 the Lyrans and Gorns) purchased them from their allies and themselves deployed carrier battle groups.While the earliest fighters were faster, hardier, and sported only a small phaser or two, their successors gained heavy weapons (the ubiquitous drones for the western powers, plasma torpedoes for the eastern powers, and even photons, disruptors, fusion beams and hellbores for the Federation, Klingons, and Hydrans respectively).Swarms of Hydran Stingers (and the occasional Federation F-14, F-15, or F-16 squadron) menaced starships with the fearsome Gatling phaser.