Forte (fencing) Forte (fencing) In fencing, forte (from the Romance root meaning "strong") is "the strong part" of the blade—the one third-closest to the hilt. The "strength" refers to the control established over the opponent's weapon upon contact of one's forte with the opponent's foible (a situation of favourable leverage). (See also parry (fencing).) Fencer Ridolfo Capo Ferro defined the forte as the blade from the hilt to the middle. From the middle to the top is known as the debole. The debole is the part of the sword, especially a rapier, that is used for offensive actions. Italian fencing master Ridolfo
The Slaver Weapon alien device, which the Kzinti immediately suspect is a weapon. The weapon passes hands several times between the Federation and Kzinti crews, during which time Sulu discovers a total conversion beam setting. The Kzinti recapture all three Federation personnel and the weapon. As the Kzinti explore the device's many settings, they discover a war computer which starts talking to them. After the Kzinti fail to provide several code words and ask about the total conversion beam setting, the weapon concludes they are enemies and directs them to what it claims is the setting that they want but which is actually