A lone B'rel-class ship took on the original USS Enterprise back in the days of The Search for Spock. All by itself, that one ship fought for the glory of the Klingon Empire. The scene is far different nowadays, with Birds-of-Prey often appearing in scores, especially in battle episodes such as "The Way of the Warrior." It is indeed ironic to discover that a ship is more commonplace almost a century after its introduction than in the days when it was considered one of the more advanced ships of its era, but the B'rel makes a strong case for its continued existence.

First, there is the ship's small, economical size, which makes it a cost-effective weapon capable of delivering a good punch. It is not certain just how small the B'rel is, but the various estimates give a good idea. A poster of the B'rel gives its length as 75 meters (or 76; my memory falters); the visual effects team at Deep Space Nine currently uses a figure of 360 feet, or 110 meters. Even with these wildly conflicting numbers, one can at least tell that the B/rel is one of the smallest ships around. In essence, it is a very large fighter craft, if the oxymoron may be allowed.

Second, the B'rel is quite well-armed for a ship of its small size. With a pair of massive pulse-fire disruptor cannons situated at the ends of the variable-geometry wings, it can inflict heavy damage on ships several times its size with powerful green bolts of energy. Its forward torpedo launcher supplies heavier firepower, and, at least in the newer versions seen in "The Way of the Warrior," an aft torpedo launcher provides protection at the rear. At least one tractor beam emitter on the ship's underside allows capture of the enemy and the possibility of boarding. However, that underside also turns out to be the least armored part of the ship, according to "Return to Grace"; it would be wise to make sure the enemy could not fire before attempting to tractor and board. Of course, the B'rel's cloaking device can often ensure that the enemy will be unable to counterstrike from a surprise attack.

Third, Birds-of-Prey in general have the useful capacity to enter the atmosphere of a planet and land. Upon landfall, the wings fold upward and a pair of landing legs unfurl from the underside, making for a rare moment of grace in the Bird-of-Prey. An emergency hatch at the bridge allows for quick getaway; otherwise, it would be simpler to walk down the aft drawbridge-style gangway. Once on land, maintenance of the Bird-of-Prey is easy. The bridge can be swapped out, as apparently happened between The Search for Spock and The Voyage Home, and a new name can be spray-painted on the side.

Other details include the single combination warp/impulse engine compartment; it has an impulse exhaust outlet at the rear which appears to be surrounded by warp field grills. This assembly is flanked by the variable-geometry wings. Although the purpose of the raised-wing Cruise Configuration and the lowered-wing Battle Configuration remains guesswork to the viewing audience, it does look rather interesting. Inside the ship, there is room enough for the dozen officers and crew; there is even a sixty-foot bay in which to fight. And, of course, there are all the comforts the Klingon Empire has to offer.

It seems the B'rel was introduced early in the 2280s. In The Search for Spock, Admiral James T. Kirk had to ask Commander Hikaru Sulu for the crew count, and he could only guess that the ship needed to decloak to fire, all of which indicates that the B'rel was still relatively new at the time.

In 2293, a prototype for a B'rel which could fire torpedoes while cloaked was used by General Chang in his attempt to prevent peace between the Klingon Empire and the Federation. Due to actions by then-Captain Kirk, the prototype was destroyed, and the cloaking device was rendered useless for a time, since Captain Spock had discovered a countermeasure.

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