" Like shooting fish in a barrel"
 by Lieutenant jg T'Kang
 Chief Tactical Officer - USS Tempest
 http://come.to/tkang


T'Kang nodded to Ensign Soran as he joined the Chief 
Tactical officer on the bridge of the Tempest.  "Man the 
lateral phaser array Ensign.  Sensors are picking up seven 
approaching Spectres on an intercept course."

Ensign Soran seemed eager to please, "Aye sir, have we 
identified them as enemy targets?"

Pointing to the tactical display the Klingon jogged his chin. 
"Enemy targets show in red.  Our Spectres appear as blue 
while the Avalon's fighters appear as green."  T'Kang 
informed.

"That should make things a whole lot easier than last time."  
Soran nodded while readying the weapons.

"Like shooting fish in a barrel Ensign.   Look sharp, here they 
come!" T'Kang bellowed in a warrior's tone as the next battle 
was thrust upon them.

The Spectres broke formation all around the Tempest 
making strafing runs while being pursued by the fighters 
from both the Tempest and Avalon.   The modifications 
made to the Confederation fighters made it simple to identify 
friendly targets from the enemy ones, eliminating the 
hesitation experienced the last time the Tempest did battle 
with multiple fighters of the same design.    Both T'Kang and 
Soran were easily able to target the enemy and fire with 
confidence knowing they were not hitting friendly fighters but 
the enemy this time around.

The Spectres were both fast and maneuverable, but any one 
fighter was no match for the fire power of the USS Tempest's 
main phaser banks.  On full setting, they could punch a hole 
through the hull of a starship.  When unleashed upon a small 
fighter there was simply no chance.  Before long the enemy 
had lost half of her ships while the remaining fighters broke 
off their attack deciding if they would flee or regroup to 
attempt another, hopeless attack.  The Tempest had 
weathered this battle remarkably well.  Certainly well enough 
to deal with the remaining fighters, even without the help of 
the Confederation's own flying aces.

"It looks like the last of the fighters are bugging out sir."  
Soran said in a pleased tone.

The Klingon glanced over at the young officer, "Bugging 
out?" he asked with a raised eye brow.

"An old Earth expression sir.  It means they are giving up 
and retreating."  Soran smiled.

T'Kang nodded.  "On that we agree."  he said stubbornly.  
"They know they are out matched.  Shall we plot an intercept 
course Captain?"

Lieutenant Commander Lee shook his head  from side to 
side.  "Negative Lieutenant.  The rest of our fighters can take 
them out ship to ship.  We should stick with the Bird of Prey 
while our away teams secure her and asses the damage."

T'Kang gave a nod to the Captain's wisdom.  The Klingon 
had doubted Lee when he announced his desire to capture 
the Klingon warship with a boarding party, but the crew of 
the Tempest had pulled it off.  Captain Lee had his prize for 
today.  It was an event worthy of song.  The capture of a 
mighty enemy vessel by a valiant crew of warriors.  It made 
T'Kang proud to be serving on board such a vessel as the 
Tempest.