If you were ever wondering what a cloaking device looked like, well here it is… I am still at a loss why the ships of Starfleet didn’t have one of these installed and enhanced in every ship. We stole them, we hijacked enemy ships that had them on board, we knew how they worked, but no cloak for the Federation!!! funny thought!!! Oh Well… so here is the device stolen from the Klingons in DS9 episode 562, “The Emperor’s New Cloak”. You get to see the device both in the inoperative and active state. We presented these two drawings in the production meeting and it got a big laugh. We showed the cloaked version first and Ira said hey where’s the drawing??? and we said that’s what it looks like cloaked!!! HAAAA!!!! good times.
uncloaked!
and operative
Eavesdropping with Johnny 
Due to the Treaty of Algeron (sp), the Federation outlawed cloaking technology (refer to the episode “The Pegasus” from STNG). I agree that without cloaking technology, the Federation is at a great disadvantage. Think of all the conflicts that have occured and all of the slain ships and crew and how that could have all been different if the ships had cloak. Oh well, I guess it was a plan by the powers that be to have this disadvantage for the sake of a more interesting plot line in episodes? Just my take on it.
it is always the case that office bound diplomatic folks the are holier than though dictate on principle regardless to how many people that are put in jeopardy,,, as long as it doesn’t directly effect those with their chin’s up in the air!!! HAAA! sad but true point you made!
The best diplomat I know is a fully charged phaser bank.
Or something like that. 🙂
Brilliant! Hated that episode, though. . .
I don’t remember the episode!!
“The Emperor’s New Cloak.”
I enjoyed that one better than most DS9 Mirror episodes.
“The Pegasus” was both a very good episode and one of the biggest WTF’s in Trekdom. Why would you allow your enemy to have a technological edge over you with something like a cloaking device when you could have it too? And, to top it off, you cannot be harmed while cloaked!
Stupid.
I thought ‘The Emperor’s New Cloak’ was funny but never was a fan of the mirror universe episodes. But, your cloak was soooo much better than the one in TOS 🙂
Your right Tom, They did spend to much time with mirror universe’s and time traveling episodes!!!
“Drawing” the cloaked cloaking device was brilliant! It always sounds like you had fun!
🙂 Very funny!
Ah, the old invisible markers getting a workout. 🙂
By the way, maybe it’s just my imagination, but does some of the Klingon text say “Tara”? I was reading the thread about the Breen ship so maybe I’m seeing things… 😛
woooo great eye’s “J”!!! i forgot about that Tara in Klingon!!! thanks for pointing it out!
Woo! 😀 Waddo I win?
you win a geek filled dinner with the all knowing Deanne!!!
Oh j, sorry to disappoint you; you were probably hoping for Nicole DeBoer! 🙄
lol, sounds like fun! No worries, I’m no Trip Tucker either. 😛
Damn, I really need to watch DS9 again. I forgot about this episode also.
I always thought it was a stupid addendum to the Treaty of Algeron that the Federation can’t develop or use the cloaking devices. I wonder what concession they got from the Romulans that made them agree to that. Plus, that only covers a time after the year 2311. There was nothing stopping the Federation from using cloaking devices for the almost 50 years after Kirk stole the one from the Romulans and the signing of that stupid treaty. (which was really just a plot device to explain why Federation ships don’t use them.)
I really love your device design. The old Romulan one had a very smooth, aesthetically pleasing look to it which suited the Romulans quite nicely. Your Klingon design has a very industrial, hard-edged look to it that suits the Klingons nicely. 😀
I don’t think it’s stupid. Gene just didn’t want the good guys sneeking around. 😉
But the Klingons were doing it! (and, no, if the Klingons were jumping off a bridge, I wouldn’t follow ;)) They were good guys in TNG. In fact, because of that rule, Picard had to borrow a ship from them to go attempt to rescue Spock from Romulus. If the Federation had cloaking technology, he wouldn’t have had to do that.
Ira says hey where’s the drawing??? Great fun! HA!!
Before I saw this little piece of hardware, I had always had the impression that it was technology that was built into the ship. Like the armour on Janeway’s shuttle that is generated from the outside. But then I suppose there could be a little piece of hardware for that, too.
Suricata: Your Klingon design has a very industrial, hard-edged look to it that suits the Klingons nicely.
I totally agree, kudos, John! I like the plug ‘n play look to it, too. 🙂
It would make sense to have it as a seperate unit,,, like if they cash the ship the could go and retrieve whats left!
Heh! Love that cloaked drawing!
thanks Paul!
“Emperor’s New Cloak” was a good episode with Quark bending himself backwards for the Nagus and in the end, he’s short one cloaking device.
Anyhow, glad the Treaty of Algeron is abolished (or ammended) in Star Trek Online. Though there most likely going to be a bunch of Defiant copycats out there. 😛
it has been so long,,,, I have to go and watch it again!!!
So if you put lemon juice on the cloaked image does it show up? (ala invisible ink)
no it just stings!
Ha, Matt! I was thinking that or applying heat…would a really big candle make a ship appear?
Wasn’t it the treaty of Tomed that forbade Federation cloaks?
I wonder what happened. Maybe Starfleet got caught behind enemy lines in a cloaked ship, and had to make concessions?
HAHA Very funny John.
that was a great Epidode.
“… and operativ” – great sense of humor 🙂 Cool! 🙂
Compared to big scaled starships: What do you like more? Drawing small devices (with many details) or big vessels (with many details als well ;))?
I like to loose myself with lots of detail weather it be a big ship or a little device!!! looking at the props from DS9 it looks like most of them could easily be transformed into ships!!! wish I would have looked back on these when Enterprise started!!! HAAA!
John
So how much of the budget was spent on the “cloaked” version.
ha.
Too funny! I just watched this episode the other day. I think it was one of those pieces meant to break up the seriousness of the Dominion War as it was rather silly. The title’s a great play on the original story
Would have loved to see Ira’s face when you told him it was the cloaked version!
John,
The real reason is that Gene Roddenberry once said that Federation ships did not lurk around, hiding themselves treacherously, but instead went boldly and openly into the unknown. This was his choice, effectively forbidding Federation starships from having cloaking while he still could significantly influence the show. That is what research digs up. The whole “treaty of Algeron” idea is just back-reasoning to support this in Star Trek’s fiction.
As you have repeatedly shown us — for which I thank you –, often the reason for many Star Trek “facts” is very soundly and simply founded on real-world choices and constraints.
Keep up digging stuff!
João Paulo Cursino
I am still a bit disappointed that in the episode The Pegasus, that it wasn’t elaborated on further as to why the Federation outlawed cloaking technology. Think about it, the Klingons and Romulans have it and used it so often, but yet the Federation was to maintain “sitting Duck” status, BUT…and here’s the BIG but…I can see why the Federation made the decision and thusly imposed the treaty. Remember in ST:TUC (Star Trek VI) When Spock made the comment about the UFP being “one of peace”. I think this was a direct statement to imply that if the Federation used cloaking technology, that they would be more militaristic or savage, if you will when it comes to war. The federation was not one to start wars. I think the Federation was to be looked at as an entity with nothing to hide, to approach anyone with open arms and to always approach any situation with diplomacy. Again, just my take on it all.
great point of view!!! But boy would I hate being the one exercising diplomacy if my ship was being attacked by cloaked enemy vessels!!! HAA!
Good points, all of them. It seems to me that with the technology available, it could have been installed on Fed ships with procedural limitations for use only in defensive situations or battle, if at war.
Starfleet captains and crews are trusted to use their judgement operating huge ships and conducting first contacts. I believe they could be trusted with following the guidelines established for cloaking! 🙂 “No cloaking and sneaking up on an unhostile ship or ally.” HA Honestly, there could be guidelines for use after someone else initiates the hostilities.
I’d like one so I can avoid parking tickets, but that would be against the guidelines, huh?
the bad thing about clocking your car is people would try take the supposed empty space and smash your car!!!HAAA!
Hello John,
I loved your story about presenting the cloaking device at the production meeting!
That crazy cloaking device caused some visual effects challenges in production. 🙂
I hope you don’t mind, but I took a cue from your post and added some photos and behind the scenes info about this episode at my blog: http://davidstipes.com/blog/
David Stipes
(P.S. Please send me your private e-mail and I will forward photos as I come across them.)
John,
Did I goof up last comment? Edit or delete as necessary….