The Admiral’s Log: My Journey Through ‘Star Trek Online’ – Part LXXI

Written by John Edward Betancourt

‘The Centre Does Not Hold’ Recap

Well hello again my fellow starship commanders! It’s hailing frequencies open for The Admiral’s Log and in today’s edition of this here blog, we have new content to discuss! Because at long last, Star Trek Online brought ‘House Divided’ to consoles and well, it is just wonderful to yet again be enjoying brand new episodes in STO and really, the folks behind the scenes deserve some serious applause for what they’ve put together this time around. Because the ‘The Centre Does Not Hold’ is quite the epic adventure, one that outright feels like a digital adaptation of a television episode thanks to the incredible moments it brings to the table. 
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A feat that is accomplished by way of an important meeting that you are asked to attend on Qo’nos. For J’ula is finally going to stand before the Klingon High Council and answer for her crimes. Which seems fairly by the numbers and unremarkable since we’ve seen this before in the Star Trek Universe. But what makes this particular part of the episode so epic and so special, is its subtlety and ability to surprise. Because you quickly come to learn that J’ula has been quietly sowing discontent and discord amongst the houses of the Empire. And that her poisonous and dangerous words have been resonating with anyone that listens since you also find yourself in the middle of a firefight when she attempts to assassinate the Chancellor in the Great Hall. 

But while that alone is pretty stunning and powerful in its own right, this particular tale isn’t quite done yet in providing you with grandiose moments that take your breath away. Because J’ula’s attempt to take Chancellor J’mpok out was merely the beginning of a grand campaign on her part to take control of the Klingon Empire and wage war against the Federation once again. For distress call after distress call comes in once you’ve mopped up her forces in the Great Hall and that leads to some incredible combat sequences. The kind where you face off against House Mo’Kai and their allies. And the endless waves of Birds of Prey that head your way, definitely engender concern, since you start to wonder if the Empire can handle this kind of internal threat, and those worries are extended to Starfleet as well. 

For a distress call from a nearby Starbase clues you into the fact that J’ula spent her time in silence, refining weapons and strategy. Because she is able to infect Federation vessels with a computer virus that can turn them against allies and that leads to more epic combat moments. Since you’re forced to disable Starfleet ships before they can purge their systems of the virus and this endless combat really is something special. Because eventually it motivates you to push harder and win the day and while you are eventually successful in pushing her forces back, the victory comes at quite the ugly price. For the aforementioned Starbase is lost in combat thanks to the virus and innocent Klingon citizens are murdered since J’ula believes fear is the best way to rule and to top it all off, a powerful ally of the Federation, is thrust into chaos. 

Because this is in essence, the beginning of another Klingon Civil War, one that is being waged out of fear and that makes this conflict quite dangerous, and it will be interesting to see where this story takes us in the weeks and months to come. But in the here and the now, this is one hell of a way to kick off this new chapter in the game. Because my goodness, action and adventure are everywhere to be found in this story, and you can never go wrong with a tale that forces you to fight alongside the Enterprise. Because if she’s being called into action, you know the situation is dire and the stakes are high and well, this is just the beginning of this blog’s coverage of this event and everything it has to offer. So, we will definitely be taking a break from the Retro Replays as we explore the new TFO’s present here and of course, the next episode in this storyline, and it just so happens that said new episode is precisely where this Log will resume, come next Thursday. Until then, Galactica out.

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