Slaver weapon

The Slaver weapon was a multi-function device built by an ancient civilization known as the Slavers. It was rediscovered in 2269 when the Kzinti opened a stasis box they had stolen from Federation crew members of the USS Enterprise. The Federation had removed the stasis box from the planet Kzin after the last Kzinti Wars. The device self-destructed shortly after its rediscovery, when the Kzinti failed to pass a security check.

Lieutenant Sulu, a weaponry expert, speculated that the weapon once belonged to a spy, due to the fact that it had so many specialized settings. (TAS: "The Slaver Weapon")

Known functions[]

Most of the settings are selected by moving a selector switch on the side of the device.

Setting 0: The null setting[]

The null or off setting appears to do nothing, but when the top is twisted setting six is activated.

Setting 1: Sonic stunner[]

The first setting emits a high frequency sonic beam. A person in the path of the beam will hear a faint whine, but feel no ill effects. It causes a vibration in metal. Chuft-Captain speculated that it was a communications device, or a sonic stunner designed to affect an ancient species.

Setting 2: Telescope[]

Setting two is a small telescope, not unlike those possessed by the Kzinti or the Federation.

Setting 3: Laser[]

Setting three is a light laser beam. Relatively weak, the Federation had possessed a more effective model for more than 100 years before the time that the weapon was found.

Setting 4: Personal rocket motor[]

Setting four is a personal rocket motor, for transportation.

Setting 5: Energy absorber[]

Setting five creates a field that absorbs the energy of nearby systems, effectively rendering them inoperative.

Setting 6: Matter-energy conversion beam[]

The most powerful setting known to exist, this setting was the total conversion beam setting. To get to this setting the user must first switch to the null setting, then twist the top of the weapon. Although the weapon was more than a billion years old when it was found in the 23rd century, it was far more advanced than Federation technology of the time.

Setting 7: Computer[]

A war computer with a speech interface. It required code words to be spoken by the user before it would allow access to its functions.

Setting 8: Self destruct[]

A conventional weapon used to destroy the device, should it fall into the enemy hands. The device's computer tricked Chuft-Captain into using this setting by telling him it was the setting for the matter-energy conversion beam. Thus, the device was destroyed. Chuft-Captain and at least two other Kzinti were killed when the self-destruct setting was activated.

The voice of the Slaver weapon interface was provided by Majel Barrett.
Like many elements from "The Slaver Weapon", the weapon was a prior invention of science fiction author Larry Niven and appears in his other works, including "The Soft Weapon".