"The Brenogul fish maneuver"
 by Lieutenant jg T'Kang
 Chief Tactical Officer - USS Tempest
 http://come.to/tkang


Commodore Mitchell sat with perfect posture in the 
command chair of the USS Tempest.  "Time to the rift?" he 
questioned with a hint of urgency in his voice.  Blake had 
done his best to increase the power output available to the 
Tempest in order to speed her progress along.  But was it 
enough?

"Six minutes, forty eight seconds Captain."  Lieutenant 
Cowan answered from the flight control station of the 
Excelsior class vessel.

"T'Kang, time to intercept for the Ferengi cruisers?"  Taddy 
asked.

The Klingon checked the tactical display and frowned.  "I 
project the Ferengi vessels will be in firing range in five 
minutes and twenty seconds."

"We aren't going to make it."  Taddy stated, "We will have to 
turn and fight."

Knowing they only needed a couple of additional minutes 
lead to escape the Ferengi, T'Kang glanced up at the main 
viewer and began formulating a plan.

"Brenogul fish." the Klingon stated.

The Commodore pivoted in his chair slightly and glanced at 
the Klingon, unsure if the warrior was trying to lessen the 
offensiveness of his swearing.  "Lieutenant?"

"Brenogul fish sir.  From Rigel seven."  T'Kang explained, 
then seeing the Captain didn't follow, he went on to 
elaborate further.  "It's a small, silvery fish with large yellow 
puffy sacks on it's sides.  When the Brenogul fish is pursued 
by a predator,  it releases a cloudy liquid mucus that 
disorients it's adversary long enough to allow the fish to 
escape."

"Like an earth squid."  the Commodore stated.

Showing his dissatisfaction at the example, T'Kang curled 
his upper lip slightly and snarled his agreement, "I suppose.  
It may be possible to use the Omega particles to our 
advantage.  If we vent some plasma and then ignite it, the 
resulting energy caused by the chemical reaction should 
cause a saturation of Omega particles to be drawn into the 
area."

Taddy steepled his fingers before him as he nodded, picking 
up on the Lieutenant's thought, "Causing the Omega 
particles in our path to thin out, while they saturate the space 
immediately in front of the Ferengi."

The Klingon nodded.  "Exactly.  If enough saturation occurs 
from the attraction by the ignited plasma, it may even force 
the Ferengi to drop out of warp all together.  At any rate, it 
should at least slow them down.  Possible buying the extra 
minutes we need to reach the rift. . . ."

"It's worth a shot T'Kang.  Let's give it a try."  the 
Commodore agreed.

"Aye sir."  T'Kang acknowledged activating communication 
to Engineering.  +taps+ "T'Kang to Engineering."

A brief moment later Blake responded, +taps+ "Engineering 
here, what is it Lieutenant?"

+taps+ "We need to start venting plasma from the warp 
engines."  T'Kang stated flatly like it was no big deal.

Blake thought it was.  +taps+ "Are you crazy man?  Those 
vents weren't made to be opened at warp 8!  What are you 
trying to do?"

T'Kang looked annoyed at having to explain this again, but 
knew that it would have to be done if they were going to vent 
enough plasma in time to slow the Ferengi down and reach 
the rift in time.  "We need to buy more time.  By venting the 
plasma, and igniting it, we hope to cause a saturation of 
Omega particles to form between us and the pursuing 
enemy ships."

+taps+ "Aye. . . . causing them to slow down or possibly drop 
out of warp because of the density of O-particles.  Well that 
makes sense, but it's still one dangerous thing to attempt 
Lieutenant."

Stepping in, Commodore Mitchell took over, +taps+ "This is 
the Captain.  Go ahead an do as he says Chief.  We only 
have a few more minutes in which to try this."

Blake could be heard mumbling to himself as he responded, 
+taps+ "I understand sir. . . .  I'll figure some way to safely 
vent the plasma at warp 8. . . .  Engineering out."

When the channel closed, Lieutenant T'Kang brought the aft 
phasers on-line and prepared them to fire so that when the 
plasma was vented it could be ignited and their Brenogul fish 
tactic put into action.  They would only get one shot at 
igniting the plasma, once Engineering figured out a way to 
vent it.