S

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.

SANCTIONER:

Irschchan police officer. All have Talent to some degree, even if only mind-shield and telepathy, so are members of the White Order.

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: 4.75o
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 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 à'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.

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 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 à.

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: 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 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. (See the graphic on Ann's Page)

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. Alphabetically, with sector number and number of subsectors, they are:

    Aquila (10, 3)            Eridanus (12, 7)           Pegasus (5, 4)
    Aries (18, 8)             Fornax (4, 5)              Phoenix (14, 6) 
    Auriga (15, 4)            Gemini (11, 3)             Scorpio (6, 7)
    Centaurus (8, 4)          Hydra (2, 5)               Sculptor (3, 2) 
    Chameleon (20, 4)         Indus (17, 4)              Traiti (21, 6)
    Crater (13, 4)            Leo (19, 6)                Ursa (9, 6)
    Cygnus (7, 6)             Orion (1, 8)               Virgo (16,
4)

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 as Lord 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 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 à reappears at a higher rank. When it is activated for military emergencies under another designation, it operates without regard for the Laws of War; its Fleet Admiral is subsequently courtmartialled, then given another identity and set up on a world of à's choice.

Home port is Shonnar, where its cover mission (and, most of the time, real one) is to interdict that world from contact.

SHADOWGUARD:

The Corporation's elite group of assassins, used by the CrimeLord to enforce Corporation policy and à's decisions. Talent is a requirement for membership, as it is for Rangers, and they have other similar though less stringent requirements. Because of that, they are also known as the Black Rangers, and use a black star-in-circle as their emblem; it is concealed in the base of a ring, beneath a black ruby. The ruby is a cabochon for all except the Shadowguard Chief, who wears a faceted ruby.

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, who created the Sandeman race and much of its culture. They were overthrown and killed by their creations in 2316.

SHAYNAR:

(Originated in Land Prime universe, but have appeared in Alpha Prime) These are small, ferret-type creatures ranging from 3-6 lbs for females and 6-10 lbs for males (this makes them roughly twice the size of ferrets). They range in length from 24-36 inches regardless of sex. Markings run the range of a standard ferret (sables, silver sables, albinos, etc.), but some unusual combinations can be found (albinos with masks, spotted, etc). The heads of the shaynar are larger than those of ferrets, allowing for a larger brain, and their eyes are also larger (but still woefully nearsighted).

A major difference between the shaynar and ferrets is the intelligence level. The shaynar have the intelligence of a 3-5 year old child on the average, but of course some are only equal to that of a 2 year old while others are equivalent to a 7-9 year old. They also have a form of telepathy (racial trait) which allows them to communicate with each other and other intelligent species. They do have a form of non-verbal communication that is difficult for non-shaynar to understand, but not impossible to learn if a being is so motivated. With the telepathy they are capable of projecting simple sentences. If they are asked to find or retrieve an object they are intelligent enough to do so, however their attention span is such that if they are sufficiently distracted they will forget their task.

Shaynar are capable of forming close emotional bonds with each other and have complex family groupings that can span several generations. They have a life span of 18-24 years, if they live uneventful lives. They can also form bonds with other species (especially humans).

Another difference between shaynar and ferrets is in the front paws. A shaynar's paws are more like hands and they can grasp items and use small tools. If you had the patience to teach one how to use a set of lockpicks, they'd be perfect thieves... well, as long as they didn't get distracted. Speaking of which, they love sparklies! They're worse than magpies when it comes to hoarding pretty sparklies, and they will try their best to acquire any they see. (Sherry Sheggrud, LadyMari@delphi.com)

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.  Commanded by
    a Captain.
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.  Commanded by a Commander or Captain.
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.  Commanded by a Commander.
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.  
    Commanded by a Lieutenant Commander or Commander.
Light Destroyers (ILDs), equatorial diameter 400 meters, crew 750, named for
    military commanders.  Commanded by a Lieutenant Commander.
Armed Scouts (IASs), equatorial diameter 200 meters, crew of 500, named for
    scouts or explorers.  Commanded by a Lieutenant or Lieutenant Commander.
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: 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 rediscovered by Crown Princess Halona Strider in 2321, while she was looking for a permanent home base for the Shadow Fleet. The mystics were developing powers she thought might be useful in the future, if left alone to develop. That was precisely what they wanted, as well, and 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:

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 broad silvery-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 had moved off- planet to justify a System-wide government, the Federation was a loose democracy. It was superseded when hyperdrive allowed humanity to travel faster than light, rapidly spreading to the point where sheer scale made democracy impossible. At that point the Federation Congress amended the constitution, dissolving the Federation and creating the Terran Empire.

SOUL-BLADE (Irschchan):

A dagger carried by all Irschchans from pre-adolescence. It has the owner's personality impressed on it by a specialized form of darlas, and is supposed to remain with its owner for the rest of à's life. The owner becomes uncomfortable if it is not within reach, more so if it is handled by another, and suffers permanent psychic shock if it is destroyed.

After the owner's death, the soul-blade is preserved in the family's Hall of Memories, where the survivors are able to feel the presence of their deceased relatives.

SPECIAL LIAISON:

An individual with special knowledge of a culture or society, usually because à was born or raised in it, appointed to work with the officer in charge of a mission to that culture.

STARPILOT:

The common term for the commanders of small fighting spacecraft in early 24th century Avalon. In a time and place where the resources of over 50 worlds were marshalled by less than 2.5 million humans, massed armed forces were hard to develop -- although the will to use them was not. The StarPilots achieved a semi-legendary status for their individual exploits in a time where the person and not the unit was the principal element of warfare. (Also refers to the mini-game developed for playing out these battles.) (Glenn Overby)

STEINHAUER, Dirk:

Imperial Ranger. Took part in Mjolnir Conference, 2542. Killed during White Order revolt, 2569.

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-green three-lobed leaves and milky sap. The sap contains something generally described as a cross between a fungus and a bacterium, which is harmless to intact skin, but is poisonous if introduced into a wound. The first indication of poisoning, usually in less than an hour, is that the wound begins to ooze a thick, greenish-yellow, foul-smelling matter. If the victim does not receive prompt treatment, a fever develops, followed by delirium, coma, and death, the speed of progress determined by the amount of poison absorbed. It is dangerous for anyone except a medic or physician with life support available to attempt medicating a stingweed victim, since even something as normally safe as quidine may at times intensify the poison's effect.

STUNNER, NEURAL:

A blaster setting or special-purpose handgun that stuns rather than injuring the one shot. Although it causes no actual damage, 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

SUBDIVISIONS, IMPERIAL:

See Fiefs

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 possible alternatives, Emperor Chang decided that the Imperial succession should be based, with one modification, on the Roman Catholic method of selecting Popes. That difference was timing; rather than wait until the Sovereign died to elect a new one, thus risking a period without a ruler, the Conclave would elect a Successor as soon as the new Sovereign ascended the Throne. Acting on that, a Conclave to elect his Successor was held a month later; that was Ranger Susan Lindner, who followed his example, as has been done ever since. See below for a list 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 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
Richard Kessleman, 6 Mar 2804 - 21 Feb 2862
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

SYNDICATE:

A crime cartel in competition with the much larger Corporation. They made an attempt to take over in 2633, but their initial tactic was such as to provoke an extremly strong Corporation response, and they were practically wiped out. They rebuilt slowly, and were fully operational again by the mid 2640's. Like the Corporation, they were destroyed in 2668.

SYSTEMS:

The third subdivision of the Empire; the 1,431 with more than one inhabited planet are ruled by counts.

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