Difference between revisions of "Doomsday machine"
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[[File:Doomsdaymachine.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Doomsday Machine]]The '''Doomsday Machine''' (sometimes called the "planet killer") is a [[planet destroyer]] of extra-galactic origin that appears in TOS "The Doomsday Machine". | [[File:Doomsdaymachine.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The Doomsday Machine]]The '''Doomsday Machine''' (sometimes called the "planet killer") is a [[planet destroyer]] of extra-galactic origin that appears in [[TOS]] "The Doomsday Machine". | ||
==Characteristics== | ==Characteristics== | ||
The machine is an automated warship designed to destroy planets and then consume the debris to refuel itself, presumably converting the mass directly into energy by unknown means. It would also react to starships that approached too close, attacking and disabling them before resuming its primary mission. | The machine is an automated warship designed to destroy planets and then consume the debris to refuel itself, presumably converting the mass directly into energy by unknown means. It would also react to starships that approached too close or fired on it, attacking and disabling them before resuming its primary mission. | ||
According to [[Spock]], the hull of the vessel was composed of "pure [[neutronium]]", making it opaque to Federation sensors and essentially invulnerable to Federation weapons. The [[Constitution-class|''Constitution''-class]] starships ''USS Constellation'' and [[Enterprise (TOS)|''USS Enterprise'']] both attempted to destroy it with [[phaser]]s, with no effect. | According to [[Spock]], the hull of the vessel was composed of "pure [[neutronium]]", making it opaque to [[Federation]] sensors and essentially invulnerable to Federation weapons. The [[Constitution-class|''Constitution''-class]] starships ''USS Constellation'' and [[Enterprise (TOS)|''USS Enterprise'']] both attempted to destroy it with [[phaser]]s, with no effect. | ||
The machine attacked with a beam weapon that Commodore Decker of the ''Constellation'' described as "pure antiproton", although its visible effects were inconsistent with a beam composed entirely of negatively charged antimatter particles. Shots from this beam defeated the shields of the ''Enterprise'' with just a few shots, but it did not instantly annihilate the ship even after the shields failed. This same beam was apparently | The machine attacked with a beam weapon that Commodore Decker of the ''Constellation'' described as "pure antiproton", although its visible effects were inconsistent with a beam composed entirely of negatively charged [[antimatter]] particles. Shots from this beam defeated the shields of the ''Enterprise'' with just a few shots, but it did not instantly annihilate the ship even after the shields failed. This same beam was apparently capable of blasting large chunks out of planets. | ||
The machine had a tractor beam | The machine had a [[tractor beam]] that was capable of overcoming the propulsion systems of the ''Enterprise'' (although the ''Enterprise'' had sustained some damage by that time). The primary purpose of the tractor beam was presumably to bring pieces blasted out of planets into the machine's "maw" for consumption. | ||
The machine generated subspace interference that prevented long-range communications in its vicinity. | The machine generated [[subspace]] interference that prevented long-range communications in its vicinity. | ||
The machine was finally destroyed by flying the crippled ''USS Constellation'' into its "maw" and detonating the [[impulse engine]]s. The resulting 98-megaton explosion caused internal damage that destroyed the vessel. | The machine was finally destroyed by flying the crippled ''USS Constellation'' into its "maw" and detonating the [[impulse engine]]s. The resulting 98-megaton explosion caused internal damage that destroyed the vessel. | ||
==Implications== | ==Implications== | ||
It is interesting that the ''Enterprise'' made no attempt to launch [[photon torpedo]]s into the mouth of the machine after learning that its internal mechanisms could be damaged | It is interesting that the ''Enterprise'' made no attempt to launch [[photon torpedo]]s into the mouth of the machine after learning that its internal mechanisms could be damaged by an internal explosion. If torpedos have the multi-megaton yields often claimed by [[Trekkie]]s, a few torpedos into the machine's mouth should have been sufficient to disable it. | ||
One possible explanation relates to how the machine was said to have "deactivated" the antimatter on the ''USS Constellation''. If attacks from the machine similarly affected the ''USS Enterprise'', the torpedo warheads might have been rendered inert, but the episode provides no confirmation of this [[hypothesis]]. | |||
The episode implies that the machine was ancient and that it had left its galaxy of origin and found its way into the Milky Way, where it resumed its "doomsday" mission. It can be inferred that the machine was not in "mint condition" when the ''Enterprise'' encountered it. The machine's AI was apparently unaware of the damage it would sustain if an impulse engine exploded in its interior, since it attempted to draw the ''Enterprise'' inside with its tractor beam at one point. | |||
[[Category: Star Trek]] | [[Category: Star Trek]] | ||
[[Category: ST Starships]] | [[Category: ST Starships]] | ||
[[Category: Superweapons]] | |||
[[Category: Technology of the Week]] | |||
Latest revision as of 17:48, 18 March 2024
The Doomsday Machine (sometimes called the "planet killer") is a planet destroyer of extra-galactic origin that appears in TOS "The Doomsday Machine".
Characteristics
The machine is an automated warship designed to destroy planets and then consume the debris to refuel itself, presumably converting the mass directly into energy by unknown means. It would also react to starships that approached too close or fired on it, attacking and disabling them before resuming its primary mission.
According to Spock, the hull of the vessel was composed of "pure neutronium", making it opaque to Federation sensors and essentially invulnerable to Federation weapons. The Constitution-class starships USS Constellation and USS Enterprise both attempted to destroy it with phasers, with no effect.
The machine attacked with a beam weapon that Commodore Decker of the Constellation described as "pure antiproton", although its visible effects were inconsistent with a beam composed entirely of negatively charged antimatter particles. Shots from this beam defeated the shields of the Enterprise with just a few shots, but it did not instantly annihilate the ship even after the shields failed. This same beam was apparently capable of blasting large chunks out of planets.
The machine had a tractor beam that was capable of overcoming the propulsion systems of the Enterprise (although the Enterprise had sustained some damage by that time). The primary purpose of the tractor beam was presumably to bring pieces blasted out of planets into the machine's "maw" for consumption.
The machine generated subspace interference that prevented long-range communications in its vicinity.
The machine was finally destroyed by flying the crippled USS Constellation into its "maw" and detonating the impulse engines. The resulting 98-megaton explosion caused internal damage that destroyed the vessel.
Implications
It is interesting that the Enterprise made no attempt to launch photon torpedos into the mouth of the machine after learning that its internal mechanisms could be damaged by an internal explosion. If torpedos have the multi-megaton yields often claimed by Trekkies, a few torpedos into the machine's mouth should have been sufficient to disable it.
One possible explanation relates to how the machine was said to have "deactivated" the antimatter on the USS Constellation. If attacks from the machine similarly affected the USS Enterprise, the torpedo warheads might have been rendered inert, but the episode provides no confirmation of this hypothesis.
The episode implies that the machine was ancient and that it had left its galaxy of origin and found its way into the Milky Way, where it resumed its "doomsday" mission. It can be inferred that the machine was not in "mint condition" when the Enterprise encountered it. The machine's AI was apparently unaware of the damage it would sustain if an impulse engine exploded in its interior, since it attempted to draw the Enterprise inside with its tractor beam at one point.