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"The Honey Offering" - Episode #119 (spoilers below!) (Click here for review)

In the opening scene a Nietzschean woman is hiding on her person many weapons. The scene cuts to Tyr who is late to join Dylan for a jog. He has a plan to make peace between the Sabra and the Jaguar Prides. These powerful prides have been had war, but now want a ship to transport the Sabra First's daughter for a marriage to the Jaguar heir. If Andromeda does this it will help form this alliance and keep the Drago-Katzo pride in check.

Rev later counsels not to do this. He reasons that since dealing with the Orca's (a few thousand strong) was so dangerous, dealing with larger Prides (in the millions) is unwise. However, Dylan agrees to the proposal, on the condition that two solar systems in dispute be granted independence and a chance to join the Commonwealth.

When Elssbett Mossadim (Kimberly Huie) arrives she assumes all are Tyr's slaves, though she wonders why the Magog lives. She demands her heavy trunks be transported, done by retro-fitted "new" robots Harper has created. Against Dylan's wishes she takes the observation deck as her quarters. Dylan asks Tyr to discuss her attitude, but instead he discusses how her future husband Charlemagne Bolivar will be easy for her to dominate. Tyr offers himself as a mate and a behind the scenes power, but is rejected as from a betrayed and therefore inferior Pride.

Trance does not trust Elssbett and is caught snooping in her luggage. As Dylan apologizes an alert is sounded and Dylan locks Elssbett in her quarters. A battle fleet from the Drago-Katzo, commanded by renowned Fleet Marshall Cuchulain (Adrian Hughes) demands Elssbett. Dylan refuses, but finds her trying to leave and assuming he will surrender her (as she would). He takes her and her luggage onto the Maru where Beka gives him a farewell kiss, pretending to be his lover. Their escape is covered when the crew calls Cuchulain for help as Beka and company stage a mock battle with an off-screen Elssbett, who seems to capture the Andromeda and head off with it. Tyr meanwhile stays off screen, not wanting the "Dragons" to recognize him after his previous encounters with them.

Dylan learns that Elssbett is an assassin, planning to use a neutron bomb to kill the rulers of the Jaguar pride who they have been in a 200 year old blood feud with. They fight fiercely and Elssbett is surprised at his fighting ability, which is partly due to his mother being genetically engineered for heavy gravity. When Elssbett uses a mono-molecular lash she accidentally causes a small hull breach, repaired at the last minute by Dylan. While he is weak, Elssbett shackles him and controls him with a pain inflector.

The Andromeda is being herded to an Orbital defense system and Rommie says she's no match for a planetary defense system. However, Beka has Cuchulain's warnings analyzed and discovers they are recordings, all created at the same date/time. She turns around and flies through his "fleet", a cloud of drones with footprint magnifiers.

The Maru soon reaches port where Elssbett bribes the Perseid dockmaster, but is observed by a Nietzschean spy. Dylan and her share the honeymoon suite where she admits to never having had a friend before and they end up kissing. The next morning Elssbett once again draws a gun on Dylan, but ends up tossing it to him when they are attacked by Cuchulain and a squad of his men. There is a brief firefight and they escape aboard the Maru.

As they near the Jaguar system the Andromeda draws away Drago-Katzo fire, but is ordered by Dylan to not confront the main fleet. When Dylan hails them the Jaguar fleet comes out, but Cuchulain knows they are not a match for him. However, Dylan flies toward a nearby gas giant, reasoning the Sabra likely hid a fleet to take advantage when Elssbett murders the Jaguar leaders. He has her call them to attack, which they do.

Later Dylan talks Elssbett into marrying Charlemagne to truly create peace so that the alliance can stand against the Drago-Katzo pride. She does so and in a message several days later says she actually enjoys Charlemagne's decadent lifestyle, so she won't kill him now, and maybe never. He is now hated and respected by the two prides, but "they can do business with him". Therefore they have granted independence to the systems he asked them to.

Synopsis 05/01/01 by Larry Kramer

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