"Hot venting"
 by Lieutenant jg T'Kang
 Chief Engineer - USS Intrepid
 http://come.to/tkang


T'Kang was more than a little annoyed at the lack of 
information available in the Federation databanks on the 
Mugarri and Nharwak.  Here the Intrepid was being sent to 
escort the Mugarri ambassador and the chief engineer 
couldn't get so much as a picture out of the computer 
showing what either of these species looked like.

Not one to give up easily, the Klingon decided to tie the 
Intrepid's computer system into Starfleet Command's central 
library computer to see what he could discover.  It would 
take some time for the download of information to complete, 
but T'Kang deemed it worth the extra effort as even the 
smallest insight into these two races might prove important 
in the upcoming mission.

While he was waiting on the transmission from Starfleet 
Command, T'Kang received word that a problem was 
discovered in the new warp core circuitry that appeared to 
be causing a slight variance in the plasma flow. Tasrek had 
already hailed the Chief Engineer once about it, even while 
Keen and Salek were checking it out.

T'Kang tapped on his desk impatiently waiting for the 
transmission from Starfleet to complete when Salek asked to 
enter.

"I have a problem and I require assistance."  the Vulcan 
engineer stated professionally.

T'Kang regarded Salek for a moment, "Unable to determine 
the cause of the variance in the plasma flow Ensign?"

"Essentially sir.  I have run a number of diagnostics and 
compared the results to a model of the warp core I created 
on the holodeck.  Everything appears to be in specification, 
yet the variance suggests an EPS problem."  Salek 
explained.

T'Kang nodded.  "You are thinking of replacing the EPS grid 
anyway, even though the diagnostics show it to be working 
as designed?"  

"That seems like the only logical course of action.  Even 
though the diagnostics tests show the EPS grid to be 
functioning normally, there may be a minute malfunction with 
that system that we can not detect.  It would explain these 
variation readings we have been observing."  Salek 
explained noticing T'Kang impatiently waiting for the Starfleet 
transmission to complete.  "May I ask sir, what is that you 
are waiting for?"

T'Kang raised his eyebrows, not realizing his attention had 
drifted away from Salek.  "I am downloading additional 
information from the Starfleet Command central library on 
the Mugarri and Nharwak."

"Yes.  The information you gave me before did seem rather 
sparse in regards to those two civilizations." Salek observed.

T'Kang looked directly at the Vulcan.  "Yes, and that is what 
bothers me.  It is almost as if information on these two races 
has purposely been left out of the standard Starfleet 
databanks.  I am hoping we will learn more from the library 
at Starfleet Command."

Salek stepped forward and glanced at the computer monitor.  
It indicated only 40% of the transmission had been 
completed.  "It looks like it will be some time yet before your 
transmission is complete.  What do you think Lieutenant?  
Should we replace the EPS grid and see how that affects the 
warp core plasma flow?"

T'Kang shook his head.  "No.  Let's try something first."  
Rising to his feet, T'Kang walked past the Vulcan, implying 
that he should follow.  Salek did.  Both men walked out of 
T'Kang's office and to the control station in main 
engineering.  The Klingon immediately started calling out 
orders.

"Thompsen, Keen, I want you to take the secondary flow 
repressors off-line.   Hart, adjust the plasma mixture up a 
positive thirty percent."

"Sir?  That will cause an imbalance between the matter and 
anti-matter mixture when they are combined in the primary 
reaction chamber."  Hart reminded the Chief.  It was a most 
unusual order.

"I am aware of that crewman.  Now adjust the flow as 
ordered."  the Klingon repeated a little louder this time.

Salek stood next to T'Kang while he brought up the matter 
anti-matter control program.  The Vulcan watched as the 
Chief over rode the protection codes to alter the parameters 
of the plasma injection rate.

"Sir, the mixture you are preparing to inject into the primary 
reaction chamber is too rich to completely be consumed in 
the reaction with the anti-matter.  With the secondary flow 
repressors off-line, the probability of the exploding plasma 
escaping the chamber are 356.2749 to one."

"If that's the Vulcan way of saying we will vent ignited 
plasma out the exhaust ports, you are correct Mister Salek.  
That is the whole point.   Keen, are the secondary flow 
repressors off-line yet?"

"Yes sir.  Repressors are disabled."  Keen replied from the 
catwalk surrounding the pulsating warp core in the center of 
engineering.

Reaching across his chest, T'Kang tapped his 
communicator.  +taps+ "Bridge, this is T'Kang in 
engineering."

A moment later the Captain replied, +taps+ "Celchu here, go 
ahead Lieutenant."

+taps+ "Sir, we have a slight variance in the plasma flow 
with the warp core.  I will be attempting to correct the 
problem with a plasma burn to clear any debris that might be 
clogged in the system.  I just wanted to let you know before 
we activated the burn."  T'Kang explained.

+taps+ "Understood Lieutenant.  Proceed as you think is 
best.  Bridge out."

Glancing over to Salek briefly, T'Kang tapped the controls to 
inject the over rich plasma mixture into the reaction 
chamber.   Almost immediately, the temperature began to 
elevate in the warp core as quadruple trails of burning fire 
jettisoned out the 4 warp nacelles of the Intrepid, making the 
ship look like a fiery comet screaming across the galaxy.   
After a twenty second burn, T'Kang deactivated the rich 
mixture and ordered the secondary flow repressors back on-
line.   Setting the injection routines back to Federation 
Standard settings, T'Kang turned to Salek.  "What are we 
reading now on the plasma flow Ensign?"

Salek stepped over to the proper console and tapped up a 
status.  His Vulcan eyebrow raised in amazement.  "All 
readings are within specifications and holding steady."

T'Kang let out a satisfied grin.  "An old Klingon trick Mister 
Salek.  When I was a young boy, my father used to serve on 
board a dilapidated old bird of prey.  Hot venting of the 
plasma was the only thing that would keep the manifolds 
clear of debris."

"A most useful technique to know."  Salek replied, noting to 
himself this was the first time T'Kang had ever mentioned 
anything at all about his family.

"Batten down everything here Mister Salek.  I will go and see 
if the information from Starfleet Command has finished 
downloading yet."  T'Kang ordered while moving to return to 
his office.

"Please let me know if you discover anything of particular 
interest sir.  I would be most interested in learning more of 
the Mugarri and Nharwak."  Salek replied.

"I will do that."  T'Kang said flatly, continuing on his way.


<< OOC: Next log I'll go into the Mugarri and Nharwak since 
I've been given card Blanca to wing it by the boss. >>