Klingon Defense Force

History and Purpose

The Klingon Defense Force is the modern successor to the Klingon Imperial Fleet, which was the Empire’s primary space-based military force in the 22nd and 23rd centuries. It is a multi-faceted organization charged with protecting the Klingon people from all external threats as well as those originating from within its borders.

There was a time when the military was geared toward little more than conflict and conquest. Indeed, the history of the Empire is built upon the conquest of other worlds and their people. After enduring the Hur’q invasion, the plundering of Qo’noS, and near annihilation, the Klingon people marshaled sufficient numbers and resources to mount a resistance against their oppressors. The costs of rebellion were high, nearly extinguishing altogether what remained of the Empire, but eventually, the slaves turned back their masters.

After expelling the Hur’q from Qo’noS and reverse-engineering the technology they left behind, the Empire took to the stars, expanding outward first to colonize uninhabited planets and later to worlds that already were home to indigenous sentient populations. Unlike the Federation Starfleet and its overtures of peace and cooperation for mutual benefit, the Empire was driven by a single goal: conquest. The Imperial Fleet was the instrument of this agenda, establishing military garrisons on dozens of planets, forcing their native civilizations into line, and ensuring they acted to serve the Empire’s interests. Most of these societies fell into line, motivated either by simple self-preservation or the realization there actually were benefits to being jeghpu’wI’, or “the conquered people.” Indeed, it has been more than two centuries since a subjugated world has attempted to overthrow Klingon rule.

War was not uncommon to those serving in the fleet or its associated ground forces. While many worlds yielded to the banner of the Empire, others fought with the same conviction which had fueled the Klingons’ fight against their Hur’q oppressors centuries earlier. These civilizations mounted their own defense, vowing to resist subjugation at all costs.

More often than not, such pledges were fulfilled and Klingon occupation forces took what remained of the world anyway. On other occasions, a people managed to defeat Klingon forces to the extent that the Empire showed its respect by halting invasion attempts. In some instances, accords were reached and treaties signed, while other worlds were left to pursue their own destiny free from further aggression. It was the ultimate compliment the Empire could pay to an enemy who fought with such tenacity.

Inevitably, these expansion efforts brought them into contact with space-faring civilizations capable of matching Klingon warships in terms of military capabilities. Chief among these potential rivals were the Humans of Earth and the Romulan Star Empire. The Humans in particular posed an interesting challenge, in that while they displayed the technology and the ability to fight when pressed, they preferred non-aggressive action to conflict. In the two centuries since first encountering Humans, many Klingon commanders have commented on the seeming inconsistency of their attitudes and actions. While they can be duplicitous, Humans also are capable of demonstrating their own form of honor. Early encounters were characterized by actions taken regardless of the risk to their personal safety while being of benefit to the Empire. Their contradictory nature was at times confusing, intriguing, and frustrating, and numerous Klingon military leaders cautioned against underestimating these seemingly weak specimens. This prudence was justified on more than one occasion when the Empire found itself at odds and even at war with Earth, the people of which by then had assembled an interstellar coalition, the Federation, to extend its own influence farther away from their homeworld.

The Human ability to foster collaboration was amply demonstrated in the 22nd century when they enlisted the assistance of the Andorians to defeat the Xindi, disrupting that species’ agenda of destroying Earth. Humans followed this with an alliance of the Vulcans, Andorians, and Tellarites to defeat the Romulans and send them retreating behind their borders for more than a century. By the time this coalition grew into the United Federation of Planets, wise Klingons realized this new union was not to be taken lightly. Those charged with maintaining the readiness of the Klingon military apparatus began altering their training, tactical studies, and resource allocation and development with an eye toward the challenges posed by the Federation as a formidable adversary.

Historians consider this era the impetus that forced the Empire to enter a period of reflection and assessment. Klingon leaders began to examine their priorities. War and skirmishes of varying intensity with the Federation, the Romulans, and other prominent neighbors forced expansion and resource location and acquisition initiatives to turn away from these rivals and toward other, largely uncharted regions of space. Despite a strong desire for conflict and the base need to fight so as to avoid being vanquished, efforts at outright conquest slackened. By the time the Empire signed the Khitomer Accords in the late 23rd century, such ventures were on the decline. Decades later, after the Federation demonstrated its willingness to stand with their allies, first during key battles at Narendra III and the Khitomer outpost and later during the Dominion War, Klingon leadership began to realize this bond – forged from conflict, tested by mistrust and uncertainty, and ultimately sealed by standing together before a common enemy – was not a fleeting aberration. With that in mind, the mission of the Klingon Defense Force was realigned to reflect what its name implied: protecting the security of the Klingon people, a mandate broadened and strengthened by its ability to unite with the Federation Starfleet during times of crisis while still upholding its promise to safeguard the Empire.

Unlike Starfleet and similar organizations authorized by their respective governments, the KDF is a purely military organization. It is by far the Empire’s single largest recipient of funding, resources, and personnel. Despite what some argue is a “softening” of its agenda with respect to expanding Imperial influence, the KDF still symbolizes the warrior ethos espoused not just by its soldiers but also all Klingons. The lessons of the past continue to inform the actions of the present and the visions for tomorrow. Even if it means fighting to the last breath of every man, woman, and child, the Klingon Empire will never again bow before an enemy.

Organization

Each of the Great Houses maintains its own military forces, descended in many ways from the armies which once fought one another across the surface of Qo’noS for territory and resources before the Age of Kahless. In the modern day they serve as militias of limited size and scope, tasked primarily with defense of the regions from which their parent Houses reside and serving as first response organizations in the event of natural calamity. Additionally, these units maintain their training, vessels, equipment, and preparation activities, available at a moment’s notice to be called into Imperial service by direction of the chancellor or the High Council. Training consists of deployment readiness exercises away from the homeworld where their ships and ground units carry out mock battles of the sort they will be expected to fight once called to action. Until activated, these armies remain separate entities from the KDF.

Likewise, the KDF exists as a self-contained military structure, falling under the authority of the Military Commission of the High Council. This commission, known as the High Command, is led by the chancellor and consists of the KDF’s uppermost leadership cadre. Staffed by five generals, this command also serves as the chancellor’s direct military advisors and also counsels other members of the High Council as needed. All military action directed by the chancellor is based on information and counsel provided by the generals of the High Command, who in turn communicate the chancellor’s orders and intent to the KDF’s senior commanders for implementation.

Originally located in the First City on Qo’noS, the KDF command headquarters currently resides on the planetoid Ty’Gokor. The installation consists of a heavily fortified command center, the bulk of which was constructed beneath the planet’s surface. Ty’Gokor is protected by a defensive shield as well as an orbital network of unmanned defense craft charged with protecting the planetoid itself, as well as the spacedock and shipbuilding and maintenance facilities parked in high orbit. An armada of thirty warships including flagships for the generals of the High Command are also deployed to the region at all times. In addition to the KDF’s leadership cadre, the planet also is home to a robust command, control, and communications center tasked with overseeing the movements of every vessel in the Klingon fleet. All orders and other dictates from the chancellor, the High Council, or the High Command are funneled through this organization. Imperial Intelligence also has facilities located here, though this contingent operates independently of the KDF command structure. The Hall of Warriors occupies a revered chamber within the central command facility and plays host to various ceremonial functions, upholding traditions that have been a part of the KDF and its predecessor organizations dating back to the Age of Kahless.

The first of two elements composing the KDF is the Deep Space Fleet, which is a provisional component that is only activated by calling the militaries of the Great Houses to service. At this point, the High Command assumes authority of this assembled force, which is comparable in size and capabilities to the Federation’s Starfleet or the Romulan military. When the Empire finds itself preparing for conflict, these are the first warriors sent to battle far from the homeworld.

Operating in parallel with the Deep Space Fleet is the Internal Security Force. This is a permanently staffed element, with its own command hierarchy, assets, and operational mandates. Also answerable to the High Command, the ISF is responsible for patrolling Imperial space, staffing and maintaining observation and tactical outposts along the borders, colony support and defense, law enforcement including anti-piracy and interdiction, customs and other regulatory enforcement, and search and rescue. Vessels and personnel from the Great House fleets can be called upon by the High Council to augment ISF assets. In times of conflict, the ISF operates in tandem with the Deep Space Fleet, acting in accordance with the direction of the High Command.

While rank and station are obvious components of Klingon's military structure, both of these are viewed in tandem with an individual warrior’s commitment to the principles of personal honor and dedication to the accomplishment of any assigned mission for the glory of the Empire. Failure to meet such expectations is viewed as a grievous assault on one’s own honor as well as that of their fellow warriors and superior officers. Warriors who demonstrate an inability to meet these demands and commitments are expected to be disciplined if not executed as punishment for their actions. Indeed, any Klingon who fails to address such deficiency stands the risk of being penalized.

Klingon Oversight Council

Usually composed of a dozen officers, all ranked commander or higher, the Oversight Council is tasked with approving the selection of officer candidates for the KDF. This group is often viewed by many veteran warriors as a “simple formality,” particularly when considering most defense force officers are applicants drawn from one of the Great Houses. Legacy selection – the practice of accepting new recruits from families possessing a long history of honorable military service – fills most available openings for new candidates. After completing the standard entrance examination, would-be officers only require a recommendation from a sponsor, usually an active or retired officer in good standing with the High Command. Once this is obtained, the recruit is sent on for the basic training required of all warriors at one of the KDF’s indoctrination centers. Upon completing that initial phase, officer candidates receive additional instruction at veS DuSaq, the “School of War.”

While this aspect of the selection process is indeed routine and largely predictable, the Oversight Council also reviews applications and entrance examinations submitted by instructors at the various indoctrination centers. If a recruit shows unusual aptitude or potential to succeed as an officer, they are flagged for additional scrutiny while still undergoing basic training. Upon graduation and assuming they have passed all of the entrance and review requirements, they are transferred from the enlisted ranks to veS DuSaq to receive officer candidate training in the hopes of earning a commission. Fewer than fifty recruits receive this recommendation each year as the review process is rigorous. Potential candidates are not even informed they are being considered for this program until they graduate basic training.

Order of the bat’leth

An elite group within the Klingon Defense Force, the Order of the Bat’leth is a recognition bestowed upon those warriors who have demonstrated remarkable courage and achievement in battle. It is considered one of the highest awards any Klingon can receive, subordinate only to the Order of Kahless or being declared a Dahar Master. It was created by Lukara, wife of Kahless the Unforgettable, after his death, vowing that this exclusive fraternity would always exemplify the warrior ethos and the highest measure of personal honor and courage as personified by her husband. Today, selection of new inductees is conducted by a committee of six elder members and overseen by the Chancellor of the High Council. Requirements for entry are arduous and cloaked in secrecy, known only to those charged with verifying the worthiness of potential inductees. Warriors admitted to the Order are forbidden from speaking of its members, practices, and ceremonies. Of the fewer than twenty Klingons admitted each year to the Order, as few as a third and as many as half of the selections are posthumous inductions.

Induction ceremonies are held once a year at the Klingon Defense Force’s command headquarters on Ty’Gokor, with mandatory attendance for all living Order members as well as the general staff of the Klingon Defense Force’s High Command and even the chancellor. The official ceremony is conducted following a day of celebration that includes the consumption of much bloodwine, friendly contests of strength and fighting prowess, and raucous fellowship. All of this tends to be viewed by the Order’s older members in somewhat more than lighthearted fashion as but one more test for new inductees, a final means of verifying their worthiness to join their respected comrades in arms.

As the Order of the Bat’leth is a distinction reserved to those who have served with valor far above even the strict demands of duty and honor, once the award is bestowed even the chancellor is prohibited from rescinding it. Display of the Order’s symbol on one’s uniform signifies to all who see it that its bearer is recognized as one of the Empire’s truly elite warriors.

Order of Kahless

More exclusive in nature than even the Order of the Bat’leth, those Klingons selected for the Order of Kahless are recognized for honorable service to the Empire over a sustained period of time, during which the warrior is shown to have conducted themselves with unwavering bravery and selfless sacrifice regardless of personal risk. Only the chancellor of the High Council carries the power to so recognize an individual. Those who earn the distinction receive the Star of Kahless, one of the highest decorations the Empire can bestow, and its wearer is to be known for all time and without question as a warrior in the finest tradition of Kahless himself. At last report, fewer than ten living warriors hold the Star of Kahless, with Chancellor Martok being the only Klingon to earn the honor before ascending to that position

IMPERIAL INTELLIGENCE

On par with other secretive organizations such as the Federation’s Starfleet Intelligence, the Romulan Star Empire’s Tal Shiar, or the Cardassian Union’s Obsidian Order, Imperial Intelligence is a clandestine component within the Klingon Defense Force. Its primary mission is the gathering and analysis of information obtained from other interstellar powers using all manner of covert means. Though it does occasionally conduct sanctioned activities against Klingon citizens, its main focus is observing, studying, and even acting against individuals and activities deemed to be of concern to the security of the Empire.

A significant aspect of Imperial Intelligence efforts involves espionage utilizing agents surgically altered to appear as members of the species being spied upon. Individuals trained for such duties undergo rigorous screening, evaluation, and training processes to determine their ability to work independently for extended periods of time. Agents who receive these types of assignments are embedded behind enemy lines, often pursuing their mission for years without support. Such operatives are tasked with finding ways to insert themselves into low-level positions within a government or military organization. From these vantage points, agents collect relevant information, either from firsthand observations or by infiltrating facilities, computer systems, and data storage archives. On infrequent occasions these individuals may be called upon to take actions designed to undermine the efforts of an adversarial power. This can take the form of simple disruption of political agendas to outright sabotage of installations or ships and even assassination of key individuals. Agents killed or captured while on assignment were disavowed, and failing to carry out one’s mission is considered a grave dishonor not just to the operative but also their family. Those who manage to return to the Empire often face severe consequences, including discommendation and exile.

The life of an intelligence agent is not for every Klingon, but those who choose to answer this call to duty know that they and others with similar convictions play a vital role in safeguarding the Empire and all Klingon people.

Training

Those wishing to serve as soldiers of the Empire must first complete a grueling training regimen that taxes body, mind, and warrior spirit to their absolute limits. For uncounted generations, candidates have submitted themselves to the unforgiving instructors of the Klingon Defense Force’s basic military indoctrination centers. Raw recruits spend nearly four months suffering through all manner of tests measuring their physical strength, endurance, mental acuity, and psychological readiness to undertake the demands of military service. What might appear as vindictive if not absolutely sadistic actions on the part of the instructors is in fact a meticulously choreographed exercise. No detail is overlooked as teachers and drill masters put recruits through their paces day after grueling day.

The Mok’bara

A key aspect of training that begins during basic indoctrination and continues throughout a warrior’s career is acquiring and maintaining a proficiency in the Mok’bara. This ancient fighting discipline is the foundation upon which all Imperial hand-to-hand combat techniques are built. It is as much about mental focus as it is physical prowess, forcing the student to become attuned to their body’s every movement, not just when practicing the form but in all other aspects of one’s life. It has been compared to Vulcan techniques of Suus Mahna or the Human disciplines of tai chi or aikido. However, those forms are noted for their emphasis on defensive techniques, whereas Mok’bara students learn how to attack as well as protect themselves. Introduction to the form begins within the first days of basic training, and as the cycle progresses candidates learn unarmed fighting techniques before incorporating bladed weapons. Recruits must advance to the first recognized Mok’bara rank level, chu’wl’Hey or “advanced novice,” as a requirement of graduating military indoctrination. From there, warriors are expected to maintain their studies and advance their ranks and skills. It is not uncommon for senior officers and enlisted soldiers within a unit or ship’s crew to be recognized as Mok’bara masters.

Bladed Weapon Training

Once recruits are comfortable with the initial techniques and forms, instructors begin integrating knives and swords into training exercises that bring an added dimension to hand-to-hand combat. While the term implies and is often used to describe fighting without the aid of weapons, blades are often employed in such situations. Thanks to family heritage and upbringing, many Klingons have already received an introduction to a variety of bladed weapons before arriving at an indoctrination center. Such exposure pales in comparison to the grueling drills and other exercises designed to hone each warrior’s proficiency with these implements. Many warriors consider fighting with a bat’leth, mek’leth, or d’k tahg to be battle in its purest form, challenging an enemy face to face and fighting until there is but one undisputed victor. It is a mindset which has defined Klingon heritage and supremacy in conflict from the time of Kahless the Unforgettable. As with other facets of recruit training, instruction and drills in this area increase in difficulty to the point that when a candidate graduates, they’re able to wield such weapons as if they were extensions of their own body.

Energy Weapon Training

For energy-based weapons, the training is no less important or focused. Warrior candidates receive their initial instruction within the first weeks of basic indoctrination. Laced through this instruction is a continuous, extensive series of weapons familiarization classes. Candidates begin with static, known-distance marksmanship instruction using disruptor rifles and pistols. Scores are tracked throughout the entire training cycle and competition among classes is fierce. Subsequent phases of instruction include scenarios designed to mimic planet-based battle conditions. It is here that candidates learn basic battlefield survival skills and receive their first lessons in the art of ground combat. Days of training incorporate small unit fire and maneuver principles such as infiltration, assault, and force protection tactics. Each stage of training builds upon those preceding it until the final phase, when recruits are tested on their ability to successfully apply all of the lessons learned both individually as well as while operating within their ground combat team. As with marksmanship testing, inter-class competition is intense, with a long tradition of trophies and other recognition for candidates and instructors alike.

An effective soldier never ceases being a student, and the learning process does not end with a recruit’s graduation and transfer to the Klingon Defense Force. Basic indoctrination is a process of establishing a foundation upon which a warrior is built and maintained. All warriors regardless of rank, posting, or area of technical expertise undertake regular class instruction and refresher training designed to test their continued aptitude in a host of essential military subjects.

As with so much else about these training methods, the failure rate among candidates remains a closely guarded secret. However, it is rumored for every one hundred recruits who enter an indoctrination center’s portals, fewer than half succeed in navigating the course curriculum. The reward for reaching this goal is to be designated a basically trained warrior ready for greater, more targeted instruction. Depending on the chosen field of specialization, students can spend more than a year attending such courses before being deployed to the KDF’s ground forces or aboard one of the warships in the Empire’s vast fleet.

Officer Training

Officers of the KDF generally are drawn from one of the many prestigious Houses, with new candidates often carrying on a family tradition of service dating back generations. Klingons choosing to pursue a military commission must first complete training at one of the military indoctrination centers as any other recruit. Only then will they be then sent to the veS DuSaq, or “the School of War.” Here, the focus shifts from simple basic military training to specialized curricula designed to prepare officers for the demands of successfully leading Klingons in times of peace and conflict.

Instructors emphasize developing the character of every candidate so they come to fully understand the special trust and expectations placed upon them as an officer. Students embrace an ethos which has defined the Klingon soldier for uncounted generations. They study history and tactics, learning from the victories and failures of warriors past in order to prepare for leading their charges toward future conquests. The training is a crucible, honing a warrior’s body and mind so they are able to think, act, and persevere when faced with the unremitting chaos of battle. Graduation requirements for veS DuSaq are even more demanding than basic training, with a successful completion rate of less than thirty percent. Only those who complete this course of instruction can consider themselves worthy of standing alongside the Empire’s distinguished officer corps.

Ongoing Education

Even after they are posted to their first assignments, training does not end. Junior warriors and officers are enrolled in programs of continuing instruction in a number of areas depending on their assigned duties. Their commanders’ intentions and mandates are plain: warriors of all ranks and positions are required to teach their responsibilities to their subordinates and in turn learn the duties of their immediate superiors. Soldiers of the Empire must possess diverse skill sets that enable them to assume any duty or function within a unit or aboard a warship. This is an essential aspect of duty when one can anticipate having to replace a fallen comrade during battle and assume their station or function. Additional training is designed to further groom a warrior for the assumption of increased responsibilities. When coupled with a pattern of consistently exceptional performance, seizing such educational opportunities is a pathway to promotion, career advancement, and ultimately greater honor and glory in service to the Empire.

RANK COMPARISONS

The Klingon Defense Force rank structure is largely a holdover from that of the Klingon Imperial Fleet, at least so far as officer grades are concerned. Combining ground and air/space operations into the KDF’s mandate required formalization of enlisted ranks for ground troops as well as ship-based support personnel. While there are some similarities to the rank structure of other military organizations such as Starfleet and adversarial powers, most ranks are not truly equivalent across these entities. This chart attempts to draw as close a comparison as practical based on the individual rank along with the responsibilities, expectations, and accomplishments of individuals observed to hold such positions.

KDF RANK COMPARABLE STARFLEET RANK COMPARABLE ROMULAN RANK COMPARABLE CARDASSIAN RANK GeneralAdmiralGeneralGrand Gul BrigadierVice AdmiralAdmiralLegate ColonelCommodore / Rear Admiral Colonel (Tal Shiar only)Jagul CaptainFleet CaptainN/AGul Commander Captain / CommanderCommander / Major (Tal Shiar only) Dal / Dalin Lieutenant Lieutenant Commander / Lieutenant Sub-Commander / Sub-Lieutenant Glinn / Gil EnsignEnsignCenturionGil SergeantChief Petty OfficerCenturionGil CorporalPetty OfficerCenturionGil Bekk (“Warrior”) CrewmanUhlanGarresh / Gorr

Assignment

While undertaking basic instruction, enlisted recruits and officer candidates select a military specialty for which they will receive additional training before being posted to their first duty assignment. While every member of the KDF is expected to carry out the base functions of a warrior – fighting the Empire’s enemies – the reality of modern-day military readiness is that each member receives intensive skills training in a chosen area of expertise. Selection of these occupational fields is based first and foremost on the needs of the Empire but also the qualifications and aptitude of the individual warrior. Those who demonstrate proficiency with technology may find themselves learning to be an engineer or sensor systems officer aboard a warship assigned to the Internal Security Force or Deep Space Fleet. Others who display a propensity for mentoring or assisting other recruits with test or drill preparations are screened to serve as instructors themselves, dispatched to schools devoted to weapons or other vital equipment. Areas of specialization which remove any Klingon from a position where they might see battle are frequent targets of disdain by young, inexperienced soldiers eager for their first taste glory. Elder warriors know better.

Once their training is complete, warriors assigned to the Internal Security Force quickly find themselves posted to a ship, ground installation, or space-based facility such as a forward base or observation outpost along the border. The typical tenure of service at any one location is two years, though hardship assignments such as border posts and other remote stations rotate personnel every six months. Ship duty is also a two-year assignment, though members of a vessel’s crew spend approximately half of that time deployed. When not on patrol or engaged in other activities, a ship may be undergoing refit or repair while its crew undertakes the complicated process of inspecting the vessel’s onboard systems and other equipment and assets in preparation for its next deployment. Klingons posted to the Deep Space Fleet return to the military forces of their respective Great Houses or the region in which those reside.

Duties

Whereas the Deep Space Fleet is typically constituted only during a time of conflict for deployment in defense of Imperial interests well away from the homeworld, the Internal Security Force is the KDF’s active element that undertakes a variety of responsibilities. Force projection is the ISF’s primary mission, in the form of patrols through Klingon space and the use of forward observation outposts and other bases along the Empire’s borders. The military is also tasked with surveying and evaluating newly discovered worlds at the edges of Klingon territory, assessing their resource potential. Though the Klingons of today rarely engage in outright conquest of inhabited worlds, they do invite those populations to reap the benefits that come with life under Imperial rule. The main exception to this practice comes on the rare occasion a planet challenges the Empire’s security or sovereignty.

During times of crisis, all priorities of the KDF shift to defense of the Empire. The most recent major conflict, the Dominion War, posed a threat to all Klingon people and brought about unprecedented military action on multiple fronts. Whereas in the past the KDF stood alone while fighting these battles, on this occasion alliances with the Federation and eventually the Romulans ensured victory. The war was hard fought and the costs were high, but the coalition which came together to defeat the Dominion proved that working together – even with those the Empire once called enemy – can achieve positive results. Today, KDF vessels work in concert with Federation starships, participating in joint training exercises, personnel exchange and outreach programs, and combined service aboard vessels, as well as ground installations and space-based outposts. Narendra Station at the edge of the Shackleton Expanse is the most recent and prominent example of this program, featuring a blended complement of Federation and Imperial crews. Due to the success of the Narendra initiative, other combined bases are being planned for deployment in both the Alpha and Beta Quadrants.

For the individual Klingon serving in the KDF, training and proficiency in a dedicated area of military expertise is the primary factor taken into consideration when directing a warrior to a ship or base. Once posted to such an assignment, a Klingon’s duties are dominated with the demands of their primary billet. Duty while serving at a ground or space-based installation is somewhat similar to a ship assignment, with the main difference being that for warships on patrol duty, shifts are shorter and there are few if any diversions from a daily schedule.

Those not serving in their primary role often undertake any number of ancillary tasks such as maintenance of weapons and equipment, safety drills, or combat simulations. Given that whenever a ship goes into battle everyone aboard must be ready to participate in the fight, even the lowliest cabin steward aboard a battle cruiser becomes proficient in their vessel’s tactical and defensive systems. Every member of a ship’s crew is further required to demonstrate competence in emergency procedures, including repair of vital systems. There are also training requirements in a number of essential subjects in which crew members must requalify or recertify at regular intervals. Most of these subjects relate to each Klingon’s status as a warrior first. Prominent examples of the areas in which ability is evaluated include weapons and personal combat, physical fitness, and survival in space as well as a host of planetary conditions.

landing parties

For Klingons assigned to warships on long patrols, arriving at a previously unknown or uncharted planet brings with it an often welcome change from what can be long periods of mundane existence. When a vessel assumes orbit over such a world, it is for one of two reasons: the planet must be surveyed and explored to determine its value to the Empire, or its usefulness has been ascertained and it is to be claimed. Sensors and other technology aboard a warship can provide information about a new world, but planting the Empire’s flag on new soil requires Klingons to venture to the planet’s surface. This is especially true when confronting an indigenous population. Honor demands nothing less.

Survey Parties

This is one of the few landing party functions where a military mission is not the primary focus but instead, concentration is shifted to a warship’s scientific contingent. While sensor scans conducted from orbit can collect a great deal of information about a planet’s properties, they often fail to provide a comprehensive picture of everything a newly discovered world has to offer. Once initial scans are completed and a determination is made as to the planet’s potential value, survey parties are sent to the surface. There, they can spend days or even weeks gathering specimens and collecting data, gaining firsthand observations and knowledge from local flora and fauna, atmosphere and water, and mineral resources. If there is a native population, it is also studied from both a scientific and military perspective. Although this is the sort of duty that many warriors find distasteful, experienced leaders understand the value of such missions. Survey parties and their findings are often the determining factor in whether a planet is deemed worthy of inclusion in the Empire.

Occupation Forces

In the modern age, Klingons have curtailed the practice of simple conquest when an indigenous population of sentient people is involved, but this has not stopped the Empire from claiming a world in time of critical or strategic need. If a pre-existing civilization is pre-industrial, occupation forces are still sent to assert Imperial authority, but the days of simply subjugating a native population are long past. Treaties with the Federation ensure this process remains peaceful. When an advanced society needs to be considered, a delegation from the Klingon Diplomatic Corps is dispatched to negotiate an agreement with representatives of the world’s leadership, whether a single entity or multitude of nation states. It is a rare occasion that native inhabitants decline an offer to join the Empire. Once in place, an occupation force’s primary responsibility is to enforce Imperial rule, but even that process has changed over time and bears little resemblance to similar missions from ages past. Even the occupation armies of a century ago were far more unforgiving than they are today. Many a seasoned and cynical warrior blames this “evolution” on the Federation’s continuing presence and influence in Klingon affairs.

Boarding Parties

It has been said that Klingons do not take prisoners. In many cases during conflict that is most certainly true, particularly in the case of ship-to-ship combat where there is little time or quarter to accommodate prisoners. However, if a determination is made that an enemy vessel harbors personnel or materiel deemed by higher authority to be of importance, a warship’s commander will dispatch a boarding party to secure that target. Perhaps it is the other vessel itself that is the target, in which case a boarding force must be sent to seize control of the other craft and ready it for transport to a secure location. There is also the possibility than an adversary may elect to send its own assault force to attempt seizing a Klingon vessel, requiring a ship’s complement to repel these potential boarders. It is exceedingly rare for the crew of a warship to fall before such an attack. Training for these and other scenarios are a regular component of shipboard life, drawing on centuries of interstellar conflict against a broad spectrum of adversaries to develop methods for quickly and decisively achieving the desired objective.