Object

Commander Riker's Shuttle

A compact, short-range Starfleet shuttlecraft: metal-skinned hull, reinforced docking collar, retractable ramp and seating for a small complement. Service markings and a hatch chime announce its arrival; the shuttle breathes steam from its seals as Riker disembarks, concentrating attention and signaling an immediate transfer of presence and authority into the ready room.

2 appearances

Purpose

Short-range personnel transport for boarding, departure, and brief transfers between starships, shuttlebays, and nearby installations.

Significance

Functions as the plot device that returns Commander Riker to the ship, making his physical presence possible for the Ready Room confrontation over Lal; the shuttle's arrival shifts power dynamics and accelerates the custody and command conflict.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S3E16 · The Offspring

Haftel's Claim: The Battle for Lal

Commander Riker's shuttle is invoked by Worf's comm report to convert the ethical conversation into an immediate command timetable — its return signals an incoming decision-maker and heightens the institutional cadence of the moment.

Before: En route or just returned toward the Enterprise; out of the ready room's space but closing to dock.

After: Reported as returned and expected to deliver Riker to the captain's meeting in about an hour.

View full event

S3E16 · The Offspring

Custody of Lal — Parent Versus Protocol

Commander Riker's shuttle is reported as 'just returned' by Worf, a logistical prop that interrupts the moral exchange and introduces an external scheduling reality for Picard; it functions narratively to remind the captain of other obligations and the broader chain of command.

Before: In transit/approaching the Enterprise; carrying Commander Riker back to the ship.

After: Reported as returned/docked by Worf's comm; Riker expected aboard and to meet Picard in one hour per Picard's instruction.

View full event