By Gates of Sto’vo’kor

mataHmeH maSachnIS          
To Survive, We Must Expand!          
– Worf, The Way of the Warrior          

Qapla’ Warriors of the Empire!

I am General Korrath of the House of Lo’jak and I am a warrior of Sto’vo’kor. It is both an honor and a privilege to return to these hallowed halls and formally welcome this graduating class of Klingon Defense Force Officers to the fleet. Much has happened since you entered the Military Academy. The Empire has grown and become even stronger over the last few years. We have extended our reach and influence to new worlds, made new friends, and fought and won many glorious battles together. We are a stronger Empire because of young officers like each and every one of you.

I look out upon you now, and do you know what I see? I do not see Klingon or Orion. I do not see Gorn or Nausicaan. I do not see Lethean or Ferasan. And, if you’re Romulan, I do not see that either. What I do see are the hearts of true warriors, of officers that will make this Empire proud. Songs will be sung, stories will be told, and statues will be created to honor what you will achieve as part of the Klingon Defense Force.

Allies and Enemies of the Empire

How I envy the road that lies before you. When it was my turn to stand where you are, the Empire was a very different place. We knew who our enemies were and we believed that we can take on the universe alone. But that is not the universe we live in anymore. The Dominion War taught us one true thing if nothing else, and that is we are stronger with allies than without them. With the Undine threat making the Federation jump at shadows, we were able to see through their disguises. In one fell swoop, we liberated our Gorn brothers from their oppression under the thumb of their Undine influencers and ended our relationship with those Federation petaQ who could not accept the reality of the situation. The Gorn now stand beside us as brothers in arms.

As the threats to the quadrant increased, the Empire sought out other worthy races to join us in protecting the Empire and the Quadrant from the countless enemies that seek to subjugate, enslave, or destroy all that we stand for. We turned to our fellow warriors and brought them into the fold. We are proud to stand beside the Orions, the Ferasan, Letheans, Nausicaans, Liberated Borg, Trill, and other non-aligned races against our enemies. And when the Romulan, Temer, sacrificed his life to save the life of a Klingon, we were finally able to put our generational distrust of the Romulans aside and welcome those that choose to align themselves with us against the Tal Shiar and other enemies of the Empire. We now fight side by side against the Federation, the Tholians, the Tal Shiar, the Borg, the Undine, and those of our own kind that seek to undermine the trust and camaraderie that we have worked so hard to maintain.

The Klingon Empire

During your time as warriors of the Empire, you will see many worlds, including the heart of the Empire, Qo'noS. You will explore the streets and back allies of First City, train at the Klingon Military Academy, visit the orbiting Shipyard and travel to various other locations on and around the Klingon home world. From time to time, you will be expected to go before the High Council and speak with the Chancellor himself. You will also visit far-flung locales, such as Ganalda and Drozana Stations, Bajor, Deep Space Nine, and Defera, among others. You will be called upon to infiltrate enemy territory and even journey into the afterlife. I can’t speak for my compatriots, but I envy the journey you are about to undertake.

Whether it’s for official business or a variety of personal and social activities, you will spend a great deal of time at the First City. Warriors will find all of the standard amenities here, including mail, bank, and exchange services. First City also has a fine selection of vendors in the courtyard, and on the orbiting space port, offering a variety of equipment and gear. If they don’t have what you’re looking for, visit the Forge and craft it for yourself. The Barracks are where warriors will be able to obtain and train bridge crew, create and manage Klingon Houses (the KDF version of Fleets/ Guilds), visit the med-bay, and much more. After a long hard day in space, many warriors are free to lounge by the Fountain of Fire, visit the targ pens, watch a pair of warriors engage in honorable combat in the arena, or stop by the tavern for some fresh gagh and Bloodwine. Loresingers sing songs of the Empire’s glorious past outside of the Great Hall where the High Council and the Chancellor conduct court. Be sure to explore First City and discover everything that it has to offer; you could miss something interesting if you don’t.

The Klingon Fleet

You may ask what good is it to command a crew without a ship. The Klingon Empire hosts some of the most formidable and diverse ship designs in the quadrant -- not to mention that the Empire possess highly-advanced cloaking technology and has equipped it on many ships. With several variants of classic and fleet designs for the Bird-of-Prey, Raptor, and Battle Cruiser, the Empire can bear down on any foe that attempts to violate our space. And then there’s the BortaS’qu: our newest and most powerful battle cruiser and flagship commanded by Captain Koren, the daughter of Grilka. Each of these enduring Klingon designs come equipped with standard cloaking devices, while the B’rel retro-fit and the Koloth Birds-of-Prey feature an enhanced battle cloak capable of firing torpedoes and activating some Bridge Officer powers while cloaked.

However, it does not stop there. The KDF has also handpicked a selection of ships from our allies to augment our mighty fleet. These include: the Nausicaan Scourge; Garumba Siege Destroyers; and the Gorn Phalanx, Draguas, and Varanus Science and Support Vessels. Let’s not forget the Orions with their Dacoit, Corsair, and Marauder Flight-Deck Cruisers. I’m sure you will be able to find a ship that suits your needs. And, finally for our Romulan friends, not only will you have access to most of our vessels, but also those of traditional Romulan design. Then, when required, we will gladly refit your vessels to our fleet’s standards.

The Federation may be proud of their new Caitian Atrox Carrier, but the Empire has had carriers in our arsenal for generations. These massive ships launch squadrons of fighters, drones, and other deployable craft, including Birds-of-Prey. With enough of these vessels swarming around, our enemies do not stand a chance. The Empire has two Klingon-designed carriers at their disposal: the Vo’Quv and Vod’leh carriers. Additionally, the Kar’Fi Battle Carrier was forged in the fires of Gre’thor itself and strikes fear into the hearts of all that see it. It is said that a warrior that serves onboard the Kar’Fi knows no fear, for they have stared into the face of death itself. Are you brave enough?

Then, there’s the Lobi Crystal Consortium and their limited edition collection of starships acquired from all over the quadrant. If you’ve got the money, you too can cruise around the known galaxy in select Mirror Universe versions of common Klingon designs, along with Dominion, Jem’Hadar, Cardassian, Ferengi, Breen, and Tholian ships.

The Path of the Warrior

For warriors such as yourselves, just beginning your journey down the path of honor, the Military Academy is an invaluable resource. Explore the history of the Empire with Loresinger Ch’toh and test your knowledge. Once you’ve earned the respect of your superiors, and are able to command a crew, you can requisition new duty officers from various individuals scattered throughout the grounds. The assignments that these officers will undertake in your name can earn you valuable experience, rewards, and insights into the various cultures of the Klingon Empire.

Once in command of a good ship, staffed with the best officers and crew you can find; it’s time to venture away from Qo’noS and defend the Empire against all that oppose you. Kahless knows where the adventure will lead. You may uncover a conspiracy between a rival House and the Tal Shiar, fight against Nausicaan pirates, put down a Gorn rebellion, plunge deep into the very heart of Federation space to deliver a crippling blow to Starfleet, discover the fate of a lost vessel, or face off against demons from Gre’thor with the hopes of earning enough honor and glory to ensure your admission into Sto’vo’kor. Expect to encounter resistance from the Federation, the Tal Shiar, the Cardassians, the Breen, and even the Dominion. Never forget our true foes: the Borg and those shape-shifting monsters, the Undine. They have a habit of turning up when you least expect them, so be prepared at all times!

Expanding the Empire

Space is big. In the Klingon home-sector of Omega Leonis alone, there is the Azlesa Expanse, D’Kel Star Cluster, and the T’ong and Eridon Nebulas. However, there is much more of the galaxy to explore than just the sectors at our door step. The Empire must continue to expand and seek out new allies for our defense against a galaxy gone mad. In order to take the fight to our enemies, we must venture out and obtain resources and build new relationships with species all over the quadrant, including those in Federation, Romulan, and Cardassian space. Songs will be sung about the glory to be had!

Speaking of resources, the Empire has been monitoring Federation cargo and ship movements in the Pi Canis Sector for quite some time -- we have realized that there is a wealth of valuable resources just waiting to be taken. Raids on these Federation facilities have spurred a boon in the Empire’s starship construction, which has led to great advancements in our ships and the unique technologies they employ. Some of these include Graviton Pulse and Magnetometric Generators, Subspace Jump, and the Theta Radiation Vents consoles to name a few (found in the C-Store on select Klingon ships).

Whenever you’re in the Pi Canis Sector block, be sure to send Starfleet warm greetings from me as you separate them from their goods. After all, the Federation and the Klingon Empire are at war. The bulk of the frontlines are scattered all over the Eta Eridani Sector. The true measure of any warrior is determined by what they do in battle. Fight honorably with your fellow warriors and sing songs of the glories of battle while you share a barrel of warnog or your favorite bottled ale. Fail and the dishonor will follow you for the rest of your days.

Hmm, Starfleet… although we are at war against the Federation, we do have an agreement to work together against our common threats, such as the Tholians on Nukara Prime, the Tal Shiar on New Romulus, and the dishonorable pirate scum on Nimbus, the Borg in the Gamma Orionis sector block, and those faceless petaQ, the Undine. As you venture forth into the great unknown, be prepared to face our enemies at every turn and drive them from the sector.

The Borg are some of the most relentless of our enemies. They launch their random attacks on targets within the Alpha and Beta Quadrant. As of late, they seem to have a significant interest in the Defera Sector, so keep an eye out for ground invasions in that sector. However, if you’re up for a real challenge, volunteer to join one of the Special Task Force missions to help overcome the growing Borg threat in a few key systems and force them to recede. After all, if they gain a foothold anywhere in the quadrant, all worlds will lose. It is in our best interest to work with the Federation against the Borg. However, once the emergency has been dealt with, all bets are off.

Do you have what it takes to be a Warrior of the Empire? Do you seek to earn honor and glory? Or are you just looking for a good fight? Whatever the reason, it’s time to take the first steps into becoming a warrior.

For the Empire!

Becoming a Warrior

There are two ways to join the Klingon Defense Force. The first method is available to any worthy warriors of the Empire, while the second option is available to Romulan Republic Officers seeking to align themselves with the Klingon Defense Force.

For a member of the Klingon Empire, the option to apply to the Klingon Defense Force (KDF) is now available upon logging into the Imperial Data Network. By choosing to join the Empire, the application process begins by identifying your species, gender, and career path, which includes Engineering, Science, and Tactical. Customizing your uniform and appearance is the next step in the application process. I’m a stickler for recordkeeping, so the final section of the application process requires you to submit your name, the preferred name of your vessel and any other details that you wish to share with us. Your application will be reviewed and if accepted, you will begin your career as a respected warrior of the Empire. It’s that easy.

For our Romulan friends, the process for the joining the Empire is even easier. Once you have proven yourself a loyal member of the Romulan Republic with a rank of Lieutenant, you’ll be recalled to the Romulan Flotilla in Tau Dewa sector block, where you will meet with representatives of the Federation and the Klingon Defense Force. Once you’ve made your decision and registered it with Subcommander Nadel, you will start your career as an ally to the Klingon Defense Force and receive all of the rights and privileges available to that position, including access to QonoS, our ship yards (through tier IV), fellow warriors to aid you in your missions, and fleet starbases with all of their amenities.

Tips for a Glorious Battle

As a potential warrior, one of the greatest tools in our arsenal pertains to the proper use of our cloaking devices -- it comes equipped on select ships designed by our master shipbuilders as well as those of our Romulan allies. The cloaking device must be used wisely, for decloaking procedures require all shield power to be diverted to weapons, leaving you vulnerable. This allows you to deliver a powerful, first strike. One of the maneuvers that Klingon Defense Force Captains should learn to master is the Targ Pack maneuver. Essentially, you will cloak and stalk your opponent. Once you have the proper angle for attack, you’ll close to within 10 kilometers, reduce speed, decloak, and unleash everything you’ve got, keeping them in your forward firing arc for as long as possible. Once you move past them, or they retreat, cloak and set up the maneuver again. We suggest that you practice it until you can do it right. There are no second chances in battle.

Until next time, warriors, venture out and bring honor and glory to your House and the Klingon Empire!

Gates of Sto’vo’kor is a Klingon audio drama and podcast taking place within the Star Trek Online Universe. Join Korrath, G’hargh, Hauk, Deyvid, Sskald, Karn, Zadok, Hendac, and others as they tell stories of honor and glory while showing their listeners what it means to be Klingon. Visit them at www.gatesofstovokor.com and check out their teaser for the upcoming episode: Pirate Guild Awards. We’re on YouTube as well!

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