A beam array was a directed energy weapon emitter installed on starships and spaceborne-installations like starbases and other space stations. Commonly, a beam array would fire a laser-like beam at the target. (STO - Klingon War mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
History and specifics[]
By the 23rd century, Federation Starfleet differentiated between different types of beams. Starfleet favored phaser beams, while the Klingon Empire relied on disruptors. Visually, these weapon types could be told apart by their Cherenkov radiation color and shape of the beam. (STO - Yesterday's War mission: "The Battle of Caleb IV")
In the 25th century, the Khitomer Alliance differentiated between six basic damage types, and a plethora of variants. Phaser beam arrays fired an orange beam that had, by default, a 2.5% change of disabling a target's subsystem. Lime-green disruptors had a similar chance of temporarily lowering the structural integrity field. Romulan and Borg ships were often fitted with spring-green plasma beam arrays. Alliance polaron beams fired purple, while those of the Dominion were pink or blue. Tetryon weapons, default for Hirogen Hierarchy ships, fired light blue; and antiproton arrays fired red. (STO - Klingon War mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
Antiproton beam arrays were standard equipment for Federation starships of the 29th century. (STO - Agents of Yesterday mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
Lance weapons and spinal lances were weapons that shared aspects with beam arrays and cannons. Both were powerful beams with long recharge times. Spinal lances in particular were built into the spaceframe of their starships. (STO - Klingon War mission: "Welcome to Earth Spacedock")
Common beam array types[]
- antiproton beam array
- disruptor beam array
- phaser beam array
- plasma beam array
- polaron beam array
- tetryon beam array
Appendices[]
External link[]
- Beam array article at Star Trek Online Wiki.