Sons of Mogh

[indolover]

In this ep, both Worf and Kurn thought that the Federation would win a war against the Klingons. but how?

The Klingons would have the advantage with their cloaking device, at the outset. But if in the long-term, the Empire would lose, then would the Federation have better military leaders? More industrial capability? Or even simply more people (to get to fight in a war)?

 

[Jono]

We don't really know what either side's true military strength is.

I'm not sure what Worf's opinion would be based on but Kurn, given he was a member of the High Council, might have been privy to military intelligence that would give him opinion some weight.

The longer a war went on the Klingon's feudal system could be a negative. Unlike the Federation, which seems to be pretty united the Klingons war amongst themselves a lot, various Houses trying to destroy each other for political, military or territorial gains seems to be par for the course. Throw in the fact that Gowron's habit of protecting his political position over prosecuting a war in the best manner. So individual or factional self interest might be the Klingons biggest Achille's heel.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

In Yesterday's Enterprise, it was deemed plausible for the Klingons to be winning in the alternate timeline.

I think it's fair to say that whether the Klingons would win in the prime timeline depends entirely on the author. In universe, it's probably dicey enough that either side might win, depending upon a variety of factors, such as alliances or specific tactical outcomes.

 

[Timo]

Leadership might play a crucial role in how the Klingon Empire fares in war. Say, a charismatic leader could unite the feuding Houses, but a leader interested in securing his own power base might weaken the Empire by eliminating his strongest opponents (and thus proponents) first.

"Way of the Warrior" could be taken as an example of how Gowron would purge his Empire: by sending his political opponents or their warrior sons into hopeless attacks against a superior enemy (the boarding parties attacking DS9) while holding back with the big guns (the ones on the Negh'Var, the ones with the ability to collapse the station's shields with a couple of shots). Good in the short term, but potentially bad for the long-term military strength of the Empire.

"Way of the Warrior" could also indicate how the Founders undermined the Empire, by impersonating a top general and having him give Gowron unsound tactical advice. To an outsider, it would still look like Gowron committing callous purges, and Worf and Kurn would be well aware of where that might lead in military terms.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[indolover]

We don't really know what either side's true military strength is.

I'm not sure what Worf's opinion would be based on but Kurn, given he was a member of the High Council, might have been privy to military intelligence that would give him opinion some weight.

The longer a war went on the Klingon's feudal system could be a negative. Unlike the Federation, which seems to be pretty united the Klingons war amongst themselves a lot, various Houses trying to destroy each other for political, military or territorial gains seems to be par for the course. Throw in the fact that Gowron's habit of protecting his political position over prosecuting a war in the best manner. So individual or factional self interest might be the Klingons biggest Achille's heel.

Whilst Worf is a Starfleet officer, he technically is a citizen of both the Federation and the Empire, since he at one stage headed a Great House, then was the member of another. So in that sense, he may have an ear into the workings of the Empire.

Besides, the fact that the Federation and Klingons were allies would give Worf insight into Klingon military strength. Presumably the alliance meant they shared military intelligence and military resources, so Starfleet Command and the Federation Council must have knowledge of Klingon fleet strength. The same applies to the High Council.