This week several photos appeared anonymously on prominent internet movie sites only to be hastily withdrawn at the explicit request of Paramount Pictures, production interest in the highly anticipated "Star Trek XI". The images reveal a work area of some sort, beaten up and dusty by use. Dominating the scene is a large shuttlecraft new to Trek evocative of Galileo-type shuttles. Besides an obvious size increase though the design distinguishes itself by two large, cylindrical, black and white thrusters mounted sub-functionally high on the craft. Portals with stairs exit to aft, port and starboard. A relatively tiny slit forms a cockpit viewport (this might be adjustable) and three windows adorn both sides.

The ship is surrounded by even larger structures indicating industrial purpose. (A sign hung for verisimilitude reads "United Federation of Planets: Starfleet Operations, Fueling Gantry Type 884.") Other pictures reveal the inside of the craft filled with heavy-duty seats (and sturdy seatbelts!) and extensive room for stowage. Cross referencing the interior photos yields a passenger capacity exceeding two dozen people not counting pilots. A set of control panels, not easy to place inside the ship, are more suggestive of NX-01 than NCC-1701/7. Thankfully no obvious touchpanels are visible though these panels could possibly be located inside the passenger bay and not represent cockpit controls.

As the movie approaches this subject will become sillier but the atmosphere today (more than year out from the film's current release date) is heavy and almost toxic. Reaction to the photos runs a spectrum from willing ignorance to censored messages to damp-pantied trepidation. There's some debate whether photos, already released, remain intellectual properties of Paramount but I don't quibble: it seems clear enough they are, presuming some sort of contractual violation with the photographer likely hired for another purpose. (Costumed extras teem about the scene and no movie gear in is view no doubt providing a quick moment for idle hands.)

But what of the content? Suppression can be seen as either (1) imprudent paranoia or (2) a crafty promotion, since nobody wants to agitate future ticket-buyers. Science Fiction loves shuttlecrafts, and this is exactly what drives Trekkers near delirium. So to avoid any chance of misstep but still to estimate details, a computer model of the scene is under construction (presented here). The work will be tended for awhile to install more information, yet not so much that the result can't be tweaked as the film draws nigh.

And then we will take a look - or maybe not - at the new bridge.