Star Trek Online/Codex/The Path to 2409/2394

Chancellor J'mpok of the Klingon High Council moved to cement his position by launching the negotiations with Melani D'ian of the Orion Syndicate into high gear. "Martok was interested in the secrets she claimed to offer, but he knew that any agreement with the Syndicate would be difficult," said Tag Morkek, a political analyst for the Tellar News Service who specializes in Klingon affairs. "The Emerald Empress is slippery. Melani's idea of 'truth' can change from minute to minute."

"Still, J'mpok's House is weak. He's going to need support if he wants to stay in power."

Federation informants inside the Klingon Empire said that the House of J'mpok, which was one of the smallest of the Great Houses, was being pressured by the House of Martok and its allies. J'mpok's rapid rise to the Chancellorship improved the House's prospects, but it lacked resources and ships and its lands in the Pheben system were poor.

"The only thing keeping the House of Martok from declaring open war is Drax," said one anonymous source. "One he recovers from his wounds, it's only a matter of time." On Stardate 71283.12, Melani D'ian met Chancellor J'mpok in person on Ter'jas Mor. After four days of negotiations, the two agreed to sign a non-aggression and mutual defense pact.

In exchange for the Orion Syndicate's allegiance, the Klingon Empire agreed to provvide them with ships and weapons. In addition, Melani D'ian further agreed to share technology and information with the Klingons in exchange for a planet in Klingon space that the Orions could rule as a vassal state.

"Having access to the Syndicate information network could be a huge advantage for the Empire," said Tag Morkek of the Tellar News Service. "Klingon Intelligence is good, but they're not everywhere like the Syndicate is."

As a gift to celebrate their new alliance, Melani sent 1,500 Orion women to be servants in the Great Houses on Qo'noS. melani herself settled into an estate on Tar'jas Mor, and the remaining Orions still on the Orion homeworld made plans to emigrate by the end of 2394.

The Federation Council condemned the Klingon's alliance with the Orion syndicate as support for criminals, and Starfleet Command vowed to continue pursuing and shutting down Syndicate operations in Federation space.

"There's nothing in the Khitomer Accords that say we need to stand by and let allies of the Klingons sell illegal substances, raid our commercial transports and traffic in restricted technology," said a spokesperson.

In fact, reviews of Starfleet reports showed that Syndicate traffic increased significantly after Melani D'ian seized control, Melanie ruthlessly purged anyone she deems "untrustworthy," and fused the remaining Orions into a unified organization that answered to her alone.

"She's dangerous," admitted Admiral Jorel Quinn on an episode of the Federation News Service program Illuminating the City of Light. "Before, the Syndicate was controllable because there were multiple leaders competing for influence and power. Now Starfleet Command has to dedicate more resources to keeping them in check."

In Romulan space, the Romulan Colonial Organization Committee completed its initial work to form a permanent government for the Romulan Star Empire. The RCOC narrowly rejected the plan to reform the Romulan monarchy, deciding instead to organize a new Romulan Senate at Nova Roma, the new name for the capital being constructed on Rator III. The committee offered Admiral Taris, the hero of Zeta Pictoris, the position of Praetorm but the majority of legislative and executive power was held by the reformed Romulan Senate.

The case at the heart of the fight over the legal status of artificial lifeforms came to a close when the Supreme Court of the Federation ruled that The Doctor is indeed a sentient being, and, as such, he had the right to self-determination and the right to retain the mobile emitter brought back from the Delta Quadrant.

The court went on to set standards which artificial lifefroms must pass to be considered sentient, and ruled that any that cannot do so are technological constructs that are the property of their creators or owners.

"This is a major victory," said Alyssa Cogly-Shaw of the Soong Foundation after the ruling. "These are people, not replicators. We won't stop until every photonic lifeform has the right to choose how they want to live."

When Ambassador Worf returned to Qo'noS, he found he was in need of a new executive aide. The ambassador's son, Alexander Rozhenko, had resigned his position as a diplomat for the Federation and left Qo'noS, sending his son D'Vak to stay with Worf and his family.

"Alex tried to live like a good Klingon, but his heart was never in it," a source told the Federation News Service. "When his wife left, that was the breaking point." "I think what B'Enn really loved was belonging to the House of Martok. After the Chancellor died, she was ready to move on."

Friends said D'Vak's mother B'Enn had returned to her home on H'atoria and Rozhenko was on what he called a "personal exploration."

His first stop was Boreth. While there, he planned to undergo the Challenge of Spirit.