Oh sure, I care to share...
Quote:
Originally posted by Dan Gurden
Care to share? And does it gel with the Klingon honour rules above???
Answer to question 1 -- yes. I just have to find the disc I put it on. If all else fails, I'll send you a hard copy of the text (I printed it out for easier use)
Answer to question 2 -- I believe so.
Explaining Klingons (theory)
While I was browsing through Trek Today's forums I found this lovely little gem that someone wrote about why there were Klingons that look "human" (ie...minus cranial ridges) and the Klingons we see now (better make-up:p )....so thanks to the poster known as "Samuel T. Cogley" for this.
Explaining Klingons
The Klingons we saw in season one of Enterprise were relatively indifferent to humans. They didn’t consider us a threat--and rightly so--and treated us as they would any other irritating new kid on the block.
They have been aware of Earth for years, but did not consider it to have many resources, and since our military power was weak, they essentially ignored us. This might help to explain why Earth has been ignored by a powerful empire that is so close by.
During the first part of season two (hyperthetical), we will see increasing hostility between humans and Klingons, but we won’t understand why. The Klingons seem to suddenly have a personal grudge against us, yet they still do not consider us to be a military threat.
In an episode that could occur somewhere near the end of the second season, we learn the reasons for the hostility. A Klingon hunts down Enterprise, seeking both answers...and the Enterprise’s destruction. We learn from this violent encounter that, to the horror of the Klingons, many of the newborn babies that have been recently born into the Empire...have a human appearance.
The Klingons have no explanation for this, but they can trace the origin of the problem to Klaang, the Klingon from “Broken Bow.” Ever since his return, at the hands of the Enterprise, a handful of Klingon babies have been born that appear to be human.
The first few babies were “destroyed” in an attempt to hide the problem. The next few were “removed” from their families and placed in laboratories for Klingon scientists to study. Recently, a few of the babies were born into powerful families, families who refused to let their children be destroyed. The private problem had become a public one.
The Klingon scientists have determined that the mutations are mostly cosmetic. For all intents and purposes, these children are still Klingon. They only resemble humans.
It was decided by the Empire that this was a stunt--on the part of the humans--designed to shame and embarrass the Klingons. Rather than admit this shame to the universe, the scientists were ordered to resolve the problem internally.
The Empire’s scientists determined that the genetic mutations were the result of a genetic virus. The virus originated with Klaang. Klaang appears to have had sexual relations with many of the mothers involved, but his behavior does not account for all of the “human” babies born. Therefore, transmission of the virus remains a mystery. (Klaang has since mysteriously disappeared.) The scientists believe that the virus can be contained--not all Klingons will be affected--but many more will be contaminated before containment can be achieved. Scientists also believe that mutations will not extend beyond more than two or three generations. At that point, even the “human” looking Klingons will give birth to Klingon looking babies again.
Despite the skin-deep nature of the mutations, cosmetic surgery is not possible due to the way the Klingon nervous system weaves its way through the body. Cosmetic repair might be possible someday (think TOS Klingons who appeared on DS9), but not with today’s level of medical technology.
When the problem continued to spread, it became more and more obvious that the Klingons would not be able to keep it a secret. One angry Klingon father (and starship captain), whose baby was born “human,” decided to attack the Enterprise directly, causing the confrontation that brings all of this information to Archer’s attention for the first time.
Subsequent investigation by both the Enterprise and the Klingon ship uncover the truth.
The Suliban originally intended to kill Klaang in the cornfield. However, when the humans decided to return Klaang to the Klingons, the Suliban altered their game plan. Seeking to increase chaos in this part of the galaxy, the Suliban, at the instruction of FutureGuy, snuck onboard the Enterprise and injected Klaang with a virus. The purpose of the virus was to frame the humans and shame the Klingons, increasing the hostility among all parties involved.
This episode will conclude with Starfleet and the Klingons begrudgingly coming to a general acceptance that the humans were not directly responsible, but this situation is ripe with future story possibilities. The Klingons and the humans do not part on good terms, and every future confrontation is a potantial disaster.
Here are some issues addressed and some possibilities created:
The “smooth-heads” are finally explained. (I know! I know! They don’t need to be explained! But why not work them into the story if it adds to the drama?) Once we know of the “smooth-heads’” existence, we would never have to see them or hear of them again. They will be too young to participate in the events of this series, but the implication is that many will still be around to participate in the events of TOS.
This would explain why Klingon/Human confrontations during season one were lackluster. They didn’t consider us anything more than a minor annoyance. Now they are forced to take notice and address us, whether they want to or not. Future conflicts will be violent and deadly.
This would be a shameful experience for the Klingons. This would explain why Worf--and the rest of the Klingons--would never want to talk about this part of their history. (Although, I’ll admit, this kills the humor of Worf’s line.)
The Suliban appear more sneaky. This beefs up their villain-potential and makes their ultimate agenda more mysterious.
Starfleet, afraid of the potential fall-out with the Klingons, rushes several new ships into service, just in case. (More ships! A real fleet at last!)
The Vulcans, angry with humans for not listening to their initial advice about what to do with Klaang, start to back away from their support of the humans. After a series of what the Vulcans consider to be misfires on Archer’s part, the Vulcans leave the humans to fend for themselves. (This would help to explain the Vulcans' seemingly lesser role in the eventual Federation.)
The humans, who were barely a blip on the universal radar last year, are suddenly infamous as the race that dared to anger the Klingons.
Many of the friendlier aliens, who have been bullied around by the Klingons for years, are suddenly open to forming loose alliances with humans--the new--and yet unwilling--poster children for defiance against Klingons. This would quickly bring humans into the limelight and could explain their central role in the Federation. These alliances could also lay the foundation for the Federation that will later form during or after the Romulan War.
If B&B stay true to their word and don’t show us the Romulans, it is going to be very difficult to show us dramatic stories that result in the bonding of the various races. Why not use the very visible Klingons as a catalyst for this bonding? The Romulan War would simply be the tragedy that gets everyone to sign on the dotted line.
Even though the Klingons realize that the Suliban are ultimately responsible for this mess, they still blame Archer. If Archer had let Klaang die, this never would have happened. Plus, the shame of the whole mess requires a figurehead to lay blame upon. Archer is the most obvious choice.
Archer will feel guilt over his mishandling of the situation, due mostly to cultural misunderstandings. He will step up his efforts to learn and incorporate the cultures of other races into his missions.
This could also explain Archer’s connection to the formation of the Federation. His mistake, while based on good intentions, pulled humans into the universal conflict. Without his mistake, the humans might never have become a major player. This makes Archer’s role in history believable, and does not ask us to believe that he will somehow become a diplomatic Superman in the next six years.
Further, as some of these events are relatively embarrassing--yet still compelling--it might help to explain why Archer’s crew is not referred to very often by later Starfleet officers. This was a time in our history where we made many mis-steps.
Starfleet will realize that they need to implement stricter protocols, and that letting the Enterprise roam aimlessly was not such a good idea. An actual mission becomes paramount. (Pun intended.)
We will never learn what happens to the “smooth-heads,” at least not during this series. The implication will be that the mutations are temporary, and will last only for a few generations. The birth of several “smooth-heads” into powerful families will insure that they are not swept under the rug. Some will actually attain positions of prominence. While still technically Klingon, their appearance will cause them to develop a slightly different subculture from the rest of the Klingons. They will become more ruthless and cunning. Fans can speculate about the rest.
This would not necessarily make the show more dark, and would not need to be a major arc. These events could be discussed in one or two episodes and then be casually referred to whenever necessary. This story would, however, form a backdrop upon which to start the forming of the Federation.
Hope you all enjoyed that read........maybe it can be used in a Klingon netbook? :D
Lars
Tell ya what I'm gonna do...
I have two separate files available:
1. The Character Generation section, which I worked on as part of the project. Great if you want to just create better-detailed Klingon characters. I still use it myself.
2. The 1st draft of the entire book. It's detailed, and runs over 130 pgs. A warning -- it's heavy on Klingon language, so if you want this, be ready to do some heavy reading.
If you want either one, all you need to do is contact me privately and I will email either file to you.
