Star Trek: Klingon Academy

"[opening address to his students] I officially welcome you to the Klingon Defense Forces Elite Command Academy. You have surpassed your peers to earn a place within this distinguished hall... but I tell you, this is not enough. In the days to come, you will be tested beyond your current limitations. Most of you will fail... and failure will mean your immediate dismissal from this institution. Past achievements mean nothing here. I am not interested in the names of your fathers, nor of your family's lineage. What I am interested in... is your breaking point! How will you conduct yourselves in battle? How far will you go to preserve your honor, and fulfill your duty? These are simple questions that will decide the fate of our Empire."

"[lecture before the first simulated starship mission] What a fine collection of warriors... so eager for battle. Are you prepared to destroy your enemies? [the cadets cheer and shout in the affirmative] Really... today, you will fire the first shots in a campaign that will lead to the destruction of the Federation. This campaign is not real... but I assure you, it will be worse than real. If you can defeat them in my simulated trials, you will be able to defeat them anywhere, at any time. I believe you know when an enemy intends you harm... but are you truly prepared? Have you meticulously observed your enemy? Have you discerned his weaknesses, appraised his strengths, discovered his greatest hopes and fears? To know your enemy is to defeat him before you have faced him. Do not wait until you meet him in the coldness of space, for space is the harshest instructor."

"You have all known, since childhood, the symbol of our Empire. It has been called many names throughout the ages. Perhaps the least understood is the "Heart of Virtue", or tiQ ghob, in the ancient tongue. The Heart of Virtue originated from an archaic weapon favored by Kahless, the Unforgettable. It is said he chose this as the symbol of his House and later the Empire because of the weapon's unequaled balance, yet this is inaccurate. Kahless chose it because each of the three blades represents those virtues that are the very foundation of every true warrior: Honor, Loyalty, and Duty, each in perfect balance. Of these three, Duty is the first virtue. It is the beginning and the end of the warrior's path. Without Duty, a warrior becomes the slave of vain glory and reckless self-interest. No true warrior could ever tolerate these vices, neither in his comrades... nor in himself."

"So this is the answer: Polish the blade of Duty, sharpen its edge, until there is nothing it cannot pierce. But do not be lulled into believing this is enough. The longest blade of the Heart of Virtue belongs to Honor. It is the most difficult to master. It has been said, "Mine honor is my life; for that I will live, and for that I will die." What is honor? Honor is the absolute and unselfish adherence to all virtues - to truth, to courage, to forthrightness. It encompasses all these, and yet it is greater. It is the fire illuminating the differences between an armed savage and a true warrior. It is the light that will guide you along the warrior's path."

"[to a much diminished assembly, with the "failures" dismissed] Look around this great hall. What do you see? Many of your peers are gone, yet you remain. That is as it should be. The weak must fall to give place to the strong. Do not allow yourselves to grow careless; security is mortals' chiefest enemy. All true warriors travel the same River of Blood. If one is disgraced, we are all disgraced; if one finds his death in glory, we all share in that glory. No true warrior would allow another to suffer an unjust disgrace, nor would begrudge him the fruits of a well-earned victory. Know this, and your mastery of the Heart of Virtue will be all but complete. Ignore it, and you will ultimately fail yourselves as you fail your comrades. That is why the final blade of the Heart of Virtue signifies Loyalty, because we are all united by our common journey."

"You have come to understand the meaning of the three virtues, and how they may be applied, but understanding does not equate to mastery. True mastery can only be achieved with perfect balance. Therein lies the challenge and mystery of the Heart of Virtue. Any warrior deficient in one aspect is ultimately doomed to fail. Therefore, ask yourselves: Is your honor perfect? Are you unerring in your duty? Is your loyalty beyond reproach? Every warrior's life is the Empire's, but every warrior's soul is his own. This balance is a quest that may require a lifetime to fulfill; it is not a lesson that can be taught. It is something you must discover for yourselves as you travel the River of Blood."

"[regarding the Federation's political acumen] They have successfully knitted together countless worlds of diverse races, plundered their resources, assimilated their technologies, and absorbed their wealth. This is their strength, but it is also their greatest weakness. Their size is difficult to defend, their resources are scattered by time and space, their political system is unwieldy. These races were brought into the Federation not naturally through conquest, but through... diplomacy. This last is the key, for it renders the Federation a brittle unity, unity we will shatter in the days to come. It is war's prize to take all advantages."

"[final lecture] This will be my last address. It marks the end of the Academy's term, and your graduating mission. Whether you fail or succeed in this last trial, I again urge you to remember: You are all Klingons. You carry a legacy in your blood that lends strength to your deeds and strikes terror in the hearts of your enemies. The hope of every Klingon is to die in the service of the Empire. There is no dishonor in falling before a superior foe, if your heart is pure, your actions forthright! What you have been taught will serve you throughout your battles to come, until one day, you earn an honorable and glorious death."

"Christopher Plummer – General Chang"

"David Warner – Chancellor Gorkon"

"Greg Eagles – Torlek (voice only)"

"J. Paul Boehmer – Melkor"