DEFLECTION OF LOW-MASS PARTICLES

	Lighter mass materials such as interstellar gas and dust grains are 
translated away from the shipÕs flight path by the main navigational deflector. 
During low-sublight travel, a number of nested parabolic deflector shields 
are projected by the main emitter dish. These shields encounter distant 
oncoming particles, imparting a radial velocity component to them, 
effectively clearing the space ahead of the vehicle for a short time. Higher 
sublight velocities require the additional use of precision-aimed deflector 
beams directed at specific targets in the projected flight path.

	Control of the deflector power output is available in a number of 
modes, from simple deflection to predictive-adaptive subspace/graviton; a 
series of high-speed algorithms analyzes the shipÕs velocity and the density 
of the interstellar medium, and commands changes in the navigational 
deflector system.  Æ