A Class 9 cargo vessel was the Starfleet designation for a type of interplanetary sublight freighter utilized during the 24th century. These type of vessels had minimal weaponry, including lasers, and were typically slower than Class 7 vessels.
History[]
In 2365, the USS Enterprise-D encountered a damaged Class 9 cargo carrier, called the Erstwhile, while traversing the Omega Sagitta system. (TNG: "The Outrageous Okona")
In Brad Boimler's 2381 holonovel Crisis Point II: Paradoxus, Illustor and his acolytes used a vessel of this type in their quest to find Ki-ty-ha. (LD: "Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus")
Technical data[]
The Erstwhile had a type 034 structure with a tritanium hull. It had type 02 fusion propulsion capable of accelerating the ship to a speed of 0.02 times the speed of light. The ship was armed with a primitive 2.3 megawatt laser array with four emitters. The gross vehicle mass of the craft was 23,200 metric tons. (TNG: "The Outrageous Okona") By 2384, the ship had a maximum speed of warp 4. It was equipped with retractable struts for landing on a planetary surface. (PRO: "Crossroads")
Appendices[]
Appearances[]
- TNG: "The Outrageous Okona"
- LD: "Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus" (hologram)
- PRO: "Crossroads"
Background information[]
The side footage of the original studio model of the Erstwhile, a reuse of the Batris model, was not used in the remastered edition of "The Outrageous Okona", as filming elements were missing for the upgrade. A similar, yet slightly different, CGI model was used in the TNG Season 2 Blu-ray release instead.
The model for the Erstwhile was a reuse of the Ornaran freighter, Sanction from TNG: "Symbiosis". For further information on the studio model, see: Batris model
The damaged guidance system prop item was sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay. [1](X)
The green wire-frame on-screen buildup of the Erstwhile was one of the earliest CGI applications in the Star Trek franchise. [2]
The LCARS screen of Enterprise's scan of the vessel, that appeared directly before the green wire-frame display was sold at auction. Originating from Doug Drexler's own personal collection that graphic was sold as Lot 82 in Propworx' The official STAR TREK prop and costume auction of 8 August 2010 for US$420 (including buyer's premium), having had an estimate of US$400-$600.