Deep Space Station K-7
From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.
Deep Space Station K-7 was a civilian-run space station in service during the 2260s. Located within Federation space, K-7 sat near the border of the Klingon Empire, just 3.2 light years from the nearest Klingon outpost, and was at least two hundred light years from the Cardassian Union. The station was under the care of Mr. Lurry during the mid-2260s. (TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles"; DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations")
Mainly consisting of storage areas and industrial fabrication facilities, K-7 boasted habitable space in 30 decks. Among the recreational areas available on the station, however, was a bar frequented by intergalactic trader Cyrano Jones. In the year 2268, Jones introduced a litter of tribbles to K-7, which quickly grew into an infestation. (DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations")
The infestation coincided with the arrival of Federation undersecretary Nilz Baris, who transported several tons of the grain quadrotriticale to K-7, intended for cultivation on Sherman's Planet. Unbeknownst to Federation officals, the grain had been poisoned by Klingon spy Arne Darvin, in collusion with the visiting crew of the IKS Gr'oth. It was not until hundreds of tribbles were found dead, gorged on the poisoned grain, that the contamination was revealed. (TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles"; TAS: "More Tribbles, More Troubles")
In the year 2373, an elderly Arne Darvin, traveled back to K-7 of the past, where he planted a tricobalt bomb, intended to kill Starfleet Captain James T. Kirk and prevent his own "dishonor". Darvin was ultimately caught by Captain Benjamin Sisko and the crew of the USS Defiant and returned to the 24th century. This incident caused some minor changes in the timeline to take place. In one instance, Miles O'Brien and Julian Bashir, disguised as members of Kirk's crew, became involved in a bar brawl between Klingons and Enterprise crewmembers. After the fight, Kirk lined up his officers for questioning. Prior to the temporal change, Freeman was questioned by Kirk, but the temporal incursion caused O'Brien to take his place.
During these events, Class F shuttlecraft NCC-K7 and the Spacematic - Cyrano Jones' vessel were stationed in K-7's shuttlebay. (DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations")
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[edit] Station personnel
[edit] Background
There is no official class or type name for this type of station. The line from DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations" "She was orbiting one of the old deep space stations..." could be interpreted that the station was of a Deep Space-type or -class. This space station design is the only one ever used in original version of The Original Series.
The space station was later seen in the original version of "The Ultimate Computer" as reused footage, presumably intended to be another space station. In the 2008 remastering of that episode, that station was retconned with an entirely new design and labeled as Starbase 6. It is therefore impossible to determine if the K-7 type of stations was also used in the mid-23rd century as the more general starbases referred to in the dialogue of several episodes.
The dimensions, crew complement and other facts about this type of space station are disputed. It would appear to be roughly the same size as, or slightly bigger, than a Constitution-class starship. It also appears to have docking bays, although it is unknown what the largest vessel is that it could accommodate.
The K-7 was based on a model for a real-life space station/moon base proposed by Douglas Aircraft as early as 1960. Intended to be housed in the top stage of the Saturn 1B or Saturn V rocket, it was designed to deploy like an inflatable balloon and can be seen here and here.
 Original K-7, from TOS |
 Revised K-7, from DS9 |
 CGI K-7, from 2006 TOS |
The studio model built for The Original Series has been missing for decades, either lost or destroyed. In 1996, a new model was built by Greg Jein for use in DS9's tribute episode, "Trials and Tribble-ations". Built not from original blueprints, but from detail gleaned from watching the original show, the model featured new elements, including the spacecraft in the shuttlebay.
Yet another version of K-7, this time rendered digitally, was created for the 2006 "remastered" version of "The Trouble with Tribbles".
[edit] Apocrypha
According to The Art of the Impossible by Keith R.A. DeCandido, the K-7 had fallen into disrepair by the 2340s and hadn't been upgraded or refitted in decades.
Another K-7 type station appeared in the video game Star Trek: Elite Force II set in the late 24th century. The station was also run down and owned by a Klingon named Lurok. Yet another K-7 type station appeared in a skirmish map on the video game Star Trek: Legacy, where it was simply labeled as a trading Station.
[edit] External Link
- Deep Space Station K-7 at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
