Turkana IV

The Class-M world Turkana IV is the fourth planet planet of the Turkana system, and is the site of a failed Federation colony.

While officially a Federation protectorate, the planet's government began breaking down in the 2330s. Dozens of factions developed, and civil war broke out. The Turkana government gave emergency powers to the two largest factions, the Coalition and the Turkana IV Alliance. However, they were quickly overthrown, and the planet broke away from the Federation in the 2350s. The two factions then declared the planet's independence.

Lawlessness became the norm, and rape gangs became a common threat. Few citizens escaped the planet. One of those fortunate enough to do so was Tasha Yar, who left the planet at age fifteen, and later went on to become a Starfleet officer.

In 2361, the USS Potemkin attempted to contact the colony, but was warned that anyone beaming down to the surface would be killed.

Six years later, the USS Enterprise, NCC-1701-D visited Turkana IV, in response to a distress call. At that time, the surface structures had all been destroyed by years of civil war, and the planet's inhabitants lived in structures that extended up to three kilometers below the surface. Proximity detectors were used to separate the two factions, and both sides' bases were heavily defended, in order to prevent all-out conflict.