| abstract | - Spike was the second planet in the Spikal star system in the Klingon Neutral Zone in the Alpha or the Beta Quadrant. It was home to an isolationist Orion Colony, where the Orions were known as Spikans. The Orion Colony world of Spike became a closed world during the period of Orion history known as Reverse. The frightened inhabitants cut all trade and ties with outsiders, and attacked all ships that forced entry into the Spikal system. The situation continued for a thousand years, bar the occasional lost and unarmed trader or explorer being allowed entry, and Spike only gradually resumed trade with other worlds. The prohibition against armed vessels in the system remained in effect. Federation only discovered Spike after the Four Years War (c. 2250s), when Starfleet Admiral Trenton Reynolds and his force of 300 ships returned from Kolm-an and happened upon the world (having missed it on the push out). Reynolds sent a contact team, but the inhabitants snubbed them and ordered Reynolds and his fleet to leave immediately. Given the dangers, it was a request that he respected, leaving only some diplomats who were allowed to land. A few traders were also welcomed, provided they behaved themselves. In the late 23rd century, Spike was ruled by Overlord Mentain the Strong, who continued the closed-world policy. Those who visited Spike were warned by Starfleet that they couldn't rely on it for protection or support; those who broke local law were likely to be held captive for a very long time waiting for a negotiation of extradition with the consulate. At this time, Spike was defended by a Space Navy numbering only 33 ships, and most of them were small, obsolete and lightly armed. However, the crews were highly trained, well-practiced, efficient and very hostile. Even Klingon ships respected the ferocity of the Spikan defenders. It had a technological/sociopolitical index of 999974-74 and a planetary trade profile of BDFCBCD/C(A). Spike had a total surface area of 570,013,380 square kilometers and, with 34% land mass, a total land area of 193,804,540 square kilometres. It was made up of 27% normal metals and 7% radioactive elements, with trace quantities of gemstones, industrial crystals, and special minerals. It had a warm temperate climate with a class M terrestrial atmosphere and a 28 hour day (FASA RPG module: The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge).
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