A workpod or work-pod was a type of small auxiliary craft used by Federation Starfleet starships, drydocks, shipyards, and starbases, as well as Vulcan merchant vessels, beginning in the 22nd century. These types of vehicles carried out maintenance, repair and construction tasks in space.
Specifics[]
Various types of workpods existed. Some were operated by a single pilot, whereas others could accommodate as many as four people. Workpods served aboard Earth's orbital shipyards, including Earth Station McKinley, in the 22nd century. Repair pods, workbees, and Work Bugs were in use by the 23rd century. Late 24th century variants included crawlabouts, maintenance pods, and the Sphinx workpod, which could be configured from a light industrial manipulator to a medium tug. A larger, related vehicle was the repair wagon.
History[]
In April 2151, a workpod passed by Captain Jonathan Archer and Commander Charles Tucker as they inspected the docked Enterprise aboard an inspection pod prior to the starship's launch. (ENT novelization: Broken Bow)
In the year 2155, Tucker and Ych'a used a workpod to investigate a duranium reading on a comet near Tezel-Oroko. Tucker had to concentrate on piloting the craft, as he was unfamiliar with the controls of the Vulcan pod. (ENT - The Romulan War novel: Beneath the Raptor's Wing)
In February 2160 at Earth Station McKinley, workpods were tasked with damage-repair and retrofitting the docked Enterprise. Archer spotted one in flight and wished he could trade places with its pilot. (ENT - The Romulan War novel: To Brave the Storm)
In 2255, two workpods were in use at the domed Pelfrey Complex on the class K planet Beta Regenis II. During a visit there, Lieutenant James T. Kirk believed one of the workpods was used to bring a colossal stone into the facility's hangar. During a Tholian attack, Ensign Ketchum's backup escape plan was to take a workpod to the orbiting USS Farragut. (TOS - Crucible novel: The Star to Every Wandering)
In December 2267, work-pods were seen stored in the main docking bay of Starbase Vanguard. Some were struck by the tentacles of an attacking Shedai. (VAN novel: Precipice)
In 2273, workpods were used during refit operations for the USS Enterprise in drydock. (TOS novelization: The Motion Picture)
- Workbees were referred to as workpods in the novelization.
In 2378, Geordi La Forge saw a Dokaalan skiff, a highly-maneuverable tiny ship comparable in function to a standard workpod with a crew of two. (TNG novel: A Time to Sow)
Appendices[]
Images[]
Appearances[]
- ENT episode & novelization: Broken Bow
- TOS - Crucible novel: The Star to Every Wandering
- ENT - The Romulan War novel: Beneath the Raptor's Wing
- ENT - The Romulan War novel: To Brave the Storm
- VAN novel: Precipice