Object

Frequency Klystron (Plasma Phaser Component)

A hypothetical component of the plasma phaser system, proposed by Shelby during the Borg crisis as a means to adapt weapon output against adaptive Borg shields. The frequency klystron was discussed in two contexts: (1) as a speculative upgrade during tense Ten Forward discussions (where Shelby pitched its potential to modify plasma phaser frequency), and (2) as an existing internal component of the plasma phaser system during a heated Engineering strategy session (where Shelby urged its modification to disrupt Borg shields). No prototype or modification was implemented, as Riker ordered the crew to rest amid the Borg threat. The discussions highlight the crew's desperation for tactical innovation and the strains on leadership under pressure.

2 appearances

Purpose

Oscillate plasma energy at variable frequencies within phaser emitters, with Shelby proposing tweaks to penetrate Borg adaptive defenses

Significance

Shelby's focus on this part fuels her clash with Riker's authority, exposing divides in command style and the human cost of endless Borg preparation

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S3E26 · The Best of Both Worlds, Part I

The Weight of the Chair: Riker’s Leadership Crisis and Guinan’s Unseen Offer

The frequency klystron, proposed by Shelby as a hypothetical upgrade to the plasma phaser, is discussed but never implemented in this scene. Its mention is speculative—a ‘what if’ in the crew’s frantic brainstorming session. Shelby gestures toward it as a potential solution to disrupting Borg shields, but the component does not exist on the Enterprise, and Geordi’s skepticism about feasibility is palpable. The klystron serves as a narrative device to highlight the crew’s desperation: they are grasping at theoretical solutions in the absence of practical ones. Its absence from the ship’s systems is a metaphor for the larger problem: the Borg are an unknown quantity, and the Enterprise’s tools are woefully inadequate. The klystron’s hypothetical nature underscores the crew’s vulnerability and the urgency of their situation.

Before: Non-existent on the Enterprise. The klystron is a theoretical component, pulled from Shelby’s tactical proposals but not yet (and likely never) integrated into the ship’s systems.

After: Remains hypothetical. The discussion of the klystron ends with Riker’s order to rest, leaving the idea untested and the crew no closer to a solution.

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S3E26 · The Best of Both Worlds, Part I

The Weight of Command: Riker’s Authority vs. Shelby’s Obsession

The frequency klystron is a hypothetical phaser component proposed by Shelby as a speculative upgrade to disrupt Borg shields. She gestures toward it during the debate, arguing for its potential to adapt weapon output against adaptive shields. The object is never physically present—it exists only as a theoretical solution—but its mention drives the tension between innovation and feasibility. It embodies the crew’s willingness to consider radical measures, even as Riker’s order to break underscores the practical limits of their resources.

Before: Hypothetical; no prototype exists, but Shelby references it as a potential modification to the plasma phaser.

After: Unchanged; the frequency klystron remains a speculative idea, untested and unbuilt.

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