Chang (Star Trek)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Chang | |
|---|---|
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| Species: | Klingon |
| Gender: | Male |
| Hair color: | Bald |
| Eye color: | Blue |
| Home planet: | Qo'nos |
| Affiliation: | Klingon Empire |
| Position: | Chief of staff to Chancellor Gorkon |
| Rank: | General |
| Portrayed by: | Christopher Plummer |
General Chang is a Klingon character from the Star Trek fictional universe who was portrayed by Christopher Plummer in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Chang is Chancellor Gorkon's chief of staff, and subsequently serves Chancellor Azetbur. He is an avid fan of William Shakespeare, whom he frequently quotes. He is almost completely bald, a trait not seen among Klingons prior to Star Trek VI's release.
[edit] Overview
Chang is aboard the chancellor's ship, Kronos One, when it enters Federation space to travel to Earth, and he is part of the dinner party aboard its escort, the USS Enterprise-A. The general is behind the assassination of Chancellor Gorkon, made possible by the use of an experimental bird of prey that can fire while cloaked to disable Kronos One's gravitational field and carried out by two Starfleet officers who subsequently board the chancellor's ship. The Enterprise's commanding officer, Captain James T. Kirk, surrenders rather than foment further conflict by responding to Chang's threat to attack the Federation starship. Kirk and his medical chief, Dr. Leonard McCoy, transport to Kronos One, where they learn of Gorkon's assassination. After McCoy's failed attempt to save the chancellor's life, Chang invokes interstellar law to arrest Kirk and McCoy. Chang serves as prosecutor at the officers' trial.
Chang participates in a second assassination attempt, this time against the Federation president while he attends a conference at Khitomer. The Enterprise-A and USS Excelsior travel to Khitomer and destroy Chang's bird of prey, killing the general, although not before the Klingon ship does considerable damage to the Enterprise. Chang's last words are from Shakespeare's Hamlet: "To be, or not to be."
[edit] Trivia
- The Chang makeup originally included a wig appliance. However, Christopher Plummer felt removing the wig made the character more distinct[citation needed].
- The three rivets of Chang's eye patch have the Klingon crest painted on them.
- Christopher Plummer also portrayed Chang for the cutscene videos in the Interplay game Star Trek: Klingon Academy.
[edit] External links
- Chang article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki.
