+------------------------------------------------------+ | This work is licenced under a Creative Commons | | Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative Works 3. 0 | | Licence. | | | | http://creativecommons. Org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3. 0/ | +------------------------------------------------------+ Imperial Empire Concordance by Ann Wilson Copyright (C) 1992 by Ann Wilson A A: (Imperial English): The neutral-animate pronoun. Emperor Changdisliked the fact that there was no good Standard English pronoun thatreferred to a single individual of unknown sex, or where sex wasimmaterial, so he made use of the Celtic "a", often written with anaccent mark (á) by those who use Standard, to distinguish it from theindefinite article (@ is sometimes used when the printing/writingdevice cannot show accent marks). In Imperial English orthography, theCyrillic "ya" (reversed R) is used. [Preparer's note: The @ symbol has been used throughout these storiesin the manner described above. ] ACADEMY: The Imperial Military Academy or Imperial AdministrativeAcademy. Both are headquartered in and have their most prestigiousfacilities in the Antarctica Palace Complex; "branch" Academies arelocated throughout the Empire. AHTO, Subsector 12-C: No. Systems: 89 Sector: Eridanus with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 21 AEGIR, Subsector 17-D: No. Systems: 72 Sector: Indus with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 8 with 1 inhabited planet: 24 AGNI, Subsector 11-B: No. Systems: 153 Sector: Gemini with 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 12 with 1 inhabited planet: 24 ALANNA, Clan: First of the Sandeman clans. Famous for its outstandingedged weapons. ALANNA, Dana Dru-: Originally Dana Manfredi. A Terran woman who sworepersonal fealty to Richard Jason. When Jason repudiated her aftertrying to kill her, Dana asked the Alanna clan-chief's help in makingatonement for allowing him to accept an unworthy thakur-na. Afterseeing the evidence, the Alanna instead asked Clan Miklos to convene aplanet-wide conference, and asked Clan Vader to rule on both Dana's andJason's actions. The decision was that Dana had acted properly andJason had not; the Alanna then offered her his clan's countenance(essentially adoption), and when she accepted, claimed Chief's Right onher behalf. The conference agreed with that, banning Jason from anybusiness in Subsector Sandeman, declaring his property forfeit, andgiving him a day to get off-world or be killed by the first warrior whosaw him. It also named Dana to the warrior caste and gave her theright to wear honor-black. ("Thakur-Na") ALDRAS: Sector: 16, Virgo Year: Subsector: C, Ishtar Day: System: Elder Gravity: Settled/established: Axial tilt: By: Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: ALS Continents: Ruled by: Fayette family (Barbara Tennison) ALPH, Subsector 17-A: No. Systems: 95 Sector: Indus with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 20 ALTERNATE UNIVERSES: Until the first ship from a provably alternateuniverse appeared in the Empire, these were thought to be mathematicalabstractions. Afterward, however, they were accepted as fact. Thatfirst confirmed inter-universe transition, like most, was the result ofa drive malfunction, and led to the further discovery that if the drivewas repairable, the ship's next hyper-transition would take it away(from what happened to Imperial ships, return it to its own universe). If the drive could not be repaired, the transferees had to remain. That, at least, was and is the official story. In actuality, controlled inter-universe transition exists, but is astrictly-controlled secret. There are several reasons for this, butthe primary two are the Ravagers and the fact that, although the timerate is constant, the apparent time ranges from megayears in the "past"to megayears in the "future". AMATERASU, Subsector 1-E: No. Systems: 61 Sector: Orion with 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 24 AMATOR: (Xanadu) A member of the Guild of Amators, a professionalentertainer specializing in sexual activities. Students are unrated;examinations, when their instructors consider them ready, will ratethem as Specialist, Generalist, or Extra Class. Ratings can beupgraded by further training and examination. ANGHNAR: Sector: 5, Pegasus Year: Subsector: B, Sleipnir Day: System: Freya Gravity: Settled/established: Axial tilt: By: Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: ANG Continents: Ruled by: General: The world where Ranger James Medart picked up a number of Sandeman prisoners, including Dartha DruLewies, who helped him end the Sandeman war. ANTHEM, IMPERIAL: Otherwise known as "Darth Vader's Theme", by JohnWilliams, from the Star Wars trilogy. In Annexation, this choice ofanthem has a strong effect on the Sandeman attitude toward the Empire. ANTI-AGATHIC: A drug developed in 2113 which greatly extends thelifespan of humans, both standard and variant. Begun immediately afteradolescence, it will approximately double expectable lifespan; begunlater, the effect is less dramatic but still appreciable. Biologicalage remains what it was when treatment was started, until the last 3-5years, though some minor cosmetic changes (such as graying hair) mayappear at around the normal time. ANTI-INTERROGATION CONDITIONING: A total memory erasure triggered by acode phrase spoken by the person needing to use it. At this point, thevictim fixates on the first person seen or heard. Memory up to thetime of the last conditioning can be restored by replay of a mindscantape made then, and memory after the conditioning is triggered isretained; the interval between is lost. ANUBIS, Subsector 15-A: No. Systems: 48 Sector: Auriga with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 23 APIS, Subsector 9-C: No. Systems: 91 Sector: Ursa with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 24 AQUILA, Sector 10: Ruled by: No. Systems: 207 Subsectors: 3 Inhabited planets: 147 A. Thunderbird B. Roc C. Garuda ARDEN, Subsector 4-E: No. Systems: 149 Sector: Fornax with 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 28 ARGUS, Subsector 2-A: No. Systems: 141 Sector: Hydra with 3 inhabited planets: 5 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 23 ARIES, Sector 18: Ruled by: No. Systems: 1, 067 Subsectors: 8 Inhabited planets: 416 A. Ebisu E. Prometheus B. Pallas F. Forseti C. Magni G. Tyr D. Vishnu H. Donblas ARMS BALDRIC: A formal or semi-formal way of displaying arms. Thebaldric is a length of cloth or other material about eight inches wide, hanging down in front to about wrist length, draped over the leftshoulder, around the back to waist level on the right, and over theleft shoulder again to about knee-height in back, with the arms pinnedto it just below the left shoulder. It is colored in accordance withthe level of the jurisdiction issuing the arms: green for the Empire, white for a Sector, yellow for a Subsector, orange for a system, redfor a planet, and black for any lesser jurisdiction. The baldric maybe fringed in silver or green, depending on the baldric's color. ARRIAN: Sector: 19, Leo Year: 425. 28 days Subsector: B, Galatine Day: 24 hr 18 min System: Regulus Gravity: 995 cm/sec2 Settled/established: Axial tilt: 21. 4 deg. By: Oxygen: 25. 3% Satellites: 1 (Whirlaway) % Water: 80 Ident code prefix: ARR Continents: 5 Ruled by: General: The entire population is male. Some are semi-androgynous, known as gynandri (singular gynandra), genetically engineered to be able to carry children. These are not numerous (most children are gestated in artificial wombs; all are products of cloning or laboratory gene-splicing), and they require considerable medical help to carry the baby to term once the embryo is implanted. While the genetic engineering that creates the gynandri is contrary to Imperial law, the reason was because the Arriani wanted to retain the closest approximation they could manage to natural reproduction, so until research can provide a way for women to live on Arrian, the engineering of gynandri is excepted. The Arriani, however, do not realize this; as far as they are concerned, they have managed to keep the gynandri a precious secret of their way of life. Religion is based on the Lady of Love. ASGARD, Subsector 3-A: No. Systems: 63 Sector: Sculptor with 3 inhabited planets: 5 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 8 with 1 inhabited planet: 21 ATHENA, Subsector 16-A: No. Systems: 67 Sector: Virgo with 3 inhabited planets: 6 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 19 AURIGA, Sector 15: Ruled by: No. Systems: 510 Subsectors: 4 Inhabited planets: 210 A. Anubis C. Tuonetar B. Nephthys D. Yama AURORA: Sector: 8, Centaurus Year: Subsector: D, Pan Day: System: Aurora Gravity: Settled/established: Axial tilt: By: Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: AUR Continents: Ruled by: General: Had an interest in the heavy metals market strong enough for it to engage in industrial espionage; this attracted OSI's attention because of the possibility a former IntelDiv field agent was involved, which proved to be the case. (Barbara Tennison) AVALON, Subsector 4-C: No. Systems: 106 Sector: Fornax with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 22 B BADER, Lawrence: Imperial Ranger. Recruited Jess Winters as Sovereignof Alternate Sierra, 2683. BALIK: (Sandeman) A solitary lupoid predator. Females tend to nestand bear their kits in the mountains or high foothills. (SylviaStevens) BAST, Subsector 8-C: No. Systems: 158 Sector: Centaurus with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 24 BATTLE-COMPANION: (Sandeman) One who has fought beside another forsome time, or done a combat-related service for the other deservingsuch recognition. Battle-companions are usually warriors/w'women, butOthers are acknowledged as such occasionally. Under highly unusualcircumstances, even an enemy may become a battle-companion, at whichpoint @ is no longer an enemy. Battle-companions will give each otherLast Gift without question if asked, and when using High War Speech, employ the familiar mode. BATTLEPREP: (Sandeman) A combat-oriented form of need, induced bymental and physical concentration. Unlike the sexual form of inducedneed, which will subside on its own with no more effect than a slightshortening of the warrior's cycle, battleprep involves the entire body;unless the warrior goes into demanding combat within an hour or two, hewill go into overload and die. As this is well known, a warrior willprep only when combat is imminent. Battleprep is often referred to as a berserker state, but that is onlypartially correct. The prepped warrior is only marginally, if at all, aware of pain and wounds; blood clots quickly to minimize loss; speedand strength are heightened on the same order as that of someone ofaverage strength who can suddenly lift a car to save an infant. Beyondthis, however, the berserker analogy breaks down, because the warriorretains his full intelligence and judgement. This combination makes abattleprepped warrior one of the most dangerous beings in the knownuniverse. BAYARD, Subsector 5-A: No. Systems: 92 Sector: Pegasus with 3 inhabited planets: 5 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 8 with 1 inhabited planet: 20 BCE: Before the Common Era. Usually called BC (Before Christ) priorto the Empire. See CE. BLACK LORD, The: Sandeman term for Lord Darth Vader, generallyregarded as villain of the classic Star Wars film trilogy. TheSandemans see him as a symbol of their race: held in thrall by another(Palpatine/the Shapers), but maintaining all honor possible during thatthralldom and eventually throwing it off to regain (or gain) full honorfor himself and his family (or the Sandeman race). Clan Vader, thefirst clan formed after Overthrow, was named for him and is the arbiterfor the most delicate questions of honor. The ceremonial garb calledhonor-black is derived directly from the Black Lord's armor and robes. BLASTER: The standard Imperial sidearm, a plasma weapon. BLAST RIFLE: A shoulder weapon, powered by a small fusion reactor pack, which emits a plasma beam. Since their power packs are larger thanthose of a hand-held blaster, they are correspondingly either morepowerful or more long-lasting, depending on the operator's preference. BLOODMATE: A strong, possibly latent empath who has been changed bythe nosferatu pseudo-virus to an extremely capable blood donor, able tosupply all a Kin's needs. The primary adaptation is bone marrowhyperactivity, which permits loss of blood with no harm to theBloodmate beyond fatigue and increased appetite. Other changes includeincreased physical strength, though not to the extent of a Kin's, alongwith heightened empathy and endurance, both of which exceed a Kin's. Although Bloodmates appeared at the same time as Kins, their lack ofvisible change meant that for more than two years they were thought tobe no more than unusually capable Donors. That changed when MarineCaptain Jase Thompson, who was extremely susceptible to the virus, waschanged and it was discovered that he literally had to donate at dailyintervals to remain physically and emotionally healthy. ["Teams"]This allowed testing of the other unusually capable donors, and led tothe discovery that the approximate 10% who went through change with noapparent effect had actually become Bloodmates. BOND: A close physical/emotional tie between a Kin and a Bloodmate. It is involuntary, very fast, and takes place when a Kin feeds on aBloodmate who is @'s complement. The empathic link between them is sostrong that each is always aware of the other's physical and emotionalstate. This is usually quite pleasant, but if one is severely hurt orkilled, the other will suffer psychological and physical pain andillness, sometimes fatal. BRIGIT, Subsector 11-C: No. Systems: 138 Sector: Gemini with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 13 with 1 inhabited planet: 23 BROTHERHOOD OF FREEDOM: (Kingdom Systems) A Systems-wide terroristgroup that appeared around 2550. It has no declared objective beyondthe disruption of society, and its leader, Lawrence Shannon, claims tobe the incarnation of Satan. Its primary targets, until the Empire's arrival in 2572, were RoyalEnforcement Service troopers; at that point, Imperial personnel tookpriority. Other than those two groups, the Brotherhood's targets areplaces which will cause the most distress: schools, hospitals, churches, and such are attacked at random, the people there killed withthe maximum amount of violence. It is these terror raids which inspiredthe formation of the Strike Force section of the RES. C CADET INCOGNITO: The provision made for Imperial nobles who wish toattend the Military or Administrative Academies without receivingspecial attention (either leniency or strictness). The cadet's trueidentity is known only to the Commandant of Cadets, and revealed atgraduation or if an emergency requires the cadet to drop out earlier. CARLE: One of the Traiti Circle of Lords, female. CARLE, Subsector 21-E: No. Systems: 155 Sector: Traiti with 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 12 CASSELL, Sandoval (Sandy): (2092-2189) Leader of the geneticengineers later known as the Shapers. CASSELL System: Sector: 5, Pegasus No. Planets: 12 Subsector: D, Sandeman Habitable: 1 Ruled by: General: Sandeman's system, named for the leader of the Shapers. The Sandemans elected to keep the name; in spite of their opinion of the Shapers' attempt to control them, they are convinced the Shapers also deserve credit for creating them. CATEGORY F ("Foreign Legion") ENLISTMENT: The provision made foranonymous enlistment in the Imperial military. A person wanting tomake use of this provision must meet the normal enlistment criteria, and tell the recruiting officer the reason (which may not be revealedto any third party) for wanting Category F. If the recruiting officeris satisfied that the reason has no bearing on the individual's fitnessfor service, @ will be enlisted under a new name, with a Category Fident code (prefix FFF); only the Imperial computer net has data onboth identities. The Cat F enlistee's career will not be restrictedexcept in one way: @ may not become an officer without resuming @'soriginal name and ident code. CE: Common Era, the Imperial term for what was called AD before theEmpire's formation. BC, in those terms, is BCE--Before the Common Era. This change was made to avoid any implication that the Empire mightfavor or promote any particular religion. CENTAURUS, Sector 8: Ruled by: No. Systems: 356 Subsectors: 4 Inhabited planets: 217 A. Chiron C. Bast B. Pholus D. Pan CERBERUS, Subsector 2-E: No. Systems: 54 Sector: Hydra with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 20 CHAMELEON, Sector 20: Ruled by: No. Systems: 397 Subsectors: 4 Inhabited planets: 226 A. Oghma C. Dagda B. Thoth D. Ukko CHANG, Cheong: (2050-2149) First Sovereign of the Terran Empire. Retired from the USMC as a Major General in 2097. Became acquaintedwith Reinhard Nannstein, an acquaintanceship that became a closefriendship. At Nannstein's urging, Chang entered Solar Federationpolitics, rapidly earning a reputation for outstanding statesmanshipand unyielding integrity. Elected President of the Federation in 2124, he was aware that his friend's work on gravitics (and the highprobability that faster-than-light travel would soon follow) wouldrequire some drastic changes, and he began laying the groundwork forthem. In 2125, Nannstein invented hyperdrive; as humanity explodedaway from Terra, Chang and Nannstein acted. Democratic government, even as loose as the Federation's, had become so obviouslyimpractical--and Chang was so highly regarded--that they were able topersuade the Federation Congress to pass a constitutional amendmentdissolving the Federation and establishing the Terran Empire--on thecondition that Chang agree to be Emperor. One of his first acts onassuming the Throne was to create the Rangers and nobility; another wasto direct the regularization of English. His alphabet and some of hisother linguistic changes caught on; some did not. He died secondsafter midnight, 1 January 2149. CHIEF'S BENCH: (Sandeman) A judicial-style bench in the clanhome'smain hall, used by the clan-chief on formal occasions. CHIEF'S RIGHT: (Sandeman) A clan-chief's right to impose punishment onone who has committed a serious offense against a member of his clan. CHIRON, Subsector 8-A: No. Systems: 74 Sector: Centaurus with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 23 CIRCLE OF LORDS: The Traiti deities, three females and nine males--oneof whom, Lord Esteban the Peacelord, is a human. All were planned forand then influenced, to a greater or lesser degree, by the psioniccomputer called Godhome--which had been left behind for that task whenthe Others departed to continue their development on another plane ofexistence. Once those who were to become Lords agreed to serve, Godhome forced them into full intellectual and emotional maturity;although they have powers generally thought of as godlike, they thinkof themselves as parents. Their aim, over millennia, is to bring allintelligence to their level; their philosophy is thatself-responsibility is essential to natural maturation, so theyintervene only when, and only as much as, absolutely unavoidable forracial survival. CLAN NAMES, TRAITI: Naming convention is one or two letters, anapostrophe, and one or two syllables to form something pronounceable. Clan names probably had meaning when the clans were originallyestablished, but those meanings have become lost over the millennia. (Some clan-names established in the series so far: Ch'geasht, Ch'kara, D'gameh, K'horan, N'chark, St'nar. ) CLANS, SANDEMAN: The basic unit of Sandeman society, the extended"family". While the clan-chief is in charge and has the last word, heis not--cannot be--a dictator. Until Overthrow, clans were establishedby the Shapers and restricted in size to 200-500 members; since then, some have gotten larger, and a new clan is formed by agreement betweentwo or more "parent" clans who contribute members and resources. Some established clans (those with asterisks formed by the Shapers), with their specialties and brief notes if applicable; there may be amore detailed entry as well, under the clan name, if availableinformation justifies it. Alanna*: edged weapons; the First Clan. Cid Datha Elwyn* Faerb Glenn Havek: metal-working, electronics; daughter-clan to Krishnan and Leras. Klein Krishnan*: basic research, farming. Leras*: farming, piloting and pilot training; the entire warrior caste of this clan is accomplished pilots. Levya*: shipfitters Lewies* Lowrie* Miklos*: communications. Neill*: leather battlegear, horses. Raynor*: medicine, genetics. Seldon Shona*: war-dogs, farming. Torrance: boats, other aquatic craft, seamanship. Vader: energy weapons; the first clan formed after Overthrow. CLOUDCATS: Inhabitants of Ondrian, moved there by the Others about8000 BCE because their original sun was about to go nova. They resemble Terran mountain lions in size and shape, though becauseof their preference for cold climates, their fur is thick and white. They are highly intelligent, although the first colonists thought themwild animals; they communicate and manipulate objects with a pair oftentacular Y-shaped "tongues" that retract into cheek pouches when notin use. Cloudcats are solitary hunters, living in mountain caves the Othersprovided with psionically-operated survival aids; although the closestworld to their native one, Ondrian is enough harsher that, without thesurvival aids, cloudcat art and philosophy would have suffered, perhapsdied. Most are involved with one or the other, many with both, and thetapestries they weave from their shed fur are in great demandthroughout the Empire. Although most cloudcats never leave their hometerritory, some do take advantage of their right (granted in return forthe colonists' free use of the equatorial zone) to travel at will onImperial ships. CLOUD-SILK: A soft, light, tough luxury fabric made from a plant thatthrives only on Herbert's World. CODES, COLOR: (Stories) Generally seen on military uniforms in theform of collar tabs, the color codes indicate the service's level. Imperial forces have no collar tabs; Sector-level have white, Subsector-level have yellow, System-level have orange, andPlanetary-level have red. (TE Society) These are the ones on the badges, intended to simplifymutual identification, especially when not in uniform or regalia. Nocolor band means no Imperial rank (except for brown, which indicates alocal noble; technically, they have no Imperial standing, but aregenerally given the courtesy title of "Excellency"). Green indicatesthe Sovereign (wide) and Rangers (2 narrow); white is for Dukes, yellowfor Earls, orange for Counts, and red for Barons (in all of these awide band is for a Life Noble, two narrow for a Ruling Noble and @'sConsort and Heir, one narrow for a Life Noble's spouse and a RulingNoble's younger children). Black indicates Marines, blue Navy, withwide band for Imperial regulars, two narrows for Imperial reservists, and one narrow for local forces. CODES, IDENT: (Stories) Only S and R indicate status in this group(Sovereign and Rangers, respectively); with the first and last lettersof the individual's name, these form a three-letter prefix. All othershave a five-letter prefix, with the first three being a home-planetidentifier (preferably the first three letters in the Imperial Englishalphabet, but modified where necessary to prevent duplication), againwith the first and last letters of the individual's name. The prefixis followed by an eight-digit number that precisely identifies theindividual. (TE Society) These were set up to allow computer separation, if itever becomes necessary, by Imperial status; the first letter indicatesthat with S for Sovereign, R for Ranger, N for Imperial noble, C forcitizens derived (or derivable) from the original TE stories, and E forcitizens of extra-universal origin. TE is simply for Terran Empire, and the numbering is consecutive, assigned when enough information isavailable to do so--usually when the Admin Service has a persona formto work from. COLD PEAK RANGE: A Sandeman mountain range, mostly on Clan Torranceterritory. It is supposed to be the most beautiful mountain scenery onthe planet, but is visited by few Sandemans other than Torrance huntingparties because of the general Sandeman dislike for low temperatures. COMBAT DIVISION: The largest of the ITMC's major specialty divisions, it is responsible for all directly combat-related activity, includingsuch things as basic training. COMM IMPLANT: A surgically implanted communications system consistingof a transmitter in the throat and a receiver at the mastoid bone. Imperial implants have an always-active receiver and touch-activatedtransmitter, which can also be computer-activated if the comp initiatesthe contact and expects an answer. COMP: Computer, of any type and size from a hand-held personal modelto an Imperial Battle Cruiser's or other artificial intelligence. CONCLAVE: The gathering of Rangers called by a new Sovereignimmediately after @'s accession, to name the new Successor. CONSORT, -CONSORT: Unhyphenated, a Kin of the Dragon who has Bonded toa Bloodmate. Hyphenated, after a title of nobility, the spouse of aruling Imperial noble. COR'NAYA: (Traiti) Honored One. Generally, a male who has taken andsurvived the Ordeal of Honor, and displays the Honor scars inflicted asa test of endurance to conclude the Ordeal. Rarely, a female who hasborne twins and has been given Honor scars under anesthesia in ahospital. CORONET: The lesser crown used by Rangers (when using their civiltitle of Prince/Princess) and Imperial nobles, primarily on ceremonialoccasions. CORPSWEN: Imperial Navy medical technician. CRATER, Sector 13: Ruled by: No. Systems: 395 Subsectors: 4 Inhabited planets: 220 A. Nike C. Ratri B. Inanna D. Idun CROWN, IMPERIAL: The crown worn by the Sovereign during majorceremonies such as Investitures, Grand Audiences, etc. It is made ofplatinum in a wing-and-star motif, with the arches topped by the globeand sun segments of the Imperial Seal. The only gems used are pearlson the arches. For comfort, the crown is worn over a green velvet Capof Estate, turned up with ermine. For less formal occasions a lighterversion, without arches (and sometimes called the Diadem), is used. CYCLOPS, Subsector 2-C: No. Systems: 106 Sector: Hydra with 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 20 CYGNUS, Sector 7: Ruled by: No. Systems: 803 Subsectors: 6 Inhabited planets: 297 A. Kinnison D. Jirel B. Skywalker E. Lessa C. DuQuesne F. Stildyne D DAGDA, Subsector 20-C: No. Systems: 66 Sector: Chameleon with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 19 DARLAS: An aspect of Talent, a form of psionic attack that can vary ineffect, depending on the user's strength and intent, from a mild stunto lethal. In whatever degree, it is extremely painful to the victim. DAVIS, Subsector 21-C: No. Systems: 66 Sector: Traiti with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 12 with 1 inhabited planet: 17 DECORATIONS, IMPERIAL (in order of precedence): * Imperial Medal of Honor (wartime); Sovereign's Medal (peacetime) * Marine Cross * Navy Cross Distinguished Service Cross * Silver Star Medal # Legion of Merit # Distinguished Service Medal + Marine Medal + Space Medal Joint Services Commedation Medal Marine Commendation Medal Navy Commendation Medal Achievement Medal Purple Heart Combat Action Ribbon * Sovereign's Unit Citation * Distinguished Unit Emblem # Unit Commendation Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal Navy Good Conduct Medal Marine Corps Reserve Medal Navy Reserve Medal These are awarded for: * Combat heroism # Heroic or meritorious acts + Non-combat heroism DERYBACH: (Traiti) A Homeworld predator Ranger Tarlac characterizedas an overgrown bobcat. They bear a strong resemblance to cloudcats, though they have shorter fur and are tawny rather than white. DIADEM, IMPERIAL: A term sometimes used to refer to the Imperial Crownas it is worn during ceremonies other than major ones such asCoronation or Grand Audiences. It is somewhat lighter, since it doesnot have the arches. DISRUPTOR: A gravitics-based weapon that disrupts its target'smolecular structure. Sizes (and power) vary from the relatively weaksidearm favored by the Traiti to the extremely powerful "primaries"mounted in Imperial light, heavy, and battle cruisers, which require aseparate T/CT power supply equal to that used for propulsion and shipsupport. DONBLAS, Subsector 18-H: No. Systems: 165 Sector: Aries with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 18 DONOR: As used by Narvonese, a person who acts as an occasional (oneto four week interval, depending on the individual) blood-source forthe Dragon-Kin, but whose lack of susceptibility to the nosferatupseudo-virus prevents @ from becoming a Bloodmate. Donating or not isan individual decision, as is the method. While most choose to Donatedirectly and get the pleasure the Kin feels and projects to @'s Donorwhile feeding this way, some people prefer to Donate indirectly, through a medical unit; that blood is used for Kins who for some reasonor other cannot or choose not to feed normally. This is not usual, though; "bottled" blood is, rather like WWII C-rations, life-sustainingbut not very good, and certainly not satisfactory for long periods. The more usual problem is keeping donors from doing so too often, tothe point where it adversely affects their health. DOWER NOBLE: A ruling noble who retires and that noble's spouse, orthe spouse of a ruling noble who has died. Dower nobles have no legalpower, but are entitled to the courtesies of their former ranks. Theyadd a true-lover's knot to their arms to indicate dower status. DRAGON PRINCE: (Sometimes referred to simply as "Dragon" or "Prince")Personification of the nosferatu pseudo-virus, the result of a dream bythe first Kin, during her Change, about a platinum-scaledOriental-style dragon wearing a crown. She was familiar with both thefictional and real Draculas, synthesizing that knowledge with what shesomehow sensed (or knew through Talent) she was becoming, and thevirus' essential benevolence. Her colony of virus, even though it wascenturies from true consciousness or self-awareness, picked up theimage, possibly as a rudimentary identification, and passed it along asother colonies reached a level that changed their hosts. DRUGS established so far, alphabetically. See individual entries fordetails. Energine Felzine Keisha Libidine Rapid-heal Veranol DuQUESNE, Subsector 7-C: No. Systems: 144 Sector: Cygnus with 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 15 Arms: Black. E EBISU, Subsector 18-A: No. Systems: 124 Sector: Aries with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 28 EGERIN: The hormone that defines a Sandeman warrior and controls hisneed cycle. EMPIRE, TERRAN: Founded by Cheong Chang in 2128, the Empire is anumbrella government with functions limited to defense of the Empire asa whole, peacekeeping (primarily between Sectors, though occasionallyif necessary between lesser fiefs as well), and inter-culturalrelations that cannot be handled at a lower level. Its normal methodof operation is that of minimum intervention, to encourage maximumdiversity (within limits; neither anarchy nor Balkanization are seen asdesirable). As a safeguard, although going to the appropriate noble is generallypreferable, all Imperial citizens have the right of direct appeal tothe Throne, and if circumstances warrant (normally determined by anEvaluation Team investigation), the Empire will act. The Empire is based firmly on the principle of enlightenedself-interest, making it the most thoroughly pragmatic governmenthumans have ever developed. Ninety-nine-plus percent of the time, thismeans demonstrating an integrity pre-Empire Terran politicians wouldbelieve undesirable to impossible, probably both. However, there is that other fractional percent of a time. Even thegreatest idealists realize that from time to time, any government isgoing to need to use unpleasant, unethical, and possibly even illegalmeans to achieve something vital. For these times, as well as for morenormal undercover operations, the Empire is believed to use itsIntelDiv field agents, as well as the rumored Shadow Fleet. ENERGINE: A powerful stimulant, effective for approximately eighthours. While it will allow the user to overcome most weaknesses, toomuch will demand a high price in recuperation afterward. ENERGY SOURCES: See Fusion, Internal Combustion, T/CT. ENGLISH, IMPERIAL: Emperor Chang's regularized version of acombination of American and British English, with phoneticized spellingand somewhat modified vocabulary. ENVIRO-SUIT: A coverall-type garment that provides protection fromextreme temperatures, either heat or cold, between approximately -100and +150 degrees Celsius. ERIDANUS, Sector 12: Ruled by: No. Systems: 621 Subsectors: 7 Inhabited planets: 366 A. Ramman E. Susanowo B. Tefnut F. Zeus C. Ahto G. Thor D. Rudra EVALUATION TEAM: Commonly called an E-Team, this is a group of MarineIntelligence Division operatives sent in to investigate a citizen'sreport or appeal for help, if a preliminary evaluation shows apotentially serious problem to exist, and determine whether Imperialintervention is both justified and necessary. Only when the report isof imminent warfare or rebellion, when it includes evidence that makesan investigation unnecessary, or when the preliminary evaluation showsit not to be an Imperial matter, is an E-Team not sent in. EXCALIBUR, Subsector 14-D: No. Systems: 52 Sector: Phoenix with 3 inhabited planets: 6 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 26 Arms: On a red field, a sword point-upward between three silver caltrops. EXOTIC: Xanaden term for genetically engineered human variants, specifically those originally intended as sexual objects. Although major genetic engineering of humans was outlawed in 2310, ithas been impossible to completely suppress. It has, however, beendriven into secrecy, with the result that most such engineering is doneby or for the rich and powerful who have grown bored with legaldiversions. This in turn means that most subjects of such engineeringhave had their sexuality enhanced for their creators' entertainment, often with other changes being made as well. Most of the Empire's more detailed knowledge of Exotics comes fromthose who disliked and were able to escape from those who engineeredthem. Of these, most gravitate to Xanadu and the Amators' Guild, wherethey can make profitable use of the engineering carried out on them (oron their forebears). It is not known how many either do not rebel orare unsuccessful in their escape attempts, but it seems reasonable toassume this number to be far greater than the escapees'. While the details of the various Exotic types vary considerably, thebasics of most are quite consistent, which is to be expected given thepurpose of such engineering. An Exotic is always responsive, in somedegree, to sexual stimuli, is capable of what seems to non-Exotics likeincredible sexual endurance, and most begin sexual activity during orimmediately after adolescence. (It must be noted, of course, that anyor all of the above does on occasion occur to a non-engineered humanand cannot be considered proof of engineering; genetic analysis is theonly way to be certain. ) In some cases, enhancement of the sexual drive is the only change made. In most, however, physical changes have been made as well, though notall are visible (for instance, the Ishtar variants are characterized bysensory nerves lining the vaginal canal, usually leading to the brain'spleasure center). The changes which are visible also vary, fromrelatively minor (such as the Tingler's tentacles around his penis) tonear-total alteration (such as the Elf variant's small, slender buildand delicate features emphasized by pointed ears and slanted eyes). F FAMILY (capitalized): The extended family structure recently introducedin the Kingdom Systems, primarily as a socially-acceptable means ofdealing with the satyr virus and the physiological changes it produces. As a side effect, it also provides a family structure stable enoughthat Special Operations personnel may now marry and are no longerrequired to be sterile. The new Families, the first and best known ofwhich is Family Cortin, consist of several spouses--ideally, but notnecessarily, half male and half female--with any children. (As anexample Family Cortin, at this point [2572], consists of Colonel Cortinherself, who is Family head but not a spouse, two wives, five husbands, and three children, with a fourth on the way. It may become morebalanced in the future, since it began as a mostly-male Strike Forceteam and has as yet had little opportunity to court more than onecivilian wife. ) FEALTY, CONDITIONAL: (Sandeman) An oath to someone in return for aconsideration, unknown until Gaelan DarShona talked some of thewarriors on the guardian fleet around Mjolnir into taking service inPlanetary Security in exchange for Imperial credits. Such an oath isconsidered void if payment in wilfully withheld (inability to pay isnegotiable) or if the one to whom such an oath is taken attempts toinjure the oath-taker, at which point the one taking the oath may feelfree to take appropriate action against the false acceptor. FEALTY, PERSONAL: (Sandeman) An oath of absolute personal loyalty andobedience. Theoretically, anyone may swear such fealty to anyone, butin practice it is almost exclusively warriors swearing to Warleaders orother high-status warriors. It is an honor either to be offered such fealty or to have it accepted. The one giving fealty (thakur-na) becomes, to the best of his ability, an extension of the one accepting it (thakur). The only acceptablereasons for disobeying a thakur's will are to preserve his honor or hislife, with the thakur's honor taking precedence. This relationship ismost obvious to non-Sandemans in the custom that any children a 'nafathers are considered the thakur's, and their use of the familiar modeof High War Speech. The 'na has his right cheek tattooed with a mark of his thakur'schoice. Although in theory, since a 'na does swear absolute obedienceand perfect fidelity, there is no need to acknowledge even the greatestof such service, the Sandemans are realists; if a 'na gives greaterservice or does a deed more heroic than may be reasonably expected, histhakur will have the tattoo circled and allow his 'na to use his namehyphenated with the 'na's own. If the 'na outlives his thakur, histattoo is barred with black to show honorable completion of service; ifit works out the other way, his thakur will see to honorable burial, ifpossible at one of their clanhomes. Although those are by far the commonest ways of ending therelationship, two others are possible. If the 'na commits a seriousoffense, the thakur may dismiss him by telling him something like, "Leave me; I no longer need you. " The real meaning is "You havedishonored me"; the 'na is expected to atone by a painful death ateither his own or his clan-chief's hands. The other, since DanaDruAlanna's case in 2624, is for the thakur to dismiss without offense, in which case the 'na's tattoo is barred with black and service ishonorably terminated for both parties. FELZINE: A mild, non-addictive tranquilizer. FENRIS, Subsector 14-A: No. Systems: 174 Sector: Phoenix with 3 inhabited planets: 7 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 8 with 1 inhabited planet: 22 Arms: On a counter-ermine field, a gold star of four large and eight small points, charged with a red circle on which is a silver wolf's head. FIEFS: The subdivisions of the Empire. As of 2568, the end of theTraiti War--and including the new Traiti Sector--they are broken downas follows: 21 Sectors, consisting of two to eight Subsectors apiece 106 Subsectors, averaging 53 inhabited planets in 36 systems 1, 431 multi-inhabited-planet systems 2, 388 single-inhabited-planet systems 5, 596 inhabited planets Fiefs cannot be combined. If the heir to a fief marries a rulingnoble, @ forfeits all claim to the fief @ was to inherit, and the nextoldest child becomes heir. If one heir or ruling noble marriesanother, the Sovereign decides which forfeits @'s fief (usually thelower-ranking, if they are of different levels) and who is to succeed(usually the next oldest child). FIELD AGENT: An IntelDiv officer with special training in covertintelligence gathering. Although they often work openly, sometimeseven in uniform, they are not identified as field agents and are alwaysassigned to cases where their special skills (such as reading thesubtleties of body language, some of them with near-telepathicaccuracy) are needed. When working under an assumed identity, a field agent will use whatevermeans are available and most effective for getting the information aneeds or otherwise accomplishing @'s mission. While this is recognizedas necessary under such circumstances, it is not something the Empiretakes pride in or wishes publicized. It is also unfortunate that attimes former field agents revert to this end-over-means philosophy, though if they have left the Service, there is seldom any harm done, and very little the Empire can do unless the person has broken a law aswell. FORNAX, Sector 4: Ruled by: No. Systems: 472 Subsectors: 5 Inhabited planets: 285 A. Oberon D. Xanth B. Titania E. Arden C. Avalon FORSETI, Subsector 18-F: No. Systems: 90 Sector: Aries with 3 inhabited planets: 7 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 21 FREYA, Subsector 16-D: No. Systems: 97 Sector: Virgo with 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 8 with 1 inhabited planet: 31 FUSION: The forced combination of hydrogen atoms at extremely hightemperatures to produce energy. It is used in most craft (spaceshipsand ground vehicles) which are too small to carry T/CT generators. G GALATINE, Subsector 19-B: No. Systems: 154 Sector: Leo with 3 inhabited planets: 6 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 8 with 1 inhabited planet: 25 GARUDA, Subsector 10-C: No. Systems: 53 Sector: Aquila with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 19 GEMINI, Sector 11: Ruled by: No. Systems: 422 Subsectors: 3 Inhabited planets: 169 A. Girru B. Agni C. Brigit GILGAMESH System: Sector: 13, Crater No. Planets: 12 Subsector: B, Inanna Habitable: 2 (Atlantis, Nemra) Ruled by: Kaplan family GIRRU, Subsector 11-A: No. Systems: 131 Sector: Gemini with 3 inhabited planets: 5 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 7 with 1 inhabited planet: 22 GODHOME: The psionic computer left behind on Homeworld when the Othersthe Traiti call Those Who Went Before went on to a different plane ofexistence. A huge underground complex, it was thought for millennia tobe a hill that caused madness or worse in those who went near, until itforced Kranath of St'nar to full maturity, thus making him the first ofthe new Traiti gods, the Circle of Lords. It destroyed its physicalstructure as no longer necessary when it merged with the last Lord ofthe Circle, Peacelord Esteban Tarlac. [Fearful Symmetry] GORGON, Subsector 2-B: No. Systems: 112 Sector: Hydra with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 23 GRAVITICS: A science developed into practicality by ReinhardNannstein, it has led to as many things as electronics: artificialgravity, hyperdrive, force fields and beams, ultrawave communications, innumerable others. GRAYWAND, Subsector 19-E: No. Systems: 187 Sector: Leo with 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 25 GRYPHON, Subsector 14-C: No. Systems: 148 Sector: Phoenix with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 25 GUNGNIR, Subsector 19-C: No. Systems: 160 Sector: Leo with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 24 GYNANDRA (plural gynandri): An Arriani male genetically engineered tocarry and give birth to children, though not to conceive. Suchpregnancy and birth require highly skilled medical aid. Gynandri arealso sought-after sex partners, both because of their enthusiasm andbecause they are thought to be special favorites of the Lady of Love, being as close to female as can survive on Arrian. H HATHOR, Subsector 9-B: No. Systems: 102 Sector: Ursa with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 23 HEIMDALL, Subsector 1-C: No. Systems: 70 Sector: Orion with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 19 HELIOS, Subsector 1-G: No. Systems: 142 Sector: Orion with 3 inhabited planets: 6 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 30 HELLBEAST: A Mjolnirri herbivore domesticated for its meat, whichremains tender even when well-cooked. Its name comes from itsremarkably ugly appearance, not its placid disposition. HELLESPONT System: Sector: 17, Indus No. Planets: 10 Subsector: C, Poseidon Habitable: 1 Ruled by: Keene family HERALDRY, IMPERIAL: Although the idea of coats of arms in aninterstellar society with numerous other means of identification seemsredundant to some, that purpose became a minor one long before theEmpire. Arms are a tradition Emperor Chang thought would serve aunifying purpose, provide continuity, and give an incentive for servicebeyond the expectable but not sufficient to earn a Life Nobility. While derived from traditional heraldry and having much in common withit, Imperial heraldry has the advantage of hindsight, which has led toseveral improvements. The primary one is in descriptions, whereEnglish replaces Old French, making them understandable to those whoare not specialists in the field. Some traditional terminology hasbeen retained, either because it is generally understandable or becausethere is no reasonably concise English equivalent. Most terms, however, translated without difficulty; the slightly longerdescriptions are acceptable because of the greatly increased clarity. The only exception to this is in the actual Grant of Arms itself, wherethe traditional blazoning is still used (though an English translationis provided on a separate sheet). The heraldic colors remain predominantly the bright primary ones:silver (now platinum) or white, and gold or yellow, called metals;black, blue, green, and red, called colors. Less-used colors areorange, purple, brown, and "flesh tone". Taken together, colors andmetals are referred to as tinctures. Anything described as "proper" isshown in its normal coloring. Only two of the numerous traditionalheraldic "furs" are in Imperial use, ermine (white with black spots)and counter-ermine (black with white spots). As a rule, metal shouldnot be placed on metal or color on color, although exceptions--mostlyin the case of charges described as "proper"--do occur. As in traditional heraldry, the field is described first, by color andany divisions, with the color on the bearer's right or at the shield'stop mentioned first. Left and right, in all cases, refer to the pointof view of the person supposedly carrying the shield. Traditional description English description Party per pale Divided vertically Party per fess Divided horizontally Party per bend Divided by right diagonal Party per bend sinister Divided by left diagonal Party per saltire Divided by both diagonals Party per chevron Divided by a chevron Quarterly Quarterly Checky Checked Tierced per fess Three-part horizontally Tierced per pale Three-part vertically Gyronny Divided by gyron Gurgy (and variants) Spiraled Charges may be (and usually are) placed on the field, and cover anydivisions. The major geometric charges (ordinaries) are mentionedfirst, if any appear. They generally take up approximately a third ofthe shield, though this proportion may vary if other charges appear, orthey have other charges upon them. Note that the vertical andhorizontal bars should not be confused with the three-part fields. Traditional description English description Chief Chief Fess Horizontal bar Pale Vertical bar Bend Right-diagonal bar Bend sinister Left-diagonal bar Chevron Chevron Chevron reversed Reversed chevron Cross Cross Saltire Double diagonal Pile Wedge Quarter Quarter Pall Y-fork Flanches Flanches Diminutives (except for the quarter) are one-half normal width, prefixed "demi-", or one-quarter normal width, prefixed "quadri-" andusually borne paired. The quarter's only diminutive is the canton, taking up an eighth of the shield. If these charges do not extend tothe shield edges, they are described as "clipped". Minor geometric charges (subordinaries) are those which (except for theborder) do not reach the edge of the shield; if used with an ordinary, the subordinary is placed on top. The names of these generally remainthe same as in traditional heraldry, as most have no reasonable Englishequivalent. These are the inescutcheon, orle, lozenge, fusil, andborder (formerly bordure). Two new ones are the hex and pentagon, while the circle (once called a roundel, bezant, plate, torteau, hurt, etc. , depending on its color) is simply called a circle with thecorrect color named. The same principle applies to other charges, such as animals andpeople. "Affronte" becomes "looking outward", "regardant" becomes"looking backward", and "rampant", which is easily understandable, remains the same. Charges are not restricted to the medieval ones, though many of those are used. Modern charges include things likeplanets, computers, stylized atoms, and spacecraft--although some ofthose, particularly military models, can be confused with simplecircles. Ruling nobles' arms, and those of most lower jurisdictions, do notindicate rank or anything other than perhaps the bearer's reason forbeing awarded them; Rangers', Life Nobles', and knights' arms, however, clearly indicate their rank. Rangers' arms, since 2243, have been onesused by previous Rangers; they are distinguished by a green canton witha platinum Ranger's star. Life Nobles' arms are bordered in the metalor color of the noble's level (platinum for dukes, gold for earls, orange for counts, red for barons) and have a black canton with theImperial Arms. Knights' arms are distinguished by a platinum and greenborder, one tincture inside the other. If the field is a color, theplatinum is inside; if a metal, the green. Use of Imperial arms is restricted, for ruling nobles, to the noble, @'s spouse, and @'s heir. This eliminates the need for an elaboratesystem of cadency, though to prevent confusion, the spouse's and heir'sarms are differenced. The differences are a label with two points forthe spouse, a label with three points for the heir. Should the rulerretire, both @ and @'s spouse add a true-lover's knot (as the spousealso does if @ survives the ruler) to indicate dower status. For Life Nobles and knights, only the person originally granted thearms bears them undifferenced. A's spouse adds a label with threepoints; the oldest child does the same, with @'s label having a star oneach point, and the arms are passed down to each oldest child in thisform. Marshalling (combining two or more coats of arms to create a new one)exists, but is limited to marriage between two people entitled to arms, and only for the length of that marriage. If both spouses are the samerank, the arms are impaled, with the original bearer's arms on theright. If one spouse dies, the other may, but need not, ask the ChiefHerald for permission to continue using the marshalled arms. Theoriginal coats go to the eldest child of each sex. If the spouses areof different ranks, the impalement has the senior's arms on the right, and the eldest child assumes those arms while the next eldest assumesthose of the lower-ranking parent. HERALDRY, SANDEMAN: Since Annexation, Subsector arms are granted byRuling Earl Klaes, and described in English like Imperial arms. However, as is standard whenever possible with any already-establishedcustom, the Earl follows the Shaper-established system of grantingarms, in three forms, to clans rather than to individuals. The warriorcaste bears them color-on-metal, with the clan-chief (always a warrior)adding a chief of the main color. The non-warrior caste (Others) bearthe arms metal-on-color. To take the Clan Leras arms as an example: Warriors: On a gold field, a chevron between three stars, all red. (Stars, unless described further, are the standard five-pointed version Old French refers to as mullets, but without the center holes those sometimes have. ) Clan-chief: On a gold field, a chevron between three stars and a chief, all red. Others: On a red field, a chevron between three stars, all gold. HERALDS, IMPERIAL: The ones responsible for issuing and insuring theproper use of Imperial coats of arms. They are also the Sovereign'srepresentatives for most ceremonies that justify an Imperial presencebut do not absolutely require royalty or nobility. HERBERT'S WORLD: Sector: 18, Aries Year: Subsector: G, Tyr Day: System: Aegis Gravity: Settled/established: 2150 CE Axial tilt: By: Mostly retired military Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: HRB Continents: Ruled by: General: Headquarters for 18th Imperial Fleet, 18th Marine Group. Has been described as the Empire's only planet-wide military base. Also the only producer of cloud-silk. HIBER-SLEEP: The safest and deepest form of suspended animation. HIGH WAR SPEECH: See Languages, Sandeman HOBISON, David Ralph: TERDN-9035-6821 (in 2569) Captain of the IBCEmperor Chang since 2536, having turned down promotion several times tomaintain that command. Made a Life Count after taking part in thepalace assault that ended the White Order's rebellion. [A Matter ofHonor] HOFUD, Subsector 19-D: No. Systems: 195 Sector: Leo with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 12 with 1 inhabited planet: 20 HOLIDAYS: Empire Day, 22 January. The only Empire-wide holiday, theanniversary of Emperor Chang's assumption of the Throne. Overthrow Day, 7 October. Sandeman holiday celebrating their finalvictory over the Shapers. HOMESUN, Subsector 21-A: No. Systems: 136 Sector: Traiti with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 19 HOMEWORLD: Sector: 21, Traiti Year: 474. 5 days Subsector: A, Homesun Day: 23 hr 31 min System: Homesun Gravity: 1097 cm/sec2 Settled/established: Ca. 35, 000 BCE Axial tilt: 21. 2 deg. By: Traiti, transported by Others Oxygen: 25% Satellites: Two, names not established % Water: 73 Ident code prefix: HWD Continents: 6 Ruled by: Supreme and First Speaker, co-Dukes after 2568 General: Lifeforms generally larger than Terran. Location of Godhome, the psionic computer constructed by the Others, until it became part of Ranger Esteban Tarlac in 2568, while making him the last Lord of the Circle. HONOR-BLACK: Sandeman garb, usually ceremonial, consisting of blacktunic and trousers (preferably leather), high boots, and full-lengthcloak, derived from the Black Lord's. The right to wear honor-black isgranted by acclamation of Sandeman warriors to one (only rarely anon-warrior, even more rarely a non-Sandeman) whose honor is consideredso intrinsic and absolute that it should have visible recognition. HONOR SCARS: Four parallel scars running from just below the throat toabout the waist, on a Traiti Cor'naya. HORSES, SANDEMAN: One of the two types of livestock modified by theShapers, of the wide variety they took with them. Records lost duringthe Overthrow may have given their reasons for modifying the horses asthey did; with those not available, the simplest explanation is thatone or more were fascinated with unicorns. Although Sandeman horsesretain the full tails and all the coloration of their forbears, theyhave beards and, from approximately three months old, a spiral bone"horn" roughly half a meter long growing from the center of theirforeheads. Most clans raise them, and they are a specialty of ClanNeill. HUNDINGSBANA, Subsector 19-A: No. Systems: 150 Sector: Leo with 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 22 HYDRA, Sector 2: Ruled by: No. Systems: 542 Subsectors: 5 Inhabited planets: 270 A. Argus D. Minotaur B. Gorgon E. Cerberus C. Cyclops HYPERDRIVE: The faster-than-light drive invented by ReinhardNannstein, allowing a speed of slightly over three light-years per hour. HYPERFIELD: The field generated by hyperdrive engines. To conserveenergy it is normally kept close to the ship's skin, but can beexpanded if necessary to take a ship or other object under tow. Holding a hyperfield at towing extension for more than fifty hours, however, is dangerous and is prohibited except under war emergencyconditions. HYPERSPACE: The spatial condition discovered by Reinhard Nannsteinwhich allows faster-than-light travel, at a speed of slightly overthree light-years per hour. I ICE-BERRIES: Gourmet product of Sandeman, they grow in the Cold PeakRange and are harvested by Clan Torrance Others. It is important tokeep them below the freezing point of water; they begin losing theirdelicate flavor at half a degree above zero, and melt at about tendegrees over that point. IDUN, Subsector 13-D: No. Systems: 37 Sector: Crater with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 24 ILMATAR, Subsector 9-E: No. Systems: 125 Sector: Ursa with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 8 with 1 inhabited planet: 17 INANNA, Subsector 13-B: No. Systems: 134 Sector: Crater with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 12 with 1 inhabited planet: 30 INDRA, Subsector 9-D: No. Systems: 76 Sector: Ursa with 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 24 INDUS, Sector 17: Ruled by: No. Systems: 465 Subsectors: 4 Inhabited planets: 195 A. Alph C. Poseidon B. Styx D. Aegir INFERNO: Sector: 14, Phoenix Year: Subsector: A, Fenris Day: 720 hr. System: Origani Gravity: Settled/established: 2127 (mining only) Axial tilt: By: Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: INF Continents: Ruled by: Baron of Origani General: Although it has a system of non-natural tunnels, concentrated near the north pole, where there is a permanent mining/archaeology colony, Inferno is not classified as inhabited. The average temperature is 153 F; it has no free-standing water, no seasons, and a "day" 60 standard days long. At night, the temperature drops to an average of 50 degrees, and rains start. (Linda Gerhart) INTELDIV: The ITMC Intelligence Division. The smallest of the threemajor specialty divisions, it is responsible for gathering andanalyzing information. Most information gathering is done openly, butoccasionally Evaluation Teams, and much of the time field agents, mustoperate covertly. INTERNAL COMBUSTION: Power provided by explosions of fuel, usuallyalcohol, inside a motor. Used very little since the development offusion and T/CT technology. IRSCHCHA: Sector: 8, Centaurus Year: Subsector: C, Bast Day: System: Tiandes Gravity: 995 cm/sec2 Settled/established: N/A Axial tilt: By: N/A Oxygen: Satellites: 2 % Water: Ident code prefix: ISC Continents: Ruled by: The one with strongest Talent, who is also High Adept of the White Order General: Discovered in 2527 by Jamie MacLeod, Irschcha promptly joined the Empire. It is slightly cooler than Terra, and has no large cities. IRSCHCHANS: Felinoids averaging 158 cm in height, 50-52 kilos inweight. They are strong for their size, and fast. Since they are alsocovered with thick, tawny fur, it is difficult for humans to tell thesexes apart--especially since their enthusiastic adoption of kiltswithin days after MacLeod's arrival. They were scarcely lessenthusiastic about joining the Empire, and except for an abortiverebellion, have been good citizens. The rebellion was motivated by the fact that Irschchans have and useTalent, which in humans at the time was untrained at best and thoughtto be imaginary at worst. The Irschchans have recognized and used itfor approximately 5, 600 years, with the best becoming members of whatthey considered a natural ruling elite, the White Order. That Talentseemed to make them equally-natural rulers of the Empire, and in 2569the White Order, led by its High Adept (who was also the PlanetaryBaron) rebelled. The rebellion was stopped thanks primarily to one ofHigh Adept Thark's students, Corina Losinj, who was persuaded to becomethe first non-human Ranger in the process--thus removing the reason forthe rebellion. ISHTAR, Subsector 16-C: No. Systems: 113 Sector: Virgo with 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 8 with 1 inhabited planet: 19 ISIS, Subsector 16-B: No. Systems: 83 Sector: Virgo with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 19 J JAEL: A warrior culture on Lupus. When prisoners are taken, the malesare neutered, the females forced to bear a child the captors will keep, then the prisoners are released. JASON, Richard: Head of Jason Interstellar Enterprises, until 2624 anEmpire-wide consortium. His unsuccessful attempt to have his thakur-na(Dana Manfredi/DruAlanna) murdered, followed by his order for her toseek the death of a 'na who has dishonored @'s thakur, resulted in adeath sentence for him if he remained on Sandeman, and loss of allproperty in Subsector Sandeman. The Traiti Sector and several otherjurisdictions followed suit, as far as banning JIE from doing business, when the circumstances became known. JIREL, Subsector 7-D: No. Systems: 184 Sector: Cygnus with 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 23 JUDICIARY, IMPERIAL: The Empire has no judiciary as such, since it hasa minimal number of laws and they are violated seldom enough that aseparate judiciary would be impractical. Instead, disputes andviolations are handled by the commanding officer of the nearestImperial base or ship. Appeals are permitted--for cause, not as amatter of routine--through all higher levels of command, up to andincluding the Sovereign. Very few of those appealed, however, gofurther than one or two levels. K KA'NAYA: (Traiti) Female person. Used by a male to a female not ofhis clan, with or without another title. It is a form of respectfuladdress equivalent to "My Lady" or "Excellency. " KAPLAN, Robert: Leader of the Nemran rebellion, in which RangerEsteban Tarlac was seriously injured. Second child of Count JonathanKaplan. KA'RUCHAYA: (Traiti) Literally, "female clan parent"; Clan Mother. KEISHA: An aphrodisiac drug produced from a plant of the same name, which grows only on Purgatory. Processed by a secret method known onlyto one merchant family on Origani, the drug is extremely expensive andhas almost religious connotations. Attempts to grow the plantelsewhere, or duplicate the refining process, have been uniformlyunsuccessful. (Linda Gerhart) KETTER: Sector: 5, Pegasus Year: Subsector: A, Bayard Day: System: Webster Gravity: Settled/established: Axial tilt: By: Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: KET Continents: Ruled by: General: A poor world, its local economy is based on smuggling. Ketteran local nobles own and operate smuggling ships, with their social standing determined by the amount of wealth they contribute to the planet's economy. KINDRED OF THE DRAGON: Kins and Bloodmates, those susceptible to andchanged by the nosferatu pseudo-virus. They are classed ashuman-variant, due to the extent of changes made by the virus. Theyare Narvon System's local nobility, and since 2280 all Imperial rulingnobles in the system are required to be Kindred. Susceptibility tendsto run in families, though that is not always the case. Slightly overhalf the children who become Kindred have at least one Kindred parent. Contrary to popular belief when the Kins appeared, the Kindred areneither predatory nor violent; their empathy prevents both, in manycases to the point where some Kindred have difficulty defendingthemselves. Because of this, they welcome the Imperial military, andmany areas of all three Narvonese planets have Sandeman police forces. Violent sports are frowned on, considered in bad taste if not actuallyobscene. Despite (or perhaps because of) this pacifism, most Kindred who feelcapable of it spend some time in the Imperial military. Of these, mostserve in the Navy's Chaplain or Medical Corps, though some areengineers or technicians. On rare occasion one will join the Marines;so far all of these have gone to IntelDiv. KINGDOM SYSTEMS: Twelve planets in nine systems. The first, St. Thomas, was settled in 2158. The Systems' founders were Catholics whodisagreed with the Roman Church on a number of matters and eitherseparated themselves or were excommunicated, depending on point ofview, when they persisted in acting on their beliefs. They appealed tothe Empire, which refused to intervene in a religious dispute. Thedissidents then fled, claiming persecution, in three small, barely-spaceworthy craft. When contact was lost and the Rescue Servicewas unable to find them, they were listed as missing and presumed dead. Instead, they had gone well beyond what would be Imperial space for thenext several centuries. Limited resources and numerous plagues madetheir growth slow, but it was steady, and by the time St. Michael wassettled in 2180, the monarchial system was well established, the RoyalEnforcement Service was in place and operating, and the Church had itsown Pope. KINNISON, Subsector 7-A: No. Systems: 144 Sector: Cygnus with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 20 KINS: The majority (90%) of those susceptible to and changed by thenosferatu pseudo-virus. They first appeared in 2275, the result of alaboratory accident. Kins develop great physical strength andprojective empathy, as well as the elongated canines that are thevisible evidence of their change. This change also restricts theirdiet to blood, preferably fresh from a human donor. As a rule, theyhave no difficulty finding donors; their projective empathy allows themto share their feeding-pleasure with the donor. Attempts by Kins toeat normal food result in violent nausea, and most have anequally-violent allergy to strong spices. KNIGHTS, IMPERIAL: Those who have given the Empire service beyond theexpectable, but not of a degree that would make a Life Nobilityappropriate. Knights are granted arms and may use "Knight of theImperium" (abbreviated KI) with their names. They should be addressedand referred to as Sir Firstname. KORE, Subsector 6-F: No. Systems: 59 Sector: Scorpio with 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 26 KORIL: Fermented milk Irschchans drink as humans do wine. KRANATH: (Of Clan St'nar) Supreme Lord of the Circle, first of theTraiti gods known as the Circle of Lords. KRANATH, Subsector 21-D: No. Systems: 90 Sector: Traiti with 3 inhabited planets: 5 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 14 with 1 inhabited planet: 21 L LADY OF LOVE: The Arriani deity, depicted as an attractive humanfemale but of no other set appearance. Although not specifically a sexdeity, her followers do consider sexual activity a form of worshipparticularly pleasing to her (especially with a gynandra or, ifoff-planet and able, with a woman). LANDER: The smallest of the Imperial spacegoing craft. It is shapedrather like a streamlined bus, and is about that size, so small it isnot considered a class of ship. Its commonest use is as a shuttlebetween a spacecraft too large to land and a planet (from which it getsits name), but it is also useful for suborbital flights. While theconfiguration is usually for passenger transport, palletizedconstruction allows rapid reconfiguration when necessary. LANGUAGE, Traiti: A tonal language that gives their Imperial English apleasant lilt. Like German, it combines small words to make largerones as a matter of course, and the grammatical structure is alsosimilar to German. Some of the terms that have made their way intoImperial English, though primarily used only in the Traiti Sector, arefound under their individual entries. LANGUAGES, Sandeman: Pre-Empire English, called Standard, and amodified version of Classical Russian, called High War Speech. Sincethe Shapers left Terra before Imperial English was widely accepted, they retained the old alphabet and irregularities (mostly in plurals). Standard is the Sandeman common speech used by both castes. The purpose of High War Speech, as far as the Shapers were concerned, was another way to set the warrior caste apart. By Annexation, it wasless exclusive; most Others had learned at least a little, and as longas they used formal mode to warriors, no one objected. (Familiar modeis restricted to battle-companions, lovers, and one's thakur or 'na. )There is a technical combat vocabulary, however, that remains mostlyrestricted to warriors since they are the only ones with a real use forit. LAST GIFT: (Sandeman) The gift of a swift death, asked when a person(usually a Sandeman) has been too seriously wounded, or is too ill, formedical aid to do more than prolong death. Between Sandeman'soverthrow of the Shapers and its annexation by the Empire, theirmedicine was primitive enough that this was seen as an unpleasantnecessity to prevent further suffering. As Imperial medical personnelhave said repeatedly, Sandeman medicine then was little more than firstaid; even something as minor as an abdominal wound was normally fatal. LAWS, IMPERIAL: The Empire has few laws, but the ones that do existare strictly enforced, unless there is a very strong reason for notdoing so--with the Sovereign the only one able to grant waivers. And Imperial law is kept purposely simple. Pre-Empire lawyers would beappalled, because if a law is obscure or easily misinterpreted, it isrewritten until it is clear to anyone of average intelligence andsubject to only minimal interpretation by the officer judging a case. As with any decision short of the Sovereign's, such a judgement may beappealed, but only on substantial grounds. The ones so far covered (there are others) include the following: No noble shall attempt to exercise control over any fief other than the one @ is responsible for. Attempted crimes are punished in the same way as one that was successful. The penalty for murder of or assault on an Imperial noble is death. No mitigating circumstances. The penalty for murder of or assault on an Imperial servicewen is death or life imprisonment. The judging officer may consider substantial mitigating circumstances. A child born to parents of differing cultures will, as far as possible, receive the benefits of each culture most favorable to the child. Massive genetic engineering of humans is forbidden. (This is generally interpreted as engineering not required to correct a medical problem. ) LENORE: Sector: 8, Centaurus Year: Subsector: D, Pan Day: System: Poe Gravity: Settled/established: Axial tilt: By: Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: LEN Continents: Ruled by: General: Most inhabitants are receptive empaths, and have difficulty coping with non-empaths, so few leave Lenore. (Barbara Tennison/Sylvia Stevens) LEO, Sector 19: Ruled by: No. Systems: 953 Subsectors: 6 Inhabited planets: 348 A. Hundingsbana D. Hofud B. Galatine E. Graywand C. Gungnir F. Retaliator LERAS, Nevan Dar-: SNDNS-6894-7693 (7 Jul 2547-24 Jun 2855) GraduatedITMA 2569, first in class; commissioned into SecuDiv and assigned toIBC Emperor Chang. Awarded Sovereign's Medal, merit promotion to 1Lt, and choice of assignment for his actions in the Palace assault thatended the White Order rebellion. Graduated IntelDiv Field AgentSchool, 2570, again first in class, for which he was given a meritpromotion to Captain. He was then assigned to investigate the Melgariepirate fleet, but went beyond a simple investigation; in 2572 he wasable, with the unwilling aid of Melgarie's lover Neyse Greenfield, toarrange the fleet's destruction. For this he received a secondSovereign's Medal and promotion to Major. In 2574, he swore personal fealty to Ranger Corina Losinj. On anassignment for her in 2578 (checking the security protecting IntelDivfield agents while attempting to deliver the personal weapons hisfather Kelly had bequeathed to one who had saved his life), he met andrapidly became close friends with his "target", Kiyoshi Owajima. When Empress Losinj died in 2624, Nevan technically reverted to hisstatus as an IntelDiv Major, though one with a grace-and-favorapartment in the Imperial Palace and a lifetime income independent ofCorps salary. However, the new Sovereign, Jasmine Wang, asked him tocontinue his special services to the Sovereign without the oath offealty. Since he was positive his thakur would have wished that, eventhough she had not asked it of him, he agreed; as a result, until hisdeath in 2855, the various Sovereigns had a personal special agent who, until his fealty oath, had been the best field agent in IntelDiv. LERAS, Riordan Dar-: Warleader of the Sandeman fleet that approachedMjolnir in 2541. When he was defeated in a duel with Gaelan DarShona, Baron Frederick Klaes' thakur-na, he was honor-bound to provideprotection for Klaes' world, which he did by leaving part of his fleeton guard there. Grandfather of Nevan, through Kelly. LESSA, Subsector 7-E: No. Systems: 46 Sector: Cygnus with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 27 LIBIDINE: A persistent, but non-addictive, aphrodisiac with no knownside effects. Effects vary from simple receptiveness with a triggerdose, to release of all cultural sexual restraints with a stronger one. LIFE-DEBT (Sandeman): The debt a Sandeman clan owes one not of thatclan who gives one of its members Last Gift. This always means theperson may ask Last Gift of any clanmember, whether battle-companion ornot, with the certainty it will be given, and for a warrior, ifcaptured that he will not be tortured for information. (W'women andOthers, by custom, are always immune from torture. ) A specificindividual repayment is between the giver and the receiver's clan-chief. LIFEPOD: A cocoon-shaped field medical unit which is capable ofproviding total life support. LIGHTSABER: An energy weapon developed by Clan Vader of Sandeman, inspired by the ones in the Star Wars trilogy they call the Saga. Asin the Saga, it is a large hilt containing the powerpack and otherequipment needed to generate a controlled-length, high-intensity laserbeam "blade". It first came to Imperial attention in 2542, when LeighDarVader bequeathed his to Ranger James Medart as a death-gift. Atthat time the powerpack would support less than five minutes' bladeactivation, making the saber impressive but of little or no practicaluse. Within two years, however, Imperial scientists were able todevelop a powerpack that lasted over half an hour, making the saber apractical hand-to-hand combat weapon. With distance weapons far morepopular with most Imperial citizens, however, they are still seldomseen outside Subsector Sandeman. The Vader clan's development of controlled-length laser beams, thoughmade specifically for the saber, has proven to be a significant one inother fields as well, leading to numerous improvements in technologiesfrom medicine to heavy equipment manufacture. It has also, sinceRanger Medart assisted them in obtaining an Imperial patent on theprocess, made the clan extremely wealthy. LIMBURGER BERRIES: Another name for toli berries. LIU: Traiti unit of distance, 2. 58 kilometers (1. 59 miles). LOSINJ, Corina: RCJ-2958-5865 (2548-19 Feb 2624) The first non-human(Irschchan) Ranger, she was recruited by Ranger James Medart in 2569, when she reported the White Order's impending rebellion. In the courseof stopping that rebellion, she and Medart experienced pattern rapport, which revealed that he possessed a strong Talent, including a healingaspect she had not previously encountered. She helped him train it asmuch as possible during the trip to Terra, completing it after therebellion was over. Testing then showed the Sovereign and otherRangers also had strong Talent, and Losinj trained them as well. Thatdegree of Talent, regardless of its specific aspect, was immediatelyadded to Ranger qualifications. She accepted Nevan DarLeras as thakur-na in 2574, was elected Successorin 2577 on Emperor Forrest's death, and succeeded to the Throne in2603. She died in bed, with Nevan in attendance, in 2624. LUNA: Terra's only natural satellite, site of the Imperial Navy'sPrime Base and main shipyard. LUPUS: Sector: 17, Indus Year: Subsector: C, Poseidon Day: System: Hellespont Gravity: Settled/established: Axial tilt: By: Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: LUP Continents: Ruled by: Capparucini family General: Home of Jael warrior culture. M MacLEOD, Jamie: Independent scout who discovered Irschcha in 2527. MAGNI, Subsector 18-C: No. Systems: 180 Sector: Aries with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 27 MANFREDI, Dana: See Alanna, Dana Dru-. MARINE CORPS, IMPERIAL TERRAN: The senior Imperial service, the ITMCwas founded by Emperor Chang on 10 November 2128, though he establishedthe Empire itself and took the Throne on 22 January. The date wasdeliberately chosen to coincide with the birthday, 353 years earlier, of the United States Marine Corps; the Navy and the AdministrativeService were founded one week later, replacing Solar Federationservices which were then disbanded. Emperor Chang had retired from the USMC at the rank of Major Generalafter twenty-five years' service, and thought it only fitting that theITMC--a great majority of whose first officers and NCOs came from theUSMC--continue the history and traditions he thought invaluable. Healso instituted a new tradition at that time: at 1000 hours, PalaceStandard Time, on 10 November of every year, the Sovereign @selfpublishes the Birthday Article to every Marine post and shipboarddetachment. While there have been many changes, the ITMC retainsthings like the dress blue uniform and Marine Emblem which make itslineal descent from the USMC obvious. The dress blue uniform (with theUSMC male version used by both sexes) is essentially unchanged; theITMC Emblem substitutes the Imperial stylized globe for the USMC'sTerran Western hemisphere. (For non-humans, there are uniformvariations based on physical structure; Traiti, for instance, do notwear headgear except for protection, and the Irschchans, since 2569, wear a kilt version of any Imperial uniform. ) MARSTON, Dan: Dana Manfredi/DruAlanna's pen name when writinghistorical fiction. MEDALERT TEAM: An emergency medical response team led by a physician, whenever possible a trauma specialist. MEDART, James Kieran: RJT-6743-5197 (14 Aug 2494-28 Mar 2669)Imperial Ranger, 2515-2669. Led rescue of Yonar Colony, his first solomission, 2518. Negotiated with the cloudcats to obtain human/Irschchansettlements on Ondrian in exchange for the privilege of travel onImperial ships, 2532. Called Mjolnir Conference, 2542, which resultedin the end of the Sandeman War and the creation of Subsector 5-D, Sandeman. Recruited Ranger Corina Losinj, then helped her stop WhiteOrder revolt, 2569; en route from Irschcha to Terra on this mission, the two discovered and began to train his latent Talent. To RangerLosinj's surprise, this included healing, an aspect that had notappeared on Irschcha. Had Medart not been selected as a Ranger, he planned to specialize inxenoanthropology, and has in a sense done so, though not formally. Hisinterest in the variety of cultures humans and non-humans alike candevelop has led him to study and visit as many as his assignmentsallow; while he is not totally familiar with all the cultures in theEmpire, he is the Ranger normally called on when there is aninter-cultural problem. MEERCLAR, Subsector 9-F: No. Systems: 111 Sector: Ursa with 3 inhabited planets: 5 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 12 with 1 inhabited planet: 28 MELGARIE, Jord: HPUJE-7895-2835 (? 2518-20 Nov 2572) Found 18 Jun2518 by Subsector 6-G Rescue Service, alone in an escape capsule fromwhich all identification had been removed. He appeared to beapproximately four months old, and medical tests showed him to havebeen a subject of major genetic engineering (which explained the lackof identification, if not the abandonment). Raised on New Bavaria by a series of foster parents who found himdifficult to cope with. He enlisted in the Subsector Navy in 2536, then deserted in 2538, stole a ship, and began a career of piracy. Acharismatic leader, he soon attracted other criminals and became headof a pirate fleet which eventually spread its operations out of Sector6, making it an Imperial rather than a local concern. Several Imperialagents attempted to infiltrate; all, until Nevan DarLeras in 2570-72, were uncovered and killed. Melgarie himself died when DarLeras wasable to call in a Fleet strike which destroyed the pirate base. MESSENGERS, IMPERIAL: Heralds or military officers with specialcommissions to carry particularly sensitive or ceremonial verbal orwritten messages from the Sovereign or a Ranger. All Messengers areprotected with special anti-interrogation conditioning which can betriggered by circumstance as well as by a spoken phrase, and onoccasion a volunteer is given special conditioning so @ can deliver oneof the Sovereign's messages in @'s own words and as close to voice asthe Messenger can manage. When acting as such, Messengers wear scarlettunics and travel in scarlet courier-class ships. MILITARY, IMPERIAL: The Imperial Terran Marine Corps and ImperialTerran Navy. Imperial military personnel are very carefully selected;as a rule, enlisted personnel and Academy candidates have theequivalent of a pre-Empire bachelor's degree; by graduation andcommissioning, an officer has the equivalent of three or fourdoctorates, and all ranks are expected to continue their educations. They are thoroughly tested in all physical and psychological aspects, then assigned where their individual aptitudes, attitudes, and trainingwill be most useful. Note that this definitely includes a person'spreferences, part of the Empire's pragmatism: a person does better in ajob @ likes, so it is in the Empire's interest to put @ there. If forsome reason it is necessary to put someone in a job @ doesn't like, @will be there as briefly as possible. MINOTAUR, Subsector 2-D: No. Systems: 129 Sector: Hydra with 3 inhabited planets: 6 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 12 with 1 inhabited planet: 27 MIRACLE-WEED: The Ondrian plant that is the only source of rapid-heal. Originally wild, it has been intensively cultivated since 2532, whenhumans and Irschchans established a colony for that purpose. Miracle-weed has been grown on other worlds, but does not thrive orproduce usable rapid-heal. MITHRA, Subsector 6-D: No. Systems: 146 Sector: Scorpio with 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 12 with 1 inhabited planet: 23 MJOLNIR: Sector: 5, Pegasus Year: Subsector: B, Sleipnir Day: System: Thor Gravity: Settled/established: 2154 Axial tilt: By: North Americans, Scandinavians Oxygen: Satellites: 2 (Gnasher, Grinder) % Water: Ident code prefix: MJO Continents: Ruled by: Klaes family Arms: On a platinum field, a mallet proper, head upward, with a thong through the handle's end. General: Stopping point of the Sandeman Eruption, 2542. MJOLNIR CONFERENCE: (2542) The conference Ranger James Medart calledin a successful attempt to end the Sandeman invasion of Sector Five. Mjolnir at the time was a Sandeman protectorate; its Baron Klaesdeclared it extraterritorial so the two sides could meet on neutralterritory. The war ended due to what Medart liked to call "sweetreason, backed by five battle fleets"--though to his amusement, theSandemans saw the fleets and Imperial weaponry as a temptation ratherthan a threat, and joined the Empire for the chance to use them. MULTIVERSE: A group of related alternate universes. Exactly where onemultiverse ends and another begins is not definite, since there isoverlap, sometimes considerable. Grouping alternates into multiverses, though, makes it easy to refer to such a group without having toidentify each alternate by its official designation. N NANNSTEIN, Reinhard: (2100-2142) A Da Vinci-type genius, Nannsteindeveloped the science of gravitics in 2123, financed by a smallinheritance he had invested and turned into a fortune. Still workingindependently, despite many offers from industry and government, heinvented hyperdrive in 2125. Working with his friend Cheong Chang, hehelped establish the Empire, then designed and supervised the buildingof the Imperial Palace in Antarctica. He disappeared in 2142 whiletesting an improvement of the hyperdrive. NARVON System: Sector: 16, Virgo No. Planets: 12 Subsector: A, Athena Inhabited: 3 Ruled by: Nilssun family General: Since the Kindred became widespread, in the early 2280s, thisis one of the most peaceful systems in the Empire. Random violence, such as natural disasters and accidents, is inevitable--but it is inextremely bad taste to put pictures of the victims on the nightly news. The same with victims of violent crime, much less the crime itself. Violent sports aren't illegal, but they are not organized, and they areconsidered lower-class. In drama, violence (especially bloodyviolence) is treated about the way sex was on mid-twentieth-centuryNorth American television. Intimacy, emotional and physical, is theprimary theme of Narvonese entertainment. NARVON II: Sector: 16, Virgo Year: Subsector: A, Athena Day: System: Narvon Gravity: Settled/established: 2219 Axial tilt: By: Colonists from Narvon III Oxygen: Satellites: 2 % Water: Ident code prefix: NAN Continents: Ruled by: General: Required minor terraforming. NARVON III: Sector: 16, Virgo Year: Subsector: A, Athena Day: System: Narvon Gravity: Settled/established: 2133 Axial tilt: By: Mostly Scandinavians Oxygen: Satellites: 2 (Thor, Loki) % Water: Ident code prefix: NAR Continents: Ruled by: General: Undistinguished until 2275, when the nosferatu pseudo-virus appeared and created a human-variant minority called Kindred of the Dragon. These are now the system's local nobility. Sub-planetary jurisdictions are called districts, with District Administrators in charge. Dress clothing tends to be loose shirts, fancy (silk or brocade, for example) culottes with sash, and high boots. NARVON IV: Sector: 16, Virgo Year: Subsector: A, Athena Day: System: Narvon Gravity: Settled/established: 2235 Axial tilt: By: Colonists from Narvon III Oxygen: Satellites: 1 % Water: Ident code prefix: NAV Continents: Ruled by: General: Required moderate terraforming. NEED, Sandeman Warriors': The primary physiological change thatdifferentiates warriors from non-warriors. It is controlled by aductlesss gland which secretes the hormone egerin, beginning atpuberty; this begins the need cycle, and increases the warrior'sendurance and healing speed beyond even the Sandeman norm. There are three forms of need: cyclical, induced, and battleprep. Cyclical is involuntary, caused by the normal buildup of egerin, sincethat hormone cannot be metabolized alone. A warrior's cycle length isindividual, and can vary from five to eight days. If the egerinbuildup is not interrupted by combat or sex (both of which stimulateadrenalin production to levels that allow interaction with egerin andpermit it to be metabolized), about two-thirds of the way through awarrior's cycle he begins to experience heightened sensitivity, bothphysical and mental. This is the pre-need stage. Need itself beginsas further-increased sensitivity that could be described asirritability, at which point patience and self-control are not amongthe warrior's strong points. This stage, as a rule, lasts for about aday; it is not dependent on the cycle length, and is what is calledactive need. If it is not satisfied, the warrior starts going intooverload; all body systems become hyperactive, and the effect is one ofmultiple stress diseases. Untreated overload lasts about two days. The other two forms can be undertaken voluntarily at any stage short ofoverload. Induced need is the sexual form, stimulated by arousal andmanipulation of the need gland. It results in heightened sexualability and greatly increased fertility; if the warrior's partner is inher fertile period; conception is almost a certainty. If induced needis not resolved, it will abate on its own since it involves only thereproductive organs, speeding the warrior's cycle slightly--though theegerin fluctuations are quite uncomfortable to the warrior. Itsresolution results in aftersleep, a near-comatose state that lasts forseveral hours. Battleprep is the combat-oriented form of need, induced by mental andphysical concentration. Unlike induced need, battle-prep involves theentire body; unless the warrior goes into demanding combat within anhour or two, he will go into overload and die. As this is well known, a warrior will prep only when combat is imminent. Battleprep is often referred to as a berserker state, but that is onlypartially correct. The prepped warrior is only marginally, if at all, aware of pain and wounds; blood clots quickly to minimize loss; speedand strength are heightened on the same order as that of someone ofaverage strength who can suddenly lift a car to save an infant. Beyondthis, however, the berserker analogy breaks down, because the warriorretains his full intelligence and judgement. This combination makes abattleprepped warrior one of the most dangerous beings in the knownuniverse. At home, or on any Sandeman-controlled world, a warrior is in no dangerof overload unless very unusual circumstances arise. There are alwayswarriors and w'women around. And except in hostile-alien territory, where need is a weakness that must be concealed, keeping even an enemywarrior from dying in overload is as ingrained as their politeness. Itis honorable to kill him, imprison him, even torture him forinformation--but if he goes into active need, he gets treatment. If now'woman is available or willing, there is a ritual offering ofnon-hostile life-combat by one or more of the imprisoning clan'swarriors. The need cycle can be disrupted by serious injury or illness; thedisruption will last from the time of the injury or illness until thewarrior regains near-normal health. Shaper experiments show that the need cycle can be permanently ended byremoval of the need gland; this turns the warrior into an Other manwith combat skills but none of the other warrior advantages. Naturally, Sandemans find this idea both repulsive and obscene. NEEDLER: Sandeman energy handgun. Although it has less raw power thana blaster, the beam is much more finely adjusted, so it has equal orgreater effective power. While the narrower beam requires more carefulaim, Sandemans prefer its greater precision, most considering theblaster's wider beam unacceptably sloppy. NEMRA: Sector: 13, Crater Year: Subsector: B, Inanna Day: System: Gilgamesh Gravity: Settled/established: Axial tilt: By: Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: NEM Continents: Ruled by: General: Site of the abortive rebellion led by Count Jonathan Kaplan's son Robert, in which Ranger Esteban Tarlac was injured and David Scanlon earned his Life Dukedom. NEPHTHYS, Subsector 15-B: No. Systems: 197 Sector: Auriga with 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 22 NEW BAVARIA: Sector: 6, Scorpio Year: Subsector: G, Tarlac Day: System: Fasolt Gravity: Settled/established: Axial tilt: By: Germans Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: NBV Continents: Ruled by: General: Most famous product is Doppelbock beer, which is a strong dark brew that travels well, but is also quite expensive. NEW ZION: Sector: 20, Chameleon Year: Subsector: B, Thoth Day: System: Solomon Gravity: Settled/established: Axial tilt: By: Neo-Christian fundamentalists Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: NZI Continents: Ruled by: NIKE, Subsector 13-A: No. Systems: 181 Sector: Crater with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 13 with 1 inhabited planet: 22 NIPPON-NI: Sector: 7, Cygnus Year: Subsector: A, Kinnison Day: System: Amaterasu Gravity: Settled/established: 2129 Axial tilt: By: Japanese Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: NIP Continents: Ruled by: General: The settlers wanted to return to the glorious old days of the samurai, without losing modern conveniences or an industrial base. On-planet, the Baron is called the Shogun. NOBILITY, COURTESY: Those treated as Imperal nobles, though notstrictly speaking nobility themselves, out of courtesy to the nobleparent or spouse. This is normally a Life Noble's spouse or a rulingnoble's younger children. NOBILITY, IMPERIAL: Life and ruling nobles. In common usage this termincludes the Sovereign and Rangers, though technically speaking theyare royalty. See chart below for numbers and the proper ways ofreferring to and addressing royalty and nobility. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- RANK & NUMBER STYLE & TITLE ADDRESSED AS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sovereign (1) His/Her Imperial Majesty Your Majesty or Majesty * Successor (1) His/Her Royal Highness the Your Highness, Highness, Crown Prince/ss, or Ranger or Ranger Ranger (abt. 10) Ranger (rarely, Prince/ss) Ranger (rarely, Your Highness or Highness) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Life Duke His/Her Grace the Life Duke Your Grace # Fullname Spouse Lord/Lady Firstname My Lord/My Lady Children No title ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ruling Duke (22) His/Her Grace Fullname, Duke Your Grace of Sector _____________ Spouse Duke-Consort Firstname of My Lord/My Lady Sector ___________ Eldest child Duke-Heir Fullname of Sector My Lord/My Lady __________ Other children Lord/Lady Fullname Lord/Lady Firstname ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Life Earl The Most Honorable the Life My Lord/My Lady or Earl Fullname My Lord Earl/ My Lady Earl # Spouse Lord/Lady Firstname My Lord/My Lady Children No title ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ruling Earl (106) The Most Honorable Fullname, My Lord/My Lady or Earl of Subsector _______ My Lord Earl/ My Lady Earl Spouse Earl-Consort Firstname of My Lord/My Lady Subsector ___________ Eldest child Earl-Heir Fullname of My Lord/My Lady Subsector __________ Other children Lord/Lady Fullname Lord/Lady Firstname ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Life Count The Right Honorable the Life My Lord/My Lady or Count Fullname My Lord Count/ My Lady Count # Spouse Lord/Lady Firstname My Lord/My Lady Children No title ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ruling Count The Right Honorable Fullname, My Lord/My Lady or (1431) Count of _______ System My Lord Count/ My Lady Count Spouse Count-Consort Firstname of My Lord/My Lady __________ System Eldest child Count-Heir Fullname of My Lord/My Lady _________ System Other children Lord/Lady Fullname Lord/Lady Firstname ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Life Baron The Honorable the Life Baron My Lord/My Lady or Fullname My Lord Baron/ My Lady Baron # Spouse Lord/Lady Firstname My Lord/My Lady Children No title ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ruling Baron The Honorable Fullname, Baron My Lord/My Lady or (5596) of ________ My Lord Baron/ My Lady Baron Spouse Baron-Consort Firstname of My Lord/My Lady __________ Eldest child Baron-Heir Fullname of My Lord/My Lady __________ Other children Lord/Lady Fullname Lord/Lady Firstname ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * May also be addressed directly as "Sire", or by Rangers as "Sir". # Nobles serving in the military are addressed by their military titles when aboard ship or on duty; when off duty, either military or civil titles may be used. Also, informal usage allows nobles to be addressed by title and last name, e. G. , "Baron Klaes". NOBILITY, LIFE: Those who have been ennobled for significant serviceto the Empire carried out at serious personal cost or risk. The degreeof service and risk or cost determine the rank given. NOBILITY, LOCAL: Nobility other than Imperial Life or ruling nobles. These may be named by any ruling noble within @'s fief and will havewhatever status the Imperial noble determines. If a nobility orequivalent already exists on a world joining the Empire, those willretain that status as local nobles. While local nobles have noImperial status, they are generally given the courtesy title ofExcellency. NOBILITY, RULING: Those born to rule Imperial fiefs, except that thefirst ruling noble in a new fief will be named by the Sovereign. Technically, only the noble and @'s spouse and heir are Imperialnobles, but @'s younger children are treated so as a courtesy. Inheritance of rule is by strict primogeniture, except in the few fiefswhere, by the Sovereign's dispensation, there is some otherqualification or automatic disqualification (e. G. , Narvonese noblesmust be Dragon-Kindred, while Sandeman nobles cannot be warriors). Itis also possible, though rare, for a noble to ask the Sovereign todisqualify @'s firstborn for cause, and confirm someone else as Heir. Should a ruling noble die without an heir, the Heir to the next higherfief takes over until the Sovereign can select a new ruler. If thefief left vacant is a Sector, a Ranger will take the positiontemporarily. NOR: Traiti unit of weight, 0. 56 kilograms. NORVIS: Sector: 21, Traiti Year: Subsector: A, Homesun Day: System: Lantra Gravity: Settled/established: 2193 Axial tilt: By: Traiti Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: NOR Continents: Ruled by: General: Clan Ch'kara's main clanhome is here. NOSFERATU PSEUDO-VIRUS: An organism resembling a virus more closelythan anything else its first investigators were aware of. It iscapable of infecting approximately one percent of the inhabitants ofNarvon System and an unknown but much smaller percentage of Terrans;all others are immune. While very few Terrans are susceptible, thatsmall percentage is extremely so, and all so far known have becomeBloodmates. Susceptibility is determined by high empathy, though itmay be mostly latent until the Change. Narvonese research has shownthat a person with a certain rare "marker" gene configuration issusceptible, but until nearly 2600, the reason is not known. Asusceptible person subjected to severe weakening (due to illness ortrauma) after exposure will undergo physical and mental changes, becoming a Kin or Bloodmate. It is the degree of empathy which determines whether the Change is toKin or Bloodmate, with the more empathic becoming the Bloodmates. The virus is a collective mind, symbiotic with its hosts, but does notbecome self-aware or more than marginally conscious until it infectsand changes Chee Campbell in 2750. ["Touch of the Dragon"] NOXI: (Traiti) Homeworld equivalent of rabbits, with ears likebeagles. They are about twice the size of Terran rabbits. NULLGRAV: Nullified, or nullification of, gravity. Used as a drivefor spacecraft near planets, and in planetary craft such as airplanesand cars, as well as for exercise facilities, entertainment, medicaluses, etc. O OBERON, Subsector 4-A: No. Systems: 51 Sector: Fornax with 3 inhabited planets: 7 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 13 with 1 inhabited planet: 23 ODIN, Subsector 6-B: No. Systems: 101 Sector: Scorpio with 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 24 OGHMA, Subsector 20-A: No. Systems: 102 Sector: Chameleon with 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 15 with 1 inhabited planet: 29 OLYMPUS, Subsector 3-B: No. Systems: 41 Sector: Sculptor with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 23 OMNISM: (for Church of the Omniverse) The commonest of the "new"(post-hyperdrive) religions. It began soon after Nannstein announcedhyperdrive to be a success, and got a major boost the first time another-universe ship appeared in Imperial space. (Dropped there by ahyperdrive malfunction, the only publicly-known reason forinteruniverse transition. ) It is a highly syncretic religion which teaches that there is oneCreator of all the universes that form the Omniverse. This Creator isunknowable by finite intelligence, but some of A's attributes can bededuced from what humans can understand of A's creations. The mainparts are that all religions are true in part, with the gods beingthose aspects of the Creator (some in body) sent to reveal what a givensociety needs and can understand about the Creator. (Everything in allthe universes is part of the Creator, of course, that being what Acreated with. ) Sin is either failure to use, or the harmful use of, the Creator's gifts. Deliberately causing unnecessary harm/pain is thegreatest sin. OMNIVERSE: The totality of existence, in which anything that canhappen either has or eventually will. (The Omnist Church defines it as"The entirety of creation, plus the Creator. ") ONDRIAN: Sector: 20, Chameleon Year: Subsector: A, Oghma Day: System: Allagash Gravity: Settled/established: 8000 BCE/2532 CE Axial tilt: By: Cloudcats/humans and Irschchans Oxygen: Satellites: None % Water: Ident code prefix: OND Continents: "Ruled" by: Whatever cloudcat volunteers Arms: On a gold field, a red clipped fret. Society ID: Chester County, PA General: A mostly mountainous, arctic to subarctic world; the only temperate zone is near the equator. It is the only place where miracle-weed, the source of rapid-heal, will grow productively. Cloudcats were moved here circa 8000 BCE because their sun was about togo nova. The cloudcats were established in the mountains, wherepsionically activated survival aids left by the Others gave them thecomfort and leisure to develop their arts and philosophy. Humans andIrschchans founded a joint colony in 2532 to grow miracle-weed; theybelieved the cats to be unintelligent predators until a youngIrschchan, lost in the mountains, was rescued and returned to thecolony by a cloudcat whose name translates to Starflower. Rapid-heal was so valuable a medication that Emperor Yasunon sentRanger Medart to attempt negotiation with the cloudcats. They provedamenable, wanting little more than that the colonists leave them aloneunless they instituted the contact, and the right to travel on Imperialvessels whenever they chose. In return, they permitted the coloniststo occupy and farm the entire equatorial zone. ORIGANI System: Sector: 14, Phoenix No. Planets: 5 Subsector: A, Fenris Inhabited: 1 Ruled by: (Linda Gerhart) ORIGANI: Sector: 14, Phoenix Year: Subsector: A, Fenris Day: System: Origani Gravity: Settled/established: 2127 Axial tilt: By: Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: ORI Continents: General: Adopting a feudal-type society, Origani managed only sporadic communication with Terra for about 200 years, when it regained full communication and became part of the Empire. It is primarily an agricultural planet, its claim to fame being the aphrodisiac it produces from the keisha plant, grown on nearby Purgatory. (Linda Gerhart) ORION, Sector 1: Ruled by: Shirley family No. Systems: 791 Subsectors: 8 Inhabited planets: 424 A. Sol E. Amaterasu B. Surya F. Shamash C. Heimdall G. Helios D. Ra H. Paiva Arms: On a field of six gold and blue vertical stripes, an ermine quarter. OSI: The Intelligence Division's Office of Special Investigations, charged with investigating alleged offenses by members of the ImperialMarines, Navy, or Administrative Services. OSIRIS, Subsector 6-C: No. Systems: 172 Sector: Scorpio with 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 24 OTHERS: (Sandeman) Those not of the warrior caste. This includesstandard humans, human variants, and non-humans, as well as Sandemanswho are neither warriors nor warriors'-women. OTHERS, THE: A post-technological race that encouraged the developmentof intelligence in the Milky Way Galaxy, then left for another plane ofexistence. They are part of cloudcat and Traiti legend/history, havingtransported both races from their worlds of origin to different ones inorder to save them, then provided them with psionic support equipment(survival aids for the cloudcats, Godhome for the Traiti). They arealso known as Those Who Went Before. OWAJIMA, Kiyoshi: Began his career as a Kai-school ninja, a mostlyhereditary group that provides the Nippon-Ni Shogun's secret police. Like the others, he is honorable and idealistic, though his standardsdo not necessarily match most Imperial citizens'; for instance, hefirmly believes the Kai school's teaching that some form ofwell-trained, well-disciplined secret police is essential to the smoothfunctioning of a society, able to unobtrusively remove disruptiveelements that the open police and courts cannot touch. During thisperiod, his cover was that of an artist, and he was much admired forthe disciplined spareness of his work. When he discovered theexistence of IntelDiv field agents, he decided his skills could be putto excellent use as one of that group, and after Nevan DarLeras sworefealty to Corina Losinj, was the top-rated field agent until his ownretirement. P PADRE: Proper title and form of address for a priest of the ArrianiLady of Love. It is also the common, though unofficial, way ofreferring to all military chaplains. PAIVA, Subsector 1-H: No. Systems: 78 Sector: Orion with 3 inhabited planets: 6 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 24 PALACE COMPLEX: Located at the foot of the Sentinel Mountains inAntarctica, this is a hundred-kilometer-diameter circle centered on theImperial Palace, protected from the elements by a modified defensescreen. The inner ten kilometers is parkland surrounding the Palace;the rest consists of air- and spaceports, residential andadministrative areas, and some commercial activity, but no majorindustry. It also has entertainment of almost every conceivable type, a wide variety of eating places, the central offices of most newsservices, and so on. (For reference, it is approximately half againthe size of the state of Delaware. ) PALACE, IMPERIAL: A building four kilometers square, situated in thecenter of the Palace Complex. It is roughly a quarter public areas, about a third (including the Empire's best medical facility)semi-public, and the remainder private for Palace residents and guests. PALACE STANDARD TIME: Called Greenwich Mean Time prior to the Empire, this is the official time kept at the Imperial Palace and aboard allmilitary (and most other) craft in space. It is also used throughoutXanadu, the only world known to have only one time zone. PALLAS, Subsector 18-B: No. Systems: 149 Sector: Aries with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 25 PAN, Subsector 8-D: No. Systems: 80 Sector: Centaurus with 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 26 PATTERN RAPPORT: An involuntary and extremely rare aspect of Talent inwhich two minds are completely merged for a brief time. Irschchantheory is that it happens when the parties' underminds decide it isnecessary to resolve an impasse or conflict. PEACELORD: Ranger Esteban Tarlac, once he has passed his Ordeal anddied. The last member of the Traiti Circle of Lords, his first act asLord Esteban was to make possible an immediate, honorable end to theTraiti War. PEACELORD, Subsector 21-B: No. Systems: 57 Sector: Traiti with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 12 with 1 inhabited planet: 22 PEGASUS, Sector 5: Ruled by: No. Systems: 386 Subsectors: 4 Inhabited planets: 215 A. Bayard C. Traveler B. Sleipnir D. Sandeman PERIDOPICLES: Ducal family, Sector 14. Legend has it that this familywas cursed when the first Duke, Orion, defeated the "witch" Lilith anddestroyed the Blue Crystal from which she gained her powers. As shewas dying, she pronounced the curse that death would visit Orion'sheirs through their children. The line is, in fact, subject to agenetic defect which is fatal to seventy-five percent of the childrenand can, in a way that has not yet been determined, be passed on to thepregnant mother, with a twenty-five percent fatality rate. Historians believe the Blue Crystal was a psionic amplifier, and thatin destroying it, the Duke received a nonfatal dose of some unknownradiation which caused a genetic mutation passed in the male line;females who survive are invariably sterile. Children have an unusuallyhigh body radiation count, certain proof of parentage. (Linda Gerhart) PERIDOT: Sector: 20, Chameleon Year: Subsector: C, Dagda Day: System: Cuchulainn Gravity: Settled/established: Axial tilt: By: Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: PER Continents: Ruled by: General: Where Aleron Rourke and his daughter crashed after an inter-universe transition, as a result meeting Kiyoshi Owajima and Nevan DarLeras. PHOENIX, Sector 14 Ruled by: Peridopicles family No. Systems: 660 Subsectors: 6 Inhabited planets: 304 A. Fenris D. Excalibur B. Unicorn E. Siren C. Gryphon F. Shamu Arms: On a black and red spiral field, a phoenix rising from flames, platinum. PHOLUS, Subsector 8-B: No. Systems: 44 Sector: Centaurus with 3 inhabited planets: 7 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 27 PIPER'S WORLD: Sector: 5, Pegasus Year: Subsector: B, Sleipnir Day: System: Valkyr Gravity: Settled/established: Axial tilt: By: Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: PIP Continents: Ruled by: General: Mostly-tropical world, among those conquered by Sandeman during the Eruption. PLANETS: The smallest Imperial subdivision, ruled by barons. Thosewith only temporary or limited-purpose settlements are classified asuninhabited and subject to the rule of the settling planet's baron. POLARIS, Subsector 9-A: No. Systems: 146 Sector: Ursa with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 26 POSEIDON, Subsector 17-C: No. Systems: 183 Sector: Indus with 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 17 POWER ARMOR: Full-metal armor with force-field shielding, used ininitial assaults and intense firefights. The force-field is thearmor's primary defense; the armor itself serves mostly as a weaponsplatform, though if the force-field fails, it will sometimes provideenough protection for the operator to reach safety. In most cases, however, force-field failure is due to overload by enemy fire, and theensuing suit failure and powerpack disruption cause total destructionof armor and operator both. The armor is so massive that the operator cannot move it withoutassistance. This is provided by internal sensors which amplify smalloperator motions and transmit them to fusion-powered servos; these movethe armor itself. Since delicacy of control is more important thansheer strength, which the armor provides, most power-armor specialistsare women. PROMETHEUS, Subsector 18-E: No. Systems: 119 Sector: Aries with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 23 PSIRYNE: The hormone responsible for psionic Talent in humans. It ispresent even if the Talent is latent; even though this specificconnection was not discovered until 2572, the Narvonese used a specifictype of it as a "marker" of susceptibility to the pseudo-virus as earlyas 2276. PURGATORY: Sector: 14, Phoenix Year: Subsector: A, Fenris Day: System: Origani Gravity: Settled/established: N/A Axial tilt: By: N/A Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: PUR Continents: Ruled by: Baron of Origani General: An average temperature of -40 F, almost constant snowfall, and ferocious native fauna have made permanent settlements impractical. Periodically, scientific and other teams make planetfall during the short (seven standard day) summer, but must leave before fall, when gale-force winds begin to blow. Only known source of the keisha plant. (Linda Gerhart) Q QUADRAMITE: An explosive used almost exclusively in mining. It isalmost impossible to detonate until primed, at which time it becomesviolently unstable. QUIDINE: An analgesic drug. Its strength, non-addictiveness, andgeneral safety make it a natural choice in most cases where a powerfulpainkiller is needed. R RA, Subsector 1-D: No. Systems: 133 Sector: Orion with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 23 RAMMAN, Subsector 12-A: No. Systems: 100 Sector: Eridanus with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 14 with 1 inhabited planet: 24 RANGERS, IMPERIAL: Established by Emperor Chang in 2128, this group ismade up of multi-talented, genius-level generalists chosen for a numberof qualities including (but not limited to) intelligence, common sense, adaptability, realistic idealism, loyalty to the Empire, no closepersonal ties, and--since 2569--Talent. They are generally chosenyoung, trained on the job for two or three years by another Ranger. They are the Sovereign's personal representatives and troubleshooters, doing what the Sovereign would if @ could be in ten places at once. They have the right to wield Imperial power at need, though if timepermits, they will always consult with the Sovereign before doing so. It is they who choose the Successor, in theory any qualified Imperialcitizen but so far in practice always another Ranger. Their working uniform is forest green with a platinum circled-starbadge, black leather equipment belt and boots, and a sidearm of theRanger's choice. Semi-dress adds a silver-trimmed cloak with theImperial Arms. RAPID-HEAL: A drug derived from Ondrian miracle-weed which speeds thehealing of injuries by a factor of about 3. 5 for a standard human orTraiti, about 5 for a Sandeman non-warrior, and about 7 for a warriorof that race. It cannot be used on infected wounds, and the increasedhealing speed causes increased appetite and fatigue. RAVAGERS: Inter-universal raiders. They are not life as Imperialsusually understand the term; some scientists believe they are notreally life at all. From time to time, at unpredictable intervals, they erupt into a random universe and--if that universe does not have atechnological and population level near the Empire's--devastate it andproceed to another. However, no Empire-level civilization is attackedmore than once, because a civilization at that stage can, and so faralways does, defeat them. After such a defeat, the Ravagers retreat, and it is several years before they attack again anywhere. This is thereason Empires in various alternate universes cooperate to developEmpires or the equivalent in still other alternates. RATRI, Subsector 13-C: No. Systems: 43 Sector: Crater with 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 8 with 1 inhabited planet: 23 REDDEN'S WORLD: Sector: 5, Pegasus Year: Subsector: A, Bayard Day: System: Lindbergh Gravity: Settled/established: Axial tilt: By: Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: RED Continents: Ruled by: RELIGION: Human Imperials follow all of the major religions frombefore the Empire, and many of the minor ones, though all have beenmodified to a greater or lesser degree by the discovery of other worldsand races. There are also new religions, of which Omnism is thecommonest, and the Traiti faith picks up some human adherents after theWar. RELIGION, Sandeman: Created, like most of Sandeman culture, by theShapers, this is a polytheistic faith loosely based on Shinto, Islam, and Odinism with a strong emphasis on honor. The deities are warriorsand warriors'-women who have died in honor. They have no particularduties in the sense of most Terrestrial pantheons; they are more of anexample, a goal to strive for. However, it is believed they willoccasionally come to the aid of a worshipper in extreme straits, orsometimes give a helping hand simply because they feel like it. The afterlife is much like life, only better. For the warrior caste, it is a blend of Valhalla and the Mohammedan Paradise; for Others, itis what they had before, but better and with more intensity. Although reincarnation was not a part of the original religion, thereis one sect of Others who believe that if they please the gods duringtheir first life, they will be reborn into the warrior caste and have achance to become gods themselves. RETALIATOR, Subsector 19-F: No. Systems: 107 Sector: Leo with 3 inhabited planets: 7 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 12 with 1 inhabited planet: 28 ROC, Subsector 10-B: No. Systems: 99 Sector: Aquila with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 13 with 1 inhabited planet: 20 ROYAL ENFORCEMENT SERVICE(s): The combined law enforcement and militaryservices of the Kingdom Systems. Each planet's Enforcement Serviceoperates independently, but all are ultimately responsible to the HighKing, and the only uniform difference is the planetary insigne on thecollar. The RES is divided into the regular forces, who operate much likepolice in the Empire, and Special Operations, which are most similar tothe ITMC's Special Forces. Until recently, because of the dangers oftheir work (average lifespan is less than two years), Special Opspersonnel were required to be sterile and unmarried; these requirementscan now be waived if the person is a member of one of the new extendedFamilies. Special Operations has recently acquired a subdivision called theStrike Force. It is designed as a number of quick-responseanti-terrorist teams which operate under very liberalrules--particularly its Inquisitors, who operate under Writs ofImmunity issued by the Pope and High King. Under these Writs, anythinga Strike Force Inquisitor (or the people working with @) does in thebelief it is for the Systems' protection or in their interest, exceptregicide or narrowly-defined treason, cannot be punished. Unlike Imperial forces, the RES has very few women, and at this pointonly two are officers. The highest Enforcement rank is Colonel. RUCHAYA: (Traiti) Clan parent. Used by any of a clan's younglings toany of its adults, though @ will generally refer to @'s birth-parentsas "ka'chaya" (female parent, mother) and "es'chaya" (male parent, father). RUDRA, Subsector 12-D: No. Systems: 54 Sector: Eridanus with 3 inhabited planets: 5 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 22 RUHAR: (Traiti) Literally "clan fellow-member"; Clanmate. S SALVIS: (Traiti) A Homeworld plant that bears a strong resemblance topoison oak. Its tuber-like roots are edible and highly nutritious, though the taste is bland. SANDEMAN, Subsector 5-D: No. Systems: 98 Sector: Pegasus with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: Klaes family, since with 2 inhabited planets: 14 2542 with 1 inhabited planet: 25 Arms: On a gold field, a gem-type diamond within a ring, both blue. SANDEMAN: Sector: 5, Pegasus Year: 348 days Subsector: D, Sandeman Day: 23 hr 47 min System: Cassell Gravity: 1029 cm/sec2 Settled/established: 2130 CE Axial tilt: 4. 75 deg. By: Genetic engineers Oxygen: 20. 2% Satellites: 1 (Signet) % water: 72 Ident code prefix: SND Continents: 8; names below Ruled by: See below General: The main differences from Terra are the higher average temperature and its concomitant, no real arctic areas. Sandeman has eight continents, six of which have been explored fairly thoroughly; the northern one, Erewhon, and about two-thirds of the southerly shield-shaped one, Quivira, are too cold for Sandeman comfort. The others are Camelot, Shangri-La, Arcadia, Eden, Canaan, and Eldorado. Under the Shapers, these were divided into districts, but since Overthrow Day (7 Oct 2316), subdivision has been by clan areas instead; the districts no longer exist. Another difference is Sandeman time. Both day and year are somewhatshorter than Terra's, but they use the Terran Standard system forrecord-keeping, which leads to some interesting anomalies, such as thelast of the twenty-four hours being only forty-seven minutes long. This means they have approximately 103 hours per Standard yeardifference, relative to Terra. Their year is also linked to Terra's ina way different from most Imperial worlds', a way permitted by theirminimal axial tilt and accompanying barely-noticeable seasons: whiletheir physical year is 348 days, their calendar year is 368 1/4. Because of the shorter day, they add four days (February 29-31 andSeptember 31; April 31 in leap years) so their calendar year ends upquite close to the Standard one. SANDEMANS: A genetically engineered race considered human-variant dueto the number and extent of changes made. In dealings with Sandemans, especially the warrior caste, it is essential to keep those changes, and the fact of a culture designed in large part to enhance them, inmind. Sandemans are motivated primarily by honor, are intensely proudand ethnocentric, and have an extreme privacy drive. Courtesy isdeeply ingrained and they do not expect non-Sandemans to live up toSandeman standards even when visiting Sandeman worlds. In most cases, that means they will ignore even deliberate insults fromnon-Sandemans--but not in all cases. Touching one without permissionwill get at least a verbal rebuke; attacking one will in allprobability result in the attacker's death. In Subsector Sandeman, theoffender is at fault; elsewhere in the Empire, that is less automaticbut still the presumption. To paraphrase then-Baron Klaes of Mjolnir, the first Imperial world to have Sandemans as guests and protectorsinstead of conquerors: These people are used to protecting themselves, rather than relying on police. Their reflexes are exceptionally fastand strong, particularly if they are under attack; anyone assaulting aSandeman may expect to have @'s cause of death listed as suicide. Sandemans are short and slender, the men averaging 160-165 cm and 62-67kilos, the women 2-3 cm and kilos less. Skin tones range from dark tanto dark olive, hair from almost white to not quite light brown, mostlystraight though a few have wavy hair, even fewer curly. Eyes arepale-to-medium blue, green, or hazel. Children are born covered in furresembling a kitten's; it is usually gone by three months of age. Despite their small stature, Sandemans are stronger and faster thantheir creators, with greater endurance and higher average intelligence. Between twenty and fifty percent (up from about ten percent under theShapers) of the males, depending on the clan, are further modifiedwarriors, whose speed, strength and endurance are increased stillfurther. (See also Warriors, Sandeman, and Need, Sandeman Warriors'. ) The basic Sandeman social structure is a two-caste clan, with the upperwarrior caste composed of the warriors and warriors'-women, the Othercaste being everyone else. Caste may be determined by the clan-prefix(warriors are Dar, w'women Dru, Others Den) and often by clothing; thewarrior caste usually wears subdued coveralls, the Others brighterclothing. As a rule, Others marry; warriors and w'women do not, fostering theirchildren with Other families to provide a stable home life. Childrenmingle freely regardless of caste, until at puberty the young studentwarriors and w'women move into their rooms in the main clanhome, whileOther children remain with their parents until they marry or establishtheir own homes. Warriors and w'women maintain ties, often close ones, with the families who raised them and will, in many cases, raise theirchildren. Most traditional Sandeman names are Gaelic, Gaelic-flavored, orNorse-Germanic. There is no naming distinction between the castesother than the clan-prefixes, or between the sexes except that namesending in -a are female; anything else can be either. Nicknames may beproper names shortened to first or last syllable, or an occasionalpositive-attributive descriptive nickname. Full first names are alwaysproper usage, with 'the warrior' or 'the lady' added when speakingabout a warrior or w'woman, and 'warrior' or 'lady' may be used insteadof one's name when addressing @. SATYR PLAGUE: (Kingdom Systems) A mutant plague strain that appearedon St. Thomas in 2542. Its "victims" (few of whom consider themselvesas such) develop an increased sexual drive and capacity, as well asother minor enhancements. Once its effects became known, it spreadrapidly throughout the Systems, and has caused a number of societalchanges, including the Families. It is not contagious in normalcontact; the risk (or chance) of contagion otherwise depends onintimacy of contact. SCANLON, David Mark: (2541- ) Captured during the Nemran Rebellion(2555) shortly after his fourteenth birthday, he was helped to escapeby one of his captors who did not wish to be involved further whenRanger Esteban Tarlac was taken prisoner. He then rescued the Ranger, who had been seriously injured, from the rebel camp, nursing andguarding him until Imperial Marines landed with medical help. For hisactions, he was created a Life Duke. SCORPIO, Sector 6: Ruled by: No. Systems: 710 Subsectors: 7 Inhabited planets: 365 A. Shiva E. Selket B. Odin F. Kore C. Osiris G. Tarlac D. Mithra SCULPTOR, Sector 3: Ruled by: No. Systems: 104 Subsectors: 2 Inhabited planets: 101 A. Asgard B. Olympus SEAL, IMPERIAL: A stylized planet with a sun emerging above and a moonbelow. It appears on the Imperial Arms in color, and is sometimesused, in the form of platinum pins or a badge, as the Sovereign's rankinsignia. SECUDIV: The ITMC Security Division. This major specialty division isresponsible for the security of Imperial ships, installations, andpersonnel. SECTORS: The largest subdivisions of the Empire, ruled by dukes. SELKET, Subsector 6-E: No. Systems: 68 Sector: Scorpio with 3 inhabited planets: 5 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 19 SEPOL: (Of Clan D'gameh) One of the Traiti Circle of Lords, known asLord of the Ordeal. SEPOL, Subsector 21-F: No. Systems: 64 Sector: Traiti with 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 24 SHADOW FLEET: A secret Imperial fleet which, under normalcircumstances, exists only as a cadre. Its existence, however, is amatter of perpetual rumor, and is the standard explanation for amilitary person who drops out of sight for an extended time, especiallyif @ reappears at a higher rank. When it is activated for militaryemergencies (under another designation, of course), it operates, ifnecessary, without regard for the Laws of War; its Fleet Admiral issubsequently courtmartialled, then given another identity and set up ona world of @'s choice. Home port is Shonnar, where its cover mission (and, most of the time, real one) is to interdict that world from contact. SHAMASH, Subsector 1-F: No. Systems: 51 Sector: Orion with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 15 SHAMU, Subsector 14-F: No. Systems: 133 Sector: Phoenix with 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 22 SHAPERS: The genetic engineers, led by Sandoval "Sandy" Cassell, whocreated the Sandeman race and much of its culture. They wereoverthrown and killed by their creations in 2316. SHIP CLASSES, CIVILIAN: Civilian ships are so varied it is impossibleto summarize them, except to say that they vary from hundred-meterneedles (the smallest size able to carry hyperdrive engines) tofive-hundred-meter spheres (the largest able to land in near-standardgravity fields). SHIP CLASSES, ITN: In order of size, Imperial Navy ships are: Battle Cruisers (IBCs), equatorial diameter 1000 meters, mass 8 x 10 tothe eighth tons, crew 2000, carrying capacity over a million, named forSovereigns or Rangers. Flagships of Imperial Fleets when such must beassembled, and the ship-type most commonly used by Rangers. They arevery well armed, used for things like colony setup, deep-space patrol, large-scale rescue, and similar missions, as well as combat. Heavy Cruisers (IHCs), equatorial diameter 800 meters, mass 1. 75 x 10to the eighth tons, crew 1800, named for famous sea ships. Flagshipsof Sector-level fleets. Light Cruisers (ILCs), equatorial diameter 700 meters, mass 1. 2 x 10 tothe eighth tons, crew 1500, named for stars or given guardian-typenames (e. G. , Guardian or Protector). Heavy Destroyers (IHDs), equatorial diameter 500 meters, crew 1000, named for military commanders. Massing 4. 28 x 10 to the seventh tons, this is the largest class of ship capable of landing in a near-standardgrav field. Light Destroyers (ILDs), equatorial diameter 400 meters, crew 750, named for military commanders. Armed Scouts (IASs), equatorial diameter 200 meters, crew of 500, namedfor scouts or explorers. Couriers (ICs), length 100 meters, crew 5-50 (some automated to requireonly a pilot), named at pilot's option. (For comparison, the largest U. S. Aircraft, the C-5B, is 75. 5 meterslong, with a wingspan of 67. 9 meters, and maximum mass of 418. 5 tons. ) SHIP-COMP: Ship-computer, an artificial intelligence installed on allImperial ships of Scout class or higher. SHIVA, Subsector 6-A: No. Systems: 120 Sector: Scorpio with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 13 with 1 inhabited planet: 25 SHONNAR: Sector: 3, Sculptor Year: Subsector: A, Asgard Day: System: Bifrost Gravity: Settled/established: 2153 Axial tilt: By: Terran mystics Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: SHO Continents: Ruled by: Chief Monitor General: Called Retreat by its inhabitants, this world was rediscoveredby Crown Princess Halona Strider in 2321, while she was looking for apermanent home base for the Shadow Fleet. The mystics who had settledit were developing powers she thought might be useful in the future, ifthey were left alone to do so. That was precisely what they wanted, aswell, so they agreed to provide the base she needed. She establishedan interdiction zone, with the cover story that it was there to allowShonnar's "lizard-like, subsapient inhabitants" to develop sapiencewithout exploitation. SIB: Arriani extended family, usually having 20-50 members. SIREN, Subsector 14-E: No. Systems: 105 Sector: Phoenix with 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 17 Arms: On a black field, a silver lozenge on which is a mermaid with black hair and green tail, looking into a crystal ball held in her right hand, holding a sword point-down in her left. SKYWALKER, Subsector 7-B: No. Systems: 189 Sector: Cygnus with 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 17 SLEIPNIR, Subsector 5-B: No. Systems: 103 Sector: Pegasus with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 12 with 1 inhabited planet: 22 SOH TREE: (Traiti) A moderate-climate Homeworld tree with broadsilvery-green leaves and sticky sap. SOL, Subsector 1-A: No. Systems: 63 Sector: Orion with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 20 SOLAR FEDERATION: (2091-2128) Established when enough Terrans hadmoved off-planet to justify a System-wide government, the Federationwas a loose democracy. It was superseded when hyperdrive allowedhumanity to travel faster than light, rapidly spreading to the pointwhere sheer scale made democracy impossible. At that point theFederation Congress amended the constitution, dissolving the Federationand creating the Terran Empire. SOUL-BLADE: (Irschchan) A dagger carried by all Irschchans frompre-adolescence. It has the owner's personality impressed on it by aspecialized form of darlas, and is supposed to remain with its ownerfor the rest of @'s life. The owner becomes uncomfortable if it is notwithin reach, more so if it is handled by another, and sufferspermanent psychic shock if it is destroyed. After the owner's death, the soul-blade is preserved in the family'sHall of Memories, where the survivors are able to feel the presence oftheir deceased relatives. SPECIAL LIAISON: An individual with special knowledge of a culture orsociety, usually because @ was born or raised in it, appointed to workwith the officer in charge of a mission to that culture. STILDYNE, Subsector 7-F: No. Systems: 96 Sector: Cygnus with 3 inhabited planets: 6 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 8 with 1 inhabited planet: 26 STINGWEED: Nemran plant. A low-growing shrub with silvery-greenthree-lobed leaves and milky sap. The sap contains something generallydescribed as a cross between a fungus and a bacterium, which isharmless to intact skin, but is poisonous if introduced into a wound. The first indication of poisoning, usually in less than an hour, isthat the wound begins to ooze a thick, greenish-yellow, foul-smellingmatter. If the victim does not receive prompt treatment, a feverdevelops, followed by delirium, coma, and death, the speed of progressdetermined by the amount of poison absorbed. It is dangerous foranyone except a medic or physician with life support available toattempt medicating a stingweed victim, since even something as normallysafe as quidine may at times intensify the poison's effect. STUNNER, NEURAL: A blaster setting or special-purpose handgun thatstuns rather than injuring the one shot. Although it causes no actualdamage, the victim does wake with a severe, migraine-like headache. STYX, Subsector 17-B: No. Systems: 115 Sector: Indus with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 21 SUBSECTORS: The second subdivision of the Empire, ruled by earls. There are 106 Subsectors, having an average of 53 planets in 36 systems. SUCCESSION, IMPERIAL: After considerable study of possiblealternatives, Emperor Chang decided that the Imperial succession shouldbe based, with one modification, on the Roman Catholic method ofselecting Popes. That difference was timing; rather than wait untilthe Sovereign died to elect a new one, thus risking a period without aruler, the Conclave would elect a Successor as soon as the newSovereign ascended the Throne. Acting on that, a Conclave to elect hisSuccessor was held a month later; that was Ranger Susan Lindner, whofollowed his example, as has been done ever since. See below for alist of the first twenty-five Sovereigns and the dates of their reigns. Cheong Chang, 19 Jan 2128 - 1 Jan 2149 Susan M. Lindner, 1 Jan 2149 - 9 Nov 2182 Bjorn Bengtsson, 9 Nov 2182 - 7 Jul 2230 Juana Mendez, 7 Jul 2230 - 10 Feb 2249 Christopher J. Kyle, 10 Feb 2249 - 19 Apr 2256 Mohammed Gamayel, 19 Apr 2256 - 10 Dec 2280 Corwin M. Jacobs, 10 Dec 2280 - 20 Aug 2315 Brandy P. Lansky, 20 Aug 2315 - 17 May 2333 (female) Halona Strider, 17 May 2333 - 18 Aug 2366 Nicholas C. Browder, 18 Aug 2366 - 23 Sep 2382 Eileen P. Holt, 23 Sep 2382 - 4 Aug 2395 Grant L. Barton, 4 Aug 2395 - 26 Jan 2420 Leonard M. Frey, 26 Jan 2420 - 7 Nov 2488 Joyce G. Kingsley, 7 Nov 2488 - 25 Jan 2508 (male) Adli Yasunon, 25 Jan 2508 - 28 Mar 2553 Charles Davis, 28 Mar 2553 - 20 Sep 2577 Rick Forrest, 20 Sep 2577 - 11 Apr 2603 Corina Losinj, 11 Apr 2603 - 19 Feb 2624 (female, Irschchan) Jasmine Wang, 19 Feb 2624 - 29 Nov 2630 Ray Kennard, 29 Nov 2630 - 29 Dec 2678 Anna A. Peterson, 29 Dec 2678 - 14 Sep 2700 Konstantin J. Gagarin, 14 Sep 2700 - 8 Jun 2753 Sharon T. Windsor, 8 Jun 2753 - 6 Mar 2804 Prae Ofyn, 6 Mar 2804 - 21 Feb 2862 (male, Irschchan) Einar J. Lang, 21 Feb 2862 - 26 Dec 2893 SURYA, Subsector 1-B: No. Systems: 193 Sector: Orion with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 24 SUSANOWO, Subsector 12-E: No. Systems: 193 Sector: Eridanus with 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 20 SYSTEMS: The third subdivision of the Empire; the 1, 431 with more thanone inhabited planet are ruled by counts. T T/CT: Terrene/Contra-Terrene, a more accurate term for what is oftencalled matter/anti-matter (since both are actually matter, simply indifferent forms). The reaction between the two forms liberates all theenergy both contain, making it by far the most efficient and leastpolluting energy source available. For this reason, T/CT is usedalmost exclusively for planetary and large-craft energy needs. TALENT: Psionic ability strong enough to be trained into a reliableskill. Always includes a mind screen (sometimes powerful enough to becalled a mind shield) and telepathy. It may also include telekinesis, darlas, clairvoyance, teleportation, psychometry, rarely precognition, and (so far only in humans) healing. There may be other aspects also, as yet undefined. On Irschcha, it has been searched for and trained bythe White Order since circa 3000 BCE; the first human so trained wasRanger James Medart, in 2569. Talent is uncommon among humans, only about half of one percent havingmind shields, though perhaps twice as many have the weaker screens. Among Sandemans, Talent of shield level is fifty percent, ninety-fivepercent for warriors. Very few Sandemans, however, are willing to takeTalent training, seeing it as a violation of privacy, so there is noway of telling what other aspects they might have. TARLAC, Esteban: (2533-2568) Imperial Ranger, 2553-2568. His firstsolo mission was stopping the Nemran revolt. He was almost killed whenthe rebels poisoned him with stingweed, but he was rescued and keptalive, until Imperial forces arrived with medical help, by 14-year oldDavid M. Scanlon, who was made a Life Duke for the feat. Tarlac's greatest accomplishment, though, was his almost single-handedending of the Traiti War. He agreed to submit to the Traiti Ordeal ofHonor and succeeded, returning to Terra with the Traiti leaders, whoclaimed their rightful place (thanks to their Terran origin) asImperial citizens. Tarlac was assassinated during the ceremony, by aHumanity First fanatic. The Traiti maintain, however, that he actuallydied of his Scarring seconds after completing the Ordeal, and becamethe last member of the Circle of Lords, their gods; they revere him asthe Peacelord. TARLAC, Subsector 6-G: No. Systems: 44 Sector: Scorpio with 3 inhabited planets: 0 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 23 TEACHING TAPE: A standard reading tape "overprinted" with electronicimpulses which can be played directly into a human brain to provideinstant memorization of facts. The recipient must still learn to workwith those facts (e. G. , how to pronounce and otherwise use the wordsand grammatical rules of a language), but is saved the considerabletime @ would normally have wasted in rote memorization. TEFNUT, Subsector 12-B: No. Systems: 82 Sector: Eridanus with 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 8 with 1 inhabited planet: 26 TERRA: Sector: 1, Orion Year: Standard (365 1/4 days) Subsector: A, Sol Day: Standard (24 hrs) System: Sol Gravity: Standard (980 cm/sec2) Settled/established: N/A Axial tilt: 23. 5 deg. By: N/A Oxygen: 21% Satellites: 1 (Luna) % Water: 73 Ident code prefix: TER Continents: Phys. 4, polit. 7 Ruled by: General: The world where humanity, Traiti, and cetaceans evolved. Itis the Imperial capital world, centered on the Antarctic PalaceComplex; it is also the capital of Sector Orion and Subsector Sol. It remains a world of many societies, though there is no longer muchfriction between them. The Traiti call it Truehome. THAKUR: (Sandeman) One who has accepted personal fealty from another. THAKUR-NA: (Sandeman) One whose offer of personal fealty has beenaccepted. THARK: (ISCTK-2395-8016) High Adept of the White Order, 2540-2569. Corina Losinj's teacher until she discovered his planned revolt againstthe Empire. His intent was to replace the unTalented (and thereforeunqualified, in his opinion) human rulers with the White Order. Whenhe discovered that Losinj had become a Ranger, and was forced torealize that some humans did indeed have Talent, his reason for revoltwas eliminated. The same honor that had motivated him to start therevolt then required that he halt it, surrender leadership of the WhiteOrder, and accept punishment. As part of that punishment, he destroyedhis soul-blade, which sent him into a permanent state of psychic shock. Since he had ended the rebellion himself and imposed a part of thepunishment on himself, he was not executed; instead, he was placed inthe custody and care of Clan Ch'kara of the new Traiti Sector. THOMPSON, Jase: The first Bloodmate to be recognized as such, in 2277. He was in command of the Evaluation Team sent in response to ArchbishopKlein's complaint about Narvonese turning into blood-drinking monsters. When blood tests taken on landing showed him to be extremelysusceptible to the nosferatu pseudo-virus, Count Nilssun decided hewould be an ideal Imperial Liaison for the System if he became a Kin. When he rejected the idea, she arranged for him to become infected, then be weakened enough for the Change. To her disappointment, he didnot appear to Change--but that night, it became obvious that heliterally had to feed a Kin at daily intervals; in so feeding NarvonSystem's Chief of Detectives, Enna Kaufman, he Bonded to her. When hewas questioned by Count Nilssun, he mentioned a dream of the DragonPrince, which led to the further discovery that a number of others whohad not appeared to Change had also had such a dream, and were alsoable, but did not have, to supply a Kin's daily needs. ("Teams") THOR, Subsector 12-G: No. Systems: 74 Sector: Eridanus with 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 12 with 1 inhabited planet: 21 THOTH, Subsector 20-B: No. Systems: 158 Sector: Chameleon with 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 8 with 1 inhabited planet: 24 THUNDERBIRD, Subsector 10-A: No. Systems: 55 Sector: Aquila with 3 inhabited planets: 6 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 16 with 1 inhabited planet: 23 TITANIA, Subsector 4-B: No. Systems: 72 Sector: Fornax with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 24 TOLI: (Traiti) A Homeworld vine that often kills the trees it usesfor support. It also yields orange berries that, to quote RangerTarlac, "look like jelly beans, smell like dirty socks, and tastefantastic. " TORRANCE, Clan: (Sandeman) Clanhome is located on Quivira Continent. Although its specialties are boating and seamanship, like most clans itraises most of its own food; because of Quivira's topography andrelatively cold climate, it has more land than the average clan. Thatland includes most of the Cold Peak mountain range, which is popularwith tourists who can get the clan's permission to visit; the clanhunts there, as well as harvesting ice-berries, most of which areexported as a luxury item. TORVA BUSH: (Traiti) Actually a low-growing tree. Its tough innerbark can be used as a substitute for rope or twine. TRAITI: A cousin-race to humanity, having evolved on Terra from acommon ancestor, and removed by the Others about 35, 000 BCE to insureracial survival. Although traces have been found on Terra, they werenot recognized as such until after contact was made; before that, suchfinds were denounced as mistakes at best, frauds at worst. Traiti males average about two meters in height and 250 kilos in mass, with females somewhat smaller. They are heavily built but not fat, dueto greater tissue density. Their bodies are human-looking, as are thehands (with the exception of semi-retractile claws instead of nails), although their skin is medium gray in color and as tough as leatherarmor despite its softness. Heads are their least human-lookingfeature, being ovoid and having the long axis approximately parallel tothe ground, with bulges along the top and sides. The eyes are small;the nose is barely noticeable except for slit nostrils, and the liplessmouth has triangular, serrated teeth. There are no external ears. Much of Traiti society is influenced by their sexual imbalance and (onhuman terms) severely limited fertility. Only approximatelyone-quarter of the Traiti race is female, leading to a custom (almost acompulsion) requiring that females and younglings be protected. (Notethat because of this, all Traiti fighters are male. ) Their "family"structure is by clans ranging from 10, 000 members up, with all adultmembers of a clan acting as parents to all its younglings. Custom restricts sexual activity to within a given clan, which is not, thanks to occasional adoptions and a very stable gene pool, geneticallyharmful to the race. The general attitude is that sharing bodies is athing of goodness, between any two adult members of the clan. Heterosex is preferable when available, because of the possibility(however remote) of offspring, but because of the sexual imbalance, thegreat majority of Traiti males are bisexual in orientation. During peacetime, clans are led by the Ka'ruchaya consulting with thesenior fighter, always a Cor'naya; in combat, the senior Cor'naya takescharge, consulting with the Ka'ruchaya. Although she is not in anyformal position of authority, both listen to the clan's Speaker for theCircle of Lords, who is their religious leader. The race as a whole isled by the male Supreme and the female First Speaker. TRAITI, Sector 21: Ruled by: Supreme & First Speaker, co-Dukes No. Systems: 568 Subsectors: 6 Inhabited planets: 308 A. Homesun D. Kranath B. Peacelord E. Carle C. Davis F. Sepol TRAVELER, Subsector 5-C: No. Systems: 93 Sector: Pegasus with 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 11 with 1 inhabited planet: 28 TREASURE-TUNNELS: Role-playing game derived from the twentieth-centuryDungeons and Dragons. It has a steady following in most of the Empire, especially in Subsector Sandeman, where it is a tactical training aidas well as a game. TRIBUNAL, IMPERIAL: A formal hearing by an Imperial officer todetermine the facts in a case, then order the appropriate punishment orreward. TRIQUINIA: Sector: 17, Indus Year: Subsector: A, Alph Day: System: Ganges Gravity: Settled/established: Axial tilt: By: Oxygen: Satellites: % Water: Ident code prefix: TRQ Continents: Ruled by: General: The first Imperial contact with this world was made by RangerCaitlyn Macdonald, who discovered a planetary population of intelligentfour-legged creatures apparently engineered from Terran colonists' petsand domestic animals. The humans had been subsequently wiped out by adisease that did not affect the animals, and all Terran connectionswere forgotten. (Cathy Whitehead) TUONETAR, Subsector 15-C: No. Systems: 156 Sector: Auriga with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 23 TYR, Subsector 18-G: No. Systems: 42 Sector: Aries with 3 inhabited planets: 6 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 19 U UKKO, Subsector 20-D: No. Systems: 71 Sector: Chameleon with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 26 ULTRAWAVE: The gravitics-based communications system. It isessentially instantaneous at intra-galactic distances. UNICORN, Subsector 14-B: No. Systems: 48 Sector: Phoenix with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 24 URSA, Sector 9: Ruled by: No. Systems: 651 Subsectors: 6 Inhabited planets: 313 A. Polaris D. Indra B. Hathor E. Ilmatar C. Apis F. Meerclar V VADER, Clan (Sandeman): The first clan founded after Overthrow. Namedfor the Saga's Black Lord, it is the arbiter of the most delicatequestions of honor. It specializes in energy weapons, the developmentof one of which, the lightsaber, required controlled-length laserbeams, which has had considerable effect on many fields of Imperialtechnology. VERANOL: Developed by Solar Federation researchers in 2096, Veranol isa pale blue liquid which remained the only reliable means of insuringaccurate testimony until the mindprobe was developed in 2543. Althoughit is still used for that purpose when mindprobes are not available, its primary use now is in the anti-interrogation conditioning givenImperials in sensitive or senior positions. There is speculation thatit is also used to condition IntelDiv field agents to help themmaintain cover identities during covert investigations, but MarineCorps authorities refuse to comment. VIP CODES: A ship carrying Imperial nobles and/or senior officers willuse special designations to inform others of that fact. A vesselcarrying the Sovereign will drop its name and use either "Navy One", "Marine One", or (in the rare case of a civilian ship) "Empire One". Ships carrying other VIPs retain their names, identifying the senior'srank, whether crewwen or passenger, by the following DistinguishedVisitor codes: DV-1: Ranger DV-2: Duke, Fleet Admiral, or Commandant of the Marine Corps DV-3: Earl or Admiral DV-4: Count, Marine Lieutenant General, or Navy Vice Admiral DV-5: Baron, Marine Major General, or Navy Rear Admiral DV-6: Imperial Liaison Officer, Marine Brigadier General, or Navy Commodore VIRGO, Sector 16: Ruled by: No. Systems: 360 Subsectors: 4 Inhabited planets: 200 A. Athena C. Ishtar B. Isis D. Freya VISHNU, Subsector 18-D: No. Systems: 198 Sector: Aries with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 21 W WAR DOGS, Sandeman: One of the two types of livestock modified by theShapers, of the wide variety they took with them. These are Dobermanpinschers modified for size (averaging about 45 kilos), intelligence, and speech. Their intellectual ability is about that of a ten-year-oldhuman. The speech modification was less successful; while they can beunderstood, it takes either concentration or a practiced ear. ClanShona is the primary breeder and trainer of these dogs, and tends toconsider them as members of the clan. WARRIORS, Sandeman: Males genetically modified even beyond theSandeman norm by addition of a gland which produces the hormone egerin. Under the Shapers, warriors were about ten percent of the malepopulation. This changed after Overthrow, when more warriors were seenas vital to the defense of the race. After Annexation, when thebenefits of warrior-police were seen on the worlds they had conquered, other worlds began to hire them and warriors became an economic assetto their clans. Up to half of a modern clan's men may be warriors, with many of them away from the clan in the Marines or on contract assecurity forces. Egerin is the primary part of a sex-linked recessive gene complex, andis responsible for giving them speed, strength, and stamina well abovethe Sandeman norm. Although the psychological segment of the genecomplex is smaller, it is no less important: Sandeman warriors enjoyfighting. These physical and psychological traits are developed by training whichstarts at age five. The major emphasis, of course, is on combat andrelated subjects, such as weapons, martial arts, High War Speech, military and Sandeman history, and perhaps some spacecraft handling. Other important subjects are customs and courtesies, need management, the clan's specialty, and one or more personal interests, usuallyincluding some form of handiwork. When the young warriors move intothe main clanhome at puberty, they begin doing their own chores(laundry, cleaning, etc. ), including a share in cooking. At approximately 18 years old, there is a graduation ceremony for thenew warriors and w'women, indicating that they now take their place inthe clan as adults. There is no sharp division other than that anadult will not fight or have sex (except for the instructors) with astudent; part of the post-graduation party is an adult inviting one ofthe new graduates to one or the other. Warriors have the typical Sandeman ethnocentrism, but to an evengreater degree. The race was created to be better than its creators, and the warriors are the best of the Sandemans. Fortunately, they arealso more concerned with honor, propriety, and courtesy, and they arethoroughly trained in "warrior restraint"; it is dishonorable to fightOthers who regard themselves as non-combatants, however great theprovocation, except in self-defense. To a Sandeman warrior, the Marineslogan "Death before dishonor" is a truism--and a probable reason mostwarriors spend some time in that service. Their physiology and training, however, make it unlikely that a warriorwill ever become a Ranger or Sovereign; they are temperamentallyunsuited to administering a civilian group larger than a clan. WARRIORS'-WOMEN, Sandeman: (abbreviated w'women) The female members ofthe warrior caste, women trained in combat, medicine, and needmanagement. They have no genetic modifications beyond those shared byall Sandemans, so any girl-child who wants to take the training may doso, and most warriors' daughters, particularly the eldest, at leastbegin training; those who complete it successfully wear a gold-gemmedring (e. G. , golden topaz) to mark their status. Since they have nospecial genetic alterations, however, any who decide they are notsuited to the life may quit at any time, during or after training. Because of this, there are fewer w'women than warriors, though ideallytheir numbers would be equal. About the best ratio most clans canexpect is one w'woman for two to three warriors. WEN: (Imperial English) Indefinite pronoun used either when sex isunknown or irrelevant (e. G. , crewwen) or referring to a group in whichboth sexes are present (e. G. , crewwens). WHITE ORDER: (Irschchan) The organization of Talented Irschchans thathas ruled that planet since approximately 3000 BCE, its most stronglyTalented member becoming the High Adept. In keeping with the Empire'spolicy regarding already-existing governments, this was modified onlyin that the High Adept also becomes the Planetary Baron. At initiation, a member drops @'s family name, using "of the WhiteOrder" instead. X XAN: Xanadu's planetary computer. XANADEN: Inhabitant of Xanadu. XANADU: Sector: 1, Orion Year: 729 std. Days Subsector: C, Heimdall Day: 83 hours System: Kama Gravity: 950 cm/sec2 Settled/established: 2142 Axial tilt: 47 deg. By: Oxygen: 23% Satellites: None % Water: No surface water Ident code prefix: XAN Continents: None Ruled by: Steen family General: Pleasure planet. Although its surface is uninhabited, itsnear-surface volume contains numerous large cave complexes which havebeen improved and expanded. It has no native life, even plants, butTerran imported plants thrive, thanks to carefully-controlled lightingand atmosphere. Since everything is underground, the surface year andday are irrelevant to Xanadens; the entire planet operates on PalaceStandard Time. Xanadu's only significant economic asset is tourism, its most famousattractions the Pleasure Dome and the amators. XANTH, Subsector 4-D: No. Systems: 94 Sector: Fornax with 3 inhabited planets: 6 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 12 with 1 inhabited planet: 21 Y YAMA, Subsector 15-D: No. Systems: 109 Sector: Auriga with 3 inhabited planets: 6 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 17 YONAR: Sector: 13, Crater Year: Subsector: D, Idun Day: System: Jade Gravity: Settled/established: 2516 Axial tilt: By: Oxygen: Satellites: 3 % Water: Ident code prefix: YON Continents: Ruled by: General: The main colony suffered a disastrous flood in 2518; the rescue mission was led by Ranger James Medart, his first solo. Z ZEUS, Subsector 12-F: No. Systems: 150 Sector: Eridanus with 3 inhabited planets: 7 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 8 with 1 inhabited planet: 17 ZWILNIK: Anyone dealing in illegal drugs, or dealing illegally inlegal ones. (From the Lensman multiverse chronicled by E. E. "Doc"Smith, with thanks. )