Martok

Martok

Martok
Species	Klingon
Home planet	Qo'noS
Affiliation	Klingon Defense Force
Posting	Rotarran, Deep Space Nine, Qo'noS
Position	Chancellor of the Klingon Empire
Rank	General, Chancellor
Portrayed by	J. G. Hertzler

Martok is a recurring character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, played by actor J. G. Hertzler.

Overview

Little backstory is given regarding the early life of Martok, except for a brief history sketched by himself in the Deep Space Nine episode "Once More Unto the Breach". It is known that he was born into a Klingon house (The House of Martok) that was not part of the aristocracy.

His family had been reputable soldiers, although not officers. Young Martok aspired to become an officer, and eventually applied. Unfortunately, his application was denied because of elitist views from the legendary Klingon warrior Kor regarding the honor and prestige of the "great houses". With a rejection on his record from such a legendary officer, Martok could no longer even serve as a common soldier. He opted to serve, regardless, and spent five years as a civilian laborer on General ShiVang's battle ship. His performance and bravery in battle caught the eye of General ShiVang, who granted him a battlefield commission as an officer. Martok earned his rank of Lieutenant after the Battle of Tcha'voth that earn him a spot as tactical officer aboard the Klingon Cruiser Gothspar, captained by Kultan (ST:DS9 Books The Left Hand of Destiny). At Martok's introduction to the series, he has attained the rank of General.

General Martok

Around 2371, Martok was abducted by agents of the Dominion and replaced with a shapeshifter. The exact date of this is unclear. The shapeshifter inadvertently revealed himself to Odo (who had been misled into believing that Chancellor Gowron was the shapeshifter) at a Klingon award ceremony, and was quickly killed by the Klingons attending the ceremony.

Martok spent two years in a Dominion internment camp, forced to fight Jem'Hadar soldiers daily in hand-to-hand combat for training purposes. Presumably it was during one of these fights that his left eye was gouged out. During his confinement, Martok came to respect the indomitable character and fighting qualities of Worf. In the episode "By Inferno's Light", Martok escapes and returns to the Alpha Quadrant with Elim Garak, Worf, and Julian Bashir, and is made commander of the Klingon forces on Deep Space Nine.

Weeks after this new assignment, Martok took command of a Klingon Bird-of-Prey, the Rotarran, and made it his personal flagship. Initially, the Rotarran's crew were beaten and fatalistic, a fact that was made worse by Martok's apparent reluctance to engage Jem'Hadar forces on their first mission. Eventually, a confrontation between Martok and Worf helped rally both the crew's warrior spirit as well as Martok's. The mission would conclude with the Rotarran engaging and destroying a Jem'Hadar vessel and rescuing thirty-five crewmen from a disabled Klingon ship. A grateful Martok would later invite Worf (who had earlier been stripped of his family name by Gowron) to join Martok's house.

Martok is portrayed as an excellent judge of character, caring deeply about those under his command. These traits, along with his courage and leadership, would serve him well in the Dominion War, during which he fought in several battles, including the battle to retake Deep Space Nine, and the First and Second Battle of Chin'toka. Despite his humble background, Martok would become extremely popular among other warriors and the civilian population, though Martok had repeatedly stated he had no interest in politics. Eventually, he was made Supreme Commander of the Ninth Fleet, a position he initially resented because of the amount of paperwork involved. Like most Klingons, Martok had a disdain for Ferengi, which manifested itself in several refusals to even acknowledge Nog, who at the time was a Starfleet Cadet. It isn't until Nog stands up to Martok and directly challenges him that Martok begins to display a grudging respect for the young Ferengi (episodes "Soldiers of the Empire", "Blaze of Glory").

Shortly before the end of the war ("When It Rains..."), Gowron comes to Deep Space Nine to honor Martok by inducting him into the Order of Kahless, and then announces that he would be taking control of the Klingon forces from Martok because it was time for him to "take a more active role in the war". However, it becomes clear that Gowron is simply worried about Martok getting too powerful politically, and intends to lower Martok's standing by sending him into battles that he cannot win. Worf tries to convince Martok to challenge Gowron, but he refuses. Worf then kills Gowron himself and, rather than accept the title of Chancellor, gives it to Martok ("Tacking Into the Wind").

Chancellor Martok

When the Dominion forces suddenly withdrew into Cardassian territory, the Allies realized that they were withdrawing in order to gain time to recover from their battle wounds, so that they could come back stronger a few years later.

Martok said that the Empire voted to attack right away, and convinced the Federation and Romulans to attack as well. Martok, leading the Klingon fleet; Admiral Ross & Captain Sisko, leading the Federation fleet; and the Romulans attacked and defeated the Dominion.

Despite the refusal of Admiral Ross and Captain Sisko to drink bloodwine with Martok in the halls of Cardassian Central Command, the Federation and Klingons remain allies. Martok is happy to receive Lt. Commander Worf as the Federation Ambassador to Qo'noS. He comments that he now has an Ambassador that he can go targ hunting with and that, for this reason, "perhaps being Chancellor won't be so bad after all". Shortly after the end of the war, Martok and Worf leave DS9 for Qo'noS ("What You Leave Behind").

Personal life

Martok is the son Urthog, and is an only child, who grew up in the Ketha province on Qo'noS.

Martok was married to Lady Sirella, a noble woman, and they had one son, named Drex ("You Are Cordially Invited...", "The Way of the Warrior"), and two daughters named Shen and Lazhna (ST:DS9 Books The Left Hand of Destiny). Martok had a bastard son he had never known of till his return to the home world of Qo'noS as Chancellor, with a Klingon woman named Gothmara before he meet his wife, the Lady Sirella, his name was Morjod (ST:DS9 Books The Left Hand of Destiny).

Martok views marriage as another form of combat, albeit one disguised and more subtle than most ("The Changing Face of Evil").

After Worf joined Martok's house, his son Alexander would be inducted into the house, as would Jadzia Dax, when she married Worf (the latter was initially opposed by Sirella). After Jadzia's death, Martok would come to regard Dax's new host Ezri as a worthy successor to Jadzia and would consider her part of his house as well.

Appearances

Martok's first two appearances on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine were as the Changeling infiltrator, who was killed in "Apocalypse Rising". The real Martok first appeared in "In Purgatory's Shadow".

Season 4 The Way of the Warrior, Parts I and II Season 5 Apocalypse Rising In Purgatory's Shadow By Inferno's Light Soldiers of the Empire Blaze of Glory Call to Arms Season 6 A Time to Stand Sons and Daughters Favor the Bold Sacrifice of Angels You Are Cordially Invited... Far Beyond the Stars Tears of the Prophets

Season 7 Image in the Sand Shadows and Symbols Treachery, Faith, and the Great River Once More Unto the Breach The Emperor's New Cloak Strange Bedfellows The Changing Face of Evil When It Rains... Tacking Into the Wind The Dogs of War What You Leave Behind, Parts I and II

References

External links

• Martok at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)