Kurak

**Kurak**, daughter of Haleka, of the House of Palkar was a Klingon female living in the 24th and 25th centuries. Of Haleka's four children, she was the only daughter. (*TNG* novel: *Diplomatic Implausibility*).

An engineer by training, Kurak was a warp field specialist and an expert in subspace morphology. Her technical prowess went unappreciated in Klingon society, and she grew resentful of of being looked down upon, even so far as holding a hostile attitude towards other scientists. (TNG: "Suspicions")

In her early career, Kurak worked at the Mempa V Science Institute, where her superior was Makros, a legendary engineer. In 2366, Kurak's paper on altering shield configuration was translated from *tlhIngan Hol* and published in the *Journal of Applied Warp Mechanics.* (*Star Trek: Klingon Empire* novel: *A Burning House*; *SCE* novel: *Many Splendors*)

In 2369, Kurak was invited aboard the USS *Enterprise* by Dr. Beverly Crusher, for a demonstration of Dr. Reyga's new metaphasic shielding process. She briefly became a suspect in Reyga's murder, for which she would resent Crusher for many years. (TNG: "Suspicions"; *TNG* novel: *Diplomatic Implausibility*)

Kurak was also the primary designer of the IKS *Negh'var*, a prototype starship launched in 2372. (*TNG* novel: *Diplomatic Implausibility*)

After the start of the Dominion War, Kurak's father pressured her into abandoning her scientific career and joining the Klingon Defense Force. She was given a field commission of Commander, and served aboard several vessels over the course of the war, including the IKS *Lallek*. (*TNG* novel: *Diplomatic Implausibility*)

Kurak intended to return to her civilian career following the war's end; but when that day came, she found herself the sole surviving adult of the House of Palkar. Because of this, she was obligated to continue her service in the KDF until her eldest nephew, Gevnar, was of age to enlist. (*KE* novel: *A Burning House*)

After the end of the war in late 2375, Kurak was assigned as chief engineer aboard the IKS *Gorkon* following the death of the post's previous occupant in a duel. She resented the assignment, and longed to return to her scientific studies, and she frequently took out her frustrations on the rest of the crew. However, she did become romantically involved with her crewmate Leskit before he departed for the IKS *Rotarran*. (*TNG* novel: *Diplomatic Implausibility*)

A year later in late 2376, the *ghIntaq* of Kurak's, Moloj, died of old age, leaving Kurak herself as head of the House of Palkar. Because of this, she was able to bring Leskit's wife Karreka and their son into her House with honor. This allowed Leskit and Karreka to divorce, which in turn, enabled Kurak and Leskit to become bonded. (*KE* novel: *A Burning House*)

By 2381, she had been able to leave the KDF and return to her civilian life. At that time, she served as head of the Klingon Science Instutute at Ty'Gokor. (*ST* novel: *A Singular Destiny*).

Over the next quarter-century, she would lead many starship development projects. In the 2410s, the *Kurak* class of battlecruisers would bear her name. (*Star Trek Online*)

## Appendices

### Background

* Kurak was played by Tricia O'Neal, who had previously portrayed Captain Rachel Garrett of the USS *Enterprise*-C in TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise".

### External links

* Kurak article at ***Memory Alpha***, the canon *Star Trek* wiki.
* Kurak article at ***Memory Beta***, the non-canon *Star Trek* wiki.