Universe K63: A Report

[Emperor Norton]

Author's Note: The following is an Alternate History story of the Star Trek universe, in the tradition of the Myriad Universe. The point of departure from the normal timeline should become evident rather quickly. People and places may sometimes be the same, but they will be different from those you know of the Prime Universe. This timeline will, when completed, cover the period of the Point of Departure up until the 2150s. A sequel covering the 2150s up to a later date may come in the future. This story will be posted in increments until finished.
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April 18, 2153​

Archivist of the United Planets
Room 2200
Zefram Cochrane Memorial Records Center
Capital District
Ceti Alpha V​

The Honorable Jack Archer
Chairman
Select Committee on Intelligence
The Congress of the United Planets

Dear Mr. Chairmen:
On this day, some 90 years since the Contact, I am forwarding to you the complete and revised edition of the report on the history of the Human race since 2063, including events leading up to Mankind's Warp Space age, and those which led up to the loss of the planet Earth to the invading forces.
My staff has made every effort to preserve the original summary editions, adding newly recovered information which was discovered and studied in the years since the last edition of this report was made. An accurate report of this nature has been difficult, given the limitation of what was saved from Earth before the conquest, and how accurate our research from this has been. This report will cover many general topics, and go into special detail where it concerns things not already widely known. However, for more detailed studies of the Third World War, or the period before, or detailed biographies of figures involved in this report, please see supplementary reports specializing in these.

A Report on Human and Galactic History & Society Since The First Contact Period​

World War Three, and the Post Atomic Period

The fate that befell Mankind can be traced back to the Third World War, and the weakening or outright destruction of civilizations caused by the conflict. Human technology had outpaced the social evolution of the species, unleashing unprecedented horror on the Earth. Starting in 2026, the Eastern Coalition of Nations and the United States, and their European allies, would face off against one another with atomic weaponry. Armies, to assure loyalty and submissiveness, were kept under control through narcotics. The Third World War would say many evil men rise, such as the notorious Colonel Phillip Green, and numerous atrocities. In 2053, the war would end without a clear victor with the San Francisco Ceasefire Agreement. Over 600 million are estimated to have died in the conflict, with many major cities and nations destroyed. The war also wrought severe environmental devastation, with several severe nuclear winters, and heightened radiation in the atmosphere for years to come.

The Postwar world stabilized in differing degrees, as populations attempted to survive the new Dark Age. Certain areas degenerated into total lawlessness and anarchy, or brutal tyranny. In these regions, all were guilty until proven innocent, none had rights, and order was kept through the barrel of a gun. Unclean masses became sloven and immoral, and were placated by being permitted audience to brutalities and public trials of convicts. Other areas, especially those (at least nominally) under control of a still standing governments, managed a relatively peaceful existence, with many towns, cities, and institution standing, and many leaving towns and cities to found makeshift communities in the wilderness. Zefram Cochrane was a member of one such community.


Zefram Cochrane, Cochrane's Folly, and the Fall of Humanity

Doctor Zefram Cochrane: Inventor of the Warp Drive, who condemned and later saved Humanity​

Doctor Zefram Cochrane is perhaps the most pivotal figure of the 21st century. The results of his experiment altered mankind greater than Phillip Green's mass murders in the World War, and his genocide of mutants, or even the tyranny of Lee Kuan. In academia today, there is a trend of forgiving Doctor Cochrane, as he certainly did not know what would result of his experiment, and pursued it only with the most optimistic of hopes. However, we cannot ignore that the conquest of Earth was the direct result of his actions.

Doctor Zefram Cochrane's life before the invention of the Warp Drive Engine is somewhat lost to time, as many records were destroyed by the Third World War, and many still yet remain on the occupied Earth. What we can report is derived from those records which survived, many of which were discovered by recovery teams sent to Earth, as well as from those autobiographical elements Doctor Cochrane left us with after the colonization of the Ceti Alpha system and the beginning of the New Earth Period.

Doctor Zefram Cochrane was born in 2032 in St. Paul, Minnesota in the former United States of America. He was an eccentric genius, who enjoyed alcohol, Classical "Rock n' Roll", and women. He was also a complex man, and though we know little of his life before the World War, psychological analysis would suggest it likely that something was taken from him in the conflict or the years after (and this may be the source of his apparent alcoholism). Heavy alcohol consumption, residual radiation, and possible melancholy would age Cochrane beyond his years. In 2049, Cochrane would go on to study physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where his research into Warp technology began. Some time later, Doctor Cochrane would find himself in a community near Bozeman, Montana in the United States, where he would continue his research and experimentation into Warp technology. Here, he would convert a remaining Titan II nuclear missile into the vehicle for his warp engine. This became the "Phoenix", the first trans-light speed vehicle built by Humanity. It would also become known as "Cochrane's Folly".

On April 5th, 2063, Dr Cochrane and his assistant Lily Sloane boarded the Phoenix for its launch. Shortly before Noon, the craft launched into space, achieving Warp 1.

Upon landing, Cochrane would, as was his nature, celebrate the success of the launch at the bar in his community, surrounded by friends, alcohol, and music from the juke-box (we suspect the song was "Ooby Dooby", recorded by musician Roy Orbison in 1956; alternatively, the group Steppenwolf's song "Magic Carpet Ride" has been proposed, though we are relatively certain the latter was played aboard the Phoenix during its flight. Cochrane's account seems to support this view, and it remains the view of most mainstream historians). However, the celebration that night would be cut short. A nearby vessel had detected the warp signature in the previously unexplored star system of Sol. We cannot be certain what the aliens thought that day as they discovered Earth. What they must have seen was a single inhabitable planet, with limited post-industrial technological evolution, and one with severe devastation. Humanity must have seemed like a wounded animal to a pack of wolves.

The night of the celebration, the IKS Veqlargh landed.

 

[Emperor Norton]

The account summarized here of the First Contact event, and those events surrounding it, has come from extensive research into those accounts given by those present. This has come from a variety of sources, including personal interviews, diary entries, and family stories passed down to subsequent generations. As these come from human memory and perspective, they are subject to the foibles of human memory and perspective, and as a result, interpretations and stories of First Contact vary slightly from person to person. Certain areas of information have also come from Klingon resources. As these are prone to distortion and propaganda, we use them sparingly, and only to inform the Klingons' perspective of events. What is presented here therefore may be vague in places, or lack detail, given those problems. As there is no definitive version of the story, we have taken the liberty at times of creating a dramatic narrative to explain the events and history.

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The Imperial Klingon Starship Veqlargh (anglicized Fek'lhr; named for the Klingon's Satanic analogue) was a craft unlike anything seen before by human eyes. The Fek'lhr was a Bird-of-Prey type advanced warp starship, capable of speeds many times that of the Phoenix. It hosted disruptor ports, photon torpedoes, deflector technology and shield technology. The vessel was an amalgamation of technologies and advancements many decades ahead those of Earth, and many of which Mankind was as of yet totally unaware were possible.

When the Klingons landed that night in Bozeman, it was in many ways similar to the Europeans first landing in the Americas. The Native American Indians had been totally unaware that their visitors had existed previous their landing, nor that there was another half to the world with different cultures, civilizations, and histories. They did not know of, nor understand their advanced technologies, and were awe struck by their massive sea going vessels. And they did not know the plans and ideas of their visitors, nor what those would bode for them in time. Unlike certain American Indian tribes, however, the Humans of the 21st century were too advanced to believe their visitors were gods incarnate. But, much as the American Indians before them, they did not know the plans and designs and schemes of their visitors, and would soon see their world and their history forever changed by them.

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As the Klingon starship appeared over the settlement and began its descent, the people of the town were, from all accounts, awestruck by the craft, and approached the vessel with great wonder and curiosity and, for some, fear. As the craft touched down, the townspeople had gathered around it, not knowing what would come next. The starship opened, releasing its bay door, and a figure began to emerge. It would be Zefram Cochrane, whose warp signal had enticed the vessel, who walked forward to greet the visitors on behalf of his town and of his world. As the figure stepped down the gangplank, his features began to become visible. He was a humanoid, hulking in stature, with a deep brown completion and giant, bushy eyebrows. Most prominent of all, however, were the jagged, intricate ridges which adorned his head. On either side of him, following as he proceeded towards the townspeople, he was flanked by creatures of similar look and features. The fearsomeness of the aliens tainted the town's curiosity with an increased sense of dread, and must have made Zefram Cochrane quite thankful for the shotgun he had hidden beneath his coat.

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The alien approached Zefram Cochrane, and, standing in front of him, thumped his chest loudly. "I am Kolikhr!" he said with a tongue harsh as his ridges, and a voice fitting his stature, "Son of Gar'thr, House of of Ki'hik!"
A moment of silence followed as Doctor Cochrane was taken aback by the abruptness of the greeting and strangeness of these visitors, before realizing he was expected to respond. Cochrane looked at his hand awkwardly, before making a fist and likewise forcefully beating his chest. "I am Zefram Cochrane," he began, somewhat unassuredly as he attempted the alien's form, "Son of Glenn and Lisa. House of ..." Cochrane paused for a moment and, looking at his shack, pointed with his thumb "Over there."

A terrifying moment of silence followed this remark, before the Klingon commander let out a good-natured laugh at this alien's haughtiness. Another Commander might have taken this remark as a barbed insult against the Empire, and slit Cochrane's throat where he stood. Kolikhr was better natured than that. "Co'kran," the Klingon said, with jagged English, "I am Klingon! Of the Glorious Klingon Empire! My people encompass hundreds of worlds and dozens of systems and are spreading out. We hold dominion over vast parsecs of space and are trillions strong! We are but one vessel of a thousands strong star fleet. But, we shall speak further of that in time. We have come to your world because we detected your warp signature. What is it you call this place?"
"This is the planet Earth. The city of Bozeman, in the nation of the United States, on planet Earth."
"Is this 'United States' ruler of this world?" the Captain inquired.
"We have no one ruler. We have many nations."
The Klingon Guards reacted to this remark with notable puzzlement across their faces. Klingons, it is likely, generally did not encounter worlds which had developed warp technology but had yet to unify previous to this discovery.
"Then, Co'kran, we will need to meet with these many nations and their kings in time," the Captain replied briskly, changing topics with his next breath. "Now, we wish to greet each other with drink and food! Have you a Great Hall, Co'kran?"
Cochrane thought for a moment, "We have a bar."
"Does this 'bar' host song and drink?"
"It does after Five."
"Then come, Co'kran!" the Klingon exclaimed with joviality "Let us greet each other in the proper Klingon way!"

 

[Emperor Norton]

The Klingons are universally reported to have been quite gruff during the gathering at the bar (now known to simply be typical Klingon nature), but this meeting of worlds was a time of peace, and showed signs of camaraderie between the Klingons and Humans. Both species would share and compare different aspects of their cultures. Zefram Cochrane would, for example, compare his Classic Rock to the Klingon's Opera. Doctor Cochrane seemed to take pride in turning on the Jukebox and exposing the Klingons to Roy Orbison, Steppenwolf, and the Rolling Stones ("Ooby Dooby" reportedly confused their universal translator). The Klingons countered by singing their operatic tales of warriors and combat and honor, which one of the Bozeman villagers compared to Viking chants. The reviews were mixed. The Klingons liked precious few of the Earther songs, though they did enjoy the faster paced and harder driven songs (Unfortunately, there were a limited number of Heavy Metal songs on the jukebox). The Humans liked none of the Klingon chants. At least until the alcohol took effect.
As well as comparing music, the two races also compared alcohol. The Klingons complained that the Earther alcohol was too light, though they drank their fair share of it. They likewise found the Tequila worms to remind them of home (they also took the opportunity to introduce humans to 'gagh', believing the natives might enjoy the dish. Such was not the case). The Humans also partook of the Klingon spirits. This culminated in many becoming ill, and others passing out shortly after abiding a few swills. The one Human who managed to truly hold his liquor, both Klingon and Human, was Zefram Cochrane.

All the while, the towns people had crowded into the bar. Those that could not fit in stood in the doors, attempting to watch the alien creatures. The evening took a turn for the interesting a number of times. Some of the Klingons engaged in a game where they rolled dice, and punched whoever was playing square in the face. We are not certain whether it was the winner or loser who received a blow. And the Klingons engaged in a number of other boisterous activities, which took the humans some time (and some drinks) to fully appreciate.
At some point during the festivities, Humanity introduced the Klingons to the concept of a drinking contest. Cochrane would compete in this with Kolikhr. History records that, after an hour or more, the contest ended in a draw. The Klingons were reportedly quite impressed with Doctor Cochrane, stating that his 'livers' must be "black as the fleets of Sto-vo-kor".

The aforementioned activities would seem to belie the gravity and wonder of first contact, and the seriousness the Humans treated it with, and would more likely than not be left out of most academic volumes to properly reflect the drama of the situation*. However, every activity undertaken by the Humans was to greet their visitors and expose them to their culture and way of life and to share with them and come to understand their visitors, even if some of these activities lead to colorful stories. It should also be noted that there was much serious discussion which occurred, in which the Klingons and Humans shared between them their cultures, stories and ideas, and that the colorful events should not be taken as the whole of the story. The collective events, colorful and solemn alike, are part of the story, and are all expressions of curiosity and exploration of the unknown.

Among such serious discussion was an exchange of information about lives and families between the Humans and Klingons, as well as further discussions about their races and nations. Cochrane and the Humans explained the history, culture, and politics of their world. The Klingons themselves explained their own history, culture, and politics, making special note of the glories of the empire, personal honors and glories, and the Emperor Kahless. The Klingons were also permitted access to data-logs the community had, which encompassed an encyclopedic explanation of many things. Such information was examined, studied, and transferred to the ship's computer for further examination.
One thing became evident to the Klingons, both during the time they spent in Bozeman, and when they would further examine the Terran information when they returned to the Empire; Humanity had become weak, and was not expanding. They had fought a global war of devastating proportions for nearly three decades, destroying half of their world. It had been a decade since this war ended, and humanity was in many areas still occupying itself with rebuilding and surviving. Many nations on the globe were not proving capable of even that. To the Klingon mind, that which was not growing was dead. The war also showed to the Klingons a warrior spirit among humanity, but a lack of a code of honor, and many dishonorable actions. The historic records showed many ancient cultures which had practiced ritualism and honor becoming a Klingon, such as the Medieval Europeans and their Chivalry, the Ancient Greeks, the Japanese and their Bushido, the Ancient Chinese, and Mongols**. However, these were long in the past. That which held the Human race together was more morality than any belief in honor, much of which showed emotionalism and help to the weak and timid. However, recent Human history did show a hint of glory. Great nations built great empires, clashing for control of the world and subjugating those who were not strong enough to defeat them. Humanity had ham-strung themselves in time by later believing such things were immoral. But there existed a glimmer.

Much as the Humans had subjugated and conquered their weaker fellows for millenia, so now would the Klingons conquer the whole of Humanity. It seems, perhaps, poetic that mankind conquered neighboring tribes, then towns, then cities, then nations, then empires, and would now itself be conquered by a galactic empire. The Klingon Empire would make Earth apart of its nation, and Kolikhr would make it an important asset for himself.

Unbeknownst to the Earthers, Kolikhr and his crew were not alone. They were but one ship of many which were orbiting Earth and monitoring the Sol System. And Kolikhr and his crew were not the only Klingons on Earth either. At that moment, many Klingon expeditions had landed on Earth to survey the planet's regions and investigate natives. They were not to engage them, as Kolikhr was engaging the people of Bozeman, but were simply to keep their distance and watch. In orbit, Klingon vessels were scanning the planet, noting atmosphere and surface makeup, as well as the materials and resources of this world.

*Indeed, one popular fictional account states that the Klingons, rather than greeting the humans, immediately declared Earth a servant world of the Empire, rounded up the settlers, tortured information of their species and world out of them, and subsequently traveled to each capital ordering the governments to surrender or be destroyed. Those events, in truth, came later, though many people falsely believe the fictional account to be that which is accurate.

**The similarity of the Mongols to the Klingons lead to the theory that a Klingon expedition must have made contact with Earth or settled there many centuries before First Contact.

Standing of House of Ki'hik in 2063

Wall Mural in the Great Hall of the House of Ki'hik, showing (from left to right) Delleren V, Kui II, and Kolothos IX. These were the major planetary holdings of the House at the time.
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Head of House: Lord Ki'hik, son of Lurr, mate of Lady Khidra

Territorial Holdings:

Planetary Governorships of:

• Kui II (House Seat)
• Delleren V
• Kolothos IX

Territorial Governorships on:

• Kanthu
• Klamuth
• Arkto
• Toman

Territorial ownership of land on Kronos. Mayorship of a number of cities on Kronos, and across the Empire. Mining rights to DuraQ.

Other Holdings:

• Several thousand slaves/servants (or "Kuve" in Klingonese), including thousands of laborers and workers, and several thousand house slaves (among them war slaves, descendents of those captured in the Romulan war, and slaves culled from the servant worlds).
• A House fleet of several hundred ships.
• Several hundred of her members in the Klingon Defense Force.
• Slaver post on Slirdar.

Summary:
The House of Ki'hik was a Minor House in the Klingon Empire. Its glory in the modern period began when it was still the House of Lurr. The House of Lurr sent many of its commanders and soldiers into the Romulan War, both with its House fleet and in the overall Klingon Imperial Fleet, and brought the Empire many victories against the Romulans. The sacrifices and honor of her members lead the Emperor to grant the House new governorships, both planetary and territorial, and expanded estates on the Homeworld. With these new worlds came wealth, as well as increased influence. Such was not enough to bring her a seat on the High Council, but it was enough to increase her strength as a Minor House.

Lurr had two living sons, Gar'thr and Ki'hik (the rest dying in the combat), and an adopted son named J'trag. It was Ki'hik who was chosen as successor as Head of the House. The brothers also had sons and daughters. Gar'thr begat Kolikhr (who begat K'tahr) and B'Etara. Ki'hik begat Katrog and Krun. J'trag begat R'Gush, who died in the conquest of Alkaar in 2060.

The political dynamic was tense under the House of Ki'hik. Gret'hr respected his father, yet felt it was he who should have succeeded him to leadership of the House, as he did not feel Ki'hik wise enough nor strong enough to lead to the House to prosperity. Kolikhr would view his uncle with respect, but would also question his leadership of the House. Ki'hik likewise held respect for his nephew, but did not look favorably on the criticisms of his leadership of the House. It was J'trag who kept order, as the neutral, calming voice between the two parts of the family.