Bureau Of Operations - Office Of Records - Education Department
As part of "Project Education" Star Fleet has authorized the release of this computer model of the MK-B Multipurpose Utility Craft. It is suggested that students use this model in their training and simulations.
**The background information below has been quoted from the "Federation Reference Series #4". This is copyrighted material and may not be reproduced. For more information contact:
Star Fleet Printing Office
P.O. Box 20215
Balto., MD 21204
"In the 35 years since its introduction, the lockheed T-4 single-operator multipurpose craft has become the most widely used space vessel in the federation. In that time, nearly three million have been produced for buyers as diverse as the furpilti zoological transport group, tretch-spaceborne construction corporation, arvas spaceways, and quintillus waste disposal. The popularity of the t-4 stems from its incredibly wide range of applications. Star Fleet alone uses 17 different modular packages which adapt the spacecraft for tasks such as handling or towing large cargoes, and welding or spinning of metals (used in piecing or fabricating spaceborne hulls). It was the performance of these jobs by dozens of T-4's around
spacedocks that earned them the name of "work bees", so much did they resemble the colonizing insect native to earth (superfamily apoidea of the order hymenopterai). this name has since been applied to many of the modular variants of the T-4, resulting in "cargo bees", "grabber bees", "welder" and "spinner bees", etc. The "drone bee" , while outwardly identical to the standard T-4, differs in that it is fully automated, and thus capable of either programmed or remote-control piloting.
One recent addltion to the group T-4 variants is the T-4 zeta "killer bee" fightercraft. Covered in greater detail in T.O. 01:04:03:02.41, the "killer bee' combines an extensively modified work bee with a single, skate-like impulse engine, hyperspace injection, and attached weapons package. While an unlikely combination, this has proved to be an extraordinarily effective fighter -- an event owing more than anything to its ability to slip into hyperspace just long enough to get through an enemy's deflector screens.
On the whole, however, the vast majority of work bees are employed in far less adventuresome -- though equally necessary -- tasks in and around star fleet construction and maintenance facilities. Furthermore, all class one starships are outpitted with a number of the craft for repair and transport purposes. Easy
to learn to operate (they are controlled by a simple attitude and thrust stick), they are reportedly also a joy to pilot. Most operators remove the grav-plates before beginnlng their shifts in order to enjoy the freedom of a zero-g, shirt-sleve environment. Considering its many uses and obvious popularity, then, it
is likely the work bee will be with us for some time. It would certainly be ifficult to come up with a more versatile design to replace it.
For information on the modular variants of the T-4 "work bee", consult:
T.O. 01:04:03:02.01 for T-4 alpha "drone bee" (model MK B/01 a)
T.O. 01:04:03:02.11 for T-4 beta "grabber bee" (model MK B/02)
T.O. 01:04:03:02.21 for T-4 gamma "welder bee" (model MK B/03)
T.O. 01:04:03:02.21 for T-4 delta "spinner bee" (model MK B/03 a)
T.O. 01:04:03:02.31 for T-4 epsildn "cargo bee" (model MK B/04)
T.O. 01:04:03:02.41 for T-4 zeta "killer bee" (model MK B/05)"**