Couriers

For other uses, see Courier.

Couriers at an open-air mercantile exchange.

The courier network was a 32nd century loose association of self-reliant interstellar traders. Couriers operated across the galaxy in the wake of the Burn that eliminated the Federation as a galactic power. (DSC episode: "That Hope Is You, Part 1")

History and specifics

Since the 2150s, governments and fleets such as the Klingon Empire and the Federation Starfleet used to couriers. Their main duties were deliver vital messages and intelligence during conflicts. In 2151, Klaang was courier for the Klingon High Council who delivered information on Suliban Cabal's attacks. During the Dominion War, Morn delivered information to captain Sisko on the Dominion's plan to clear the minefield away from the Bajoran wormhole. (ENT episode & novelization: Broken Bow; DS9 episode: "Favor the Bold")

By the 3180s decade, the oldest active couriers had been operating since the 3150s and 3160s. Jeremiah was a courier who had retired and operated the workshop Back Forty at the former Federation Spaceport Devaloka.

Courier Book in 3188.

Katerina oversaw a secret courier settlement on Donatu VII. Some couriers kept housing and a family in the colony.

Donatu VII, home of the couriers.

Usually, couriers operated by themselves and flew their own ships. (DSC novel: Wonderlands)

Cleveland Booker was a Kwejian courier who used Book's frigate to complete contracts. He was in league with Sanctuary Four, a planet dedicated to upholding the Endangered Species Act. In the year 3188, he met the time-displaced Starfleet officer Michael Burnham. (DSC episode: "That Hope Is You, Part 1")

Michael Burnham, Starfleet officer and courier.

Book helped Burnham find a base on Aditya Sahil's Spaceport Devaloka, while sort-of training her to become a courier. With the help of his friend Brodie, they recovered a Nirvana-class flyer from Necropolis, a starship graveyard. Burnham named her vessel Alice and become involved the showdown between the White Palm cartel and the flailing colony Atalis IV. Burnham and the elder Cardassian courier Iliana Pa'Dan escaped imprisonment in the Atalis star system.

The White Palm encroached on colonies and couriers alike. Book and Burnham, with the help of Starfleet acting communications chief Sahil and the undercover courier Pa'Dan, organized a defense of Donatu VII and Devaloka against the White Palm, ultimately leading to the capture of Chief Executive Officer Remington, the liberation of Starbase 906, and the dissolution of the White Palm. (DSC novel: Wonderlands)

Burnham used her resources to recover black boxes of Federation starships lost in the Burn, in the hope of unravelling the cause. In 3189, she rejoined the crew of the USS Discovery, after that ship's arrival from 2258. (DSC episode: "People of Earth")

Discovery became involved in the conflict between the Emerald Chain cartel and the surviving Federation authorities based at Federation Headquarters. (DSC episode: "Scavengers")

The Emerald Chain employed couriers like Zareh. (ST video game: Timelines)

Booker, his cat Grudge and their Kwejian frigate permanently joined the refitted Discovery after the Emerald Chain was fractured and the mystery of the Burn had been solved. (DSC episode: "That Hope Is You, Part 2")

Alternate timelines

In an alternate timeline affected by the Q Continuum's temporal anomaly crisis, couriers like Michael Burnham, Cleveland Booker and Zareh were stranded in the 2380s and joined Starfleet to help solve the crisis. (ST video game: Timelines)

Technology

• dilithium
• transwarp tunnels
• personal transporter
• courier starships:
  • Kwejian frigate/assault craft
    • Book's frigate
  • Nirvana-class flyer
    • Alice
• Traitt's ship
• Pa'Dan's ships

Known couriers

• Brodie
• Cleveland Booker
• Michael Burnham (3188-3189)
  • Michael Burnham (alternates)
• Jeremiah (retired by 3188)
• Katerine
• Iliana Pa'Dan
• Cosmo Traitt (until 3188)
• Zareh (until 3189)