Hey! Well, I have to say that I'm glad that I finally have something to post. This is my first Andromeda fic. However, I have only seen most of Season 4 for the show. I have attempted to do some research on the background and terminology, but I don't know how much I might have gotten wrong. So if you have any suggestions, or you pick up on any mistakes on my part, please let me know so that I can fix them. Also, this fic might end up with a pairing between T. Rhade and an OC, but I am still unsure at this point if the plot will go that way. Just so you know. So, here you go. Please review and let me know how I am doing! Enjoy!

The Impercipient

Chapter 1: That from this bright believing band

The Andromeda Ascendant, the premier ship of the once glorious Commonwealth, hung seemingly lifeless in the coldness of space. Outwardly, the ship appeared to be at peace. Yet within the shielded warship, not all was quite as calm.

"Harper!"

The shout preceded Captain Dylan Hunt as he stormed down the hallway. They had been ready to make a jump to slipstream when Andromeda informed him that she would be unable to... due to one of Mr. Harper's experiments. After being assured that everything but the slip drive was working, Dylan sighed. The rest of the crew watched as Dylan promptly left the command deck, clearly exasperated.

"Harper!"

The man in question, Seamus Harper, the only Earth born member of the Andromeda's crew, jumped in surprise when the captain stalked into the room. "Boss! Look, it was a complete accident, won't happen again. Wouldn't you know it, but right as you're getting ready to jump to slipstream, the drive gets broken. Couldn't tell ya how, just happened and I'm gonna fix it right now so we can be on our way!"

Dylan stared at Harper as the self proclaimed genius rambled on in an effort to both explain the situation and escape any reprimand at the same time. Dylan was tempted to be amused until he looked down at what could loosely be termed Harper's 'workbench'. He frowned and reached down to pick up what should be a normal force lance... with the exception of the charred look to one end and the entrails of the weapon coming out the other.

Dylan looked at Harper. "What were you doing?"

Harper blanched at seeing the force lance. "Uh, nothing really boss. Hey, you should leave me alone so I can get everything working again. Take me twenty minutes, tops. Yeah."

Dylan sighed and rolled his eyes. As Harper receded further into the room, the captain only groaned as he noticed the blackened hole in the wall to his ship. Harper had obviously caused the disruption in the engines, but Dylan wouldn't press him on it yet. He pocketed the force lance, for everyone's safety, he told himself, and turned to leave.

A crash sounded further in followed by a muffled exclamation from Harper. "I'm okay!" he called out, somewhere from the depths of the ship. "Not that anyone cares. You slave away and this is the thanks I get..." Dylan kept walking and returned to the command deck.

Before he could explain the situation, Andromeda appeared on screen. "Dylan, there are three ships on fast approach." She brought the display to the front and reappeared on an adjacent screen. One large ship was trying to evade two smaller fighters that continued to try and destroy it with their weapons.

"The large ship is an AM9D Ung Tae Drop Ship. The fighters are both Garuda class patrol craft. Despite the fact that Garudas are generally Nietzschean ships, I only detect humans."

"Commonwealth ships firing upon each other?" asked Telemachus Rhade, the only Nietzschean crew member.

Beka Valentine shook her head. "I don't think they're Commonwealth. Those are pretty old models. I'd place bets on either salvaged, traded or simply stolen. What is the status of the ships?"

The Andromeda's living avatar Rommie answered. "The AM9D has suffered heavy damage, weapons are off line, with the main engine appearing to be failing. Shields weak, but holding. The Garudas have suffered minimal damage."

"Life signs?"

"One human on each of the Garudas. The AM9D also has a human life sign. However, I believe I am detecting what could be two dead bodies in the back, only recently passed as I am getting a heat signature."

"Dylan, we must help these people," said Trace Gemini, the mysterious golden woman of the Andromeda crew.

"One of the Garudas is hailing us," Andromeda reported.

"On screen," ordered Dylan.

A human man appeared on the front screen, his expression clearly one of irritation. Dark, thinning hair spread over his head and a scraggly beard graced his chin, framing a thin mouth. His eyes alluded to his clear intelligence as he spoke. "Captain, I am Colus of the Taher Nine. I ask for your assistance in apprehending those on that ship. It was stolen from our base and we believe there may be hostages on board."

"I am Captain Dylan Hunt of the Commonwealth ship Andromeda Ascendant. We will bring the ship in question into our docking bays. You are welcome on board where we may discuss this incident."

"Thank you Captain. I look forward to meeting you." The screen returned to the scene of the approaching ships, the blaze of weapons fire now gone.

"Do you think he's telling the truth?" asked Beka.

Dylan shrugged. "It seems plausible. But somehow I don't think they would fire so heavily on a craft that may have hostages on it. Especially now that they are dead. Unless they were already dead when the ship was taken." He sighed. "We'll figure it out. Beka, bring the AM9D into the ship, make sure that the Garudas are in a different sector, I want them isolated for now.

"Andromeda, what is this Taher Nine?"

Andromeda brought up a screen showing the nearest system of planets. "The Taher Nine are the governing body of the planet Taher in the Traljen system. When the Systems Commonwealth fell, civil war erupted on the planet between many of the countries. The Taher Nine are the elected officials, one member representing each of the main land masses of the planet."

Beka frowned. "Something important must be in that ship for one of their main guys to come flying up after it. I don't think I trust him much."

Dylan nodded. "I think I'd have to agree with you." He then turned to Trance. "Trance, please go prep the Med Bay in case there are serious injuries that we can treat."

"I'll be ready," she answered and quickly left.

"Andromeda, open a communication to Harper." He paused until he was told that it was done. "Harper! We are taking on a few guests. After they are off their ships, I want you to read any logs they may have, figure out how the firefight may have started. Try to figure out what the current situation on Taher is. But only after the slip drive is fixed."

"I hear ya boss. And don't worry about the slip drive, I told you that I'd fix it, sheesh." Harper's voice cut out.

"All the ships are safely on board," reported Beka. "Though I think the navigation on the AM9D gave out, it had a rough landing."

Dylan nodded. "Okay. Beka, you and Rhade go look at the AM9D. Take your force lances, just in case anybody in there wants to put up a bruising fight. Take them to the Med Bay if you can. Rommie and I are going to go greet our guests in the Garudas."

So, what do you think so far? Things will pick up next chapter with a new character popping up.

And in case anyone is wondering, the title The Impercipient comes from a poem written by Thomas Hardy. I might include lines from this poem in future chapters, we'll see. Anyway, let me know what you think so I can post the next chapter!