Warning: Spoilers for Star Trek #2!It has always been said that the Klingons killed their own gods, because they were “more trouble than they were worth,” according to Worf. And in their place Star Trek’s most well-known warrior culture reveres the ancient warrior known as Kahless the Unforgettable. However, a new revelation in IDW Publishing's ongoing Star Trek series is proving the falsehoods in a lot of Klingon lore and honor.

According to The Klingon Art of War, a hardcover reference book by Keith R. A. DeCandido, the Klingon’s gods, existed nearly three thousand years before the time of Khaless. They ruled from atop the Great Tree of the World, and required tribute and sacrifice from the primitive people of Qo’noS. In return the gods showed the ancient Klingons how to build with brick and mortar and even brought the dead back to life. However, as time passed the gods demanded more and more of their worshipers, and each request was harder for the Klingons to fulfill, and the rewards were less and less. The Klingons came to see their gods as petty and unworthy of their worship, and thus they were led by Kortar the Mighty to unify and rebel against them. The warriors climbed the Great Tree and slew their deities, thus cementing the Klingon’s hatred for all those who claimed godhood, or at least, or so the story is sung by Klingon warriors.

Related: Why Star Trek Keeps Changing The Klingons (But Not Other Aliens)

However, in Star Trek #2 written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, and drawn by Oleg Chudakov, fans learn that the Klingon race is not so mighty as to be able to overcome all the gods in their midst. The Engineers of Sardakesh are a powerful and technologically advanced god-like race who live on a planet within Klingon territory. The Klingon High Council is fully aware of their power and even once tried to conquer them. The campaign went very poorly, and the warrior race never tried again, instead choosing to leave them isolated and undisturbed on their planet. This seems a very sensible move on the part of the Klingons, but it also cuts deep into the honor of a race of warriors that have built their belief system on the story of their dominance over all others, even those claiming godhood.

Khaless With Fear

This is particularly galling to the Klingons’ current emperor—the clone of Kahless. Star Trek: Klingons #1 by Lanzing, Kelly, and Timothy Green II, tells the story of the original Khaless who forged modern Klingon society in battle and honor. This legendary warrior is revered by Klingons, and professed a strong belief that his people would not be answerable to any gods. However, his cloned predecessor is a somewhat less impressive figure and this pseudo-leader of Klingon society is well aware of that and how he is viewed by some in the High Council. Now with the revelation of the existence of the Engineers of Sardakesh, there is no doubt that he has failed to honor the original Kahless' belief that the Klingons should be greater than gods.

Khaless Without Fear

However, now there is someone in the galaxy who is killing them, and it is possible that Emperor Khaless sees this as an opportunity to live up to his namesake. He has jeopardized the peace between Klingons and the Federation by denying their request for help stopping the mysterious new god-killer. Benjamin Sisko and Worf are trying their best to stop this new genocide, but they are learning that the Klingons may not be on their side in this new war that threatens the entire Star Trek universe.

Next: How Star Trek Created The Klingon Language (& Why)

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