USS Rutherford (NX-76607)

The USS Rutherford (NX-76607) was a Rutherford-class starship, first of her class. The Rutherford was the test-bed for Drs. Henrik and Samantha Delaney's folded space drive prototype in 2371.

History

Crew Transfers

Jason Athelstan, Daniel Radke's then-partner, left him and his post in 2371 in order to take up the assistant chief engineer position aboard the Rutherford. (Star Trek: The Cantabrian Expeditions: "Isolation", "An Innocent Time")

Testing the Folded Space Drive Prototype

In 2371, Dr. Henrik Delaney accompanied the Rutherford crew to test the folded space drive prototype. Initial tests were a success until, in 2372, the Rutherford jumped from the Alpha Quadrant into the Gamma Quadrant. Contact was lost until a ship in the Gamma Quadrant (returning to Deep Space 9) picked up a faint distress call from the Rutherford and reported this to Starfleet upon returning to Deep Space 9.

Investigation and Failed Recovery

Starfleet Special Operations assigned the Captain John Greene and his crew aboard the USS Prospect-A to investigate the whereabouts of the Rutherford. Their journey into the Gamma Quadrant found the ship listing with no crew aboard, and the folded space drive prototype removed. Further investigation found Dr. Henrik Delaney and a few others escaped to the New Bajor colony with the prototype, closely pursued by the Jem'Hadar. With the colony destroyed and no where to escape to, Delaney and the others triggered the folded space drive prototype blind. Their whereabouts are unknown.

To keep the Rutherford from falling into Dominion hands, Captain Greene ordered the Rutherford destroyed. Its destruction was successful. (Star Trek: The Prospect Chronicles: "Directive")

The USS Rutherford was named after Ernest Rutherford, New Zealander and pioneer in nuclear physics.