PM-44

Captain Ed Mercer and Chief of Security Alara Kitan with their PM-44 while at the Epsilon Science Station.

It is a basic energy weapon. Unlock the safety and press the firing mechanism.— Isaac to Marcus Finn

The PM-44 (or Plasma Model 44) was a small, single-handed plasma weapon used by Planetary Union personnel in the early 25th century.

The PM-44 was typically kept holstered on an officer's hip during away missions. At least twelve PM-44s were stored in the armory of the USS Orville.

Description

For information on the shotgun attachment, see: PM-488 Titan.

The PM-44 was used in ten separate, adjustable settings ranging from one to ten. The settings were colloquially called "stun" and "kill," which adjustable setting would stun and which would kill depended largely on the species of the target. For example, while setting one can stun most humanoid species, "some aliens require higher settings to bring down - a Moclan would need a setting of at least five to be stunned." Energy output at its highest setting could kill a human at a kilometer's distance.

Union personnel kept the weapon on stun levels in the absence of a compelling reason. When Chief of Security Alara Kitan used the PM-44 at a kill setting, she had to give an explanation to Captain Ed Mercer.

The PM-44 replaced the previous generation standard-issue weapon, the PM-32.

Schematics

The gun usually appeared with a silver metallic coating and has a similar design to that of a 21st-century glock with a rounded shell covering the chamber. A power pack cartridge, the energy source of the gun, was stored inside the handle. Power levels were adjusted by the user on the top-back.

History

In September, 2419, a USS Orville ground team consisting of Captain Ed Mercer, Commander Kelly Grayson, Alara, and Doctor Claire Finn use PM-44s to fight off invading Krill soldiers at the science colony of Epsilon 2.

A few months later, while exploring the Bio-ship, Isaac armed with a PM-44 stuns a man in a farmhouse with a shotgun who attempts to act hostile towards Ed. Later, Ed quietly stuns a guard in front of the capital building. Inside the building, the team holds Hamelac at bay with their PM-44s. When Kemka tells the team that they need to leave, Ed stuns Hamalec.

Ed attempts to blast open a piece of highly advanced technology from the 29th century planted in the system's navigational relays but the PM-44 is unable to penetrate the device.

Before infiltrating the Krill battleship, Helmsman Gordon Malloy plays a practical joke by dressing as a Krill soldier and pretending to hold Mercer hostage with the Captain's own PM-44.

In early 2420, Isaac carries a PM-44 while marooned on an unnamed habitable moon. Marcus Finn and Isaac use PM-44s set to stun in order to fend off a horde of diseased cannibals.

Opening up an unresponsive Union transport vessel in the Shuttle Bay, Bortus and Alara wield PM-44s, backed up by three Security Officers with PM-488 Titans, as a precaution, only to find a team of unarmed xenoanthropologists.

In March, Alara uses a PM-44 at its highest setting to kill a monster within a simulation of the Orville. Alara did not set the weapon to kill; the monster itself had changed the setting when he had temporary control. Later, Alara and a simulation of Gordon attempt to use their PM-44s to stop a giant spider; their weapons fail to have any effect.

Ed and Gordon holding plasma guns.

In June 2420, Ed and Gordon wield PM-44s on an unnamed planet as they track a weapon that shot their shuttle down, only to meet a community of friendly aliens.

Locar, after being confronted within the Orville simulator by Klyden, who intended to out him as a heterosexual to the authorities on Moclus, concocted evidence that Klyden, having turned off the simulator's safeties, used a simulated PM-44 to vaporize him, thus faking his death. Ultimately, it is determined that Klyden was framed, and Locar is caught by Talla Keyali.

Gordon fires at Talla.

Ostensibly aiding Orrin Channing in his crusade to prevent peace between the Planetary Union and the Krill, Gordon uses a PM-44 to stun Security Chief Talla Keyali when she stands in the way of Shuttle 1. However, this is all an act as Talla comes to soon after Gordon and Orrin take the shuttlecraft out of the Shuttle Bay. When Gordon learns that Orrin's intention is to use a quantum storage cell containing explosive Envall blood to destroy the Krill destroyer Davoro'kos, he raises his weapon at his old friend, leading to a struggle which ends with Gordon using the PM-44 to destroy the shuttle's control panel, preventing Orrin from intercepting the Krill vessel.

Bortus lights his cigarette.

Materializing a pair of cigarettes via the Food Synthesizer in his quarters, Bortus uses a PM-44 to light them for himself and Klyden.

In an alternate timeline, Ed and Gordon carry PM-44s as they use the shuttlecraft ECV-342-1 to hide from the Kaylon. When their shuttle is forcibly taken in by a scavenger ship, Ed and Gordon prepare for a fight only to be met by Kelly and her crew. Soon after, on the Resistance planet, Ed and Kelly return to the shuttle where they find a single Kaylon unit. Taking top and bottom respectively, Kelly and Ed manage to shoot down the Kaylon before it can open fire.

Production

The PM-44 was designed and built by the property master, Bryan Rodgers. The gun was one of the first items ever designed for the show, and a prototype was presented during 2016 meeting between Rodgers, visual effects artist Howard Berger, wardrobe designer Joseph Porro, production designer Stephen J. Lineweaver, creator Seth MacFarlane, and director Jon Favreau. Rodgers' design amazed MacFarlane and he quickly approved the PM-44.

Trivia

• One of the PM-44 props was given away to a fan by The Orville cast at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con.
• A licensed replica of the PM-44 is sold as a "pulser" by Korben FX.

Appearances

• Episode 1x01: Old Wounds
• Episode 1x04: If the Stars Should Appear
• Episode 1x05: Pria
• Episode 1x06: Krill
• Episode 1x08: Into the Fold
• Episode 1x10: Firestorm (simulation only)
• Episode 1.5x01: New Beginnings, Pt. 1
• Episode 1.5x03: The Word of Avis, Pt. 1
• Episode 1.5x04: The Word of Avis, Pt. 2
• Episode 2x01: Ja'loja (only in armory storage)
• Episode 2x07: Deflectors (simulation only)
• Episode 2x09: Identity, Pt. 2 (only in armory storage)
• Episode 2x10: Blood of Patriots
• Episode 2x11: Lasting Impressions
• Episode 2x14: The Road Not Taken