USS Lakota (NCC-42768)

The USS Lakota (NCC-42768) was an Excelsior-class Federation starship in service during the 24th century.

In 2372, the Lakota docked at Deep Space 9 in order to transport Captain Benjamin Sisko and Constable Odo to Earth to confer with Starfleet Command over security concerns regarding the Dominion. While the Lakota was orbiting Earth she received a brief refit and placed under the command of Erika Benteen. A few days later, when Earth's power-grid failed and Earth feared a Dominion invasion, the Lakota 's transporters were used to place Starfleet troops on Earth. (DS9 episode: "Homefront").

When the grid failure was revealed to be part of a plot by Admiral James Leyton to declare martial law on Earth, Leyton ordered the Lakota to intercept the USS Defiant to stop it reaching Earth with vital evidence against Leyton. After a brief battle, the Lakota stood down and escorted the Defiant to Earth. Following the incident, Captain Benteen was removed from command and demoted. (DS9 episode: "Paradise Lost").