In my RPG, an engineer is working on an energy weapon that kills enemy soldiers but leaves civilians and noncombatants unharmed.

During the game, he takes the weapon designs and goes on the run, out of fear his superiors will find a way to 'corrupt' the technology toward more destructive ends.

Is there a possible way to make a weapon such as this work? Could it be perverted and if so, how?

EDIT: Making major changes to this question.

In my RPG, an engineer is working on an energy weapon that kills enemy soldiers but not enemies in the same area- something for possible hostage situations or where enemy soldiers/officers are using captive civilians as human(oid) shields.

During the game, he takes the weapon designs and goes on the run, out of fear his superiors will find a way to 'corrupt' the technology toward more destructive ends.

Is there a possible way to make a weapon such as this work? Could it be perverted and if so, how?

In my RPG, an engineer is working on an energy weapon that kills enemy soldiers but leaves civilians and noncombatants untouched.

During the game, he takes the weapon designs and goes on the run, out of fear his superiors will find a way to 'corrupt' the technology toward more destructive ends.

Is there a possible way to make a weapon such as this work? Could it be perverted and if so, how?

In my RPG, an engineer is working on an energy weapon that kills enemy soldiers but leaves civilians and noncombatants unharmed.

During the game, he takes the weapon designs and goes on the run, out of fear his superiors will find a way to 'corrupt' the technology toward more destructive ends.

Is there a possible way to make a weapon such as this work? Could it be perverted and if so, how?