 McKell realizes that the "Icarus" is being hunted by the Patth (an alien race who have a near-monopoly on the galaxy's shipping industry, due to their unique stardrives, which are several times faster than those of any other race).He becomes suspicious that the "Icarus" isn't "carrying" the recently discovered alien stardrive; instead, he thinks the "Icarus" itself "is" the alien stardrive.If this stardrive were to remain outside Patth hands, it could spell the doom of the Patth economic empire.