| |
| Emerging from the wormhole. | |
| Type: | Freighter |
| Length: | ~275 meters |
| Crew: | 12 |
| Defenses: | Deflector shields |
| |
| Receiving an unexpected escort | |
| |
| Caught in DS9's tractor beam | |
The Norkova was a Federation freighter operated by civilians during the late 24th century.
In mid-2369, the Norkova transported a load of extremely rare and extremely valuable deuridium from the Gamma Quadrant to be delivered to starbase Deep Space 9, which in turn, was to be delivered to the Kobliads.
Prior to the Norkova's arrival, the station's security personnel, aware of a possible Kobliad plot to hijack the deuridium, took several security precautions to prevent it's theft.
Upon its emergance from the Bajoran wormhole, the Norkova requested permission to dock at the station. Due to the considerable value of the cargo, Commander Sisko placed the station at security alert yellow, to ensure it's safety.
Although the cargo was originally assigned docking bay 8, Sisko reassigned the Norkova's cargo to bay 12, to throw off the hijackers, while having Odo maintain a visible contingent of security at bay 8.
Meanwhile, the USS Rio Grande departed the station to escort the Norkova. It was later realized that the runabout was hijacked by Rao Vantika, whose consciousness was placed into Julian Bashir. As the hijackers beamed aboard the bridge, they killed the three members of the bridge crew, raised the ship's shields and effectively took complete control over the vessel.
Immediately upon discovering what had just happened, the crew of DS9 locked a tractor beam on the Norkova, in an attempt to prevent its theft. Despite Vantika's attempt to engage the Norkova's engines at full impulse, it was unable to break the beam. This tactic did prevented the station from pulling the Norkova into a docking bay. Vantika then threated to take the Norkova to warp if the station did not release the tractor beam, which would ultimately destroy the ship and kill Bashir.
Lieutenant Dax was able to prevent the Norkova from going to warp by sending an EM feedback pulse through the station's tractor beam. This feedback pulse resonated off of Norkova's shields and created an electromagnetic field inside the ship. This EM field then disrupted Vantika's hold over Bashir's body, allowing Bashir's consciousness to "emerge" so that he could drop the Norkovas shields and be transported from the bridge -- saving himself and the deuridium shipment. (DS9: "The Passenger")
Crewmembers
- See: Norkova personnel
Background
The Norkova model was one of many modifications that originally started as the Talarian freighter Batris from TNG: "Heart of Glory". This model would later be repainted and reused as the Xhosa in DS9: "The Way of the Warrior".
Although not explicitly stated as a Federation vessel, the impression was given that it was. What remains unclear is the possibility of whether or not the Norkova was under a Federation registry, or if it was registered as an independant, "third party" vessel. The existing doubt is based by later established fact that not all Human-run vessels, like the Norkova, are under Federation registry -- as was the case with the Xhosa, which was commanded by Human captain Kasidy Yates, but was under a Petarian registry.
The Norkova-type would later reappear approaching a Federation dilithium mining colony in "Author, Author" (VOY), again implying this as a type of Federation vessel.