False War (1082 to 1084): The short, fourth war in the series of Frontier Wars between the Third Imperium and the Zhodani Consulate.
See Fourth Frontier War. -ld IE

Far Portal (0130 Gateway A238346-A): Also known as Gateway Portal, this system is important because it offers the only Jump-1 and -2 route into the Gateway Sector from neighboring Ley Sector. Most visitors to the Gateway Sector pass through Far Portal. Though the system does not belong to the Galian Federation, strong ties between this world and the Federation have existed since the days of the great interstellar corporations.
The Galian worlds have greatly benefited through trade and taxation by occupying the only regular trade routes between the Gateway and Ley Sectors. Far Portal, like Gateway Prime, is an artificial construct, a space colony in orbit around a small, cold, ice-locked rocky body which is the only satellite of Toman, a swollen, Type III red giant. Several hundred people occupy research stations on the surface of the planet; the rest of the population - some 8000 - live and work in the orbital colony and in the attendant spaceport and space industrial facilities. Normally a prosperous place, business in Far Portal has declined sharply since the beginning of the Imperial Rebellion. -gat MTJ 4

Far Trader: Variant designation 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. -ld TP

Federation: Group of states, worlds, or systems, each internally independent, joined into a union to which has been surrendered certain rights and responsibilities, most generally to do with foreign affairs. -ld IE

Feesle stick: Feesle sticks are small twigs from a bush native to Regina (1910 Spinward Marches). When chewed, they give off a pleasant sweet taste. Their sap works as a mild stimulant, much like caffeine. -nor MTJ 1

Ferry (0512 Diaspora A647955-F): Ferry is run by the ManuFactors Associative, a collection of companies that dominated the planet in the pre-Rebellion era. Ferry is a major source of high-tech goods for the surrounding area, as well as the key transport node connecting Shadigi subsector to Narquel subsector. -AGD

Festival: Annual celebration of establishment of the colony on Rethe (2408 Spinward Marches). Originally a reaction to the restrictive governmental sctructure considered necessary for survival on Rethe, the three day holiday period has continued as a carefree celebration where citizens release the tension that has built up over the year. All laws are suspended, with law level becoming 0 during the celebrations. Some abuses have always been persistent, but the population has always resisted any efforts to change the conditions of their favorite holiday.
The Travellers' Aid Society has classified Rethe as an Amber Travel Zone during the period of Festival. -ld Kin

Fibre Optic Computer: Computer whose logic circuits are constructed from fibre optic conduits. Such computers are less vulnerable to radiation effects than normal electronic computers and for this reason are often used on military vessels. -ld TA

Fifth Frontier War (1107 to 1110): Latest in the series of continuing war between the Zhodani and the Imperium. Following several years of unrest and provocation, Zhodani forces attacked across the Imperial borders while previously placed guerrillas on selected Imperial worlds began uprisings. Vargr and Sword World forces allied with the Zhodani also participated in the attacks.
The armistice, signed in 1110, resulted in the loss of no worlds to the hostiles and returned to the status quo. -ld IE

First Frontier War (589 to 604): The first of the modern border clashes between the Imperium and the Zhodani, which sparked the beginning of a continuing antipathy between the two major lines of humanity.
With the conclusion of the war, Olav hault-Plankwell returned to the Imperial core with his war fleet and took the reins of government, dispatching Empress Jacqueline and thus beginning the Civil War and the reign of its Barracks Emperors. -ld IE

First Imperium (-4045 to -2204): The first major interstellar civilization, politically and culturally dominated by humans originating on Vland. The jump drive was discovered on Vland in -9235. Immediately the Vilani discovered a number of interfertile and technologically primitive human races on worlds within 60 parsecs. These were gradually brought to a high-technology state with Vilani help and assimilated into a loose interstellar community bound by trade and common culture.
Eventually, the client races themselves explored beyond the local sphere, contacting and trading with still more races. These new races gained their technology without being assimilated into Vilani culture; the resulting increased friction eventually resulted in a series of wars beginning in about -5400.
In response to the threat, Vland began tightening its control of its trade sphere, and finally organizing it into a centralized state in -5273. This marked the beginnings of the First Imperium, although there was as yet no emperor. During the thousand year period of the Consolidation Wars, Vland conquered and absorbed its enemies until there were no longer any civilized states on its borders (except for a portion of the Vargr Extents, isolated from the Imperium by the Great Rift).
The last war ended in -4045, and the Vilani declared the establishment of an interstellar empire to govern all Vilani territory. Known as the Grand Empire of Stars or Ziru Sirka, Vilani dating begins at this point. With no exterior threats, the Ziru Sirka lasted for nearly 1200 years; at its height, which was attained soon after the end of the wars, the First Imperium contained 27 sectors and over 15.000 worlds.
However, the cost of maintaining centralized control over this vast expanse was cultural rigidity; exploration had ceased with the beginning of the wars; now scientific research slowed to a halt, and the beginnings of a hereditary caste system began to emerge. Civilization was in decline.
As long as there was no exterior threat, the Grand Empire was safe; but gradually, despite all efforts, technology leaked across the borders. New interstellar states arose, and the Imperium could no longer afford to absorb them. Gradually, the Imperium lost territory along its coreward and trailing marches. Then, in -2422, the Imperium was contacted along its rimward border by the Terrans, who had recently emerged into space. Terran expansionism led to a series of interstellar wars, which ultimately resulted in Terran conquest of the Imperium in -2204 and the founding of the Rule of Man. -ld IE

First Interstellar War (-2408 to -2400): The first military engagement between the Vilani of the First Imperium, and the Solomani of the Terran Confederation. This began an on-again, off-again series of wars between the two major human races, which ended in the defeat of the Imperium and the beginning of ascendence of the Solomani.
See Nth Interstellar War. -ld IE

Five Sisters Subsector: Subsector M of the Spinward Marches. When merchant captain Ignaz Ruffleran ventured into this subsector in search of markets, he found a cluster of five promising worlds and claimed them for his own. He named them for his daughters and left each to its namesake in his will to exploit and administer. These five worlds - Mirriam (0333 Spinward Marches E472300-8), Jone (0433 Spinward Marches B792785-9), Karin (0534 Spinward Marches A767768-C), Penelope (0534 Spinward Marches C460642-4), and Ucella (0533 Spinward Marches D574654-7) - give their name to the subsector; they are the Five Sisters.
The Five Sisters subsector includes a remote, unconnected piece of the Imperium. The only established communications route back to the Imperium extends nearly ten parsecs through the Sword Worlds.
The subsector is only sparsely settled. Colonization in earnest was begun under the auspices of Emperor Paulo I in 740, but stopped with the advent of the Psionic Suppressions of 800. The entire region has been under Imperial Naval administration since then. -spin SMC

Fiwai'al: A much sought-after but expensive spice favored both for cooking and for perfuming, fiwai'al is grown only on Hroilr (1536 Dark Nebula A5566K8-B), which is controlled by the Keiouwyaouryakh clan. The spice often commands a price equivalent to one Imperial credit per gram. It is rarely sold outside the Hierate, since humans find its smell unattractive and it is toxic when taken internally by humans. -dn TD 17

Flamme (2729 Daibei E546451-A): An intense work ethic dominates the culture of Flamme. From childhood the citizens are raised to spend their time in useful activity. There is little leisure industry on the world. One who for some reason cannot work considers himself so useless that he will often commit suicide or leave the planet to escape the shame. -dai TD 15

Fleur-de-Fleur: Longdrink very common to Deneb and Corridor sectors. -cam MS

Floriani: A human minor race native to Floria (0213 Trojan Reach A467942-F), the Floriani are notable for their dimorphism. The ruling group, the Barnai, are short and weak, while the workforce is comprised of Feskals, large, muscular, and unintelligent. Other minor details of anatomy also set them apart from the rest of humaniti.
Although accusations of slavery or exploitation might be voiced in Imperial society, the relationship between Barnai and Feskals is perfectly acceptable to both parties. High ethical standards combine with the stoic Floriani demeanor to foster cooperation and solidarity in defiance of physical dHferences.
The Floriani are also noteworthy for their unusual path of technological development. Highly advanced in the realms of transportation and weaponry, the Floriani are abnormally backward in the life sciences. Within the Florian League, the masses have odd notions toward technology, and all Floriani instinctively shy away from true research. Even creativity in the arts is a rarity.
The Floriani expansion began in -170, when Barnai technicians managed to duplicate a jump drive found in a wrecked Aslan ship. Contact with the Imperium followed in 185. The Florian League itself was formed in 506. The League is governed by a hierarchy of councils, where councilors are chosen from among the Barnai populace by lottery. -tr TD 20

FNIF: Acronym for Flight Net Instructions Forecast. Basically, the trajectory given a spacecraft's pilot by the navigator or traffic control. -cam MS

Forboldn Project: The primary colonization project within the Regina subsector of Spinward Marches. Originally conceived in 987 to utilize the resources of Forboldn (1808 Spinward Marches), the project began its execution phase in 1089, shortly after the Fourth Frontier War. Large numbers of colonists were recruited and shipped in cold sleep from the Imperial core, with arrival times set from 1110 to 1120. Simultaneously, preparations on Forboldn began, with detailed planetary surveys to pinpoint resources and initial building projects to prepare industry and quarters for the arrival of colonists.
An interesting aspect of such colonization projects is the recruitment method used to supply the personnel who will actually make the colony function. Since virtually no amount of money will entice an individual to leave his home and livelihood for the bleak desolation of a colony world, the Ministry of Colonization has established seveal programs to produce colonists. Most obvious is the colonize in lieu of prison term program. However, several other programs have also shown signs of success. In the unemployment insurance program, high population worlds have successfully used the colonization project as a means of reducing unemployment over the long term. In a similar medical insurance program, indigents unable to obtain medical treatment are provided with their needs in exchange for signing on to a colony. The needs of a colony for skills are met through the anagathics program; qualified (and aged) individuals can be provided with anagathics to extend their life spans in return for their providing such skills as administration, mechanical crafts, or medical expertise. Finally, land grants to retiring veterans has provided a cadre for the new colony's military and police forces. -ld Kin

Fount of Creation, The: The Fount's doctrines teach that Terra, as the human homeworld, was the Garden of Eden, where all humans lived in the presence of God. Men committed a terrible offense, and many humans were cast off the Earth. The Solomani alone were eventually offered a chance for redemption. Until such time as the minor races are saved, faithful Solomani must rule them as their guardians.
Fount of Creation teachings have found wide acceptance among the upper echelons of the Confederation military and more reactionary members of the Solomani Party. -rel S&A

Four Subsectors, The: The term "Four Subsectors" is frequently used within Gateway Sector to refer to Castra, Forcett, Ashton, and Riftin subsectors. Specifically, the term is used to refer to the various independent worlds in these subsectors, those not aligned with the Plavian League, the Trindel Confederacy, or the Megusard Corporate.
This region carries a particular notoriety for piracy and lawlessness. -gat MTJ 4

Fourth Frontier War (1082 to 1084): Also known as the False War. Short, inconclusive war fought primarily in Jewell Subsector between the Imperium and the Zhodani Consulate. The war was in the Spinward Marches with initial assaults by the Zhodani against Jewell and Regina Subsectors stalled at the borders. Its final battle, the Battle of Two Suns, 1084, was waged in the vicinity of Yres (1802 Spinward Marcvhes) and Menorb (1803 Spinward Marches) and resulted in Imperial victory. The armistice was signed before instructions for the conduct of the war were received from the capital. -ld IE (-ld TP)

Frontier Wars: A series of wars between the Zhodani Consulate and the Imperium. The most recent, the Fifth Frontier War (1107-1110), brought elements of the Vargr and the Sword Worlds in an allegiance with the Zhodani to form the Outworld Coalition. The armistice resulted in no loss of worlds to the hostiles and returned to the status quo. -dod MTJ 1

Frotare: Green, fortified wine found in Massilia sector. The taste is rather sweet, but quite refreshing. Frotare is somewhate expensive. -cam MS

Fterlyuhlye (2807 Ealiyasiyw D110AEC-3): The 91 billion inhabitants of Fterlyuhlye follow a lifestyle taught them by Solomani trader and self-styled prophet Shaddaf Thisilos three hundred years ago. Thisilos came to Fterlyuhle by misjump; he found an overcrowded world of Aslan packed together in one giant "city". Duels were frequent and were fought to the death - one method of keeping the population down.
Interpreting his accidental arrival as a commission from a higher power, Thisilos attempted to cure the people's "spiritual agony." Attracting a small group of radical followers, Thisilos and company staged an attack on the planet's primary life support center. As his disciples threatened billions with sure death, Thisilos cried out for change.
His plan called for a 500-year period of social adjustment. Technology would only lengthen the time needed, Thisilos claimed, so self-repair machinery was incorporated into all vital systems. Soon after, the people declared their independence and returned to the pre-industrial lifestyle of their ancestors. The once extensive starport facilities fell into disuse; interstellar contact dwindled to near nonexistence. By this time, all necessary technological systems were automated and capable of taking care of themselves, and the populace was free to fix its own ills. Thisilos remained on Fterlyuhlye until his death in 3326 (832 Imperial).
Remarkably, his plan seems to have had a positive effect. After three centuries, the inhabitants of Fterlyuhlye appear more at ease, better adjusted to living in such cramped conditions. Hierate sociologists theorize that the slower pace of non-technobgical life has reduced stress among the populace. Whatever the cause, the changes wrought on Fterlyuhlye are unique in Aslan history. -eal TD 18

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 organizations that abandoned the Kforuzeng, particularly the Ethueng. It also serves as an internal policing organization within the Kforuzeng. -w&o V&V