**_Despite some utterly absurd diversions (chase scene! horror scene! shoot-out scene!), this is a quality science-fiction narrative, suggesting the answers we seek in the stars are actually found within_** >_macte nova virtute, puer, sic itur ad astra, dis genite et geniture deos._ - Publius Vergilius Maro; _Aeneis_ (29-19 BC) >_N = R∗ · fp · ne · fl · fi · fc · L_ >_where:_ >_N = The number of civilisations in the Milky Way whose electromagnetic emissions are detectable (i.e. which are on our current past light cone)._ >_R∗ = The average rate of the formation of stars._ ...