Kepler (USS Enterprise, 2254)

The Kepler was a Federation shuttlecraft in service to Starfleet in the 23rd century. The shuttle was newly assigned to the starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) in the year 2254.

Specifics
In 2254, Kepler was optimized for planetary reconnaissance when delivered to the Enterprise. It was equipped with two sensor-jamming devices, one of which was plugged into the ship's deflectors while the other was kept in storage as a backup. It was outfitted with one phaser emitter. Equipment included six environmental suits and a three-dimensional chess set. A bathroom was located at the back of the craft.

Service history
Kepler was launched in 2254 to study the ecology of gigantic cosmozoan lifeforms in the Carrollia sector while the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) retreated to a safer region. Captain Christopher Pike piloted, Spock was copilot, and its crew consisted of Phillip Boyce, J. Mia Colt, Lanned and Perri. The crew observed a kraken eating a. Titans were used as biological warp drive starships for a Federation member planet, but had recently gone missing.

To assess re-balancing the ecology among neighboring star systems, the crew donned environmental suits and began to collect three newly-laid kraken eggs. The kraken mother returned, however. Boyce was still aboard the shuttle and tried to scare the kraken away with phaser fire, but the kraken wrapped its tentacles around the hull and blew out its observation ports. Boyce quickly jumped out before Kepler was crushed and then devoured. As it was chewed, fuel or air tanks were breached, and Kepler exploded, killing the kraken. 


 * The shuttle's class was not specified in the story.