A web generator was a weapon system that was developed by the Tholian civilization and was used to create their intricate as well as deadly webs. At some point prior to 2268, the Tholian Assembly began experiments to create a prototype land based non-lethal defensive system that was based on the principles of the web generator. The purpose of these devices was to capture the inhabitants of planetary based installations without harming them or the structures that they were occupying. This would have allowed the Tholians to easily transport their captives from the captured areas and detain them whilst the Assembly moved in to occupy the newly acquired territory. Initial trial tests were conducted on the Klingon agricultural colony located on Traelus II but the results proved to be disastrous