Hello again, Ric here with a video on what is probably the nastiest weapon encountered in Star
Trek, the Varon-T Disruptor. I’ve already done an extensive video looking at how phasers work,
and specifically what makes them different from the more common particle weapon,
the Disruptor, and compared them. In summary, Disruptors basically
are called such because they have a disrupting effect on matter that they strike. Like phasers,
Disruptors are projected energy weapons that launch a highly-agitated beam of particles
at a target. However, whereas a phaser has a key phasing component, giving them their name,
a Disruptor lacks this and therefore loses a great deal of flexibility as a tool.
For the most part however, the comparatively simpler tech inside
a disruptor makes them more reliable and easier to maintain than a phaser array, so
most species prefer them than tinkering with the admittedly more adaptable Starfleet favourite.
Disruptor beams break down the bonds between molecules when they strike,
transferring an interfering pattern to the target and kind of vaporizing it. Some disruptors
can have this disrupting pattern dialled back to create a stun effect where the body is
incapacitated by the energy weapon physically messing with the target’s nervous system,
but this is as dangerous as it sounds. Whereas a phaser painlessly overwhelms the nervous system,
stunning it, a disruptor…interrupts it, with a greater chance of dealing permanent damage,
this is why Starfleet tend to shy away from them. I am literally scanning
a thesaurus for words to use other than disrupt. In the Star Trek episode, All the Toys, we see the
heartless Kivas Fajo has acquired an equally spiteful weapon, the Varon-T disruptor, well
4 to be exact. This device is completely outlawed by the Federation, with all models being destroyed
and the future production of them being banned outright, with good reason. Whereas a common
disruptor, set to high power, will completely vaporise a humanoid in less than two seconds,
the Varon-T takes over seven. It has no other settings and no adaptability,
it is a device that kills, agonizingly. This weapon’s vindictive effect was
produced because it imparted a powerful cascading molecular disruption effect that spread from the
central mass of the struck target, outwards, practically dissolving the unfortunate target
form the inside out. Nothing remains of the target when the effect completes. Thankfully
only 5 of these weapons exists, 4 of which are impounded by the Federation on the arrest of Fajo.
But why was such a weapon created? What was its purpose? Well the device, as mentioned,
has no stun setting, so like many weapons, it was designed to kill. It’s effectiveness cannot
be denied, either, it literally disintegrates the target at a molecular level, meaning there is no
mucking around with differing biology’s, or most resistances. It has an accurate range of only 20
metres however, but at this range can easily nullify most body armours as it burns through
them too. It’s small size, minimalistic design and cut-outs in the handle all signify it as a
lightweight weapon, while its matte-black resin paint makes it harder to spot. The coating also
acts as insulation, to prevent a heat signature as much as possible, so the conclusion seems obvious,
it is a weapon designed for assassination. The sort of assassination where you’d have to get
up close to the target, but once you were within 20 meters, death was assured. Full disintegration
after around 7 seconds, leaving nothing behind, no body to be discovered and barely a burn mark to
see, unlike standard disruptors. On top of this, the easily concealable nature and heat-masking
coating mean that after discharging it, you stand a good chance of slipping away again,
the difficult part would be orchestrating a situation where you could get close and away
without the act being witnessed. Or overheard to be honest, because the target is, you know, still
conscious for the entire disintegration process. The creators of the Varon-T clearly had
no regard for morality or ethical concerns when devising this, they could have added a secondary
beam that fired first to impart a traditional stun effect to at least shut down the nervous
system before the disintegration beam hit, but that would have added bulk to the disruptor.
They did nothing to the design that would deviate from its singular purpose, to ensure an maximise
the chances of complete destruction of the target. I therefore think it was designed with a second
purpose in mind, one that it does quite well; instil fear. It was the very promise of being
hit with this disruptor, that made the Varon-T such a vicious device and had its manufacture
been successful, its reputation would no doubt have been cemented as one of the worst ways to go.
As for why it’s called a Varon-T? I have no idea. I could not locate a species of this name, nor
an energy type, but I wonder if its named after the company, or persons that made the prototype.
Star Trek does often show us a future where good prevails in the end, even if current era Trek is
more concerned with the journey to get there than the outcome, but it has always had these
darker aspects that creep in. All the Toys remains one of my favourite TNG era episodes
for the quandary it puts Data in and the irredeemably corrupted man-child that is Fajo.
Sufficed to say, sometimes, inventions lead to unforeseen branches of tech,
anti-matter reactions led to photon torpedoes for example, but occasionally there is just something
created for no other purpose than to harm, and harm and the most vindictively cruel way possible.
Good job the entities like the Federation exists to put a stop to that.
Thanks for watching this lore vid on one of the worst weapons in Trek, I’ve been Ric and I’ll see
you again next time for another lore, gameplay or review video. Thanks again and goodbye!