Starfleet Weaponry
| |
| Standard Starfleet Weaponry | |
| INFORMATION | |
| Year Commissioned: |
2233-2252 |
| Affiliation: |
United Federation of Planets |
| Status: |
Active |
| END OF BRIEFING | |
| Template:Equipment | |
Weaponry
The security division of the starship Ulysses is on the waiting list from Starfleet Quartermaster and Supply to replace its inventory of old Type II and Type III phasers. Security was expecting their full shipment in 4-6 months. As a result the vast majority of the defensive weaponry aboard the Ulysses are the old-style weapons.
"Old" Type II Phaser (2233-2253)
Currently a design pushing into its nineteenth year of use, the "Alpha" Mark IV phaser (Type II) has been a decent but not overwhelmingly popular design- especially when the theoreticals for the new "Beta" Type II's came out a year ago. They were the first model of "Phasers" built to replace the "Phase Pistol," and have seen only minor tweaks from Mark I to Mark IV. Compared to the last generation of weapons, the Alpha Type IIs had superior weight-balance and particle drift correction. They were easily aimed and fired. But they have smaller charges than the new and previous models of weapon, and they are somewhat more delicate.
A lot of field operatives complained that the Alpha is not a sturdy weapon. They also dislike its glossy chrome appearance which can attract attention vs. something with a matte finish which is more concealable. Its main fault lies in the setting nozzle rotational mechanism, which can jam. The weapon only has two settings: stun and kill. The new models would have had multiple settings of each. Many enthusiasts point to it being a lightweight and elegant weapon.
"Old" Type III Phaser (2233-2252)
The Alpha Mark VI Type III Phasers are a widely despised weapon, so much that many Security officers forego them in favor of their sidearm or else the previous era of Phase Rifles. This has made the Beta Mark I an eagerly anticipated weapon.
Riddled with design flaws, the Marks I-V were attempts to correct the series: the Alpha Rifles were cumbersome, poorly balanced and not at all sturdy. They did have a decent charge capacity. The Mark VI managed to correct some of the weight distribution but it has made the weapon even less sturdy and with none of the aesthetic "sexy" appeal of its sidearm version.
The Mark VI is still a poor weapon in the field- a lot can go wrong with it. It does have the advantage of multiple stun and kill settings. The weapon has proven so unpopular that Starfleet's design engineers set about a total redesign for a "Beta" model two years before they began a sidearm design for the Betas.
"New" Type II Phaser (2251-mid 2260s)
The Ulysses, not expected to see a heavy combat need, had only a small "certification" crate of six of these phasers delivered. The "Beta" is a hardy weapon that ticks most of the boxes Security originally requested when compared to the Alphas. These were intended to certify the crew in its use before the weapon was fully distributed.
The Beta has a matte finish for concealability and is well balanced. The rotational barrel of the phaser is done, replaced by a turnable design. The "setting warning" is no longer an emission from the barrel, but a light on the top of the weapon. The weapon is notably heavier than the Alpha Type II but also feels sturdier.
The Beta is the first hand phaser that delivers more than two settings. It also improves the weapon with pulse and continuous stream fire, as well as a cone and a narrow beam setting for stun. The one gripe most Security officers have is that the weapon's charge capacity is about the same as the Alpha model.