Great Orion Empire
The Great Orion Empire (or Thakolarivaj) was a series of imperial states that existed early in Orion history. It was comprised of the First through Twelfth Orion Empires. The capital was the legendary Sand City of Kolaripam on the continent of Oaniru on Rigel VII.[1][2]
History
A sizeable number of Orions originating in the Pi-3 Orionis system were transplanted to Rigel VII, no later than 220,000 BCE, where they flourished in the Enala river valley. About 203,000 BCE, Orion astronauts reach Rigel XIII and study the cosmic string located above the planet's south pole. Their civilization developed warp drive about 202,000 BCE.[3]B
First Orion Empire
In 200,993 BCE, following a long period of Orion colonization, piracy, and interstellar disputes, Nispavan I united the Orion homeworld of Rigel VII (Kolar) and its colonies. With these, he founded the Thakolarivaj and declared himself the first Emperor of All Space. This state lasted until almost 140,863 BCE, when it was destroyed by an unknown species employing robotic planet-killing craft from another galaxy. This imperium became known as the First Orion Empire, the first of twelve over the next approximately 136,000 years.[2]
Second Orion Empire
In (approximately) 32,700 BCE, the Second Orion Empire was caught up in a lengthy conflict with the First Federation. Both states interfered with the progress of developing worlds.[4]
Fourth Orion Empire
The Thakolarivaj reached its greatest extent during the Fourth Orion Empire, greater even than the First and pushed deep into the Alpha quadrant. In (approximately) 27,700 BCE, the Fourth Empire hastily abandoned a terraforming project on Rigel VIII (Tavar). It also founded Kohlor Station on Rigel X (Kohlor), on the site of an earlier Orion research facility, and installed its defense grid.[2]
Curved Rodinium Culture
Another Orion empire dominated most of the Orion Arm around (approximately) 20,700 BCE. Archaeologists labeled it the Curved Rodinium Culture, but disagreed on whether this was the Seventh or the Eighth Orion empire.[4]
Eighth Orion Empire
The Eighth Orion Empire saw Orion scientific progress become essentially static.[2]
Twelfth Orion Empire
The Twelfth Orion Empire expanded into the Alpha quadrant around 8,000 BCE. The oldest surviving caju (merchant clan) can trace their lineage back to this era. But the Twelfth, and last, Orion empire fell in 5,200 BCE. With that, the caju decided that galactic conquest was best left to lesser species and gave up on overt rule.[4][2]
Post-Empire
Some remnants of the Thakolarivaj operated into the late 24th century in the form of the Vaj (the "Empire"), a weak and internally divided nation-state of Rigel VII.[2]
- 1934: The Orions have first contact with the Andorians on the latter's colony, Cimera III.[3]
- 1960: The Orions begin a series of raids on the Vegan Tyranny.[3]
- 2040: The Vegan Tyranny is destroyed, resulting in the extinction of the Vegans.[3]