Martok (Changeling)

File:Martok 2372.jpg

The Martok Changeling in 2372.

In mid-2371, General Martok was replaced by a Changeling while hunting sabre bear along Kang's Summit on Qo'noS. Following his capture, the real Martok was sent to Internment Camp 371. (DS9: "In Purgatory's Shadow")

In early 2372, the Changeling Martok tried to weaken the Alpha Quadrant by pushing Chancellor Gowron into believing that the coup on Cardassia Prime was influenced by the Dominion. After leading a fleet to Deep Space 9, the Klingons invaded Cardassian space. The Martok Changeling, even at this stage, was also hoping for a conflict between the Federation and the Klingon Empire; to this end, he had one of his commanders (Kaybok) executed for refusing to fire on the USS Defiant.

Martok reveals his true form

Martok and Gowron later led the Klingons into battle against Deep Space 9, that eventually led to a year-and-a-half conflict between the Klingon Empire and the Federation in a conflict lasting from 2372 to 2373. (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")

In early 2373, Martok was discovered to be a Founder by the disguised Odo, and was killed by a hail of disruptor fire at Ty'Gokor when discovered. (DS9: "Apocalypse Rising")

The real Martok was informed of the Martok Changeling's actions by Julian Bashir, Worf and Elim Garak in Internment Camp 371 later that year, remarking it was "a grave dishonor". (DS9: "In Purgatory's Shadow")

During his time impersonating Martok, the changeling once took a blood teat, cutting himself with a dk'thang and allowing blood to drip out (DS9: The Way of the Warrior (episode). It was never stated in canon how the changeling managed this, but Joseph Sisko once suggested that a way a changeling could beat the blood test was to kill a random civilian on the street, absorb the man's blood into itself and release it whenever it took part in a test. This may be what the Martok Changeling did.