Gorkon

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Gorkon (tlhIngan Hol: ghorqon) was Klingon chancellor and the head of the Klingon High Council in 2293.

In 2293, the destruction of the Klingon moon of Praxis forced the Klingon Empire to reassess its position towards the United Federation of Planets as it simply could no longer afford to maintain its massive military budget and deal with the devastating effects of the explosion on their economy. Gorkon approached the Federation via Captain Spock and opened negotiations that would see the military outposts on both sides of the Klingon Neutral Zone dismantled and a new alliance forged between the two cold war enemies.

Gorkon's peace initiatives were met with open arms by the Federation Council but there were those on both sides who objected to this. A plot was forged between Klingon General Chang, Starfleet Admiral Cartwright, Colonel West, Lieutenant Valeris and Nanclus, the Romulan Ambassador to Earth, to sabotage the peace talks before they could begin.

While being escorted by the USS Enterprise-A, his battle cruiser was attacked by a prototype Bird-of-Prey that could fire while cloaked. The attack disabled the artificial gravity and two Starfleet operatives assassinated Gorkon. Captain Kirk and Doctor McCoy beamed over to investigate and aid the wounded Gorkon, but he died while McCoy attempted to resuscitate him. His last words were directed at Kirk, saying "Don't let it end this way, captain." Touched by Gorkon's heartfelt desire for peace, Kirk experienced a crisis with his prejudices in the wake of Gorkon's death. Gorkon's daughter, Azetbur, then assumed chancellorship. Kirk and McCoy were arrested by the Klingons, having been framed for the Chancellor's murder. With assistance from Spock, they escaped from Rura Penthe.

The Enterprise and the USS Excelsior were able to destroy Chang's Bird-of-Prey and Kirk was able to prevent the assassination of the Federation President. The Khitomer Accords were signed, and the beginnings of an alliance between the two powers were forged. Gorkon had not died in vain. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

Gorkon was played by David Warner. The USS Gorkon appears to have been named for him. Gorkon was made to resemble Abraham Lincoln.

Leaders of the Klingon Empire
Emperors	Kahless I • Reclaw I • Reclaw II • Sompek • Mur'Eq • Kahless II
Chancellors	2151 Chancellor • 2154 Chancellor • M'Rek • Mow'ga • Gorkon • Azetbur • K'mpec • Gowron • Worf • Martok

[edit] Appendices

[edit] Apocrypha

In the Star Trek: Vanguard novels (set at the beginning of Kirk's five-year mission), Gorkon is a member of the Klingon High Council. He is described as an ex-battle fleet general and an expert with a Klingon war club. It is unclear whether he suffers from the augment virus like most Klingons seen during the TOS series era.

In the DS9 novel Warpath, it is revealed that the mirror universe version of Gorkon was the Regent of the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance when it conquered the Terran Empire.

In the PC video game Star Trek: Klingon Academy, Gorkon and Chang's relationship before the events of Star Trek VI are shown. In it, Gorkon is the chief of staff for Chancellor Lorak, and Chang is shown as trying to prevent his friend Gorkon's rise to the chancellorship because of the danger Gorkon would make peace with the Federation.

The Star Trek VI novelization establishes that Gorkon expected something to happen to him during the peace mission to the Federation and so therefore used his influence with his supporters on the High Council to make sure that they would install Azetbur as his successor.

[edit] External link

• Gorkon at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works