The Andromeda gets involved in a feud between a Than planet and a Nietzschean colony. Tyr must choose between his clan or his new family on the Andromeda.
- Batman Gambit: Dylan anticipates the potential for Tyr's treachery, and thus sets up a scenario where Tyr's best chance at future success is if he remains with the Andromeda rather than the Nietzscheans.
- Darwinist Desire: Fittingly for Nietzchean culture, Freya saves Tyr and her husband so that she can replace her husband with Tyr.
- Living Is More than Surviving: Dylan is a firm believer and tries to explain his view to Rhade in the flashback. Neither Rhade nor Dylan are swayed by the other's argument.
- Smart People Play Chess: Dylan's flashback shows him and Rhade playing 3D Go. Rhade cheats.
- Take a Third Option: Even when Tyr chose to help the Nietzscheans take the Andromeda rather than help the Andromeda attack the colony, he had also set up a plan where he could destroy the colony if taking Andromeda proved impractical.
