Rusty but new Klingon flagship

[F. King Daniel]

How new is "the new Klingon flagship" from DS9: "Way of the Warrior"? I ask because, when we first see it, the interiors are just as rusted and dilapidated as the rest of the Klingon fleet. Of course, the real reason is due to the stock Klingon set being used. But how can we justify this and all the other nonsensical Klingon stuff we have seen over the decades?

(No, "It's just a TV show" isn't allowed!)

I wonder if the Klingons inherited their ships and technology. The old novel Ishmael says the Klingons were enslaved by a race called the Karsid Empire for centuries, and that 600 years ago the Karsids mysteriously vanished, leaving the Klingons with everything they had.

IMO this neatly explains why the Klingons have used the same ships with the same interiors in ENT that they do in DS9 225 years later, how they went from totally outgunning Starfleet in ENT to being roughly even in TOS to being cannon fodder in DS9, as well as how a culture like the Klingons ever made it into space in the first place. Perhaps the Neg'Var was recently found at some ancient Karsid outpost and pressed into service. And maybe Mirror Worf's supersize version is still out there somewhere, like an abandoned Karsid version of the USS Vengeance.

Thoughts? Workable theory or herecy against doctrine?

 

[Melakon]

King Daniel the Blasphemer!

Is it really rust though? Could it be a natural condition of the metals they use to build their ships, which might not be the same as the Federation's. It's suggested in TOS that their empire consists of many resource-poor planets, so the ores they use might be quite different and less than optimal for construction.

 

[The Wormhole]

I wonder if the Klingons inherited their ships and technology. The old novel Ishmael says the Klingons were enslaved by a race called the Karsid Empire for centuries, and that 600 years ago the Karsids mysteriously vanished, leaving the Klingons with everything they had.

IMO this neatly explains why the Klingons have used the same ships with the same interiors in ENT that they do in DS9 225 years later, how they went from totally outgunning Starfleet in ENT to being roughly even in TOS to being cannon fodder in DS9, as well as how a culture like the Klingons ever made it into space in the first place. Perhaps the Neg'Var was recently found at some ancient Karsid outpost and pressed into service. And maybe Mirror Worf's supersize version is still out there somewhere, like an abandoned Karsid version of the USS Vengeance.

Thoughts? Workable theory or herecy against doctrine?

In onscreen canon, there are no Karsid and it was in fact the Hur'q who enslaved the Klingons and from whom the Klingons obtained warp drive.

But no, I don't believe Klingon ships are old Hur'q ships. As for this rust, we know the Klingons use piss-poor construction materials, easiest explanation right there. They could very well have constructed the ship with rusty metal.

 

[ten70]

If you scrape off that "rust" you'll see brand new metal.

Yes, the Klingons use faux finishing!

They like having that well worn look.

 

[TheFlutteringHorde]

Looking at the screencaps from the episode it doesn't really look that rusty, just poorly lit. As for an in-universe reason for why Klingon stuff never really seems to change...well the Empire's probably extremely conservative when it comes to such things, I can see a designer creating a really elaborate and radically different interior and his boss coming along and saying "Why the hell are you changing all that just because it's a new starship? A TRUE WARRIOR DOES NOT CONCERN HIMSELF WITH SUCH THINGS. Add more disruptors."

 

[Avro Arrow]

King Daniel Into Darkness, I have nothing to actually add, but I just wanted to say that your new av made me LOL!

 

[USS Triumphant]

I like the theory about the old Hur'q ships, but I also like the idea that Klingons recover parts of defunct vessels that have served them well and incorporate them into new ships. It would be a way of honoring the old vessels, and possibly of "borrowing honor" for the new ship.

 

[Ro_Laren]

I never thought about this before. Perhaps they recycle parts from their ships. Maybe they build new shells, but recycle whatever they can (i.e. bridge station shells, etc.).

 

[Enterprise1701]

Decent theory, King Daniel Into Darkness, but I see no rusting, just Klingon-preferred hull colors.

 

[Timo]

But their doors do squeak and rumble just as if their machinery were rusted out...

In onscreen canon, there are no Karsid and it was in fact the Hur'q who enslaved the Klingons and from whom the Klingons obtained warp drive.

Two names for the same thing, for all we know. The timing sort of works out for Ishmael to still be in line with canon.

Although speaking of canon, we don't know that the Klingons would have obtained any tech from their enslavers.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Albertese]

In the Book Star Fleet Dynamics they propose that Klingons keep their ships arounds for a good long while and just continually upgrade them as needed. They claim that there are ship still in service (2290) that are more than 300 years old. Meaning that some of the Klingon ships seen in Star Trek's future are supposedly already in existence today!

--Alex

 

[Armored Saint]

Clean looking interior decoration is without honor.

 

[EVL_Ripper]

I think they just re-use parts from other ships into new ones. They put a lot into their military budget and probably waste as little as possible.

 

[LMFAOschwarz]

It's possible that re-using the very metal from past ships may be considered a tribute to past glories, even a 'good luck charm' of sorts.

 

[Amaris]

Maybe it's like people who pay a premium for new jeans that look old. I remember when I worked for a higher end fulfillment warehouse, and people would order $75 shirts that looked like they had been flown at full mast through a hurricane.

Maybe the Klingons are more trendy than we thought!

 

[-Brett-]

I never thought Klingon ship interiors looked rusty or dilapidated, they just like dingy colors.

 

[Captain Rob]

Perhaps Klingons use tribble blood for primer. Honoring the Great Tribble War.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I never thought of the Klingon interiors as anything but rusty. Pics like this one even show consoles where the outer casing has begun to flake off.

King Daniel Into Darkness, I have nothing to actually add, but I just wanted to say that your new av made me LOL!

Thanks!

 

[Marsden]

I don't see the rust you're talking about, but how many Klingon cleaning staff have you seen?

Klingon Captain: You have lost all honor, refusing to use the Mopleth' on the floors.

Klingon janitor: I don't do portholes.

Zapp!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Sure, Klingon ships look 'rusty' to us, but I always just thought they don't care about aesthetics as much as humans do.

Klingon vessels aren't dirty or badly made, just well-worn. Well-used. Strictly utilitarian, nothing more than that. They'd consider that a badge of honor.

To waste time with appearances is not a Klingon thing to do. If it doesn't have a function, it's useless. And I have a hard time faulting them for that.

As for the lighting: Of course Klingon warriors would naturally be able to get used to low lighting. Bright lights give away your position to the enemy. So a Klingon would train himself or herself to be able to see and work in the dark. Their ships, naturally, reflect this.