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

Written by John Edward Betancourt

‘Knowledge is Power’ Recap

Well, hello again my fellow captains and admirals! It is hailing frequencies open for The Admiral’s Log and in today’s edition of this blog, the time has come to once again dive into a brand-new episode in Star Trek Online. Because the launch of ‘House Reborn’ brought with it two fresh stories for players to partake in and truth be told, I was pretty darn excited to dive into these. Simply because the writing has been top-notch in this game as of late, since this plot thread has provided us with one of the juiciest Klingon related storylines in years. One that has put the future of the Empire in great peril and well, when we catch up with J’Ula in ‘Knowledge is Power’, she is hoping to save the Klingon Empire by walking the same path as her brother did two centuries ago.

Which means it is off to the monastery world of Boreth, to see what the Time Crystals that reside there can teach her. Which of course, immediately gets the player excited to walk the hallowed halls that Captain Christopher Pike once did. But alas, shortly after a quick battle, it becomes clear that your character won’t be beaming down to the planet. Instead, you are relegated to combat patrol above the planet to keep J’Ula safe, leaving one to wonder exactly how this episode is going to play out and how exactly you get to stand in those aforementioned halls… and that is when the game outright surprises you, by allowing for you to take control of the now redeemed J’Ula and experience her journey through Boreth firsthand, and this is just… brilliant.

Because it allows for players that haven’t chosen the KDF path in game, to finally get a proper Klingon experience. One that teaches the player about the proud traditions of the Empire and the power of honor as you go through some fascinating and difficult trials with J’Ula. The kind that features combat with Klingon legends and J’Ula’s inner self in order to find the answers she so desperately seeks and speaking of combat, I honestly didn’t expect to find much of that in this mission since Boreth is an isolated and sacred world. But alas, J’mpok’s treachery and bloodlust know no bounds and that forces the player to genuinely fight for every inch forward in this mission and that also makes the finale of this tale quite satisfying to say the least. Since you eventually reach the Time Crystals and take part in some powerful visions.

The kind that shows J’Ula the end of Qo’noS and the end of the Empire and our main character’s life as well, if J’Ula opts to stay on this current path, and you’re also treated to a fascinating vision that sees a being forged in fire, hoist the sword of Kahless to the sky, in order to finally reunite the houses and well, it is that second vision that brought forth the finest moment in this tale. For Tenavik (played brilliantly by Sam Witwer here) realizes that the forging in fire aspect of that vision, relates to a special facility on Boreth. One that can clone old heroes in a time of need for the Empire and toying with that once again, brings forth the return of Chancellor L’Rell. A Klingon warrior that is so savvy and so brave that she should be able to bring order to chaos… provided of course J’Ula can bring L’Rell’s soul back to her body and it would seem that quest will be the focus of the second episode in this arc.

An arc that quite frankly, is about as epic as they come. Because this particular story, while intimate in nature, really does make it clear that the Klingon Empire is in complete and utter chaos at the moment, to the point where warring factions are eager to throw courtesy and tradition aside and well, it will only get worse before it gets better. Which definitely compels the player and this admiral to continue the journey post-haste. So, we can all learn exactly how J’Ula will pull L’Rell’s soul from Sto-vo-kor and reunite it with her body, and see firsthand... how exactly the resurrected chancellor will figure out how to unite a completely fractured Empire and well, that particular journey is where this the log will pick up, next time. Until then, Galactica out.

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