Orion system

The Orion system is a former United Empire of Earth planetary system. Its only habitable planet Armitage was colonized in the 2660s. Vanduul forces entered the system in 2712, defeated the human fleet and destroyed Armitage. The system is still under control by the Vanduul.^[1]

History

Settlement

The Orion System was first charted by a stranded long-range UEE destroyer squadron in 2650.

Due to only a few exploitable natural resources, missing strategic jump points, and their location on the periphery of the UEE, no major investments had been initiated in the first ten years.

Only a private-initiated strong colonial movement surged through the human homeworlds in the 2660s lead a greater interest in the system and the settlement of Orion III (as part of Project FarStar), despite its lack of importance, and Orion became the most distant human-controlled system.

Vanduul Incursion

On August 9, 2681, heavily armed Vanduul struck a post on Armitage, murdered dozens of civilians and abducted a farmer. It was the first contact between both species.

Vanduul attacks continued, cause of his status of a weak-protected "feeding world." In 6 months outposts over the system had been raided fifteen times. Due to its isolated position and for logistic reasons, the UEE Command never deployed large task forces. Armitage was stripped from its status as a colony world.^[1]

On 2712-02-16 a large Vanduul fleet invaded the system. The Battle of Orion raged for 3 days until the system was abandoned by the UEE. Armitage was bombarded with anti-matter bombs and laid into ruins.

Current Status

Over 200 years later, Armitage, despite its dying ecosphere is still settled by a small of group of humans. Nomadic Vanduul groups still pick up food from Armitage and ore from the gold and platinum-rich asteroids. According to the Jump point "their is absolutely no practical reason to visit Orion."

Astrophysicists predict that there at least two unexplored jump points in the system.

Gravitational governors

Orion

Orion is a M-type main sequence star.

Planets

Orion I

A protoplanet thoroughly charred by the system's sun.

Orion II

This smog planet has an atmosphere composed mainly of sulfuric acid.

Armitage : Orion III

The site of the first Vanduul attack against Humanity. Armitage had a growing population and pastures capable of agricultural development prior to the attacks. Now the planet is a wasteland of abandoned Human settlements and plains pockmarked by blast craters.

Abyss : Orion IV

A gas giant that has earned the nickname Abyss because it reflects very little light. Appearing like a giant planet of coal.

Orion VII

The existence of this planet is mentioned in Galactic Guide,^[1] though it is not present on the Ark Starmap.

Asteroid belts

Orion Belt Alpha

An asteroid belt that had been classified as "mineral rich" before the retreat.

Known jump points

Jump gate	Direction	Size	Destination
Orion - VS-9 "Vulture"	Bidirectional	Large	VS-9 "Vulture" - Orion, in Vulture system
Orion - Caliban	Bidirectional	Medium	Caliban - Orion, in Caliban system
Orion - Tiber	Bidirectional	Large	Tiber - Orion, in Tiber system
Orion - Viking	Bidirectional	Large	Viking - Orion, in Viking system