J'aadje: The J'aadje are a non-human minor race native to Gaajpadje (1124 Reavers' Deep). They are small (with an average mass of 60 kg), agile, golden-skinned bipeds. The J'aadje, peaceful and friendly toward each other, are likewise courteous toward off-worlders. J'aadje civilization places little importance on technology, instead stressing art, poetry, and dance. Graceful and delicate artforms and workmanship of high commercial quality are the norm, fetching excellent prices among admiring off-world buyers. -rd TD 16

Jacent (0624 Spinward Marches A333644-D): Even though its atmosphere is very thin, Jacent is a habitable planet due to a high oxygen percentage in its air, primarily the result of extremely active marine plant life and Jacent's close orbit. The sea supports a broad native ecology which the human inhabitants make some use of, but only plants inhabit the land, and these are being displaced by imported species of more use to people.
The planetary congress consists of representatives from 25 administrative districts of the planet. -ld D

Jaqueline I: Ascended the throne by right of Moot election. Born in 561, proclaimed empress by the Moot in 582, assassinated in 606. During the reign of Jaqueline, extensive expansion of the Rimward Fringe of the Imperium took place, which was due primarily to her economic policies which depended on cost-effectiveness. Terra of Sol was reintegrated into the Imperium in 588. -emp IE

Jaqueline II: Born in 569, proclaimed empress by the Moot after defeating Ramon II in the Battle of the Nivzhine Belt (619), killed in battle in 619. -emp IE

Jebiina (1308 Lishun B743400-F): Jebiina is a boom world in the midst of a plain old-fashioned gold rush. At the same time, since Jebiina has no government, a "free land" rush is attracting dissatisfied residents of Adawi (1408 Lishun). Leaving Adawi is legal, but re-immigration is prohibited. The taint of Jebiina's atmosphere consists of various gasses from volcanoes; their concentration is insufficient to discourage outdoor activity. Participating in either rush is dangerous, but the rewards can be more than worth it. -lis TD 7

Jerome: Ascended the throne by Moot election. Born in 525, proclaimed emperor by the Moot in 555, assassinated in 582. -emp IE

Jewell Subsector: Subsector B of the Spinward Marches. Sometimes known as the Battle subsector, this region was originally settled between 300 and 400 by Imperial colonists.
The Jewell subsector is fragmented into three distinct areas: the Jewells, an Imperial region answering to the Duke of Regina; the Zhodani military district under the control of the Chronor subsector establishment; and a neutral zone theoretically demilitarized, but open to both the Imperium and the Zhodani.
Esalin (1004 Spinward Marches C565673-8) was originally settled by Imperial colonists in 835, but fell to Zhodani advances during the opening weeks of the Fourth Frontier War (1082-1084). When the armistice for the war was signed, it was agreed to allow joint Imperial-Zhodani administration of the world, and it was officially declared neutral in 1098. The site of much fighting during the Fifth Frontier War, Esalin was reconquered by the Imperials and the Zhodani government expelled (a substantial Zhodani citizenry remains). -spin SMC

Jihad Of Faarzgaen: Shortly after the secession of the Llaeghskath Interacterate, the Jihad of Faarzgaen was established directly to trailing. Beginning as a harsh and cruel yet popular religious autocracy on Faarzgaen (0704 Provence), the religion soon spread to several adjacent worlds. By late 1115, the Jihad encompassed eight worlds in the Llaezgaen and Vorvoun subsectors. Some had pined willingly, others after bloody invasions.
The enmity between Faarzgaen and Llaeghanrgh - the Interacterate capital - stems from a religious source. Llaegharrgh (0604 Provence), a tech level 16 world, represents everything the Faarzgaen religion despises - technology and scientific thought. This enmity has turned the Jihad into one of the most hateful, destructive governments in the history of the Extents. Even the Jihad's own citizens are brutally oppressed; unbelievers are publicly executed. The inhabitants of Ghaez-Larrgh (0803 Provence), caught in the midst of Jihad territory, were subjected to massive executions and enslavement - the world's population has dropped 75 percent in six years.
The Faarzgaen religion (URP 500030-9) centers around a single god (also known as Faarzgaen) who actively guides the lives of his adherents. Faarzgaen chooses how and when they should live, die, eat, sleep, and conduct themselves. Followers know that Faarzgaen is communicating with them whenever they feel they should do something. If they're hungry, Faarzgaen wants them to eat; if they want to murder someone, Faarzgaen wants that person killed.
Worshipers of Faarzgaen believe themselves to be the true believers of the true faith; therefore, they see themselves as the only ones fit to rule the universe. Heresy (a Faarzgaen name for free thinking) and lapses in devotion are punishable by death. Believers actively spread their religion by forcing it on others by violence and strict oppression. Any world not a member of the Jihad must be converted or crushed into submission.
The religion and the Jihad are run by seven overlords, called Kafaarzgaenae. The Kafaarzgaenae have complete control over their worlds, and they decide policy for the Jihad as a body.
In order to attain the rank of Kafaarzgaen, a priest must meet a number of requirements - most violent and unwholesome. A priest desiring the office must also "arrange" a vacancy among the Kafaangaenae. Such assassination attempts prompt the seven autocrats to live in impenetrable fortresses. Nevertheless, dozens of attempts are made on the life of each Kafaarzgaen yearly. Since 1114, there have been nearly thirty such leaders.
The Jihad military is divided into four branches: the Navy, Army, Rhaarzgour, and Faarzgaerrnra. The roles of the first two branches are self-explanatory. The Rhaarzgour is the Jihad's secret police force, charged with conducting espionage and terrorist activities against infidel-worlds. (Interestingly, all seven of the current Kafaarzgaenae were once Rhaarzgour officers.)
The Faarzgaerrnra are an elite group of suicide troops. Their loyalty is forcibly ensured: If they succeed in their missions, they are held up - posthumously, of course - as great heroes; if they fail, their names are slandered as traitors and their families are killed.
The Jihad government does provide minimal necessities for its citizens, but free commerce and the possession of money is forbidden. Possession of luxury or entertainment items is a capital offense. Interstellar trade is non-existent. Mercenaries and off-world shipyards are paid in "hard assets," including gold, diamonds, lanthanum, and slaves from Ghaez-Larrgh. -pro V&V

Jonkeereen: These natives of Jonkeer (1324 Deneb C4908C9-9) are the product of extensive geneering by the Imperial Ministry of Colonization. The project's goal was the creation of a human subspecies perfectly suited to life in a hostile desert environment. Begun five centuries ago, the project has proven successful: over 400 million enhanced humans inhabit Jonkeer, and millions more live on desert planets throughout the Domain of Deneb and beyond.
The average Jonkeerin is tall, thin, and dark-skinned, much like human desert dwellers throughout space. Thorough modifications have moved the Jonkeereen far from the human norm, however. A combination of genetic engineering and adaptive surgery aided the first Jonkeereen; later generations bred true to the Ministry's specifications.
The Jonkeerin's adaptations are many. Protective membranes shield his eyes and ears from windblown sand; changes to his metabolism allow survival on the scant resources of arid plains. A highly efficient perspiration system and a large body surface area work to cool him in temperatures often exceeding 50 C - far above human tolerance.
His dark complexion shields him from the radiation of Jonkeer's lurid red sun.
While the Jonkeereen have changed in form, their culture has also changed. The Jonkeerin lifestyle is austere, and many visitors find the local customs harsh. Both conservatism and cooperatbn are basic traits of the Jonkeerin mindset. Because they are no longer fully human, Jonkeereen are typically aloof, emotionally distant from their cousins. The local scout base is engaged in long-term observations of the Jonkeerin culture and its departure from human standards. -den TD 19

Joseph: Born in 581, proclaimed emperor by the Moot in 618 after defeating Cleon V in the Battle of Markatch (618), killed in battle the same year. -emp IE

Jump Dimming: The transitions to and from jumpspace are momentous occasions during an interstellar trip. Following an old Vilani superstition, the pilot of a ship customarily dims the ship's interior and exterior lights before going into jump. Historically, this custom derived from the need for most of the ship's power to be diverted into the computer and jump drive systems, so that the jump drive could be guided into creating the jump field properly. Zhodani and Solomani pilots do not follow this tradition of "jump dimming."
Lights on a ship are typically dimmed for a period of about two minutes; the lights are brought back up to full strength as soon as the ship is in jumpspace. -ld IE

Jumpspace: The basic concept of interstellar travel: that of an alternate space. Theoretically, jumpspaces are alternate spaces, each only dimly understood from the standpoint of our own universe. Jump is defined as the movement of matter from one point in space (called normal space) to another point in normal space by travelling through an alternate space (called jumpspace). The benefit of jump is that the time required is relatively invariant - about one week. If the distance travelled is greater than can be covered in one week in normal space, then a gain has been made. Jumpspace makes possible enormous gains.
Entering jump is possible anywhere, but perturbations due to gravity make it safest to begin a jump at least 100 diameters out from a large massive body such as a world or star. Ships are naturally precipitated out of jumpspace before they get too deep into a gravity field.
Normal jumps take 168 hours (plus or minus 10 percent) to complete, regardless of the distance travelled.
Sometimes a jump goes wrong. Catastrophic failures (called misjumps) can destroy the ship and its crew. Other failures can destroy a drive or send a ship in the wrong direction. Some misjumps reduce a jump-6 to a mere jump-1, or convert a jump-1 into jump-10, 20, or higher. -ld IE

Jumpspace Institute, The: Originally financed by the Duke of Deneb to research and refine jump drive technology. Since then, the institute has become an arm of the Domain's government, regulating advanced starship technologies and setting the industry's standards. They provide training programs for starship engineers and naval architects. -dod MTJ 1