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

Written by John Edward Betancourt

‘Leap of Faith’ Recap

Well, hello again my fellow captains and admirals! It is hailing frequencies open once again for The Admiral’s Log and well, I hope that each and every one of you out there are enjoying this year’s Anniversary Event in Star Trek Online. For this admiral has come to discover that there is a ton to do this year, to the point where I am finding myself in game for a lot longer than I usually am, and that’s not a bad thing in the slightest. Because this is STO we are talking about here and being able to fly about the galaxy in your own starship and live your own Trek adventure is just the best. Especially when some of the missions you take part in, dive into aspects of the franchise that have only been touched upon lightly, such as today’s spotlighted episode.
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For the finale mission in 'House Reborn' deals with Klingon Religion in the most unique way imaginable. For ‘Leap of Faith’ revolves around J’Ula’s attempts to reunite Chancellor L’Rell’s soul with her body and well… that takes the player into a place that up until now has only been relegated to myth and legend and outright hallucination… Gre’thor. Which is basically, the Klingon equivalent of Hell for those unfamiliar with the word and uh, gotta admit, this was quite the surprising destination to inject into the game. Because it more or less confirms that an afterlife exists in a universe where science rules the day, and uh… that likely means we need to settle in and discuss the implications of that somewhere down the line, since that is a huge deal. 

But in the here and the now, it is best we focus upon the mission itself, because it does boast quite the wild story. One that is full of surprises and offers out a shout out to the franchise's rich past. Since our voyage through Gre’thor does indeed feature the Barge of the Dead, a method of transport that was first featured in a Star Trek: Voyager episode, that boasts the same name as that boat, complete with the ferry master that appeared in that particular tale and it is rather wild to be standing on this barge whilst you wait to enter the gates of Hell and what you find there, is equally as incredible. For it is the perfect hybrid of the human concept of Hell, with all the Klingon aesthetics that speak to dishonor and the wonder of this fascinating place don’t end there.

Because eventually, you get to meet and fight, Fek’lhr. Who just so happens to be the Klingon equivalent of the Devil and your battle with him is all part of the plan to free L’Rell. Which of course you manage to do, giving hope to all that the Empire might find peace and unity and the Warrior’s Way once again. But while that is a happy ending to a fantastical tale, let’s be honest… there’s one big surprise hanging over this particular tale that genuinely leaves one excited for the future of Klingon themed storytelling in this game. Simply because we also came to learn that Gowron, the once proud and eventually mad Chancellor of the High Council, that appeared in multiple episodes of The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine​, is roaming about the Klingon afterlife and looking for purpose, and well… he might be returning to the forefront of storytelling when this mess is over and that really is a fascinating prospect.

Simply because he could potentially redeem himself for his sour ending in DS9 and it will be interesting to see what STO does with the character down the line. But while we wait for that day to come, we can bask in what is hands down, the game’s most unique story to date. Because this one really is loaded to the brim with all kinds of philosophical concepts about Heaven and Hell and morality, and it does add an incredible wrinkle to the Klingon mythos for certain and one does have to wonder if Star Trek Online will explore this further on down the line, by perhaps even going so far as to explore what lies beyond the gates of Sto-vo-kor. But for now, the time has come for the Empire and its civil war to potentially come to a close and since it will be some time before those missions arrive, it is back to the Anniversary grind and what that looks like, is precisely where this blog will pick up, next time. Until then, Galactica out.

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