Andromeda Ascendant
Encyclopedia
The Andromeda Ascendant is a fiction
al starship
in the television series Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda.
In the series, the ship is said to have begun her life in the Newport News Orbital Shipyards above Earth, where her keel was laid in CY 9768. The backstory relates that construction proceeded without a hitch right through the delivery and installation of the Headwaters of Invention Mark VIII Slipstream
engines in CY 9772. The series gives Andromeda as the tenth Glorious Heritage
-class heavy cruiser, High Guard
ship of the line, from the days of the old Systems Commonwealth
. The opening episodes of the show relate that Andromeda and her captain, Dylan Hunt (played by Kevin Sorbo
) were frozen in the event horizon of a black hole
for 300 years before being rescued by the crew of the Eureka Maru
in CY 10087 (approx 5167 CE
).
The ship has an artificial intelligence
(AI). Andromeda appears to the crew in three formats: on the two-dimensional monitors; as a three-dimensional holographic projection; and as the avatar Rommie (played by Lexa Doig
). In the High Guard, AIs are considered officers as part of their own crew. An avatar is a humanoid representation of an intelligence, and Andromeda is shown to have the above mentioned holographic and android avatars that represent the personality and physical representation of the ship's AI, in this case in the form of a human
female
. In one episode, the ship's engineer, Seamus Zelazny Harper (played by Gordon Michael Woolvett
), builds an android as her second avatar, which can interact with the holographic avatar and the monitors, and also travel, walk and act outside the ship. Fans of the series refer to the monitor and hologram manifestations as "Core" and "Logic", respectively.
In the series, the ship is equipped with a slipstream
drive for FTL (faster than light) travel in which it uses an Exotic Matter Lens to focus and open a Slipstream Portal.
Within the fictional universe of the series, the starship Andromeda is shown to be somewhat unusual as it is clearly implied that the controlling AI has an emotional attachment to her Captain Dylan Hunt. This is a variation on the idea of captains
being in love with their ships, implied for centuries and extensively used by Roddenberry in Star Trek
.
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
al starship
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
in the television series Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda.
In the series, the ship is said to have begun her life in the Newport News Orbital Shipyards above Earth, where her keel was laid in CY 9768. The backstory relates that construction proceeded without a hitch right through the delivery and installation of the Headwaters of Invention Mark VIII Slipstream
Slipstream (science fiction)
"Slipstream" is a science fiction term for a fictional method of faster-than-light space travel, similar to hyperspace travel, warp drive, or "transfer points" from David Brin's Uplift series.-Usage in Star Trek:...
engines in CY 9772. The series gives Andromeda as the tenth Glorious Heritage
Glorious Heritage
The Glorious Heritage Heavy Cruiser is a fictional starship class in the television series Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda....
-class heavy cruiser, High Guard
High Guard
The High Guard is a fictional military organization in the TV series Andromeda.-History:Its origins can be traced back to a legendary Vedran male warrior, General Huascar Nax Yoweri, whose campaign of conquest across the three Galaxies produced the Vedran Empire...
ship of the line, from the days of the old Systems Commonwealth
Systems Commonwealth
The All Systems Commonwealth or simply the Systems Commonwealth is a fictional intergalactic government from Gene Roddenberry's science fiction TV series Andromeda. It was born out of the Vedran Empire...
. The opening episodes of the show relate that Andromeda and her captain, Dylan Hunt (played by Kevin Sorbo
Kevin Sorbo
Kevin David Sorbo is an American actor best known for the roles of Hercules in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Captain Dylan Hunt in Andromeda and Kull in Kull the Conqueror.-Early life:...
) were frozen in the event horizon of a black hole
Black hole
A black hole is a region of spacetime from which nothing, not even light, can escape. The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass will deform spacetime to form a black hole. Around a black hole there is a mathematically defined surface called an event horizon that...
for 300 years before being rescued by the crew of the Eureka Maru
Eureka Maru
The Eureka Maru is a fictional starship in the television series Andromeda. The Maru is a cargo ship owned by Beka Valentine.-Ship technical aspects:...
in CY 10087 (approx 5167 CE
6th millennium
The sixth millennium is a period of time that will begin on January 1, 5001, and will end on December 31, 6000.-Astronomical events:* 5001 September 11: Mercury occults Regulus* c...
).
The ship has an artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
(AI). Andromeda appears to the crew in three formats: on the two-dimensional monitors; as a three-dimensional holographic projection; and as the avatar Rommie (played by Lexa Doig
Lexa Doig
Alexandra L. "Lexa" Doig is a Canadian actress. She portrayed the role of Rommie in the science fiction TV series Andromeda, and had a recurring character on Stargate SG-1.-Career:...
). In the High Guard, AIs are considered officers as part of their own crew. An avatar is a humanoid representation of an intelligence, and Andromeda is shown to have the above mentioned holographic and android avatars that represent the personality and physical representation of the ship's AI, in this case in the form of a human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
female
Female
Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces non-mobile ova .- Defining characteristics :The ova are defined as the larger gametes in a heterogamous reproduction system, while the smaller, usually motile gamete, the spermatozoon, is produced by the male...
. In one episode, the ship's engineer, Seamus Zelazny Harper (played by Gordon Michael Woolvett
Gordon Michael Woolvett
Gordon Michael Woolvett is a Canadian-born actor from Hamilton, Ontario Canada, best known for his work as Seamus Zelazny Harper on the television series Andromeda . Previous to Andromeda he starred in another science fiction TV show, Deepwater Black...
), builds an android as her second avatar, which can interact with the holographic avatar and the monitors, and also travel, walk and act outside the ship. Fans of the series refer to the monitor and hologram manifestations as "Core" and "Logic", respectively.
In the series, the ship is equipped with a slipstream
Slipstream (science fiction)
"Slipstream" is a science fiction term for a fictional method of faster-than-light space travel, similar to hyperspace travel, warp drive, or "transfer points" from David Brin's Uplift series.-Usage in Star Trek:...
drive for FTL (faster than light) travel in which it uses an Exotic Matter Lens to focus and open a Slipstream Portal.
Within the fictional universe of the series, the starship Andromeda is shown to be somewhat unusual as it is clearly implied that the controlling AI has an emotional attachment to her Captain Dylan Hunt. This is a variation on the idea of captains
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
being in love with their ships, implied for centuries and extensively used by Roddenberry in Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
.