The Zeta Expanse was a region of space split almost equally by the Delta Quadrant and the Gamma Quadrant. It was prone to spacial distortions, including wormholes, but seemed to still be a relatively habitable area of space. (Star Trek: Zeta: "New Frontiers [pt1]")
History[]
At some time prior to the year 2375, the Ilkari Alliance and Skargon Empire engaged in a war that saw much of the Ilkari Alliance either enslaved or destroyed.
In 2283, a group of Gorn and Tressaurian ships were transported to the Zeta Expanse via an unstable wormhole. Over the next 90+ years, they build a small empire, colonizing two worlds and enslaving a third.
In 2379, a small group of Federation ships were transported to the expanse via an unstable wormhole.
Races of the Zeta Expanse[]
Ilkari[]
The Ilkari are a race of tall, grey-green skinned humanoids, with silver, grey or white hair. They generally stand from 1.88m tall to 2.16m tall. They are a generally peaceful race hailing from the planet Ilkar Prime. In their early 'warp period' the Ilkari colonised the nearby Tyronis system. When Federation ships met the Ilkari in 2379, Ilkari technology matched up to early-mid 24th century Federation technologies.
The Ilkari were a part of the Ilkari Alliance. An alliance of local systems with goals and sensibilities much like that of the United Federation of Planets. A total of 4 races has made up the alliance before their conflict with the Skargon Empire. The Skargon empire have destroyed or enslaved much of the Ilkari and their allies.
Skargon[]
In terms of appearance the Skargon are humanoid, hairless, generally taller than most humans and of a stocky build. They have a yellow-orange complexion, distinctly mottled with patterns of brown and/or green spots. Skargon eyes are, for the most part, tinted red and gift them with very acute vision encompassing the infra-red spectrum.
A race of hunters and warriors, the Skargon are the dominate force in the Zeta Expanse area of space, The Skargon Empire covers a large area of the expanse, including most of what was once the Ilkari alliance, now annexed and enslaved by the empire.
At the time of Federation ships arriving in the area, the Skargon Empire is at a level of technology that matches mid 24th century Federation tech.
Nebula, Wormholes and Other Distortions[]
The Zeta Expanse is an area prone to strange subspace distortions and at least one wormhole, while accidental stable travel was achieved through a wormhole, this wormhole seems to operate much like the Barzan Wormhole, opening intermittently and in different areas of space, making travel unreliable and dangerous.
Three nebula exist within the expanse, the largest being the Axona Nebula, which borders with the Skargon Empire. The two other, much smaller nebula are the Hafren and Tamesis Nebula.
Most recorded anomalies in the expanse are subspace anomalies, creating patches of space with warp blackouts, making travel beyond impusle impossible. Two of these areas seem to extend in to subspace anomaly corridors, creating strips of space where warp travel is not possible.
At least one quantum distortion has been examined in the expanse.
Federation vessels in the expanse.[]
Five Federation ships were pulled through an unstable wormhole, which transported them to the Zeta Expanse.
Those vessels were;
- USS Adonis (NCC-88301)
- USS Caliburn (NCC-82201)
- USS Costello (NCC-11174) The Costello was also carrying Danube class runabouts Thames and Yuron when it arrived in the expanse.
- USS Gemini (NCC-1795-B)
- USS Seriphos (NCC-80690)