“I, Koraq, having been appointed an officer in the United Federation of Planets …”

The grizzly grey-haired Klingon stood at attention, one hand raised repeating the words of the Starfleet Oath of Service. 

“…as indicated in the grade of Lieutenant do solemnly swear …” 

In times past, he held the rank of Captain, yet that had been in the Klingon Defense Forces. 

Lieutenant was his new rank … his Starfleet rank. 

“… that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United Federation of Planets …” 

It still felt strange.  He is Klingon! … Klingon to his fingertips! Yet, here he was swearing loyalty to the Federation. 

“… against all enemies, foreign or domestic, …”

And now the Klingon Empire was the enemy. They were enemy of the Federation and thus his enemy. 

“… that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; …”

His reason for turning his back on his people? 

Well, it was not a decision taken lightly nor did Koraq see it as turning his back on his people. … Only the government that ruled the Empire. 

“… that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; …”

His reason? … The Klingon-Federation War. 

When the Klingons declared war on the United Federation of Planets, they did so against what had been an ally with home they had maintained honorable relations. 

The act of the declaration, in Koraq’s eyes, was beyond dishonorable. And whereas some of his kin remained on a path of dishonor, he chose to walk one of honor. 

“… and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter.” 

His oath complete, the Klingon went from decades of commanding warships of the Empire to captaining those of the Federation. 

Yes, he was starting out low in rank, but being enrolled in Starfleet’s captaincy candidate program. 

It offered a fast track through ranks with a quick chance of soon becoming for the Federation what he had been for the Empire. 

Besides, how many Starfleet ship captain’s could say they were graduates of both the Klingon Imperial Academy *and* Starfleet Academy? 

——