When he returned home, he talked to his mate while he was watching the news channel.
"There is a way we can get ahold of one of The Union's native agents. It was only mentioned in passing, and I almost forgot about it. First thing in the morning we've got to call the paper and arrange for an ad in the personal column. It's a code- and when their agent sees it, he'll contact me."
As soon as they got up the next morning, The Ancient One's mate called the newspaper.
"I want to place a personal ad," she said, "it needs to read 'Ray, I have a personal message for Una. Call me at once. The Reverend.'"
"I don't know if I can place an ad like that," said the operator. "Wait a minute and let me check."
A few minutes later the operator came back.
"The manager says it's all right, but we can't accept a credit card on an ad like that. You'll have to come down to the office and pay cash. No checks."
"We don't have that much cash on hand right now," The Ancient One's mate told her husband.
"Tell them to forget it," he said, "Maybe I can come up with it tomorrow. My ride will be here any minute and I'll have to get to work."
The Ancient One went to work trying to think of how he could get the extra money. He was thinking of asking the boss for an advance, when he went into the back storeroom for supplies. From behind him a lovely female voice spoke.
"Reverend, don't turn around. You have a message for The Union?"
The Ancient One was tempted to have a look, but respected his visitor's privacy.
"Scientific Exploration Vessel 359 has been destroyed," he said. "The entire crew was lost. Those responsible are now in standard position, overhead. They call themselves Organic Computers. I am keeping them occupied at present."
The Ancient One felt a deep wave of sorrow from the person behind him. He was sure if he could see her face, there would be tears in her eyes. But in a moment the soft southern accent spoke again.
"You have conformation?" she said.
"I have spoken with the ship's telepath," The Ancient One answered. "It is confirmed. "
"There is a star cruiser," the woman answered, "three days away. It started here the moment the exploration ship's automatic beacon ceased to function. We had hoped it was a communication failure. Thank you for your assistance."
"I will do my best," said The Ancient One, "to render the attackers non-combative before the cruiser arrives. But have them ready for a fight."
"Do not endanger yourself," the woman said. "We know these creatures. They can be dangerous."
"So can I," said The Ancient One. "The people on that ship were my friends."
"We know that, too," the woman answered. "Tell me, why didn't you pay for the ad? I almost missed your message. If you had placed it tomorrow, I would not have been able to reach you in time."
"The paper has some silly rules," said The Ancient One, "Personal ads have to be paid for in cash. We had no funds available."
"Oh," the woman said, "we forgot that your financial resources are so limited. This time it could have caused a disaster."
"Not really," said The Ancient One, "don't you find it strange you happened to be there to hear about the message, when you normally would have missed it?"
There was silence behind him. "I have to go," the woman said. The Ancient One heard two metallic clicks, and then the woman's soft footfall as she headed down the hall. He did not move until the outer door to the storage area was closed. Then, he walked back towards the room's door. On one of the shelves lay two new quarters that hadn't been there when he'd entered the room. Smiling, he picked them up.
"I wonder," he thought, "if her superiors would consider her little donation a violation of their strict non-interference doctrine?"
When he returned home, he told his mate what had happened, and showed her the quarters.
"Strange," she said, "It looks like something has been chewing on them."
"I noticed that, too," said The Ancient One.
That evening as they went to bed, the new visitors returned. The Ancient One had warned his mate not to betray the fact they knew what had happened. While the visitor quietly slept in his body, The Ancient One's mind explored the space ship, and entered every mind on board it. These aliens did not fully understand his abilities, that his powers were only limited by the material form he possessed. In a superior body and mind like this one, his power was ten times greater than it was in the material form he possessed on the planet below.
The Mora and The Squigs understood this, these aliens didn't. The Mora and The Squigs also understood how dangerous The Ancient One was. He could not be destroyed. Destroy his physical form, and he merely took another one. Harm his people or his adopted people, on the world below, and he would destroy you without pity or compassion. This was one part of him that even his own kind feared. What The Ancient One found on the vessel pleased him. The ship was well built, but certain safety features had been neglected. If he so desired, he could destroy the vessel, or, cripple it, and its crew would be helpless to stop him. But he had to proceed cautiously. There was no room for the slightest error.
When he returned to his mate the next morning, he explained why.
"If I disable the ship, it could fall into the atmosphere. The resulting explosiion would literally blow the world apart! If I detonate it in space, the energy release could do untold damage. It might even foul somebody's computers, and launch a nuclear strike! We can't have that! Nor can we have these creatures slugging it out with a Mor cruiser near this planet. A stray beam could incinerate a city. The natives could think it was a nuclear strike and retaliate, or a beam could again cause an accidental missile launch. Sometimes, with all my abilities, I'm still at a loss as what to do. But I'm beginning to have a glimmer of a plan. Some of the creatures on that ship aren't happy with their masters. One of them in particular is rather outspoken. When I go up tonight, I'm going to have a talk with him. If I can get him to cooperate, we might be able to avoid bloodshed. If not that, I'm going to have to try one of the more desperate gambles."
"Are you in any danger?" asked his wife.
"The only danger I face," said The Ancient One, "is the loss of this material form. That might set our work back awhile, but it would not stop us."
That evening while part of him conversed with the ship's commander, another part of him sought out one of the crewmen in the engineering section. Reaching into his mind, The Ancient One made contact.
"Do not make any sign that you hear me," he said, "continue your work. Speak to me with your mind, not your voice."
"Who are you?" thought the alien, "WHERE are you?"
"I am the one they think they hold prisoner on the bridge. The contraption they have built does not even slow me. I have total access to the ship. I can destroy it at my leisure. I know what you did to the Squig vesel. I know your mission is NOT peaceful. There is a Mor cruiser on its way. It will be here in less than a day and a half. I cannot permit you and your friends to fight it. I must find some way of neutralizing this vessel. I would prefer to do so without harming you or your companions. But if I am forced to, I will do otherwise. Do you understand?"
The alien felt The Ancient One's power and knew his words were true. "We did no wrong," he said. "The other ship was interfering in contact with natives, directing their efforts. We had reports of this."
"Your reports," said The Ancient One, "were in error. The Union keeps agents on the world below, but they are very careful not to interfere with anything. They allow the planet to progress on its own accord. Their non-interference doctrine is very strict. They merely have contact with me because I am already aware of their existence, and they wish to retrieve the historical information I possess. You killed people as determined to prevent interference as you are!"
The creature knew The Ancient One didn't lie. He could sense the truth in his words. Tears of legitimate regret ran down his face.
"What do you want of me?" he asked.
"First, some information," said The Ancient One. "What would happen if the ship suddenly cooled down; if the guages went from the yellow where they now rest, down tinto the blue?"
"We would quickly become non-functional," said the creature, "go into hibernation."
"How quickly can the temperature be dropped?" asked The Ancient One.
"If all the heating units were turned off," said the alien, "and the cooling units put on full effect, we would begin to cool down in a couple of minutes. We have no body heat reserves. We depend on outside temperature. A couple of minutes after that we would be helpless."