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The PLANET
Kronos, or Qo’noS, 1 is an M-class planet that orbits in
the Klinzhai system2 and is found at galactic coordinates (-321.5,
48.6, -87.9). It is the second planet of the system and is nearly one and a
half times the size of Earth. Kronos is the only world in its five-planet
system that is inherently capable of sustaining life, although ecological
changes have made life more tenuous. On all other occupied planets in the
system, Klingons have had to use large amounts of relatively sophisticated
technology to live there. The surface of Kronos is a vast shallow ocean3 with a large single
landmass. On the landmass itself there
are many small bodies of water scattered around it. The largest thirteen of
these, the only ones that show up on a planetary map, are very salty. Kronos has a severely
tilted axis that causes dramatic seasonal changes, turbulent wind patterns and extremes of weather.4
Kronos is unique
among M-class worlds in that it has very little botanical diversity.
Geological information from Kronos suggests that the world was once rather lush
and wet, but suffered due to a large asteroid, which altered the axial tilt of
the planet. This asteroid is also thought to have caused enormous pressure in
the planet’s interior, which led to disastrous earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions. Fossils found in the underground water pockets and in the lava rock
show that a form of klingonoid existed before the time of the asteroid. Apparently, damage caused by the asteroid changed
the level of silicates in the surface of the planet, thus making it less
adaptable for vegetation. This caused nearly every native species to evolve
into a carnivorous form.
Because
of the axial tilt to the planet and because of the high carbon dioxide layer
(and the greenhouse effect that it creates) as well as the large surface area
of the ocean, the weather tends to be very turbulent. The ecological devastation of Praxis has also affected the
ecology and climate of the planet.
DEVELOPMENT
OF A SENTIENT RACE ON KRONOS
It has been considered that
the Klingon people were ‘seeded’ on Kronos, possibly by a race called The
Preservers, when the planet was lush. Some scientists have put this theory
forth due to the chemical differentiations within the Klingon genome bearing no
chemical resemblance to some of the rest of the life on the planet. Since this theory is relatively new, most scientists concur that the Augment Virus of
2154 resulted in the chemical changes as well as genetic tampering by the
Klingons themselves. Nevertheless, the
abundance of klingonoid-type beings within the Sagittarian region of space5,
scientists use the taxonomical term Homo sagittari to refer to similar
proto-klingon beings of Kronos6.
The current physical
state of the Klingon people is as it has been since long before the time of
Kahless. However, the race ultimately developed from a quasi-mammalian creature
with a very strong exoskeleton (Homo
sagittari scutis), a design not unique to Kronos according to some
researchers. The exoskeleton was composed of large, thick bone plates that
almost completely overlapped. The H.
sagittari scutis had a spinal ridge along the back and fore limbs, and
possessed an opposable thumb. The H.
sagittari scutis could squat on its hind legs to use the forelimbs to
break, rip and hold. The hominid living in a harsh environment, developed redundant
organs, possessing multiple versions of most important internal parts, such as
lung, liver and kidneys; the heart had 8 chambers.
The social behavior of H. sagittari scutis has recently been inferred by observation of
the similar extant hominid native to the polar plateaus of Kronos -- Simia q’onoenis. The H.
sagittari scutis dominated the planet (fossils cover much of the planet)
living in small family units (troops) lead by a dominant breeding female, the
dominant male living outside the troop but in the same area. The males
separated from the troop at about 6 years. At this age the male would seek out
a mate from a different troop.
Males that
encountered another male without a troop would usually instigate a fight to the
death. Ultimately the male would encounter an unrelated troop challenging the
dominant male or taking a female away. Challenging a dominant male was a risky
business and fights were always to the death. Once a troop was won in this way
it was usually necessary to cull those that were a threat, most commonly the
males near maturity and the dominant female. At times if two males of the same
troop reached maturity at the same time they would leave together. In this rare
circumstance, the two males would almost always seek out a large troop and
defeat the dominant male, culling those that were a threat. At times the dominant partner would become
the dominant male and breed, the other male would assist in keeping the area
free of other males. At other times the two males would split the troop and
territory, then would either severe all ties or, quite commonly, to offer
mutual defense to each other –forming a larger unit (clan).
During times of famine
the troops would be forced to move into territories claimed by other clans.
Invariably this led to fights among groups. In most cases the older females and
the males near maturity would assist the dominant male, as the threat was so
serious the whole troop might die if the territory was lost. In these
circumstances familial clans would unite and work together.7 This proto-klingon, after being a dominent
species, quickly exits the fossil layer and is replaced by the heartier Homo sagittari osteodermis.
Homo sagittari
osteodermis appears after a planetary catasphrophe affected the planet of Kronos,
dramatically changing the planetary surface into a much harsher
environment. Due to evidence found in
the bones of H. sagittari scutis, famine seems to have occurred on a large
planetary scale. The times of famine increased and slowly Homo sagittari scutis
started to be replaced by Homo sagittari osteodermis. Although H. sagitarri osteodermis was slower in
movement than H. sagittari scutis, he
had the advantage of a stronger exosheleton and greater strength giving it the
ability to bring down larger prey. This also meant that H. sagittari
osteodermis’ troops, families and clans were more successful in times of
conflict.
The hostile
environment of Kronos that had necessitated the development of the exoskeleton
slowly changed and in time the exoskeleton was slowly replaced by a stronger
endoskeleton. Eventually the Klingon became a creature with several bony plates
covering the vital areas of the body, such as chest, stomach and head. The
spinal back ridge was retained and many retained plates on the upper and fore
arm. There were also at this time still some cases of both H.sagittari scutis and H.
sagittari osteodermis, however both slowly gave way to the faster and free
moving Homo sagittari loricatis. The
three sub species were fully compatible for mating purposes and the main reason
for the decline of the more primitive forms was the dominance of the more agile Homo sagittari loricatus males.
Slowly, the amount of
bony plates reduced. The exterior cranial plate was still used presumably in
combat, not always to the death, between males to settle disputes. For this
reason the exterior cranial plate was the last to be subsumed by the
endoskeleton. The spinal ridge on the back disappeared just before the cranial
plate, this left a lumpy appearance in the internal spinal column in the new
Klingon form.
Finally the exterior
cranial plate was lost and the modern Klingon form came into being. The
internal skull had been reinforced to defend against the force of the Homo q’onoensis kranialis males striking
their heads together. This gave the Klingon the well known cranial ridges. Over time Homo q’onoensis kranialis developed a more settled lifestyle and their
rudimentary use of implements led to the development of more complex tools. Homo q’onoensis kranialis began
fashioning implements from wood, rock and bone using sinew as a binding
material.
As the use of
implements grew and brain size increased, the nomadic nature of clans becomes
more settled. Thus we see the
development of the large-brained Homo q’onoensis sapiens – the modern
Klingon. This development brought shelters
and farming i.e. animal husbandry. In time, the use of implements led to the
discovery of metals to replace bone and rock. Homo q’onoensis sapiens also developed the use of tools for modern defense
and aggression – modern bladed weapons. Such weapons became commonly used in
settling disputes, often fatally. This practice increased and became a pastime
in itself. The male Homo q’onoensis sapiens regularly spar with
each other violently for sport. This activity led to more success among more
intelligent, larger-brained males when disputes with other clans arose. At this time, clans developed into the first
Klingon societies.
Klingon evolutionary progression synopsis:
Homo sagittari scutis* – first known klingonoid biped developed from a ‘mammalian’ creature with a covering of heavy, scaled body plates/exoskeleton; opposable thumb; considered as the first with redundant organs; fossils suggest poison glands
Homo sagittari osteodermis* – A primitive klingonoid with several bony plates covering the vital areas of the body, such as chest, stomach and head. A prominent spinal back ridge with hard back plates and thick plates on the upper and fore arms
Homo sagittari loricatis* - Klingonoid with several bony plates covering the vital areas of the body, such as chest, stomach and head. The spinal back ridge was retained and many retained plates on the upper and fore arms; developed the use of tools, such as utilizing rocks and sticks to break open the shells of other creatures
Homo q’onoensis kranialis - The thick exterior cranial plate was used in combat (?). For this reason the exterior cranial plate considered the last to be subsumed by the endoskeleton(skull thickens). Noticeable reduction of body plates / the spinal back ridge on the back disappeared just before the cranial plate, this left a lumpy appearance in the internal spinal column; development of tools for combat and hunting
Homo q’onoensis sapiens (Homo sapiens sapiens q’onoensis) – modern Klingon; retains prominent cranial ridges; hard leathery pads covering vital areas of body (chest, stomach, back, and upper parts of limbs); continued development of tools, development of recreational implements; settlements instead of nomadic lifestyle/animal husbandry, as opposed to hunting as main food source.
* When speaking of the specific variant found on Kronos, the taxonomic name is usually followed by the variant name. Ex. Homo sagittari scutis var. qo’noensis. However, in this information the specific variant is understood and will not be expressed.
Notes:
- also
called Klinzhai by its inhabitants, the same name as the system. When Klingons say “Klinzhai” they are
not referring to merely the planet but to the entirety of their
“residence” in the Universe.
Klingon writing and song often use Klinzhai to refer to the
Universe as a whole, indicating the Klingon “right” to dominate all. (Note
that the “Klinzhai” is sometimes spelled “Klinshai” in other
cultures/dialects)
- Some still use the antiquated term “the Kling (or Klin)
system”
- Past scientists claimed that the planet was made up entirely
of a great landmass with few instances of water. However, we know that to not be true; although it does lack
the great percentage of water found on Earth.
- Also see “The Asteroidal Tilt Change” or the modern “The
Praxis Catastrophe” for more details
- From a Terran perspective (?)
- Humanoids from several star systems in the “Sagittarian
Region” have very similar ‘klingonoid” features, most apparently the
ridged forehead. Other
similarities include a redundant organ system and various biological
processes. Planets where the
similarities are most observed naturally occurring include ‘Eng, Hoj, Busha,
Azul VI, Tuqval, Daghtuj, Tysam, Majake, and Gillis IV.
- Social organization is based on archeological evidence and
the observations of Simia q’onoenis,
which shares 97% of its DNA with modern Klingons (Homo q’onoensis sapiens)
