"Inversion" is the means of faster-than-light space travel. Instead of breaking the barrier of the speed of light, spaceships in "Primary Inversion" go around it. By adding an imaginary component to their velocity, or "inverting", they enter a superluminal universe, allowing for near-instantaneous travel. However, because the ship must come close to the speed of light to invert, travel still takes time. In addition, various space-time calculation errors add complications. The Skolians' military advantage is based on the fact that the pilots can communicate with technology-induced "telepathy" while in inversion and arrive in tight formation from inversion.