The following list represents an attempt at a comprehensive list of the acronyms and various obscure terms used in the PBEM over the entire course of the game. Many of these definitions may seem self-evident, and others may seem out of context. Nevertheless, all of the terms have either been used in the game, or are available (as defined by the refs.) for use within the game.

It is the intent that all future updates of this list will be comprehensive, and thus will only require that the reader have the most current list to possess the complete set of definitions.

A:

AAB:

Argushiigi Admegulasha Bilanidin. Vilani for the "Vilani Repository of All Knowledge", located on Vland.

AAM:

Air-to-Air Missile.

AAR:

Air-to-Air Refueling.

ABC:

Airway open, Breathing restored, Circulation restored. The 3 major steps of basic life-support first aid.

ABG:

Arterial Blood Gases.

ABM:

Anti-Ballistic Missile.

ABS:

Able-Bodied Spacer. A general classification of a qualified spaceship or starship crew-member.

A/C:

Air Conditioning. (Duh!)

ACLS:

Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

ACM:

Advanced Cruise Missile.

ACM:

Air Combat Maneuvers.

ACR:

Advanced Combat Rifle.

ACTH:

AdrenoCorticoTropic Hormone. A naturally-occuring substance in the body frequently tested for as a measure of neural activity.

ACV:

Air Cushion Vehicle.

ADI:

Attitude Direction Indicator.

ADW:

Area Denial Weapon.

AECO:

African ECOsystem. Located in Sub-Saharan Africa, the site of one of the two major starports on Terra.

AEW:

Airborne Early Warning.

AFFF:

Aqueous Fire Fighting Foam.

AFV:

Armored Fighting Vehicle.

AG:

[Ger.] Aktiengesellschaft. A general corporation.

AGE:

Air-Gas Embolism. A gas bubble lodged in the bloodstream causing an obstruction.

A/G:

1) Air-to-Ground [Usually a transmission.] 2) Anti-Gravity.

AGNIS:

AntiGrav Network Imaging System. A newstaper's companion robot.

AI:

Artificial Intelligence.

Ai:

A three-toed sloth of genus Bradypus. This forest-dwelling animal eats the leaves of the trumpet-tree and sounds a high-pitched squeal when disturbed. (OK, I grant you, we probably won't run into one in the PBEM, but you never know...) :^)

AIRS:

Advanced Inertial Reference Sphere.

ALCM:

Air-Launched Cruise Missile.

AMCS:

Automated Medical Coding System.

APC:

Armored Personnel Carrier.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit.

APDS:

Armor Piercing, Discarding Sabot. A type of artillary munition.

APERS:

Anti-PERSonnel. A type of artillary munition.

APF:

Auritaurun Porporic Fever. A lethal disease found on only 4 worlds in Corridor sector.

ARL:

Assault Rocket Launcher.

ASAT:

Anti-SATellite weapon.

ATF(S):

Advanced Tactical Fighter (Space).

ATV:

All Terrain Vehicle.

AU:

Astronomical Unit. The distance between Terra and Sol, equal to approximately 93.2 million miles.

AVS:

Anti-Viral Software. Designed to detect and prevent computer viruses from infecting a system.

AWS:

Albe Welfare Service.

Barrage Jamming:

Radio jamming on a wide range of frequencies, to guarantee obstruction of wide-range or frequency-agile transmissions.

Barrage Reception:

Radio reception on a wide range of frequencies, to minimize the chance of missing an RF signal.

Barrage Transmission:

Radio transmission on a wide range of frequencies, to maximize the chance of successfully sending an RF signal.

Baseball:

The confinement chamber of a ball-lightning type fusion reactor, so called because its current carriers resemble the seam pattern in a baseball.

Base Pair:

A pair of purine-pyrimidine bases, each in a separate nucleotide, in which each base is hydrogen-bonded to the other. In DNA, the two such pairs are guanine with cytosine and adenine with thymine. In RNA, adenine is paired with uracil.

Base Sequence:

the order of base pairs in a given DNA molecule.

BCS:

Body Cavity Sonar.

BD:

Battle Dress.

BHTD:

Bio-Hazard Threat Detector. A computerized chemical sampling unit used aboard ship to verify a safe breathing environment.

Bingo fuel:

Critical fuel level, usually fuel level necessary for return to base.

BMR:

Basal Metabolic Rate.

BOA:

Bureau of Offworld Affairs.

BRT:

Body Reaction Tool (similar to a HMHHPAT). Often pronounced "Brute".

BSADA:

Broad Spectrum Area Denial Agent. A chemical or biological weapon designed to prevent occupation of an area.

BVR:

Beyond Visual Range.

CAS:

Close Air Support.

CAS:

Collision Avoidance System.

Cascade Failure:

A successive failure of heuristic components in advanced computing devices, leading initially to faulty operation and ultimately total failure of the device.

Case-based Reasoning:

(AI) Technique whereby "cases" similar to the current problem are retrieved and their "solutions" modified to work on the current problem.

CAT:

Computer-Aided Tomography. A type of medical scanner.

CE:

1) Chief Engineer. 2) Combat Engineer.

CEO:

Chief Engineering Officer.

CEP:

Circular Error Probability, the radius within which 50% of the launched weapons hit.

CIC:

Combat Information Center.

CICU:

Cardiac ICU (q.v.).

CinC:

Commander-in-Chief.

CIWS:

Close-In Weapons System (pronounced "See-Whiz").

CLAIRE:

Combined Lexical Audio-Image Relational Editor. A portable news agency tool for reviewing and editing holographic recordings.

CLT:

Computer Language Translator.

CMO:

Chief Medical Officer.

CNS:

Central Nervous System.

CO:

Commanding Officer.

CO2:

Carbon Dioxide.

COACC:

Close Orbit and Airspace Control Command.

COMM:

Communications (system).

CPA:

Charged Particle Accelerator.

[C]PAWS:

[Charged] Particle Accelerator Weapon System.

CPO:

Chief Petty Officer.

CPR:

1) CardioPulmonary Resusitation. 2) Chemically Propelled Round. A type of artillary munition.

CPU:

Central Processing Unit. Obsolete term for the central component of a digital computer.

CPW:

Charged Particle Weapon.

CRC:

Cyclic Redundancy Check. A data integrity test, usually applied to transmitted information in a digital computing device.

CS/DA:

Crowd Suppression/Dispersal Agent (i.e. tear-gas).

CT:

Contra-Terrene (anti-matter).

CV:

1) Curriculum Vitae. (A dossier or personnel file). 2) Commerial Vehicle (UCP < 1000).

CVS:

Counter-Viral Software. Designed to locate and eliminate computer viruses after infection.

CVH:

Commerial Vehicle (Heavy) (UCP >= 1000).

CVR:

Cockpit Voice Recorder.

CW:

Chemical Warfare.

Dag:

A type of electrical insulation for vacuum-sealed high-current devices. A blackish-grey putty-like substance, it is diluted with ethanol and painted on, after which it dries to a film.

Data Mining:

(AI) Also known as Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD) was been defined as "The nontrivial extraction of implicit, previously unknown, and potentially useful information from data" in Frawley and Piatetsky-Shapiro's overview. It uses machine learning, statistical and visualization techniques to discover and present knowledge in a form which is easily comprehensible to humans.

DB:

DataBase.

DCA:

Drive Coil Assembly.

DECON:

Decontaminate. (Usually procedures for such.)

DEW:

Directed Energy Weapon.

DF:

Direction Finding.

DFCS:

Digital Fire Control System.

DFDR:

Digital Flight Data Recorder.

DINS:

Digital Inertial Navigation System.

ECC:

Emergency Cardiac Care.

ECM:

Electronic CounterMeasures.

EEG:

ElectroEncephaloGram. A method of monitoring neural activity.

EH:

Event Horizon (a major corporation in Centerpoint, the Wire).

ELF:

Extremely Low Frequency.

ELINT:

ELectronic INTelligence.

ELISA:

Enzyme-Linked Immuno-abSorbent Assay. [ I just had to add this one. :^) ]

ELR:

Extreme Long Range.

ELT:

Emergency Location Transponder.

ELV:

Expendable Launch Vehicle.

EM:

ElectroMagnetic.

EMCON:

[Electronic] Emission Control.

EMM:

ElectroMagnetic Masking.

EMP:

ElectroMagnetic Pulse. A side effect of nuclear detonation with a destructive effect on non-optical electronics. Usually generated by a high-altitude burst.

EMS:

1) ElectroMagnetic System/Sensors/Suite. 2) Emergency Medical Service.

EMT:

Emergency Medical Technician.

EOD:

Explosive Ordnance Disposal.

EOT:

End Of Transmission.

EOW:

Engineer Of the Watch. The ranking engineer currently on duty.

EPS:

Energetic Plasma System. The primary mechanism for routing high energy streams between starship drive components.

ESC:

Extended Suspension Capsule. An experimental form of emergency low berth.

ETA:

Estimated Time of Arrival.

EVA:

ExtraVehicular Activity (spacewalk usually).

EW:

Electronic Warfare.

EWO:

Electronic Warfare Officer.

FBW:

Fly-By-Wire.

FCMB:

Fusion Chamber Magnetic Bottle.

FCS:

Fire Control System.

FDR:

Flight Data Recorder.

FGMP:

Fusion Gun, Man Portable.

FICAI:

Fellow of the Imperial College of Adult Intensivists. A medical organization.

FLIR:

Forward-Looking InfraRed.

FO:

Fiber Optic.

FOBS:

Fractional Orbital Bombardment System.

FOD:

Foreign Object Damage, damage caused by debris sucked into vehicle engine intakes.

FTL:

Faster Than Light.

Fuzzy Logic:

(AI) In Fuzzy Logic, truth values are real values in the closed interval [0..1]. The definitions of the boolean operators are extended to fit this continuous domain. By avoiding discrete truth-values, Fuzzy Logic avoids some of the problems inherent in either-or judgments and yields natural interpretations of utterances like "very hot". Fuzzy Logic has applications in control theory.

GABA:

Gamma-AminoButyric Acid.

GCA:

Ground Controlled Approach.

GenAssist:

the Solomani Confederation Ministry of Genetics.

GK:

Abbreviation for "Gashimeku Kaalariin", Vilani for "vessel in distress". (Equivalent to the Terran SOS and Mayday signals).

Glasgow Coma Scale:

A scale for evaluating the severity of a coma by measuring patient motor, verbal, and eye-opening responses to a set of standardized stimuli.

GmbH:

[Ger.] Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung. A limited liability company (e.g. Willie-Smythe Platinum Waffel Irons, Ltd. in either Great Britain or Canada). The letters 'GmbH' follow the name of any closed corporation under German law.

GPS:

Global Positioning System.

GQ:

General Quarters. A state of maximum readiness aboard a ship.

GRAS list:

Generally Recognized As Safe food additives and other consumable substances.

GSbAG:

A Licensed Imperial MegaCorporation.

H2:

Hydrogen.

HALO:

High Altitude, Low Open. A method of parachute deployment of troops.

HE:

High Explosive.

HEAP:

High Explosive, Armor-Piercing. A type of artillary munition.

HEAT:

High Explosive, Anti-Tank. A type of artillary munition.

HECTR:

Human Emotion Compatible, Turing-Reactive. A type of advanced, artifically-intelligent computer. Often pronounced "Hector".

HEDCAP:

High Explosive, Directed Charge, Armor Piercing. A type of ammunition.

HESH:

High Explosive, Squash Head. A type of artillary munition.

HiVel:

High Velocity. A type of artillary munition.

HMHHPAT:

Heavy Materials Handler Human Physical Analogue Tool (similar to a BRT). Often pronounced "Hump-At".

HMS:

Her/His Majesties Ship.

HQ:

HeadQuarters.

HUD:

Heads-Up Display.

IC:

Integrated Circuit.

IC:

Imperial Consulate.

ICC:

Imperial Communications Commission.

ICEP:

Imperial College of Emergency Physicians.

ICM:

Improved Conventional Munitions.

ICU:

Intensive Care Unit.

IDS:

Inertial Damping System.

IFF:

Identification Friend or Foe.

IFU:

Interstellar Freight-handlers Union.

IG:

Inspector General. Most service branches have such an office.

IISS:

Imperial Interstellar Scout Service.

IIST:

Imperial Institute of Standards and Technology.

IM:

IntraMuscular (to introduce directly into the muscle via needle.)

IMCA:

Imperial Ministry of Colonial Affairs.

IMDC:

Imperial Ministry for Disease Control (a branch of the IMHW).

IMHW:

Imperial Ministry of Health and Welfare.

IMJ:

Imperial Ministry of Justice.

IMS:

Imperial Mail Service (a branch of the ICC, directly responsible for the X-boat service). The IMS is the bureaucratic arm of the IISS, under the ICC, which manages the day-to-day aspects of data/message delivery in the Imperium.

IMTC:

Imperial Ministry of Trade and Commerce.

IMU:

Inertial Measuring Unit. Typically a ring-laser, this device is used aboard ship to exactly determine position and very small degrees of movement.

IN:

Imperial Navy.

INI:

Imperial Naval Intelligence.

INN:

Imperial News Network. The offical Imperial news agency. Frequently assumed to be a propaganda tool of the Emperor.

INS:

Inertial Navigation System.

IR:

InfraRed.

IRIS:

Imperial Regency for Intelligence and Security.

IRS:

Imperial Rescue Service.

ISF:

Imperial Science Foundation.

ISR:

Imperial Ship Registry. Imperial analogue to the 20th century "USS" or "HMS" preceding ship names.

ISS:

Imperial Star-Ship. An informal prefix for most vessels.

IST:

Imperial Standard Time.

IV:

IntraVenous (to introduce directly into the vein via needle.)

JAG:

Judge Advocate General. An office of the IMJ (q.v.).

JATO:

Jet-Assisted Take-Off.

JOT:

Jack Of all Trades.

JTS:

Jump Transition Syndrome. Commonly known as Jump Sickness.

Jump Sickness:

Jump Induced Acute Bilateral Peripheral Vestibulopathy. Manifested by vertigo, nausea, and vomiting. During the attack, the patient is often found lying on one side, unwilling to move his head. In milder cases, the patient does not require treatment. In severe cases, the patient may require IV fluid resuscitation and IV sedation. Death has been reported secondary to profound emesis and aspiration leading to suffocation or pneumonia and their sequelae. Prophylaxis is with a wide variety of drugs that work in the PNS including antihistamines, anticholinergics, benzodiazepines and sympathomimetics.

KCR:

Khaukheairl Clan Registry.

KEAP:

Kinetic Energy, Armor-Piercing. A type of artillary munition.

KeV:

Kiloelectron Volts.

LAG:

Light Assault Gun. A heavy rifle firing a 20mm, 30 gm. slug at velocities in excess of 400 meters per second.

LANTIRN:

Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting InfraRed for Night.

LCARS:

Library Computer Archive and Retrieval System.

LD-50:

Median Lethal Dosage for 50% of those exposed. Usually used in reference to radiation exposure.

LPEG:

Low Pressure Environmental Garment.

LH, LH2, L-Hyd:

Liquid Hydrogen.

LIC:

Limited liability Imperial Charter.

LOS:

1) Line Of Sight. 2) Loss Of Signal.

LRRP:

Long Range Recon Patrol.

LRTP:

Long Range Thruster Pack. An accessory for a PLSS.

LS:

Life Support.

LSP:

Ling Standard Products, a licensed Imperial Corporation.

LTD:

Laser Target Designator.

Ltd.:

Limited [Br./Ca.]. A limited liability Company.

LZ:

Landing Zone.

MAB:

Macro-molecular Autonomous Bio-processor (synaptic cyber-circuit used in advanced robotics).

MAD:

Magnetic Anomaly Detector.

MAST:

Military Anti-Shock Trousers. AKA anti-G suit.

MCI:

Multi-Casualty Incident.

MCr:

MegaCredit.

MCS:

Magnetic Constriction Segment. Component in a Tokamak fuel injection throat.

MCUF:

Meritorious Conduct Under Fire.

MED:

Minimum Effective Dose.

MEDLARS:

MEDical Literature Analysis and Rtrieval System.

MESA:

Modularized Equipment Stowage Assembly.

MeV:

Megaelectron Volts.

MG:

Machinegun.

MHz:

MegaHertz. One million cycles per second.

MIA:

Missing In Action.

MilSpec:

Designed to Military Specifications.

MLD:

Minimum Lethal Dose.

MMWR:

Millimeter-Wave Radar.

MMU:

Manned Maneuvering Unit.

MOJ:

Ministry Of Justice.

MOUT:

Military Operation in Urban Terrain. Specialized combat training for urban environments.

MPFC:

Monty Python's Flying Circus.

MPTA:

Methylphentransaminate. The most common anti-jump sickness medication currently in use. The generic name is "Nospin" (pronounced "Nose-Pin").

MRI:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging. A type of medical scanner.

MRL:

Multiple Rocket Launcher. Usually vehicle mounted.

MTBF:

Mean Time Between Failures. A measurement of equipment life.

MV:

Military/Merchant Vessel.

MW:

MegaWatt.

Nanocyte, Nanite:

A microscopic autonomous machine, designed to perform independent tasks on the subcellular level. Some are custom-built for a specific use, while others are programmable.

NAS:

Neural Activity Sensor.

NBC:

Nuclear, Biological and Chemical.

NCO:

Non-Commissioned Officer.

NLG:

Natural Language Grammar.

NMR:

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. The same thing as MRI.

NOE:

Nap Of Earth. Flying by following terrain contours closely.

Nonlinear Planning:

(AI) A planning paradigm which does not enforce a total (linear) ordering on the components of a plan.

Nospin:

See MPTA.

NPO:

Medical abbreviation for "Nothing By Mouth".

NSR:

Neurosurgical Society of Rhylanor.

NVS:

Night Vision System.

O2:

Oxygen.

OBA:

Oxygen Breathing Apparatus.

OB/GYN:

Obstetrician/Gynecologist. The medical specialty dealing with pregnancy, childbirth, and other diseases of the female reproductive organs. :^)

OCS:

Officer Candidate School.

ODN:

Optical Data Network.

OOD:

Officer Of the Day/Deck. The ranking officer currently on duty.

OS:

Operating System. The software that governs the overall behavior of a computer.

OTH(B):

Over The Horizon (Backscatter). A type of radar.

PAD:

Psionic Activity Detector.

PADD:

Personal Access Display Device. A handheld form of personal datacomp.

PAM:

Payload Assist Module.

PAR:

Phased Array Radar.

PATER:

Prototype Autonomous Task Evaluation & Resolution unit. A one-of-a-kind, partially synaptic AI installed aboard the Elissa as a major crew supplement.

PAVE PAWS:

Phased-Array, Vectored Electronically, Phased-Array Warning System. A type of strategic, ground-based radar.

PD:

Pulse-Doppler. A type of radar.

[N]PAWS:

[Neutral] Particle Accelerator Weapon System.

PDM:

Plasma Distribution Manifold. Another Tokamak component.

PDR-6:

Physicians' Desk Reference for the 6 major races. A comprehensive annual pharmaceutical compendium.

PET:

Positron Emission Tomography. A type of medical scanner.

PGM:

Precision Guided Munitions.

PGMP:

Plasma Gun, Man Portable.

PLSS:

Portable Life Support System (Types A, B, and C).

PNVS:

Pilots Night Vision System.

POS:

Portable Oxygen System.

PPLT:

Pulse-Proximity Laser Tool. A hand-held, fine-control laser cutter.

PR:

Public Relations/Press Release.

PRIS:

Portable Radiation Imaging System. A type of wide-EM band binocular.

PS-HV-659:

The most powerful Psi drug in known space, produced in the Driantia Zhdantia. Imperial prices can reach 1 MCr./dose.

PSI:

Pounds per Square Inch. A measurement of gas pressure.

QSCD:

Quantum State Coupled Device.

RAM:

1) Random Access Memory. The dynamic memory in a digital computer. 2) Radar Absorbing Material. A hull coating designed to reduce the return signature of a radar bounce. 3) Rocket Assisted Munition. Usually a launched grenade.

RAM-KS:

Roboi-AniMechaniaKataSthyzer (A starcore tempurature fusion torch used to weld bonded superdense starship hulls; only available at Class-A starports).

RBC:

Red Blood Cell.

RCS:

Reaction Control System.

RDF:

Radio Direction Finder.

RDP:

Rapid Deployment/Departure Procedures.

RECON:

Reconnaissance.

REM:

Rapid Eye Movement. An indication of a dream state during sleep.

REMF:

Rear Echelon Mother-F*cker. A common expletive used by front-line troops in reference to senior staff back at HQ.

RF:

Radio Frequency.

RIA:

RadioImmunoAssay. A sensitive method of determining concentration of substances in blood plasma.

RMS:

Remote Manipulator System.

RPV:

Remotely-Piloted Vehicle.

RV:

1) Research Vessel. 2) Re-entry Vessel.

RVE:

Restored Vilani Empire.

SA:

Sociedad Anonima [Sp.] / Societa Anonima [It.] / Societe Anonyme [Fr.]. A Stock Company.

SAD:

Search And Destroy.

SAR:

Search And Rescue.

SBI:

Space-Based Interceptor.

SCN:

Solomani Confederation Navy.

SCRAM:

Safety Control Reactor Axe Man. Emergency shutdown of a nuclear (fission or fusion) powerplant. The term originates at the U. of Chicago (Terra, 1930s), where one person was resposible for cutting the ropes that hold the control rods, in the event of a problem.

SCUBA:

Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.

SDB:

System Defense Boat. A heavily-armed, non-jump capable, military spacecraft designed for in-system defense.

SEH:

Starburst for Extreme Heroism. A military decoration. Also a class of light battle cruiser named after recipients of the decoration.

SIGINT:

Signal Intelligence

SINS:

Ships Inertial Navigation System.

SLAP:

Sabotted, Light Armor Piercing. (A type of ammunition.)

SLAR:

Side-Looking Airborne Radar.

SLOT:

Ship-Launched One-way Transmitter. A delayed transmission buoy which, after a preset wait, sends a high-speed burst message, allowing the ship to re-locate and prevent detection.

SMART:

Spinward Marches Archive Retrieval Team. A team of academics, supported by Archduke Norris, dedicated to restoration and maintenance of the scientific and historical database of the Imperium.

Smart Fog:

A generic term for any airborne cloud of nanites.

SMG:

SubMachineGun.

Snapshot:

Firing a weapon in an emergency without having time to aim properly.

SolSec:

Solomani Security.

SORAG:

Study and Operations Recording Activities Group/ Scientific Operations Research and Administration Group.

SPU:

System Processor Unit. The central component of a digital computer. Many such units may be present in massively parallel systems.

SQUID:

Super-conducting Quantum Interferance Device.

SS:

SchutzStaffel (German: "Protective Echelon"). An elite component of Hitler's "Third Reich", headed by Heinrich Himmler (Terra, old calendar 1925-1945).

SSMM:

Society for Soveriegnty of Man over Machine. A radical Solomani anti-technology organization.

SSR:

Safe Spacelanes Regulations.

STA:

Solomani Transport Authority.

STAT:

Immediately. (From the Latin "statim". Usually used in a medical context.)

STL:

Slower Than Light.

STOMP Unit:

Special Tactical Operations/Mobile Pacification Unit. A heavily armed and armoured rapid response team used by the Albe Welfare Service to assist ambushed food convoys and suppress riots in the welfare neighborhoods.

Sub-Q:

Subcutaneous (to introduce under the skin via needle.)

SURD:

Shinku University Research Directorate. One of the principal robotics firms in the Core sector.

SuSAG:

Schunamann und Sohn AG, LIC. A Licensed Imperial MegaCorporation.

SYL:

Solomani Youth League.

T&E:

Test & Evaluation.

TA:

Teaching Assistant.

TADS:

Target Acquisition and Designation Sight.

TAS:

1) Target Acquisition System. 2) Travellers Aid Society.

Tavrchedl':

The Zhodani Thought Police.

TDX:

A gravity-lensing plastic explosive used by Imperial military forces.

TERCOM:

TERrain COntour Matching.

TFR:

Terrain Following Radar.

TL:

Technology Level. A measure of a culture's technological sophistication.

TMA:

Target Motion Analysis. The process by which a fire control system determines a targets course, speed, and range, so that a weapon can be fired at it accurately.

TNS:

Traveller News Service. An Imperium-wide news agency.

T-normal:

A Terra-like world.

TO&E:

Table of Organization and Equipment.

Tokamak:

One of the two major types of fusion reactors (the other type is Ball Lightning), it maintains a fusion state in a toroidal magnetic bottle.

Toner War:

A large-scale conflict between two or more opposing forces of nanites, so-called because the debris from the resulting destruction of large numbers of these devices (perhaps hundreds of trillions) appears (to the naked eye) as a fine, almost oily, black soot, resembling the carbon toner solution used in laser computer printers.

Torr:

A unit of gas pressure measurement. 1 Torr = 1 mm Hg.
760 Torr = 14.7 PSI = 1 Atmosphere = 101 kPa (kiloPascal).

TOW:

Tube launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided. A type of missile.

TriCycloKet:

Tricyclophenylketamine. An illegal euphoric recreational drug popular in the Domain of Antares and the Julian Protectorate. The common method of consumption is a 5% mix of TriCycloKet in Methanol (a toxic substance in and of itself). Large doses of TCK are always fatal.

TTND:

Theater Tactical Nuclear Device.

TWI:

Threat Warning Indicator.

TZ:

Time Zone.

UHF:

Ultra-High Frequency.

UHGCF:

Ultra-Heavy Granite, Coyote-Flattening. A very specialized type of self-propelled artillery round (the round is self-propelled, not the artillery), manufactured by Acme Ludicrous Weapons Division exclusively for Warner Brothers Studios. [I just wanted to see if any of you were really reading this thing. :^) ]

ULF:

Ultra-Low Frequency.

UNSCA:

United Nations Space Coordinating Agency.

UV:

UltraViolet.

VFR:

Visual Flight Reference. Flying by looking out the window instead of using your instruments.

VHF:

Very High Frequency.

VLA:

Very Large Array. A radio detection/sensor system with an extremely long baseline (kilometers at least).

VLAC:

Very Large Array Carriers.

VLF:

Very Low Frequency.

VLS:

Vertical Launch System.

VMA:

Vanillylmandelic acid. 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid. residue of the metabolism of epinepherine and norepinepherine.

VnSTHM:

Variable n-Space Topology, Holographic Memory.

VRF:

Very Rapid Fire. A type of crew-served Gauss weapon.

V/STOL:

Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing (aircraft).

WBC:

White Blood Cell.

WP:

White Phosphorus.

XO:

eXecutive Officer (the 2nd-in-command).

Extended Suspension Capsule

Similar to a low-berth it can put a person in cryogenic suspension, but then it fills the capsule with a special gel material that provided shock and temperature protection. The ESC itself is made of bonded superdense, and capable of independent operation. Limner designed and built it, but has never tested it... In theory (!) it can keep a person in suspended animation for many, many years, and should survive a blast that would utterly destroy Igor... Revival instructions are written in several languages and in a pictographic form on the back of the ESC.

Inertial Measuring Unit

Until around 1980 or 1985, an extremely precise, mechanical, gyroscopic device used to sense inertial accelerations. The accelerations are integrated to get velocity, then integrated again to get displacement. As you can imagine, a very small acceleration error becomes a large displacement error over many hours / days etc.

Around 1980 or 1985, somebody figured out how to construct a 'solid-state' gyroscope by using lasers - the "ring laser gyro". The lasers were even more precise, more accurate than the finest mechanical gyroscopic IMUs. People even now are shrinking the ring-laser-gyro to probably around the size of a coffee mug (my guesstimate).

However, within the last couple of years, engineers have been experimenting with 'piezo-electric' accelerometers that are very small and very cheap. Size is on the order of square millimeters. With the research into micro- mechanical devices on the sub-micron level, they look to become much smaller. Currently, if memory serves, the piezo-electric accelerometers are very rugged, and very cheap, but they are not currently as accurate or precise as the laser gyros. Some people say the piezo-electric accelerometer will replace the ring-laser-gyros, other people say they won't or it is much too early to tell.

With Smythe, he would probably have ring-laser-gyro based IMU's of extremely precise nature. They would be in the work pods (similar to what would go into other smallcraft, but probably more acurate), and much more accurate/precise ones (more suitable for scientific experiment) in each VLA pod/antenna/whatever.

	WorkPod	VLA antennae
Size:	10cmx10cmx10cm	20cmx20cmx20cm
Mass:	1-5kg	5-15kg

Multi-Casualty Incident

Also refered to as "MassCal", "MPI" (for multipatient incident), or "the big one". This is loosely defined as when there are more patients than available resources are able to deal with.

SORAG

"The name is an acronym for Study and Operations Recording Activities Group. The purpose of SORAG is to observe the progress of emerging interstellar societies using overt and passive means.'"

"The previous statement, gleaned from any number of official publications of the Zhodani Consulate is almost completely false.

SORAG (Scientific Operations Research and Administration Group) is an intelligence and counter-intelligence service... Its purpose is to infiltrate and perform surveillance on various interstellar governments and military services...."

SORAG Handbook of Organization and Equipment 1 (Paranoia Press, 165-1107).

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