F.TXT

      Far trader: Variant design of an independent merchant starship. While

such ships are traditionally called free traders, vessels with jump-2

capability (twice the normal rating) are called far traders.



      Federation: Group of states, worlds, or systems, each internally

independent, joined into a union. Members surrender certain rights and

responsibilities, most generally dealing with foreign affairs.



      Federation of Daibei: Declared by Duke Craig Horvath of Warinir on 289-

1118. The Imperial bureaucracy was absorbed, with reporting re-channeled to a

ruling council of nobles.



      Federation of Ilelish: In 1119, Dulinor formally renamed his faction the

Federation of Ilelish. It includes territory in Verge, Gushemege, and

Zarushagar as well as Ilelish sector.



      Fellowfeel: to share another's feelings; to sympathize with.



      Firrob: a predator from a world in the Solomani Sphere.



      Fleet tender: A large (up to a million tons displacement) craft that

carries a complete Battle Squadron (BatRon) of Battle Riders.



      Flicking: Psionic investigators have blended psionics and technology to

produce psionically sensitive switches which can sense very basic psionic

activity. They can be tipped by anyone (psionically trained) who has learned

the technique called flicking. Switches are elementary on-off devices which

respond to a command by shifting from state to the other. They can be used to

operate light or communicator switches, or other devices.

      Psionic switches are illegal in the Imperium. Most Zhodani ships are

equipped with such as components of iris valves, dautomatic doors, and many

lights, temperature, or environment controls, and entertainment or

communication devices.



      Floriani: Minor human race native to Floria/Yggdrasil (Trojan Reach

0213).



      Focaline Tree Rat (Abdor var.): This small rodent-like creature is

native to Focaline (Aramis subsector.)  It weighs 3-4 kilograms and is 70-80

centimeters long: two-thirds of this length is tail. They are omnivorous:

their sharp teeth can pierce thick fruit skins - or unwary fingers. They are

semi-intelligent, and have an elaborate social structure in the wild. They

mate for life, and bear young once a year after year three, in litters of

about four "ratlings,"  and live about 15 years.

      Though they physically resemble terrestrial rodent types, tree rats have

longer legs, feet adapted to grasping, and  prehensile tail. The tail allows

them to easily pick up small objects, and hang from tree limbs. Most sleep in

that fashion.

      A red-brown fur covers their entire body, except for the soles of their

paws. They seem able to adapt very quickly to temperature changes: exposure to

cold weather for more than one week makes them grow a thicker and rougher

coat.

      On their homeworlds, people view them with mixed dislike and

appreciation. They raid fruit-bearing plants, but also feed upon and control

local pests. Tree rats have proved popular as pets, and starships have spread

them throughout most of the spinward reaches of the Imperium.

      Their major drawback as pets is insatiable curiosity, which often leaves

them locked in airlocks or food bins. They also collect bits of shiny or

brightly colored materials (coins, keys, credit cards, security badges),

depositing them in a nest in their owner's cabin. This can develop into a

game: the tree rat starts by picking up a valuable item in its tail, and then

races around the ship pursued by its owner(s).



      Fornolian Dys-them-e-tri-o-sis: The last outbreak was on Shudusham 830

years ago. Difficult to detect in subjects without extensive quarantine

period, and always fatal.



      Fueznuzorg: A special organization within the Kforuzeng. This most

feared group is seldom involved with piracy and raiding. Instead, the

Fueznuzorg's primary purpose is seeking vengeance against the corsair groups

that abandoned the Kforuzeng, particularly the Ethueng. It also serves as an

internal policing organization within the Kforuzeng.



      Full Imperium Party: This offshoot of the One Imperium Movement believes

that all humans should be brought under one interstellar government. Where the

One Imperium Movement wants to annex the Julian Protectorate and the Solomani

Confederation, this group goes farther. Because the Zhodani are humans, they

should also be conquered and forced to live like "decent people."

      In 1098, the Imperium prosecuted several high ranking members of the

Full Imperium Movement for the high justice crimes of bribing Imperial

officials in the Spinward Marches sector and the attempted theft of a 500,000-

ton Naval dreadnought.