BELLY OF THE BEAST
Dylan and Trance go in the Maru to a planet named Savion on a mission to reassure it's people that Andromeda will protect them from a mythical creature known as the Cetus - a space dwelling, planet eating monster that's thousands of years old.
Dylan is entirely skeptical about the whole ordeal before they arrive at Savion and see the destruction that has taken place. While Dylan tries to discover what could have done the damage, the Andromeda discover that the Cetus is no myth.
Beka sends a message to Dylan, but because of the lag he won't receive it for some time. Dylan races back to Andromeda when he finally deems that the creature is real.
The Cetus consumes Andromeda before he can get there. The crew try forcing their way out with numerous weapons but have no luck. they end up doing more damage to themselves than the Cetus.
Rommie is out cold because of the pressure on Andromeda's hull so Harper must try and gain manual control of the ship. He reluctantly leaves Rommie's side and heads for the Slipstream core. The route he takes proves too dangerous so he goes another - unbeknownst to Beka, who must vent all the decks to put out a series of fires. There is worry when Harper is not where he is supposed to be, then Rommie manages to tell Beka and Tyr that he is safe.
Back on the Maru Dylan is not happy to find that Andromeda has been eaten. He makes explosives from the Maru's fuel tanks but this fails to free the ship. Inside the Cetus, Beka assumes from this attempt that Dylan and Trance are dead, though Tyr doesn't believe so.
Harper and Dylan seperately conclude that since the Cetus eats matter, anti-matter will harm it, even kill it. Harper's only wish is to free Andromeda but Rommie's holo-avatar asks him to eject the Slipstream core to ensure the Cetus will die. She wants to fulfill her mission.
Dylan thinks the only method of getting the Cetus to ingest the poison is by overloading the Maru's slip reactors at point-blank range. This will inevitably kill him and Trance, but save Andromeda.
Rommie manages to convince Harper to eject the core and just as Dylan is instigating his suicide run, Trance delivers the news that Andromeda has broken free and the Cetus is destroyed. Muchos relief.
