There will be a point to this, but you’ll have to be patient!
The most fun I have at Conventions is when serendipity strikes, when by
accident the stars align just right and I have unexpected meetings or find
parties I didn’t expect. As you may know, I am in semi-retirement; last April
I stepped down as CTF commander and decided to take a break from the fun.
This last weekend I wasn’t planning to go to CONvergence, the big local fan-run
convention, but at the last moment, it seemed I had an open time and I went.
It was very hot this weekend so I didn’t want to do Klingon, so I threw my
Sith Lord’s robe in the trunk of the car and went to the hotel. When I got
there I did the usual talking and walking until I found a very good Darth
Maul. The short story is this; he and I, who had not met before, had a blast
going around the parties being dark and Sithy. We saluted the downfall of
goodness and light, we marked women (our friends) to be collected at the end
of the convention (in fun only of course). We insulted people and laughed
villainously all night (Bwah!! hah!! hah!!)
What did I learn from this? Well I now understand the difference between
the Klingons and the Dark Side of the Force. Both Empires respect power, strength
and aggression. They have little time for weakness and sentimentality. If
Darth Sidious was current with the Klingon Empire, he could be a powerful
political force and could sway many to his side. For a short time. He would
lose.
But why? Very simply, to the untrained eye the Klingons seem like they
were made for the Dark side but the central motive of the Warrior race is
honour. When a Klingon is confronted with a situation where the path to power
requires betrayal the true Klingon will suffer the loss rather than lose his
honour. The Sith would grow and rule in the Klingon Empire until it became
apparent that they had no such compunctions. The Sith will betray and enslave,
use and abuse anyone and anything to accomplish their goals, they might find
a better home with the Cardassians or Romulans than with the Klingons I learned
after playing a Sith Lord for a few hours the difference between the two “villains”
is profound. At the end of the day, Klingons are “good guys”
