Praxis

Praxis

Praxis (Klingonese:pIraQSIS) was aplanetary body, amoon thatorbited theKlingonhomeworld ofQo'noS in theKlingon home system inthe galaxy'sBeta Quadrant.

History and specifics[]

Legend had it that Praxis was a gift given to the Klingons from their gods. The legend came from the era when the Klingons first traveled into space and was the first world they visited away from their own planet. (STreference:Federation: The First 150 Years)

At some unknown period in the distant past, theIconians deployed one of theirGateways on this moon where it remained undetected for hundreds of years. (TNGnovel:Doors Into Chaos)

When the Klingons first went into space, they regarded Praxis as gift from the Klingon gods. It was the first world visited by the Klingons, who found it contained a rich mineral supply. For many years, the Klingons used the moltencore of Praxis to provide theEmpire with energy. The Klingons were the first people to test such a procedure and their work was duplicated by theBajorans, who tapped their moon ofJeraddo to provide a similar source of energy forBajor. (DS9 -Millenniumnovel:The Fall of Terok Nor;STreference:Federation: The First 150 Years;DS9episode: "Progress")

In2293, over-mining and insufficient safety precautions led to the destruction of Praxis in a massive explosion. The shockwave from the explosion damaged Qo'noS'sozone layer, hit theUSSExcelsior, and the remains of the moon formed anasteroid belt around Qo'noS which threatened all life on the planet. Klingon scientists estimated Qo'noS would not be able to support life just thirty-four years after the disaster, and the Federation predicted the fall of the Klingon Empire within fifty years as a result. (TOSmovie &novelization:The Undiscovered Country;TOSnovel:Sarek;ST -Klingons -Blood Will Tellcomic: "Issue 3")

The devastation also opened a political rift within the Empire, half of theHigh Council favored a typical Klingon response of striking out to take whatever the Empire needed to recover from the disaster. However the other half, led by the ChancellorGorkon, suggested requesting aid from the Federation to help the Empire repair the damage. The Council finally decided in favor of Gorkon's plans and opened peace talks with theFederation. (ST -Klingons -Blood Will Tellcomics: "Against Their Nature", "Issue 5";TOSmovie:The Undiscovered Country)

The destruction of the moon also destroyed the Iconian Gateway within it, leaving remnants of the ancient device that remained undetected until2376. (TNGnovel:Doors Into Chaos)

The remnants of Praxis formed thePraxis Ring. (STnovel:Cast No Shadow)

Some people believed that information learned from the explosion of Praxis was used in the so-calledOmega Device. Specifically, it was thought that the device may well be used for a similar effect: asubspace shockwave. (Last Unicorn RPGmodule:Planetary Adventures)

Alternate realities and histories[]

Mirror universe[]

In themirror universe, starting in2289, Praxis was the site of a secret facility used to construct specialBirds-of-Prey which could fire torpedoes whilecloaked. To power the production, and the cloaking field that kept it hidden fromTerran spy arrays the energy production on Praxis was tripled.

Four years later, in2293, Praxis exploded, causing massive ecological damage toQo'noS: toxic elements from Praxis' crust began to break down theatmosphere and contaminatewater supplies, threatening the end to higher-order lifeforms within fifty years. Additionally seventy percent of the population were inflicted with deadlyxenocerium poisoning.

However, unlike in theprimary universe, the incident did not inspire peace between the Klingons and Humans, despite an offer fromEmperorSpock to provide medical and scientific assistance. Instead, the Klingons formed analliance with theCardassians and conquered theTerran Republic, using the fleet of modified Birds-of-Prey begun at Praxis. (TOS -Mirror Universenovel:The Sorrows of Empire)

It seems probable the ecological effects of the Praxis explosion in the mirror universe will have been the same as in the primary universe. It is also possible the cause - over taxation of the moon for the secret production of modified Birds-of-Prey - was the same, or similar, in both universes.

In one permutation of the mirror universe, Praxis was destroyed by Klingon terrorists in 2293, in an attempt to create chaos among the Terran colonists residing on the surface of Qo'noS. (Decipher RPGmodule:Through a Glass, Darkly)

Kelvin timeline[]

In theKelvin timeline,Section 31 undertook an aggressive militarization of Starfleet, Praxis being a prime target to cripple theKlingon Empire. In2259,AdmiralAlexander Marcus, dispatchedLieutenant "John Harrison", who utilized a personaltransporter to beam in alone, to destroy the moon. After dispatching the guards, Harrison planted demolition charges, and then beamed down to theKetha Province onQo'noS where he bore witness to the explosion. Viewing Praxis's destruction however reawakened his dormant memories, causing him to remember his true identity. (TOS -Khancomic: "Issue 4")

Admiral Marcus claims that "Harrison" was pulled out of previous, failed, mission to destroy Praxis. Given Section 31's duplicitous nature, it is not known if there ever was a Lieutenant "John Harrison", let alone a previous mission to Praxis.

WhenKirk andUhura took a security team to the Klingon homeworld in pursuit of the renegade John Harrison, Praxis was seen from orbit, shattered. Chunks that fell from orbit caused severe devastation on the planet, laying waste to much of Ketha Province. (TOSmovie:Star Trek Into Darkness)

Other alternate realities[]

In analternate reality where a war ensued between the Klingon Empire and Federation over the Federation's refusal to share the technology of theGenesis Device, the device was deployed against the empire on the Klingon moon of Praxis.

Having reached a stalemate in the five year war, the Federation felt that deployment of the device on Praxis would act as a demonstration of force and lead to a possible Klingon surrender. Although the moon had a population of about 500,000, the Federation thought that since most either lived underground or in colonies protected by shields and domes, the inhabitants would be spared any ill-effects from the Genesis wave as it re-formed the moon's surface. TheKatai, a Klingon ship in the possession of the Federation, made the journey to the Qo'noS system under the command ofAdmiralThelin and deployed the Genesis Device.

Out of the 500,000 inhabitants on Praxis, only about 2,000 survived theterraforming of the moon as most died due to shields overloading or residing in settlements that proved to be too close to the surface. The attack led to an immediate surrender of the empire to the Federation.

It was later discovered during peace negotiations onKhitomer that deployment of the Genesis Device had prevented the moon from potentially exploding within a year's time. (ST -Myriad Universesnovel:The Chimes at Midnight)

See also[]

• Praxis Station

Appendices[]

Connections[]

References[]

• STvideo game:Klingon Academy
• STvideo game:Infinite
• STvideo game:Fleet Command

External link[]

• Praxis article atMemory Alpha, the wiki for canonStar Trek.