Qao was a HemQuch Klingon alive during the 2260s.
In 2269, Qao was serving as a section chief at Site wej on a dilithium mining facility in Beta Thoridar when three of his workers - Krov, Gahlar, son of Murak, and Malvak, son of Jorq - ended up dead within days. During the investigations of these workers' deaths, Qao noticed that the investigation for the HemQuch (Gahlar) took more time that of any QuchHa'. (ST novella: The Unhappy Ones)