Rhinate

Rhinate was the third planet of the Vitabon-system. It was home to an Orion colony, member world of the Botchok Planetary Congress and an important historical site.

Rhinate used to be a larger world, possibly even habitable. However, an estimated half a million years ago, it was completely scoured of its atmosphere, water and all life. Even the crust was removed, down to a nickel-iron mantle. The only traces of this event were the parallel grooves gouged across the mantle, as if left by some enormous machine.

At some point after the scouring of the surface, an unknown and ancient race constructed Rhinate's first installations, perhaps for use as a space fortress. These were later occupied by other inhabitants, who each made enlargements and improved and installed updated technology.

By the time of the Orion War (beginning January 3rd 94 BCE), Rhinate's mines and shipyards were the most advanced in known space. It was also the site of the climactic battle of the Orion War, when Superadmiral Goluscz of the Nine Worlds Confederation assembled his remaining warfleet at Rhinate. They were met by the massed Orion fleets of Grand-Admiral Finit the Iron-Handed in December 57 BCE, and the ensuing Battle of Rhinate inflicted heavy losses on both sides. In the end, Goluscz capitulated and sued for peace, ending the Orion War and beginning the liberation of the Orion slave-race.

The Orion Space Navy used Rhinate as a base for centuries, though as the navy declined, the world evolved into a massive industrial park. However, this fell into disuse and neglect by the time of the Reverse. Later, pirates occupied the world and used it as a base, including the notorious Half-a-Man Sooris.

Things picked up when corporations returned to develop the planet's resources, following the publication of the first Orion Registry in January 1301 CE. When the Romulans invaded Orion space, and many Colonies evacuated and fled before them, Rhinate was one of the few worlds to stand firm. The 10-kilometer-thick stainless steel roof might have had something to do with it. The world's population swelled with the refugees who resettled there.

The planet was conquered in 2153 during the  Borderland Blitz, the  Klingon Empire   annexation of the  Botchok Planetary Congress , becoming a protectorate world when the Orion government surrendered.