A Romulan travel pod was a small, surface-to-orbit shuttlecraft in service to the Romulan Star Empire in the 23rd century.
Design[]
The travel pod's most striking feature was its large bow viewport bubble which took up approximately one-quarter of the craft. It stretched from the deck, curving over to meet the roof and around to the side bulkheads. This afforded passengers an unimpeded view out. Propulsion was provided by two sub-light engine nacelles which doubled as landing pontoons. Unlike the Federation travel pod, the Romulan version didn't have a docking ring which meant it had to enter a shuttle bay to allow passengers to disembark. The pod was operated by a pilot from a sit-down console at the rear of the viewing cabin. (TOS comic: "Schism, Issue 2")
2260s travel pod variant.
2260s variant[]
One version in use in the mid-2260s had two large forward headlights set into the engineering deck. The viewport bubble slid forward, or was removed, to provide access to the cabin. (TOS comic: "Alien Spotlight: Romulans")
2270s variant with rear airlock.
2270s variant[]
In this turn-of-the-2270s decade version, an airlock and rectangular hatch at the rear provided access to the spacious viewing cabin. (TOS comic: "Schism, Issue 2")
Service history[]
In 2266, the Praetor of the Romulan Star Empire, Commander Keras, Subcommander Decius and two guards were transported from Romulus to an orbiting drydock in a travel pod to view Keras' new command, the ChR Gal Gath'thong. (TOS comic: "Alien Spotlight: Romulans")
Around the turn of the 2270s decade, Praetor Gaius was taken to an orbiting shipyard in a travel pod to view a huge new Bird-of-prey, the ChR Keras, named in honour of his father. (TOS comic: "Schism, Issue 2")