S.TXT

      Sabmiqys: 1) A quarantined system in the Antares sector occupied by

intelligent robots. 2) Any mission with a small chance of survival; a forlorn

hope. Term arose from usage among scouts, as initial efforts to contact the

main world Sabmiqys resulted in many disappearances.



      Sabmiqys: Minor race in Sabmiqys (Antares 2117). [Thought extinct. The

world is inhabited by their robots; a few hundred live in wastelands.]



      Saie: "mysterious non-human civilization" long extinct in Reavers' Deep.



      Sandcasters: project a granular agent which obstructs light; when fired

it interferes with incoming laser or energy weapon fire. These defensive

weapons dispense small particles which counteract the strength of lasers and

protect the ship. The specific particles used are similar to ablat personal

armor; replacement canisters of this special sand weigh about 50 kg and cost

cr400.



      Sasthmandra: tropical fruit.



      Satha: Minor race on Galatea/Inverness (Far Frontiers 3228).



      Scouts: vessels of up to 200 tons displacement designed for exploration,

survey, and courier work. Such ships are pressed into military service in

times of war, but have negligible combat value.



      Sea Bears: Native to Thengo/Chronor, the creature seems to have been

used in pre-Imperial colonization projects in the Jewell, Lianic, and massina

subsectors. They are not uncommon on many worlds in these regions.

      Adults are typically 1 to 1.2 meters long, and weigh from 20 to 25

kilograms. The skeleton is calciferous, internal, and generally resembles that

of a Terran vertebrate, except in the number of limbs and in the framing of

the body cavity. The spinal column runs from the base of the skull dorsally

along the body until it reaches the pelvis. Instead of ribs, short lengths of

bone join in a geodesic fashion (i.e., as a series of mutually interconnected

triangles) to support the body cavity. This very sturdy arrangement provides

an excellent protection to the sea bear's internal organs.

      The most notable external feature is the number of limbs: four pairs,

odd for an animal of its size. One posterior locomotive pair, one anterior

pair used in defense and acquiring food, and two medial pairs which can serve

either purpose. The head is typical, a bony cranium to protect the brain, with

paired eyes, ears, nose, and a ventically located mouth. he nose is located

well forward, apparently as an adaptation for breathing while partially

submerged.

      Sea bears are carnivorous. Solitary hunters, preying upon a small

aquatic and semi-aquatic animal life, are fund along seashores and in shallow

off-shore areas of large bodies of water. It usually hunts by swimming slowly

along the surface, diving upon its surprised prey.

      During the mating season, sea bears congregate in huge groups, sometimes

of hundreds of individuals. A group settles for several weeks on an island or

peninsula, where male and female pairs engage in mating rituals not fully

documented. each pair eventually produces one to three young.

      After six to eight weeks, when the young are ready to travel, the groups

break up into family units. When the young can fend for themselves, usually

after six months, the family units break up until the next mating season. Some

observers report scattered instances of sea bears mating for life, and hunting

as a team.



      Sector: Mapping and administrative unit of the Imperium. Each is further

divided into 16 subsectors measuring eight parsecs by ten parsecs. Average

density is 500 to 650 worlds per sector.



      Selika: Minor race that left Reft 0435. Found in Riftspan Reaches, etc.



      Seneschal: An aide or executive assistant. For high-ranking officials,

the wide range of responsibilities of high office are manageable only through

computer assistance. Even then, the information flow may be too great. The

seneschal is a product of the computer age - an adjutant or assistant with

responsibilities in information management. The seneschal has no authority of

his own: he manages the massive input of information associated with his

superior's position, keeping the official informed, but not overwhelmed.



      Sharurshid: Vilani megacorporation. Trades in all luxury goods from all

parts of the Imperium and many areas beyond. It has very little manufacturing

capability -- its starships have always been its major source of income.

      Sharurshid traces its lineage back to the First Imperium. During the

Interstellar Wars, Sharurshid was the major bureau in the First Imperium's

rimward sectors.

      Interests: Trade and speculation, luxury goods. Most rare Terran wines

and spirits travel on the starships of Sharurshid.

      Stock ownership: Sharurshid trust, 46%; Imperial family, 3%; Hortalez et

Cie, 14%; Other corporations, 14%; Private, 10%.



      Shi'awei: Race of aquatic sophonts. Chaosheo/Star Lane (Deneb 0130).



      Shidaka: semi-mythological Vilani hero of the Long Night.



      Ship: The term is reserved exclusively for jump-capable vessels. Non-

jump-capable vessels are referred to as boats, riders, or monitors.



      Shriekers: Minor race on 567-908 (Spinward Marches 1031).



      Shudusham Robotics Conference: The Conference meets every ten years,

with the last conference in 1113. Roboticists, manufacturers, heavy robot

users, journalists, and other interested parties converge from all over

explored space for the one year conference.

      The Karrigashu Undersea Habitat is used only to host the conference. It

can support 300,000 people. About 250,000 of the 400,000 attendees are present

at any time. Its Robotics museum, library, and laboratory are popular with

attendees.



      Shugilii: "food-processor" class in Vilani society.



      Shurshi cloth: This delicate, iridescent material is strong for its

weight, and a shurshi garment retains its beauty for many years. This

fantastically expensive substance is produced by an insect native to

Zurrian/Vland which has been altered and conditioned to spin its webbing in

sheets. The cleaned cloth is shipped beyond the sector - for those who can

afford it. Attempts to raise these insects elsewhere have failed.

                  Shuulamane: The creature is ugly and rodent-like, with dull greenish-

gray fur covering its body, except for the head, which is smooth and has no

apparent ears. The most obvious feature of the shuulamane is the product of

its two powerful scent glands, used to mask carrion and prevent other species

from interfering with its find.

      Unfortunately, the shuulamane reproduces quickly, with up to four

litters of six to ten young each during Vland's long year. The shuulamane can

be found in almost every region of Vland with a temperate climate, although

eradication of the species in the larger cities has been mostly successful.

      Native to Khula (Vland 1920), the shuulamane was accidentally introduced

to Vland around -2450. The animal is now so common (and so obvious when

encountered) that most Vilani do not realize that the shuulamane is not a

native species.

      The shuulamane is the subject of many Vilani proverbs and folktales, all

attesting to the animal's vices of stupidity, laziness, cowardice, foul odor,

and lack of cleanliness.

      Encounter statistics: 1 carrion-eater, 3kg, 2/2 hits, no armor, 3 teeth, A9 F3 S3.



      Signal GK: Abbreviation for Gashimeku Kaalarin, Vilani for 'vessel in

distress.' The code signal GK originated on Vland as a distress signal in

maritime and aviation activity: it was one of the standard communications

codes of the First Imperium. When the Second Imperium succeeded it, signal GK

was retained as a distress signal co-equal with the Terran SOS and Mayday

signals.

      The Imperial Navigation Act of 103 requires all vessels, whether

military or civilian, to respond to the GK, SOS, or Mayday signals, provided

such response does not endanger the ship and crew of the responding vessel.



      Singularity: A point in space-time at which the space-time curvature

becomes infinite.



      Sinzarmes: A subsector-wide merchant line serving the Regina subsector.

It provides feeder service from subsector worlds to the trade route worlds.



      Small craft: Any spacecraft under 100 tons. Typical types include

launch, pinnace, cutter, ship's boat, and shuttle. Small craft are too small

to perform jumps.



      Society for the Protection of Terra: Members recommend that Terra be

kept under Imperial rule, and not be allowed self-rule again. They argue that

since humaniti originated on Terra, the world should be administered as a

preserve by the Imperium, and not be given the chance to rebel again,

"endangering our glorious heritage and the planet of our origins."

      Admiral Donald Mason founded SPT in the 1050s, several decades after the

Solomani Rim War. The group is strongest in the Vland sector.



      Solomani: Strictly, a member of that human race which evolved on Terra

from the original human stock (H. sapiens). The term is used to refer to

members of the Solomani race (or, more palatably to some, to members of the

human race of Solomani descent), or to members of the Solomani political

movement. Its original meaning is obscure, but the word seems to have

originally meant either men of Sol or sole men.

      Alternate: The original human race from Terra. The typical Solomani is

about 1.8 meters in height and weighs about 75 kilograms. Solomani blood types

include A, B, O, M, N, and Z, but A, B, and O are dominant.

      Many modern Solomani believe that pure Solomani - the true original

humans - are superior to all other humans, and thus are best fit to rule the

Imperial region.



      Solomani Party: Common name adopted by political parties dedicated to

the doctrine that the Solomani branch of Humaniti is best able to rule the

cosmos. The Solomani Party controls government in the Solomani Confederation.

Others exist where Solomani feeling is strong.

      Following the eclipse of Solomani influence in the Imperial court, many

ardent Solomani supremacists moved to the frontiers. Most of the settlements

lost their extremism in a generation or two. Solomani parties tend to be

splinter groups outside the political mainstream.



      Solomani Security: The Solomani intelligence agency. It has contacts

throughout Solomani society, and in many parts of neighboring Imperial

society. Because SolSec monitors have independent careers throughout society,

SolSec can call upon expertise in wholly diverse fields.



      Sophont: General term for an intelligent lifeform.



      SORAG: civilian intelligence agency in Vanguard Reaches.



      Space-time: The four-dimensional space whose points are events.



      Spatial dimension: Any of the three dimensions of space-time that are

spacelike, that is, any except the time dimension.



      Spectrum: The splitting of a wave (say, an electro-magnetic wave) into

its component frequencies.



      Sphere world: A spherical shell built to completely enclose a star. This

would require incredibly strong materials and also gravity generators for

strength and comfort. Such a shell would trap all solar radiation for use by

the civilization. With a radius of 149 million kilometers, the internal

surface area would equal about one billion Earths.



      Springers (Arachnofelis var.): eight-limbed quasi-mammalian carnivores

found throughout the coreward regions of the Imperium. Originally disseminated

by the Ancients, their range was increased considerably by First Imperium

colonists, as a means for pest control.

      Massing between 250 and 500 grams, springers average 15 centimeters in

length. The powerful rear legs are adapted to leaping, and the remaining hands

are used to cling to prey while poison (from two glands in the mouth) are

injected.

      Glands in the hairless upper chest area excrete silk. Two modified

"thumbs" draw the silk from the glands and manipulate the web. The silk is

adhesive only when excreted, quickly drying to a thick rope. Webs woven of it

are coarse networks which signal the presence and location of prey.

      Springers are hermaphroditic. Young are born live at any season, in

litters of three to five. Since most of their milk glands have evolved into

producing silk, springers supplement their youngs' diet with regurgitated,

partially digested food.

      They normally inhabit caves, dense forests, and rock crevices, but can

be found in deserted buildings and piles of rubble. While not normally

dangerous to humans, the bite is painful and allergic reactions to the venom

can be fatal to some individuals.

       Number & Type Weight Hits  Armor Wounds/Wpns Reactions

        1 Pouncer   .5kg  1/1  none  1 special   A7 F4 S3



      Ssoyrdelditsu: A son of Yaskoydray who operated bases and complexes on

      Vland. He wanted to remain neutral in the Final War. Later he joined

      forces with Yaskoydray against the other sons, but was killed in the

      last years of the Final War. Yaskoydray awarded his faction (which

      supported Yaskoydray) a world in his pocket universe when Yaskoydray

      retreated from the universe we occupy.



      Starmerc: Mercenary organizations licensed to operate military

starships. Licenses range from 10-ton fighters to 5,000-ton vessels, with one

charter for a 20,000-ton retired battle-rider used as a SDB. Most vessels are

in the 300 to 1,000-ton range.

      Most organizations obtain their vessels from the Imperial Navy as

surplus. Nearly any ship of 50 years or older is an excellent candidate for

starmerc services.



      Starport: Facility for the landing, servicing, refueling, and control of

starships.  In nearly all cases, a planet will consider that a starport is

extraterritorial, and not subject to local law, but will also enforce strict

entrance and exit controls.

      As the primary point where starships interact with a system, starports

are usually the location of additional bases (scout or naval), military

installations, and shipyards. Starports range in quality from A (the best and

most extensive) down to E (the worst, little more than a spot of cleared

ground.) Starport ratings of X indicate interdiction, usually Imperial. Most

have two components: a surface facility and an orbital facility.

      Surface facilities include cargo handling installations, a landing

field, control towers, and other necessary areas. Surface starport components

are frequently called Down, as in Regina Down Starport.

      Orbital facilities, usually in stationary orbit over the Down component,

enable handling of unstreamlined ships and construction of heavy craft in

orbit. The Orbital component is usually called Orbital, as in Regina Orbital

Starport. Type D and E starports usually do not have extensive orbital

facilities, but usually have navigational satellites. Shuttles must be used to

service non-streamlined ships at these starports.



      Starport Authority: Organization responsible for all port operations

(ground and orbital), and maintaining the security of the extrality line

surrounding every Imperial port. Not present at type E and X starports. The

Imperium's Starport Authority bureau runs most starports.



      Starship: Any spacecraft capable of interstellar travel is known as a

starship. Starships may be commercial, private, or military. They must mass

100 tons or more.



      Starship and Crown, Order of: Common Imperial order of knighthood. Cleon

I established it in 17.



      Stasis: A separation from the time dimension without separation from the

spatial dimensions. It is theorized that a field generating such a field would

enable a person to "outwait" the universe around him.



      Sternmetal Horizons: Imperial megacorporation primarily engaged in

mining operations and manufacturing. It produces mostly power generation

equipment of all types, including power plants for starships, air and ground

vehicles, cities, and industrial installations. Additionally, Sternmetal is

the largest manufacturer of food synthesis equipment in the Imperium.

      Interests: Mining, manufacturing, energy supplies, food synthesis.

      Stock ownership: Imperial family, 2%; Noble families, 18%; Hortalez et

Cie, 29%; Antares Holdings, LIC, 19%; Investment trusts, 32%.



      Strong force: The strongest of the four fundamental forces, with the

shortest range of all. It holds the quarks together in protons and neutrons,

and holds protons and neutrons together to form atomic nuclei.



      Sublight travel: interstellar cruising at speeds approaching 80 to 90%

of the speed of light.



      Suerrat: The Suerrat of Volomil/Miitan (Ilelish 1710) have been held to

be a minor (human) race, because they achieved interstellar travel used

generation ships.



      Superdense armor: This armor has had its electron structure collapsed,

as occurs to a much greater degree in white dwarf stars.



      Supernova: A explosion inside a star that may tear the star apart. If a

remnant exists, it will usually be a neutron star or a black hole.



      SuSAG, LIC: Imperial megacorporation engaged in a wide range of

chemical, pharmaceutical, and geneering activities. It is the Imperium's

largest supplier of anagathics.

      It is unpopular because it maintains psi drug manufacturing facilities

in client states outside the Imperium, and its biochemical warfare facilities

have a history of accidents. Even though all experimental and dangerous

manufacturing plants are on remote, uninhabited planetoids, SuSAG has a bad

reputation for safety.

   Because plant sabotage is widespread and its products are extremely

valuable, SuSAG maintains a large paramilitary security force. It uses

mercenary units in clandestine military ventures to protect its extra-Imperium

interests.

      Gustav Schunamann founded SuSAG in 252 using the shell of a bankrupt

Sylean firm and he financed it from royalties received for his purification

processes for various psionic drugs. In 800, the Imperium banned psi drugs.

All manufacturing plants were closed, and all stocks confiscated and

destroyed. Fortunately for SuSAG, it had diversified.

      Interests: Chemicals, pharmaceuticals, geneering.

      Stock ownership: Schunamann family, 52%; Imperial family, 2-1/2%;

Hortalez et Cie, 9%; Other corporations, 23-1/2%; Private, 7%; Other, 6%.



      Syareahtaorl: An aslan word usually translated as quest. Syar means

seeking or searching; taorl conveys the idea of esthetic fortune -- honor or

fortune rather than money or land.



                  Syleans: Minor human race from Capital/Core.



      System: A star and its associated companion star(s) (if any), orbiting

planets and their satellites. One world in the system is designated the

system's mainworld, and its name identifies the system.



      System Defense Boat (SDB): A non-starship specifically intended for

defensive operation in a system. Developed on the principle that a non-

starship (because of the increased armament made possible by the lack of jump

drives) can normally defeat a starship of equal tonnage. SDBs are typically

stationed at the vital points of a system (the gas giant, the asteroid belt,

the major world, and so on) and attack invading vessels according to one or

more predetermined plans.

      SDBs range in size from 100 to 5000 tons, and are constructed at all

tech levels from 8 to 15. There are hundreds of different types, depending

upon the specific mission for which they are designed.