(added plasma shotgun to the list) |
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| + | [[File:Plasma bullet.jpg|thumb|A [[Coridan]] plasma rifle firing a [[plasma bullet]]]] |
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| − | '''Plasma weapons''': |
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| + | [[File:ECS Fortunate firing plasma cannon.jpg|thumb|{{ECS|Fortunate}} fires its [[plasma cannon]]]] |
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| + | [[File:Plasma rifle.jpg|thumb|The Starfleet [[plasma rifle]] was also capable of firing a beam]] |
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| + | [[File:Nausicaan ship weapons.jpg|thumb|[[Nausicaan raider]]s firing plasma cannons]] |
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| + | [[File:Plasma Torp TOS-R.jpg|thumb|A [[Romulan]] [[plasma torpedo]]]] |
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| + | [[File:USS Enterprise approaches V'Ger's cloud.jpg|thumb|[[V'ger]] firing on the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}} with a plasma energy device]] |
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| − | *[[plasma spread]] |
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| + | [[File:Turei plasma charge.jpg|thumb|A [[Turei vessel]] firing a [[plasma charge]]]] |
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| + | [[File:Theta class plasma charges.jpg|thumb|A [[Theta class starship|''Theta''-class]] [[Miradorn]] vessel firing concentrated plasma charges]] |
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| + | A '''plasma weapon''' was a type [[particle weapon]] that used [[plasma]] as a means of inflicting damage to the target. ({{ENT|Shadows of P'Jem}}) |
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| + | ==Specifications== |
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| − | {{stub}} |
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| + | Ship-mounted and hand-held [[Directed energy weapon|directed energy]] plasma weapons fired [[plasma bullet]]s, ({{ENT|Fortunate Son|Shadows of P'Jem}}) [[disruptor burst]]s, ({{DS9|Change of Heart}}) [[modulating plasma pulse]]s, ({{ENT|Storm Front}}) concentrated [[plasma charge]]s, ({{DS9|Vortex}}) or a beam similar to [[phase weapon]] fire. ({{ENT|Awakening}}) |
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| + | Some types of [[phaser]]s that fired a [[forced plasma beam]] were also classified as plasma weapons. ({{TNG|Descent}}) Plasma weapons were also used as [[torpedo]]es, [[bomb]]s and [[explosive]]s. ({{TOS|Balance of Terror}}; {{VOY|Dragon's Teeth}}; {{DS9|The Darkness and the Light}}) |
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| + | ==History== |
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| + | In the late-[[15th century]], the [[Turei]] and their allies used [[plasma bomb]]s to destroy the surface of the [[Vaadwaur homeworld]]. ({{VOY|Dragon's Teeth}}) |
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| + | During the early- to mid-[[22nd century]], [[Earth Cargo Service]] [[freighter]]s were commonly equipped with low-yield [[plasma cannon]] turrets, often referred to as "popguns", designed only to break up [[asteroid]]s and [[meteor]]s. The captains of these freighters, however, would often upgrade the cannons for more powerful ones the first chance they got. ({{ENT|Fortunate Son|Horizon}}) |
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| + | The {{EnterpriseNX}} was also equipped with several plasma cannons during the first days of its mission, but was eventually upgraded with the more advanced [[phase cannon]]s. ({{ENT|Broken Bow}}) ''Enterprise''{{'}}s ''[[Shuttlepod 1]]'' was equipped with dual plasma cannons. ({{ENT|Awakening}}) [[Nausicaan]] [[pirate]]s of this era also utilized plasma cannons on their [[Nausicaan raider|raider]]s. ({{ENT|Fortunate Son}}) |
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| + | [[Plasma rifle]]s were a common hand-held plasma weapon used by many species in the 22nd century. These weapons were used by [[Human]] civilians and carried on [[Earth]] [[starship]]s even after the advent of phase weapons. While not particularly high-yield, they were capable of killing a target. The [[Jem'Hadar]] and the [[Na'kuhl]] made use of more powerful plasma rifles several centuries later. ({{ENT|Broken Bow|Vox Sola|Regeneration|Storm Front}}; {{DS9|Tacking Into the Wind}}) |
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| + | {{bginfo|According to the script of "Broken Bow", the 22nd century Starfleet [[EM-33]] pistol was a plasma pistol and the ammunition it fired were plasma bullets. {{Star Trek Minutiae|academy/literature329/ent001.txt}}}} |
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| + | In the [[23rd century]], the [[plasma torpedo]] was an extremely powerful torpedo weapon composed of high-energy plasma used by [[Romulan]] forces on their [[Romulan Bird-of-Prey (23rd century)|Bird-of-Prey]] ships. They were first encountered by Starfleet when a Romulan ship destroyed several of the [[Federation]]'s [[outpost|outposts]] near the [[Romulan Neutral Zone]] with these torpedoes. ({{TOS|Balance of Terror}}) |
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| + | In the [[2270s]], extremely powerful plasma weaponry was used by ''[[V'ger]]'' during its journey back to [[Earth]]. ''V'ger'' generated plasma energy devices of variable yields of which the exact composition or guidance system could not be determined. The weaponry could be set to destroy starships and space stations, or to be set to a level hundreds of times more powerful to devastate the entire surface of a planet. ({{film|1}}) |
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| + | According to [[Captain]] [[Kathryn Janeway]], the fact that [[Starfleet]] ships were equipped with plasma weapons was taken for granted in the year [[2373]]. While, in the year [[2293]], this plasma weaponry was not yet in use and the technologies were still in the early stages of development. ({{VOY|Flashback}}) These [[24th century]] plasma weapons included plasma charges ({{VOY|Collective}}) and [[plasma warhead]]s. ({{DS9|For the Uniform}}) |
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| + | {{bginfo|While it was established later on in ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'' that plasma weaponry had been used by Earth's Starfeet in the 22nd century, Janeway may have referred to more advanced plasma weapons, as the early 22nd century weapons were established not to be very effective in combat.}} |
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| + | Plasma torpedoes were still used by the Romulans in the [[24th century]]. ({{DS9|Image in the Sand|Shadows and Symbols}}) [[Kazon]] {{class|Predator}} [[warship]]s and [[Cardassian]] [[orbital weapon platform]]s also used them. ({{VOY|Projections}}; {{DS9|Tears of the Prophets}}) [[Cardassian ATR-4107|Cardassian missiles]] were equipped with an omni-directional [[plasma wave]] weapon to defend themselves from destruction before they had completed their mission. ({{VOY|Dreadnought}}) |
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| + | The [[Ferengi phaser|hand-phasers]] used by the [[Ferengi]] and weapon implants used by the [[Borg]] [[Borg drone|drones]], who in [[2369]] murdered the entire [[Ohniaka III personnel|staff]] of the [[Ohniaka III Research Station]], emitted a forced plasma beam. ({{TNG|Descent}}) A [[plasma phaser]] was also being developed by Starfleet as an anti-Borg weapon in [[2366]]. ({{TNG|The Best of Both Worlds}}) |
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| + | ==Improvised uses== |
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| + | Plasma can also be used as a weapon in several improvised ways. |
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| + | * [[Warp plasma]] can be vented into space by a starship. The plasma can then be ignited with [[particle weapon]]s. The resulting explosion can be powerful enough to disable the propulsion of ships enveloped in the plasma field. ({{ENT|Canamar}}) |
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| + | * A ship using [[tetryon plasma]] as warp plasma can also vent it out in front of pursuing vessels to cause their warp drive to stall. ({{VOY|Non Sequitur}}) |
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| + | * An [[EM pulse]] can be fired at a [[star]] to trigger a destructive [[solar plasma ejection]]. ({{DS9|Shadows and Symbols}}) |
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| + | * When a reactor core is attacked with a [[tachyon beam]], a plasma surge in the core will send a plasma burst back along the beam to disable the attacking ship by overloading its power grid and causing relay burnouts. ({{VOY|Dreadnought}}) |
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| + | * A modified [[laser scanner]] combined with a [[plasma inverter]] can be used to fire off an incapacitating [[plasma shock]]. ({{TNG|Power Play}}) |
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| + | * Exposure to [[plasma fire]] can cause varying degrees of burns on the body. ({{ENT|Marauders}}) Being thrown into a plasma fire can even cause a person to vaporize. ({{VOY|Investigations}}) |
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| + | ==Types of plasma weapons== |
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| + | * [[Ferengi phaser]] |
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| + | * [[Plasma bomb]] |
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| + | ** [[Plasma shock]] |
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| + | * [[Plasma phaser]] |
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| + | ** [[Disruptor burst]] |
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| + | ** [[Modulating plasma pulse]] |
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| + | ** [[Plasma bullet]] |
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| + | * [[Plasma warhead]] |
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| + | * [[Plasma wave]] |
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| + | [[de:Plasmawaffe]] |
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[[Category:Weapons]] |
[[Category:Weapons]] |
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Revision as of 18:33, 21 March 2015
A Coridan plasma rifle firing a plasma bullet
ECS Fortunate fires its plasma cannon
The Starfleet plasma rifle was also capable of firing a beam
Nausicaan raiders firing plasma cannons
V'ger firing on the USS Enterprise with a plasma energy device
A Turei vessel firing a plasma charge
A Theta-class Miradorn vessel firing concentrated plasma charges
A plasma weapon was a type particle weapon that used plasma as a means of inflicting damage to the target. (ENT: "Shadows of P'Jem")
Specifications
Ship-mounted and hand-held directed energy plasma weapons fired plasma bullets, (ENT: "Fortunate Son", "Shadows of P'Jem") disruptor bursts, (DS9: "Change of Heart") modulating plasma pulses, (ENT: "Storm Front") concentrated plasma charges, (DS9: "Vortex") or a beam similar to phase weapon fire. (ENT: "Awakening")
Some types of phasers that fired a forced plasma beam were also classified as plasma weapons. (TNG: "Descent") Plasma weapons were also used as torpedoes, bombs and explosives. (TOS: "Balance of Terror"; VOY: "Dragon's Teeth"; DS9: "The Darkness and the Light")
History
In the late-15th century, the Turei and their allies used plasma bombs to destroy the surface of the Vaadwaur homeworld. (VOY: "Dragon's Teeth")
During the early- to mid-22nd century, Earth Cargo Service freighters were commonly equipped with low-yield plasma cannon turrets, often referred to as "popguns", designed only to break up asteroids and meteors. The captains of these freighters, however, would often upgrade the cannons for more powerful ones the first chance they got. (ENT: "Fortunate Son", "Horizon")
The Enterprise NX-01 was also equipped with several plasma cannons during the first days of its mission, but was eventually upgraded with the more advanced phase cannons. (ENT: "Broken Bow") Enterprise's Shuttlepod 1 was equipped with dual plasma cannons. (ENT: "Awakening") Nausicaan pirates of this era also utilized plasma cannons on their raiders. (ENT: "Fortunate Son")
Plasma rifles were a common hand-held plasma weapon used by many species in the 22nd century. These weapons were used by Human civilians and carried on Earth starships even after the advent of phase weapons. While not particularly high-yield, they were capable of killing a target. The Jem'Hadar and the Na'kuhl made use of more powerful plasma rifles several centuries later. (ENT: "Broken Bow", "Vox Sola", "Regeneration", "Storm Front"; DS9: "Tacking Into the Wind")
In the 23rd century, the plasma torpedo was an extremely powerful torpedo weapon composed of high-energy plasma used by Romulan forces on their Bird-of-Prey ships. They were first encountered by Starfleet when a Romulan ship destroyed several of the Federation's outposts near the Romulan Neutral Zone with these torpedoes. (TOS: "Balance of Terror")
In the 2270s, extremely powerful plasma weaponry was used by V'ger during its journey back to Earth. V'ger generated plasma energy devices of variable yields of which the exact composition or guidance system could not be determined. The weaponry could be set to destroy starships and space stations, or to be set to a level hundreds of times more powerful to devastate the entire surface of a planet. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)
According to Captain Kathryn Janeway, the fact that Starfleet ships were equipped with plasma weapons was taken for granted in the year 2373. While, in the year 2293, this plasma weaponry was not yet in use and the technologies were still in the early stages of development. (VOY: "Flashback") These 24th century plasma weapons included plasma charges (VOY: "Collective") and plasma warheads. (DS9: "For the Uniform")
Plasma torpedoes were still used by the Romulans in the 24th century. (DS9: "Image in the Sand", "Shadows and Symbols") Kazon Predator-class warships and Cardassian orbital weapon platforms also used them. (VOY: "Projections"; DS9: "Tears of the Prophets") Cardassian missiles were equipped with an omni-directional plasma wave weapon to defend themselves from destruction before they had completed their mission. (VOY: "Dreadnought")
The hand-phasers used by the Ferengi and weapon implants used by the Borg drones, who in 2369 murdered the entire staff of the Ohniaka III Research Station, emitted a forced plasma beam. (TNG: "Descent") A plasma phaser was also being developed by Starfleet as an anti-Borg weapon in 2366. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds")
Improvised uses
Plasma can also be used as a weapon in several improvised ways.
- Warp plasma can be vented into space by a starship. The plasma can then be ignited with particle weapons. The resulting explosion can be powerful enough to disable the propulsion of ships enveloped in the plasma field. (ENT: "Canamar")
- A ship using tetryon plasma as warp plasma can also vent it out in front of pursuing vessels to cause their warp drive to stall. (VOY: "Non Sequitur")
- An EM pulse can be fired at a star to trigger a destructive solar plasma ejection. (DS9: "Shadows and Symbols")
- When a reactor core is attacked with a tachyon beam, a plasma surge in the core will send a plasma burst back along the beam to disable the attacking ship by overloading its power grid and causing relay burnouts. (VOY: "Dreadnought")
- A modified laser scanner combined with a plasma inverter can be used to fire off an incapacitating plasma shock. (TNG: "Power Play")
- Exposure to plasma fire can cause varying degrees of burns on the body. (ENT: "Marauders") Being thrown into a plasma fire can even cause a person to vaporize. (VOY: "Investigations")