{{sidebar starship |Name = USS Prince Of Whales |Image = USS Prince Of Whales.jpg |Class = Template:ShipClass The USS Lakota (NCC-42768) was an Template:ShipClass variant Federation starship in service during the 24th century.
In 2372, the Lakota ferried Captain Benjamin Sisko, Jake Sisko, and Odo from Deep Space 9 to Earth following the bombing of the Antwerp Conference.
USS Defiant attacks the Lakota
As part of Admiral Leyton's attempted coup d'état, the Lakota served to coordinate and deploy Starfleet Security forces on Earth during the period of martial law and received a refit that included upgraded phasers and a supply of quantum torpedoes. (DS9: "Homefront")
During the climax of the coup, the Lakota, under the command of the newly-transferred Captain Erika Benteen, intercepted the USS Defiant to prevent the strengthening of anti-coup elements under Sisko. The resulting engagement was indecisive with both vessels reluctant to do more than attempt to disable the other.
When Leyton revised his orders and commanded Lakota to destroy Defiant, with quantum torpedoes if necessary, Benteen refused and instead stood down her ship and allowed Defiant to pass to Earth. (DS9: "Paradise Lost")
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Background
Named for the Native American tribe, the Lakota was a re-use of the adapted USS Excelsior studio model of the USS Enterprise-B from Star Trek Generations.
Although the fairings on either side of the deflector dish were designed to avoid damaging the original Excelsior model, the glue used to hold them on permanently damaged the model, requiring the production team to leave them on for the model's appearance as the Lakota, and make another model for the Excelsior's appearance in VOY: "Flashback".
The original Excelsior model was still marked with the Lakota's name and registry number when it was sold as Lot #998 at Christie's 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection auction on 7 October 2006 for US$132,000 including the buyer's premium (the winning bid was US$110,000).