Ardana

Ardana is the third planet of three that orbit Mu Leonis A, a red star in a binary system. While Ardana itself has no moon, the other two worlds in the system support one each. The first planet is Class C, with daytime temperatures exceeding 800 degrees Fahrenheit, and the second is Class D and also incapable of supporting life.

Ardana's population, contrary to popular native tradition, most likely did not originate on the planet. Tests conducted over a period of years have shown a considerable genetic difference between the humanoid population and native primates, which carry DNA of a different amino acid complex.

The origin of the Ardanan people has been lost to the obscurity of the ages, but it is apparent that they brought an advanced technology with them. The ruling class has made its home literally in the clouds, having constructed an immense antigravity complex known as Stratos City. This airborne metropolis is the finest example of selected gravity manipulation known to Federation science, and the manner in which it accomplishes its levitation is not completely understood.

The citizens of Stratos City are devoted completely to the arts and sciences. Law-keeping forces are not necessary, since the city dwellers have eliminated all forms of violence from their culture.

Ardana is the only known source of zenite, a mineral ore with antibacterial properties. The planet's primary export product, it is mined beneath the planet's surface, usually by hand due to the ore's softness. Workers must wear proper filter masks because zienite in its raw form emits a colorless, odorless gas that attacks the judgement and control centers of humanoid brain tissues. This produces a state of extreme irritability, followed by confusion, insanity, and ultimately death.

The population of Ardana was, for centuries, divided into two classes. An upper class of intellectuals inhabiting Stratos City kept a secondary class of citizens working in the mines, unaware that their lack of mental prowess was caused by exposure to the zienite gas. At Federation request, this caste system was eliminated, and all citizens now enjoy the fruits of Ardana's export industry. (TOS: "The Cloud Minders")

Reference(s)

• Johnson, Shane. Star Trek: The Worlds of the Federation, New York: Pocket Books, 1989. ISBN: 0-671-66989-3.