Diocullis snatched up the receiver and punched for the base communication exchange. "This is Commander Michael Diocullis. I need to draw an informational download from the college library of New Vatica University on Alcomer. I am interested in the following file number- ."

Michael read through the reports. Joshua had found the source of the strange biblical broadcasts, he saw. The papal council would be pleased that progress had been made on that front. There wasn't much else of substance in the database as yet. Then one interview caught his eye. A small commercial enterprise vessel, the SONG WEAVER, had reported an encounter near the Draco. He recalled another file item, backed through the data, and examined a report filed by Father Logan and Arlyis, just prior to their retrieving the dead missionary, with some interesting annotations by Joshua. There it was; odd transmissions on quantum bands forty-two and forty-seven. Joshua theorized they may have been connected to the Song Weaver's, encounter, and documented Logan's excitement with the possible relationship. He picked up the receiver again and dialed the number Commander Baine had provided. After a short chat, he returned to his bed in a more relaxed mood.

****

"We scanned bands forty-two and forty-seven with the filters you suggested. Discovered some real strange emissions," noted Commander Baine. Michael watched through the docking bay view-port as the Military transporter settled in and locked on.

"I won't even ask where the information came from, at least," said Baine with a sideways glance, "for now, but it saved our collective bacon. Got us a start." The cargo bay of the transporter opened, and a gray cast cylinder was lowered out onto a tractor gurney. The four foot long gray lozenge was unpainted, and bore no identifying markings.

"Are you sure the thing is turned off? I'd hate to think it was still broadcasting," said Dio.

"No chance of that. We have a long history of dealing with tricky toys here, Sir," said Baine. "I still don't understand it exactly, but it seems to be an emitter of some sort. Somehow, we figure, it was acting as a pointer, just like you - predicted." Baine eyed Dio like a Crane spotting a frog, but a sense of resignation registered there as well.

"Basically," Baine continued, "this told something else to 'do it here', so to speak. Not that we have actually interpreted the signal, but the effect stopped when we disabled it. Not the answer to the how or why I'd hoped, or even who or where. Still, it stopped the atmosphere siphoning cold. That's the thing."

"The team that found it said it was put together weird. Some of the solid state stuff it used just wasn't in our books. Mostly custom stuff, made off planet." Baine ran his hand across the metal casing.

"Function was easy to figure out though. Self powered and running a completely self contained program. Not much chance it will lead us back to anything. It goes from here to the physics lab. One of the tech rats was babbling about quantum communications. Pretty on-the-edge stuff, not what you would expect in a guide device."

"How is that?" said Diocullis, his eyebrows peaking as his eyes roved over the decanted transmitter.

Baine shrugged. "I'm no scientist. I know the tech is great stuff. We use it to help punch messages across light years of distance in zero time, but worthless for real time guidance, or communication by itself. You can transmit, or set, information about something's state in quantum, but not define it in space time. That is, you can't locate its position, and looking at it changes it. It has to do with," Bane paused, concentrating to dredge up old training data, "Detecting high probabilities of change in energy spin states in the valence shells of custom made hydrogen atom twins. Whatever that means. Least that's what they told me in tech class. Based, I guess, on the non-locality effect of paired electrons, though that particular quantum effect isnt useful for transmitting data.

"Had a hell of a time finding this one," Baine said, slapping the side of the transmitter. "You want to track a quantum transmitter you'd better have luck on your side. We found it by comparing mass scans of the asteroid fields along the conical center line. Sent ships to areas that had picked up mass since the last scan, started checking out everything new - got lucky. Ah, you could care less, right? This one likely broadcast the strike site coordinate. What kind of a bastard would do something like that?"

Diocullis grunted. "More things in heaven or hell than you have ever dreamed of."

"What?"

"Nothing important, just paraphrasing a quote. You really should read up more on your culture's literature, Baine. I want copies of the signals, scans, all of that. Send it to the library of the radiography college on Alcomer. Speaking of reports, it's time I made mine, with your permission?"

"Ah, go ahead. I'll see your people get the data fast as it comes in, Sir."