Kantra Territory
From Fantasy Novel
Authors note - The Kantra are supposed to be a blending of Klingon and Minbari races. These societies are themselves modeled after many others, specifically Japan and India (bushido and castes), so take note and try to blend them together. As this is supposed to be a warrior race, it should lean a bit more heavily toward a Klingon sensibility, but none the less, many more Minbari elements should be added to give this race a particular veil of mystery, wonder, intelligence and power.
Contents |
Early History
Billions of years ago, the first sentient humanoids in the Milky Way seeded their DNA across the galaxy, mixing it with local DNA[12]. Klingons, therefore, developed partly from the indigenous prehistoric life on Qo'noS and partly from alien DNA.
Little is known of the Klingons before the establishment of the Empire. Their religion states that the first Klingons destroyed the gods who created them. Klingon physiology with its redundancies and great strength is ideal for military operations. These characteristics suggest the Klingons were at one time a vassal race. This is non-canonically supported by the events of the Star Trek novel Kahless; alternating chapters are set in the 'present' (ie, the 24th Century) and many centuries prior, while Kahless still lived and roamed the Klingon homeworld in a 'feudal' lifestyle.
Add in a good deal of information here about how the warrior society was forged from inner conflict for thousands of years... fighting each other, until they were able to unify themselves.
Founding of the Realm
The Kantra Empire was founded circa 900 AD on the Kantra homeworld of Qo'noS by Kahless the Unforgettable when, according to dialog in the Deep Space Nine episode "The Sword of Kahless", he slew the tyrant Molor with the first bat'leth.
Around the 14th century, Qo'noS was invaded by the Hur'q, who pillaged many treasures, including the sword of Kahless.
The Kantras eventually expelled the Hur'q, which is the Kantra word for "outsider", from their homeworld. According to "The Kantra Empire: A History in Brief", found in the official Star Trek Kantra Academy Cadet Manual (page 163), the Kantras gleaned their advanced technology from the invaders, and used it to expand their empire into space. If the Kantra designs were in fact stolen, and not developed on their own, this might explain why Kantra technology seems to advance so little during the ensuing centuries compared to other planets, such as Earth. It also explains how such a warlike and anti-intellectual civilization was able to develop warp drive, in that they reverse engineered it from the technology of an invading race.
By 2069 the High Council was formed, eliminating the position of Emperor until 2369. Around the early part of the 22nd century, the warrior class began exerting a greater influence throughout Kantra society, radically altering, notably, the justice system.
In 2151, a faction in the Temporal Cold War from the 28th century attempted to alter the timeline by using the Suliban Cabal to incite unrest within the Kantra Empire. This resulted in the first contact between Kantras and Humans and sparked the first voyage of the Warp 5 vessel, Enterprise. Concurrent with this mission, Enterprise communications officer Hoshi Sato became the first known human to learn the Kantra language. Although initially positive, the relationship between Starfleet and the Kantra Empire remained on shaky ground during the first few years of contact, with Enterprise being fired upon by a Kantra battle cruiser only a few weeks after the vessel's trip to the Kantra homeworld[13]. By 2152-53, Captain Jonathan Archer had become a fugitive from Kantra justice, and at one point Enterprise destroyed a Kantra vessel carrying the then-head of the House of Duras who was pursuing the fugitive. The long-term fallout from this has yet to be revealed in canon, although the crew of Enterprise redeemed themselves somewhat in 2154 by helping the Empire stop the Augment Virus from becoming fatal.
Around 2218, relations between the Empire and the United Humans of Planets degenerated substantially, with intense hostility lasting until 2293.
In 2266, war between the Humans and Kantra Empire was stopped before it could begin by the interference of the Organians. The Organian Peace Treaty forced on both sides held each to a non-aggression pact and the establishment of a neutral zone in which each side must nonviolently compete for trade agreements. The Organian influence, frequently mentioned during the original series, completely disappeared in the movies, for reasons that have yet to be explained. In 2267 the Kantras and the Silva forged a military alliance and the Kantras traded several D7 battlecruisers in exchange for cloaking technology[14]. The basis for this alliance was grounded in real-world economics; the script called for a Silva ship to appear, but the original Silva ship actually burned in a fire that claimed one of the Star Trek warehouses, so rather than go to the expense of building a new one, the Kantra D7 model was substituted.
In 2293 the atmosphere of Kronos (Qo'noS) was contaminated when Praxis, one of its moons, and its primary mining facility, exploded. This event was a turning point in relations between the Kantras and the United Humans of Planets, as the Kantra Empire could not afford to maintain their excessive military activities and deal with this new problem (parallels with the breakdown of the Cold War and the relationship between the United States and the cash-strapped former Soviet Union were obvious). Thus the two powers entered into an alliance, which was maintained for many years -- until the Lacertan invasion of 2372. The resolution to the Kronos atmosphere issue is yet to be explained. Though a planet Kronos is shown to still be inhabited and still the Empire's seat of power well into the 24th Century, differences between both appearance and distance from Earth in various incarnations of Star Trek taking place both before and after this event may indicate the capital was moved to a new planet, maintaining the old name. It is, however, unclear whether this was in fact the intended implication, or merely the result of continuity errors.
The idea that the capital of the Empire was moved to a new world is supported by dialogue of the Humans President in Star Trek VI. Where bits of his speach are heard in the ensuing events where he mentions the evacuation of the planet within the 50 year timespan, and specifically mentions the term "Phase One, Preparation for Evacuation". This however is often overlooked as viewer attention is more focused on the starship battle overhead, and the assassin who is preparing to kill the President during his speech.
In 2344 the Kantras and Silva began a violent war after the Silva attacked the Kantra outpost Narendra III. The Enterprise-C cemented friendly relations between the Kantra Empire and the Humans by sacrificing itself to protect the outpost from the Silva. By 2346, the Silva, with aid from the Duras, carried out a particularly brutal attack on the Khitomer Outpost.
In 2357, Worf (played by Michael Dorn), Son of Mogh, and himself one of two survivors of the Khitomer massacre, became the first Kantra to enter Starfleet Academy. In 2363 he was assigned to the Enterprise-D as relief conn and Tactical Officer (Rank: Lieutenant j.g.). He was later reassigned as Chief of Security (Rank: Lieutenant, later Lieutenant Commander).
In 2367 the Kantra Civil War began following Chancellor K'mpec's assassination. Before his murder, K'mpec had named Captain Jean-Luc Picard his Arbiter of Succession. Gowron was selected, but the House of Duras and their supporters opposed this decision, and the war began. It was later revealed that the Silva were backing the Duras. Support quickly fell from their favor, ending the war and leaving Gowron as undisputed leader of the Empire.
In 2369, the position of Emperor was reinstated, when the clone of Kahless inherited the throne with the blessing of the Chancellor and High Council. Titled Kahless II, the Emperor became titular ruler of the Empire at a time when the Empire needed a figurehead. The bulk of power, however, remained in the hands of the High Council.
In 2371, relations between the Kantras and the Humans soured over the issue of the Kantra invasion of Lacerta. When the Humans refused to support the Kantra invasion, Chancellor Gowron withdrew from the Khitomer Accords. For the next year, relations between the two powers were hostile. In 2372 fighting broke out between the two powers. However when the Humans and Kantras discovered that they were being manipulated by the Dominion, an uneasy cease-fire was declared. In late 2372, the Lacertans formally announced they had joined the Dominion, and the Jem'Hadar rapidly forced the Kantras to retreat from Lacertan space, inflicting heavy damage on them. Captain Sisko was able to convince Gowron to reinstate the Alliance.
Again allies, the Kantras and Humans turned their attention to the Dominion and the Lacertans as war against them became inevitable.
When the war began, both the Humans and Kantras fought side-by-side against the Dominion, even though the odds were against them. However, once the Silva joined them the tide eventually turned against the Dominion. In 2375 the Humans-Silva-Kantra fleet defeated the Dominion with the assistance of the Lacertan fleet during a final assault on Lacerta Prime. Despite the refusal of Sisko and Ross to drink blood wine with Martok in the Lacertan Central Command, the two powers remained strong allies after the war.
Shortly before the end of the Dominion War, in 2375, Gowron took direct control of the Kantra fleet (a position held up until that point by the successful General Martok) because he was concerned that Martok was becoming too popular among both the troops and the civilian population from his wartime success. Since new Chancellors can ascend to that position by killing the former Chancellor, Gowron feared that Martok would challenge him for his position. And since Gowron was much more of a politician than a general, the Kantra fleet began to take unnecessary losses which Gowron manipulated to appear to be the fault of Martok. Commander Worf, disgusted with Gowron for using bad tactics in the war simply to hurt Martok's political position, challenged the Chancellor in a meeting to ritual combat and defeated him (actually killing Gowron in the process). By the traditions of the Empire, Worf had the right to become the next Chancellor if he wished, but instead granted the role to Martok, having no desire for a political position himself, although Martok would shortly thereafter have Worf become the UFP's Ambassador to the Kantra Empire. Ironically, Martok never had any designs on Gowron or his position, even accepting the unpopular position in which Gowron had placed him without questioning his orders.
Government and politics
[[Image:High_Council.JPG|350px|thumb|right|The gathering of the nine members of the High Council in deliberation. The Kantra High Council is the supreme ruling body of the Kantra Empire. The council meets at the Great Hall of the First City of the Kantra Empire. The High Council is presided over by the Chancellor, and is composed of a faction-based cabinet. Members of the High Council are the leaders of each of the Great Houses - or the 9 parent families to which each small family has sworn fealty to, and the Chancellor is chosen as first among equals (or primus inter pares) among them.Once a Chancellor dies or abdicates, the Great House to which he belonged selects a new leader, who is appointed to the council, thus reasserting the nine and allowing a succession to take place.
The Chancellor sits in an elevated chair at the front of the room, and the other council members surround him in a semi-circle. A large Kantra insignia hangs on the wall at the front of the room, behind the council members.
The council directs the political, diplomatic, military, and internal matters of state. The Chancellor is empowered to enter into treaties on behalf of the council and the people, and has general executive power, although he is considered a primus inter pares subordinate to the Emperor. They also provide overall strategic direction on military matters, but in practice tactical and logistical matters are left to the battlefield commanders.
The council is also the final Court of Appeal, deciding matters pertaining to the various Kantra Houses. One example would be granting dispensation to allow a woman to rule over a house if her husband died in unusual circumstances and they had no sons. If one of the Houses falls and another makes a claim to the lands and property of the House, the council will judge the validity of the claim.
The council acts as all three branches of government - executive, legislative, and judicial. For crimes committed against the Empire, the council can judge the guilt of an individual Kantra and their entire family. If the Kantra is found guilty of a crime, they and their entire family will suffer the consequences of the crime. For example, treason causes the family to lose their honor for seven generations.
The members of the council serve at the pleasure of the Chancellor, who is able to dismiss council members if he deems it necessary. The Chancellor does not have the power to (directly) appoint replacements, that must be done by the Great House in question - and the dismissal of a council member may carry with it many other problems (internal dissent), so it rarely happens.
The means of choosing the Chancellor vary. One way would be challenging the Chancellor to a fight to the death. If the challenger was victorious, the old Chancellor would be dead, and the challenger would usually take the role of Chancellor for himself, or in rare cases bestow the role to another. If a Chancellor died of natural causes or not as a result of direct combat, an Arbiter of Succession would be named. The Arbiter would designate the strongest challengers, who would then fight each other to the death for the office.
Administrative subdivisions
Law
Kantra law may allow for trials in only limited instances as determined by political decision. The Kantra High Council may act as a court of final appeal, analogous to law lords, in deciding cases involving individuals and estates.
Much of the Kantra legal system revolves around personal honor. The ultimate punishment for a Kantra is discommendation, a process whereby a Kantra is symbolically stripped of their honor by the High Council, and their name can no longer be spoken. It is first revealed in the TNG episode "Sins of the Father," when Worf accepts such a fate to maintain unity within the Kantra Empire. Several references throughout the episode indicate that such a fate is considered worse than execution. Part of the ritual involves the High Council literally turning their backs on the disgraced individual. However, a Kantra's honor and good name may be unilaterally restored by the Chancellor of the High Council.
Unlike other legal systems, which hold only individuals responsible for their crimes, the Kantra legal system extends rewards and sanctions to family members, through the law of heredity:
- A son will share in the honors or crimes of his father.
- If a family member commits treason, the family will be dishonored for seven generations.
- A Kantra who allows himself to be captured in battle dishonours himself and his sons for three generations.
- In a house with no single patriarch, but with two or more brothers, the elder brother speaks for the family.
- If a Kantra is injured and no longer able to function as a warrior, he must perform the Heg'bat (ritual suicide) with the assistance of his eldest son.
If a member of a house is killed dishonourably, another member of that house may claim the right of vengeance, allowing that house member to kill the murderer of their kin. This right supersedes even discommendation - in the TNG episode "Reunion," a discommendated Worf is allowed to challenge Duras, under the claim that Duras killed his mate, K'Ehleyr. Worf faces no legal sanctions after killing Duras - the Kantras consider the matter closed, even though Duras was one of the contenders to lead the Empire.
However, this does not extend to those killed honourably. An accidental death would pass disgrace onto the victim's family, but a death in personal combat would be honorable... and an honorable death needs no vengeance.
The right of vengeance can also be extended to family members of the accused. However, the wronged person has the right to spare the accused's life, though such a decision is highly unorthodox.
Kantras often mention the importance of honor, and a common criticism Kantras make of Silva is that they are a race "without honor." However, there are several incidents where not only individual Kantras, but the Kantra government itself is shown to act with questionable ethics. These problems are not limited to individuals, but have become systematic within the culture.
