Disintegration station

Casualties of the war between Eminiar VII and Vendikar had twenty-four hours to report to a disintegration station. This machine disintegrated them and recorded their deaths in accord with the terms of the treaty that governed the war. Like the society that created it, the machine was neat and orderly.

The red rotating door opened, revealing a small booth. Individuals entered the booth, and the operator pressed the leftmost button on the small panel. The door closed, and the operator pressed the rightmost button. A second or so later, the door opened, and the chamber was bloodlessly empty. An indicator lamp over the entrance signaled the machine's operation. Anan 7 rationalized the use of these stations by explaining they enabled war without "disaster, disease, starvation, horrible, lingering death, pain and anguish." While people would die, society would live on.

As part of their campaign to save the crew of the USS Enterprise from this fate, Kirk and Spock destroyed two of these machines with disruptor fire. While the initial barrage did little apparent damage, the machines were evidently not well protected against overloads and burnouts; they exploded spectacularly a few moments later. The loss of just two machines threatened Eminiar VII's ability to meet its quota. Without the ability to disintegrate its citizens within the allotted time, Eminiar VII would be forced to abrogate the terms of its treaty, perhaps precipitating a war fought with real weapons. (TOS: "A Taste of Armageddon")