Kukulkan's ship

Kukulkan's ship was a highly advanced starship controlled by the winged serpent creature Kukulkan.

History[]

Kulkulkan's ship was encountered by the USS Enterprise in 2270, while investigating the alien probe that had visited and scanned several Federation homeworlds. During the encounter, several members of the Enterprise crew were beamed aboard the vessel.

While on board the ship, the crew of the Enterprise were given the chance to solve the riddle of Kukulkan's city, which Humanity on Earth had failed to solve.

After an attack by the Enterprise, Captain Kirk released a Capellan power-cat. Between the Enterprise and the cat enough damage was caused to the ship to cause Kukulkan to lose control of it.

After Kirk explained that Humans were not like these other creatures and that they didn't need him, Kukulkan understood and allowed them to leave, with his ship returning in the direction from which it came. (TAS: "How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth")

Technical information[]

Extremely unorthodox in design, it had a hull composed of crystalline ceramic, and was surrounded by an immense energy field that could project the visage of Kukulkan. The energy field also made the ship impenetrable to Federation sensors.

Much was explained in the complexity of this design in the episode's script:

Kukulkan's ship [..] is a highly advanced spacecraft. This forward view almost has the appearance of a demon, with command module as its face, the curving prow as its head, and the propulsion wings as its horns.
The ship is a slender cylindrical vehicle, with tapering winglike propulsion units only vaguely like those of the Enterprise. There is a flattened and sloping command module as its prow; it houses a round, glassy, onyx-shaded globe. Emphasis is on sleekness and engineering sophistication (no portholes, please.)
[On main viewing screen] a ghostly image of Kukulkan's face superimposes itself over the forward view of his ship, which remains visible under image: the prow becomes a snake's head, grinning and gigantic, with jaws agape, huge fangs, and a collar of rainbow feathers. The propulsion wings are closed within image of actual feathered wings. (This is stylized after actual Mayan depiction, please.)
Now we see the advanced spacecraft shrouded inside the ghostly serpent image which conforms to the smaller graceful lines of the ship. Prow is within the head of the image, a fanged dragon's head with a collar of many-colored feathers; the slim hull matches the transparent serpentine body that is covered with multicolored scales; propulsion units near stern are embodies inside wings.

In all, the ship was twice the size of a Federation Constitution-class starship.

Like the probe sent from this ship, it too, presumably, had a highly advanced propulsion system, capable of achieving at least warp 3.

It was also equipped with a powerful probe beam, and transporters that could penetrate deflector shields. Offensive capabilities of the ship included the ability to create a force globe to restrict the movement of its target, which could instantaneously bring a vessel travelling at warp 1 to a dead stop. All of which was controlled by Kukulkan via telepathy. (TAS: "How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth")

Interior design[]

Undefined area[]

This area of the ship was where Kukulkan's city appeared.

According to the script was a "gray featureless plain which is a vast Daliesque, arena-like area that will be setting for the city Kukulkan will use to test Kirk and others."

Life room[]

The life room contained Kukulkan's zoo, and the machinery to create virtual worlds in the minds of other cognizant beings. (TAS: "How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth")

According to the script, the life room "is very large, low-ceilinged, stretching off almost out of sight. No walls or corners are visible. The room is colored a dark, deep purple, heavily shadowed. Room has many levels and platforms which seem to come out of nowhere. Suspended throughout the room are several transparent containers, some round, some square, others in unusual curved shapes. On the floor are more of the same; several highly stylized transparent cages are also visible, solid glassy substance, not with bars."

External link[]

Kukulkan's starship at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works