Chibbles

Genetically engineered creature created by SWAT as an Anti-Klingon weapon in the immediate aftermath of the Klingon wars (circa 2273). The "Chibble" is an attempt to utilise the natural hatred of Klingons for the common garden Tribble, discovered by Cyrano Jones on deep space station K-7.

SWAT took the Tribble, and added the DNA of the common Terran animal the Chinchilla, to give the harmless bundles of fur a face and teeth (not to mention claws). They also decided to make the things dependant upon certain sugars for a control mechanism. Sadly, all this did was create a sugar rage effect whenever the animals actually came within range of the stuff.

Unlike a Tribble, Chibbles do not breed spontaneously when fed, they require three sexes to breed and even then, will only do so when the mood takes them. They are fiercely territorial and have been known to defend their lairs to the death.

In 2273 the USS Devonshire was called to an emergency situation on a SWAT starbase close to the Klingon neutral zone. On arrival, the crew were presented with a story created by the base commander of a viral plague which required medicines. When landing parties were eventually deployed, they discovered the Chibbles infesting the base and terrorising the crew of the station.

Stone and crew were able to entice the creatures out of hiding with huge cache's of sugary treats, and then beamed the entire population of Chibbles down to a research establishment used to initially create them. The planet has now become known as Chibbilia.