The Tnuctipun Weapon was a soft, mutable weapon engineered by the Tnuctip during the times of the Empire. It is speculated by Jason Papandreou that it was used by a Tnuctipun spy.[1]
The weapon is not known from any Slaver record so it is thought its manufacture must have been exceedingly rare and special. Only one example has been found so far inside a stasis box that was located inside pressurized Slaver buildings on a cold, airless world near the Galactic Core by the Outsiders. It is unknown how the weapon ended in that location.[1]
The weapon in its neutral setting was described as looking like a featureless mirrored sphere with a bronzy handle designed to fit a Tnuctipun hand, a button and on the side of the handle a deep groove with a guide and nine notched settings.[1]
When moving the guide to a different setting and pressing the button the sphere shifted and changed forms, each with a different function:[1]
- Neutral setting
- Variable sword
- Sonic projector with a dial with four settings
- Projectile weapon
- Smaller rosy colored sphere with an oily smooth surface. Purpose unknown.
- Rocket motor capable of flying a Tnuctip
- Laser weapon doubling as a Com-Laser
- Tnuctipun computer
- Energy absorber
The weapon also had two known hidden settings, one accessible through the neutral setting, created a matter-conversion beam capable of creating extremely powerful explosions and a self-destruct setting.[1]
The weapon was the only technology known to use Total Energy Conversion both for the hidden matter-conversion beam and the rocket motor setting. In its computer setting the weapon was shown to be highly intelligent and capable of learning the Kzin language after hearing it spoken for about an hour.[1]
The weapon was destroyed after it tricked the Kzinti into using the self-destruct setting, supposedly after deeming them enemies of the Tnictipun.[1]