Spring 2008
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Issue
#73 Spring 2008 |
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So, how does one become a
Klingon on their own? I started attending Science Fiction and Fantasy
conventions back in 1987 in Virginia. Going to these conventions, I
participated in the masquerades as a “Barbarian
Knight” and “Chaos Warrior”. At these
events, there were always members of the Federation running around in
their monster maroon uniforms. Being the fan I was of Star Trek, this
intrigued me but considering my size, I could not see wearing one of
those uniforms. In the video room of one of the conventions, they were
show “Star Trek III, The Search for Spock” and when
I saw Christopher Lloyd playing Kruge, the idea hit me. If he could be
Klingon, I could be Klingon. I fashioned a Klingon style uniform and
with the help of a good friend created my first Klingon head ridge.
During this, other friends of mine also wanted to participate, so using
the FASA Klingon rules and the book “The Final
Reflection”, the IKV Devastator was created.
At our first official
appearance, the three local chapters of Starfleet International had
recruiting tables in the lobby of the hotel of the convention. We had
secured a table and put all of our displays out but had cover it with a
table cloth to hide it. Our table sat between the tables for the USS
Jamestown and the USS Intrepid, and none of the Feds had any idea of
our existence. At this hotel, the elevator entrances for each floor had
balconies which were open to the lobby. We had a recording of the
Klingon music from Star Trek the Motion Picture on cassette which one
of my crew took to the second floor balcony just above the lobby. As
soon as he heard the elevator continue to the lobby with the rest of
the crew, he began playing the music very loudly. As the elevator doors
opened, we had the attention of the crowds and the Feds. Out marched my
crew and I in Klingon attire and went directly to the table and removed
the cover. The expressions on the Feds, was priceless, because they
were not sure what to expect. The crowd roared with laughter at this
and cheer us on as we setup. On the table we had a model of a D7; a
plastic human skull with a sign stating “Former Federation
Captain” and a bowl with a hidden motor which had a wire
attached that moved the all red gummy worms to look like Gagh. We also
had the FASA game books, recruiting flyers and a big sign which stated
“No Tribbles”. Behind the table was a banner with
the Klingon logo in the original colors and we were the hit of the
convention. Once the shock wore off the Feds, they were pleased to have
us around.
A few months later, because of the rapport we developed with the USS
Jamestown and their crew, we were invited to attend one of the
Starfleet International regional conferences a couple of months later.
The crew prepared for the invasion of this conference by securing a
photograph of the USS Jamestown’s captain. We created wanted
posters to post at the conference. One was of James T. Kirk for
“Interstellar Terrorism”, one was of Maltz for
“Treason” and the third was the picture of the USS
Jamestown’s captain and the reason stated “For the
Heck of It!” All of the posters stated to contact a member of
the Klingon Empire. The conference started early Saturday morning in
Roanoke, VA and before we went, we ate breakfast at the local McDonalds
and created quite a stir when the mundanes saw us as Klingons. Once we
arrived at the conference, my crew began posting the posters. While I
was being introduced to Starfleet’s Fleet Admiral by the USS
Jamestown captain, both he and the fleet admiral saw the posters for
Kirk and Maltz and commented on the idea, then all of a sudden, the USS
Jamestown captain saw his wanted poster and immediately wanted to know
where we got the picture. I simply replied “Klingon
Intelligence” and laughed. My crew and I were a hit and funny
thing was by the end of the day, there was not one poster left on a
wall because people were taking them to keep.