The issue is written by Christopher Cantwell, drawn by Angel Unzueta, colored by Marissa Louise and lettered by Clayton Cowles. Spock and Worf, who have just hijacked the Defiant, track Kahless and the Red Path to Kazis IX. All the colonies on the planet have been destroyed, and all the evidence points to the Crystalline Entities. The problem is that Kahless destroyed them all at the God War’s onset, rendering the species extinct. Spock and Worf conclude that Kahless’ God-Killer Array has evolved. Kahless not only killed the Crystalline Entities, but adapted his weapon to use their power. Kahless then attacked the colonies, who were easy targets before his power.

Star Trek's God-Killer Array Absorbs the Power of Its Victims

Captain Sisko was sent by the Bajoran Prophets back to the physical plane to help discover who or what was slaughtering god-like beings. With nothing less than the very fabric of reality at stake, Sisko and a crew including Data, Tom Paris, Scott and Doctor Crusher set out on one of Starfleet’s most advanced ships, the USS Theseus, to find the culprit. Sisko and his crew watched helplessly as the God-Killer Array destroyed the Crystalline Entities. Sisko eventually learned that Kahless, the clone Emperor of the Klingon Empire, had coerced the Shapers of Sardakesh into making the God-Killer Array. This new version of Kahless fulfills the mandate of his namesake, who killed the original gods of the Klingons - and now he is taking it galaxy-wide.

Kahless Is Becoming Star Trek's Next God

Spock points out to Worf that Kahless, by taking the powers of the gods for himself, is making himself into a god - and thus the ultimate hypocrite. Such philosophical debates have been at the heart of the God War currently engulfing the Star Trek universe. Spock’s assessment that this new wrinkle in Kahless’ campaign of terror makes him a hypocrite is spot-on - and may hold the key to defeating the Red Path. Klingon society is structured around the concept of honor; if Kahless could be convinced he has brought dishonor to himself with this crusade, he could be convinced to call it off, or at least be stripped of his followers and diplomatic protections.

Kahless Will Soon Be Unbeatable

Interestingly enough, Kahless did not build the God-Killer; instead, it was the Shapers of Sardakesh, whose technological prowess is seemingly unparalleled in the universe. No doubt the Crystalline Entities were some of the easiest 'gods' to mimic given their use of known energy patterns, but if Kahless's God-Killer Array can truly evolve and adapt, what is to keep the Red Path from imitating the powers of the Organians, the Bajoran Prophets, or even Q? Worf, Sisko, and their crews need to stop Kahless as soon as possible, because with every Star Trek god he kills, his God-Killer Array only gets stronger.

Star Trek: Defiant #2 is on sale now from IDW Publishing!