u.s.s. Lancelot NCC-74410

diplomatic/JAG dEPARTMENT

ORION SYNDICATE

The Orions from planet in the Rigel System, for the most part, are Human-like beings. The dominant species of Orions have skin color ranging from rugged, golden orange to the skin tones of Terran Caucasians.

Some very Human-like females, however, are born with green skin. Said to be less intelligent of the dominant Orions (tough this may be more lack of educational opportunity than from genetics they behave in a semi-animalistic fashion. They usually have long, sharp claws and a greater physical dexterity than the dominant Orions.

Green-skinned Orion females are held in semi-slavery by Orion males. They are extremely seductive, with legend holding that human males cannot resist them. Transport of Slave women beyond the neutral Orion planets is prohibited and, of course, slavery is outlawed at all levels on the Federation. Few Federation Star Fleet personnel have really ever seen an Orion slave female. Orion pirates and freebooters are sometimes encountered by Federation vessels.

The Orion Colonies are allegedly neutral toward the Federation in external matters. They tend to encourage privateers (pirates), however, on an informal and unofficial basis, and Orion pirates and smugglers are sometimes encountered.
 

The Orions are feared pirates, able to rob enemy ships, taking away their cargo and fuel. 

The history of the Orion Cartels Association begins with the Orion government Ministry of Trade. The Orion homeworld has always been a center for trade and commerce, and is one of the most economically aggressive planets in the sector. Even prior to membership in the United Federation of Planets this was true. Upon becoming a member in the Federation, the Ministry of Trade was overwhelmed by the vastly expanded access to new markets.

It soon proved too much for a single planet's bureaucracy, and responsibility for regulating this increased trade was turned over to the Orion Trade Association (OTA). At that time, the OTA was a small, planetary organization funded by the various trade industries located on Orion, as well as the government itself. As the trade network became more and more extensive, however, the OTA realized that too much centralized control over the organization would limit it's potential, and decided to split the OTA into groups of semi-autonomous Cartels, each responsible for a specific operating zones.

These Cartels became more and more independent of each other as the economic and political situations in various operating zones differed. The OTA was re-christened the Orion Cartels Association (OCA), which has evolved into the organization you see today.

The organization was run in a much more loosely controlled manner than the OTA. Each Cartel has almost complete control over the trade and commerce it conducts in it's operating zone. Periodic conferences are held between the various Cartel leaders to resolve trade disputes and promote cooperation. While the loose-knit administration has caused some problems in the past, it is also responsible for the explosive growth of the OCA, as local conditions can be reacted to much more quickly than would be possible with a large, centralized bureaucracy.

The present OCA consists of Cartels located throughout known space, spreading from the Hydran frontier to the ISC homeworld. As the exploration of the galaxy continues, the OCA will be there to promote free trade, and help honest businessmen everywhere to break down the trade barriers that hurt expansion even if illegal.

Should you have any questions or comments please e-mail the Chief Diplomatic/JAG Officer at the Diplomatic/JAG Department aboard the U.S.S. Lancelot.