The Orion Dawn was a legendary event in Orion history, when the Orions finally gained ships of their own with which to battle the aliens that enslaved them, leading to the birth of Orion piracy.

In November 1508 BCE (reference stardate -35/0811), two Orions named Ombrey and Maark served as senior officers on freighters belonging to the Buban. Aided by Orions on Botchok (Rigel VIII) and in Colonies near the Rigel system, they stole two armed freighters in a well-planned heist, which would be named the Revenge and the Fate. Later legend would embellish the event into the 'Orion Dawn', and have Ombrey and Maark learn their skills as slaves in a freighter’s hold, and lead a revolt of manual labour slaves to seize the ship.

The Rigellians actually had complete information on the theft, but in their subtle support of the Orion cause, they claimed ignorance to the other signatories of the Treaty of Kammzdast who asked for their help.

Ombrey and Maark established hideouts on Rigel BC-I (Avali) and Rigel BC-II (Ugoan) that same year. These would form the heart of a widespread network of secret supply stations and repair facilities, while other Orion Colonies would provide aid and supplies of crew and equipment, though none of them could ever return to their homes.

They would go on to raid and capture other ships to add to a growing Orion pirate fleet, rising to 200 merchant vessels in less than 50 years. They aimed to provide star travel to Orions that wasn’t dependent on their alien masters, and maintain an illusion that their Orion slaves weren’t complicit in this. Ultimately, these pirate fleets would be instrumental in the Orion War and the battle for Orion independence. (FASA RPG modules: The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge, The Orions: Book of Deep Knowledge)