Duras, son of Ja'rod was a powerful and ambitious political figure in the Klingon Empire during the late 24th century and leader of the Rebels. He and his family became notorious for dishonorable and sometimes treasonous tactics in order to accumulate and maintain power. He defected to the Horde and later organized a rebellion to overthrow the Empire
On the High Council[]
Duras was a member of the Klingon High Council in 2366, when he led the capture of a Romulan vessel. On board the vessel, records were discovered implicating Duras' father, Ja'rod, as having betrayed the Khitomer colony to the Romulan Star Empire by giving them the codes necessary to lower the colony's deflector shields. In the resulting Khitomer Massacre, four thousand Klingons, including Ja'rod, were slaughtered.
Unwilling to have his position threatened by being labeled the son of a traitor, Duras convinced Chancellor K'mpec and the rest of the High Council to shift the blame to Mogh, leader of the Duras family's long-standing enemies, the House of Mogh, and who had also been killed in the Romulan attack. Concerned that accusing the powerful Duras family of treason could lead to unrest or even civil war, they agreed.