An effector is a multi-purpose electro-magnetic manipulation device. Effectors were distant descendents of electronic countermeasure equipment employed by stage three civilizations.[1]
Device[]
Effectors may be applied with great precision and control.[1] They may be installed in objects as small as pan-humans[2], suits[3], drones[4], and knife-missiles.[5]
They were typically the most sophisticated and powerful weapons installed on most Culture spacecraft.[1]
Sensor[]
Effectors may read both machine and biological data storage devices, including mind-states from neural laces[4][6][7] and memories from biological brains.[1][8] They may also monitor brainwaves.[9]
Effector scans may be used to detect fields.[6] Effectors produce detectable[10] radiation.[11]
Culture effectors of the 21st century CE were reportedly able to detect a pan-human buried under a hundred kilometres of rock from "the next stellar system" and describe the pan-human's last meal. Additionally, an effector, in conjunction with a a sensing field a light-second diameter across, could detect a hyperspace signal from a pocket-sized transmitter from well over 2500 light-years away.[12]
Communications device[]
An effector set to low-power could create a two-way communication channel.[4][13]
Control system manipulation[]
Effectors may be used to manipulate machines[4] and electronics.[14][15] This may take the form of interfering with the machine's operations[6], disabling systems.[16], or outright subversion and take-over.[17]
Effectorized minds may not even consciously realize they are under attack.[4] A machine may defend itself against effectorisation by quarantining or shutting down affected portions of itself.[4][6] A final measure would be to use independent automatic subsystems to initiate a self-destruct rather than allow itself to be subverted.[18][13]
A large ship from a Level 7/8 civilization could successfully engage a fleet of several hundred million Level 4/5 ships[19], simply by slightly outpacing the fleet and effectorising the ships into attacking each other.[20]
Effectorisation could take place from a range of many light-years.[3]
Animal brains and nervous systems also suffer similar effects when effectorised.[21] Effectorisation may cause pain[22] and unconsciousness.[9][23] Similarly, effectors may induce involuntary muscle action, which may be used for medical purposes.[24][25]
Energy weapon[]
Effectors may be used to kill biological life[23] and melt equipment.[26]
They may also create auroras.[27]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Excession, chapter 2.2
- ↑ Matter, chapter 10
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Use of Weapons, chapter 3.Eleven
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Excession, chapter 1.2
- ↑ Use of Weapons, chapter 1.Three
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Excession, chapter 10.7
- ↑ Look to Windward, chapter 13
- ↑ The State of the Art, chapter 3.3
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 The Player of Games, chapter 3
- ↑ The Hydrogen Sonata, chapter 3
- ↑ Excession, chapter 10.3
- ↑ The Player of Games, chapter 1
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Excession, chapter 4.2
- ↑ Consider Phlebas, chapter 4
- ↑ Use of Weapons, chapter 1.Two
- ↑ The Hydrogen Sonata, chapter 21
- ↑ The Hydrogen Sonata, chapter 7
- ↑ Excession, chapter 10.11
- ↑ Surface Detail, chapter 9
- ↑ Surface Detail, chapter 20
- ↑ Excession, chapter 1.3
- ↑ Excession, chapter 8.6
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Consider Phlebas, chapter 3
- ↑ Excession, chapter 10.10
- ↑ Use of Weapons, chapter 3.Fourteen
- ↑ Use of Weapons, chapter 3.Ten
- ↑ The Player of Games, chapter 4