Ba'ku

 
Overview
 
Type Planet
Classification Class M
Affiliation United Federation of Planet
    
Description Class M planet which is situated in the center of the inhospitable Briar Patch and is therefore isolated from the other planets of the Alpha Quadrant. When viewed from space, Ba'ku captivates with its   remarkable beauty - the bluish green colour of the oceans and the extensive, magnificent planetary ring system, which contains a concentration of metaphasic particles which is unique in the Galaxy and exceeds the quantity in the other parts of the Briar Patch as well. The metaphasic radiation in the ring system has an extraordinary effect on the life at the surface of the planet: they change the genostructure of the grown-up humanoids living there within 10 years, so that they are rejuvenated, not aging any more. This fountain of youth and the generally unspoiled, breathtaking nature - the gentle hills, virgin woods, calm streams and peculiar animals and plants - make Ba'ku to one of the most desirable planets in the entire Quadrant. Here, 600 years ago 300 refugees from a planet on the verge of self-destruction called the Ba'ku found a new home, and here a interstellar power struggle for the rights to exploit the planet arises after the discovery of the planet, leading to a test of the very principles of the Federation; a power struggle which can only be stopped by a fierce insurrection. However, as long as Ba'ku remains the only known, really existing source of eternal life in the universe, the interest of the outsiders for the exploitation of the planets will be as big as the interest of its inhabitants for a secluded life in peace and harmony.
 
Position
 
Galaxy Milky Way
Quadrant Alpha
Sector 441
Region Briar Patch
System Ba'ku system
 
Planetary data
Moons None

BakuSurface.jpg (14603 Byte)
Peculiarities Planetary ring system with metaphasic properties which have a rejuvenating and life-sustaining effect on adult humanoids.
Atmosphere Nitrogen / oxygen
Surface Fertile plains, woods, mountains
Climate temperate warm
Life Flora and fauna
Animal species

Ba'ku pet

Ba'ku humming bird
Intelligent species None
 
Geopolitical data
 
Type Colonization planet
Political classification Federation protectorate
Inhabitants

Ba'ku
   Population 600
   
Settlements

Ba'ku village
Important institutions None
Orbital structures None
Planetary facilities None
  
History
 
2066 600 Ba'ku leave their home planet, since their culture is on the verge of self-destruction and their scientists have developed weapons capable of exstinguishing all living beings on the planet. The Ba'ku search for an  possibility to live in peace and harmony, secluded and without any technology, and finally they find the planet Ba'ku located in the inhospitable Briar Patch, which not only offers a chance for a fresh start due to the favorable climatic conditions and the breathtaking, unspoiled nature, but also alters the genostructure of the settlers because of the metaphasic properties of its ring system. They are rejuvenated and at once they don't age any more. Since this time, the Ba'ku live in accord with nature and without any contact to other species.

2275 A group of young Ba'ku resists the way of life of the Ba'ku which hasn't changed since centuries; they want to adapt the habits of the strangers and are inclined to use technology in daily life. Under the leadship of Rotin and his friend Gal'na, the group tries to seize the power in the colony, but they fail. They are exiled by their parents from Ba'ku and have to live without the effect of the metaphasic radiation from that moment, what corresponds to a slow, natural death.
In the next hundred years, the exiled, which call themselves the Son'a, search for a possibility to take revenge on their parents.
2375
   May After they have developed a technology to drain the metaphasic particles from the rings of Ba'ku, which would, however, make the planet unhabitable, the Son'a contact the Federation with the request that they have "discovered" a new, peculiar planet and want to exploit the special metaphasic properties for the sake of all livings beings in the Galaxy. The Federation and the Son'a become partners in order to relocate the Ba'ku and collect the metaphasic particles. However, the only matter of concern of the Son'a is their blood feud and their goal to banish the parents just the  same way as they have been exiled by them a long time ago.
   October Federation and Son'a start a joint sociological study of the Ba'ku. They  erect a cloaked station on the surface of the planet in order to observe the daily life in the Ba'ku village. A newly discovered, cloaked holo ship is hidden in the lake near the village with the intention to resettle the Ba'ku without their knowledge after the study is completed. However, an incident with the android Data during the mission "Duck Blind", which was originally supposed to last merely one week, brings the USS Enterprise-E into the arena.

   SD 52865 Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-E discover the truth about the relocation of the Ba'ku and the real motives of the Son'a concealed from the Federation executive of the Ba'ku mission, Admiral Dougherty, as well as the Federation Council itself, by Ru'afo, the leader of the Son'a. Consequently, they protect the Ba'ku and try to prevent the forced relocation of the settlers by all means, starting a planet-wide insurrection.
After the plans of Ru'afo to carry out his blood feud with the elimination of all Ba'ku on the planet have been thwarted, the Son'a are brought together with their parents to initiate a healing process which is supposed to facilitate the peaceful reintegration of the dying Son'a into the Ba'ku society. The planet is declared a Federation protectorate.