Object

Tonkian Homing Beacon

A compact, weathered emitter stamped by Tonkian manufacture: palm‑sized, tubular housing with a ribbed grip and a faintly corroded antenna. Matte black alloy shows scorch and scavenger solder repairs; a dim, intermittent pulse flickers from a recessed aperture when powered. The away team pinpoints it among piled plunder, Worf's tricorder pegs its signature and the device becomes a focus of alarm as characters freeze, scan, and seize it for analysis.

1 appearances

Purpose

To emit a directional, encoded homing signal used as a tracker or call beacon—guiding ships or ground parties to a target location or summoning reinforcements.

Significance

Functions as a tangible clue within the junkyard ambush: its presence confirms outsider trafficking and coordinated pursuit, escalates the tactical threat, and reframes the salvage site from neutral debris to an active staging ground for the Gatherers' operations.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

1 moments

S3E9 · The Vengeance Factor

Junkyard Ambush — Gatherer Trap and Act-One Cliffhanger

Tonkian homing beacons are named by Geordi as part of the collection; their presence signals specific trade or raid sources and gives the away team immediate forensic leads during the sudden escalation.

Before: Sitting among salvaged components in the junkyard heap.

After: Left in place after the ambush; catalogued but not removed due to the firefight.

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