Orion Colonies
The Orion Colonies consists of an area of space encompassing several dozen stars. Among them are fourteen inhabitable systems. Formerly called the "Borderlands," the Orion Colonies was once an area of wild space between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire.
Largely subsumed by those two powers by the end of the twenty-fourth century, the Orion Colonies retain a distinct flavor from both the Klingon Empire and the Federation. These worlds are what remain of what was once a much larger string of Orion colonies and settlements. In ancient Antiquity, these star systems made up the core worlds of successive Orion Empires.
Associated Worlds
The Orion Colonies straddle both Federation and Klingon space and the Orions no longer value the idea of a cohesive "Orion State." A "member" of the Orion Colonies is a misnomer- it only means that it is a star system that falls within this area of space. These worlds, thousands of years ago, were under a series of common governments.
Orion (Beta Orionis IV)
Orion is considered to be the original homeworld of the Orion species and is governed by the Orion Free States. An independent world, Orion did not have a unified world government until the 2370s, although an international organisation known as the Orion Union - comprised of the majority of Orion's nation states - had existed since at least the 22nd century. Like its predecessor, the Orion Free States places a strong emphasis on its own independence and diplomatic neutrality in interplanetary affairs. It was not until 2375, after the formation of the Orion Free States, that slavery was officially outlawed on Orion.
Vondem (Beta Orionis II)
Vondem was the first Orion colony established outside of the homeworld. The colony was the preferred location to conduct trade and diplomacy with alien species and governments, and as a result over the centuries developed an acceptance and appreciation for diversity. This created a schism between Vondem and the homeworld nations, which held a much more xenophobic view of aliens, resulting in Vondem eventually declaring itself independent from the homeworld's influence and forming the Vondem Trade Confederacy.
Although illicit trade was still rife on Vondem for centuries, the Trade Confederacy began making reforms that eventually saw them ban slave trade and human trafficking. As trade and diplomatic relations with the Federation improved, largely to due to the Federation's proximity and expansion around Orion space, Vondem eventually applied for Federation membership in the mid-24th century. The membership was ratified by the Federation Council shortly before the Dominion War.
Kolar (Beta Rigel VI)
Kolar, called Beta Rigel, is an independent star system that rests on the Federation side of the former Borderlands. Of the major worlds in the Orion Colonies, it can claim to be the most common "capitol." Up until 2394, Kolar was the last remaining vestige of the Twelfth and final Orion Empire.
Botchok (Mu Rigel VIII)
Botchok is under presumptive Klingon control, having been occupied by the Empire sometime before the Praxis explosion. In orbit of Botchok is a Klingon station with a Klingon garrison, but their warriors seldom set foot on Botchok itself any longer. The Botchoki never explicitly gave the Klingons any reason to fear insurrection and have worked to maintain a separate society that pays the Empire its annual tribute in return for relative autonomy.
In Play
- Slavery:
- Pheremones:
- Orion Free Traders:
- Orion Syndicate:
External Information
- Orion at Memory Alpha
- Orion (planet) at Memory Alpha
- Orion Free Traders at Memory Alpha
- Orion Syndicate at Memory Alpha