I know it’s for the plot but yeah, when xyz doesn’t work because of “atmospheric interference” or whatnot they could fall back onto more primitive technologies. Tractor beam not working? Use a grappler. Phasers not working? Bring down a gunpowder firearm.
Phasers don’t work?
“PORT SIDE CANNONS, FIRE!!”
(Can you imagine what a broadside attack from a Galaxy-class starship would look like?)
Forget gunpowder though. With tech like tractor beams, inertial dampeners, and gravity plating, you’d think The Federation would have more armaments in the way of mass drivers, rail guns, and other physics based attacks. Heck, even an chaotic orbiting swarm of meteorites would do a lot to disperse phaser fire.
I was so happy to see this thinking in action during the last season of Picard.
If nuclear weapons are considered at most a nuisance, what good would rail guns do?
