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244 KLINGON BIRD-OF-PREY THE STAR TREK ENCYCLOPEDIA: A REFERENCE GUIDE TO THE FUTURE

ing the third season of the original Star Trek series. A more learned that Lursa and B’Etor were being supplied by Romulan detailed version was built by Magicam for Star Trek: The Motion operative Sela. Captain Picard ruled that the Federation Starfleet Picture, and was re-used in Star Trek Il, Star Trek VI, and in Star could not take sides in this internal Klingon matter, but later Trek: The Next Generation. A hybrid version, a copy of Jefferies’s agreed to blockade the Romulan supply convoy, resulting in a vicoriginal model, but with the elaborate hull panetwork from the fea- tory for Gowron's forces. (“Redemption, Parts | and II" [TNG]) ture-film version, was built by Greg Jein for “Trials and Tribbleations” (DS9). The term K't'inga is conjectural. The term D7 was Klingon cloaking device. SEE: cloaking device, Klingon originally a gag devised by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy during the filming of the original Star Trek series, but “Trials and ~~ Klingon communicator. Personal voiceTribble-ations™ made the term “official.” SEE: Klingon spacecraft. communications device used by members of the Klingon Defense Force. In the 2260s, Klingon bird-of-prey. Ship used by these devices were handheld, but by 2365 the Klingon Defense Force, capa- PY they had been incorporated into small decble of both atmospheric entry and = = orative pins worn on a warrior's uniform. landing, as well as warp-speed inter- & Early versions of the pins were designed stellar travel. Several types of this . by Rick Sternbach. Later pins were ship have been in use since at least . designed by John Eaves. 2286, the smaller D-12 and B’relclass scouts, and the larger K'Vort-class cruisers. All were Klingon death ritual. A ceremony pracequipped with cloaking devices. SEE: cloaking device, Klingon. ticed by Klingons upon the loss of a The B'rel and D-12 class ships had a complement of about a comrade. The eyes of the fallen warrior are dozen officers and crew. (Star Trek Iii: The Search for Spock). An pried open, while other warriors gather experimental uprated version of this ship was developed prior to around and let loose with a powerful how! 2293, in an effort to allow the use of torpedo weapons while the that has been described not as a wail of the dead, but as an exalcloaking device was engaged. This prototype vessel was com- tation of the victorious. Klingon belief holds that the how is a manded by General Chang, who used it in his unsuccessful warning for the dead to beware because a Klingon warrior is attempt to obstruct the Khitomer peace conference. (Star Trek VI: about to arrive. (“Heart of Glory” [TNG]). In other cases, a sacred The Undiscovered Country). The D-12 class scout vessel was built funereal dirge was sung in memory of the deceased. (“Blood in the 2350's and was eventually retired from service because of Oath" [DS9)). The death how! was seen in “Heart of Glory." and defective plasma coils in their cloaking device. Lursa and B'Etor again upon K’Ehleyr’s death in “Reunion” (TNG). used an old D-12 class bird-of-prey in 2371 when they assisted Dr. Tolian Soran in his plans. (Star Trek Generations). The term Klingon Defense Force. Military service of the Klingon Empire. bird-of-prey was originally established to be Romulan in “Balance The Klingon Defense Force is responsible for defending the of Terror" (TOS). An early draft of Star Trek Ill had Commander empire's borders against enemies and for operating the empire's Kruge stealing a Romulan ship for his quest against Kirk. The space fleet. Korris and Konmel both claimed to be members of Romulan connection was dropped in later drafts, but the ship the Klingon Defense Force, but they were actually renegades somehow remained a bird-of-prey. The ship was designed by Nilo seeking to overthrow the Klingon government. (“Heart of Glory" Rodis and built at ILM. it was first seen in Star Trek lll, and also [TNG]). Worf's brother, Kurn, was an officer of the Klingon used in Star Trek IV, V, and VI. Class names are from “Yesterday's Defense Force. (“Sins of the Father" [TNG]). Enterprise” (TNG) for K'Vort, “Rascals” (TNG) for B'rel, and Star Trek Generations for D-12. Klingon birds-of-prey have appeared in Klingon Empire. The Klingon “A Matter of Honor” (TNG), “The Defector" (TNG), “Yesterday's nation, founded some 1,500 Enterprise” (TNG), “Reunion” (TNG), “Redemption” (TNG), and years ago by Kahless the “Unification, Parts | and II" (TNG). SEE: Klingon spacecraft. Unforgettable, who first united the Klingon people by killing Klingon bloodwine. Variety of red Klingon the tyrant, Molor. (“The Savage wine. Worf had programmed the replicators ~~ Curtain” [TOS], “Rightful Heir" aboard the Enterprise-D to produce a close [TNG)). The Klingon Empire has approximation of this beverage. (“Gambit, had a colorful and violent history, Part II" [TNG]). Kozak consumed an enor- with many bloody conflicts mous amount of bloodwine just prior to the such as the battle of Tong Vey, in which the ancient Emperor accident that took his life in 2371. (“The Sompek ordered the destruction of an entire city. (“Rules of House of Quark” [DS9)). Bloodwine is best Engagement” [DS9]). By 2069, the empire was controlled by the when served warm. (“The Way of the Warrior” Klingon High Council, which had grown so powerful that no [DS8)). Bloodwine was traditionally con- emperor headed the empire from that year until the ascension of sumed by warriors being inducted into the the second Kahless in 2369. (“Rightful Heir” [TNG]). Order of the Bat'leth. (“Apocalypse Rising" First contact between the Klingon Empire and the Federation [DS8)). Given the ingredients of other Klingon took place in 2218 (“Day of the Dove” [TOS]), a disastrous event foods, we wonder if this stuff really lives up to that led to nearly a century of hostilities between the two powers. Klingon bloodwine its name... . (On second thought, we don't (“First Contact” [TNG]). By 2267, negotiations between the bottle abel want to know.) Federation and the Klingon Empire were on the verge of breaking down. The Klingons had issued an ultimatum to the Federation to Klingon calisthenics program. SEE: calisthenics program, withdraw from disputed areas claimed by both the Federation Klingon. and the Klingon Empire or face war. The hostilities came to a head at planet Organia, the only Class-M world in the region. Klingon civil war. A brief but bitter power struggle between the Unknown to either combatant, the Organians were incredibly forces of council leader Gowron and challengers from the politi- advanced noncorporeal life-forms who imposed the Organian cally powerful Duras family in 2367-2368. Lursa and B'Etor, sis- Peace Treaty on both parties, thus effectively ending armed hosters to the late Duras, had attempted to force Duras's Illegitimate tilities. (“Errand of Mercy” [TOS]). son, Toral, to be accepted as leader of the Klingon High Council. The Klingons entered into a brief alliance with the Romulan When Jean-Luc Picard, acting as Arbiter of Succession, Star Empire around 2268, when an agreement between the two refused to accept Toral's bid, Lursa and B'Etor attempted a mili- powers resulted in the sharing of military technology and spacetary coup against Gowron. Although Gowron's forces seemed ini- craft designs, providing the Romulans with Klingon battle cruisers tially overmatched by those loyal to the Duras family, it was (“The Enterprise Incident” [TOS]). By the mid-2280s, Klingons