Star Trek: Klingon Academy is a space-flight simulator in the vein of Starfleet Academy. However, players control Klingon ships rather than Federation vessels.
Klingon Academy takes place in 2291 (Klingon year 1666 IR, Imperial Reckoning), after the events of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and prior to those of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. The Klingon Empire is led by Chancellor Lorak, a noble but ailing ruler, and maintains a peace with the Federation much like the Cold War-type situation presented in Star Trek VI. The Empire's energy production needs are met largely by dilithium and other important resources in the Tal'Ihnor Gates system, near Romulan space. Praxis, the sole moon of the Klingon homeworld Qo'noS, is only a secondary energy production facility at this time. The Klingons have a limited non-aggression and technology exchange treaty with the Romulan Star Empire, although neither side has high regard for the other. There are no significant tensions with the Gorn Star Kingdom, the Tholian Assembly or the Sha'kurian Duchies (a new race created specifically for this game) at this time.
Just prior to the events of the game, General Chang defeats a would-be usurper named Kalnor, head of the powerful House of G'Iogh, and halts his attempted coup d'état against the Klingon government, at the cost of his eye. He then convenes the eighteenth term of the Elite Command Academy as dean and head instructor; additional field instructors are Colonel Poktarl, Brigadier K'mak and Commander Thok Mak (younger brother to Colonel Worf, voiced by Michael Dorn), all prior graduates and seasoned warriors. An Academy lesson consists of a lecture by Chang followed by a simulated starship mission, in which cadets play a vital role during an important stage of a fictitious future war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Only five percent of cadets graduate from the prestigious but unforgiving institution.
Cadet Torlek, son of Ro'vagh, reflects upon his invitation to the Elite Command Academy and his desire to honor his family name through his success, as his first classes begin. General Chang begins each session with a personal address to his students, lecturing the Klingon virtues of honor, loyalty and duty, and how a warrior is supposed to live up to these virtues, before continuing onto the day's strategy lesson and mission briefing, the term consisting entirely of a hypothetical war with the Federation.
Starting with a blitzkrieg across the Neutral Zone, the war shifts deeper into Federation space, leaving behind many failed Academy cadets. Torlek exhibits exceptional leadership skills and tactical acumen during these trials, all within the overall strategy of exploiting the weaknesses inherent in the Federation's greatest strength - diplomacy - which renders the enemy "a brittle unity" in Chang's eye. He also proves his loyalty and reliability to Chang during two real-world espionage missions against the House of G'Iogh, now led by Kalnor's half-brother Melkor. During one simulation, a Klingon version of Starfleet Academy's Kobayashi Maru scenario tests Torlek's resolve in the face of a situation where either duty or honor can prevail, but not both. The war culminates on Earth's doorstep, as the Federation's response to the diversionary blitzkrieg and to its diplomatic weakness leads to conflict within the Sol system itself - and the unleashing of one of humanity's "greatest scientific achievements", (Project Genesis), on Earth itself. During this final simulation, Torlek destroys the Starship Enterprise under James T. Kirk's command, an incredible accomplishment even in a training scenario. Torlek graduates from the Elite Command Academy with top honors but is not assigned a command as his fellow cadets have been.
Just as the Academy term ends, Chancellor Lorak dies. Gorkon, at this time Lorak's Chief of Staff and the legitimate successor to the position of Chancellor, is blocked from ascension by Melkor, who gathers a large fleet and plunges the Empire into civil war. Gorkon's pacifist leanings towards the Federation are well-known, and General Chang, believing a war with the Federation to be inevitable, refuses to back him despite their past friendship. Chang recruits allies of his own to become a small but formidable third faction in the civil war, including Thok Mak (as his Theater Operations Controller). Torlek, in full agreement with Chang, is recruited to serve as one of his commanders.
Star Trek: Klingon Academy is abandonware and no longer sold or supported by its publishers. Files are archived here for these platforms:
Comments