USS Orinoco

The USS Orinoco was a Federation runabout that was in service with Starfleet in the late 24th century, attached to Deep Space 9. It was outfitted with a sensor pod during most of its missions.

In 2370, the Orinoco was assigned to Deep Space 9, meant as a replacement for the previously destroyed USS Yangtzee Kiang. It was used to evacuate the station of all non-Bajoran personnel. 

During a plasma disruption that forced the evacuation of DS9, the Orinoco was at Landing Pad Three in case the skeleton crew had to leave in a hurry. Later, Verad planned to use the runabout to make his escape. 

Lieutenant Jadzia Dax and Ensign Melora Pazlar used the Orinoco to travel to the Gamma Quadrant where they conducted a survey of an unknown sector of space. The runabout was later hijacked by Fallit Kot, but Melora was able to subdue him by deactivating the artificial gravity. 

Shortly after stardate 47573.1, Major Kira Nerys and Jadzia used the Orinoco to track down the USS Rio Grande, which had been reported traveling at warp 2, unpiloted, in Sector 401. When the Orinoco caught up with the Rio Grande, Dax used an old "Hopi rope-trick" with the Orinoco's tractor beam to force the Rio Grande out of warp. The Orinoco was later towed back to the Orellius system by the Rio Grande. 

Later, on stardate 47603.3, Jadzia and Odo used the Orinoco to investigate a particle field in the Gamma Quadrant. They later detected omicron particles from Rurigan's hologenerator. 

Later that year, the Orinoco, the Rio Grande, and the USS Mekong held a defensive position meant to prevent the Maquis from attacking Bryma, a Cardassian colony in the Demilitarized Zone. Kira and Dax piloted the Orinoco during the blockade. The Orinoco was attacked by one of the Maquis ships and had its sensor pod destroyed, as well as its navigational array damaged. Chief O'Brien, aboard the Mekong, later assisted in the repairs of the Orinoco. 

In late 2370, Chief O'Brien outfitted the Orinoco with extra banks of photon torpedoes. It was piloted by Kira and Doctor Julian Bashir while it assisted the USS Odyssey during its rescue attempt of Commander Benjamin Sisko, who was being held prisoner by the Dominion in the Gamma Quadrant. During the ensuing battle, the Orinoco helped lay down covering fire for the nearly-disabled Mekong, and later attempted to intercept the kamikaze Jem'Hadar attack ship that destroyed the Odyssey. 

The Orinoco was destroyed by the Cardassian terrorist group the True Way in 2372. 

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