Invaders from the Infinite · Chapter
All-Powerful Gods explained
The crew of the Ancient Mariner continues their journey through time, landing in ancient Greece and Egypt to determine their temporal location.
What happens
The crew of the Ancient Mariner continues their journey through time, landing in ancient Greece and Egypt to determine their temporal location. They encounter primitive villagers who attack them, and in defending themselves, they inadvertently use their advanced technology in ways that the locals interpret as divine powers. Arcot, Morey, and Wade realize they have become the basis for ancient myths—Arcot as Jove, Morey as Hercules, and Wade as Mercury. The chapter concludes with the crew completing their work on the ultimate weapons and time equations, still uncertain of their exact date but aware they have left a lasting imprint on human history.
Themes in this chapter
Time and Paradox
The crew's time travel causes them to become the origin of ancient myths, creating a causal loop where their future actions shape past legends.
The Nature of Power and Responsibility
Arcot and Morey wield godlike technology but must restrain themselves from massacring primitive villagers, highlighting the ethical burden of their power.
Exploration and the Unknown
The crew lands in unfamiliar historical periods, struggling to identify their location and learning about ancient cultures through direct contact.
Characters to notice
- Arcot
Leads the landing parties in Greece and Egypt, uses heat and molecular rays to defend against attackers, and is identified as Jove by Morey for hurling thunderbolts.
- Morey
Demonstrates superhuman strength by throwing a boulder and tossing a peasant, is humorously called Hercules by Wade, and reflects on how they became gods in ancient myth.
- Wade
Flies down to assist using his power suit, is dubbed Mercury by Morey for his winged shoes, and continues his banter with Morey.
- Zezdon Afthen
Assists in telepathically searching the minds of captured villagers to learn about their gods and time period.
- Stel Felso Theu
Accompanies Arcot and Zezdon Afthen during the Egyptian landing.
- The Ortolian
Works with the Talsonian on advanced apparatus, and is noted by Morey as part of the 'impossible Gods' that left an imprint on history.
- The Talsonian
Reports on the Ortolian's work progress and collaborates on the time and cosmic power equations.
Key passages
“As historians, we’re a bunch of first-class kitchen mechanics. Looks like we’re due for another landing to locate the exact date.”
Arcot admits their lack of historical knowledge forces them to land again to figure out what time period they are in.
Highlights the crew's difficulty in navigating time without precise historical references.
“We left an impress in history, an impress that still is, and an impress that affected countless thousands.”
Morey realizes their actions in the past have become part of ancient mythology, influencing countless people.
Key moment where the crew understands their role in creating myths.
“The Gods that my friends have been talking of, are legendary deities of Earth. I can see now that we did leave an imprint on history in the only way we could—as Gods, for surely no other explanation could have occurred to those men.”
Arcot explains to the Ortolians that the ancient people interpreted their advanced technology as divine power, making them the basis for Earth's gods.
Direct acknowledgment of the time paradox and their unintended influence on history.
