Summary
Warning: contains spoilers forStar Trek Annual 2024!
The Orions are one of the most feared races in theStar Trekuniverse, but by the 24th century, their greatest strength has been taken from them. For many years, the Orions were aStar Trekenigma: often mentioned, but never seen.Star Trek: Enterprisechanged this, revealing a good deal about their culture,but as seen inStar Trek Annual 2024, the Orions' biggest advantage has been neutralized.
Star Trek Annual 2024was written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly and drawn by Rachael Stott. Data, accompanied by Geordi La Forge and Chief O’Brien, travels to the Orion homeworld, seeking clues to thewhereabouts of the missing Lore. The trio go to the Pleasure Quarter on the planet, to the stronghold of crime lord Madam Vivo.
The three prepare to enter, but before Geordi and O’Brien go in,they inject themselves with a compound that neutralizes Orion pheromones.
The Orions Are Vastly Underused in theStar TrekUniverse
Star Trek: EnterpriseFinally Utilized Them–But in a Problematic Way
Despite getting in on the ground floor, the Orions were mostly mentioned throughout the show’s run, with a surgically altered member appearing in the classicStar Trekepisode “Journey to Babel.”
The Orions may not be as popular as the Klingons or the Borg, but they have been a part of theStar Trekfranchise since the very beginning. An Orion “slave girl” appeared in Captain Pike’s vision in “The Cage,” the very first episode of the show. Despite getting in on the ground floor, the Orions were mostly mentioned throughout the show’s run, with a surgically altered member appearing in the classicStar Trekepisode “Journey to Babel.” The Orions rated mentions onDeep Space Ninebefore making their grand entrance inEnterprise’sfourth season.
During that season, the episode “Bound” seemingly blew the lid off everything fans thought they knew about the Orions.Long considered to be a male-dominated culture, the Orions are in fact matricial,and the women secrete pheromones capable of mind control. Essentially, the slave girl bit was just an act. While this may have seemed to be empowering, fans felt it problematic. When the Orions returned in both JJ Abrams’ 2009 reboot and newerTrekshows, this development was ignored.Lower Decksretooled this concept further, removing many of its problematic elements.
The Orions' Biggest Asset Is No More
It Explains How the Orions Became Minor Players
No in-universe reason was given as to why Starfleet personnel inthe days since Captain Archerhave been able to resist Orion pheromones, butStar Trek Annual 2024clears this up. “Bound” revealed certain species, such as the Vulcans, are immune to the pheromones, and it stands to reason this helped Starfleet find a workaround. This also explains how Orions, such as D’Vana Tendi, were able to serve in Starfleet. Finally, it goes a long way to explaining how the Orions became minor players in theStar Trekuniverse, as their greatest asset was taken from them.
Star Trek Annual 2024is on sale now from IDW Publishing!
Star Trek (2022)
It’s stardate 2378, and Benjamin Sisko has finally returned from the Bajoran Wormhole omnipotent—but his godhood is failing with every minute. Sent by the Prophets on a mission to the deepest parts of space aboard the U.S.S. Theseus, he witnesses the unthinkable: someone is killing the gods. And only Sisko and his motley crew of Starfleet members from every era of Trek can stop them.
