Beta Rigel

For similarly named articles, see Rigel (disambiguation).

This article is about the core Federation system. You may be looking for Beta Orionis, the "true" Rigel.

Beta Rigel (also Tau 3 Eridani, or simply "Rigel") is a star and associated planetary system in the Kandari sector of the Milky Way Galaxy's Beta Quadrant, 88.6 light years from Sol. The system had 10 planets, several of which were Class M and had sapient native species. In their common tongue, these inhabitants referred to their star as Raij, and their system as Raij'hl. As this was a homophone for the Terran name for Beta Orionis, the "true Rigel", the system became known as Beta Rigel following contact with humans.

The species of the system included the Chelon of Rigel III and the Jelna of Rigel VI (both of which originated on those worlds), as well as the Vulcanoid Rigellian inhabitants of Rigel V, who arrived during the Vulcan diaspora, and the Zami of Rigel IV, who were themselves an offshoot of the planet's native humanoids and the neighboring Vulcanoids. Humans from Earth began living on Rigel IV as well, beginning in 2156.

Rigel II was a colony world originally settled by the Zami and the Jelna, and was a popular tourist attraction, known for its nightlife, as well as seedier activities controlled by the Orion Syndicate.

Rigel X was a Class P planet at the edge of the system, which was home to the Rigel Trading Complex, a major port of call in the region during the mid-22nd century, and a place where many underworld dealings took place.

Colonies were also present on many of the system's numerous moons, some of which were established by humans who wanted to make the Rigel system their home following first contact.

The United Rigel Worlds was the name of the system's interplanetary government, encompassing all the inhabited planets and the lunar colonies. After distancing itself from the Coalition of Planets in the mid-2150s and riding out the Earth-Romulan War as a neutral party, the URW joined the United Federation of Planets in 2164, though Orion influence in the system remained strong behind the scenes. (ENT novel: Tower of Babel)

In the mid-23rd century, the Rigel system was one of the most populated regions among the core worlds of the Federation. (TOS: "The Doomsday Machine")

By the mid-24th century, Starbase 134 was located in the (Beta) Rigel system, with facilities on and in orbit of Rigel VI. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual; Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual; Star Trek: Star Charts)

During the Dominion War, the Battle of Rigel took place here, in early 2375. The Federation Alliance successfully repelled the Dominion attack, but not without significant loss of life. The USS Enterprise was among the participants in the battle, as was the USS Kelly. While the Enterprise escaped with only a few casualties, the Kelly and many other ships and lives were lost. (TTN novel: Taking Wing; DS9 novel: Trill: Unjoined)

In the aftermath of the battle, the Orion Syndicate swept in to scavenge the debris field for whatever they could find before the system was secured. With the Federation and its allies focused on the Dominion, the Syndicate was able to increase their presence in the Beta Rigel system almost to pre-Federation levels. (DS9 novel: Trill: Unjoined; Decipher: Worlds)

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System information

• Raij / Tau 3 Eridani / Beta Rigel
  • Rigel I
  • asteroid belt
  • Rigel II
    • Class M, strongly influenced by Rigel IV and the Orion Syndicate
  • Rigel III (Chelar)
    • homeworld of the Chelon species.
  • Rigel IV (Zamiar)
    • Class M
    • home of the Zami, and location of a human colony established in 2156. Controlled by the First Families of Rigel (and the Orion Syndicate) until 2164.
  • Rigel V
    • Class M
    • home of the Vulcanoid Rigellians
  • Rigel VI
    • Class M, tidally locked with Rigel VII
    • home of the four-sexed Rigelian (Jelna) species.
    • shipyards and mining facilities, "near Starbase 134"
  • Beta Rigel VII
    • Class J gas giant, tidally locked with Rigel VI
  • Beta Rigel VIII
    • ringed Class J gas giant
  • Rigel IX / Heitar
    • Class H
  • Rigel X / Kolhor
    • Class P
    • Trading outpost and Orion slave market

External links

• Beta Rigel article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.
• Beta Rigel article at Star Trek Expanded Universe, the fanon and fanworks Star Trek wiki.