Object

Enterprise Shuttlecraft Number Five (NCC-1701-D)

A compact Starfleet shuttle stamped with registration NCC-1701-D and labeled 'Shuttle Number Five.' Its alloy hull bears an odd, antimatter-like burn scar; exterior plating blackens around a docking collar. Interior power indicators read dead — both primary and reserve systems drained — while medical diagnostics identify an unconscious duplicate of Captain Picard aboard whose brainwaves register as 'out of phase.' Crew members circle the craft in Shuttle Bay Two, Pulaski running scans, Data logging system failures, and Riker and Worf noting the unusual burn as they treat the shuttle like a contaminated, temporally compromised evidence piece.

2 appearances

Purpose

Short-range personnel transport and emergency escape from the USS Enterprise

Significance

John Doe's attempted theft exposes his uncontrollable transformation as a direct threat to the crew, forcing Picard to balance compassion against security in the ready room confrontation.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S3E25 · Transfigurations

The First Spark: John’s Unstable Arrival and the Enterprise’s Unseen Threat

The shuttlecraft serves as the focal point of the maintenance activity in the control booth, its starboard nacelle the target of Geordi’s precise instructions. While the shuttle itself is not directly interacted with during John Doe’s entrance, its presence looms large in the scene—both as a symbol of the Enterprise’s operational readiness and as a potential escape vehicle for John. The shuttle’s role is passive but critical; its maintenance is the crew’s priority, and its sudden relevance to John Doe’s desperate plan adds a layer of tension to the moment.

Before: The shuttlecraft is in a state of routine maintenance, with its magnetic inducers requiring realignment as part of standard operational procedures. It is fully functional but not yet at peak efficiency.

After: The shuttlecraft remains in the same state of maintenance, though the realignment process is momentarily disrupted by John Doe’s entrance. Its potential as an escape vehicle is now on the minds of the crew, particularly Geordi, who will later accuse John of attempting to steal it.

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S3E25 · Transfigurations

The Breaking Point: John’s Desperation and the Accelerating Threat

The Enterprise shuttlecraft is the focal point of the confrontation, as Picard accuses John of attempting to steal it as a means of escape. The shuttle represents both a potential solution to John’s desperation and a symbol of the threat he poses to the ship’s security. Its presence in the discussion underscores the high stakes of John’s condition and the lengths he is willing to go to protect the crew.

Before: Docked and operational in the shuttle bay, undergoing routine maintenance by Geordi La Forge and his team.

After: Remains secure in the shuttle bay, though its potential as an escape vehicle is now a known risk that Picard must address.

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