KLINGONS

Bat'leth (the sword of honour)

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The bat'leth is a warrior's blade first used by the legendary Kahless the Unforgettable. It is perfectly suited to the rigours of close-quarters combat and therefore it is a weapon of choice for the Klingon warrior. Indeed, the distinction between the Klingon approach to conflict and that of other species is best seen in the warrior race's preference for handheld weapons, which they believe demonstrate the pride and spirit of the true warrior.

The honour and value that Klingons place in their weapons can be compared to the care with which the ancient Japanese Samurai class on Earth cherished their magnificent swords. The higher-ranking Samurai possessed the best-crafted swords. All Samurai were entitled, and expected, to try out their new blade on living human flesh. It was considered highly inappropriate to draw the weapon without the intention of drawing blood.

Modern Klingons have, of necessity, had to become adept in the use of disrupters and other technological weapons, but the true warrior still yearns for the moment when he is face to face with his enemy, each armed only with a deadly blade. Of all Klingon handheld weapons, the bat'leth is perhaps the most pure in design and spirit, This historic bladed weapon, often referred to by Klingons as the "sword of honor" resembles a two-ended scimitar. In the hands of a skilled and experienced warrior, it is a truly formidable weapon.

Bat'leths vary in size, depending on a warrior's personal choice. It is acknowledged, however, that a bat'leth measuring 116 centimetres tip-to-tip, weighing kilograms, and constructed of composite baakonite, is the traditional configuration. The bat'leth is normally carried by a combatant along the inside of the arm, and is controlled in battle by the grips located on the exterior edge of the weapon. As with Samurai swords, mastery of this ancient weapon requires many hours of training.

The importance of the bat'leth to Klingon culture is reflected in the number of words relating to the weapon and its use that appear in the race's language. To suddenly thrust toward one's opponent with the bat'leth is called the jop. way means to deflect a thrust, or to parry with your opponent. To thrust one of the ends of the bat'leth, as opposed to the long part of the blade, in an upward motion is called chaQ The movement to twirl or rotate the bat'leth is called jlrmoH, while baQ means to toss the weapon from one hand to the other. To change the orientation of the blade from horizontal to vertical is ngol, and lev changes the orientation to the opposite direction.

Bat'leth competitions are held periodically throughout the Alpha and Beta Quadrants as a showcase for Klingon martial arts skills. Worf participates in a competition on Forcas III in 2370, using a bat'leth that has been in his family for ten generations, [TNG: Parallels]. As with all Klingon competitions, this is fraught with danger, and several of the contenders are maimed. Worf nevertheless perseveres and finally triumphs, despite one of his opponents using an illegal T'gha maneuver against him. He takes Champion Standing in the contest and returns to the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D with an impressive trophy to commemorate his victories in the tournament. Worf is also proficient with the mek'leth, a smaller, one-handed version of the bat'leth, first seen in use in [Star Trek VIII: First Contact].

Klingon history holds that the first bat'leth was forged 1,500 years (calculating from the 24th century) ago when Kahless the Unforgettable dipped a lock of his hair into the lava flowing from the Kri'stak volcano. He then plunged the burning lock into the lake of Lursor, twisting and shaping it into a blade. Kahless used this original bat'leth to slay the tyrant Molor and establish the first Klingon Empire in the 10th century. Unfortunately, this ancient bat'leth, known as the Sword of Kahless, was stolen by the Hur'q five centuries after his death during their savage raids on the Klingon homeworld, Qo'noS, and has been lost ever since. The legendary blade is briefly recovered in 2372 by Worf, Jadzia Dax, and Kor, but they elect to release it into open space after realising that its discovery could divide the Klingon Empire and lead to war. The bat'leth nevertheless remains one of the most powerful and cherished icons in Klingon history. A true warrior learns to become one with the blade, and it in return gives meaning and definition to the warrior who wields it.

The inner section of the blade is used primarily to block and counter the movements of an opponent's weapon.

The training of a Klingon in the ways of the warrior begins at a very young age. Alexander Rozhenko, son of Worf and K'Ehleyr, is ready for his First Rite of Ascension in 2370, when he is just four years old. By this stage in his life, Alexander should be showing proficiency in the art of bat'leth combat, yet the young Klingon shows little interest in developing his skills, leading his father, Worf, to admit that he could be better. Nevertheless, with the aid of K'mtar - actually a future version of Alexander from the year 2410 - the young Klingon begins to practice the Koh'manara block and the pak'ara thrust, two vital skills for handling the weapon. K'mtar encourages Alexander to master the bat'leth, and guides him in the variety of different strikes and blocks that can be performed with it, [TNG: Firstborn].

Every part of the bat'leth can be used as a weapon, including the blunt grip by which the blade should be held. In 2370, Kang uses this part of the weapon to block and deflect an opponent's attack, [DS9: Blood Oath].

A Kot'baval Festival is held at the Klingon outpost on Maranga IV. During this time of celebration, bat'leth displays are staged to remember Kahless's victory over the tyrant Molor, [TNG: Firstborn].

Mastering the complexities of bat'leth combat is a difficult task. In 2373, the Ferengi named Quark (who is seen briefly in [#1 and #2 Caretaker]) succeeds in fighting Thopok with a bat'leth only because Worf is coordinating his movements via a virtual control device, [DS9: Looking For par'Mach In All The Wrong Places]. In 2377, Captain Kohlar teaches Tom Paris so that he (Paris) can fight T'Greth in a duel with blunted bat'leths. The duel is abruptly halted when T'Greth collapses from illness, [#160 Prophecy]. See screenshots below.

[#66 Displaced]

In 2373, Tom Paris programmes a bat'leth combat work-out holoprogram which he and Torres use. As they leave it, they see a Nyrian materialise on board, [#66 Displaced]. In 2374, as part of the Day Of Honor ritual, re-created in a holoprogram, Torres must engage in battle with a master of the Bat'leth, but she decides not to go through with it, [#71 Day Of Honor].

Below are screenshots of the bat'leth duel between Paris and T'Greth in [#160 Prophecy]:

In early 2376, in [#123 Barge Of The Dead], Torres hallucinates that after recovering from injuries a Klingon artifact is discovered in the Delta Quadrant and that Tuvok deliberately wounds her with a bat'leth during one of their anger-management sessions.

That evening, in Tuvok's private quarters, he and Torres are engaged in a meditation tutorial. A flame burns in Tuvok's meditation lamp. Tuvok: "Do not under-estimate the power of the mind. The artefact was a catalyst for your already active imagination. It served as an unwelcome reminder of your ancestry, the self-loathing you experience when you look in the mirror and see a Klingon."

Torres: "Who said anything about self-loathing?" Tuvok: "You despise being Klingon. It's no secret. What you experienced in your quarters was a subconscious manifestation of that hatred. The blood in your veins, the voices of your ancestors - all symbols of your Klingon heritage." Torres: "And when the blood disappeared that was, what?, me trying to vaporise that part of myself?"

Tuvok: "Yes, but the essence of who you are, the artefact itself, remained." Torres: "And the moral of the story is?" Tuvok: "Quite simple. That despite your efforts to become something else, whether it be Starfleet or Maquis, your Klingon nature continues to assert itself." Torres: "That's an intriguing theory."

Tuvok: "Perhaps we should forego your meditation in favour of a different exercise."
Torres: "Fine by me."
He goes into the other room.

He returns carrying a Klingon bat'leth ("sword of honour"). Seeing it, she comments drily: "This should be interesting."

Tuvok: "Feel the weight of the bat'leth in your hands."

She takes it. "Describe the first thought that enters your mind."

Torres: "It's a clumsy weapon, overstated, like everything else Klingon." She hands it back to him.

Tuvok, hefting the blade: "You can't see the elegance of its design because of your hatred."

Torres: "I don't hate Klingons."

Tuvok: "It's a warrior's blade," he swings it slowly, "crafted for precision and balance. Observe." He carries out, with ballet-like grace, a number of the set stylised maneuvers with the blade.

Twice he brings the inner curve of the sword to Torres' throat.

She looks at the blade askance, not interested.

Suddenly he sweeps it at her and an edge cuts her cheek, drawing blood.

Crying out, she dives away, touching the wound briefly. Torres: "Is this your idea of therapy?!?!" Tuvok: "Listen to yourself whine like a Ferengi!" Torres snarls a Klingon insult: "PetaQ!"

Tuvok: "You're not worthy of the blood in your veins. A true Klingon would try to kill me where I stand!" Torres: "What the hell has gotten into you?!"

Tuvok: "This exercise is over." He stands by the doors, opening them and keeping them open - a clear indication that she should leave. "You are dismissed, Lieutenant, and take your....dishonour with you." He stresses 'dishonour'.

She glares at him for a moment, then turns and stalks out.