6.9 Terran Explorations: Rigel VII & Orion

Rigel VII

Rigel VII is home to an aggressive humanoid species known as the Kalar. They are thought to be the descendants of a lost Rigellian colony from ages past based on what few observations have been made of them. They have a culture approximating that of the Mongols in Terra’s past, rating approximately D- on the Richter Scale of Culture. Their trust is not easily earned and they are highly belligerent, preferring to attack first and reason later. They have no concept of any worlds or technology beyond their own and are quite content to remain in their primitive lifestyle. For these reasons Rigel VII is generally avoided by most interstellar visitors to the Beta Orionis system, save in emergency or at great need.

Specifications

System star: Beta Orionis (Rigel). Distance from system star: 200 million km. Period of revolution (Terran measure): 14.6 hours. Period of orbit (Terran measure): 552 days. Mass: 8 x10²⁴ kg. Diameter: 5886 km. Axial inclination: 31°. Average surface temperature: 12° C. Satellites: one (Sky Rock). Planetary Richter Scale rating: D-. Level of technology: primitive. Indigenous culture(s): Kalar (homo vulcanis rigela). Additional culture(s): none. Major surface features: none. Places of note: none.

Orion

Orion (Rigel VIII) is unique in that it is the only Class M planet with a major ring system in all of known space. It is but one of six inhabitable planets out of thirteen (Classes J and M) in the Beta Orionis system. This quadruple star cluster has the most habitable worlds of any system yet charted.

The Rigel system is naturally shielded from the intense radiation of Beta Orionis by the Hakel radiation belt. This is an intense magnetic field, similar to Terra’s Van Allen belts, that extends outward to a distance of about 80 AU from its star. This belt also accounts for the unusual number of habitable planets despite their distances from the system primary, Beta Orionis.

Orion was first visited almost 20,000 years ago (Terran old calendar) by a Rigellian named Murak Tan. The Rigellians are a Vulcan-like species from Rigel V and are believed to be descendants from the Vulcan Diaspora. Murak Tan quickly discovered Orion’s native green-skinned humanoid species and their highly alluring females. He forcibly abducted three of the women and put them up for sale to the highest bidder at his next stop. Other interstellar traders promptly descended on Orion for more, setting up their own colonies and settlements as they fought for the rights to for the new Orion slave trade. Murak Tan’s people, horrified by his actions, promptly forbade the Orion slave trade on their own world. This did not stop the legend of Orion female slaves from spreading across the quadrant. The civilization of Orion was forever destroyed as it reoriented itself around its one marketable commodity and descended into other criminal vices. They set up the largest intergalactic crime cartel in space over the years, as well as colonizing the two planets of Rigel’s secondary star. Oddly enough, though, the people of Orion continue to hold the Rigellians in awe and respect for passing on one of the greatest profit-making opportunities in recorded galactic history.

Orion is a neutral world, having no allegiance to the Federation or any other nearby interstellar power. Its neutrality is an excuse for all kinds of covert and illegal activities, such as crime syndicates and interstellar piracy. This is normally tolerated by the Federation, so long as it doesn’t get out of hand (as in the Coridan Affar) for two reasons. First, it provides a necessary vent for such activities that are restricted or outlawed elsewhere in the Federation. Second, it provides a clandestine means of contact and trade with species and powers with whom the Federation would otherwise officially have no contact. While Star Fleet itself is barred from Orion, encountering off-duty and undercover Star Fleet personnel is not uncommon.

Specifications

System star: Beta Orionis (Rigel). Distance from system star: 275 million km. Period of revolution (Terran measure): 18 hours. Period of orbit (Terran measure): 487 days. Mass: 2 x10²⁴ kg. Diameter: 4472 km. Axial inclination: 23°. Average surface temperature: 15° C. Satellites: none. Planetary Richter Scale rating: M. Level of technology: current. Indigenous culture(s): Orion (homo orionis). Additional culture(s): various. Major surface features: None; however, it is the only ringed Class M world in all of known space. Places of note: Rralrark (main trading colony).

The Orions were also responsible for the only recorded “conquest” in all of Vulcan history. In 22 BC (Vulcan Calendar 139954) an Orion pirate fleet landed on Vulcan and attempted to loot the planet. They were eventually driven off; however, this first contact would have a profound impact on early Vulcan society and eventually lead to their pre-Surak warlike culture.

Thriving human colonies exist on Rigel II and IV. Rigel V, the homeworld of the Rigellians, is a longtime member of the Federation. Rigel VI is the trade hub of the system, and Rigel XII has one of the richest dilithium deposits in the quadrant.