Thalaron radiation and 8472

posted on January 26th, 2010, 4:11 pm

I was just reading a site that includes a review of Star Trek Nemesis. Technology, quotes, ect. The first thing it mentioned was Thalaron radiation. When it mentioned that it "has the ability to consume organic material at the subatomic level.", I couldn't help but think of 8472s immune system which protects itself by consuming invaders (and any person attacked by the 8472) in a similar way.

The question that popped into my head was: Would Thalaron radiation make an effective (if somewhat amoral) weapon against Species 8472?

posted on January 26th, 2010, 9:33 pm

Well... certainly an immoral weapon .... we'd assume that since 8472 behaves exactly as any other native Star Trek race that they'd experience the exact same effects. I bet only the subspace aliens would experience the effects differently - if Star Trek writers made it so 

posted on February 15th, 2010, 8:19 pm

Yes, although it would no doubt be effective; I'm also quite sure there's some clause or other in starfleet rules of engagement about weapons that eat targets alive... 

[mimesot]

posted on February 15th, 2010, 8:31 pm

Last edited by mimesot on February 15th, 2010, 8:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Radtiation consumes organic stuff ... o what great phantasy stuff again.

Of course anyone could come to the conclusion that any radioactive radiation destroys organic material ... if it passes by the subspace/gravimetric shields. A shield breaking torpedo loaded with Thalaron would surly cripple a 8472-vessel like polonium a russian spy.

It' ost important tet the nuclear load passes the hul some way, a small hole shold suffice, so a torpedo drone could place the stuff best. The more dificult it is to trace a incoming projectile/beam, the greater the chance that a part of it passes the shields and infects the body, so i believe a eam is far less effective than a pulse.

posted on February 23rd, 2010, 3:57 am

I doubt that Thalaron radiation actually "consumes" organic matter. If it "consumed" it in the sense that we "consume" food, that would imply that Thalaron radiation is "alive" some how. According to Memory Alpha, Thalaron radiation "consumes organic material at the subatomic level". This probably means that it breaks down organic compounds, at the subatomic level which results in cellular failure and literally causes them to break apart, turning the body to dust. Since it acts on the subatomic level it would probably work on species 8472 and would probably work well on their ships as well, which if I recall correctly are partly organic. And we know that Thalaron radiation can be delivered directly from a ship it does not need a torpedo, but it probably could be delivered in that manner.

posted on February 23rd, 2010, 4:55 am

What a quoincidence, I just watched Nemisis last night for the first in years.  I also bet subspace weopons could kill species 8472 as well, but starfleet is waaaaay to ethical for this kind of defense.

posted on February 23rd, 2010, 5:00 am

Besides, Starfleet has no real beef with species 8472, and nor they with Starfleet. They are perfectly happy to stay in fluidic space and leave everyone else alone. Of course the question of subspace weapons is mute since subspace weapons are banned.

posted on February 23rd, 2010, 7:38 am

Not to mention that in the time it took the Scimitar to charge the thaleron weapon, Species 8472 would have blown it up twenty times over already

posted on February 23rd, 2010, 12:37 pm

According to Memory Alpha, Thalaron radiation "consumes organic material at the subatomic level".

Another prove of how stupid the StarTrek authors are. The sentence itself is not sensible, as there is no difference betwenn organic and anorganic substances at subatomic level.

posted on February 23rd, 2010, 2:31 pm

Besides, Starfleet has no real beef with species 8472, and nor they with Starfleet. They are perfectly happy to stay in fluidic space and leave everyone else alone. Of course the question of subspace weapons is mute since subspace weapons are banned.

If 8472 attacked and show no intention of stopping, the ban wouldn't make any difference (as Admiral Ross said 'In times of War, the law falls silent').

What a quoincidence, I just watched Nemisis last night for the first in years.  I also bet subspace weopons could kill species 8472 as well, but starfleet is waaaaay to ethical for this kind of defense.

Ross's quote, Sections 31's whole existance and some of Sisko actions shows some in the Federation are quite fine doing what needs to be done if they believe they have no other choice.

posted on February 23rd, 2010, 2:50 pm

I have no doubt it will work, but Starfleet, and the Federation would never approve of bio-weapons.

posted on February 23rd, 2010, 3:24 pm

Another prove of how stupid the StarTrek authors are. The sentence itself is not sensible, as there is no difference betwenn organic and anorganic substances at subatomic level.

you beat me to that point sir, i also believe the idea to be stupid, the devs can come up with far better and more plausible ideas on their own. there was a lot wrong with nemesis, redlettermedia's review summed them up good. there was also a lot right with it, i still prefer it to jj abrams abomination.

posted on February 23rd, 2010, 3:28 pm

See kids?  If you fail at basic science, you can always become a writer for Star Trek!

posted on February 23rd, 2010, 3:31 pm

Or just a writer... Hollywood must pay them to rape Science.

posted on February 23rd, 2010, 7:40 pm

the devs can come up with far better and more plausible ideas on their own.

I am pleased with this opportunity to agree and say once more: The devs are genious!