Klag walked over to Toq and handed him a data spike and his Order of the Bat’leth medallion. He indicated the medallion first. “This will allow you to send a tight-beam communication to anyone else in the Order. I want you to send the message encoded on this.” He held up the spike.
Toq remembered Chancellor Martok’s words on Ty’Gokor—or, rather, he remembered B’Oraq telling him Martok’s words in the medical bay, since Toq himself was unconscious for the ceremony itself. In particular, he remembered that the Order had not been called to this function for many turns. Even as he prepared the transmission to Klag’s fellow inductees, Toq wondered how many of them would actually reply to this call to arms.
And what if none do?
He shook his head. It does not matter. We are Klingons. Our captain gave his word, and if we must die in order to defend it, then that is what we must do.
Toq sent the message.
Thirteen Klingon Defense Force vessels orbited the planet Brenlek. Led by the I.K.S. Akua, a Vor’cha-class battleship under the command of General Talak, the rest of the task force included six birds-of-prey, two K’Vort-class heavy cruisers, and three of the new Karas-class strike ships—plus one Chancellor-class warship, the I.K.S. K’mpec, which had discovered the planet in the first place.
Within the Akua, Talak sat in his cabin, surrounded by padds reporting on the progress of the conquering of Brenlek. They remained unread, for Talak’s mind was in another place entirely.
Specifically, a solar system that was two days’ travel from here, where an unworthy animal had at last made the error that Talak had been waiting for ever since the Battle of Marcan V, ever since that one-armed petaQ had claimed credit for a victory that was rightly Kargan’s, ever since he spit on everything Klingon by performing arcane surgeries with the still-warm corpse of his father. Klag’s very existence was an affront to Talak, and the fool had finally provided the opening through which Talak would gladly slide his d’k tahg.
He opened a secure communication to the captain of the K’mpec.
“Dorrek.”
“On Ty’Gokor, I told you that we would speak again when the time was right, Captain. In reply, you said you would provide whatever aid you could to prove your older brother to be the cowardly toDSaH you and I know him to be.”
“And I will gladly fulfill that promise.” Talak could hear the glee in Dorrek’s voice. No doubt, suffering as the younger brother of such filth, Dorrek’s pain had been, in its own way, as great as Talak’s. Greater, perhaps, since the general at least had the security of his position and the nobility of his House to comfort him. Dorrek could not even take refuge in that, with the way Klag had soiled their House’s name.
“The time is right, Captain.”
“Then I will keep my word.”
“Good. When Brenlek is tamed, we will proceed to a world called San-Tarah, and there secure glory for the Empire and achieve our greatest desire.”
“It will be a great day, General. Qapla’!”
“Qapla’!”
Talak cut the communication, then leaned back in his chair and thought about how much pleasure he would take from plunging his tik’leth into Klag’s chest….
To be continued in
STAR TREK: I.K.S. GORKON BOOK 2:
HONOR BOUND
GLOSSARY OF KLINGON TERMS
Most of the language actually being spoken in this novel is in the Klingon tongue, and has been translated into English for the reader’s ease. Some terms that don’t have direct translations into English or are proper nouns of some kind have been left in the Klingon language. Since that language does not use the same alphabet as English, the transliterations of the Klingon terms vary depending on preference. In many cases, a more Anglicized transliteration is used instead of the tlhIngan Hol transliterations preferred by linguists (e.g., the more Anglicized bat’leth is preferred over the tlhIngan Hol spelling betleH).
Below is a glossary of the Klingon terms used. Anglicized spellings are in boldface; tlhIngan Hol transliterations are in bold italics. Please note that this glossary does not include the names of locations, people, or ships. Where applicable, episode, movie, or novel citations are given where the term first appeared. Episode citations are followed by an abbreviation indicating show: TNG =Star Trek: The Next Generation, DS9 =Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
adanji (’aDanjI’)
An incense that is used in the Mauk-to’Vor ceremony. [First seen in “Sons of Mogh” (DS9).]
bat’leth (betleH)
Curved, four-bladed, two-handed weapon. This is the most popular handheld, edged weapon used by Klingon warriors owing to its being favored by Kahless, who forged the first one. The legendary Sword of Kahless now held by Chancellor Martok is a bat’leth, and most Defense Force warriors are proficient in it. [First seen in “Reunion” (TNG).]
bekk (beq)
A rank given to enlisted personnel in the Defense Force. [First referenced in “Sons and Daughters” (DS9).]
bok-rat liver, stewed (boqrat chej)
Food made from the liver of a bok-rat, apparently cooked to some degree, making it unusual among Klingon foods. [First seen in “Soldiers of the Empire” (DS9).]
bregit lung (bIreQtagh)
Food made from the lung of an animal, presumably a bregit. [First seen in “A Matter of Honor” (TNG).]
chech’tluth (chechtlhutlh)
An alcoholic beverage best served heated and steaming. The word seems to derive from the verbs meaning “to drink” and “to get drunk.” [First seen in “Up the Long Ladder” (TNG).]
chorgh
The number eight.
Dahar Master (Da’ar)
A warrior who has attained legendary status in life. [First referenced in “Blood Oath” (DS9).]
d’k tahg (Daqtagh)
Personal dagger. Most Defense Force warriors carry their own d’k tahg; higher-born Klingons often have them personalized with their name and House. [First seen in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.]
gagh (qagh)
Food made from live serpent worms (not to be confused with racht). [First seen in “A Matter of Honor” (TNG).]
gIntaq
A type of spear with a wooden haft and a curved, two-bladed metal point. [First seen in “Birthright Part 2” (TNG).]
glob fly (ghIlab ghew)
Small, irritating insect with no sting and which makes a slight buzzing sound. [First referenced in “The Outrageous Okona” (TNG).]
grapok sauce (gha’poq)
Condiment, often used to bring out the flavor in gagh or racht. [First seen in “Sons and Daughters” (DS9).]
Gre’thor (ghe’tor)
The afterlife for the dishonored dead—the closest Klingon equivalent to hell. Those who are unworthy spend eternity riding the Barge of the Dead to Gre’thor. [First mentioned in “Devil’s Due” (TNG).]
grishnar cat (ghISnar)
Small animal, apparently not a very vicious one, though with perhaps a predilection for trying to sound fiercer than it actually is. [First referenced in “The Way of the Warrior” (DS9).]
Habnagh
A type of stone indigenous to Qo’noS. Often used in the construction of statuary. [First referenced in The Brave & the Bold Book 2.]
jatyIn
According to legend, spirits of the dead that possess the living. [First mentioned in “Power Play” (TNG).]
jeghpu’wI’
Conquered people—more than slaves, less than citizens. This status is given to the natives of worlds conquered by the Klingon Empire. [First used in Diplomatic Implausibility.]
Mauk-to’Vor (ma’to’vor)
A death ritual that allows one who has lost honor to die well and go to Sto-Vo-Kor by being honorably killed by a Housemate or someone equally close. [First seen in “Sons of Mogh” (DS9).]
mek’leth (meqleH)
A swordlike one-handed weapon about half the size of a bat’leth. [First seen in “Sons of Mogh” (DS9).]
mevak
dagger (mevaq)
A ceremonial weapon used in the Mauk-to’Vor ceremony. [First seen in “Sons of Mogh” (DS9).]
mok’bara (moqbara)
Martial art that focuses both the body and the spirit. [First seen in “Man of the People” (TNG).]
petaQ
Insult with no direct translation. Sometimes anglicized as pahtk. [First used in “The Defector” (TNG).]
pipius claw (pIpyuS pach)
Food made from the claw of an animal. [First seen in “A Matter of Honor” (TNG).]
Qapla’
Ritual greeting that literally means “success.” [First used in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.]
QaS DevwI’
Troop commander on a Defense Force vessel, generally in charge of several dozen soldiers. Roughly analogous to a sergeant in the modern-day army. [First used in The Brave & the Bold Book 2.]
qelI’qam
Unit of measurement roughly akin to two kilometers. Sometimes anglicized as kellicam. [First used in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.]
QI’yaH
Interjection with no direct translation. [First used in “Sins of the Father” (TNG).]
qutluch
A weapon favored by assassins, one that leaves a particularly vicious wound. [First seen in “Sins of the Father” (TNG).]
Qu’vatlh
Interjection with no direct translation.
racht (raHta’)
Food made from live serpent worms (not to be confused with gagh). [First seen in “Melora” (DS9).]
raktajino (ra’taj)
Coffee, Klingon style. [First seen in “The Passenger” (DS9).]
ramjep bird
Avian life-form indigenous to Qo’noS that only comes out in the dark, and is sometimes served as food. Name literally means “midnight.” [First referenced in Diplomatic Implausibility.]
rokeg blood pie (ro’qegh’Iwchab)
Food apparently made from or with the blood of an animal, possibly a rokeg. [First seen in “A Matter of Honor” (TNG).]
R’uustai (ruStay)
Literally, “the bonding,” this is a ritual that allows an orphan to join another House. [First seen in “The Bonding” (TNG).]
Soch
The number seven.
So’HIp
Literally “uniform of hiding,” this is a camouflage outfit that changes color in order to blend with the background of the environment the wearer is currently inhabiting.
Sto-Vo-Kor (Suto’vo’qor)
The afterlife for the honored dead, where all true warriors go, crossing the River of Blood after they die to fight an eternal battle. The closest Klingon equivalent to heaven. [First mentioned by name in “Rightful Heir” (TNG).]
taknar gizzards (taqnar)
The contents of the belly of an animal, served as food.
targ (targh)
Animal that is popular as a pet, but the heart of which is also considered a delicacy. [First seen as a pet in “Where No One Has Gone Before” (TNG) and as a food in “A Matter of Honor” (TNG).]
tik’leth (tIqleH)
An edged weapon, similar to an Earth longsword. [First seen in “Reunion” (TNG).]
toDSaH
Insult with no direct translation. Sometimes anglicized as tohzah. [First used in “The Defector” (TNG).]
vagh
The number five.
wa’maH
The number ten.
yIntagh
Epithet with no direct translation.
zilm’kach (tlhImqaH)
Food made from something orange. [First seen in “Melora” (DS9).]
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Keith R.A. DeCandido has written a wide variety of Star Trek material in an equally wide variety of media: novels, short fiction, comic books, and eBooks. That material includes the Star Trek: The Next Generation novel Diplomatic Implausibility (which introduced the I.K.S. Gorkon), the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel Demons of Air and Darkness and the follow-up novella “Horn and Ivory” in What Lay Beyond (both part of the ongoing series of post-finale DS9 stories), Star Trek: The Brave and the Bold (a two-book series that covered all five TV shows and also included Captain Klag and the Gorkon), the TNG comic book Perchance to Dream, the novel The Art of the Impossible (part of the Star Trek The Lost Era miniseries), the DS9 short story “Broken Oaths” in the Prophecy and Change anthology, the Star Trek: New Frontier short story “Revelations” in the No Limits anthology, and several Star Trek: S.C.E. eBooks (a monthly series, co-developed by Keith, of adventures featuring the Starfleet Corps of Engineers; the first sixteen have been reprinted in the volumes Have Tech, Will Travel; Miracle Workers; Some Assembly Required; and No Surrender). Forthcoming forays into the Star Trek universe include Tales of the Dominion War (an anthology of short stories edited by Keith, due in the summer of 2004), a two-book Star Trek: The Next Generation story focusing on Ambassador Worf in the time leading up to Star Trek Nemesis, and more adventures of the I.K.S. Gorkon.
Keith—whose work has been praised by Entertainment Weekly, TrekNation.com, TV Zone, Cinescape.com, Dreamwatch, and Publishers Weekly, among others—has also written novels, short stories, and nonfiction books in the universes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda, Farscape, Doctor Who, Xena, Marvel Comics, and more. He is the editor of the groundbreaking Imaginings: An Anthology of Long Short Fiction, his original novel, Dragon Precinct, will be published in 2004, and his original short fiction can be found in Murder by Magick, Urban Nightmares, and Did You Say Chicks!? Keith, who is also a musician and an avid New York Yankees fan, lives in the Bronx with his girlfriend and the world’s two goofiest cats. Learn too much about Keith at his official Web site at DeCandido.net, join his fan club at KRADfanclub.com, or just send him silly e-mails at [email protected].
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I.K.S. Gorkon Book One: A Good Day to Die Page 22