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 closely than anything else its first investigators were aware of. It is capable of infecting approximately one percent of the inhabitants of Narvon System and an unknown but much smaller percentage of Terrans; all others are immune. While very few Terrans are susceptible, that small percentage is extremely so, and all so far known have become Bloodmates. Susceptibility is determined by high empathy, though it may be mostly latent until the Change. Narvonese research has shown that a person with a certain rare "marker" gene configuration is susceptible, but until nearly 2600, the reason is not known. A susceptible person subjected to severe weakening (due to illness or trauma) 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 to Kin or Bloodmate, with the more empathic becoming the Bloodmates.
The virus is a collective mind, symbiotic with its hosts, but does not become self-aware or more than marginally conscious until it infects and changes Chee Campbell in 2750. ["Touch of the Dragon"]
NOXI: (Traiti) Homeworld equivalent of rabbits, with ears like beagles. They are about twice the size of Terran rabbits.
NULLGRAV: Nullified, or nullification of, gravity. Used as a drive for spacecraft near planets, and in planetary craft such as airplanes and cars, as well as for exercise facilities, entertainment, medical uses, etc.
OBERON, Subsector 4-A:
No. systems: 51 Sector: Fornaxwith 3 inhabited planets: 7 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 13with 1 inhabited planet: 23
ODIN, Subsector 6-B:
No. systems: 101 Sector: Scorpiowith 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 9with 1 inhabited planet: 24
OGHMA, Subsector 20-A:
No. systems: 102 Sector: Chameleonwith 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 15with 1 inhabited planet: 29
OLYMPUS, Subsector 3-B:
No. systems: 41 Sector: Sculptorwith 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 10with 1 inhabited planet: 23
OMNISM: (for Church of the Omniverse) The commonest of the "new" (post-hyperdrive) religions. It began soon after Nannstein announced hyperdrive to be a success, and got a major boost the first time an other-universe ship appeared in Imperial space. (Dropped there by a hyperdrive malfunction, the only publicly-known reason for interuniverse transition.)
It is a highly syncretic religion which teaches that there is one Creator of all the universes that form the Omniverse. This Creator is unknowable by finite intelligence, but some of A's attributes can be deduced from what humans can understand of A's creations. The main parts are that all religions are true in part, with the gods being those aspects of the Creator (some in body) sent to reveal what a given society needs and can understand about the Creator. (Everything in all the universes is part of the Creator, of course, that being what A created with.) Sin is either failure to use, or the harmful use of, the Creator's gifts. Deliberately causing unnecessary harm/pain is the greatest sin.
OMNIVERSE: The totality of existence, in which anything that can happen 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 volunteersArms: On a gold field, a red clipped fret.Society ID: Chester County, PAGeneral: A mostly mountainous, arctic to subarctic world; the onlytemperate zone is near the equator. It is the only place wheremiracle-weed, the source of rapid-heal, will grow productively.
Cloudcats were moved here circa 8000 BCE because their sun was about to go nova. The cloudcats were established in the mountains, where psionically activated survival aids left by the Others gave them the comfort and leisure to develop their arts and philosophy. Humans and Irschchans founded a joint colony in 2532 to grow miracle-weed; they believed the cats to be unintelligent predators until a young Irschchan, lost in the mountains, was rescued and returned to the colony by a cloudcat whose name translates to Starflower.
Rapid-heal was so valuable a medication that Emperor Yasunon sent Ranger Medart to attempt negotiation with the cloudcats. They proved amenable, wanting little more than that the colonists leave them alone unless they instituted the contact, and the right to travel on Imperial vessels whenever they chose. In return, they permitted the colonists to occupy and farm the entire equatorial zone.
ORIGANI System:
Sector: 14, Phoenix No. planets: 5Subsector: A, Fenris Inhabited: 1Ruled 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 sporadiccommunication with Terra for about 200 years, when it regained fullcommunication and became part of the Empire. It is primarily anagricultural planet, its claim to fame being the aphrodisiac itproduces from the keisha plant, grown on nearby Purgatory. (LindaGerhart)
ORION, Sector 1:
Ruled by: Shirley family No. systems: 791Subsectors: 8 Inhabited planets: 424A. Sol E. AmaterasuB. Surya F. ShamashC. Heimdall G. HeliosD. Ra H. PaivaArms: On a field of six gold and blue vertical stripes, an erminequarter.
OSI: The Intelligence Division's Office of Special Investigations, charged with investigating alleged offenses by members of the Imperial Marines, Navy, or Administrative Services.
OSIRIS, Subsector 6-C:
No. systems: 172 Sector: Scorpiowith 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 10with 1 inhabited planet: 24
OTHERS: (Sandeman) Those not of the warrior caste. This includes standard humans, human variants, and non-humans, as well as Sandemans who are neither warriors nor warriors'-women.
OTHERS, THE: A post-technological race that encouraged the development of intelligence in the Milky Way Galaxy, then left for another plane of existence. They are part of cloudcat and Traiti legend/history, having transported both races from their worlds of origin to different ones in order to save them, then provided them with psionic support equipment (survival aids for the cloudcats, Godhome for the Traiti). They are also known as Those Who Went Before.
OWAJIMA, Kiyoshi: Began his career as a Kai-school ninja, a mostly hereditary group that provides the Nippon-Ni Shogun's secret police. Like the others, he is honorable and idealistic, though his standards do not necessarily match most Imperial citizens'; for instance, he firmly believes the Kai school's teaching that some form of well-trained, well-disciplined secret police is essential to the smooth functioning of a society, able to unobtrusively remove disruptive elements that the open police and courts cannot touch. During this period, his cover was that of an artist, and he was much admired for the disciplined spareness of his work. When he discovered the existence of IntelDiv field agents, he decided his skills could be put to excellent use as one of that group, and after Nevan DarLeras swore fealty to Corina Losinj, was the top-rated field agent until his own retirement.
PADRE: Proper title and form of address for a priest of the Arriani Lady of Love. It is also the common, though unofficial, way of referring to all military chaplains.
PAIVA, Subsector 1-H:
No. systems: 78 Sector: Orionwith 3 inhabited planets: 6 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 9with 1 inhabited planet: 24
PALACE COMPLEX: Located at the foot of the Sentinel Mountains in Antarctica, this is a hundred-kilometer-diameter circle centered on the Imperial Palace, protected from the elements by a modified defense screen. The inner ten kilometers is parkland surrounding the Palace; the rest consists of air- and spaceports, residential and administrative areas, and some commercial activity, but no major industry. It also has entertainment of almost every conceivable type, a wide variety of eating places, the central offices of most news services, and so on. (For reference, it is approximately half again the size of the state of Delaware.)
PALACE, IMPERIAL: A building four kilometers square, situated in the center 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 all military (and most other) craft in space. It is also used throughout Xanadu, the only world known to have only one time zone.
PALLAS, Subsector 18-B:
No. systems: 149 Sector: Arieswith 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 10with 1 inhabited planet: 25
PAN, Subsector 8-D:
No. systems: 80 Sector: Centauruswith 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 10with 1 inhabited planet: 26
PATTERN RAPPORT: An involuntary and extremely rare aspect of Talent in which two minds are completely merged for a brief time. Irschchan theory is that it happens when the parties' underminds decide it is necessary to resolve an impasse or conflict.
PEACELORD: Ranger Esteban Tarlac, once he has passed his Ordeal and died. The last member of the Traiti Circle of Lords, his first act as Lord Esteban was to make possible an immediate, honorable end to the Traiti War.
PEACELORD, Subsector 21-B:
No. systems: 57 Sector: Traitiwith 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 12with 1 inhabited planet: 22
PEGASUS, Sector 5:
Ruled by: No. systems: 386Subsectors: 4 Inhabited planets: 215A. Bayard C. TravelerB. Sleipnir D. Sandeman
PERIDOPICLES: Ducal family, Sector 14. Legend has it that this family was cursed when the first Duke, Orion, defeated the "witch" Lilith and destroyed the Blue Crystal from which she gained her powers. As she was dying, she pronounced the curse that death would visit Orion's heirs through their children. The line is, in fact, subject to a genetic defect which is fatal to seventy-five percent of the children and can, in a way that has not yet been determined, be passed on to the pregnant mother, with a twenty-five percent fatality rate.
Historians believe the Blue Crystal was a psionic amplifier, and that in destroying it, the Duke received a nonfatal dose of some unknown radiation which caused a genetic mutation passed in the male line; females who survive are invariably sterile. Children have an unusually high 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 aninter-universe transition, as a result meeting Kiyoshi Owajima andNevan DarLeras.
PHOENIX, Sector 14
Ruled by: Peridopicles family No. systems: 660Subsectors: 6 Inhabited planets: 304A. Fenris D. ExcaliburB. Unicorn E. SirenC. Gryphon F. ShamuArms: On a black and red spiral field, a phoenix rising from flames,platinum.
PHOLUS, Subsector 8-B:
No. systems: 44 Sector: Centauruswith 3 inhabited planets: 7 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 10with 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 Sandemanduring the Eruption.
PLANETS: The smallest Imperial subdivision, ruled by barons. Those with only temporary or limited-purpose settlements are classified as uninhabited and subject to the rule of the settling planet's baron.
POLARIS, Subsector 9-A:
No. systems: 146 Sector: Ursawith 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 11with 1 inhabited planet: 26
POSEIDON, Subsector 17-C:
No. systems: 183 Sector: Induswith 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 10with 1 inhabited planet: 17
POWER ARMOR: Full-metal armor with force-field shielding, used in initial assaults and intense firefights. The force-field is the armor's primary defense; the armor itself serves mostly as a weapons platform, though if the force-field fails, it will sometimes provide enough protection for the operator to reach safety. In most cases, however, force-field failure is due to overload by enemy fire, and the ensuing suit failure and powerpack disruption cause total destruction of armor and operator both.
The armor is so massive that the operator cannot move it without assistance. This is provided by internal sensors which amplify small operator motions and transmit them to fusion-powered servos; these move the armor itself. Since delicacy of control is more important than sheer strength, which the armor provides, most power-armor specialists are women.
PROMETHEUS, Subsector 18-E:
No. systems: 119 Sector: Arieswith 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 10with 1 inhabited planet: 23
PSIRYNE: The hormone responsible for psionic Talent in humans. It is present even if the Talent is latent; even though this specific connection was not discovered until 2572, the Narvonese used a specific type of it as a "marker" of susceptibility to the pseudo-virus as early as 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 OriganiGeneral: An average temperature of -40 F, almost constant snowfall, andferocious native fauna have made permanent settlements impractical.Periodically, scientific and other teams make planetfall during theshort (seven standard day) summer, but must leave before fall, whengale-force winds begin to blow.Only known source of the keisha plant. (Linda Gerhart)
QUADRAMITE: An explosive used almost exclusively in mining. It is almost impossible to detonate until primed, at which time it becomes violently unstable.
QUIDINE: An analgesic drug. Its strength, non-addictiveness, and general safety make it a natural choice in most cases where a powerful painkiller is needed.
RA, Subsector 1-D:
No. systems: 133 Sector: Orionwith 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 10with 1 inhabited planet: 23
RAMMAN, Subsector 12-A:
No. systems: 100 Sector: Eridanuswith 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 14with 1 inhabited planet: 24
RANGERS, IMPERIAL: Established by Emperor Chang in 2128, this group is made up of multi-talented, genius-level generalists chosen for a number of qualities including (but not limited to) intelligence, common sense, adaptability, realistic idealism, loyalty to the Empire, no close personal ties, and--since 2569--Talent. They are generally chosen young, 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 time permits, they will always consult with the Sovereign before doing so. It is they who choose the Successor, in theory any qualified Imperial citizen but so far in practice always another Ranger.
Their working uniform is forest green with a platinum circled-star badge, black leather equipment belt and boots, and a sidearm of the Ranger's choice. Semi-dress adds a silver-trimmed cloak with the Imperial Arms.
RAPID-HEAL: A drug derived from Ondrian miracle-weed which speeds the healing of injuries by a factor of about 3.5 for a standard human or Traiti, about 5 for a Sandeman non-warrior, and about 7 for a warrior of that race. It cannot be used on infected wounds, and the increased healing speed causes increased appetite and fatigue.
RAVAGERS: Inter-universal raiders. They are not life as Imperials usually understand the term; some scientists believe they are not really life at all. From time to time, at unpredictable intervals, they erupt into a random universe and--if that universe does not have a technological and population level near the Empire's--devastate it and proceed to another. However, no Empire-level civilization is attacked more than once, because a civilization at that stage can, and so far always does, defeat them. After such a defeat, the Ravagers retreat, and it is several years before they attack again anywhere. This is the reason Empires in various alternate universes cooperate to develop Empires or the equivalent in still other alternates.
RATRI, Subsector 13-C:
No. systems: 43 Sector: Craterwith 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 8with 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 from before the Empire, and many of the minor ones, though all have been modified to a greater or lesser degree by the discovery of other worlds and races. There are also new religions, of which Omnism is the commonest, and the Traiti faith picks up some human adherents after the War.
RELIGION, Sandeman: Created, like most of Sandeman culture, by the Shapers, this is a polytheistic faith loosely based on Shinto, Islam, and Odinism with a strong emphasis on honor. The deities are warriors and warriors'-women who have died in honor. They have no particular duties in the sense of most Terrestrial pantheons; they are more of an example, a goal to strive for. However, it is believed they will occasionally come to the aid of a worshipper in extreme straits, or sometimes 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, it is what they had before, but better and with more intensity.
Although reincarnation was not a part of the original religion, there is one sect of Others who believe that if they please the gods during their first life, they will be reborn into the warrior caste and have a chance to become gods themselves.
RETALIATOR, Subsector 19-F:
No. systems: 107 Sector: Leowith 3 inhabited planets: 7 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 12with 1 inhabited planet: 28
ROC, Subsector 10-B:
No. systems: 99 Sector: Aquilawith 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 13with 1 inhabited planet: 20
ROYAL ENFORCEMENT SERVICE(s): The combined law enforcement and military services of the Kingdom Systems. Each planet's Enforcement Service operates independently, but all are ultimately responsible to the High King, and the only uniform difference is the planetary insigne on the collar.
The RES is divided into the regular forces, who operate much like police in the Empire, and Special Operations, which are most similar to the ITMC's Special Forces. Until recently, because of the dangers of their work (average lifespan is less than two years), Special Ops personnel were required to be sterile and unmarried; these requirements can now be waived if the person is a member of one of the new extended Families.
Special Operations has recently acquired a subdivision called the Strike Force. It is designed as a number of quick-response anti-terrorist teams which operate under very liberal rules--particularly its Inquisitors, who operate under Writs of Immunity issued by the Pope and High King. Under these Writs, anything a Strike Force Inquisitor (or the people working with @) does in the belief it is for the Systems' protection or in their interest, except regicide or narrowly-defined treason, cannot be punished.
Unlike Imperial forces, the RES has very few women, and at this point only two are officers.
The highest Enforcement rank is Colonel.
RUCHAYA: (Traiti) Clan parent. Used by any of a clan's younglings to any of its adults, though @ will generally refer to @'s birth-parents as "ka'chaya" (female parent, mother) and "es'chaya" (male parent, father).
RUDRA, Subsector 12-D:
No. systems: 54 Sector: Eridanuswith 3 inhabited planets: 5 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 10with 1 inhabited planet: 22
RUHAR: (Traiti) Literally "clan fellow-member"; Clanmate.
SALVIS: (Traiti) A Homeworld plant that bears a strong resemblance to poison oak. Its tuber-like roots are edible and highly nutritious, though the taste is bland.
SANDEMAN, Subsector 5-D:
No. systems: 98 Sector: Pegasuswith 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by: Klaes family, sincewith 2 inhabited planets: 14 2542with 1 inhabited planet: 25Arms: On a gold field, a gem-type diamond within a ring, both blue.
SANDEMAN:
Sector: 5, Pegasus Year: 348 daysSubsector: D, Sandeman Day: 23 hr 47 minSystem: Cassell Gravity: 1029 cm/sec2Settled/established: 2130 CE Axial tilt: 4.75 deg.By: Genetic engineers Oxygen: 20.2%Satellites: 1 (Signet) % water: 72Ident code prefix: SND Continents: 8; names belowRuled by: See belowGeneral: The main differences from Terra are the higher averagetemperature and its concomitant, no real arctic areas. Sandemanhas eight continents, six of which have been explored fairlythoroughly; the northern one, Erewhon, and about two-thirds of thesoutherly shield-shaped one, Quivira, are too cold for Sandemancomfort. 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 clanareas instead; the districts no longer exist.
Another difference is Sandeman time. Both day and year are somewhat shorter than Terra's, but they use the Terran Standard system for record-keeping, which leads to some interesting anomalies, such as the last of the twenty-four hours being only forty-seven minutes long. This means they have approximately 103 hours per Standard year difference, relative to Terra. Their year is also linked to Terra's in a way different from most Imperial worlds', a way permitted by their minimal axial tilt and accompanying barely-noticeable seasons: while their physical year is 348 days, their calendar year is 368 1/4. Because of the shorter day, they add four days (February 29-31 and September 31; April 31 in leap years) so their calendar year ends up quite close to the Standard one.
SANDEMANS: A genetically engineered race considered human-variant due to 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, in mind. Sandemans are motivated primarily by honor, are intensely proud and ethnocentric, and have an extreme privacy drive. Courtesy is deeply ingrained and they do not expect non-Sandemans to live up to Sandeman standards even when visiting Sandeman worlds. In most cases, that means they will ignore even deliberate insults from non-Sandemans--but not in all cases. Touching one without permission will get at least a verbal rebuke; attacking one will in all probability result in the attacker's death. In Subsector Sandeman, the offender is at fault; elsewhere in the Empire, that is less automatic but still the presumption. To paraphrase then-Baron Klaes of Mjolnir, the first Imperial world to have Sandemans as guests and protectors instead of conquerors: These people are used to protecting themselves, rather than relying on police. Their reflexes are exceptionally fast and strong, particularly if they are under attack; anyone assaulting a Sandeman may expect to have @'s cause of death listed as suicide.
Sandemans are short and slender, the men averaging 160-165 cm and 62-67 kilos, the women 2-3 cm and kilos less. Skin tones range from dark tan to dark olive, hair from almost white to not quite light brown, mostly straight though a few have wavy hair, even fewer curly. Eyes are pale-to-medium blue, green, or hazel. Children are born covered in fur resembling a kitten's; it is usually gone by three months of age.
Despite their small stature, Sandemans are stronger and faster than their creators, with greater endurance and higher average intelligence. Between twenty and fifty percent (up from about ten percent under the Shapers) of the males, depending on the clan, are further modified warriors, whose speed, strength and endurance are increased still further. (See also Warriors, Sandeman, and Need, Sandeman Warriors'.)
The basic Sandeman social structure is a two-caste clan, with the upper warrior caste composed of the warriors and warriors'-women, the Other caste being everyone else. Caste may be determined by the clan-prefix (warriors are Dar, w'women Dru, Others Den) and often by clothing; the warrior caste usually wears subdued coveralls, the Others brighter clothing.
As a rule, Others marry; warriors and w'women do not, fostering their children with Other families to provide a stable home life. Children mingle freely regardless of caste, until at puberty the young student warriors and w'women move into their rooms in the main clanhome, while Other children remain with their parents until they marry or establish their own homes. Warriors and w'women maintain ties, often close ones, with the families who raised them and will, in many cases, raise their children.
Most traditional Sandeman names are Gaelic, Gaelic-flavored, or Norse-Germanic. There is no naming distinction between the castes other than the clan-prefixes, or between the sexes except that names ending in -a are female; anything else can be either. Nicknames may be proper names shortened to first or last syllable, or an occasional positive-attributive descriptive nickname. Full first names are always proper usage, with 'the warrior' or 'the lady' added when speaking about a warrior or w'woman, and 'warrior' or 'lady' may be used instead of one's name when addressing @.
SATYR PLAGUE: (Kingdom Systems) A mutant plague strain that appeared on St. Thomas in 2542. Its "victims" (few of whom consider themselves as such) develop an increased sexual drive and capacity, as well as other minor enhancements. Once its effects became known, it spread rapidly throughout the Systems, and has caused a number of societal changes, including the Families. It is not contagious in normal contact; the risk (or chance) of contagion otherwise depends on intimacy of contact.
SCANLON, David Mark: (2541- ) Captured during the Nemran Rebellion (2555) shortly after his fourteenth birthday, he was helped to escape by one of his captors who did not wish to be involved further when Ranger Esteban Tarlac was taken prisoner. He then rescued the Ranger, who had been seriously injured, from the rebel camp, nursing and guarding him until Imperial Marines landed with medical help. For his actions, he was created a Life Duke.
SCORPIO, Sector 6:
Ruled by: No. systems: 710Subsectors: 7 Inhabited planets: 365A. Shiva E. SelketB. Odin F. KoreC. Osiris G. TarlacD. Mithra
SCULPTOR, Sector 3:
Ruled by: No. systems: 104Subsectors: 2 Inhabited planets: 101A. AsgardB. Olympus
SEAL, IMPERIAL: A stylized planet with a sun emerging above and a moon below. It appears on the Imperial Arms in color, and is sometimes used, in the form of platinum pins or a badge, as the Sovereign's rank insignia.
SECUDIV: The ITMC Security Division. This major specialty division is responsible for the security of Imperial ships, installations, and personnel.
SECTORS: The largest subdivisions of the Empire, ruled by dukes.
SELKET, Subsector 6-E:
No. systems: 68 Sector: Scorpiowith 3 inhabited planets: 5 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 11with 1 inhabited planet: 19
SEPOL: (Of Clan D'gameh) One of the Traiti Circle of Lords, known as Lord of the Ordeal.
SEPOL, Subsector 21-F:
No. systems: 64 Sector: Traitiwith 3 inhabited planets: 4 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 10with 1 inhabited planet: 24
SHADOW FLEET: A secret Imperial fleet which, under normal circumstances, exists only as a cadre. Its existence, however, is a matter of perpetual rumor, and is the standard explanation for a military person who drops out of sight for an extended time, especially if @ reappears at a higher rank. When it is activated for military emergencies (under another designation, of course), it operates, if necessary, without regard for the Laws of War; its Fleet Admiral is subsequently courtmartialled, then given another identity and set up on a 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: Orionwith 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 10with 1 inhabited planet: 15
SHAMU, Subsector 14-F:
No. systems: 133 Sector: Phoenixwith 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 9with 1 inhabited planet: 22
SHAPERS: The genetic engineers, led by Sandoval "Sandy" Cassell, who created the Sandeman race and much of its culture. They were overthrown and killed by their creations in 2316.
SHIP CLASSES, CIVILIAN: Civilian ships are so varied it is impossible to summarize them, except to say that they vary from hundred-meter needles (the smallest size able to carry hyperdrive engines) to five-hundred-meter spheres (the largest able to land in near-standard gravity fields).
SHIP CLASSES, ITN: In order of size, Imperial Navy ships are:
Battle Cruisers (IBCs), equatorial diameter 1000 meters, mass 8 x 10 to the eighth tons, crew 2000, carrying capacity over a million, named for Sovereigns or Rangers. Flagships of Imperial Fleets when such must be assembled, and the ship-type most commonly used by Rangers. They are very 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 10 to the eighth tons, crew 1800, named for famous sea ships. Flagships of Sector-level fleets.
Light Cruisers (ILCs), equatorial diameter 700 meters, mass 1.2 x 10 to the eighth tons, crew 1500, named for stars or given guardian-type names (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-standard grav field.
Light Destroyers (ILDs), equatorial diameter 400 meters, crew 750, named for military commanders.
Armed Scouts (IASs), equatorial diameter 200 meters, crew of 500, named for scouts or explorers.
Couriers (ICs), length 100 meters, crew 5-50 (some automated to require only a pilot), named at pilot's option.
(For comparison, the largest U. S. aircraft, the C-5B, is 75.5 meters long, with a wingspan of 67.9 meters, and maximum mass of 418.5 tons.)
SHIP-COMP: Ship-computer, an artificial intelligence installed on all Imperial ships of Scout class or higher.
SHIVA, Subsector 6-A:
No. systems: 120 Sector: Scorpiowith 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by:with 2 inhabited planets: 13with 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 rediscovered by Crown Princess Halona Strider in 2321, while she was looking for a permanent home base for the Shadow Fleet. The mystics who had settled it were developing powers she thought might be useful in the future, if they were left alone to do so. That was precisely what they wanted, as well, so they agreed to provide the base she needed. She established an interdiction zone, with the cover story that it was there to allow Shonnar's "lizard-like, subsapient inhabitants" to develop sapience without exploitation.
SIB: Arriani extended family, usually having 20-50 members.
SIREN, Subsector 14-E: