Does the stun setting even work on Klingons?

[Cadet49]

I was just watching the TNG Season 1 episode "Heart of Glory" and noticed that when the security officers fire on the escaped Klingon warriors, the Starfleet officers have phasers set to kill. In DS9 "Way of the Warrior", the security also seem to be using a kill setting on the Klingon boarders. This makes me wonder if the stun setting doesn't work on Klingons? We saw Klingons stunned in the TOS episode, Errand of Mercy, but those were the human like Klingons, which according to Enterprise Season 4, have some sort of genetic disease from tampering with Human DNA that makes them physically not as strong as other Klingons, I think. Besides that example, did we ever see Klingons taking a stun hit in any Star Trek series, besides B'Elanna Torres, who is only half Klingon? Maybe stun doesn't work on Klingons, or only dazes them. In TNG, the Starfleet security guard had to hit the Klingon with several phaser hits to slow him down, with the final shot finally killing the Klingon?

Anyone know?

 

[Timo]

Yes, in "Errand of Mercy", Kirk waged war on the Klingons at stun. Seemed to work like a charm. Would Kirk have done so if he didn't categorically know that Klingons would, uh, fall for it? Or would he instead know that forehead ridges, and those only, protect Klingons from stun? He didn't seem to know about forehead ridges, though, hence his erroneous Kahless illusion.

I'd argue it's the TNG style armor they are wearing that provides protection against stun. I mean, it ought to provide at least some sort of protection, and we have seen it doesn't help against kill phasers, bullets, knives or even fists at all. And Klingons would obsess about not getting stunned and captured, even though they have little problem with getting slain.

If so, though, it might have been prudent to remove the armor vests from Korris and Konmel in "Heart of Glory" when they were jailed...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[matthunter]

It's possible Klingons simply recover from stun faster (perhaps only a minute or so), so in a firefight running the risk of downing one opponent but having his comrades trade shots with you long enough for him to get back up is not preferable.

 

[psCargile]

Klingons are hardy folk and need to wowed more than merely stunned. It takes a lot to impress them.

 

[diankra]

On a sensible think through, there is no reliable stun setting, it has to be calibrated for the target. A setting that would slow down Mike Tyson or a Klingon without knocking them out might kill a five-foot woman, or a child, or someone with a heart condition.
But mentioning that would take time; either the crew recalibrate routinely before firing, or the phaser does it for them. Most of the time.

 

[locutus101]

There are several levels of stun settings. Maximum stun should work.

 

[Timo]

The other option is to use a "safe" setting, but fire the required number of times. Which is probably quicker and safer for the target than adjusting the setting - but sometimes backfires, if the enemy gets an opportunity to fire back, that is.

I trust the security folks in "Heart of Glory" had instructions not to kill their prisoners outright lest there be galactic war. I also trust the Klingon secret weapons were not set on "stun human weaklings" - but further that they weren't as lethal as standard Klingon sidearms, and we have reason to think that one can survive being hit by the latter. Even if it involves death and resurrection.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[locutus101]

The other option is to use a "safe" setting, but fire the required number of times. Which is probably quicker and safer for the target than adjusting the setting - but sometimes backfires, if the enemy gets an opportunity to fire back, that is.

I trust the security folks in "Heart of Glory" had instructions not to kill their prisoners outright lest there be galactic war. I also trust the Klingon secret weapons were not set on "stun human weaklings" - but further that they weren't as lethal as standard Klingon sidearms, and we have reason to think that one can survive being hit by the latter. Even if it involves death and resurrection.

Timo Saloniemi

Apparently Archer could endure the Klingon taser without too much problem. Yet it must have been a great deal stronger than what the cops currently have.