Black Box: the generic term for an AI. Usually abbreviated to “Box.”
Bodh Gaya: former capital system of the COE and the Dominion. Its second moon houses the Military College of the COE Armada.
Box, the: an AI commissioned by COE Intelligence. Its binary identification number (JW111101000) is one digit longer than normal, indicating its unique status. Created by the High Human known as the Crescend, the Box is designed to infiltrate and subvert all available systems, thereby increasing its own processing powers until, at its most powerful, it resembles its creator. Once thought to be contained within a small black valise, it is now known to inhabit the cells of Morgan Roche.
Buk, Enver: the COE Eupatrid prior to Felix Gastel.
Calendar: the galactic standard timekeeping method consists of: 100 seconds per minute, 100 minutes per hour, 20 hours per day, 10 days per week, 4 weeks (40 days) per month, 10 months (400 days) per year. All dates are expressed in the form of year (usually abbreviated to the last three digits, i.e. ‘397), month, and day from the Ex Nihilo reference point. See also Objective Reference Calendar.
Cane, Adoni: the occupant of an unidentified life-support capsule recovered by the COEA Midnight near Ivy Green Station anchor point while en route to Sciacca’s World. A genetically modified combat clone designed to mimic a Pristine Human, his origins are known not to lie with the Sol Apotheosis Movement, although who did create him, and many others like him, remains a mystery.
Cane, Adoni: field admiral, Old Earth Advance Guard; received a military Star for extraordinary acts of valor against the enemy.
Castes: following the speciation of the Human race, numerous Castes have proliferated across the galaxy. These Castes are too numerous to list, but they can be classified into three broad groups: High, Low, and mundane (which includes Pristine and Exotic). There are seven predominant Exotic Castes to be found in the region surrounding the COE: Eckandar, Hum, Kesh, Mbata, Olmahoi, and Surin.
Catiph: a High Human.
Ceyle’s Hub: former home of Advocate Janil Coriett.
Chase, Auberon: head of COE Intelligence.
Clarke Cylinder: an ancient habitat.
COE: see Commonwealth of Empires.
COE Armada, the: the combined armed forces of the COE, responsible for external security. Active soldiers are referred to as Marines.
COE Enforcement: the policing body responsible for security and information gathering within the COE. Field agents are referred to as Enforcers.
COE High Equity Court: the department responsible for intersystem justice within the COE. Its usual purpose is to settle territorial disputes.
COE Intelligence: the body responsible for information gathering outside the COE. Originally and still nominally a subdepartment of the Armada, but an independent body in practice.
COE Intelligence HQ: the command center of COE Intelligence, a large, independent station located in deep space near the heart of the Commonwealth.
COE Military College: the main training institution of COE Armada personnel; situated on the second moon of Bodh Gaya.
COEA: COE Armada vessel identification prefix.
COEI: COE Intelligence vessel identification prefix.
Commerce Artel: a galaxy-wide organization devoted to initiating and coordinating trade between Castes and governments that might otherwise have no contact. It prides itself on remaining aloof from political conflict yet has some strict behavioral standards to which it expects its customers to adhere (such as the Warfare Protocol). Structurally, it is divided into chapters managed by indigenous Caste-members with only loose control from above. It has strong links, locally, with the Eckandar Trade Axis.
Commonwealth of Empires: often abbreviated to COE or Commonwealth. A relatively ancient Pristine nation currently in its 40th millennium of nominal existence—”nominal” in that the membership of the COE is fluid by nature, with provinces joining and seceding on a regular basis. It has had many different capitals and its borders have changed radically over the centuries. Indeed, it has drifted with time, and now occupies territories quite remote from its original location. One thousand inhabited systems currently fall under its aegis, and another three thousand uninhabited systems have been annexed. It is ruled by a democratically elected Eupatrid and a council of representatives who, when united, wield supreme executive power. Its security departments include Intelligence, Armada, and Enforcement.
Coriett, Janil: an advocate formerly of Ceyle’s Hub, currently employed in Environment Control of the SHCV Phlegethon.
Crescend, the: a High Human of some note and great history. His time of Transcendence is not recorded. Little is known about him, beyond the facts that he is the founder and overseer of Trinity, an ally of the COE, and a key supporter of the Interventionist movement. He is assumed to be a singular entity simply because the first person singular is his pronoun of choice.
crypt: the Skehan Heterodox term for the engineering rooms of a consistory vessel.
Dark Stressor, HHAB: a compact habitat of ill-repute, known to be a gathering-point for mercenaries.
Dato Bloc: an independent nation founded on the ruins of the Ataman Theocracy that recently broke free of the COE. Although not hierocratic in nature, the Ethnarch exerts a strict rule. Its security departments include the Ethnarch’s Military Presidium and the Espionage Corps.
Daybreak, COEI: a courier vessel belonging to COE Intelligence.
DBMP: vessel identification prefix for the Ethnarch’s Military Presidium.
De Bruyn, Page: former head of Strategy, COE Intelligence.
Disciples of Evergence: a covert organization with Hum connections devoted to serving the enemy.
disrupters: see hyperspace disrupters.
Dreher, Ralf: a name from ancient records connected to the enemy.
Drys: a caste not indigenous to the COE region.
E-shield: an electromagnetic barrier designed to ward off particle and energy weapons. Used mainly by medium-to-large spacefaring vessels.
Eckandar: (Eckandi, adj & sing, n): a Caste flourishing in the regions surrounding the COE. Its members are typified by their slight size, gray skin, bald scalps, and unusual eyes. They are a gregarious Caste, preferring trade and communication over conquest. They are also well-advanced in genetic science. Their past stretches back beyond that of the COE, although they lack the continuity of history that strong nationhood often provides. Their sole uniting body is the Eckandar Trade Axis.
Eckandar Trade Axis: the main society of the Eckandi Caste, devoted, much like the Commerce Artel (with which it has close ties), to facilitating free and nondiscriminatory trade with and between the COE and its neighbors.
Egarr, Gurion: senior councilor to Inderdeep Jans.
EN: see Ex Nihilo.
enemy: Interim Emergency Pristine Council shorthand for the clone warriors.
Enforcement: see COE Enforcement.
Enforcer: see COE Enforcement.
epsense: an ability encompassing telepathy and empathy. The ritual training of epsense adepts generally takes decades and incorporates elements of sensory deprivation. Note: telekinesis and precognition are not covered by epsense and are assumed to be nonexistent. Skilled utilizers of epsense are referred to as epsense adepts or reaves.
Erojen: a town on an outpost far from the heart of the Surin domain.
Esperance, SAS: the fighter piloted by Defender-of-Harmony Vri.
Espionage Corps: see Dato Bloc.
Espire-Mavrodis Coalition: one of the IEPC’s major allies.
Essai: home of the Surin Agora.
Ethnarch: the title of the leader of the Dato Bloc.
Ethnarch’s Military Presidium: see Dato Bloc.
Eupatrid: the title of the chief executive officer of the COE.
Ex Nihilo: refers to the date upon which the COE is believed to have been founded. Evidence exists to cast doubt upon the accuracy or relevance of this date—notably the fact the Commonwealth as a single body did not exist at all between the 13th an
d 15th millennia—but the date remains as a reference point. Usually abbreviated to EN.
Exordium Worlds: the region first colonized by the Primordial Castes.
Exotic: any mundane Caste that differs physiologically from the Pristine. There are a vast number of Exotic Castes, and, although no one type of Exotic comes close to outnumbering Pristine Humans, the Exotics as a whole mass far greater than Pristines alone.
fane: the Skehan Heterodox term for a ship’s bridge.
Far Reaches: the name of the outermost fringes of the Outer Arms.
Fathehi Consulate: a habitat sent to Sol System by a Caste originating on the far side of the galaxy.
flicker-bombs: devices used in space warfare to attack an enemy vessel. Employing the fact that small masses (under a few kilograms) can slow-jump a small distance within a gravity well, these missiles skip in and out of space on their way to their target, which, it is hoped, they will materialize within, causing massive amounts of damage. They are easily deflected by hypershields, however, which form a barrier in hyperspace that no such weapon can cross.
40th millennium: the current millennium in the history of the COE. See Ex Nihilo.
Gastel, Felix: the current Eupatrid of the COE.
Gegenschein, COEI: a cruiser owned by COE Intelligence.
God’s Monkey, HIC: a small vessel operated by the Disciples of Evergence.
grayboots: see Olmahoi retribution squad.
Great Lanes: the network of shipping routes delineated by anchor points across the galaxy.
Ground Corps: a military body referred to in ancient records.
Guild of Xenoarchaeologists: (GOX) an ancient and highly regarded professional organization of xenoarchaeologists.
Guo Sodality: an organization from the Middle Reaches dedicated to the study and training of epsense adepts.
Guidon Habitat: sibling-habitat to Perdue Habitat.
H’si F’ta: a Caste known to the IEPC.
Haid, Ameidio: former transportee, Sciacca Penal Colony, and ex-mercenary.
Heidik, Jelena: the name by which the clone warrior responsible for the destruction of Palasian System identified herself.
Heidik, Jelena: in ancient times, a general and recipient of a Mars St. Selwyn Medal for valor against the enemy in Alpha Aurigae.
Hek’m: the Olmahoi Caste homeworld.
Heresiarch: Skehan Heterodox name for the commanding officer of a consistory vessel.
High Humans (or High Castes): Superior intelligences that have evolved (Transcended) from the mundane. Enormously long-lived and farseeing, they concentrate on issues quite removed from the rest of the galaxy; indeed, due to their enormous scale, they are the only beings capable of comprehending the galaxy in its entirety. They generally leave mundanes alone, to let them progress (and, ultimately, to Transcend) in their own time. See Castes and Transcendence.
High Equity Court: see COE High Equity Court.
Hurn: a Caste typified by ritual and complexity. In appearance they are lean and muscular, averaging greater than Pristine height. They are predisposed toward music and mathematics. Socially they prefer oligarchies with a baroque middle class.
Hutton-Luu System: a much-disputed system of the COE near its border with the Dato Bloc. See Sciacca’s World.
hypershield: a barrier erected in hyperspace to deflect or inhibit the passage of anything traveling by that medium. Commonly used as a prophylactic against hyperspace weapons. Hypershields operate under a maximum volume constraint: i.e. they will only operate as intended under two thousand cubic kilometers.
hyperspace disrupters: a form of hypershield which actively combats incoming hyperspace weapons, such as flicker-bombs. Unlike anchor points, which “weaken” space, disrupters do the opposite, making it more difficult for anything nearby to emerge from hyperspace.
i-Hurn Uprising: a civil dispute which broke out between two rival factions of the Hurn Caste.
IEPC: see Interim Emergency Pristine Council.
imaret: a Surin single-passenger fighter.
Imi: a system in which Ameidio Haid once worked.
IND: independent vessel identification prefix.
Intelligence: see COE Intelligence.
Interim Emergency Pristine Council: (IEPC) an organization that exists only in times of greatest duress for the Pristine Caste. With no fewer than thirty nations required to call it into being, it exists only so long as the threat remains.
Interventionism: a movement among High Humans—and some mundanes—that advocates closer links between High and mundane Castes. See The Crescend.
irikeii; one of very few Olmahoi “sound-thoughts” which can be equated with audible words; often translated as unnamed or unnamable.
Jans, Ehud: Inderdeep Jans’s father and the previous administer of Perdue Habitat.
Jans, Eir: biological daughter of Ehud Jans.
Jans, Inderdeep: administer of Perdue Habitat.
Ju Mandate, Second: a government represented by Assistant Vice Primate Rey Nemeth.
JW111101000: see Box, the.
Kajic, Uri: former captain, DBMP Ana Vereine, physically bonded to his ship.
Katajalin Serai: a loose collection of trade and security vessels.
Ken’an: a mercenary operating from the habitat Dark Stressor.
Kesh: the most primal of the local Castes. The Kesh are typically warlike and predisposed toward violence. In appearance, they tend to be larger than the Pristine average and have mottled, multicolored skin. Their social structure is heavily ritualized, with a strong tribal or family base. They are known for being highly racist.
Kindling, IND: the name given by Page De Bruyn to her stolen fighter, formerly registered as TBC-14 and owned by COE Intelligence.
Kukumat: one of a gas giant pair occupying the sixth planetary orbit around Palasian System; the pair shares a single moon.
LaGoc: a Caste that contributed a mobile barracks to the crisis in Sol System.
Lemmas: A Hum reave employed by the Disciples of Evergence.
Lenz, Uyeno: a mercenary frequently to be found on Dark Stressor.
Lleshi, Sadoc: captain, Ground Corps; recognized for excellence in battle against the enemy in ancient times.
Low Castes: devolved mundane Humans. These animal-like creatures come in many forms and occupy many niches across the galaxy. Some evolve back up to mundane status, given time and isolation, while others become extinct as a result of the forces that led to their devolution in the first place.
Lucence-2, COEA: COE Armada Escort & Assault Craft.
M’taio System: a system notable for its Caste Wars in recent times.
Maii: Surin epsense adept.
Marauder: an experimental class of warship developed by the Dato Bloc. See DBMP Ana Vereine.
Marines: see COE Armada.
Mars St. Selwyn Medal: an honorific bestowed in ancient times.
Mbata: (Mbatan, adj & sing, n): a well-regarded Caste known for its peace-loving and familial ways. In appearance they resemble the ursine species, larger and stronger than the Pristine. Their culture is egalitarian and open to trade.
Middle Reaches: the region of medium stellar density between the Outer Arms and the galactic core.
Midnight, COEA: COE Retriever-class frigate.
Military Star: an honorific bestowed in ancient times.
Military Presidium: see Dato Bloc.
minaret: Skehan Heterodox term for the prow of a consistory vessel.
Multiple Genesis Theory: a theory that the various Castes of Humanity evolved—or at least emerged into the greater galaxy—from several systems simultaneously.
mundane Castes: Castes of Humanity that are essentially similar to the Pristine in terms of size, mental capacity, worldview, etc. Naturally there is a spectrum of types across the mundane Caste—from the highly evolved (some might say near-Transcendent) Olmahoi, through the socially complex Surin and Hurn Castes, to the Eckandar and Pristine Castes with their societies based on trade and empi
re-building, and beyond, via the earthy Mbata, to the relatively primal Kesh. Mundanes are typically short-lived (a century or so, when allowed to age naturally) and build empires up to four or five thousand systems in size. There is a ceiling of complexity above which mundanes rarely go without Transcending. See High Humans and Batelin Limit.
Murnane, Esko: plenipotentiary envoy sent by the citizens of Pompili to stand on the IEPC.
Murukan: one of a gas giant pair occupying the sixth planetary orbit around Palasian System (see Kukumat).
n-body: the epsense “counterpart” to the physical body.
n-space: a word used by epsense theorists to describe an environment completely empty of thought.
Nemeth, Rey: Assistant Vice Primate sent by the Second Ju Mandate to stand on the IEPC.
Noske: a Caste not normally found in the COE region.
Nyberg: the founder of school of epsense training regarded as second-rate by superior adepts.
Objective Reference Calendar: a system of date-keeping established by the A-14 Higher Collaboration Network.
Old Earth Advance Guard: a military body mentioned in ancient records.
Olmahoi: an exotic Caste that communicates entirely by epsense. Physically they are of similar size to Pristines, but are much stronger; their skin is black and they possess little in the way of distinguishing features, apart from the epsense organ which dangles like a tentacle from the back of the skull. Their social structure is too complex to explore in detail here. They are renowned fighters, capable of feats of great skill, yet also possess a capacity for peace far in excess of any other local Caste.
Olmahoi retribution squad: renowned fighters able to combine perfectly their physical and epsense abilities. Also known as “grayboots.”
Outer Arms: the low stellar-density regions of the galaxy between the Middle and Far Reaches.
Out-of-Sol theory: a theory suggesting that all the Castes of Humanity originated on one world.
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