The Battle of Lh'owon

Durandal surprised the Pfhor garrison at Lh'owon with his modified vessel and, with the recently-thawed Security Officer, began reclaiming the S'pht homeworld. But the Pfhor Navy's Battle Group Seven arrived, commanded by Admiral Tfear, and accompanied by a horrifying surprise: Tycho.

The science AI had been recovered by the Pfhor from the ruins of the Marathon, reanimated "in Durandal's image." But where Durandal's rampancy had produced something approaching wisdom, Tycho's produced only hatred. He was cruel, sarcastic, and consumed by rage. He wanted the same thing Durandal wanted, escape from the end of time, but his methods were purely destructive.

Tycho's fleet forced the Boomer down onto one of Lh'owon's moons and began downloading Durandal's consciousness for Tycho's personal amusement.

But Durandal had one more card to play.