con-artist and expert pilot; a super-genius engineer named Seamus Zelazny Harper (rescued from Nietzschean-enslaved Earth by Beka) who can plug his mind directly into computer systems; Trance Gemini, a mysterious alien of unknown origin whose innocent demeanor hides a surprisingly old soul, and Rev Bem, a Magog who has adopted a non-violent Taoist-like religion called The Way ("Rev" being short for "Reverend"). The salvage crew's beneficiary brings along an insurance policy in the form of a Nietzschean mercenary named Tyr Anasazi. Characters Dylan Hunt – played by Kevin Sorbo, captain of the Andromeda Ascendant. Rebecca "Beka" Valentine – played by Lisa Ryder, captain of the Eureka Maru and first officer on Andromeda. Tyr Anasazi – played by Keith Hamilton Cobb, weapons officer (seasons 1–3; guest season 4). Seamus Zelazny Harper – played by Gordon Michael Woolvett, chief engineer. Trance Gemini – played by Laura Bertram, doctor and life support officer. Rev Bem (Reverend "Red Plague" Behemial Far Traveler) – played by Brent Stait, science officer (seasons 1–2; guest seasons 3–4). Andromeda (Rommie) – played by Lexa Doig, ship's artificial intelligence and android avatar. Telemachus Rhade – played by Steve Bacic, weapons officer (seasons 4–5). Doyle – played by Brandy Ledford, AI's second android avatar (season 5). Andromeda universe Slipstream Slipstream is the primary mode of travel for ships in the Andromeda universe, and the only known method of traveling faster than the speed of light. The Vedran discovery of the slipstream was instrumental in the formation of their interstellar empire, which became the precursor of the Systems Commonwealth. Slipstream cannot be navigated by AIs (they have a 50% chance of choosing the correct path). Only organic pilots can "sense" a way to their destination (they have a 99% chance of choosing the correct path), and although AIs are fitted on all large ships, they always require an organic pilot for interstellar travel. It is thought to be the process of choosing a path that makes the chosen path the correct one. A function of slipstream is that apparent objective velocities are extremely variable, as it enables travel across millions of light years seemingly as swiftly as traveling between neighboring stars only tens of light years apart. Further, slipstream is a non-linear method of travel; the best and swiftest way to get from Point A to Point B (though they might be in the same galaxy) may very well involve hopping