Summary

• Farius Prime makes the Ferengi homeworld seem reasonable, with a currency economy that shocks even Data and O’Brien.
• Desperation and crime plague Farius Prime, mirrored only by the harsh, poverty-ridden conditions seen on the Ferengi homeworld.
• While the Ferengi may one day evolve beyond money, Farius Prime remains trapped in a cycle of poverty, crime, and despair.

Warning: contains spoilers for Star Trek Annual 2024!

Star Trek has confirmed the one planet in the galaxy that makes the Ferengi homeworld look reasonable. The hyper-capitalistic Ferengi have been a part of Star Trek lore since the earliest days of The Next Generation. Subsequent shows have fleshed their culture out considerably, revealing some harsh truths about it. However, Star Trek Annual 2024 reveals that a planet seen on Deep Space Nine is far worse.

Star Trek Annual 2024 was written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly and drawn by Rachael Stott. Data, hot on the trail of his brother Lore, taps Chief Miles O’Brien to help him. Lore has absconded with the remnants of the Red Path, and poses a serious threat to the galaxy. Their search takes them to Farius Prime, a world where O’Brien once went undercover. He tells Data Farius Prime is on a “currency economy that makes Ferenginar look civilized.”

Sure enough, the two are attacked shortly thereafter.

Farius Prime Was Already One of Star Trek’s Harshest Worlds–But Now Its Even Worse

Farius Prime Has a Lot In Common With the Ferengi

Farius Prime is a bleak and hostile world. First mentioned in early episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Farius Prime was seen full-on in the sixth season episode “Honor Among Thieves.” The Orion Syndicate, a criminal organization, was running operations on Farius Prime, and Starfleet tasked O’Brien with infiltrating the group. The planet was overrun by criminals, and as O’Brien explains in Star Trek Annual 2024, they existed in a sort of “cold war,” without one getting the upper hand. Lore’s actions have upended all of this, turning Farius Prime into a warzone.

Just as Earth was riddled with social problems before abandoning money, so is Farius Prime. The citizens live in destitution, and turn to crime to survive, perpetuating the cycle.

Chief O’Brien compares Farius Prime to the Ferengi homeworld, and invokes their culture as well. By the 24th century, Earth and the Federation have evolved beyond money, becoming a post-scarcity economy. This in turn eliminated poverty, crime and war, making Earth a paradise. The Ferengi and Farius Prime had no such luck, and continue to exist on a consumerist model using currency as its basis. Just as Earth was riddled with social problems before abandoning money, so is Farius Prime. The citizens live in destitution, and turn to crime to survive, perpetuating the cycle.

Farius Prime Has Sunk to New Depths of Despair

The Ferengi May One Day Leave Money Behind, But Not Farius Prime

Yet Chief O’Brien felt that Farius Prime may be worse than the Ferengi.Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ends by setting the Ferengi up for a more benevolent path, one away from money and the need for it. Lower Decks confirmed these changes are underway, but will be made slowly. Farius Prime has had nothing of the sort, and continues down a dark path, one of poverty, crime and despair. While the Ferengi may one day leave capitalism behind, there is no such indication on Farius Prime, making it one of the harshest planets in the Star Trek universe.

Star Trek Annual 2024 is on sale now from IDW Publishing!