Rifton was a Federation planet in the galaxy's Alpha or Beta Quadrant. One of Starfleet's seven principal starbases was located there, as well as a branch of the Starfleet Science Center. (TOS - Log Two novelization: The Lorelei Signal)
History[]
In 2269, the USS Enterprise departed from the Valeria system near the Romulan Neutral Zone and headed toward Rifton to resupply minor engineering components they couldn't get from the Federation outpost on Valeria. En route, the starship was assigned to escort a convoy of ore freighters. When she learned that the Enterprise would not be arriving at Rifton, Starfleet Science's Vice Admiral Julianna van Leeuwenhook contacted James T. Kirk via subspace communications and countermanded the convoy assignment. She sent the Enterprise on a priority mission to the Cicada sector to investigate missing ship disappearances. (TOS - Log Two novelization: The Lorelei Signal)
- The specific starbase at Rifton was not named. However, it might be Starbase 10, which is in the general vicinity of the Romulan Neutral Zone where Valeria was said to be located in the novelization.