NCC-1701/3

NCC-1701/3
Class:	class F shuttlecraft
Registry:	NCC-1701/3
Affiliation:	Federation, Starfleet
Launched:	23rd century
Assignment:	USS Enterprise
Status:	salvageable (2260s)

NCC-1701/3 was a class F shuttlecraft in service to Starfleet in the 23rd century. The shuttle was assigned to the Federation starship USS Enterprise in the 2260s.

Service history

In the 2260s, Kirk, Spock, Ferris and Morton took the unarmed NCC-1701/3 to explore the surface of Planet 656 and look for signs of intelligent life. They landed next to a small building along the shore. When a very large dinosaur-like creature emerged from the water to threaten the landing party, Spock and Ferris quickly returned to the shuttle and used it to draw attention away from Kirk and Morton. Ferris later followed Spock's orders to lift off and return by himself to the Enterprise. (TOS comic: "Ground Zero")

Three Sklurrians, including the Shell Supreme, transited through space between their command ship and the Enterprise for a diplomatic visit, but unfortunately this occurred just as a Romulan vessel appeared. Kirk immediately used NCC-1701/3 to intercept any weapons fire, allowing the delegation to come board through the aft airlock. But Romulan commander Nereus fired concussion charges that left the shuttle without power. A boarding party used anesthesia gas, then captured everyone aboard. The shuttle was retrieved by the Enterprise and later used to rescue the prisoners. (TOS comic: "Shell Game")

Rebel Dak-Alphan soldiers reprogrammed James T. Kirk and Spock to gas the Enterprise crew and bring down all of the ship's shuttles. Soldiers crammed aboard NCC-1701/3, Galileo, NCC-1701/4, Einstein and two others, and landed all six vehicles in the shuttle bay. Instead of easily taking over the starship, however, the soldiers were arrested by a dozen armed Starfleet security officers. (TOS comic: "Revolt on Dak-Alpha")

At some point, the shuttle was refitted with missiles and shields. When captured rebel Zar killed three crewmen in the shuttle bay and fled the Enterprise aboard shuttlecraft NCC-1701/5, Kirk mobilized NCC-1701/3, Galileo and a third shuttle as a task force to go after the escaped renegade exile. Zar fled to his former moon base and fired at the task force with overwhelming force. Kirk withdrew, gained telemetry data, then returned for a strategic strike that destroyed the facility. (TOS comic: "The Void of Storms")

Shuttles NCC-1701/3 and NCC-1701/5 brought exploratory landing parties through the atmosphere of the planet Graktan. In mid flight, a fungus rapidly spread along the hulls of both ships, cutting off engine power. NCC-1701/5 crashed into a mountain, but NCC-1701/3 manged to go down in a lake. Kirk, Spock and five crewmen abandoned ship in a life raft. The fungus dissipated upon contact with water, leaving the shuttle waterlogged, but intact and salvageable. (TOS comic: "Creeping Death")

By 2269, NCC-1701/3 had been destroyed or retired from service. An armored lander shuttle with the same registry replaced it aboard the Enterprise. (TAS episodes: "Once Upon a Planet", "Mudd's Passion")

Background

• This vessel could be the Enterprise shuttle Icarus (NCC-1701/3), which was heavily damaged during a crash landing in 2254 with Christopher Pike aboard, or it could be a 2260s replacement for that spacecraft. Its name was not cited or visible in any of its appearances.

Appendices

Appearances

• TOS comic: "Ground Zero"
• TOS comic: "Shell Game"
• TOS comic: "Revolt on Dak-Alpha"
• TOS comic: "The Void of Storms"
• TOS comic: "Creeping Death"