Laxala Incident

The Laxala Incident was an event during the Four Years War between the Federation and the Klingon Empire and involving the Orion Colonies.

In reference stardate 1/9504 (circa 2253), a Klingon task force intercepted an Orion merchant vessel transporting dilithium to the Federation world of Alphosa. In response, the Orion captain destroyed his own ship. However, the more widely known story would be that the Klingons destroyed the ship themselves.

The Botchok Planetary Congress (BPC) reacted by issuing the Sacred Cargoes act, declaring that Orion merchants were to be untouchable by both sides. To back this up, both the BPC and the Orion Frontier Mercantile Association threatened to destroy all dilithium on Rigel XII if either side disrupted their trade. Both sides complied with the ultimatum. The Orions profited off the secure trade, in the process saving their worlds and economies from collapse. The Federation also benefited from the supply of dilithium and other rare war resources, which they badly needed at the time. 


 * It is unknown what role the planet Laxala played in the incident.