Coridan System

The Coridan System is an inhabited star system in the United Federation of Planets. Located approximately 28 light-years from Sol, it is the home of the Coridanites. Despite its proximity to the Core Worlds, it did not join the Federation until the late 2260s. Coridan is a binary star system consisting of the primary Coridan and its red dwarf companion. There are several planets in the system, including the planet Coridan (Coridan III) itself.

Overview

Prior to the founding of the Federation, Coridan experienced deep political tensions. These were exacerbated by the governments of Vulcan and Andoria directly and subtly backing different factions to their own advantage, both seeking access to Coridan’s rich minerals and, eventually, powerful shipyards. These machinations drove Coridan’s distrust in the eventual founders of the Federation, and this, alongside tensions with the Tellarites over Coridan’s trade with the Orions, meant they did not join the Federation until over a century after its founding, despite their proximity.

Coridan’s riches in dilithium meant it was a target over the centuries by the Orion Syndicate, was occupied by the Klingon Empire during the first Klingon-Federation War, and was raided by the Jem’Hadar during the Dominion War despite its distance from the front lines.

Although Coridan was deeply under-populated in the mid-23rd century due to military threat and the civil wars born of the orchestrated, internal political strife, it has flourished since joining the Federation. It is one of the richest sources of dilithium in the quadrant, with a heaving industry spanning many moons and worlds across the star system. Its riches have led to its cities, particularly its capital on Coridan itself, being described as architectural marvels, with towering buildings. The population is still small for a system of its development and history, numbering less than a billion, and its inhabitants almost exclusively reside in cities and centres of industry, with little to no rural habitation. Its famous shipyards have turned entirely to civilian construction over the centuries.

Coridan has only a small Starfleet presence, with an Anchorage-class starbase codenamed Coridan Station overseeing local defences. This defence force focuses most of its efforts in fending off pirates, particularly from the Orion Syndicate, targeting Coridan’s dilithium shipments.

In Play

Coridan is a heaving system of industry, reliant on and proud of its dilithium mining and processing and civilian shipyards. Its cities are marvels of architecture. It forms part of the industrial heartland of the Federation.
Coridan is not densely populated; its people live almost exclusively in its dense cities and around its centres of industry. There is a lot of empty wilderness on Coridanite worlds, though this includes the remains of abandoned cities of old.
Despite its geographic proximity to the Core Worlds, Coridan is a later member of the Federation, with a history of being militarily threatened for its wealth, and immersed in dangerous trade with the Orions. It has the feel of a rougher and more independent frontier than one might expect.

External Information

Coridan (system) at Memory Alpha
Coridan (planet) at Memory Alpha
Coridanite at Memory Alpha