Orion (planet)

Orion was an inhabited planet in the Pi³ Orionis system. It was the homeworld of the warp-capable Orion species.
This planet was located within the Orion sector of the Alpha Quadrant and was approximately 26.3 light years from Sol. The planet was near to the route that a spacecraft would travel from Deep Space 9 to Earth. (, ; )
== History ==
Orion once harbored a highly advanced civilization whose history had drawn great interest from Federation historians and archaeologists alike. During the mid-23rd century, noted Federation archaeologist Doctor Roger Korby translated medical records from the Orion ruins that helped revolutionize modern immunization techniques and were required reading at Starfleet Academy. In 2269, through the assistance of the Guardian of Forever, Starfleet officers Captain James T. Kirk, Commander Spock and historian Lieutenant Erickson traveled to the dawn of Orion's civilization to view the planet's history unfold firsthand. (; )
In 2257, during the first , this planet was near the front line. ()
In 2268, Doctor Leonard McCoy claimed that he made a Finagle's Folly that was "known from here to Orion." ()
Devna, an Orion trapped in Elysia, told Kirk that she wished to return through the time barrier and see Orion again. Kirk offered to take her back with him, but she declined, stating that she had accepted where she now was in life. ()
In 2372, Ferengi entrepreneur Quark attempted to smuggle kemocite on a highly profitable side trip to Orion under the guise of taking his ship, Quark's Treasure, on a test flight to Earth. This proved to be unsuccessful due to sabotage. ()
In 2384, this planet was mentioned in a chart of Starfleet allies which appeared on the logistics strategic data display. ()
== Environment ==
The surface of Orion was lush with vegetation. Orion did not have sand, but only sharp pebbles. The planet was noted for its aquifers. ()
=== Flora and fauna ===
Animals native to Orion included rhinoceros-like riding animals. The planet did not have dogs. ()
* Blazzard
* Orion wing-slug
=== Landmarks ===
* Adashake Center
* Orion University
== Stellar cartography ==
In 2256, this planet's location was labeled on the star chart "Alpha/Beta Quadrant Overview" in the ready room aboard the . ()
In 2259, the location of this planet was labeled on a stellar cartography chart that was seen on the 's ready room viewscreen. This planet's symbol had a color, indicating that it was affiliated with the . ()
In 2293, the location of Orion in the Milky Way Galaxy was labeled in a star chart that was in Captain James T. Kirk's quarters aboard the . (, okudagram)
In 2365, the location of Orion was labeled in a Subspace Comm Net Ops star chart, which was seen in the courtroom on Starbase 173.
This planet was connected to an unnamed location by a subspace line. ()
The system's location was labeled in a Federation star chart that was in Fleet Admiral Kirsten Clancy's office at Starfleet Headquarters in 2399 and on the bridge of the in 2401. Orion was in or near to Federation space. ()
In 2401, this planet's position was labeled on a star chart used by Captain William T. Riker during his attempt at finding the last known location of the . ()
In 3189, the location of Orion was denoted on a holographic star chart of the galaxy at Federation Headquarters. Orion was located in Emerald Chain territory. ()
In 3190, the location of Orion was labeled on a star chart used by Commander Paul Stamets for tracking the movement of the Dark Matter Anomaly through the galaxy. ()
== Appendices ==
=== Appearances ===
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** (hologram)
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=== Background information ===
In the final draft script for "The Menagerie, Part II", a scene set on the Orion colony (according to dialogue) was stated, in the teleplay's scene descriptions, to be "on Orien" (that spelling was consistently used for anything Orion in the two-parter's script).
According to Star Trek: Star Charts (pp. 36, 45, 60), the planet Orion had been visited by Zefram Cochrane on his final voyage in 2120. Orion was a non-aligned world before and after 2161, the founding date of the Federation. In 2378, Orion was a destination on the major space lanes.
=== Apocrypha ===
According to Star Trek Maps (p. 36), the Rigel system and the Orion system were one and the same. The planet Orion was the eighth planet in the system. This is corroborated by The Worlds of the Federation and FASA's The Orions sourcebook, which names the Orion homeworld as "Botchok".
According to Star Trek: The Next Generation - Core Game Book, the Orion homeworld is Rigel VII.
The reference book The Worlds of the Federation and the novels and Death Count indicate that the Orion homeworld is Rigel VIII, a high-gravity planet.
In the s A Choice of Futures and Tower of Babel, Orion was called "Pi 3 Orionis III". The novel Silent Weapons simply calls it "Orion" or the "Orion homeworld", and the novel The Light Fantastic calls it "Orion Prime." All these novels share the continuity, and refer to the same planet.
In Star Trek Online, Orion Prime is the second planet in the Orion system, which has five worlds. It is also deserted due to excessive pollution.
According to the Kelvin timeline Reunion, Part 1, the Orion homeworld was called "Vondem" and was located in the Alnilam system.
=== External link ===
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