House of Palkar

While never a powerful House, the House of Palkar has nonetheless taken service to the Empire extremely seriously. The threshold of the House seat has a saying etched in wood above the door: “The House of Palkar will always serve the Empire.” During the reign of Chancellor Sturka in the 23rd century, Palkar, son of Grevaq, served on the flagship under the chancellor, and Palkar gave his life to save Sturka’s against an ambush by Tholians flying under a flag of truce. (Tholians have no honor.) Palkar had no House at the time – he was a bekk of no station – but the chancellor rewarded his mate and brother and children with land and holdings and a House in gratitude for his service. Palkar’s mate insisted the House be named for him, and that has remained over the century since. In gratitude for being made into nobility, the House has always insisted that at least one, and preferably all, able-bodied family members join the Defense Force. Seven members of the House of Palkar served during the Dominion War, and they all died in glorious combat against the Jem’Hadar, the Cardassians, and the Breen. Following the war’s end, Kurak – a scientist who designed the Negh’Var, Chancellor Gowron’s flagship – was forced to enlist to maintain that tradition until her nephew was old enough to attend officer training, and she was made an engineer.