Martok quotes from Deep Space Nine

Martok

I tell you, Worf, war is much more fun when you are winning. Defeat makes my wounds ache.

Martok

We are Klingons. We don't embrace other cultures; we conquer them.

Martok

[to Worf, before his wedding] We are not accorded the luxury of choosing the women we fall in love with. Do you think Sirella is anything like the woman I thought I'd marry? She is a mercurial, arrogant, prideful woman who shares my bed far too infrequently for my taste. And yet... I love her deeply. We Klingons often tout our prowess in battle and our desire for honor and glory above all else, but how hollow is the sound of victory without someone to share it with. And honor gives little comfort to a man alone in his home... and in his heart.

Martok

[on Kor] I've hated his name for almost thirty years. I've dreamed of the day when I would see him stripped of his rank and privilege, left without honor or a friend, or the power of his birthright. And I've had that moment now... and I took no joy from it.

Martok

[after the Breen have attacked Earth] We must give the enemy credit. To launch an attack against Starfleet Headquarters... Even my people never attempted that.

Benjamin Sisko

We've had a year to prepare this station for a Dominion attack, and we're more than ready.

Gowron

(laughs) You're like a toothless old grishna cat, trying to frighten us with your roar!

Benjamin Sisko

I assure you, this old cat may not be as toothless as you think. Right now I've got five thousand photon torpedoes armed and ready to launch. If you don't believe me, feel free to scan the station.

Martok

It's a trick! An illusion created by thoron fields and duranium shadows.

Benjamin Sisko

It's no illusion.

Gowron

We shall see. (in Klingon) Today is a good day to die!

Gowron

Captain, your shields have been weakened, your station boarded, and more Klingon ships are on their way. Surrender while you can.

Benjamin Sisko

I don't think so. My shields are holding, your boarding parties are contained, and my reinforcements are closer than yours. You're facing a war on two fronts. Is that what you really want?

Worf

The Empire is not strong enough to fight the Federation and the Cardassians. End this now, Gowron, before you lead the Empire to its worst defeat in history.

Martok

We will not surrender!

Benjamin Sisko

This is exactly what the Founders want! Klingon against Cardassian, Federation against Klingon. The more we fight each other, the weaker we'll get, and the less chance we have against the Dominion.

Worf

Consider what you do here, Gowron. Kahless himself said "destroying an Empire to win a war is no victory".

Gowron

And ending a battle to save an Empire is no defeat.

Martok

We can still win!

Benjamin Sisko

(referring to the Federation reinforcements) Not before those starships get here. Now, what do you want me to tell them? To stand down or come in firing?

Gowron

...It is we who shall stand down.

Martok

Agh Dogh!

Gowron

Enough! Cease fire. Order our ships in Cardassian territory to halt their advance. I do not intend to hand victory to the Dominion! But hear this. The Klingon Empire will remember what has happened today. You have sided against us in battle! And THIS we do not forgive or forget!

Martok

[regarding Garak's claustrophobia] There is no greater enemy than one's own fears.

Worf

It takes a brave man to face them.

Martok

You see. They (the crew) have accepted him.

Worf

They have accepted him (Alexander) as the ship's fool.

Do you ask this of every crew member?

Martok

I do not need to ask them. I look into their eyes and I know they have answered the call of Kahless.

Well, so have I.

Martok

Lie to yourself if you must, but not to me.

Benjamin Sisko

I haven't met Worf's son yet. What's he like?

Martok

Well, he's a fine boy—dedicated, eager. He has the heart of his father. But he's not the best soldier I've ever seen.

—but when he ordered me to bring the system back on line, I thought he was still talking about the hydrostatic system, so—

Jadzia Dax

You didn't engage the pumps while the check valves were open?

Worf

He did.

I flooded the entire deck with superheated hydraulic fluid. It took me three days to clean up! But I swear, it still smells like burned dog hair in there.

Benjamin Sisko

What do you think you're doing?

Miles O'Brien

The wedding's been called off.

Martok

It's back on! Worf is apologizing to Jadzia at this very moment.

Benjamin Sisko

Quark, take it all away! No food for those on the path to Kal'Hyah!

Quark

No refunds for those on the path to Kal'Hyah, either. Sorry.

Miles O'Brien

How could he do this to me? How could he leave me adrift, mid-river, without a paddle?

Rom

What river would that be?

Miles O'Brien

You know, the Great Material Continuum.

Rom

That river. It can be very treacherous.

Miles O'Brien

Tell me about it. Well, I suppose the good news is with Nog gone, nothing else can go missing.

Martok

Where is my case of bloodwine?!

Worf

I do not know, General, but I promise you I will find out.

He's done it. The Jem'Hadar are out of time. They can no longer overtake us before we reach the Defiant.

Martok

How? How did that pompous old man hold off an entire Jem'Hadar fleet with only one ship?

Worf

Does it matter?

Martok

Darok, give me that bottle! [seizes a bottle of bloodwine from one of his subordinates and knocks the top off it with his dagger] To Kor! The Dahar Master, and noble warrior to the end!

Admiral Ross

According to our intelligence report, the Dominion has withdrawn completely from Klingon, Federation and Romulan space. They seem to be forming a new defensive perimeter within Cardassian territory.

They must know we've developed a counter-measure to the Breen weapon.

Captain Sisko

That would be my guess.

Martok

There are advantages to falling back. They shorten their supply lines while forcing us to lengthen ours.

Ross

And with a smaller perimeter, they're less vulnerable to hit and run attacks. It would take a major offensive to break through their lines.

At a cost of thousands of ships. The wiser course would be to simply contain them within their perimeter.

Sisko

That's what they're hoping we'll do, to give them time to rebuild their forces.

Martok

He's right. We have them on the defensive. We should hit them with everything we've got!

Ross

Breaking through that line would be a very ugly, very bloody job.

Sisko

If we do nothing, the Dominion could sit behind that perimeter for the next five years rearming themselves. And when they're ready to come out, God help us all.

Martok

The Klingon Empire votes to attack, now! Before they have time to recover.

Ross

Considering the alternatives, I'm afraid I have to concur. [All eyes turn to Velal, who reluctantly nods]

Very well.

Sisko

Then it's settled. We attack.