# Attacked explained — Invaders from the Infinite

> Chapter companion for Invaders from the Infinite by John W. Campbell.

## What happens

The Ancient Mariner is attacked by a fleet of seven Thessian ships. Arcot uses an advanced time field to gain an advantage, but a Thessian ship crashes into them, causing severe damage. Stranded near Neptune, the crew repairs the ship using artificial matter and relux from the enemy wreckage.

## Themes in this chapter

### Technological Progress and Its Consequences

The advanced time field and artificial matter repair demonstrate both the power and the risks of cutting-edge technology.

### The Threat of Imperialism and Conquest

The Thessian attack represents an aggressive imperial force seeking to dominate.

### Exploration and the Unknown

The crew faces the unknown dangers of space and alien technology while stranded near Neptune.

## Character check-ins

### Arcot

Pilots the ship, devises the time field strategy, and leads the repair efforts using artificial matter.

### Morey

Assesses damage, fetches coffee, and assists in repairs.

### Wade

Sets up the portable telectroscope in space and helps with repairs.

### Zezdon Afthen

Comments on the crew's nervous shock and provides a mild narcotic from Ortol.

### The Thessians

Attack the Ancient Mariner with a fleet of seven ships; one ship crashes into the vessel.

## Key lines

> Time, man, time! We are in an advanced time plane, living faster than they, our atoms of fuel are destroyed faster, our second is shorter.

Arcot explains that they are operating in a faster time field, allowing them to outpace the Thessians.

_Key moment where the time field concept is introduced and applied._

> There’s an air pressure outside the ship!

Arcot discovers that the atmosphere outside the ship is breathable, indicating they are on or near a planet.

_Reveals their location after the crash._

> The half that was in, stayed in. The half that was out stayed out. The two halves were instantaneously a billion miles apart.

Morey deduces that the Thessian ship was split by the space field, explaining the clean cut.

_Shows the crew's analytical thinking about the accident._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/invaders_from_the_infinite_se/chapters/xiii-attacked
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/invaders_from_the_infinite_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/invaders_from_the_infinite_se/chapters