- For other uses, see Orchid.
The Orchid class was a type of Orion pirate ship starship in service to the Orion Colonies in the late 23rd century. Its Orion designation was an alpha-numeric sequence. (Adventures RPG module: The Animated Series Supplemental Guide)
Service history and disposition[]
The ship of D'Erika Tendi in 2381.
Similar in size to Starfleet's Constitution-class, Orchid-class vessels were significantly larger than the scout-sized vessels ordinarily used by Orion pirates. Their hulls were not optimized for combat, though they were armed with phasers and photon torpedoes.
This type of vessel was also outfitted with two pairs of warp coils, allowing warp field adjustments for longer sustained travel in excess of warp eight. At impulse speeds, the secondary coil generated a scanner-disrupting convex warp field that made the ship harder to detect. One pair was in the "wings", while the other was nestled closer to the main hull.
The class entered service in the year 2268 and was first spotted by Starfleet in 2270. The Orion government discontinued construction after the Federation formally objected to them, as they violated certain long-standing treaty requirements. To avoid police actions, existing vessels were limited to activity with Orion systems or along the Klingon-Romulan border. (Adventures RPG module: The Animated Series Supplemental Guide)
In 2270, an Orchid-class vessel surrendered to the Federation starship USS Enterprise, caught after raiding the cargo of the USS Huron and prevented from self destructing. (TAS episode & Log Five novelization: The Pirates of Orion)
The Enterprise towed the captured Orchid-class vessel to Deneb V and put her crew in protective custody. (TAS - Log Five novelization: The Pirates of Orion)
In 2378, the USS Defiant, a Starfleet ship stolen by rogue personnel, met with the Orion Syndicate ship Scarab during their investigation into the Klingon Red Path extremist group. (DFT comic: "Issue 3")
| MAJOR SPOILERS |
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| WARNING! This article contains MAJOR spoilers for the recently released episode Old Friends, New Planets. Caution is advised. |
At some point after stardate 58759.1[1] in the year 2381, Mistress D'Erika Tendi dispatched an Orion vessel of this type bring her sister D'Vana back to Orion. Tendi's ship rendezvoused with the USS Cerritos, where Lieutenant junior grade D'Vana Tendi boarded D'Erika's ship. (LD episode: "Old Friends, New Planets")
Known ships[]
Appendices[]
Connections[]
| Starship classes of the Orions | ||
|---|---|---|
| By name | Brigand (cruiser) • Corsair (flight-deck cruiser) • Cutpurse • D'Var • Dacoit • Dwarfstar • Harmony • Lightning • Maraar • Marauder • Orchid • Slavemaster • Swift Solaria • Suga • Wanderer • Warbarge | 
|
| By type | Orion corvette • Orion interceptor • Orion marauder • Orion pirate ship • Orion raider • Orion salvage cruiser • Orion scout ship • Orion slaver | |
| Mirror universe | Brigand (mirror) • Corsair (fighter) | |
Appearances and references[]
- TAS episode & Log Five novelization: The Pirates of Orion (first appearance)
- Adventures RPG module: The Animated Series Supplemental Guide (class name established)
- DFT comic: "Issue 3"
- LD episode: "Old Friends, New Planets"