“There's a difference between potential tramlines and real ones,” Anderson said.  “Our assumption was that it was impossible to actually do more than ride the tramlines we knew to be real.  But this left us with the mystery of why some tramlines exist and others do not – or at least seem not to exist.  It’s possible that space is threaded with potential tramlines the aliens might be able to activate at will.”

“I see,” Ted said.  There were five known tramlines leading from the Sol System to various destinations, nine counting the projected alien tramlines.  But what if there were more?  The aliens might be able to leapfrog across far more of humanity’s territory than the Admiralty had realised.  “Can we duplicate the system?”

“There shouldn't be any problems with producing a duplicate,” Anderson said.  “I’d prefer not to start dissecting the system until we got back to Earth, though.  The alien command and control unit is quite complex and I don’t want to risk annoying it.”

“Which leads back to the important question,” Ted said.  “Can we use the drive to get back home?”

“Easily,” Anderson said.  He grinned, suddenly.  “We’d just have to secure Ark Royal’s hull to the alien ship.”

Ted blanched.  Securing one capital ship to another was dangerous, even when both ships belonged to the Royal Navy.  If something went wrong on the alien ship and she exploded – he found himself wishing that he knew the ship’s name – Ark Royal would be caught in the blast.  Even her armour probably wouldn't provide protection against such a close encounter.

“Do it,” he ordered.  If nothing else, the reporters would get one hell of a story.  And besides, if they got home, the entire crew would be eligible for the prize money.  “But I suggest you hurry.”

***

James couldn't help feeling nervous as the engineering crew carefully linked the two starships together, ensuring that parting contact was impossible.  He couldn't help the feeling that it would be impossible with or without the cords; Ark Royal moved like a wallowing pig and the alien starship, as yet unnamed, was little better.  The engineers might be fascinated by the chance to study so much alien technology, but James had to concentrate on the dangers.  And it was perhaps the riskiest manoeuvre the Royal Navy had ever carried out, at least in the face of the enemy.

“We’re linked, sir,” Anderson reported, finally.  “We’ve attached a tube so crewmen can move between the two ships, as well as supervising the alien drive.”