There are two types of content for Star Trek, alpha continuity and then beta. Alpha continuity
is what has been set down by the numerous onscreen incarnations of the show and specific
extra media, while Beta content covers a wide variety of other forms and usually adopts
a more flexible approach to what is canon. In most of my work, I approach primary canon
first, then go to beta content to fill in the gaps as it were, so long as it doesn’t
conflict with primary source material. The Orions of Star Trek are a race that falls
into this division between alpha and beta lore so as set by my own rules, I’m going
to prioritise the species as depicted in the shows with some beta that supports rather
than conflicts with their depiction. With that lengthy disclaimer out of the way,
let’s look at the Orion women, I mean let’s look at the culture of the Orion people. Also,
this video won’t focus on the Syndicate, that’ll deserve its own addendum.
The Orion are a humanoid species from around the Orion systems, hence the name. In their
own tongue they are called the Ur’eon or Kolari. Physically they are a diverse species
of human proportions though like Vulcans and Romulans, they possess copper based blood,
but unlike these two species, they have a green skin hue. This tint varies from deep
greens to very pale, almost grey-green. Grey Orions were uncommon among the species and
usually the result of genetic defects that rendered them runts of the species. They have
bred with other races before, leading to a subsect of Orion called the Muni, about 3%
of the total population are “blends” of species. These generally have differing skin-tones
but unlike the Grey Orion, there was no prejudice levelled against them. They have dark hair
colours, ranging from deep green, to black to auburn, but a not uncommon trait is to
shave their heads entirely. The species tend to be generally well muscled,
especially noticeable in the males of the species, who generally have rather powerful
frames, even with excess body fat. The women of the species are similarly defined but generally
faster and lither. They have little regard for modesty often display their bodies drawing
attention to their strength or sexuality. Adornments such as shawls, jewellery and piercings
are frequent to again emphasise toughness or beauty.
Their minds are generally difficult to read for telepaths as their thought patterns usually
aren’t coherent when compared to galactic standards.
Another notable trait of the species is their natural production of pheromones that cause
a variety of emotional reactions. Female pheromones are stronger, with even some extreme examples
among them. A calm Orion generally produces a relaxing effect on those around him or her.
Extended exposure to female pheromones could increase adrenaline in males of even other
species…um… leading to increased aggression, coupled with a…uh…an infatuation effect.
Phew, uh hi. The pheromones changed with their mood making a contagious effect of emotions
and many were not above exploiting this genetic perk.
Their homeworld is Orion, or Vondem as it is also known. It has a vast ocean mass and
a garden world climate with numerous cities such as Kinarvon, which itself sits on a suspended
island over the expansive seas. Though this is only one of their home planets it seems.
They have spread across numerous colony worlds and even Orion may not be their place of origin.
Several planets in the Rigel system and the Orionis System have a large enough population
of Orions to be considered homeworlds themselves. This potentially ties into their history.
Orions are rumoured to have been a slave race for the majority of their history, since pre
warp times. This would help explain the difficulty in identifying their true planet of origin,
being spread out by their oppression. Further support for this is the presence of ancient
advanced knowledge, beyond that of the Orions capabilities at the time, on their inhabited
worlds as well as cave drawings depicting Orions being taken into ships, (that were
found of Rigel VIII). This history is mostly lost but some records date back as far as
15,900 BC. What is known is that they were already spread out across numerous systems
in the Orion sector before first contact with humanity. It is suspected that the Orions
drove off their captors and began to evolve in mimicry of their society, leading to the
prevalence of Slavery in their culture. By 2152, private companies had already begun
trading with the Orion owned businesses such as the Earth Cargo Services. In later times,
the Orion Free Traders were a unions of businesses based from Orion and they traded with Federation
planet worlds such as Vulcan suggesting they must be legitimate in operation unlike the
infamous Syndicate. There’s also a prevalence of learning and academic institutes across
Orion controlled worlds and several universities such as Orion Institute of Cosmology, which
was considered prestigious. Many Orion occupied worlds became hubs of
trade such as Verex III where legitimate and illegitimate offerings were available. The
Orions even had a presence on Qu’nos in 2257, the Klingon homeworld as the species
has always maintained good relations with their Klingon neighbours.
They maintained a high and influential level of commerce through a careful balancing act
of political interests among other alpha and beta quadrant powers. Orions tended to try
to remain neutral so they could play and gain influence with as many sides as possible,
similar to the Ferengi. However, they did take an active role in shaping the powers
to maintain their neutral state such as attempting to sabotage the Babel conference in 2268.
These operations were conducted by both criminal factions and legitimate governments within
the Orion hierarchy. If a government sanctioned mission was failed however, the operatives
were expected to kill themselves to prevent responsibility being traced back.
Not much is known about the governmental structure of the Orions, but it is suggested that the
most powerful families dictate law for the majority of Orions. This would explain the
high level of influence the Criminal organization the Orion Syndicate has in their society as
they adopted a similar power structure. This produced a caste system where achievements
led to influence. Although family ties were important to an
Orion, they didn’t let it define them in any sort of “legacy” way. Most didn’t
even use their family name in public. A great focus was about bringing personal benefit
and individual accomplishments, but then sharing those accomplishments with the family. The
more successful a family, the more opportunities opened up for the individual and the more
resources such as marriage opportunities, trade and power. A family was headed by both
a matriarch and a patriarch who named their own successors, not necessarily from their
direct bloodline. Orions often proved loyal to their leaders
if they were deserving, to the death if necessary. Revenge was a great motivator for the species
because of this. They actively enjoyed duplicity and deception alongside puzzles and problems,
solving things and investigative behaviour made them perfect for subterfuge, business,
and crime. The Orion people tended to flock together
and stick to their own space. They termed unexplored space as the “Outer Dark”.
This is because they had a high appreciation for comfort and opulence. They often indulgenced,
even during business, on fine wines, food, entertainment, gifts and so on. Usually used
as shrewd tactics to soften up a mark, but nonetheless enjoyed. This also meant that
journeying between colonies was almost a nomadic caravan affair as they brought their comforts
with them. There was the Orion Space Navy which served as a colonial military fleet,
but role of the Syndicate largely supplanted this in practice however.
A common misconception around Orions concerns their women, who were advertised as “animalistic
slaves”, with carnal desires. In fact males were subservient to females in their culture
and this misconception was based on other species own cultural assumptions and the further
exploitation of this idea on the Orions behalf. They used this to gain influence in other
species frequently, for example a women would voluntarily enter slavery, get sold off to
wealthy individuals then apply their seduction to gain power. In fact, there were entire
schools of education directed at creating the stereotype of the “Orion Slave Girls”
who were taught not just sexual arts but how to entertain, listen, and provide comfort.
It should be noted that many males too were trained in the same way for the same duties.
They were extensively taught artwork, music and theatrics and then trained in martial
combat but most of all, to manipulate. These tactics served them well for a long time but
relied on their machinations not being discovered. So the practice would eventually diminish
with time as powers got wise to the ploy as well as the increasing illegality of slavery
being enforced by expanding powers such as the Federation.
Basically the species were very open about sexuality and often acted on their natural
desires. Though true, they tended to spread and exaggerate the myth on purpose to create
opportunities. The practice of slavery itself has been tied to their culture forever it
seems. Most Orion slaves were actually willing and treated with respect, being termed contractors
rather than slaves, in their native language. Slavers and slave owners treated them with
respect but still demanded servitude. Personal effects were technically denied, but Orion
slaves were gifted with many things. This didn’t apply to other races they captured
however. And it was a risk that their plans never panned out and the fell into genuine
servitude. But this was the reason for their extensive training.
Most of these activities were performed by the aforementioned Orion Syndicate. Technically
it isn’t part of the Orion government but nonetheless holds great pull over the colonies
in a mob style way. This led to rampant piracy, cartels and protection rackets forming in
Orion space where the cultural inclinations of the species were often partnered with their
aptitude for subtlety to leverage a great amount of control, expanding across the quadrant.
An anecdote among Starfleet officers became “How do you tell an Orion merchant from
an Orion pirate? If you have a phaser, then it’s a merchant.”
In essence the Orion people are rather more complex than they initially appear. On the
surface they’re slavers, pirates and exploit their own kind for wealth, but it goes deeper
than that. They play games with the other powers around them, both the Syndicate and
the Government practice manipulation on a political scale through the skilful use of
seduction, spying and brute force where applicable. Their natural skillset turned slavery into
a tool to work for them, but they maintain an Orion-centric view on the act. Therefore
their depiction as barbaric slavers is apt if you’re not a native. With the changing
of the times and the expansion of powers like the UFP, aspects such as slavery were relegated
to the past, with even the Syndicate toning it down and operating further and further
away from Starfleet arms. But again, this is because the Federation is too big to ignore
and not trade with, so we see the rise of academic institutions that the Federation
approves of and unions of trade that even Starfleet captains like Pike considered retiring
to. All the while, on the Klingon front, slavery is still practiced and the Syndicate still
operates it nefarious power plays. It seems that the Orion people will always find a way
to prosper in any landscape and if anything, their influence has grown with time, it’s
just got better at hiding it. Thanks for watching the viewer voted cultural
index and as mentioned, I want to do a small addendum exclusively on the Orion Syndicate
as it has undergone several changes with the eras to survive and is no longer purely an
Orion exclusive organisation. But for now, the voted episode returns with the choices
being themed from either the Fallout timeline slaver empire, Caesar’s Legion, yes I know
how I pronounced it, or perhaps the enigmatic, red eyed Chiss from the unknown regions of
the Star Wars galaxy. Cast your vote by liking the appropriate comment
below or suggest another race for the list. What do you think of
the Orions? Personally I think they are masters of the façade and even the Federation seems
to have fallen for it, all the while they can build influence behind the scenes, legitimately
and illegitimately, but I love that Trek has this seedy underbelly. If Mos Eisley existed
in Trek, it would turn up on an Orion colony. Thanks for watching, I’ve been Ric and until
next time, bye bye.