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A Klingon writes about his species
Letter to the Editor;
Since taking up my posting here two years ago, I have
heard it constantly asserted that there are "two races (or species, or
'types' of Klingon"; those that look like "humans" (that is,
presumably, Terrans) and those - like myself - that do not. Whenever
confronted with this assertion (and this has been more frequently than
I would have thought possible), I have replied that this is not the
case. I have been met - in most cases - with blank disbelief. The
belief among Terrans appears to be that in the days before our Empire
entered into the Federation, and when there were still hostilities
between us, the appearance of the "true" Klingons was unknown to the
Federation, and only became known shortly before our accession to
membership. It is suggested that another race of Klingons, similar in
physiognomy to the Terran type, crewed and commanded Imperial vessels
and were responsible for most (or all) of the contacts which took
place between our nations. At a certain point in time, it is alleged,
the "true" Klingons came to the fore, and the most outlandish
hypotheses have been advanced to account for this,
This persistent belief has been a source of puzzlement
(and, I think I need not say, of irritation) to me since I became
aware of it. I will assert now, and for the record, that there is
only one Klingon species; we of Klinzhai, and none other. Racial
variations within the species exist, but the degree of variance is so
minor as to be irrelevant to a Terrestrial Homo Sapiens. There are
also the former subject species of the Empire, but none of these so
closely resembles Homo Sapiens as to provide any basis for the belief.
All of the foregoing is by way of preamble. The point of
this letter is to say that I have very recently discovered the
well-spring of this odd misconception, and wish to make it public, so
that in the course of time it may be dispelled. The explanation,
though at first glance improbable beyond the bounds of belief, is so
simple that I am amazed it was not previously discovered. Were it not
for the false beliefs to which it has given birth, it would be
entirely humorous.
I came upon the information in the course of a friendship
with Captain Valentin A. Pokrebyshev, Deputy Director General of the
Public Affairs Bureau of Starfleet. It befell on an evening that we
were talking about the propaganda war waged between the Empire and
Federation in the period immediately before the Short War and the
subsequent accession of the Empire to Federation membership. Captain
Pokrebyshev asked me if I would like to see some video footage of
propaganda made at that time. I accepted with enthusiasm.
The videos in question were not specifically anti-Klingon,
except insofar as the Empire was a principal adversary of the
Federation at the time. Rather, they were a glorification of the
exploits of one of the line units of Starfleet, the U.S.S. Enterprise,
and of its Captain, James T. Kirk, who apparently enjoyed almost
legendary status within Starfleet in his day, and whose exploits had
often featured in news reportage among the general populace of the
Federation.
Pokrebyshev explained to me that about two decades before
the Short War, Starfleet had felt the need to recruit political
support among the voting public, in the face of growing demands within
the Council for cutbacks in its budgetary appropriations. It
therefore commissioned from Hyperclimactic Studios of Toronto a series
of one-hour documentary dramas concerning the exploits of one ship and
its already legendary captain.
The series was apparently shot with great attention to
technical realism, a decommissioned and condemned hulk being made
available for the filming, but, as is often the case with projects
commissioned by politicians and executed by the bureaucracy it was
shot on a lamentably tight budget. Of the various alien species
portrayed in the videos, almost none were played by members of those
species. Notably, Klingons in every case were portrayed by Terrans in
outlandish (and highly unrealistic) makeup. The uniforms were a vague
approximation of what Imperial troops wore at the time; the faces bore
no resemblance to reality. Budgetary considerations aside, the lapse
is understandable insofar as (being on the wrong side of the fence, as
it were) Hyperclimactic were in no position to obtain members of our
species as actors.
The resemblance between the actors in this series and the
customary description of the "other" species of Klingon leaves me in
no doubt that this is the origin of the myth of two species. I am
confirmed in this opinion by Captain Pokrebyshev's statement that the
series enjoyed great popularity when first produced, and indeed for
many years thereafter. It would seem to have been successful in its
aim; so much so that Starfleet's resources were maintained and
increased, with the result that when faced by the lethal menace
presented to Empire and Federation in the Short War, Starfleet was
able to succour us with a fleet almost as large as, and far better
armed and equipped than, the Imperial Battle Fleet. In that,
therefore, we all owe a debt of gratitude to Hyperclimactic Studios
and the wisdom of Captain Pokrebyshev's predecessors. However, it
does explain the belief now widespread, and the initial shock and
confusion of many Starfleet personnel when units first made rendezvous
during the War.
We all have lumps on our foreheads - some would say, as
well as on our personalities. Dear Editor, and people of Terra, you
will have to live with that, as we do!
I have the honour to be,
Yours very truly,
Cher'Kass
Deputy Head of Mission,
Klinzhai Cultural Centre.
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