Accession : The Fall of the House of Gowron

So ends The Reign of 

The Ruling House of Gowron...

Brief, and Turbulent it was...

But Glorious.

I can't order you to kill him.

But kill him.

Gowron may be our Ally - but Martok is our Friend.

And Martok is an honourable man.






Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest--
For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men--
Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me:
But Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
He hath brought many captives home to Rome
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept:
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
You all did see that on the Lupercal
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And, sure, he is an honourable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without cause:
What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him?
O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me;
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.

Accession : Spectres at The Feast - K'mpec

K'mpec, who ruled the Klingon Empire longer than anyone in history, is dead. 

I want you to discover which one of them has killed me. 

Find the assassin. 

The Klingon who kills without showing his face has no honour. 

He must not lead the Empire. 

Such a man would be capable of anything.

K'EHLEYR: 

I won't bore you with the intricacies of Klingon politics. 

Basically, two factions are trying to seize power. 

PICARD: 

Do you believe there is a threat to the Federation in this struggle? 

K'EHLEYR: 

Klingon wars seldom remain confined to the Empire. Sooner or later they'll drag in the neighbouring star systems, then the Tholians, the Ferengi. 

The Federation won't be able to stay out of it for long. 

This has been coming for some time. 

Only K'mpec, the head of the Council, has been able to maintain the peace. 

TROI: 

Now something has changed that. 

K'EHLEYR: 

Correct. 

K'mpec is dying. 

He is aboard the cruiser. 

He has come specifically to meet with you, Captain. 

Alone.

[K'mpec's quarters]

(Picard is escorted into K'mpec's quarters. There's a lot of red in the decor, and the chairs are massive) 

K'MPEC: 

It's about time you arrived, Picard. Sit. 

(He dismisses the guard with a wave of his hand) 

K'MPEC: I need your help. 

PICARD: 

If the Enterprise medical facility can do anything to help. 

K'MPEC:

 Too late. For some months I have been poisoned with small doses of Veridium six. 

The wine. There is no cure. 

PICARD: 

What do you want of me? 

K'MPEC: 

After I die, you will act in my name to arbitrate the struggle for power. 

PICARD: 

I will? 

K'MPEC: 

No one on the Council can be trusted, and I have my reasons for wanting an outsider. 

PICARD: 

K'mpec, you cannot possibly be serious. A Federation officer has no business in 

K'MPEC: 

Nonsense. You are an accomplished mediator. 

This is no different than any other dispute requiring your services. 

PICARD: 

On the contrary, I think this is very different. 

And I must respectfully decline. 

K'MPEC: 

If you refuse the dying request of the Klingon Supreme Commander it will be a insult by the Federation to all Klingons. 

Besides, I've already sent the order to the leaders of the two opposing factions. 

They're on their way. 

PICARD: 

You had no right to involve me without my permission. 

K'MPEC: 

If I'd asked, you would have said no. 

[ BE A KING ]

PICARD: 

This is not a case of simple mediation. 

You are asking me to choose the next leader of the Klingon Empire. 

K'MPEC: 

No. By tradition, the two strongest challengers fight for the Right of Succession. 

As mediator, only you can designate those challengers. 

PICARD: 

But you have just said there are only two challengers arriving. 

What is the point? 

K'MPEC: 

 I want you to discover which one of them has killed me. 

Gowron or Duras. 

Yes, Duras. 

I thought you would find that interesting.

 

PICARD: 

Interesting? You could say that, since he tried to have me killed, and conspired to strip Worf of his good name. 

K'MPEC: 

And I approved. All for the glory of the Empire. That should be my epitaph. 

Find the assassin. 

The Klingon who kills without showing his face has no honour. 

He must not lead the Empire. 

Such a man would be capable of anything. 

Even war with the Federation. 

PICARD: 

Very well. I accept. 

(K'mpec takes another drink of poisoned wine)

Captain's log, supplemental. 

K'mpec, who ruled the Klingon Empire longer than anyone in history, is dead. 

We await the arrival of Duras and Gowron, rivals for the leadership of the High Council.

Accession : Glory to You and Your House

GOWRON: 

Enough! I don't want to hear anything more about finances, mergers, or currency transactions!

The charge has been made that you have used money to bring down a Great House. 

What do you say to this, D'Ghor? 

 "A Klingon regards the honor of his or her family to be valuable, above all else. The family name can be besmirched by any member of the family, regardless of age or infirmity. A Klingon would sooner kill himself and his closer brother than live with a mark on the name of his ancestral lineage. The family is all, and a member of the family is responsible for the actions of his kin. The oldest son of a Klingon warrior may be called upon to give his life for the actions of his father." 

Never A Plan Like Yours To Study History So Wisely

Never Play, Letting Your Trousers Slip Half-Way

Neighbours Persuaded Lovely Yvonne To Shut Her Window

(Norman, Angevin, Plantagenet, Lancaster, York, Tudor, Stuart, Hanover, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Windsor (or Wettin).

As the Houses of Lancaster and York were really branches of the House of Plantagenet, the first mnemonic can be simplified to 

No Plan To Study History Wisely

In addition, The House of Windsor was a branch of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, which in turn is a branch of the House of Wettin, thus keeping the mnemonic.

Or, to go for the full package, the mnemonic can be extended to 

No Plan Like Yours To Study Our Saxon History So Wisely

Norman, Plantagenet, Lancaster, York, Tudor, Stuart, Orange, Stuart, Hanover, Saxe-Coburg, Windsor.

 "I started thinking about [...] Houses, and sort of, you know, the idea of bonding people to a Klingon House [....] The idea of bloodlines and families and sort of this Shakespearian idea of how the Klingon Empire ran – I was starting to, sort of, deal with that in this episode."

"We've never explored the hows and whys regarding the naming of Klingon Houses. The House of Mogh reference was probably something that Worf carried on out of respect for his deceased father. This might be the right of a son – to perpetuate a single name for the House instead of supplanting it with his own."

"I think I used the word 'House' in my draft [of 'The Bonding'], even though it's not in the episode." 

Ronald D. "Klingon-Guy" Moore

(The Bonding" audio commentary, TNG Season 3 Blu-ray) 

(On the Klingon homeworld, on a slightly shabby couch, Quark is hypo'd awake) 

QUARK: 

What? What happened? Where am I? 

TUMEK: (ancient family retainer) 

You are on Qo'noS. 

QUARK: 

Qo'noS? The Klingon homeworld. 

TUMEK: 

You are in the ancestral home of what used to be known as the House of Kozak. 

QUARK: 

What's it called now? 

TUMEK: 

Kozak died without a male heir. The House no longer has a name. 

QUARK: 

What about Kozak's brother, D'Ghor? 

TUMEK: 

That pahtk's name is not spoken in this house. 

He is no brother to Kozak. 

His family has been a sworn enemy of this House for 7 generations. 

QUARK: 

But he came to DS9. He told me... 

TUMEK: 

What he told you were lies. He wanted you to say that Kozak had died in honourable combat so that no special dispensation would be granted. 

QUARK: 

I don't understand. 

TUMEK: 

If Kozak had died in an accident and left no male heir, the Council might have decided that this was an unusual situation and granted special dispensation. 

That might have allowed Grilka to become Head of the Family even though she's a woman. 

But if Kozak died in an honourable fight, and was simply defeated by a better opponent, then no dispensation would have been granted, and without a male heir the House will fall. 

GRILKA: 

That hasn't happened yet, Tumek, and there is still time to prevent it from ever happening. 

(She offers a robe to Quark.) 

GRILKA: 

Put this on. 

QUARK: 

Why? 

GRILKA: 

Because if you do not, I will kill you. 

TUMEK: 

I beg you, consider what you do here, mistress. 

GRILKA: 

The decision is made. There is no other choice. 

(Quark struggles into the robe and Grilka takes his hand.) 

GRILKA: 

Go'Eveh lu cha wabeh. Mo ka re'Chos. 

TUMEK: 

Repeat my words Go'Eveh lu cha wabeh. To va re'Luk. 

QUARK: 

Let me ask just one 

(Grilka puts a knife to Quark's throat) 

GRILKA:

 Repeat the words. 

QUARK: 

Go'Eveh lu cha wabeh to va re'Luk. 

TUMEK: 

Ghos ma'lu Kah! 

(Grilka kisses Quark, then spits.) 

TUMEK: 

It is done. 

QUARK: 

What's done? 

TUMEK: 

The ceremony is complete. You are husband and wife.

The Way of The Warrior

The Way of The Warrior has been misunderstood as a means to kill and destroy others.

Those who seek competition are making a grave mistake.

To smash, injure or destroy is the worst sin a human being can commit.

The real Way of The Warrior is to prevent slaughter - it is the Art of Peace, the Power of Love.

MARTOK: 

I have come for my son's d'k tahg. 

Give it to me or I will take it from you. 

WORF: 

Now that you are here, I have no further need of it. 

MARTOK: 

You robbed my son of his honour just to get my attention?!

WORF: 

You can't take away what someone does not have. 

MARTOK: 

Are you saying my son is without honour? 

WORF: 

I am saying your son is a coward and a liar. 

MARTOK: 

And what of his father? 

WORF: 

That remains to be seen. 

MARTOK: 

Tell me, what have I done to earn your disrespect? 

WORF: 

The misdeeds your troops have committed speak for themselves. 

Attacking a Cardassian tailor. 

Detaining and searching ships in neutral space without warning or provocation. 

And you, executing one of your commanders because he refused to fire on a Federation ship, 

MARTOK: 

Whatever we have done is in the best interests of the Alpha Quadrant. 

WORF: 

You must think me a fool to make your lies so transparent. 

MARTOK: 

I do not wish to quarrel with you, Worf. 

WORF: 

Nor I with you. The House of Martok is an honoured one, with a proud tradition. 

But I must know why you are here. 

MARTOK: 

I am here under the authority of Gowron himself. 

I am carrying out his orders. 

That should be all the explanation a Klingon warrior needs. 

WORF: 

You forget. I am not only a Klingon warrior, I am a Starfleet officer. And Starfleet deserves an explanation. 

MARTOK: 

They will get one soon enough. Until then, know this. 

My mission will determine the fate of the Klingon Empire. 

Interfere, and you risk destroying us all.

WORF: 

Chancellor Gowron. 
You wished to speak with me? 

GOWRON: 

Worf. Worf! It is good to see you. I always said that uniform would get you into trouble one day. 

WORF: 

It seems you were right. But I do not apologise for my actions 

GOWRON: 

Yes, yes. I know. you did what you thought was right. 

And even though you may have made some enemies, I assure you I am not one of them. 

WORF: 

I am glad. Your friendship means much to me. 

GOWRON: 

And yours to me. It has been too long since you last fought at my side. But now the time has come again. 

We will do great deeds in the coming days. 

Deeds worthy of song. 

WORF: 

You want me to go to Cardassia with you? 

GOWRON: 

What better way to redeem yourself in the eyes of your people. 
Come with me, Worf. Glory awaits you on Cardassia. 
Worf, why do you stand there like a mute d'blok.
 I have offered you a chance for glory. All you have to do is take it. 

WORF: 

If there's any glory to be won, Gowron, it'll have to be yours alone. 
I cannot come with you. 

GOWRON: 

Of course you can. It is where you belong. 

WORF: 

I cannot abandon my post. 

GOWRON: 

You no longer have a post. 
You have no place on that station, and no business wearing that uniform. 

WORF: 
I have sworn an Oath of Allegiance. 

GOWRON: 
To the Federation. 

WORF: 
You would have me break my word? 

GOWRON: 
Your word? 
What good is your word when you give it to people who care nothing for honour, who refuse to lift a finger while Klingon warriors shed blood for their protection. 

I tell you, they are without honour. 
You do not owe them anything. 

WORF: 

It is not what I owe them that matters. 

It is what I owe myself. 

Worf, son of Mogh, does not break his word. 

GOWRON: 

And what of your debt to me? Are you saying you owe me nothing? 
I gave you back your name, restored your house, gave your family a seat on the High Council. And this is how you repay me? 

WORF: 

It is true I owe you a great debt. I would give up my life for you. 
But invading Cardassia is wrong, and I cannot support it. 

GOWRON: 

Worf, I have always considered you a friend and an ally. 
And because you are my friend, I am giving you this one last chance to redeem yourself. 

Come with me. 

WORF: 

I cannot. 

GOWRON: 

Think about what you are doing. 

If you turn your back on me now, for as long as I live, you will not be welcome anywhere in the Klingon Empire. 

Your family will be removed from the High Council, your lands seized, and your House stripped of its titles. 

You will have nothing. 

WORF: 

Except my honour. 

GOWRON: 

So be it.