For the reaction of He with H2+, starting with accurate theoretically computed reactive, elastic, and inelastic scattering data that reveals many complex unassignable narrow resonances, the detailed motions governing the dynamics of the tight transition state are extracted. Methods ranging from scattering theory, the stabilization theory of dynamics, nonlinear dynamic periodic orbit theory, and hierarchical smoothing theory which was developed to study complex ‘‘chaotic’’ spectra, are all used in the analysis. Relationships between the doorway model of nuclear physics, aspects of transition state theory, and models of nonlinear chaotic dynamics are pointed out and used to shed light on the fact that the complex resonance structure observed is one quantum manifestation of classical transient chaos in scattering processes. The transition (or doorway) state corresponds to the only populous and robust periodic orbit or set of similar periodic orbits whose motion allows the types of energy transfers necessary to go from reactants to products. Wave packet motion and quantum eigenfunctions are influenced by these periodic orbits.