| “ | Duras: For many turns, the truth about Khitomer has lain dormant. Unknown. Now the truth has been revealed. The traitor, Mogh, sent the defense access codes to the Romulan patrol ships, allowing them to destroy the outpost. Thousands died on Khitomer! My father died on Khitomer! Their deaths must be avenged. Your father was a traitor. By posing this challenge, you are a traitor! You will not wear the emblems of our people. You are a fool, and your challenge can only result in a fool's death. Worf: It is a good day to die, Duras, and the day is not yet over." |
„ |
| ~ Duras incriminating Worf for the massacre of Khitomer supposedly perpetrated by his father, but actually resulting from the betrayal of Duras' father. |
| “ | Duras: I'm the only one, Worf! The only one who can prove your innocence! Kill me and you're a traitor forever! Worf: Then that is how it shall be!! |
„ |
| ~ Duras' last words before being killed by Worf. |
Duras, son of Ja'Rod is a Klingon and a supporting antagonist in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
He was portrayed by Patrick Massett.
Personality[]
| “ | But Duras? I know him. His heart is not Klingon. | „ |
| ~ Worf about Duras. |
Duras is a cruel, aggressive, treacherous, and unscrupulous Klingon. He is ready to destroy the integrity of the House of Mogh just to save the honor of his own House even if this one is indeed dishonored by the betrayal of his father, showing that Duras is above all a corrupt hypocrite who places no real value on honor. To achieve his goal, Duras does not hesitate to resort to blackmail, intimidation or murder. He rarely attacks head-on, letting a henchman do the dirty work or employing underhanded techniques himself to eliminate those in his path. Despite his unparalleled cruelty and lust for power, Duras proved to be mostly a coward, trying to buy his survival as he began losing to Worf in a duel by truth only he knew.
Biography[]
A member of the influential House of Duras and the son of Ja'rod, Duras was a powerful and ambitious man. In 2366 he captured a Romulan vessel, which had records providing proof that his father had betrayed the Kithomer outpost to the Romulans, resulting in the deaths of over 4,000 Klingons - including Worf's father Mogh and mother Kassin.
Under Klingon law Duras was responsible for the treason of his father. Unwilling to face the music, and feeling that if the truth was known it would cause a civil war K'mpec and the rest of the council buried the truth. Needing someone to blame for the attack they decided on Ja'rod's rival Mogh. They thought that with Worf living in the Federation and serving in Starfleet he would not even be aware of the decision. However what they didn't know was that Mogh had a second son named Kurn, who had been hidden with a friend of the family before the other members of the family went to Khitomer.
Duras accusing the House of Mogh for the Khitomer Massacre
Returning to Qo'noS Worf challenged the decision of the council. Duras proceeded to prosecute Worf for the supposed crimes Mogh had committed. Meanwhile, learning that Kurn - who was standing with Worf as Cha'DIch - was a second son of Mogh he arranged to meet Kurn nearby, and tried to assassinate Kurn. With Kurn seriously injured in the attack, Worf chose Captain Jean-Luc Picard as his Cha'DIch.
Learning that Worf's nursemaid Kahlest had survived the attack on Khitomer and was living again on Qo'noS, Picard went to see her to see if she could help. She informed Picard that Mogh was not the traitor - that he was loyal to the Emperor, but she didn't know who the traitor was nor could she testify. After Picard left he had to fight off two assassins sent by Duras to kill him. Impressed with Picard's bravery and feeling Worf chose well Kahlest changed her mind and accompanied Picard to the council chambers. Seeing her K'mpec ordered Worf, Picard, Kahlest, and Duras into his chambers.
You are the son of a traitor.
There it came out that it was Duras's dishonor the council was protecting. Unwilling to have her testimony heard in open council Kahlest was allowed to return home. There K'mpec admitted that Mogh was not the traitor, but Ja'rod was. Worf decided to accept discommendation from the Empire as long as they left Kurn alone. Before leaving Worf backhands Duras and calls him a "son of a traitor."
Over the next year Duras began poisoning K'mpec slowly with Veridium Six. Eventually the poison killed K'mpec, but not before he met with Picard and got him to be his arbiter of succession after he died between the two strongest candidates - Duras and Gowron.
On board K'mpec's ship while Picard, Gowron, and Duras were certifying the death of K'mpec, a bomb went off. Planted by one of Duras's men, it was a Romulan device.
While Picard was evaluating the worthiness of Gowron and Duras to fight each other for the office of Chancellor, Federation Ambassador and Worf's girlfriend K'Ehleyr became suspicious of why everyone on the Enterprise was so put off by Duras. While not going into specifics, Picard told her that they had prior dealings with Duras that made him untrustworthy.
K'Ehleyr decided to do some research into Duras. Using her diplomatic access to the Klingon Imperial information net - the main database of the Klingon government - she attempted to access the records of the last high council inquiry into the Khitomer attacks. However the information was sealed by Duras so the computer would not give her the records. She then tried a different route, and requested all information available on Duras. K'Ehleyr was able to piece enough information together to realize that Ja'rod was the traitor, not Mogh.
Unfortunately her attempted access of the restricted materials generated an alert which was sent to Duras. Confronting K'Ehleyr in her quarters, Duras attacked her and stabbed her, and she died a short time later in Worf and their son Alexander's arms.
Death of Duras.
Furious over the loss of his love, Worf boarded Duras's ship. Brushing him off as a traitor, Duras turned away. But Worf then claimed the right of vengeance, and publicly claimed K'Ehleyr as his wife. The two men fought. Meanwhile the Enterprise crew realized what Worf was doing. Commanders William Riker and Data went to stop Worf, but as they got to where the two men were fighting Worf got the upper hand and killed Duras.
Legacy[]
| “ | Toral: I am Toral, son of Duras. Gowron: Duras had no son. B'Etor: But he did, Gowron. Gowron: So, this is your doing, Lursa. Lursa: We wish to address the Council. K'Tal: Lursa, B'Etor, come forward. Lursa: Members of the High Council, it is a day of great rejoicing for the family of Duras and the Klingon Empire. We have discovered that our brother did indeed have a son and heir. Gowron: This is outrageous. Duras had no mate. Where did you find him, Lursa? In a harlot's bedchamber? |
„ |
| ~ The House of Duras. |
Picard was less than pleased and put a reprimand in Worf's record for killing Duras. Afterwards Picard gently suggested to Worf that the time to keep the secret was over. With Duras having died in disgrace Picard thought it wasn't necessary to keep up the illusion that Mogh was the traitor. Worf responded that it was not just Duras who used his father as a scapegoat, but the other members of the high council as well, and that he and Kurn would need to wait until the time was right to put things right.
Even though Duras was dead his influence continued to reach from beyond the grave. As the time approached to install Gowron as the new chancellor, his sisters Lursa and B'Etor put forward Toral - the illegitimate son of Duras - as a claimant on the office of Chancellor. Picard rejected this claim, stating that Toral was too young and that the claim to the office died with Duras.
The House of Duras started a brief civil war within the Empire. Eventually the Federation was able to expose the Romulan involvement in the war. Along with Gowron's forces conducting a full scale attack news of the Romulan ties resulted in the defeat of the Duras forces. Toral was captured but his aunts beamed away. Toral got off lightly, with Worf being unwilling to kill him as Toral had never harmed Worf. Meanwhile the sisters continued trying to take over the Empire until they died in combat against the Enterprise in 2371. In 2372, Total tried to claim the mythical Sword of Kahless for himself in order to take control of the Klingon Empire but his efforts were foiled by Worf, Jadzia Dax and Kor.
Quotes[]
| “ | Duras: You claim a birthright you have forsaken? Worf: I have not forsaken my heritage. I am Klingon. My heart is of this world. My blood is as yours. Duras: Yet you come to us wearing a child's uniform, and you bring outsiders to our Great Hall. Picard: I am here at my own request. I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Enterprise. Duras: Your words mean nothing here. |
„ |
| ~ Duras during Word's trial. |
| “ | Kurn: I should've known. Worf was right. It is a good day to die. Duras: The time has not yet come. It does not have to come for many turns. I know who you are, Kurn, son of Mogh. Kurn: What?! Duras: It was a wise choice to hide your family name. Do not err now by embracing it again, for you only embrace death. Kurn: We shall see. Duras: Worf has made a choice and he will die for it. But you can still be safe. Let him stand alone. Kurn: He is my brother! I will not betray him!! Duras: Then you will die for him!! |
„ |
| ~ Duras trying to manipulate Kurn. |
| “ | Duras: I have been informed of your attempts to access restricted Council records! K'Ehleyr: I've been investigating what happened at Khitomer. Not at all an easy task, considering that most of the records are sealed. Duras: Worf's father was a traitor! K'Ehleyr: No. The evidence was altered to make it appear that way. I found it interesting to read that your father was also at Khitomer, and you are the one who sealed the records. Duras: You dare insult my father's name?! K'Ehleyr: Don't play the wounded Klingon for me, Duras. You don't do it very well. What happened in that council chamber? How did you get Worf to take the blame for you? Duras: Do not pursue this matter further! K'Ehleyr: The son betrays his people to the Romulans just as his father did, Duras." |
„ |
| ~ Duras confronting K'Ehleyr for poking her nose, shortly before fatally wounding her. |
| “ | You have no rights here, traitor! | „ |
| ~ Duras before fighting Worf come to avenge his murder on K'Ehleyr. |
Trivia[]
- Toral's physical appearance in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is much more similar to Duras compared to his appearance in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
- In Star Trek: Picard set over thirty years later, Duras can be seen in a file photo of the events of "Sins of The Father" during Picard's interview in the first episode. In season three, Duras is indirectly mentioned by Worf when he introduces himself to Raffi Musiker, using the title "Bane to the Duras family".
- Duras was Patrick Massett's first screen role.
- He is probably the descendant of Duras, Son of Toral who appeared in Star Trek: Enterprise, which takes place two hundred years earlier.
