Hecate was an alien vessel.
According to a Starfleet Academy simulation scenario, the Hecate was in a state of war. It was near the debris of USS Kitty Hawk when USS Banting showed up. Questioned about escape pods, the Captain said that it should be heading to Jocwalth, in a dangerous sector. However her estimation was wrong. (TOS video game: Starfleet Academy Starship Bridge Simulator)