This is particularly evident during the combat scenes – the technological superiority of the aliens renders impractical the standard naval models of combat used in many works of science fiction, requiring a re-examination of the mechanics of space combat. The novel also proposes that aliens, if encountered, will be truly alien – that is, driven by desires and motives which are not immediately obvious to humans.
During combat sequences, the advanced technology of the aliens makes traditional naval combat methods ineffective, leading to a need for new strategies in space combat. Furthermore, the novel indicates that any alien encountered would be fundamentally different – with motives and desires that are not immediately understandable by humans.