Several hours had passed and Lee's idea was starting to take shape. With some assistance from Jim, he had been working on converting a laser welder into something that could produce computer controlled pulses of diffused coherent light, in hopes they could attempt communication with the alien vessel.

Just minutes ago, captain Myles had entered engineering and since then he had been talking in low tones with Daynes, sneaking glances toward Lee several times during the conversation. Now he was walking up to where Lee and Jim were working.

"Good morning, gents", he said. "Captain," Lee responded, as he awkwardly attempted a military salute. He noticed Jim next to him belatedly trying to do the same thing. Myles chuckled. "I know you guys are wearing military outfits and I pulled you onto a military ship, but I understand you have had no military training whatsoever. So civilian courtesy will do just fine," he said. Lee smiled. "Thanks captain, I do believe that will make things easier."

"So, Daynes has filled me in on what you two are working on here. Do you think it's a good idea to draw that thing's attention? Up to now it has completely ignored the Hammer and Pleiades Station, and I consider that to be a good thing. It has assumed a high orbit around the planet and keeps sending out those bursts of coherent light at regular intervals."

"Does it seem to be aiming that light in any particular direction?" Lee asked.

"Indeed it does. It keeps the side that is producing the light bursts directed toward the planet."

"Interesting," Lee muttered. "That does make it seem like its presence here is related to the planet, not us." He thought for a moment, then continued. "I don't know if drawing its attention is a good idea or not, sir. That's up to you to decide. But I thought having the ability to send a signal might be useful, if you decide at some point that it is prudent to do so."

"Agreed," the captain nodded. He stood for a while in silence. Then he looked up, as if he had made up his mind.

"I thought I'd fill you two in on the situation on the surface," he said to them. "Hab-3 is destroyed beyond repair. There's no doubt that it was a willful act. We found traces of military explosives and most of the casualties died of bullet wounds. We don't know who is responsible for the attack though. They were very thorough in leaving no identifiable traces."

Lee let that sink in for a while. He kept thinking about the conversation he'd had with Jim. "Do you think FWC is responsible, sir?" he finally asked.

The captain let out a sigh. "I don't know, Mr. Cossat. Like I said before, we suspect there's something going on with them, but we don't know what and have very little evidence against them. It could just as well have been a competitor."

Lee looked down and swallowed hard. Not meeting the captain's gaze, he asked "How many bodies were recovered, sir?"

"Sixteen."

He looked up sharply.

The captain smiled. "The only person not accounted for is Kenta Adams." He saw relief wash across Lee's face. "I'm glad about it as well," he added.

Now the relief on Lee's face gave way to confusion. "You know Kenta, sir?"

"Of course I do," the captain answered, a mischievous grin creeping onto his face. "I'm the one who sent her."