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Thread: HOUSE OF OBSIDIAN: House H’JoQ

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    HOUSE OF OBSIDIAN: House H’JoQ

    HOUSE OF OBSIDIAN: House H’JoQ

    Few houses in the Empire inspire a combination of loathing, grudging respect, and some time fear as well as House H’JoQ. Formed some centuries ago, they have been a remarkably quiet and unassuming house, noted only for their excellent craftsmanship of ships and weapons through the centuries and their singular lack of interest in personal glory. Until relatively recently, this remained true.

    Then came the first war with the Federation. Like many Houses, they couldn’t stomach the concept of losing to what was perceived to be a weaker opponent. Unlike other houses, they had the engineer’s predisposition of asking why they had lost and the capacity to swallow their pride when reality stared them in the face.

    The Federation, while pacifistic (relatively speaking), was composed of several species that had rejected violence not because they were weak, but because they had nearly wiped themselves out in previous spasms and conflicts on their homeworlds, and regarded themselves as too destructive to allow things to go that far again. A distinction lost upon most Klingons, but a very important one from the H’joQ point of view. Races with such mindsets, once awakened properly, would make formidable opponents if pushed hard enough. Adding into the mix the warrior races of the Federation such as the Andorians and the Skorr and the Empire had a difficult task ahead of it.

    Bearing this in mind and wanting success in the next war, The head of House H’joQ, Qu’az The Executioner (so named for his meticulous planning in battle and flawless execution of said battle plans) went to the High Council and petitioned to speak to the Chancellor. Exactly what was said between Qu’az and the Chancellor remains the subject of debate amongst Klingon scholars, but it was tasked by the Chancellor that House H’joQ would “produce the strength of arms of the Empire and find the enemies weaknesses.”

    H’joQ, now with financial backing of the Empire, set to expanding their arms and ship design facilities. To their credit, they were responsible for designing the infamous Kolodhe (D-7), K’tinga, and B’rel (D-12) class warships, all which proved immensely popular and sources of fear and consternation to all of the Empire’s enemies. With the acceptance of the designs came wealth and power that allowed them to research large and more powerful weapons and ships, as well as influence Klingon military and political thought. Which, of course, made many other Houses jealous.

    Noting the other House’s ire, House H’joQ, ice-hearted killers by the Empire’s standards, had been quietly gathering information for it’s own political and military survival through a system of silent bribes, murder, intimidation, and outright manufacture to make sure that if it went down, the Empire would go with it. After releasing a few particularly ugly pieces of information to the Chancellor through several proxies (who had no idea who they were working for), showing that Houses Daa’Moq, Duras, and Mergh were involved in a conspiracy to overthrow the council (while not completely true, the evidence was twisted in such a fashion that it could have been taken as such).

    The Chancellor ordered a surprise attack upon the three Great Houses shipyard’s as chastisement and the heads of the three great houses brought before him for execution. While the deception was crude but most standards, it fooled the Chancellor and the other members long enough for the damage to be done to the Klingon war machine and allowed H‘joQ to expand it’s territory at the expense of the Daa’Moq and Mergh. When the deception was uncovered, the H’joQ had reinforced it’s borders and dug in for a protected seige. The Daa’Moq and Duras howled for vengeance and launched a combined fleet against the H’joQ, while the Mergh remained busy assessing the damage.

    Information from the warzone received at the High Council was sketchy at best, with indications of some form of trap. Long range sensors indicated a massive battle. Several days after the battle, the H’joQ flagship dreadnought, the Glorious Fist of Vengeance (C-9E), along with a wing of newer D-7C class heavy cruisers appeared over Quo’nos from seemingly nowhere, weapons targeted on enemy house ships from the most vulnerable positions.

    After disposing of several House flagships and making their point, the Chancellor requested to speak with the head of the H’joQ, Qu’az’s son, K’rath. Once again, what came between the Chancellor is subject of debate, but the Chancellor declared the H’joQ under his office’s personal protection and to make war on them was to make war on him.

    While this did not sit well with the houses that had been attacked, the Chancellor mollified them with access to the new H’joQ ship and weapons designs. K’rath for his part, took his fleet back home and the H’joQ went back to what they did best, designing weapons and ships.

    Or so the Empire thought. K’rath continued in the tradition of his father and those who came before him, using an almost Vulcan-like logic and saw that the Empire was vulnerable to the constant infighting plaguing the various houses and was weak compared to the Federation and the Houses nominal new ally, The Romulans. K’rath was no fool, and knew a predator when he saw one, and so he suggested a cultural exchange be initiated between the two species with all the great houses allowed to become involved.

    Or course, the Romulans agreed to such an exchange, hopeful that they might get access to newer and more powerful warships and technology. K’rath knew that several of the houses would attempt to undercut H’joQ’s position and allowed it to happen, quietly noting which houses were more successful at bargaining with the alien scum and which were more likely to annoy them. While many of the greater houses mocked the H’joQ to letting a gem slip through their fingers, K’rath was realistic enough to see that Romulan treachery was eventual. And he could always have his spies in the other houses gather the Romulan technology the other Houses presumed they would have exclusively.

    After a time, the H’joQ became so effective at intelligence and counter-intelligence work within the Empire and dealing with the Romulans, who on more than one instance attempted to infiltrate the H’joQ (and were promptly killed), the H’joQ attempted infiltration into a small federation outpost through the use of bio-sculpted traders using captured cargo haulers. The Federation was comparatively sloppy compared to the Romulans and the H’joQ began a long term project to destabilize the Federation from within as well as gather military intelligence.

    The project met with varying success over time, with quite a few intelligence windfalls for the H’joQ initially, increasing their prestige and power, including information that led to the capture of several Federation ships. It also had lead the H’joQ to engage in clearly dishonorable behavior by the rest of the empire’s standards, so the Chancellor’s office was satisfied in simply receiving the information and utilizing it while pointedly ignoring whatever else the H’joQ were doing.

    The H'JoQ, for there part, divested themselves of their contacts with the Romulans, allowing even enemy houses access to the potentially treacherous foe, becoming perceived as less powerful as time went on. Several Houses attempted revenge over this period but were strongly rebuffed but H'JoQ defenses and the Chancellery fleets. After several failed attempts and the destruction of one minor House, the rest of the Empire decided it was better the leave them to their own devices.

    The destruction of the Praxis moon came as a moderate surprise to the H'JoQ, but not a complete surprise. They had been aware of the dangers of over mining on the moon, but since it was not one of their holdings and controlled by a rival (House Kor), they did little else than send a report to the High Council. the detonation of the moon caused them and every other house to scramble for position within the Empire.

    While other houses grabbed territory and fought with one another, The H'joQ committed a systemic campaign of assassination, black mail, and outright theft of information to allow them to cement themselves into the framework of the Empire. When the dust had settled, the H'joQ had petitioned to form the secretive and ruthless Imperial Intelligence organization.

    The new Chancellor, Azetbur, was taken aback by their brazen behavior, but after having enough evidence dropped at her feet of incompetence and back stabbing amongst the Empires various Houses, she gave her aquiesence for the formation of the I.I, all completely under the table.

    The H'JoQ, now with Imperial license to kill and remove potential traitors, stared with crippling the Duras and the Daa'Moq with evidence they had had built up over decades. Not enough to destroy them, but enough to severely hamper there maneuverings in the Empire while the H'joQ continued to cement themselves into the New Order.

    They also monitored maneuverings across the borders with the Romulan Star Empire and the UFP. The Federation for it's part, was scrupulously following it's agreements it had with the Empire to the spirit and letter of the agreements, to which they reported as such to one degree or another depending on the mood of the High Council.

    They monitored the Duras heavily for it's ties to the Romulans, occasionally providing 'assistance' to the Duras in exchange for their silence on the matter, to which the Duras could only gnash their teeth in frustration. When the inevitable betrayal by the Romulans came at Narendra and later Khitomer, the H'JoQ helped cover up the Duras's involvement for favors to be specified later.

    The H’JoQ remained neutral during the Klingon Civil War between the Duras and Gowron, trusting that the strong would come to rule, as it should be. Gowron was an embarrassment to the empire, a prancing politician, and egotistical prat more concerned with advancing himself than the Empire’s safety. While they trusted that the more honorable houses would eventually remove the fool, the cluster of hangers on and other arrogant sycophants he appointed to various positions caused more damage to H’joQ and I.I. operations than any foreign power.

    Annoyed at the interference, the H’joQ pulled out their files on the various new lords of the Empire and once again began the systematic campaign of murder, intimidation, and blackmail that they had become famous and despised for. The H’joQ, for their part, had little patience for what they perceived to be glory-seeking, self-aggrandizing fools who were as dangerous to the state as any foreign power. After the removal via ‘hunting accident’ of three of Gowron’s closer supporters, Gowron became incensed and demanded to speak to the head of the H’joQ while the Houses whose members had been assassinated prepared for war.

    The head of House H’joQ, Kurak, Daughter of K’rath, arrived on the new Quo’nos-Class (E-9) Dreadnought Bortas, along with a wing of the H’joQ’s upgraded BOP’s and E-7 Command Cruisers and quietly asked how the H’joQ would be able to serve the Empire. Gowron, ever the politician and realist (in that his neck was on the line), asked the H’joQ why they were destabilizing the Empire when it needed to be consolidated after the war.

    Kurak simply responded that Gowron’s appointees were digging into areas outside of their station, and as such, were removed as potential security threats. Only the Chancellor was authorized to know of their maneuverings as Imperial Intelligence. As House H’joQ, they were removing potential impediments to their duties, as a good portion of Gowron’s appointees were from Houses that had been damaged by the H’joQ rise to power. They also informed him that they were making an example of House P’kal, a minor house formed of the remnants of several houses that had annoyed the H’joQ during it’s rise to power. By invading their holdings and executing all the nobility to the last.

    Gowron, nervous at the monster that had remain relatively silent for many years, aside from the unsavory business it had normally engaged in out of necessity, and had now been awakened, asked what Kurak wanted. Kurak wanted to have her clan be allowed to do it’s job unmolested, gathering information on the Empire’s enemies and create the weapons for which it would project it’s power. No higher honor could be bestowed on the H’joQ as fast as they were concerned. Gowron shook his head and agreed, if anything to keep the H’joQ out of his hair.

    The Dominion War greatly increased the H’joQ’s power as they allied with several of the economically based Houses in the Empire, creating a military-industrial complex that ran constantly creating newer and better ships as well as repairing vessels and treating warriors during the war. While many houses lost warriors in droves, and allied houses ship building facilities were attacked by Dominion Forces, the H’joQ’s secretive nature allowed a majority of their M-I complex to come through the war unscathed. The H’joQ, while not leading the Empire directly, have had their influence stretch to encompass the entirety of the Empire, and they have begun to squeeze…
    A brave little theory, and actually quite coherent for a system of five or seven dimensions -- if only we lived in one.

    Academician Prokhor Zakharov, "Now We Are Alone"

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    PLAYING A H’jOQ

    H'JoQ honor is quite a bit different from regular Klingon honor and is more than a bit disconcerting to other Klingons and aliens who think they may have a handle on them.

    1)EMPIRE BEFORE HOUSE, HOUSE BEFORE SELF

    The H'JoQ are close to what could be called altruistic for the good of the whole Klingon Empire, but that wouldn't be entirely accurate. The H'JoQ have taken a page from looking at the Federation and Romulan Empires and realize that the Klingon Empire would be far more powerful and effective as a unified whole, than as a collection of squabbling houses.

    Bearing this in mind, The H'JoQ have looked for ways to make the Empire stronger. The first, and most obvious, means to make the empire more powerful is the construction and refinement of the Empires weapons, ships, and infrastructure. When The H'joQ build, they build to last and to project power. While the other Houses may personally disparage them, they are more than willing to use their weapons.

    The other, more indirect, and perhaps more effective means of reaching their objective is their intelligence gathering network. The H'joQ don't place much stack in personal honor (relatively speaking), since that would get in the way of protecting the Empire on more than one occasion, and more than make up for this 'lack of Honor' in pure ruthlessness, cunning and efficient killing of threats. This in practical terms means they will go to lengths most Klingons wouldn't even consider to achieve results that they are looking for.

    2)YOU ARE ALLOWED TO DIE WHEN YOUR DUTY IS DISCHARGED.

    The H'JoQ Have more than a passing contempt for a majority of the rest of the Houses. Warriors which could be put to productive use elsewhere die needlessly in personal duels and other inter-House squabbles. The H'JoQ have better things to do with their time than get involved in such things. As such, the H'joQ are highly focused individuals and are not given over to distractions like most Klingons. Insulting a H'JoQ's honor, depending on what they are doing, will be ignored, noted and the offender will be informed when a formal duel can be arranged. Or they might simply kill them and move on. Duty to the Empire comes first.

    In practical terms, a H'JoQ who is called out in the traditional fashion will stab the opponent in the throat with a Kat'luch ceremonial dagger (they all carry one) and allow whatever toxins they might coat it with to kill the subject, while they move on to whatever they were doing. Perversely, most Klingons, while perhaps annoyed with the breach of dueling etiquette, appreciate the ruthlessness in responding to the challenge, so little is made of this approach.

    3) ALL IS FAIR IN WAR AND OTHER PURSUITS.

    The H'joQ have a big job on their shoulders, limited resources, and they aren't very particular on how they get the job done. Reasonable negotiation will be attempted initially, followed by threats, then depending on the situation, theft, assault, kidnapping, or murder is the typical result. Any underhanded trick is allowed as long as it does not corrupt the overall goal of protecting the Empire.

    4) MOVE AS THE WIND, EXIST IN SHADOW

    In the Empire at least, the H'JoQ have refined their capacity at infiltration, stealth, and deception to a considerable art form, given that few of the Houses trust them with their position as Imperial Spies. Often the H'JoQ will act as more normal Klingons, if only to throw the others off and wonder what they are up to, while often achieving their objective right out in the open. Or more often than not, few will know they were ever in the area. A good portion of Klingon paranoia is inevitably the result of H'joQ maneuverings.

    5) THE EMPIRE IS ONE

    In what could be describes as a nationalist movement, the H'joQ have been slowly chipping away at the Noble houses influence for decades in one form or another silently, usually citing Unity making the Empire stRonger. Few, if any of the houses are aware of this fact in actually.

    Most of the suggestions come in a reasonable manner, such as standardization for ship parts for ease of repair across House boundaries, standardization of education of the warrior schools (which allow them access to lay the grounds for the concept of Unity amongst the new warrior trainees in indirect, but effective, manners), and other venues which most warriors pay little attention to.


    VIEWS OF THE OTHER HOUSES

    THE DAA'MOQ: While cunning in battle, their ferocity tends to overtax their thinking processes, thus leading to larger casualties than necessary. Useful as shocktroops and vanguard forces, but not something you want to keep nearby for a protracted length of time.

    THE DURAS: *sigh* so much energy wasted for so little. They were once noble, but have fallen far. Gre'thor will be paved with their ashes when we are done with them.

    THE KANG: Noble and worthy of leading the Empire. With a few minor adjustments, we can shape them into a proper ruling class. It is unfortunate that they despise us so. But no matter.

    THE KOZAK: Access to their economic and industrial might has proven a good pairing for our houses. With them, We can arm the Empire and make it strong. They also understand our desire for Unity within the Empire, if for crasser economic reasons. But still, they have proven loyal allies, and should be afforded consideration in our plans. On should treat their allies well.

    THE MARTOK: Well, that was unexpected. He appears to be honest in his desire to make the Empire strong again, and their are many who would oppose that simply for his low born position. That attitude will need to be corrected, mostly through his leadership. Or some creative adjustment of certain opposing house members secret files.

    THE MERGH: Ah, it is so gratifying to see a project go so well. The are ripe for takeover. So much the better.

    THE MONG: Silent, secretive, deadly. They are so very like us. Thus bear watching.

    THE MOGH: A dead house of little consideration.

    VIEWS OF THE OTHER GALACTIC EMPIRES

    THE UNITED FEDERATION OF PLANETS: While they may appear weak to most of the other fools in the Empire, they a have a reserve of strength that can be called upon when needed. That being said, they have a bizarre range of attitudes which can hamstring their ability to be truly effective. This can be a help and a hindrance to our plans, depending on who they have leading them at the time. They bear watching.

    THE ROMULAN STAR EMPIRE: Cruel. Treacherous. Expansionist. Ruthless. Qualities to be admired surely, but they have an arrogance that oversteps their station. They will need to be hindered whenever possible.

    THE GORN: Large, Slow-moving, and not particularly bright. How they managed Star travel technology escapes us. That being said, they are formidable in personal combat. Worthy foes in that respect.

    THE KZINTI PATRIARCHY: Like the Romulans, only cannibalistic as well and prone to fighting at the drop of a grishnar cat. Prone to explosions of violence and fanatical in combat. But then, they are beasts. What else can be expected of them. Kill them whenever the chance arises. The rug on my wall was well worth the effort.

    THE DOMINION: Unfortunately, The Founders and their genetically bred shock troops, the Jem'Hadar far outclasses the Empire in weapons, endurance, and sensor technology. To make matters worse, the founders are the ultimate spies. And they are very good at it.

    THE CARDASSIAN UNION: They are very much like us. Therefore they must be crushed whenever they are detected within the Empire. They are also in possession of advanced Dominion technology which would be most useful to the Empire.

    THE THOLIAN HOLDFAST: Extra galactic nuisances that are by in large isolationist by choice, and as such, we have little contact with them. That being said, they have occasionally had the nerve to attempt to take part of our space for their own. While their ships are advanced and we've yet to decipher the secrets of their technology, their ships are inferior to ours and we have crushed them more than once when they have attempted to claim our territory. They are weak, but they bear watching.

    THE BREEN: Who knows what lies beneath the mask of a Breen? Well, we do, but that is another issue entirely. We have been remiss in monitoring this species simply because of their distance from us and their relative position in the galaxy. The fact that they were able to build such a fleet in secret without anyone noticing is of cause for concern. We intend to petition the Emperor and the High Council for permission to attempt spying on and theft of Breen technology. Their engine destabilizer could be of us to us...
    Last edited by BouncyCaitian; 02-21-2006 at 12:53 AM.
    A brave little theory, and actually quite coherent for a system of five or seven dimensions -- if only we lived in one.

    Academician Prokhor Zakharov, "Now We Are Alone"

  3. #3
    Hiya, Bouncy!

    Nice

    Might be worth your reading "The Final Reflection", by John M. Ford (TOS novel #10), and "Rules of Engagement" by Peter Morwood (TOS novel #32). Both good examples of KMI and KII at work in places of both books

    Best Regards,
    Roger Stenning
    http://www.the-isg.co.uk

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    Talking

    I created this lot as a specific nod to the opportunistic, ruthless, yet cunning Klingons on the TOS, who frankly I find more interesting that the 'space vikings' shown in the later series. And also as a curve to be thrown at players who migth be expecting simplistic Klingon villians when you have built a chess player who is exceptionally paitent to mess with their minds.

    Abuse as you will.
    A brave little theory, and actually quite coherent for a system of five or seven dimensions -- if only we lived in one.

    Academician Prokhor Zakharov, "Now We Are Alone"

  5. #5
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    *grin* Interesting write-up. It's nice to see that someone else appreciates the way Klingons were portrayed in TOS.

    Regards,
    CKV.
    "It is our mission to push back the darkness from the light and expand the boundaries of knowledge and understanding. That doesn't mean exploring every pleasure planet between here and Andromeda XO."

  6. #6
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    Very nice. I'm stealing some of this. Have you made any more postings concerning the old Klingon houses? I find that the old FASA style really appeals to me.... And I just read "The Final Reflection". Very good, too (though I always grumble at attempts to "explain away" the smooth-browed Klingons of the '60s...)

  7. #7
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    to be Honest, never seen the other game incarnations aside from Prime Directive, and the Klingons from there were a more Cold War-Style Monolithic organization than feuding houses. I might work on other houses, just need to get the spark going, neh.
    A brave little theory, and actually quite coherent for a system of five or seven dimensions -- if only we lived in one.

    Academician Prokhor Zakharov, "Now We Are Alone"

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    Talking corrected history

    HOUSE OF OBSIDIAN: House H’JoQ

    Few houses in the Empire inspire a combination of loathing, grudging respect, and some time fear as well as House H’JoQ. Formed some centuries ago, they have been a remarkably quiet and unassuming house, noted only for their excellent craftsmanship of ships and weapons through the centuries and their singular lack of interest in personal glory. Until relatively recently, this remained true.

    Then came the first war with the Federation. Like many Houses, they couldn’t stomach the concept of losing to what was perceived to be a weaker opponent. Unlike other houses, they had the engineer’s predisposition of asking why they had lost and the capacity to swallow their pride when reality stared them in the face.

    The Federation, while pacifistic (relatively speaking), was composed of several species that had rejected violence not because they were weak, but because they had nearly wiped themselves out in previous spasms and conflicts on their homeworlds, and regarded themselves as too destructive to allow things to go that far again. A distinction lost upon most Klingons, but a very important one from the H’joQ point of view. Races with such mindsets, once awakened properly, would make formidable opponents if pushed hard enough. Adding into the mix the warrior races of the Federation such as the Andorians and the Skorr and the Empire had a difficult task ahead of it.

    Bearing this in mind and wanting success in the next war, The head of House H’joQ, Qu’az The Executioner (so named for his meticulous planning in battle and flawless execution of said battle plans) went to the High Council and petitioned to speak to the Chancellor. Exactly what was said between Qu’az and the Chancellor remains the subject of debate amongst Klingon scholars, but it was tasked by the Chancellor that House H’joQ would “produce the strength of arms of the Empire and find the enemies weaknesses.”

    H’joQ, now with financial backing of the Empire, set to expanding their arms and ship design facilities. To their credit, they were responsible for designing the infamous Kolodhe (D-7), K’tinga, and B’rel (D-12) class warships, all which proved immensely popular and sources of fear and consternation to all of the Empire’s enemies. With the acceptance of the designs came wealth and power that allowed them to research large and more powerful weapons and ships, as well as influence Klingon military and political thought. Which, of course, made many other Houses jealous.

    Noting the other House’s ire, House H’joQ, ice-hearted killers by the Empire’s standards, had been quietly gathering information for it’s own political and military survival through a system of silent bribes, murder, intimidation, and outright manufacture to make sure that if it went down, the Empire would go with it. After releasing a few particularly ugly pieces of information to the Chancellor through several proxies (who had no idea who they were working for), showing that Houses Daa’Moq, Duras, and Mergh were involved in a conspiracy to overthrow the council (while not completely true, the evidence was twisted in such a fashion that it could have been taken as such).

    The Chancellor ordered a surprise attack upon the three Great Houses shipyard’s as chastisement and the heads of the three great houses brought before him for execution. While the deception was crude but most standards, it fooled the Chancellor and the other members long enough for the damage to be done to the Klingon war machine and allowed H‘joQ to expand it’s territory at the expense of the Daa’Moq and Mergh. When the deception was uncovered, the H’joQ had reinforced it’s borders and dug in for a protected seige. The Daa’Moq and Duras howled for vengeance and launched a combined fleet against the H’joQ, while the Mergh remained busy assessing the damage.

    Information from the warzone received at the High Council was sketchy at best, with indications of some form of trap. Long range sensors indicated a massive battle. Several days after the battle, the H’joQ flagship dreadnought, the Glorious Fist of Vengeance (C-9E), along with a wing of newer D-7C class heavy cruisers appeared over Quo’nos from seemingly nowhere, weapons targeted on enemy house ships from the most vulnerable positions.

    After disposing of several House flagships and making their point, the Chancellor requested to speak with the head of the H’joQ, Qu’az’s son, K’rath. Once again, what came between the Chancellor is subject of debate, but the Chancellor declared the H’joQ under his office’s personal protection and to make war on them was to make war on him.

    While this did not sit well with the houses that had been attacked, the Chancellor mollified them with access to the new H’joQ ship and weapons designs. K’rath for his part, took his fleet back home and the H’joQ went back to what they did best, designing weapons and ships.

    Or so the Empire thought. K’rath continued in the tradition of his father and those who came before him, using an almost Vulcan-like logic and saw that the Empire was vulnerable to the constant infighting plaguing the various houses and was weak compared to the Federation and the Houses nominal new ally, The Romulans. K’rath was no fool, and knew a predator when he saw one, and so he suggested a cultural exchange be initiated between the two species with all the great houses allowed to become involved.

    Or course, the Romulans agreed to such an exchange, hopeful that they might get access to newer and more powerful warships and technology. K’rath knew that several of the houses would attempt to undercut H’joQ’s position and allowed it to happen, quietly noting which houses were more successful at bargaining with the alien scum and which were more likely to annoy them. While many of the greater houses mocked the H’joQ to letting a gem slip through their fingers, K’rath was realistic enough to see that Romulan treachery was eventual. And he could always have his spies in the other houses gather the Romulan technology the other Houses presumed they would have exclusively.

    After a time, the H’joQ became so effective at intelligence and counter-intelligence work within the Empire and dealing with the Romulans, who on more than one instance attempted to infiltrate the H’joQ (and were promptly killed), the H’joQ attempted infiltration into a small federation outpost through the use of bio-sculpted traders using captured cargo haulers. The Federation was comparatively sloppy compared to the Romulans and the H’joQ began a long term project to destabilize the Federation from within as well as gather military intelligence.

    The project met with varying success over time, with quite a few intelligence windfalls for the H’joQ initially, increasing their prestige and power, including information that led to the capture of several Federation ships. It also had lead the H’joQ to engage in clearly dishonorable behavior by the rest of the empire’s standards, so the Chancellor’s office was satisfied in simply receiving the information and utilizing it while pointedly ignoring whatever else the H’joQ were doing.

    The H'JoQ, for there part, divested themselves of their contacts with the Romulans, allowing even enemy houses access to the potentially treacherous foe, becoming perceived as less powerful as time went on. Several Houses attempted revenge over this period but were strongly rebuffed but H'JoQ defenses and the Chancellery fleets. After several failed attempts and the destruction of one minor House, the rest of the Empire decided it was better the leave them to their own devices.

    The destruction of the Praxis moon came as a moderate surprise to the H'JoQ, but not a complete surprise. They had been aware of the dangers of over mining on the moon, but since it was not one of their holdings and controlled by a rival (House Kor), they did little else than send a report to the High Council. the detonation of the moon caused them and every other house to scramble for position within the Empire.

    While other houses grabbed territory and fought with one another, The H'joQ committed a systemic campaign of assassination, black mail, and outright theft of information to allow them to cement themselves into the framework of the Empire. When the dust had settled, the H'joQ had petitioned to form the secretive and ruthless Imperial Intelligence organization.

    The new Chancellor, Azetbur, was taken aback by their brazen behavior, but after having enough evidence dropped at her feet of incompetence and back stabbing amongst the Empires various Houses, she gave her aquiesence for the formation of the I.I, all completely under the table.

    The H'JoQ, now with Imperial license to kill and remove potential traitors, stared with crippling the Duras and the Daa'Moq with evidence they had had built up over decades. Not enough to destroy them, but enough to severely hamper there maneuverings in the Empire while the H'joQ continued to cement themselves into the New Order.

    They also monitored maneuverings across the borders with the Romulan Star Empire and the UFP. The Federation for it's part, was scrupulously following it's agreements it had with the Empire to the spirit and letter of the agreements, to which they reported as such to one degree or another depending on the mood of the High Council.

    They monitored the Duras heavily for it's ties to the Romulans, occasionally providing 'assistance' to the Duras in exchange for their silence on the matter, to which the Duras could only gnash their teeth in frustration. When the inevitable betrayal by the Romulans came at Narendra and later Khitomer, the H'JoQ helped cover up the Duras's involvement for favors to be specified later.

    The H’JoQ remained neutral during the Klingon Civil War between the Duras and Gowron, trusting that the strong would come to rule, as it should be. Gowron was an embarrassment to the empire, a prancing politician, and egotistical prat more concerned with advancing himself than the Empire’s safety. While they trusted that the more honorable houses would eventually remove the fool, the cluster of hangers on and other arrogant sycophants he appointed to various positions caused more damage to H’joQ and I.I. operations than any foreign power.

    Annoyed at the interference, the H’joQ pulled out their files on the various new lords of the Empire and once again began the systematic campaign of murder, intimidation, and blackmail that they had become famous and despised for. The H’joQ, for their part, had little patience for what they perceived to be glory-seeking, self-aggrandizing fools who were as dangerous to the state as any foreign power. After the removal via ‘hunting accident’ of three of Gowron’s closer supporters, Gowron became incensed and demanded to speak to the head of the H’joQ while the Houses whose members had been assassinated prepared for war.

    The head of House H’joQ, Kurak, Daughter of K’rath, arrived on the new bortaS pawIl'-class (E-9) battleship Bortas, along with a wing of the H’joQ’s upgraded BOP’s, cha'DIch battlecruisers, and E-7 Command Cruisers and quietly asked how the H’joQ would be able to serve the Empire. Gowron, ever the politician and realist (in that his neck was on the line), asked the H’joQ why they were destabilizing the Empire when it needed to be consolidated after the war.

    Kurak simply responded that Gowron’s appointees were digging into areas outside of their station, and as such, were removed as potential security threats. Only the Chancellor was authorized to know of their maneuverings as Imperial Intelligence. As House H’joQ, they were removing potential impediments to their duties, as a good portion of Gowron’s appointees were from Houses that had been damaged by the H’joQ rise to power. They also informed him that they were making an example of House P’kal, a minor house formed of the remnants of several houses that had annoyed the H’joQ during it’s rise to power. By invading their holdings and executing all the nobility to the last.

    Gowron, nervous at the monster that had remain relatively silent for many years, aside from the unsavory business it had normally engaged in out of necessity, and had now been awakened, asked what Kurak wanted. Kurak wanted to have her clan be allowed to do it’s job unmolested, gathering information on the Empire’s enemies and create the weapons for which it would project it’s power. No higher honor could be bestowed on the H’joQ as fast as they were concerned. Gowron shook his head and agreed, if anything to keep the H’joQ out of his hair.

    The Dominion War greatly increased the H’joQ’s power as they allied with several of the economically based Houses in the Empire, creating a military-industrial complex that ran constantly creating newer and better ships as well as repairing vessels and treating warriors during the war. While many houses lost warriors in droves, and allied houses ship building facilities were attacked by Dominion Forces, the H’joQ’s secretive nature allowed a majority of their M-I complex to come through the war unscathed. The H’joQ, while not leading the Empire directly, have had their influence stretch to encompass the entirety of the Empire, and they have begun to squeeze…
    A brave little theory, and actually quite coherent for a system of five or seven dimensions -- if only we lived in one.

    Academician Prokhor Zakharov, "Now We Are Alone"

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    was contemplating creating other houses for the Klingons after finishing my NX-ERA stuff and the Kzinti. any one interested?
    A brave little theory, and actually quite coherent for a system of five or seven dimensions -- if only we lived in one.

    Academician Prokhor Zakharov, "Now We Are Alone"

  10. #10
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    Jun 2002
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    good old Germany
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    101
    Gimme more of this good stuff please

  11. #11
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    Well it should keep us entertained as I somehow doubt the Klingon netbook will ever see the light of day!
    Ta Muchly

  12. #12
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    Ottawa, Ontario Canada
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    937
    Please BC. Klingons are my personal favorite, but i simply lack your ability for background writing.
    Duct tape is like The Force. It has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

    - Carl Zwanzig


  13. #13
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    Feb 2001
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    Nashville, TN, USA
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    763
    I don't particularly like Klingons and I find this stuff fascinating. Please continue.

    Alex

  14. #14
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    Lightbulb Update post

    due to the 'Enterprise' Klingon 'augments' arc, a sight revision will be coming shortly.


    To Represent Klingon-Human 'fusions' neurochemical differences from normal Klingons, Replace the Klingon Species Ferocity Ability with 'Glory' As per the Romulan Species Ability (with minor adjustments for Klingon Honor).

    Fusions, while intially second class within the Empire after the plague ran wild, recovered themselves and worked hard to prove themselves. While there was intial bigotry against the 'flatheads', more sensible and honourable Klingon commanders knew hardworking and dedicated warriors when they saw them and promoted according to merit by and large.
    A brave little theory, and actually quite coherent for a system of five or seven dimensions -- if only we lived in one.

    Academician Prokhor Zakharov, "Now We Are Alone"

  15. #15
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    Mar 2003
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    Somewhere behind a sand dune
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    2,263
    Bump. Still working on this, between L5R and stargate stuff and work....kinda busy
    Last edited by BouncyCaitian; 02-21-2006 at 12:56 AM.
    A brave little theory, and actually quite coherent for a system of five or seven dimensions -- if only we lived in one.

    Academician Prokhor Zakharov, "Now We Are Alone"

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