A Tzenkethi harrier was a type of starship used by the Tzenkethi Coalition in the late 24th century. They were considered agile and heavily gunned.
Design and specifications
Like certain other Tzenkethi vessels, harriers had a helical design that was wider at the front and tapered to the rear, resembling the spiral end of an Earth conch shell. The hull had a coating that gave it a rainbow-like sheen.
Harriers employed directed energy weapons that fired from emitters at the front of the ship. However, the energy appeared to be generated at the aft tip which then spiraled around the hull, following the helical design, before emitting.
Harriers were equipped with deflector shields for defensive purposes. (ST - Typhon Pact novel: Plagues of Night)
Service history
In 2382, Tzenkethi harriers launched attacks on the Federation border. The crew of the USS Enterprise were later assigned to repel these attacks, and were successful in stopping an attack by two harriers on vessels supplying medicine and food to Laskitor III. Jean-Luc Picard and his crew detained the crew of the vessels, and Federation President Nanietta Bacco later had the crew released as a show of good faith to the Typhon Pact. (ST - Typhon Pact novels: Zero Sum Game, Plagues of Night)
In 2385, Benjamin Sisko and the crew of the USS Robinson encountered several Tzenkethi harriers in the Helaspont Nebula. (DS9 novel: Sacraments of Fire)