Military shuttle

SMALLCRAFT CLASS
Military shuttle
Affiliation:	Federation Starfleet
Classification:	shuttlecraft
Service period:	2250s

A military shuttle, or military transport, was a type of shuttlecraft used by the Federation Starfleet in the 2250s of the alternate reality created by the temporal displacement of the Narada. The shuttle's interiors could be configured for a variety of uses. Shuttles of this type were in service at least as early 2255, though were considered old by 2258.

Specifications

Cockpit of a military shuttle

The class was quite an angular design, an elongated hexagonal cross-section with two shorts wings towards the aft on either side, and two small nacelles on either side at the top rear of the ships. The cockpit was situated the front of the ship and could accommodate two pilots, though could be piloted by a single individual. The cockpit was accessible from the rear via a large opening into the cabin. This entrance could be sealed, with a transparent door, should the cabin be opened to space, allowing the pilot to continue flying the ship uninterrupted.

The shuttle featured a large window at the front giving views from the cockpit, and rows of three small windows along either side. The shuttles was accessed by a hatch at the side, just behind the cockpit, the door of which split; with part opening upwards and part folding downwards to make entrance steps. The design also featured a large hatch on the underside of the vessel.

The interior of the military shuttle could be configured in a number of ways. Seating could be provided for many people, with rows along each side of the vessel and two back-to-back rows down the center. The central space in the cabin could also be fitted with a transporter, typically specified for industrial use, meaning it could be used for heavy cargo as well as personnel. Finally the interior could be fitted to allow space jumps; handles along the ceiling allowed space jumpers to position themselves, and be locked to the ceiling; the ships' floor hatch could then be opened to launch them into their jump.

Cabin configured with seating	Cabin configured with transporter	Cabin configured for space jumps

To land the shuttles had four landing feet which retracted into their underside once in flight.

This class of shuttle was included in the complement of Arbiter class, Constitution class, Defender class, Guardian class and Interceptor class starships, and could be used as an escape pod.

History

In 2255 the shuttlecraft Bardeen, fitted with passenger seating in the cabin, was used to collect Starfleet cadets from the Riverside Shipyard in Iowa.

Military shuttles in Hangar One

In 2258 numerous military shuttles ferried Starfleet cadets from Hangar One on Earth to their postings on starships. A short time later Captain Christopher Pike piloted the USS Enterprise's Shuttle 89 to surrender himself to the Narada, in the flight he used the shuttle space jump launch capability to deploy Enterprise personnel to disable the Narada's plasma drill. Shortly after this Shuttle 78072, assigned to the Delta Vega outpost, was modified by Spock and Scotty to successfully accomplish transwarp beaming. Not long after this Spock encountered the primary universe's Spock standing next to a military shuttle in a hangar on Earth.

In the 2250s military shuttles were commonly used as escape pods when Federation starships, battling forces of the Romulan Star Empire, were facing imminent destruction.

Known craft

• Bardeen (70172)
• Shuttle 89
• Shuttle 12091
• Shuttle 78072