| This article or section needs attention |
|---|
| This page or section has been identified as needing attention. Please visit the article's talk page to see what needs fixing and feel free to edit this page to assist with this task.. |
Orion was a name given to the planet that was the homeworld of the Orion race, or the star system that it orbited. It lay in the Orion system (TAS novelization: The Time Trap) and was situated in the Orion sector (TNG episode: "Conspiracy").
The system had three inhabited worlds (TAS novelization: The Pirates of Orion).
The planet Orion was also claimed to be Rigel VII (Last Unicorn RPG module: Star Trek: The Original Series Core Game Book) or Rigel VIII (ST references: Star Trek Maps, The Worlds of the Federation).
- It is unclear which world "Orion" actually is. Television and TAS novelization sources, as stated below, imply that 'Orion' is the Orion homeworld, and give an Orion I and Orion III, implying a star called Orion. However, in real-world astronomy, there is no such star, only the Orion constellation (stars of this constellation are named "Orionis" however).
- The TAS novelization: The Pirates of Orion doesn't name the system or the worlds; however the TAS novelizations are from the same author as the episodes. The title "...of Orion" does imply this name, of course.
- The ST reference: Star Charts names the Pi-3 Orionis system "Orion".
- Other sources have specified Rigel VII or Rigel VIII as the Orion homeworld, while the Last Unicorn RPG states that Rigel VII is also known as "Orion". The Decipher RPG meanwhile calls both Rigel VII and the star Rigel "Kolar", which is the Orion word for "Orion". Star Trek Maps and The Worlds of the Federation however says that Rigel VIII is called "Orion".
- This article collects references to "Orion" as a planet or a system that cannot be fully placed elsewhere.
Orions from here were called Orionites. The world was well-known for its dances. (TAS novelization: The Time Trap)
Through the Guardian of Forever on the Time Planet, a research team consisting of Captain James T. Kirk, Commander Spock, and Lieutenant Ted Erickson of Starfleet, and historians Grey and Loom Aleek-Om, visited the dawn of Orion civilization in 2269. (TAS episode: "Yesteryear")
They visited the ancient and barbaric early Empire of Orion (also called the Orionic Empire), though no-one knew what the clothing of the era was and Starfleet uniform and 23rd century Federation casual dress was expected to be conspicuous. Gold was the only currency. Kirk expected the trip to be fun and adventurous, and found it to be a whirlwind of colors, sights and sounds, as they explored the period for 2.5 days in local time. Their last visit was to a low-quality inn in a bazaar, near an auction of Orion slave girls. (TAS novelization: Yesteryear)
Devna, an Orion trapped in Elysia and serving as Interpreter of Laws for the Elysian Council, longed to see her homeworld of Orion again. She declined Kirk's offer to return, however, having accepted her place in Elysia. (TAS episode: "The Time Trap")
By 2371, Orion I was the location of a prestigious Institute of Cosmology, which required a year of field experience for admittance. Aspiring to enrol, Crewman Mortimer Harren signed onto the USS Voyager to fulfill this requirement, until that ship was stranded in the Delta Quadrant. (VOY episode: "Good Shepherd")
In 2372, Quark, a Ferengi entrepreneur, attempted to smuggle kemocite to Orion on a side-trip between Deep Space 9 and Earth, though the enterprise failed due to sabotage. (DS9 episode: "Little Green Men") It was possible to obtain an unlisted bank account in the Orion system. Quark once wished he'd kept more of his money in one (DS9 novel: Devil in the Sky).
During Commander Chakotay's vision quest, Lieutenant Tom Paris mentioned Orion III as a source of gambling bets. (VOY episode: "The Fight")
Orion might be the origin of the Orion wing-slug (TNG episode: "Ménage à Troi", Decipher RPG module: Creatures, TOS - My Brother's Keeper novel: Constitution, DS9 novel: Wrath of the Prophets), the Orion spine boar (ST novel: Excelsior: Forged in Fire), the Orion emerald finch (Decipher RPG module: Creatures), and the Orion fern tree (TOS novel: Traitor Winds).
- It is unclear where these plants and animals come from, only that they are named 'Orion', implying an origin or a familiarity with this planet or with the Orion people.