pressed entry-request key
P50 standing there, annoyed and unkempt, she looked like a storybook warrior-princess who had been roused from a much-deserved rest after battle with the hideous jybok. 
Have a few less ghosts spitting on him
She lifted her bloody hand to her lips, she tasted the blood, then, moving her hand slowly and seductively, drew her fingers down over her throat, painting a line of crimson that trickled between her breasts
When she bit his jaw, he groaned and his knees weakened
Clutching a handful of her hair he yanked back her head, exposing her throat to his teeth
Kultan had never met a warrior with Martok's gift for tactical planning
Surgically implanted weapons, even less honorable than bioweapons
Skull guns, Surgically implanted weapon, 
Explain yourself, and if I like it, I'll kill you quickly
Another power junction blew out
Yellow lights flashed and pointed the way to escape pods
In escape pod recorded voice counted down
Sirella's laugh had effect of making grown captains flee 
Sirella thought Ezri could not be much less like the infuriating and much-missed Jadzia. 
Sirella had seen something of Jadzia's blue steel in those eyes
Sirella noted men tolerated Martok's vices because his virtues eclipsed them. If only he could recognize that about himself
Sirella knew Drex was about to jump out of his chair, his armor, his very skin, for want of action. Her son's impenetrable dense skull.
Drex had always been Martok's, though Martok seemed oblivious to this
Darok, the old reprobate
Scrub forest at the edge of the main compound
On board a ship, the only place you can get really good rakt for raktajino. Planetside raktajino was too fresh and flavorful. Not nearly enough grit.
B'Tak had been chafing since his dressing down by Kahless.
He nodded at B'Tak, the closest he would come to an apology
Gothmara traveled to Boreth disguised as a pilgrim, insinuated herself into the monastery, immersed herself in the disciplines of the order and delved deep into the ancient archives. She conceived clone of Kahless with idea of civil war.
No women in senior roles at Boreth when Worf was there
The white tips of her sharp teeth glint under her lips
In the third year of Gowron's chancellorship Gothmara began recreating the Hur'q.
A lover's caress, like great beast's claws
Kultan had been famed far and wide as a strategist. His meticulous plans had been the ruin of many a Federation and Romulan general. 
Boreth was a Hur'q outpost, Gothmara found frozen Hur'q body parts there
P80 Ja'Gokor, location space transit station ?between Borth and Qo'noS. 
Rotarran was on Ja'Gokor station for repairs. Kahless commandeered ship to get to Qo'noS and rescue Drex and Worf, then Martok and Sirella
The Romulans won't attack anyone until they know thy can win. That's their way
Ty'Gokor, the command center
The Yan'Isleth controls Ty'Gokor, Gowron's former elite guard, they have little love for Martok or clone Kahless. Kahless undermined them, Martok almost disbanded them. Allowed them to retain control of Ty'Gokor compromise
Rotarran, Ch'Tang, possible Orantho would remain loyal to Martok, others slip away without chance of victory
P86 General Ngane, fleet commander. Martok supporter. Ngane had once been B'Tak's much-revered commanding officer.
Martok the Gambler keeps last credit in his boot
Martok and Darok play the odds. Darok knew when to keep his mouth shut and when to tell an easy lie.
Darok possessed an unrivaled fund of information about the specifications, records and status of every ship in the fleet
Martok of opinion B'Tak, captain of Ya'Vang, the best captain in his little resistance fleet
Nothing in the universe inspires as much dread in Martok as Sirella's 'We must talk, my husband,'
Sirella's brother is helmsman on Orantho
P94 Katai Urthog, Martok's father, obscure dialect
Alexander had been slow since he was a boy, the lingerer. Always there had been something he had found that was so interesting that he could not tear himself away and he would be left behind, bewildered, lost, confused.
Alexander, who was, naturally, bringing up the rear
The Emperor Kahless made quite an impression on Alexander. When I talk to him, I don't feel stupid or useless [pheromones]
Smiling shyly, Alexander shrugged.
Alexander often feels stupid and useless, especially when talking to a Klingon. I know this discussion is making my father crazy.
Ezri thinks Alexander would make the better Ambassador. Worf agreed. Alexander smiled proudly. 
Ortakin refers to Dax as 'parasite'
Martok takes a hot shower
Klingon bone regenerators were not as effective as their federation counterparts
The Defense Force's teeth-gritting reliance on antique medical technology was ridiculous
P100  K'mtec, captain of Ch'Tang
Ch'tang proplem with antimatter manifold
The prospect of a glorious death in an honorable struggle, the fulfillment of every Klingon's dream, warrior or not, to ascend into legend
Martok and Darok perfected trading barbs on many campaigns
P101 Ch'Tang weapons officer, young man Kurs
P102 graq, field crop 
Darok's mother once chased him across the graq fields in an antigrav skimmer, shooting at him with the stun gun she always wore to catch vermin
Darok left mother to fight Romulans
The strategy room
A brief glimmer of bared teeth
Martok's desire for combat had passed
For the space of a heartbeat, their gazes tangled
Sirella, his marvelous, frustrating, astonishing, endlessly annoying wife
P106  Ngane's flagship, the Chak'ta, two other small attack ships
Flagship and  full fleet complement, four light cruisers, four attack birds of prey, two supply ships and a ground assault carrier, 
Standard ship meeting procedure to brake and go to one quarter impulse
Darok cursing was never a good sign
Ngane dead, killed by Morjod
Ch'tang, female communications officer
P110  nIb'poH
In Sto-Vo-Kor, she would leave him, a lone man at the gates
He would rather endure eternity in gre'thor than roam Sto-Vo-Kor without Sirella
Sirella dies crashing her ship into ship attacking Martok, allowing Martok to escape
Inertial compensators
Clone Kahless, his voice had a depth, a quality that could not be denied
P116 Captain B'tak dead. Drex takes command. Drex calm, determined, even dignified as a ship's captain
Drax was an ensign on Ngane's ship. Ngane was a great commander.
A cup of bloodwine to sooth his nerves
Wine brings dreams
Submitted the call for a relief officer
Shen, middle child. She wanted nothing but to fly. Outstanding pilot. Martok had pushed for her to make a name for herself in high-performance experimental ships. She decided she could best serve the empire behind the controls of a fighter. She did not want anyone to think she had prestigious assignment because of her father.
Shen's entire wing was destroyed to get her.
Cadet's uniform
Worf programmed borscht into Ch'Tang replicator database
Most of Ngane's command crew were dead. Old Defense Force hands, men and women of negotiable loyalty. 
Grace before meals - For the strength of the beast and the graace of the birds, we give thanks; for the strength of the tree and the grace of the grain, we give thanks
Lukara appears to Martok in a dream, the tiniest Klingon martok had ever seen. Lukara teaches lessons when called on
The afterlife is not your concern. You will explore that place when the time comes
When Martok first met Kahless, he seemed a great example,  a standard bearer for our people.
P132 a katai, it means firebringer in the oldest tongue. In the days before the Hur'q, when Klingons roamed the plains, the katai carried the last ember of the previous nights fire to the new camp.
A warrior does not need comfort. Comfort dulls the senses.
Ships sensor display tags written in Klingon battle language
Three large ships in stationary orbit over monastery on Boreth
Boreth monastery bombarded from orbit by Gothmara. Blasted to pieces
Shuttle ship cloak not sophisticated enough to defeat larger ships' sensors
Magnetic hooks in equipment locker
Martok doesn't believe in fate
Martok – The galaxy could not tolerate Klingons without honor. It would have to exterminate us.
Pressing White control activates beam down
Boreth one sizable ocean. 
Monastery of Boreth, situated on mountain top near planet's major ocean, periodically pounded by fierce blizzards
Heavy disruptor and much other high tech equipment fails quickly in cold weather and blizzard conditions
Martok several visits to Boreth
Boreth, the seat of the Klingon soul for centuries. Whatever conflicts there were inside or outside the empire, always protected, honored, because legend had it the original Kahless had vowed to return to his people from here. Temples of learning built around that promise.
Oil-burning lamps were holographic effects on resourceless Boreth
Martok not experienced enough with a medical scanner to do anything more than search for injuries, take vital signs and receive suggestions for treatment. Medical scanner beeped furiously. Recommendation screen flickered and flipped through regimens, 'Stasis not an option' screen
Korath, still alive in caverns after Boreth attack. Dies
Keys and passcards
Lifted bat'leth with one hand into the first defense posture
A Klingon battles to victory, does not strategize to anticipate failure
If there is one last stand make it under the naked stars
Hur'q covered in short spiky guard hairs
Boreth one small moon
Alexander finds it interesting to watch Worf and Ezri interaction
Alexander shift as environmental officer
P160 Lame joke, looking for mIn in a gagh pit
P160 Newkon, on Qo'noS, Kl'Vokian, forces
Kl'Vok's second law, push something, it keeps going unless something smashed into it
Helena and Sergei semi-daily quarreling dialogues. Alexander as a boy had learned to simple close the door to his room and turn up the audio on the holotank
P161 chum, people wanted to kill them, cut them up into chum, feed them to Hur'q
Worf told Alexander tale of Sword of Kahless as they search for it, unbelievable.
Alexander could see it Clearly made worf uncomfortable
Sword of Kahless had been sent adrift in a remote region of Klingon space after Worf, Jadzia and Kor returned from Gamma Quadrant, on the fringes of an Oort cloud.
Alexander had to remind himself that while Trill were not as frail as humans, neither did they have the stamina of Klingons, particularly Klingons on a mission
Awake for four or five days, a nap or two, stiff muscles and eyestrain. Physiological redundancies allowed Klingons to endure prolonged physical demands with few side effects. Formidable opponents
Alexander had lived on enough Klingon ships to know that this was generally the point where officers drew weapons and eyed each other's jugulars.
Instead of being a spectator, alexander decided to help. He ran a full-spectrum analysis of the minerals in the comet's tail
At least once in a lifetime, every Klingon had sworn 'by Kahless's sword.'
Martok had never feared the ocean, but never trusted it
A wild diversity of creatures lurking just under surface of Klingon seas
I am the line that divides
Urthog from Ketha, renowned for his sense of humor
Martok's mother had no sense of humor, forgivable in a wife. 
I will bring you honor, Father
Honor me by honoring yourself
Approach the First City from the north, over Kri'stak volcano, prescribed pattern for military traffic
P170 Kri'stak the mightiest of the Twelve Sisters, the ring of active volcanoes that dominated the inhospitable kra'ta plains. Kri'stak and her sisters, a seismic anomaly studied by every geologist in the quadrant [storm of jupiter]
Some said it was because a demon was trapped under each of the twelve [original gods]
Some said Kahless had commanded that they never die because he might have need of them someday
Kahless on bat'leth - This is the place of the new beginning, aand this is the line that divides the old from the new.
P173 katch, the thick gruel that the katai subsisted on. Bland belly-filling goodness
P174 Angwar, chief medic among the katai. Used a healing ceremony, smoke and drums and blankets, the katai chanted. 
Visions are not such an unusual thing for a Klingon to have
Klingons believe in gods, we just don't fear them and we'll never serve them, especially not the really scary ones
p178  kr'tach, cratact, an ancient word. It means shieldman, like companion, the one who carries warrior's shield into battle. Klingons don't use shields, the kr'tach act as the shield
EVA suit – personal armored biosphere, defensive and offensive systems activated by buttons, knives, concealed disruptors, throwing weapons, grabbles. Chemical jets. Sensors. Thruster pack. Powerful wrist lamp. Laser torch at wrist. Yank manual control to pop helmet
Klingons had routine discovered more hostile environments than their Fed friends
Worf was pleased to see Alexander getting along so well with Ezri. They enjoyed loose, relaxed banter. Worf wonders if romance between Alexander and Ezri. Ezri was, in a sense, Alexander's stepmother. Worf concluded that his family life was more complicated than anything he could have ever possibly imagined
Alexander – unlike Federation craft, Klingon cruisers are built to be simple and resilient. ?Rotarran ship that size doesn't have area gravity controls
The Enterprise D was Alexander's home for almost three years
Alexander has seen the Enterprise E, looks like a hawk, a predatory bird. Alexander's Enterprise was more like a big, friendly fish. When alexander was a boy he heard Pinocchio story, swallowed by a whale, thought Enterprise looked like big happy whale and Alexander and his father lived inside. Alexander liked it very much.
Alexander can not imagine children on star ships now, even though the war is over
Kelbonite could deflect transport bean and the signal would be lost
Isolinear transponder, allows transporter lock even in kelbonite field
Alexander would like to see Commander Data, Captain Picard, and Deanna Troi, of course
Ezri – You and Deanna were very familial, for a time
Alexander looked away at mention of Deanna, and his voice lost some of its assurance. Yes, we were, for a time, he said. He glanced at Worf. It's not my tale to tell. He does not wish to presume.
Worf – Alexander, it was your life too. Of course it is your tale to tell. You have never been anything less than considerate and respectful.
We're Klingons, alexander said, and that was the explanation.
The Chak'ta and two birds of prey find Rotarran and decloak and attack
Alexander mans sensors
Chak'ta could not have powered weapons before decloaking
Leskit, Rotarran nav console
Ortakin, Rotarran communications station
Father, the Chak'ta is too large a prize for us
Aquamarine energy emissions where two ships' shields met
Standard firing patterns
Flank guns
Curzon memory – as a young man he had gotten involved in a fistfight with a Klingon, a matter of honor over, typically, a young lady he had never met before. Nose smashed in with a single punch. Kor shouting to him to get up! 
Ezri pulls Sword of Kahless from comet
sensors were almost useless on Boreth, because of the cold.
P193  Commander Q'ratt, associate of Gothmara. Dies. 
All 17 remaining ships of Ngane's fleet prepared to lay waste to the traitors who had so ignobly murdered their general
Darok has served Martok and his family for most of his life, would not be alive today were it not for Martok
The bridge crew roared its approval, then erupted into a frenzy of activity
P197 Starn and Angwar, two katai Klingons on Boreth
P198 Okado, the eldest brother katai on Boreth, oldest Klingon Martok had ever seen
Okado reminded Martok of a young boy, of Alexander Rozhenko
Katai 13 total, men and woman, none wore armor or weapons
Katai, the last true disciples of Kahless. Few modern Klingons find the cold of Boreth and the relative quiet to their liking
The Hur'q destroyed almost all that they found
The old tales speak of Two Thousand who survived in the inhospitable artic reaches of Qo'noS, as far from the Hur'q as they could go. Carved out a fort in an icy cliff, waited out the Hur'q invasion, warriors, wise men and learned women, teachers, scholars, priests, preservationists. After Hur'q some left Qo'noS, others emerged as great men and women
A harder people grew up after the Hur'q. brave true and fearsome warriors, but lacking in discipline and rigor.
Kahless taught Klingons the value of honor and discipline, knowing it was the only way to harness the terrible energies fear produced
The greatest lesson Kahless taught – We Klingons should fear nothing except ourselves. No one could destroy us except ourselves. Klingons have forgotten this. Changed it to be We Fear Nothing.
The katai have made it their law, to not forget fear
Urthog was a man of great wisdom but not a patient man. He sensed that Martok had a great destiny. Tried to explain Kahless's teachings to Martok too soon
Klingons on the verge of self-destruction, their improperly channeled energies would ignite the galaxy, turning all against them. They possessed all the attributes they needed to become the great people they hungered to be, but they were out of balance. Their hearts locked in the past.
Martok trusting fully as ever in anything Sirella said
Gothmara much stronger than she looks
'Mara,  nickname of Gothmara
Gothmara knew she was the only Klingon who hungered for destruction for destruction's sake
Shouldn't the weak fall and be fodder for the strong?
The katai bow to Martok
Everything has been written, our role is to act our parts with conviction. Conviction is the key ingredient. Honor and discipline are the method by which we reach the place where conviction can be brought into play.
Small round shield with image pounded into it, Klingon woman standing on one leg with sword in one hand and cup in the other. 
What would be the value of putting traps where your opponents would look for them.
Martok prided himself on keen hearing
Hur'q, heavy musky scent
She serves, and she does it with conviction
Hur'q's shaggy coats
Drex, cursing his own arrogance, Drex had ignored the old man's prattlings
The weather would be worse than any foe
A personal scanner
Call for a beam-out
The searing sizzle of a disruptor bolt
Small gray and silver box with a small blue dial on side and adhesive strip on the back, attaches to wrist, cobalt glow, battery operated. Kahless had force shields warmth devices made. Mutes sound.
The cold dug its claws into him
Darok – we all betray something someday
Learn to listen, there comes a point where brute strength isn't enough, when you listen or you cannot survive
Keep moving on a battlefield.
P226 jarq, beast, shaggy four legged. Great hoofs. Eyes and ears well protected by long hairs. Stub of tail. Smell terrible, but you get used to it. Ridden with high-backed saddle. Obviously intelligent creature
P226 Sithala, name of Okado's jarq. Dies in battle on Boreth
Nothing is native to Boreth, it is an icy rock.
P228 Grot, son of Angwar. Died yesterday in fight against Gothmara's Hur'q
Martok, never much of a rider
Alexander transports Ezri back aboard rotarran
Klingon redundant physiology little trouble breathing in foul atmosphere
Much of Trill physiology organized around keeping symbiont alive
Transporter technician
Emergency crews work on repairs
Alexander holds Sword of Kahless, transfixed, gently traces craved surface. It's beautiful. 
Alexander jumped as if slapped, sheepishly
Klingons did not bother with the niceties of clearing away the dead until the battle was won
Small rebreather inside tunic
Turbolift on Rotarran
Emergency brake on wall of turbolifts, always in the same place after 90 years
When Klingons find a design they like, they stick to it
Darok often complained to anyone who would sit still for two minutes, that the young warriors of the day only posture and pose with their impressive weapons, few truly knew how to fight
P233 when Darok was young, Starfleet and Defense Force were like packs of wild gon, snapping at each other's heels
P233 Darok had fought with Decker, a savage man who had been dishonorable enough to shoot Darok in the leg. The battle ended not well for the Klingons. Decker himself had patched Darok up. Darok's shipmates had mocked him mercilessly until he had slammed a couple of prominent faces into bulkheads. Darok had formulated a theory – Fighting to win is not dishonorable even if you occasionally do dishonorable things along the way to victory. There is no dishonorable way to kill monsters. The only thing that matters is that they die.
Disruptor Warning light flashing gold and blue. Not enough energy for another shot on the previous setting. Quickly resetting the power level
A disruption grenade, blast flashed upward three meters, as designed
Kahless fought with a bat'leth with elegant artistry
P235 K'moth, Tong, pair of warriors from the Ch'Tang in battle on Boreth
The clone emperor was everything the myth of Kahless indicated he should be
Kahless was the ruler of an empire for many years. You don't last long in politics without developing some sort of cynicism
Even the First Empire was ruled by politics
The warriors had gashes and abrasions, a few broken bones and other minor injuries, but nothing serious.
Those with life-threatening injuries would be left behind for pick-up
The gesture that signaled a quick retreat to the rear
Organized into fighting units for a long fight
P238 expletive  k'pekt
He would die with honor even if no one ever knew of his deeds or sang a song about him
Felt the fire of battle surge into his veins
The Rotarran burst out of warp space, switched over to impulse engines
Despite her great size, the Chak'ta easily dipped and slid with precision between torpedo bursts, fore guns blazing, shields glowing azure
Port warp nacelle glowed orange, then red, then violet. Vented antimatter into space
Disruptor gun, numerous dials and sensor readings, ammo charges, red cylinders. Don't drop the charges, they're temperamental
Not difficult to follow a ship whose warp signature you had recorded in your senor logs
Warriors of Darok's generation frequently looted Fed black and silver tricorders
Transporters, short range, coordinate locking sensors
Rotarran has a shuttlebay
years since Leskit has attempted a landing, 10 years
If we must die, let it be a death worthy of a song
Darok's father died an old man, in a brothel, when a small spacecraft fell out of the sky directly onto him at four in the morning, no one else injured
Sto-Vo-Kor, if we die well, in battle, all the great warriors of the past live there and the good Klingons get to eat and drink and fight and whatever else they want to do as much as they want, whenever they want
Gre'thor, the less pleasant option reserved for cowards and traitors and bad people
Safety on a disruptor
Darok dies, peacefully
Drex is an efficient fighter, with disruptor and blade both at the same time
Clone Kahless did not like killing any Klingons
His blood singing, his heart aflame with battle fever
Disruptor bolts cauterize the wounds they make
If I cannot survive on my own I do not deserve to live
A mortar cannon, mortar shells
The Klingon letter M
Father is venting, Alexander thought
Alexander double checked the torpedo firing solutions and popped the tubes
Alexander doubted that four constituted a 'spread' but there was no sense in bothering the captain with facts that would only aggravate him
Flashing indicator lights laid over the main screen indicated they were roughly on target
Alexander had to believe Martok still lived, otherwise he would collapse beneath a crushing sense of futility
Recent barrage from Chak'ta almost killed Ortakin, so Ezri at helm
Alexander had met up with one of the bridge officers from the old Enterprise-D on DS 9 several months ago, who had related the story of the day Deanna Troi and Data had successfully piloted the crippled saucer section onto the surface of Veridian III. Alexander's old friend and former shipmate Data. Data with emotions, Alexander fervently hoped he would have a chance to see Data before he died
Every station on Rotarran called the bridge asking for advice, instructions or simply reassurance.  
Alexander had held power in reserve for the transporter
The only unfrozen body of water on Boreth, a geothermal vent at the bottom prevented the lake from freezing solid
P274 the Columns of Koloth, battle array, six columns with sixty men each, arranged in wedges, arrayed around perimeter where the enemy will enter the field
on Rotarran, Alexander trying but failing to keep his footing, right behind captain Worf at main weapons console
ship alarms coded by duration and intensity helped crew members specifically identify the danger the ship faced.
alarm indicates a major coolant leak in the secondary hull, that would result in a warp-core breach without quick action
two damage-control engineers
heavy Klingon space suit, more like suit of plated armor, right thigh patch deactivates magnetic boots. Left thigh patch activates knee magnets. 
P4 Ortakin, Rotarran navigator, dead 
P5 Leskit, Rotarran pilot
Worf and Alexander, timbre of their voices completely different, but the pauses, the cool, gruff starts and stops, remarkably similar
Anyone still fighting for Morjod was doing so for ego's sake. Klingons were like that sometimes
P281 kr'mact, the person the kr'tach shields
A bone horn decorated with silver filigree letters around its border
Nacelle coolant turned into black smoke upon contact with oxygen-nitrogen mix
Flight path indicator overlaid on the main monitor
Alarm klaxons indicate flying too fast, too low, with too little reserve energy in the shields
Piloting knowledge, if not the skill of Torias Dax told Ezri the ship could stand the strain
P283 Gort, boy Martok knew in Ketha. Liked to torture insect tak
P283 tak, insects, live in colonies, tiny bugs
Rotarran crashes and sinks on lake on Boreth, Rotarran crew beamed out 
Alexander, charred, hair on the left side of his head burned away, raw red marks on cheek. He grinned sheepishly, whispered.
Expression – A Klingon's honor shines only as brightly as his blade.
Ezri presents Martok with Sword of Kahless in armored spacesuit on Boreth
Trill expression – Thank the Womb
Klingons can get their non-Klingon friends into Sto-Vo-Kor if they dedicate a victory to the fallen one. It is only necessary if the warrior does not die in battle.
Ferengi Pharh, Martok's kr'tach, dies blocking Morjod's disruptor shot, returns chancellor's ring
Don't let them see your fear, my son. Klingons do not fear the gods. They fear us.
This battle is for the right of this warrior to enter Sto-Vo-Kor! Will you fight for him?
Kai!
Worf fought joyfully, with skill and abandon, like a warrior out of legend
Alexander watched his father shrug off attacks like rainwater
The display of Worf's glorious battle powers was at once wonderful and frustrating. Alexander knew that he would never have his father's skill. No one will. Not even Martok or Kahless could bet him. 
Alexander uncharacteristically preened with pride and decided, I have skills of my own.
Alexander, in desperation, had had idea to charge the transporter by hooking the system into the turbines on Rotarran's wings. Inspired. Wing chargers were almost never used.
Alexander had been assigned to clean the little used pieces on ships. He had learned where everything was.
Alexander very much wanted to taste his grandmother's borscht again, and take a long ramble through the streets of the First City. Alexander had grown to like the First City. Maybe Alexander would find a nice girl who would love him the way he loved her.
All these ideas motivated Alexander but they did not make him desperate or stupid.
Alexander battles with a disruptor.
In his heart, Alexander decided that if he survived this day he would ask the chancellor to consider amending the ancient battle cry to 'Today is a good day to die, but, all in all, it's good to be alive."
Alexander seriously doubted if anyone would listen. it never, in Alexander's experience, hurt to ask
Worf noticed that Alexander was doing quite well, methodically picking the most dangerous targets and bringing them down with, at worst, two shots.
Jadzia had patiently explained that Worf and Alexander were not the same person
The Sword of Kahless, enjoyed watching martok use the sword. The blade was a thing of beauty, lighter than air. Quick and responsive. Martok wondered if the blade was some sort of bound spirit. A ridiculous fantasy. 
Honor for dead body to have someone assigned to watch over it on battlefield.
The old gods of Qo'noS had made themselves felt
Klingons may not rely on gods, but we ignore them at our peril
Hur'q are all killed
Morjod's forces have lost heart, changed sides
Starn and two other katai killed by Morjod, as well as many others
A general might battle beside his warriors, but a chancellor was responsible for more than merely winning a battle.
Martok's experience with a blade was unrivaled
Swipe at the knees, the clumsiest most amateurish attack in the book
There are no medics on a Klingon battlefield
Morjod morphs into a Hur'q
Martok kills Hur'q aka Morjod with Sword of Kahless
Hur'q blood deep indigo blue
You will hope that the Fek'lhr of Gre'thor treats you with more mercy than I
Klingons mourn for the loss of loved ones to illness or untimely death
Historians said in future ages that this was the moment when the second age of the Klingon Empire began. 
P312 communicator, a Khac mark seven. Not very durable. Worf familiar with it
Alexander works Khac mark seven, hooks it up to his tricorder, gets info needed, frequency of communicators, along with time and location stamp
Martok to Worf on Alexander – This is the son you're always worried about?
Worf – Once, but not anymore
Alexander calls Martok sir
Martok – In the last several years, there have been few acts that I have felt were as uncompromisingly correct as taking your father and you into my house.
Alexander smiled shyly, asks why Martok is doing this
Martok – All men are fools eventually or something. It's how we know we are men
Martok to Alexander – You should spend more time with my son, Drex. He could learn a few things from you.
Voiceprint security module
Gothmara
Martok kills Gothmara with Sword of Kahless
Martok incapacitated for 6 weeks, then back on semiactive status for two more weeks.
Worf takes copious notes at meetings
Worf visiting Fed embassies, trying out new security procedures
Monument where the Great Hall had stood, a garden, at Martok's request.
Ezri complained a lot about being left in freezing armor. Takes long hot baths.
Drex had been out on ice cliff for along time before being found, frostbite extensive nerve and skin regeneration causes clumsiness
He will live, and he will regain his warrior skills
Drex new assignment on the Gorkon
He is still young, and so not always consistent
Clone Emperor hasn't been seen since battle. We keep the palace open for him and his throne awaits when he wishes to return to it.
Mass grave on Boreth
There was quite the celebration when Martok returned to Qo'noS, memorial ceremonies, receiving the families of warriors fallen in the empire's service, rebuilding, accounting for the lost, the dead, the destroyed.
KDF sustained significant losses. Finding warriors worthy to replace Martok's lost allies had been challenging. 
High Council, surviving poet-warrior katai had taken a number of seats
Martok's private ceremonies for Sirella and his daughters.
An opera celebrating Sirella's life to be performed at the dedication ceremonies
The Klingon people like a victory, but they will do anything for a tragic victor
The gagh was fresh and the bloodwine flowed freely
Sun on Qo'noS sets in the west, crimson, gold, purple sunsets
Worf laughed easier these days
We're all mongrels here. It's what makes us great.
Martok lives in Emperor's Palace, has small garden with statue of Kar-Tela goddess of fate with Sirella's features. This woman demanded a choice.
She is a goddess for a people who do not fear the gods
If the gods wear faces we know, we can learn to respect them, as they should respect us. It is not too much to ask.
  Diplomatic Implausability by Keith R. A. Decandido 
P1 Captain Klag, son of M’Raq, Hero of Marcan V, right arm lost six months ago Jem’Hadar. 
IKS Gorkon, new, best equipment, first of the Qang-class. Standard Defense Force bridge design. Captain’s chair front and center, small space between it and viewscreen. When going into battle, showed position as leader, also a sign of trust, that he was willing to turn his back on them. Helm to immediate left. Operations and tactical consoles immediately behind. Various other stations to rear. Captain’s office to the right. Main entrance in the rear. 
First Officer Commander Drex. The price for getting the brand-new ship for first command was he had no real say in crew. The son of Chancellor Martok for first officer. Politically powerful, competent officer
Lt. Rodek at gunner’s post
All systems remain at peak operation. All department heads report three week shakedown cruise a success, write performance reports. Put through various tests. Return to Qo’noS.
Lt. Leskit, pilot. Assigned to Gorkon while Rotarran being repaired. Irritating demeanor, excellent pilot.
Many new ships commissioned in the last few years in support of the war against the Dominion.
With the successful completion of the shakedown, time to commence the record of battle. In star system site of Breen/Klingon battle during Dominion War. Breen ship debris, excess radiation, good tests for navigation and sensor hazards. Less than an hour from the Korvad system, planet taD.
Ornate padd under tactical station. Tactical officer starts record of battle.
192 day in the year of Kahless, 1001.
May the record of battle for this ship be filled with exploits of glory and honor and be worthy of your leadership
Drex thumbs padd.
Lt. Kegren, second officer. Operations. Son of Pers. Spent most of career in security on Qo’noS. no reprimands, no commendations. Low rank for his age.  Killed in challenge by Toq
Bomb 15 qelI’qams away destroyed by Quantum torpedoes, shields barely held, rocked Gorkon.
Ensign Toq at secondary operations station behind tactical
jatyIn ready to eat hearts of unwary
Toq unsheathing his d’k tahg – Kegren, son of Pers, you have dishonored yourself by endangering his vessel and the warriors who serve on it. I challenge you for the right to serve as second officer of the Gorkon.
Klag – You have been issued a challenge, Lt. you will answer it, or I will kill you myself. 
Kegran to Toq – You have been a pain in my crest from the moment you reported, infant.
Held d’k tahg in proper position, ready to strike or parry at a moment’s notice. 
Drex intended to file a report on Kegren’s laxness.
Duel at the fore of the bridge. Everyone on bridge stands to observe.
What self-respecting warrior keeps himself in such poor shape.
Bridge crew had abandoned the pretence of neutrality and were cheering Toq on. Chant his name
Pry open the eyes of the dead, if they are closed.
New second officer Lt. Toq. Rescued from crashed ship in Carraya system 6 years ago. Taken in by House of Lorgh, friend of house of Mogh. Joined Defense Force with start of Dominion War. Served well on K’Lan and Gelk.
A flagon of raktajino
Klag fully intended to die in battle with his hand around his enemy’s throat, whether literally face to face or metaphorically in ship to ship combat.
Wide mouth gave more the impression of a ramjep bird than a warrior
I have had my fill of those who use their House to make up for their shortcomings
Pagh destroyed in Battle of Marcan. Klag, first officer, only survivor. Crashed on Marcan V. Klag lost arm, slew several Jem’Hadar and Vorta leader. Hero of Marcan.
Distress call from planet taD. Governor Tiral is requesting the assistance of a starship. al’Hmatti rebels are attacking his satellite.
If a commander does not physically lead warriors into battle by being at the forefront, then that commander does not deserve to be followed.
Information best gathered face to face
Toq had already added a lieutenant’s insignia to his uniform and taken up operations console.
Sompek two days away.
Inform Command of our course change
Klingons conquered al’Hmat 214 years ago. Barbarous wars and internecine conflict had left the al’Hmatti easy pickings for the Klingons. Named the world taD, frozen. Ice world. Rich in topaline deposits. The natives were given jeghpu’wI’ status, as is traditional in the Klingon Empire. Conquered people, not quite slaves, not full citizens of the empire. Emperor also spiritual leader, remove political power. Left emperor and ministry intact for day to day operations. Administer from orbiting satellite, shields, disruptor banks, torpedo tubes. 4 years ago the al’Hmatti threw off the Klingon overseers, when bulk of fleet invading Cardassia. Applied for Fed assistance and membership. Since the empire had withdrawn from Khitomer Accords, the Fed was willing to investigate the matter. Klingons took the planet back within a year, continued unrest. Rebels have been crying to Federation for support. Klingons and Fed re-allied to fight Dominion. Tiral’s protests to the High Council have fallen on deaf ears.
Attack posture. Overtake,
None of these rebels will live out this day.
High Council busy rebuilding the empire after the Dominion War probably couldn’t give taD attention 
Battle of Marcan had been a decisive and important victory. Klag’s deeds that day had already been immortalized in song. Hailed as a hero of the empire, even talk of his being inducted into the Order of the Bat’leth. People listened to heroes.
Klag offers to put in good, objective, word for Tiral with High Council. 
Tiral – I would be in your debt if you did so.
Mere jeghpu’wI’ 
P17 K’Ehleyr requested to be buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, Earth. Rozhenkos suggested Worf visit K’Ehleyr’s grave.
Worf had never understood the human custom of burying the bodies of the dead. Taking up land that could be better used for almost anything else had always struck Worf as a waste.
Upon death, the spirit underwent a great journey, hopefully to Sto-Vo-Kor. The body was just a shell. 
K’Ehleyr followed many human customs, including a will and burial instructions. Worf had avenged her death in the proper manner, and tried to raise Alexander best he could.
Klingons didn’t have wills, their possessions went to their House and their bodies were destroyed. 
Worf had returned to earth for the first time in several years to prepare to be Fed Ambassador to the Klingon Empire. Will live on Klingon Homeworld, at the embassy. Duties will keep him travelling. 
K’Ehleyr, first woman Worf had ever loved, had been Fed Ambassador to the Klingon Empire. First met K’Ehleyr over 15 previously, cadet at Starfleet Academy. Seemed perfect match as first, half-breed and Klingon raised by humans. They were young and relationship ended badly. 
K’Ehleyr is in Sto-Vo-Kor, no doubt complaining about the noise all the warriors are making.
Jeremy Aster, went to Rozhenkos, they told him Worf was at cemetery. 10 years since last saw Jeremy, stayed in touch. Jeremy only brother Worf had left. 22 now. Worf made R’uustai with 12 year old. Jeremy studying archaeology, Rector Institute. End relationship with girl Marra, Helena had already picked out dress for the wedding.
No one came into Rozhenko’s house without being fed. Helena making pipius claw and rokeg blood pie. 
A warrior does not lie.
A warrior knows when to bow to the inevitable. nothing’s more inevitable than Helena. 
P23 Emperors, male, on taD appointed by Klingon governor. Previously female. Klingon overseers appointed Acolyte Te’Osbron, of he’Vant Mountains, he wasn’t afraid to stand up to the Klingons, he was pleasant without being annoying. The Klingons admired both qualities.
Emperor me’Grmat, age 150, likes raktajino and pipius claw. Rebels want Emperor to stop being a mouthpiece for the Klingons. Fed ambassador arriving in a day or so. Prime Minister em’Rlakun, female
What better way to rebel against the Klingons than to die quietly in one’s bed. It would make any self-respecting Klingon sick to his stomachs.
Klingons were big on surveillance, so they needed to be discreet
As a rule, Klingons, in the course of general conversation at least, did not lie, part of that code of honor they were so proud of, and no Klingon considered the emperor to be an eminent personage. 
P29 Worf meets with Federation Council’s minister of external affairs T’Latrek of Vulcan. 
Two centuries earlier, when the empire had been in expansionist mode, topaline was used in atmospheric domes and was considered quite rare. Within the last 50 years, dozens of worlds had been discovered rich in topaline. 
Worf wondered why the empire bothered reconquering taD.
The Fed obligation to pursue al’Hmatti request must be balanced against the needs of the Fed’s alliance with the empire, particularly in this time of rebuilding. 
Worf’s record in regard to family conflicts of interest has led some members of the Fed Council to question Worf’s appointment. He has a pattern of loyalty to family overcoming duty.
Reprimand #1 absence without leave in order to claim his vengeance against Duras for K’Ehleyr’s death, first since leaving Academy.
Incident #2 resigned from Starfleet to aid Gowron against Duras sisters, repay debt for restoring House’s honor. Probably delayed his promotion to lieutenant commander.
Reprimand #3 by Sisko after he chose to rescue Jadzia rather than complete critical retrieval mission
Worf – While it is true Chancellor Martok took me into his House, my first duty is to the Federation.
Enterprise will take Worf to Klingon border, Picard personally requested the assignment. The trip will take several days. The empire insists the Gorkon take Worf through Klingon space. Klag has taken a personal interest in taD and insisted. Klag did not want Fed involvement at all, but the High Council was willing, as long as Worf was the Fed rep.
Worf aware of Klag wiping out entire Jem’Hadar regiment on Marcan V
The rest of Worf’s staff is already in place at the embassy on Qo’noS.
Worf thinks shaking hands is silly looking.
P34 Riker escorts Worf to VIP quarters on Enterprise. Worf will have to start calling Riker, Will. Deanna away helping Betazed reconstruction efforts. Worf’s brief relationship with Deanna had been a source of tension, Worf had been sure to give his blessing on the Bak’u planet to Riker and Deanna. Worf was young and rash, now he considers himself old and rash.
A warrior never lets others carry his personal items
Worf has two framed pictures, Alexander and Lt. Worf, taken from destroyed Enterprise. Jadzia wedding picture.
Losing K’Ehleyr had been painful, but he had been able to avenge her death. Ending relationship with Deanna had been difficult but ultimately the right choice for both of them. Jadzia’s death was agony, made worse by not able to avenge it.
Statue of Kahless fighting Morath; bat’leth championship trophy; metal baldric he had worn since becoming Enterprise security chief, new mek’leth from Ezri to replace one taken by Breen, family bat’leth, the one possession of the House of Mogh that had survived the Khitomer massacre.
P38 Giancarlo Wu, Worf’s aide, served as Worf’s predecessor’s aide as well, and on the staff of Fed embassy on Qo’noS prior to that. Aware of Klingon customs and preferences. No handshaking. But an interior decorator. Speaks perfect Klingon.
Klingons do not prevaricate. I expect you to speak the truth to me at all times.
Worf’s predecessor a human female. She never liked having staff at functions.
Wu had complete personnel records of the Gorkon crew and of Governor Tiral’s staff on taD
Defense force vessels were meant solely for combat, spartan conditions. DS 9 staff had complained endlessly whenever they had to travel on a Klingon ship.
Worf has dozens of congratulatory letters. Ezri tells him Ro Laren has replaced Odo as security chief on DS 9. His parents. Former Enterprise personnel, many of his former security staff. Some from Klingons he had served with during the war. Rozhenkos’ family and friends. DS 9 personnel. Worf aware three Academy classmates and Commander Shelby on Excalibur. Excalibur crew were aware Worf was captured by Dominion.
Klingon delicacies; pipius claw, bregit lung, gladst, krada legs, zilm’kach, skull stew (skull should stay intact), stewed bok-rat liver, gagh and racht.
Worf enjoyed DS 9’s Klingon restaurant.
chech’tluth, served hot, in a mug
Picard – Long ago I said the bridge wouldn’t be the same without him, and the last four years have proven that to be the case. He has always served both the Federation and the Klingon Empire with honor. As one who has been his commanding officer, his cha’Dich, and his friend, I wish him well, but I do not wish him luck. For a warrior does not depend on luck, and Worf, son of Mogh, is first and foremost a warrior. Raise your glass and join me in saluting the bravest man I have ever known. To Worf!
P48 Sword of Kahless, Chancellor Martok’s new flagship, replacing the Negh’Var. massive vessel.
I have a case of bloodwine that will go quite well with long stories. We can speak of old times.
B’Oraq, the Gorkon’s doctor, had studied medicine in the Fed.
Klag left the bridge, followed by his own personal guard.
A bekk, the Defense Force equivalent of a noncommissioned security guard.
A guard was stationed at the door, and Klag’s guard joined him as the captain and Worf entered.
Only two head of high Council in Klag’s lifetime. K’mpec had once traveled on the Baruk, on which Klag served as an ensign.
The old warrior’s death had saddened Klag.
Gowron struck Klag as little more than a political opportunist who had schemed his way to the top. Born to serve himself rather than the empire.
Martok got up from a chair far more ornate than any Klag had ever seen. Martok had none of K’mpec's grandeur, nor Gowron’s self-importance. A Jem’Hadar blade had cost him his left eye. 
Klag – I simply won a battle. You won the war.
Martok – We all won the war, the empire, the Fed, and even the Romulans. We claimed victory though unity. And unity is what we now discuss. 
Several conquered worlds have taken advantage of the war to forment their own rebellions. None are as far along as taD. If we grant taD freedom from our rule, it will be a sign of weakness and encourage other worlds to wrestle for independence. Under no circumstances can taD be ruled by anyone other than Klingons to do that would plunge the empire into a dozen conflicts at a time when we are attempting to rebuild a fleet. I will be remembered as the chancellor who led the empire to victory over the Dominion only to lose a quarter of our territory to jeghpu’wI’
Other rebellions not popular knowledge, or even military knowledge.
Let me do you the honor of being blunt.
Worf – My first duty is to the Fed, my second to the alliance between the two governments.
Martok – You already sound like a diplomat. I’m sure that if anyone can find that solution it will be you. Someday my friend I will find it in my heart to forgive you for turning me into a politician
Ty’Gokor in a few months for Order of Bat’leth ceremony. 
Martok, supreme commander of the empire’s citizenry.
As the chancellor commands
P54 Riker on Klingon ship when he was 10, with father on mission that entailed passage with the Klingons. Dark funny smelling ship, with large foreboding creatures growling down at him, scared to death.
Riker cadet, age 20, mission required boarding Klingon ship.
Riker more recent visits during Dom War to Klingon ships.
Klag had been second officer on Pagh
Riker and Klag stayed in sporadic touch.
Klag made first officer after Riker’s departure and remained at that post for a decade, an unusually long time for a Klingon to remain at one post. 
Insignia of a commander, so Riker figured he was the first officer.
Medical ward
If you don’t have the brains to follow, you don’t deserve to be escorted in the first place. Blunt simplicity
Bloodwine when straight to Riker’s head
The pitiful state of Klingon medicine had been a constant source of annoyance to Crusher, especially once she signed onto a ship with a Klingon officer she would be responsible for treating. Starfleet’s smallest emergency medikit was better equipped than the best Klingon hospital.
B’Oraq, short and compact by Klingon standards, dark green eyes. Daughter of a physician. Decided to follow father’s footsteps, and bring better medicine to her people. She applied to Starfleet Medical. Final year, worked at Spacedock’s med facility. Classmates worked with patients, she was given scut work. Went to Crusher, head of Starfleet Medical, to get more experience, raise Klingons standards. Nervous habit of pulling on her braid. Short auburn hair, single long braid.
The war has made progress in Defense Force medicine. Usually insist that a warrior can survive with an injury, to have it treated is a sign of weakness. But fighting along side Fed and Romulan soldiers who are fully recovered from more serious injuries in less than a day, you start to learn the value of being able to knit bones in an instant and return whole warriors to the field of battle. 
The Dominion War was the first time the Klingons had fought for such a protracted period alongside such powerful allies. 
Hair pin in the shape of the emblem of her House.
Defense Force allowed B’Oraq to design new med facility. Almost every cosmetic application was rejected, too proud of our scars. 
Crusher met B’Oraq 10 years ago while head of Starfleet Medical.
B’Oraq got prosthetics from same Ferengi dealer who supplies Captain Klag with his bloodwine. 
Commander Kurak, engineering, always seemed to be snarling. Brown eyes. 
This toDSaH invited me onto her ship.
Medically, Klingon ship interior dim because Klingons were much more sensitive to bright lights than humans.
P62 Lt. Vall, timid nasal voice, well groomed, short hair, no facial hair whatsoever, straight teeth, swimmer’s build. Assistant chief engineer
Beverly of the House of Crusher, the doctor who performed the blood test on Kahless II to prove his legitimacy on the Enterprise. A great honor to meet her. Song about Kahless’s return. Bev in the fourth verse.
Civilians serve Martok and Worf food on the Sword of Kahless
The honor is to serve
Hate is too strong a word, I view it as a challenge
Scoop a handfull of skull stew into his mouth
Martok asks Worf to keep an eye Drex. My son has many flaws, as you well know. He has always preferred to let his father’s honor speak for him instead of creating his own. He grew worse during the time I was captured by the Jem’Hadar and that Lobbockian slime devil of a changeling took my place. Help him find his own honor. I speak as brother to brother.
Worf refrained from pointing out that one cannot find something that does not exist.
Martok spat on the deck.
If the changeling had not been so publicly unmasked on Ty’Gokor Martok’s honor may never have recovered.
Worf heard briefly from Alexander before Worf left earth. He finds his new assignment challenging. He also sends his regards to Martok. 
Martok – A Klingon sentiment, followed by a human one. Appropriate for your son.
Worf had never been comfortable talking about Alexander.
Alexander seemed to be turning out all right, but that was through little of Worf’s own doing.
Martok asked a very human question – Are you all right, Worf?
Only four people see past Worf’s façade – Rozhenkos, Jadzia and Martok.
Martok’s  ability to work past the barriers that Worf had spent a lifetime erecting was one of the many things that he admired about Martok and why he felt so honored to be part of his House. 
Worf worried about Rodek, son of Noggra. A false name that Worf himself had given to Kurn. 
What would be a proper ritual in the empire was murder on a Bajoran station and Sisko would not allow one of his senior staff to kill his own brother.
Martok – Your word has always been more than enough. We will speak no more of it.
P66 Pagh vs. Jem’Hadar. A glorious battle. 12 ships against 6 Breen and Jem’Hadar vessels. After battle only Pagh and one Jem’Hadar. Both severely damaged. Fifth planet breathable. Kargan ordered Pagh to land there. Stabilizers gone, thrown about like riders on a bucking mount. Klag pinned under command chair, arm severed. Klag felt only anger. He was only survivor of crash. Furious, that such a fine crew to have survived the Jem’Hadar only to die like that! 
But then I saw the corpse of Captain Kargan. It was a sight I had long awaited. Riker figured Kargan would be removed due to his own ineptitude ere long. That he hadn’t always confused Riker. Kargan, son of general Talak, nephew of Councilor K’Tal, one of the more respected members of the High Council. Klag was trapped under that fool. Kargan blocked any opportunity for Klag to be promoted off the Pagh, keeping Klag firmly under his heel while he stumbled through command. Idiocy. Klag could have challenged Kargan, but measure his life in microseconds. Both K’Tal and Talak had minions on the Pagh who would make sure no harm would come to Kargan. Even a successful challenge would have ended in a dark corner at the hands of a paid assassin.
Kagan needed Klag to lead the crew so he would be spared having to.
If I survived, some of the enemy might have as well, and that meant the battle was not yet over. 
Klag found a working scanner and found 7 Jem’Hadar and one Vorta still lived amidst the wreckage of their ship. Armed with a mek’leth Klag went to greet them. Their Vorta had been injured, instrumentation destroyed in crash. Klag had lost a great deal of blood, but the death of his comrades put a fire in his belly. The heart of a warrior cannot be grown in a Vorta laboratory. A materialized six feet to Klag’s left charging toward him. With a slash of his mek’leth, Klag cut creature’s supply of the addictive ketracel-white drug  and slit its throat. Two Jem’Hadar charged him. Klag took one down, but the other knocked him to the ground, driving the mek’leth from Klag’s hand. Klag unholstered his hand disruptor and fired on the Jem’Hadar. It disintegrated in a red glow. Picked up mek’leth and killed the remaining Jem’Hadar, then killed their Vorta. Within minutes Klag stood amongst the corpses of his enemies, mek’leth stained with their blood and the Jem’Hadar drug. Then he passed out. Remembers oddly appealing smell of Jem’Hadar blood mixed with the white.
Klag came to on a ship under Doctor’s care. The Pagh’s battle had paved the way for Defense Force and Starfleet vessels to penetrate the Allicar sector. Klag had been the lapdog of a fool. Now hero of the empire. 
Klag knows about Riker and Deanna – You’re a typical human, sacrificing duty for the sake of par’Mach. 
Klag asks Riker about Worf. Klag thinks Worf received his post because he is of Martok’s House, just as Kargan gained his by being of K’Tal’s. I have had my fill of such things. 
P73 Drex greets Worf in transporter room. Drex walked up to Worf and stared him directly in the eyes – we are House-mates now, son of Mogh. See that that does not change. 
Krevor, female, in bekk’s uniform. Assigned to Worf for duration of mission. Fairly straight black hair, dark eyes. I consider this assignment to be a great honor and I look forward to the opportunity to die for you. I believe Commander Drex gave this assignment to me in order to give you offense. I merely did not wish you to suffer it needlessly. 
Worf – Our Houses cannot be in conflict, since Drex and I are both of the House of Martok. If any such conflict existed, he would have addressed it by now.
Krevor – I have no House. That is why I joined the Defense Force, to make my own honor, since I cannot take refuge in the honor of my House. She was raised in a brothel, the daughter of a deceased harlot and one of her customers. When she reached the Age of Ascension, she joined Defense Force. Her ignoble birth had left her no chance of being an officer, but she did not let that stop her. Excellent record, served through the war. Commendation, no small feat for a House-less provincial. 
If there is anything you need, Ambassador, I am sure you will know how to obtain it.
Worf suspected that Drex had deliberately chosen a female as an insult. If Worf was insulted by anything, it was Drex’s belief that Worf would be so easily offended. Layers of insult, Krevor also has no House. 
Room large by Defense Force standards, for Worf and Wu. Worf sets up Kahless and Morath statue. 
The Martok on DS 9 at invasion of Cardassia was a changeling. 
Drex objected to Martok making Worf a part of his House. Martok knew nothing of Drex’s embarrassment by Worf, and did not care. Drex struck with Worf as an honored part of the House, has to treat him as such, thought Drex hates Worf. Someone with that kind of grudge could cause problems, Wu notes.
Lukara fought alongside Kahless at Qam-Chee.
Melota was Aktuh’s equal in battle.
Azetbur finished the work begun by her father.
The body is but a shell. If you have the heart of a warrior, it does not matter the form that contains that heart,
I have committed the very offense I sought to spare you. I offer my life in restitution.
Klingon ships did not come with windows.
Worf’s Starfleet career had been like an opera, overture had been his acceptance into the Academy. The songs included battles against foes ranging from Q to the Borg to the Jem’Hadar. He had visited parallel universes, survived torture by Romulans and Breen, had held the legendary Sword of Kahless. He had gained friends, lost comrades, met the brother he never knew he had. He had witnessed the rebirth of Kahless as a clone, and helped install him as emperor. He had twice survived exile from his own people. He had killed a chancellor in honorable combat and named his successor. He had seen two mates die. he had raised a son.
Our triumph on Cardassia was truly the final song. 
The performance has ended. Time to begin a new saga.
B’Elath sings all 15 verses to The Campaign at Kol’Vat. Tells of a battle at Goqlath Castle in Kol’Vat, hero Krim enables his forces to storm castle by slitting the throats of the castle guards during moonless night. Tune was rote, rhymes pedestrian, meter stultifying. Some said it was from the stories of Kol’Vat that saying 4000 throats may be cut in one night by running man derived. Thought linguists felt quote predated song and campaign.
B’Elath, engineer, terrible singer. Female.
Shortly after shakedown cruise commenced, it became tradition on Gorkon for someone to sing before evening meal. Dinner not served until after song.
Klag and or Drex usually join troops at dinner. 
Leskit prefers songs decent and short.
Leskit has seen the ruins at Kol’Vat. 200 guards needed, at most. 
Worf had not attended troop dinners when he served on Rotarran.
Leskit white beard trimmed to resemble pair of horns pointing down. 
Kurak always ate in her cabin. 
There’s fire in that one.
Leskit hadn’t been able to warm his hands in that fire.
Leskit considers himself an epicure. Expect horrendous food from Defense Force replicators. Food on Gorkon quite good for first month. 
Bregit lung, gagh, rokeg blood pie. Bite off a talon of pipius claw. Slathered grapok sauce on his racht. Bit through the heart of a targ. 
shift of the bridge crew generally sat together at small table. Rodek, Toq, Vall, Leskit.
Drex, Rodek, half men on ship, wore a simple mustache in a popular style.
Rodek carried the weight of his years, but he never displayed any of the passion Leskit would have expected
Leskit old for his rank but he did not care. Rank was not for him. He knew none would follow him into battle. His lot was to be let. So he remained a pilot. Content to die a lieutenant, as long as the death was in battle.
Worf rescued Rodek’s shuttle when it crashed near DS 9. 
Rodek – Worf is less than a Klingon. He lives with the Federation. Wears their colors. They may be our allies, but they are sheep. How can a true warrior live among such as them?
Splattered blood will ruin the taste of my dinner.
Vall spoke in that Ferengi-like whine of his. 
Vall knows Worf’s history. A Starfleeter raised Worf. In a debt of honor he went to their Academy.
Khitomer massacre, 30 years ago, everybody heard about it. A Romulan attack.
Khitomer is where the treaty with the Fed was signed, after Praxis was destroyed.
I have already killed one fool on this ship, I’d happy to make it two. 
I have no interest in the second officer’s position, and Morketh isn’t ready to take over as gunner just yet.
You may justify your cowardice any way you wish. When your spine regrows, you will find my d’k tahg as eager to taste your blood as it was Kegren’s.
Leskit always wore necklace of real Cardassian neckbones. He got a certain pleasure from the looks of the younger warriors when they saw it. 
A true warrior wouldn’t need to add – ‘From what I hear.’
Rodek served with Kurak on the Lallek.
Attempting to puff himself up like a beast who has cornered its prey.
Vall conquered the replication matrix’s inability to provide proper sustenance. Mapped out a magnificent battle plan for modifying the ODN conduits. Replicators were not worthy of this vessel. Defeated the pattern enhancers
Looking more like the Grishnar cat he truly resembled.
Kurak ordered Vall not to upgrade replicators, screamed at him about only doing what she tells him to do
P87 Bridge’s security camera view accessible with security codes. Camera set just below bridge’s viewscreen. Audio pickup captain’s chair.
Worf fell asleep working on specifications for a portable scattering field generator, to temporarily disable handheld disruptor,
Leskit always looked bored.
A Kreel ship modified with Breen shields, had come screaming toward Gorkon at Warp 9.7, fired a salvo of phasers, then run. Gorkon pursues, Intercept in seven minutes
Krevor posted outside Worf’s door. Follows him to bridge.
We will swat this glob fly and resume our course to taD
Kurn had had fire, a passion for combat that did Worf proud. 
Kreel, that race of carrion-pickers had been at odds with the Klingons for centuries. Picking at the bones of the empire’s conquests but never doing any conquering themselves. Defense Force vessels had standing orders to destroy any Kreel ship that dared challenge them.
Worf had studied Gorkon’s specs on Enterprise. Surprised Kurak restores shields so quickly. Weapons bay lost gravity for two minutes
Kreel ship destroyed.
Default spread of torpedoes, focused on one area of shields to collapse them.
Death to the Kreel. Today was a good day for them to die.
Well done, my soldiers, well done.
Security lockout kicked in on monitor. Drex or Rodek change security codes.
P92 Kurak stands one hand gripping wrist of other arm, means she’s angry.
His stomachs felt like they were trying to meld into one.
Snacking on racht.
Vall designed a modified conduit for matter antimatter injectors. It acts as a dampener while the energy goes through the injectors. 
It restored the shields to their former glory.
Assistant chief engineer carries out Chief Engineer’s’ orders, not work independently
If you perform another modification like that without permission I will kill you, slowly, and painfully.
The other engineers leave Vall alone as long as he makes them look good.
The original chief engineer died honorably in a duel. Kurak was assigned after that. Kurak designed the Negh’Var, before she joined the Defense Force. She was one of the greatest warp field specialists in the empire!
What is a Grishnar cat like you doing among targs? What makes you think you deserve to be a part of that, Grishnar? A Grishnar who survives among that targs.
Klingon Science Institute. 
Vall, parents, sister. Vall in Defense Force, where history is made, battles won. Wants to be part of great stories of war and battle.
Vall going to fix Bekk Goran’s disruptor. Working out it over time, in his quarters. It’s been in his family for generations. His great-0grandfather used it on Organia.
Dahar Master Kor only had a few troops on Organia.
He’ll be extremely angry if you kill me now.
If she’s holding you back, there’s only one thing you can do. Get her out of your way. 
Vall has been called worse things than Grishnar.
All I can do with my d’k tahg is cut dead meat and pry open control panels. 
If I challenge Kurak, she’ll hand me my head.
P96 Klag summons B’Oraq to hand-deliver casualty report. Entered into computer immediate access. Contusions from falling objects.
Buzzer at door. The doors parted loudly.
Klag at desk, no guest chair. 
We do not have a Starfleet vessel’s luxury of excess. Nonregulation equipment must be removed. Toq will see to it. Drex and informed Klag of unnecessary medical equipment
5 cases of bloodwine in Klag’s quarters. Already down to four. 
Klag complains to B’Oraq about phantom itch. 
Seven dead Jem’Hadar
Gorkon and other Qanq-class ships have upgraded weapons systems, increased sensor capacity, better shields. 
Adrenaline and surprise helped Klag defeat Jem’Hadar. 
Why make yourself an inferior warrior? People won’t stop singing about the heroic deeds of Klag, son of M’Raq just because you replaced your right arm. And replacing it will increase the chances of there being more songs. 
At least he didn’t kill me
B’Oraq expected to die every time she suggested the empire medical standards were substandard and in need of improvement. Each victory strengthened her convictions.
P100 armed guards, civilian, not Defense Force, at Governor Tiral’s estate. Leather armor loosely based on 100 year old Defense Force uniforms, before  metal and leather became standard. Two guards posted in every public room on the planet. Attempts on Klingons have become commonplace. 
All weapons are within expected parameters
There was no honor in being assassinated by jeghpu’wI’
Austere life in the military or as son of an officer
Standard Defense Force green
Slogans in ornate Klingon script; Death to the empire’s enemies; Ling life the High Council; Glory to Governor Tiral.
Workstations lined the halls of satellite, cluttered with personal items, pictures, artwork, sculpture, miniature weapons. Civilians.
Gorkon never personal trinkets
Too much time administrating, not enough time in battle
Traditional ankle-length vest indicating the holder of a high office. Klag and Tiral both wear them. 
Worf the kingmaker
Leftover food, krada leg stubs
Worf, a coward who has lived his life among inferiors and who has twice been declared a traitor
Name-calling fit behavior for a tavern
It is possible that my interpretation is in error. Convince me that it is.
After the al’Hmatti overthrew the Klingon overseers, Governor Kalax put himself to death in disgrace.  Captain Lornak’s fleet retook the planet, Tiral assigned now overseer.
Klag bared his teeth at his first officer, he had assumed that Drex had familiarized himself with the files
jeghpu’wI’, you force them to serve you or you kill them
Worf simply inclined his head and left the room.
Tiral turned on Klag, spittle flying from his mouth
You will modify your tone, or I will modify it for you. 
Klag looked at Drex, Worf was, after all, a House-mate of Drex’s, but nothing was forthcoming from him. 
P108 Never in his adult life had Worf felt as small as he felt in the presence of the al’Hmatti. It didn’t sit well with him.
al’Hmatti Prime Minister em’Rlakun wears leather vest decorated with a Klingon emblem
a Klingon sculpture sat on a pedestal in one corner
Worf carried three different confusers of his own design that should scramble any listening device. In the Federation emblem on left vest lapel
The serving staff makes a fine chech’tluth
Standard of living of al’Hmatti is vastly improved, most people don’t want the  Klingons to leave. 
Tiral had all rebel government put to death
P112 Kurak eating in her quarters all the time
After the primary shift had eaten
Repulsive little worm, but he has his uses, you have to admit.
Kurak – You’re all idiots, you’re in the Defense Force, which proves it right there.
Kurak was a warp field specialist. It would not be immodest to say I was one of the best. People know she was main designer of the Negh’Var. her family did not approve. Both parents, all four grandparents, three brothers were soldiers, all dead. Kurak preferred working in a lab. The war changed things. Father threatened to banish her from the House if she did not enlist. Given a field commission in light of her work in ship design. Spent the war holding ships together. Kurak the only able adult left in our House. I cannot break the tradition now. Not until nephews are old enough. House of Palkar must always serve the empire. 
P116 bekk Krevor thinks investigating the obviously loyal is disloyal.
Captain Larok of the IKS Sompek, younger brother Kori. From the most noble of Houses. Patrolling taD sector. Kori supervisor taD topaline refinery for a year, boss Grul, an older woman. Father died a glorious death fighting Roms, Mother died a glorious death fighting Cardassians. Sister died glorious death fighting Jem’Hadar.
Without a glorious death you’ll suffer in Gre’thor. 
Dead was dead as far as Kori was concerned
Sompek has new redheaded gunner, female
The hind end of an ice planet that nobody gives a targ’s hoof about
Reports about rebel activity Supervisor Grul yells at Kori to read
Lasers used in refining topaline, faint ozone smell always in refinery
Takus, chief engineer, calm person. Takus had served in Defense Force for many years, received General Koord Medal of Honor during border skirmish with Romulans 15 years earlier. Left Defense Force over scandal involving woman under his command. Left Defense Force in disgrace, though he avoided censure to his House, of the House of K’Tal, a relative of Kargan’s. Kiln, also ?engineer, both killed trying to disarm bomb, worked to last second. Two other guards killed. 5 percent of staff Klingon. 
Disruptor kept under the chair, out of power
Emergency level to open door in side panel
Green emergency lighting
Hurry up, you fat fool. You make me ill. 
Kori, shot by disruptor, every nerve felt like it was on fire. Collapsed to the ground, could see ceiling but felt no impact.
P125 on Gorkon, Klag manages to convince Tiral’s guard to holster his disruptor
The governor’s security force is made up primarily of Defense Force rejects and cowards.
Klag – Drex is first officer due to his family, not his qualifications, a method of advancement you should be intimately familiar with, son of Mogh, or son of Martok, now? You enjoy the benefits of being part of his House far more than you did form being the son of a forgotten warrior three decades dead.
Worf’s position granted to him by the Fed Council and Starfleet Command. 
Worf – If you ever speak ill of my father again, I will kill you.
Klag actually smiled – If I ever speak ill of your father again, Ambassador, I welcome you to make the attempt.
Alert lights flashed but did not give off noise, Drex was running a battle drill
Shields – At maximum
Ready disruptors – locked on target
Operations, damage report
Pursue and overtake, pilot
Singularly uninspired battle drill
Stand down from drill
P131 Toq regaled Worf with tales of his exploits since joining the Defense Force. 
The door chime went off
The growl – a warrior expressing displeasure
Anyone less than the first officer would be construed as an insult by Governor Tiral.
Either Drex will excel in this task, or he will fail and prove his worthlessness. Worf hopes Drex will excel, for Martok’s sake
Worf views the wreckage of a topaline refinery through the viewscreen of Governor Tiral’s shuttle.
Thermal-suit-wearing Klingons
Worf was getting tired of having to insist every time he gave an order
Bah, they’re probably already in Sto-Vo-Kor, getting drunk
Good people, not how they should have died
Grul raised Tirel when his parents were killed at Narendra III. She was his nursemaid. 
I suspected you would be squeamish about executions, after all, you were raised by humans
He spat the word out as if it were chilled bloodwine
If you wish to spare your stomachs
Worf fully comprehends the laws regarding the treatment of jeghpu’wI’ including the policy of random executions to keep them in line
Klingons would never have come here in the first place if not for the topaline
Worf almost smiled
Worf headed for command-in-control at the satellite
Martok, if Drex does not find his own honor soon, House-mate or not, I will have to kill him.
Koosbane, a week from taD at warp 6, outside Klingon space
Four attacks on Klingon ships, freighter and cargo vessels, in this sector by the Kreel in the last six months, every vessel had been or was going to taD
Commander Kurak gives comm access
Feeling his stomachs growl
P141 engineering Lt. M’Rep had misaligned the warp coils during the last maintenance cycle and nearly blown up the ship. Kurak had had to kill him herself. Weeks for Command to send a replacement.
Vall had fixed M’Rep’s mistake quickly
Leskit leaves dead lingta lying across Kurak’s threshold
Long ago the men of her province on Qo’noS would leave a game animal on the threshold of a woman they wanted to court. No had indulged in the practice in generations
Love poem on padd on carcass. Probably the worst piece of poetry ever written,
‘arlogh
nga’chuq Leskit QongDaqDaq
je’ Leskit
Kurak Lestik nItebHa’
Leskit malrachaI ngech
tagh nga’chuq
yIQ
nga’chuq
‘arlogh
Do’Ha’ Leskit
lo’laHbe’ghach Leskit
Kurak laughed long and hard
Leskit has a two year old son, the mother does not speak to Leskit if she can possibly avoid it. Leskit’s son wants to impress a three year old. He can’t even wrestle a glob fly much less a proper animal, so he has to settle for poetry
Leskit ordered Vall to replicate the lingta, only way to get him to do it
The presence of neckbones that Leskit had himself removed from Cardassian corpses sent a thrill through Kurak. She imagined that he had killed the lingta himself
I don’t know whether to kill you now or make you dispose of the lingta first.
Lingta makes Kurak ill.
Leskit uses his hand disruptor to disintegrate the lingta in a red glow in the hall. 
Leskit - I believe this is the part where you kill me.
Kurak - Perhaps later. A man who disposes of a lingta on the threshold deserves at least a drink.
P144 Gorkon has a holodeck, defense force vessels had only recently been equipped with holodecks, employed solely for military training
Klag reliving Battle of Mercan V because he enjoyed it, in a bad mood and needed cheering up
Right now, he really needed to kill something
Klag received top of the line ship in part due to his heroism, in part to the shortage of captains, postwar.
He was making a targ’s ear of his first mission. Klag thought he could do something about the situation on taD. Klag was starting to wonder how much of taD’s difficulties were truly due to High Council recalcitrance and how much was the fat governor’s own damn fault. Worf claims he got his position legitimately, Riker claimed the same. But Riker is human, and Worf was raised by humans. Can they truly be trusted?
P146 M’Raq, son of K’Ton, image in Defense Force service record. Tall, broad-shouldered, thick beard, a proud warrior, a commander, first officer on the K’mqar. 15 years ago K’mqar had gone into battle against the Romulans. M’Raq captured, tortured, but he did not succumb. Eventually he escaped and returned home. Since he had not actually given up any intelligence, he was given the opportunity to reclaim his honor by rejoining the Defense Force.  Instead he chose to return to Qo’noS and live out his days like an invalid old woman. Stooped-over, patchy white beard, dying, old, weak, broken. The very idea made Klag ill. M’Raq lingered for over a decade, body slowly deteriorating, the old man refused to take the final step. M’Raq would not say why he chose this. Klag never really cared much. He had neither visited nor spoken to his father since he was first posted to the Pagh. 
M’Raq was supposed to be a great warrior
Drex examined the visual and sensor records made during the attack on the refinery. He noticed a similarity to something that happened during the war, on Cardassian planet Dralnok. Klingons took the planet, but one Cardassian garrison eluded our patrols for days. New scanner blocking element discovered in planet’s crust. All new sensors built to detect Element 604.
Toq under the impression there were only 603 elements. 
The bridge guard let out a bark of laughter, as did several others, at Toq, still young.
To Klag’s surprise, Drex said – I can speak my own mind, Captain.
Worf plans to beam down to the rebel base alone to talk with them. Klag insisted bekk Krevor go with him. Worf could not be responsible for Krevor being derelict in her duty, especially since that would require Klag have her put to death.
Toq – Why settle this situation peacefully, we are warriors!
Kurak refuses to give Wu access to the comm systems without Worf’s direct authorization
QI’yaH
Who is the duty officer, he bellowed
Worf called Kurak, crashing, whizzing sounds, male laughter come over speakers, then is cut off.
Vall, duty officer. Sits in engineering, at environmental controls.
Worf wonders how Vall has survived in the Defense Force this long
Comm system console in corner of engineering
Intimidation is a skill that needs to be practiced
P157 Klag had told the story of the battle of Mercan V many times in months since battle, including once, very recently, to strange tavern full of fellow ship captains. A song had been written about his exploits and sung at one of the many postwar festivities on Qo’noS. Klag not yet tired of listening to the recording. 
The holodeck can create program based on Dominion War battle reports, Jem’Hadar information from prisoner-of-war and intelligence databases. The computer screen blinked ‘wait’ then ‘ready’
The holodeck had a mortality fail-safe, there was no honor in dying at the hands of a hologram. The blast just broke a rib or two. 
The adrenaline surge he had gained from the anger at seeing his crewmates massacred made up for the inherent tactical flaw of going after seven Jem’Hadar while crippled. 
Klag deletes Marcan V program. No more living in the past.
He strode purposefully down the corridor, not allowing the great pain he was in to show. 
Rodek has a personal problem with Toq. Klag tells him to keep it to himself.
P160 Dr. B’Oraq writing report of two engineers, off duty bat’leth drills, one cut other’s arm open. Pretty standard stuff. Her days mostly consisted of the usual contusions of everyday life. She had disposed of two bodies. 
The determined stride, as if he had something important and dangerous on his mind
Biobed and scanner. Bone-knitter. 
Klag, after running variations of Marcan program, 17 broken ribs, multiple blaster-fire burns, fractured pelvis. 
Klag looked through B’Oraq’s medical database. His Federation-trained medical officer. He noted that live transplants were done before prosthetics.
I am a warrior, I will not place a machine on my person and call it part of me
If I am to replace my warrior’s prowess by replacing my arm, I will do it with the limb of a warrior. Someone who is worthy of having his deeds continued on my person. 
Leskit and Kurak come to medical ward. Each wearing only a long loose shirt. Leskit‘s omnipresent neckbone necklace. Leskit long sword gash in left thigh. Slight accident with a sword
B’Oraq writes to Crusher
P166 Worf and Krevor beam to rebel stronghold, confront rebels, firefight ensues. Krevor hit in the shoulder. Scattering field generator ends disruptor fire. Worf rolls with al’Hmatti, gets mek’leth out. Krevor battles al’Hmatti with d’k tahg. She has blades in her gauntlets. The combined smell of al’Hmatti and Klingon blood was intoxicating. Pain wracked Worf’s left shoulder, bitten, sending his brain into a pleasant haze. He felt the adrenaline churn within him, heard the cry of his warrior’s heart. His mind’s eye could see the al’Hmatti lying bloody at his feet. For the briefest of instants, Worf let the pure Klingon within him come to the fore, let the bouquet of the blood wash over him. He was here as a diplomat, not a warrior. It was time he acted like one. Decades of living among humans had forced Worf to learn how to suppress his natural Klingon urges with relative ease. He dropped his mek’leth to the ground. Worf forces Bekk Krevor to drop her weapon as well. Her own bloodlust was rising. She gave a vicious snarl. 
al’Hmatti rebel leader re’Trenat aware of Worf involved with installation of Chancellor Gowron. Picard arbiter of succession. 
One of the al’Hmatti glared at Worf, Worf stared back, he could hardly have responded any other way to a frontal assault. 
Kreel more than happy to do anything to disrupt Klingon activity, made a deal with the rebels to raid any supply ships that come into this vicinity. Also provide rebels with some weapons and ships they attacked governor’s satellite. In exchange for mining rights once Klingons are gone. The rebels had given up hope of Fed assistance, now that Feds and Klingons no longer enemies. Kreel known enemy of the Klingon empire. 
Worf – Human scholars have a tendency to over examine literature that goes well beyond the pedantic. 
re’Trenat attacked refinery when em’Rlakun told him the Klingons had lied about sending a Fed ambassador.
re’Trenat’s passion reminds Worf of Shakaar Edon.
Worf – The empire cannot simply allow you your independence. That would be a sign of weakness. 
re’Trenat –We all know how Klingons hate to seem weak. We will fight until the Klingons are gone. We will not stop until we have achieved victory, or we have died.
Worf – In that, you share much with your foes. The empire has been patient with you thus far, in part due to the distractions of the war. You may see it as indifference, but sooner or later, they will grow weary of you and destroy you. 
Worf activated the communicator on his wrist.
Gorkon under attack by Kreel squadron of six ships.
Toq technically in command until Klag arrived on bridge. 
Take us out of orbit, attack posture. 
Tactical display on main screen, green light indicated Gorkon’s position. Six red lights for Kreel, yellow lights for planet and moon. Kreel in ellipsoid pattern. Kreel ships didn’t come with any kind of identification markings. Computer automatically numbered the ships. No one felt the need to program a way of identifying them into Defense Force computers. Kreel ships didn’t deserve names.
Kreel massage – Klingon vessel Gorkon, this is the Glione. You stand accused of the destruction of Kreel property, to wit, the vessel Zabag, and of murdering forty Kreel nationals, to wit, the crew of the vessel Zabag. You have been tried and convicted, and this fleet is to carry out your death sentence. If you surrender, you
Klag – Audio off. Only the Kreel would think that a mere six ships comprise a fleet.
Not even waiting for a reply before carrying out their sentence, typical.
Signal the Sompek that there is a battle they may join if they wish
Kreel message – Gorkon can’t hide in the asteroid belt.
Klag – Good of the Kreel to follow the lyrics to the song.
Leskit was flying one handed, while maintaining pressure on his wound.
Klag – If we live thought this, I’ll bandage your wound myself.
Rapid disruptor fire on all six ships, has to be done manually, computer not able to target ships that quickly
Rodek spoke in his usual matter-of-fact tone
All nonessential systems have been diverted to tactical and life support.
P182 The al’Hmatti doctor knew she would be put to death by the Klingons if she didn’t do everything in her power to save the emperor
Worf goes to visit me’Grmat XIX. With bekk. 
Klingons all wear their emotions on the fur, so to speak, except for Worf
Lake any Klingon, you have trouble wrapping your snout around the word peaceful. 
Klingons should die with a bat’leth in your hand and a song in your heart
Death ever deters a Klingon
P186 Vall knows they can get more power, but can he tell Kurak that without getting killed? Kurak moves from station to station. Kurak grips right wrist with left arm when nervous.
Shield displays in engineering.
Vall – We can use the power from the holodeck. I have conquered the system incompatibility by constructing a converter. It is in my quarters. I did not inform you of the device because you told me
Kurak – Enough! Do it. I’ll kill you later. 
Having no idea if she was serious or not, and not really able to care at the moment, Vall ran to his quarters
Shields were almost gone, disruptors still plenty of power, Klag had rationed the use of the quantum torpedoes so they still had half their stock
Sompek had signaled saying they were en route, half an hour way
Three Kreel ships down
I refuse to fall to the Kreel
The Fed and Dominion fairly easily follow cloaked ship if they saw it cloak
Asteroids in taD system high concentration of Element 604, natural cloaking device
These new deckplates could do with a little bloodstaining
Klag had had enough of these Kreel glob flies buzzing about him. It was time he swatted them and had done with it.
Quantum torpedoes not designed for delayed detonation, but Vall can do it.
The bridge crew was obviously caught up in the joy of the battle. Rodek had all the passion of dead gagh. Klag wondered why this was.
Blow the Kreel to Gre’thor. All ships destroyed.
Sing warrior’s anthem.
Klag walked off the bridge to the adulation of his crew. This is what it should feel like.
P196 several hours subspace message from earth to taD. No relocating the al’Hmatti. Backlog of refugees from Dominion War. 
Worf was in a bad mood. Over the last several years he’d developed one of two habits when he got into such a mood. Either go to 10 Forward or Quarks, drown his sorrows in prune juice. Or go to holodeck and kill things. Or he’d talk to Jadzia.
Gorkon didn’t have a bar.
Worf battles on holodeck, his irritation with Tiral, Klag and Drex faded. His ever-present anguish over Jadzia’s death receded. His lingering guilt over the very existence of Rodek died down. 
Program, at least 7 levels, skeleton creature, armored reptilian creature, Nausicaan, Argosian, mugato, Brikar, pair of Andorians, a Chalnoth, a large avian creature
He swung the mek’leth in a mong’em maneuver, placing the mek’leth behind his neck to parry a blow from behind
Nausicaans evolved from similar stock to Klingons, Nausicaans known throughout the galaxy as violent beings. Some humans called them Klingons without all that silly honor stuff. 
Worf swung the mek’leth hilt like a human baseball bat.
The bloodlust surged within Worf. The bouquet of the yellow ichor on his mek’leth, the blood from his arm wound, the scent of the creatures before him, and even the smell of the venom on the mugato’s fangs all washed over him. The smells of battle. He did not quiet the cry of his Klingon heart. He gave it full reign
It took Worf almost an hour to subdue the Brikar. 
Worf was a champion bat’leth fighter, and no slouch with the mek’leth either.
The rational part of him was only just returning to his conscious mind. It was a very small, very recessive part of his mind at the moment. Wu surprised Worf and served to bring his rational side even closer to dominance. Worf’s bloodlust receded, replaced by a more intellectual outrage. 
Giancarlo Wu knows bat’leth, kind of an occupational necessity
If Wu followed true to form, he would use Kilog’s gambit next, almost always followed by B’Arq’s defense. Penetrating B’Arq’s defense was nearly impossible. Worf penetrated Wu’s use of the B’Arq’s defense with an underhand swing.
Worf’s penetrating of B’Arq’s defense, with a bet’leth, six years ago was the primary reason for his championship standing in the bat’leth. Recently adapted the maneuver for the mek’leth
The empire presently has three domestic sources for topaline, two primary import sources, Yridians and Capellans. taD distant fifth of five on list of topaline providers. Negligible if taD lost to the empire. 
The empire needs the unrest to end, but not at the cost of appearing weak
Worf calls engineering to have Vall establish a connection to Martok on Qo’noS immediately
P205 B’Oraq was setting a bekk’s arm, a guard. He stood at attention when Klag came in. 
Doctor, when you are finished with him, I will speak with you
The bekk nodded to the captain and left without saying a word
Klag sutured Lt. Leskit’s wound – I made a promise in front of the crew. I could not go back on my word.
Klingons have several different blood types
Klag had seen enough euphemistic records to know the signs of Takus’ disgrace in Defense Force record
These body parts are just empty shells. Their hearts have gone on to the afterlife. What does it matter what they did in life when the spirit that inhabited them is long departed? Your spirit will inhabit this limb, regardless of who had it before.
Duras, General Chang, traitors to the empire
Klag realized that possessing only one arm was having an adverse effect on his ability as a warrior. How people react to his flying in the face of tradition by having another person’s limb replace is their problem
You will tell them that you are operating under orders from your commanding officer. That is all that you will need to say
The very idea of grafting a machine onto his body made him ill
There were many who would shun him and call his behavior dishonorable and not worthy of Kahless.
Just a ba’leth was good enough for Kahless
Worf smirked that tiny smirk of his
The entire reason for not simply giving up the planet is to maintain appearances. The empire cannot be perceived to be giving in to the rebels because of the precedent it sets. Yet the world is not worth keeping.
B’Oraq filed report on injuries Worf and Bekk Krevor suffered, al’Hmatti are not unworthy warriors
Vall – I have made many suggestions for improving the prowess of this great ship. I was the one who conquered the energy distribution nodes to provide extra shield power. I hoped my prowess in defeating the problems faced by engineers would overcome my deficiencies fighting foes on a battlefield. 
Klag feared Vall would go on at obscene length regarding his accomplishments. It was like a sickness with these engineering types. Get them started on something technical and they babbled like humans. 
Gorkon is a very impressive ship, out together by some of the finest engineers in the empire
How did this Grishnar cat live this long in the Defense Force
Vall is an embarrassment to have on the ship
Vall will have plenty of time to conquer some conundra he has confronted of late. This would give him the time to give that foe the attention it deserves
M’Raq, son of K’Ton, former commander in the Klingon Defense Force and father to Captain Klag, had died in his sleep. 30 years of noble service to the empire, followed by over a decade of disgrace. M’Raq and the rest of th family had long since given up imploring Klag to visit the old man on Qo’noS. Klag had found his father’s behavior incomprehensible and would not see him. He wouldn’t even set foot in the family’s home in the First City for as long as his father remained alive, because, to Klag’s mind, he had brought dishonor upon them. The high Council hadn’t seen it that way. Those 30 years of noble service outweighed the years that followed, M’Raq naver officially censured.
A Klingon is his work, not his family. That is the way of things
Klag would keep the family’s honor. That was why he had struck it out for 10 years under Kargan’s boot, because he knew that someday he would triumph.
Klag firmly believed that M’Raq’s spirit was headed straight for the Bare of the Dead in Gre’thor. He knew it in his warrior’s heart. Unless he did something about it. Perhaps, father, I can regain for you what you could not be bothered to regain for yourself. 
P219 Krevor cuts her hair short, to be all the same length after battle with al’Hmatti slices some of it off.
Tiral snarled and unsheathed a tik’leth, similar to an Earth longsword, from scabbard under his vest. He ran toward Klag. Krevor and Klag’s own guard moved to black him. Krevor punches Tiral in the stomach, the blades in her gauntlets did not penetrate the leather. Klag’s guard relives Tiral of sword. Tiral’s two guards step forward, disruptors raised. Krevor and Klag’s guard counter with their disruptor’s raised.
Stand fast, all of you.
With respect, sir, I will when they do.
Tiral looked like he ad just swallowed dead racht.
All that is left for you is to decide whether to face this news honorably
Whether or not one respects the person, one must respect the office
P223 Klag writing mission report on padd
Worf makes Klingon Vall new emperor of taD, symbolic post, withdrawls governor and staff. Satellite decommissioned. 
Klag very much wanted to fold his hands together. He’d always found that gesture intimidating
M’Raq’s body in stasis pending Gorkon’s arrival to drop off ambassador.
Drex in a rote manner – My future is honor.
Tirel spoke well of Drex skillful performance as temporary attache
The first officer’s job is to serve the captain but stand for the crew
Drex has uninspired battle drills, taken no initiative, needed to be reminded of his duty. 
Klag was not allowed to choose his own crew. The price he had to pay for his first command being so exalted a post. Command chose for him. Not exactly the stuff that songs are made of. In battle it all came together. We were like the warriors of old. When Drex was absent. 
Drex did not receive this commission due to his skills. 
Klag spent a decade serving under a fool who was promoted through family and I’m damned if my first officer will be the same way. 
Governor Tiral has been reassigned to supervise the weapons development facility on HuDyuQ. They also need a liaison officer to the fleet that patrols that sector. Drex obviously works well in administration. 
Effective on this, the 203 day in the year of Kahless, 1001, Drex is hereby relieved of all duties on board the Gorkon and assigned to serve on HuDyuQ. Report to Captain Ch’Targh in two days.
The commander looked at it as if it were a tribble, then finally took it.
Kurak – My task is to keep this ship functioning. Improving ship’s systems is a mandate for shipbuilders and repair crews, not on-site crew.
Pilot is transferring off Gorkon, returning to Rotarran. His assignment to Gorkon was always temporary.
P228 Drex puts communication through, on most secure frequency in the empire, a direct line to the chancellor even the rest of the High Council didn’t have.
The scar tissue that replaced Martok’s eye moved him. Maybe Drex feared that one day the eye would be there again, signally that the changeling had returned to steal his father’s life away.
Gowron showed Drex the recording of the death of the changeling Martok himself. Dozens of warriors fired on it with disruptors set on maximum. 
Martok – I understand from Worf that the mission to taD ended well
Drex tried to sound outraged, but he feared he sounded petulant – It ended. Father, Klag has transferred me to HuDyuQ. I am to be the fleet liaison. It isn’t enough that I was denied command of this ship, now the man who took my rightful place from me is sending me away you some other world. How can I prove my worthiness as a fleet liaison?
Drex had spent years trying to get petulant tone out of his voice but he had never quite done it to his own satisfaction.
Martok – If Captain Klag feels your skills would be better suited to HuDyuQ, my son, then I will not argue with him. And if you object to the transfer, than you should do so through proper channels. I will not have you using the fact that you’re my son for your own benefit. If there is nothing else? You may contact me this way anytime, Drex. You are still my son. Nothing will change that. I will die for you, and I would expect you to do the same for me. But I expect you to find your own honor. And Drex? You don’t have to prove your worthiness to anyone. You just have to do your duty, on the Gorkon or on HuDyuQ. The rest of it will take care of itself.
Drex – Father, why did you make that petaQ part of our House?
The words came out in a rush and Drex wished he could have called them back. it was the one question he desperately wanted answered, yet the one question he could not ask. 
Martok said dryly – I assume you mean Worf? You objected to my bringing him into the family from the beginning. 
Drex – I never said anything, Father, but
Martok – You did not need to. Your attitude spoke volumes. I know what happened between you on DS 9, my son. But what you must understand is that Worf saved more than my life, he saved my honor. And his disgrace from the empire was due to his opposing an action that was engineered by that – that creature that took my place. 
Drex – He betrayed the empire, Father, twice!
Martok – He accepted discommendation the first time to protect the empire. He accepted the second disgrace because he could not support an action that he thought would destroy us. He has always been loyal to our people, even though he was not raised among us. He has proven his worth, to me, and to the empire. Which is more than you have done, my son. You have been given every opportunity. I suggest that you stop whining about the inequities of life, go to HuDyuQ, and start taking advantage of those opportunities. Screen off.
Martok’s voice deepened into an almost-growl.
P231 Leskit on transport going to HuDyuQ to report to Rotarran. 
We’re in the Defense Force. We go where we are told. That is the way of things.
Leskit – I’m mated. The fact that she and I haven’t spoken since the night our son was conceived doesn’t change that.  Don’t insist that we take the oath or something equally ridiculous.
His Eminence Emperor Vall has some ideas for how to defeat the particular foe of taD’s on-planet transportation system.
In the end, Worf had won the day with his mind, not with his physical prowess.
Worf had no doubt Tasha Yar went to Sto-Vo-Kor and more than held her own amongst the honored dead. Worf had always viewed what he did as security chief as a way of honoring Yar’s memory
Worf was able to honor the memory of K’Ehleyr, Fed ambassador to Klingon Empire, as well as Jadzia as Curzon Dax another diplomat on behalf of the Fed, by taking over their work. 
B’Oraq puts neural stimulator on Klag’s right shoulder to prepare for new arm
Worf has spent all his life with Fed medicine and has come to appreciate it.
Kahless’ words – A warrior’s heart is inside 
It is not how you got your position that matters, it is what you do with it. 
Klag – I look forward to serving with you again. Perhaps we shall die together.
Worf- If so, then we will both die well. 
Gorkon arrives at Qo’noS early evening on the surface at First City. Worf will be able to meet the staff over dinner at the embassy. They’ve prepared a full meal in your honor. Wu had a large supply of prune juice ordered and sent to embassy galley. 
They passed Rodek in the corridor. A fist of ice clenched Worf’s heart. He had been avoiding Rodek for most of this mission. 
Ambassador, the lieutenant said, inclining his head. Why do you constantly look at me that way? The question was one step short of a challenge. If Rodek did not like Worf’s answer, he would probably take that last left. I do not want the mewling apologies of a Fed lackey, Ambassador. You of all people should know of my condition. It has been difficult for me to be part of a society that I only know form educational tapes and half-remembered instincts. Most of my shipmates have learned to accept my reticence as part of who I am. I would expect you do the same and not treat me like some kind of curiosity. 
Worf – I do not think of you that way. You simply remind me of someone else.  Someone close to me who died. You and he share certain facial expressions. It was not my intention to give offense. 
Rodek – Good. This time, I will not take any. If we ever meet again, do not look upon me as anything but a warrior.
Worf – Qapla’ Lieutenant. Continue to serve this vessel well.
Krevor is waiting for Worf in transporter room.
Worf- Bekk, your life is no longer mine. I have relinquished it to Captain Klag. 
Krevor – I know. I merely wished to see you off. I am glad I was able to help defend you and I hope I have the opportunity to die for you again.
In a red glow, Worf left the Gorkon.
  Maximum Warp by Dave Galanter, Greg Brodeur
19 Lotre, assistant to Romulan Commander T’sart. Genetically a Klingon, loyal to Romulus. Of Romulan upbringing. 
Klingons are genetic dispositions to rage and murder, Romulan Varnell’s opinion.
T’sart transports Varnell out to space.
Lotre – You should have let me stab him. Vaporizing is less messy, and less fun.
Alone with only Lotre, T’sart felt free to show his true rage. He spent years leading Romulan offensive weapons research and was nearly handed over to a Fed/Klingon tribunal. Lotre knows how T’sart struggled back from useless defense position. Has now discovered powerful energy weapon.
A bit taken aback, a strange emotion to see on such a Klingon face. Lotre narrowed his brow.
Lotre the only one T’sart trusts. The Klingon smoothed the traditional Romulan tunic that stretched over his broad shoulders. Even in these harsh times, Lotre was loyal. Lotre discovers that Varnell was a Tal Shiar agent. 
78 the Klingons have lost 12 ships, that they know off, in dead zones appearing in space. Every government suspects every other government of causing them. The major Alpha Quad powers are too weak right now. Only Ambassador Worf and Chancellor Martok are keeping the Klingons with the Fed right now. The Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Fed president have managed to get a message through to Worf on taD. Subspaces messages are disappearing into the dead zones too. 
119 Picard had talked with important figures, pages out of history, like Kirk, Zefram Cochrane, K’mpec, Spock. He’d never get used to it. 
135 the Caltiskan system, Romulan space, near the Klingon / Romulan border. 
There is a price on T’sart’s head in Klingon space. Those barbaric fools would destroy a planet to have me in their grasp. 
The Enterprise can freely travel among the Klingons. 
142 Klingon Romulan border. Sector 23. sector 53. sector 10. sector 5 
155 Klingon warship Qulric. Klingon space. Malinga sector. Near sector 5 Klingon/Romulan border. Out on fringe of Empire. not much out here, some far-off colonies and the Romulan border. Malinga colony 19 million Klingons.
Kalor, governor of Malinga. Large. 
Parl, aide to governor Kalor. First officer. Tall, thin.
Kalor in his underclothes.
Received a message from Romulan buoy, believed it false.
Kalor – No need for introductions, Picard. Not only is your reputation know, of course, but I remember you. 
Picard gave his best diplomatic nod, as Klingons tended not to respect a toothy smile. 
Picard says his destination is the seventh planet of the W’lett-Kard system quite remote. Transporting a scientist from a research station there to Starbase 10.
Kalor nodded pleasantly, well, pleasantly for a Klingon. He didn’t sneer. 
Kalor - I would be honored to escort you to the boundary of my jurisdiction. I insist. I will of course, need to inspect your ship for any contraband cargo. It’s just a regulation. A duty I’m sworn to, you see. A formality, really. Perhaps all that is really needed is a good meal between our officers. A small tour of your ship and some good food, eh? Ambassador Worf has served on your ship, Captain. You have served as Arbiter of Succession for the previous chancellor. We have a relationship with you. We do not really need to inspect your cargo holds. But I’m sure your replicator has some amazing Klingon dishes, eh? Yes?
Kalor halfheartedly backhanded his aide on the side of the head.
Parl will find the special cargo on the Enterprise while Kalor dines with Picard. 
We will not simply beam on an assault team?
Kalor hit him again.
To do anything, we will have to wait for our two sister ships to return. 
Do not dishonor either of us with subterfuge
T’sart was a disgusting man who’d done disgusting things.
Picard hammered the Klingon with a glare and spoke with slow intensity. 
Curling his lips in thought Kalor seemed to consider the answer. 
The Romulans, Kalor finally answered. Picard wasn’t sure if the distaste is his voice was a holdover from his thoughts of T’sart or just because he’d had to deal with an enemy such as the Romulans. True, the two empires had allied with the Fed and each other during the Dominion War, but treaties couldn’t eliminate a century of acrimony. 
Kalor – There is no moral duty to protect something like T’sart. 
Picard could only begin to imagine the tortures a Klingon court verdict would render on T’sart. 
T’sart had a debt to replay every Klingon. And to many many more.
To kill a Klingon with a disease, it is the ultimate dishonor. T’sart caused much death, much suffering.
Picard knew Kalor and Kalor knew Picard. But showing weakness to any Klingon was a mistake. They only understood the empathy another might have so far as they could use it to their advantage. 
Picard – I’ve salvaged your honor before. Shouldn’t you honor me now if I ask it?
Kalor looked away, remembering something he’d rather not, his jowls quivering in anger – I’ve not forgotten what you did. But what you’ve done now does not just dishonor yourself, or Klingons. It dishonors all those who live. The honor of the dead is important. So is justice. 
Kalor seethed at T’sart’s comment, at his snide Romulan tone and arrogant Romulan face. His blood hot with hate and anger, Kalor felt his muscles tense for the kill. But he could not kill here, not as he wanted. He wanted to feel T’sart’s throat crushed in his bare hands. He wanted to press out the devil’s last breath of life so he could spit into it. But first he wanted to hurt the Romulan in ways no other being had ever been hurt. Kalor would invent new ways, if necessary. He let his hatred burn through his eyes and into T’sart.
All of the Klingon Empire, all of the quadrant, want T’sart. He’s being pampered by a dishonorable Federation. 
Kalor’s ship, the Qulric, under Parl, fires on Enterprise, too early. Six Klingon birds-of-prey coming in on an intercept vector. 
Governor Kalor is under arrest.
Parl wasn’t angry, actually for a Klingon he was rather mellow.
Kalor knew his ship could be taken, he knew it was worth the sacrifice. The Enterprise against six other ships, however, that was another matter.
Kalor to Picard – I’m not asking you to surrender your ship. I would not dishonor you that way. I care not about the dead zones. I am not a scientist. I am a soldier, and a creature of duty. 
Picard – You have no duty to the lives of other Klingons?
Kalor – I have a duty to avenge the deaths of those Klingons who were killed without honor. At that monster’s hand. The word that was punctuated with a growl and a fist pounding on the guardrail. 
There were not many ways to dishonor a Klingon in death, but T’sart had perfected at least one; disease. Genetic warfare, outlawed by most Alpha Quadrant governments, was still researched by most, usually defensively. 
Picard – Parl, you have until we repair our damage to retreat outside our weapons range. After that, Fed/Klingon treaties will be ignored.
When the other Klingon ships arrived, Kalor’s ship the Qulric took the Enterprise in tow toward the Malinga colony, where Kalor sat as governor. 
In a gesture one didn’t often see in a Klingon Kalor both sighed and shrugged.
Kalor – You’re not usually a fool, Picard. There was a hint of even if I sometimes am in his tone. 
Kalor – My duty was to kill him, and that I have. A virus. The same one he used to kill seven thousand Klingons and cause another forty thousand to suffer, myself included. The virus has been genetically re-engineered to kill only him. 
Kalor removed his belt buckle, a small transporter transponder. Kalor beamed the virus into T’sart, focused transporter beam to coordinate within his bloodstream when Kalor was close enough.
The Klingons had skill enough to change the virus to kill T’sart in a week. 
T’sart didn’t have a cure for the Klingons infected by his virus. The Klingons found a cure for themselves.
Picard squeezed Kalor’s shoulder, not that Kalor could feel it thought his thick tunic. 
Three Klingon ships fall into dead zone. 17 large vessels and 40 smaller craft are stranded on orbit of Malinga colony. All seven power generation plants on the surface have ceased functioning. Three more hours of battery power. When battery power fails, the matter/antimatter magnetic containment will collapse in each power plant causing widespread destruction. 
Regulations; all orders from captured leader assumed to be issued under distress.
20 billion kilometers, 4 light hours. Several days on impulse.
All Klingons on Malinga colony killed. Seven vessels were able to force themselves into space. The rest grew cold in orbit and died. 
Picard knew enough of the Klingon language to listen past the translator and he could hear the fatigue.
Transmissions, counter transmissions, Klingon panic. Klingons with personal transmitters had clogged the frequencies. Most messages weren’t pleas for help, but declarations about their deaths, for their families. Testimony of how honorable their bloodlines were, somber self-epilogues, closing their lives with their own eulogies. 
Kalor had given up drinking bloodwine and was downing a chech’tluth. Steaming drink. 
Parl had been under Kalor’s command longer than anyone. He was Kalor’s most trusted associate, and closest friend. They’d served together, been drunk together, chased women together, and fought together. They had the same strengths and even the same weaknesses.
Not nearly drunk enough, sir
Kalor - We have been foolhardy. We succeeded in poisoning the monster. That is not a good thing. It is likely that he knows what causes these powerless areas in space. I don’t trust him. Honor is a harsh mistress, my friend. 
At this point, death is a release. 
Picard is very trying. It was an elegant pun for two men as drunk as Kalor and Parl were, and they both laughed.
It has been an honor to serve with you, Parl
Klingon fools they didn’t have a contingency for blasting their cores into space if losing containment was imminent. Thy destroyed their own planet.
The seven Klingon vessels are using their thrusters to go deeper into the dead zone, when Enterprise is trying to rescue them. The honorable thing, to prevent Picard trying the impossible. Picard has Kalor call them back, they maneuver back as quickly as they can. He has alerted them to transfer power to their structural integrity fields, even from life support. 
The Klingon ships pitched backwards with the blast of the shockwave, tumbling end over end. Seven thin lines of energy connected them with the Enterprise. Four Klingon vessels survive, Kalor’s personal vessel survived but severely damaged. Three have auxiliary power, al have life support, no hull breaches. Three ships gone.
Kalor - 19 million people, my people, under my charge.
221 Lormit sector, Klingon Empire.
Lotre takes on mercenary ship, to go against Enterprise. He memorized ladder access and ordered stun settings so neither necessary equipment or personnel would be damaged. 
Lotre – While my ancestry may be Klingon, my brain is Romulan. That is better. 
Lotre and 19 others beam aboard to Enterprise engineering room, disruptor already raised. 
Disruptor energy punched forward from his weapon
He was one of 20 men on a ship full of Fed soldiers, he would take no chances.
Anger furrowed his brows where nature had not.
A Klingon working for a Romulan not unheard of. Just unusual. 
Federation fools, if his ship was the one being invaded, he’d be firing to kill.
It all felt so good, Lotre thought that perhaps his Klingon blood was betraying his Romulan upbringing.
It wasn’t his honor he fought for; it was his master’s
Two
Lotre, a Klingon who had rejected his native culture.
In a red haze Lotre’s battle instinct took control
Lotre’s mercenary ship recloaked when they didn’t hear from him
Spock and Picard confuse Lotre and his mercenaries by putting them in a holodeck version of Enterprise to capture.
What in all the hells was going on?
47 Klingon blood runs hotter than Romulan. Kalor hooked up to T’sart in blood transfusion to try to save T’sart.
53 Parl, on Qulric, and another ship come to Enterprise. Cloaked. Kalor ordered Parl to secure his sector and report the situation to the next governorship. Kalor also had Parl reconnoiter for Enterprise. The next ten sectors are clear. Reports are that the Romulan fleet has pulled back. Parl has seen it himself. He offers assistance, Parl would accompany Enterprise. Picard agrees to allow Parl to follow behind, cloaked. 
Parl – We are, at his order, under your command, Picard.
90 Kalor is dying, the blood loss is too much for him. The Klingons didn’t cure T’sart’s virus, they only stopped it. 
Lotre works for T’sart because he believes in him. 
110 Kalor’s bravado was the façade a dying man might show both his enemy and his family. 
Kalor receiving blood transfusion from Lotre. 
Adopted as a war orphan on a Klingon colony seized by Romulans, Lotre had very loving Romulan parents. He didn’t remember any Klingon relatives, and didn’t care to. On his own he rejected Klingon culture and had always been satisfied with that decision. Most Klingons he’d met had not. T’sart was one of those Romulans who saw Lotre as an individual, not a member of a genetic group. 
Lotre to Kalor – That is the difference between us, Klingon, using Kalor’s race and his own as an insult, You would kill, but I would not. I can control my passions. I am a Romulan. 
Kalor – You are a cancer who dilutes his race by choosing water over blood!
T’sart was a second father to Lotre. 
146 Parl’s second ship dropped out of warp for repairs more than seven hours ago. They maintain their cloak, but they will not be able to join in battle.
Picard – I assume that will mean your one ship will fight all the more vigorously.
159 Lotre renders medical personnel harmless, trying to break T’sart out. Picard phasers Lotre unconscious.
179 T’sart and Lotre were under control, Kalor was recovering. The only missing element was Parl and the Qulric. They should have ventured into the Caltiskan system dead zone by now. 
213 in the Delta Quad, B’Elanna had stretched 30 hours of battery power into five days on Voyager.
The Qulric science officer offered Parl a padd of data. Governor Kalor is Parl’s oldest friend, his blood brother. They’d been at each other’s weddings, seen each other’s children grow and become warriors. And seen their home colony destroyed at the hands of T’sart’s evil spatial traps. Parl had felt enough loss, and would tolerate no more.
Parl – I don’t care what it takes. I don’t care who I must kill, but I want this ship at full power! Now!
Communications officer is reading Federation Starfleet, Klingon Defense Force Command, and civilian channels, all open and very active.
ALTernate universe
  The Quiet Place by Peter David
no Klingon content
  Dark Allies by Peter David
no Klingon content
Equinox Part II
B taught Max how to use triquadric algorithms ten years ago. 
B initiates communication to try to pursued Max not to do this. Doesn’t work.
Ransom run ins with hostile aliens. It seems that when he’s being pursued, he tends to hide. At Epsilon Four, he ran into a Klingon bird of prey and played cat and mouse for three days in a nebula before the Klingons finally gave up
Ransom was an exobiologist who was promoted to Captain after he made fist contact with the Yridians, a race previously believed to be extinct.
Max’s ten year old scar is pretty thick. Knew B’E enough to predict what she would do battle tactics. Battlefield of the heart. B’E still stinging from her failure to stop Max Burke from using her own tricks against her and Voyager
Survival Instinct
B, with bad perm, assists Seven in investigating Borg synaptic relay
B – That was part of your old unimatirx. Possibly what you experienced was simply nostalgia, sentimental feelings about the past.
Seven shoots that theory down. 
B was trying to help, Seven appreciates it.
B- You may not be nostalgic about the past, but you definitely have feelings about it. Strong ones. 
Tom and Harry confined to quarters after getting into fighting tennis match on station they’re visiting.