Naasirka: Megacorporation specializing in the manufacture of information storage and processing equipment and software, computers, robots, and other complex electronic devices. The firm is a Vilani corporation of uncertain lineage, but it is known to have been in business prior to the founding of the Sylean Federation. Naasirka is the largest supplier of communications equipment to the Imperial Interstellar Scout Service's xboat branch. -ld TA
Naasirka specializes in the manufacture of information storage and processing equipment and software, computers, robots, and other complex electronic devices. Naasirka is the primary supplier of communications equipment to the Imperial Interstellar Scout Service's xboat branch, and the leading manufacturer of robots in the Imperium.
Stock Ownership: Imperial family, 4 percent; investment trust, 24 percent; noble families, 23 percent; Hortalez et Cie, 11 percent; Sternmetal Horizons, 6 percent; Ling Standard Products, 4 percent; General Products, 3 percent; Igsiirdi family, 13 percent; private ownership, 11 percent. -mc RC

Nabokov (3118 Dark Nebula DAF4532-2): Nabokov is a strange world. Its thin, low atmosphere makes life impossible at altitudes greater than a few hundred meters above sea level. However, there are a great many below sea level valleys which make it possible for more than nine hundred thousand inhabitants to survive. The world's main export is wellspice, a rare compound used in pharmaceuticals. Wellspice is extracted from a lichen which grows naturally in deep rock holes on Nabokov. -dn S&A

Narquel (0709 Diaspora A1109DG-F): This planet's state religion is known as the Panamica Orthodoxy, a radical offshoot of the Panamica creed. In its original form, the Panamica creed interwove the gentler tenets of Judeo-Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism, and various animistic traditions of old Terra. The new Panamica Orthodoxy is essentially militant pacifism: all sophonts must submit to the infinite wisdom and goodness of the Unknowable One and its secular ministers.
Narquel's last Theocrat was deposed by his Council of Ministers, who now rule as the Theocratic Administrate. Their desire to convert the universe is being conducted with a particularly aggressive flair, and some observers wonder if the ministers of the Administrate are simply using the creed of the Orthodoxy as a shield for their own political adventurism. -AGD

Naval Base: Port facility for the support, maintenance, repair and refit of naval vessels. Planetary surface facilities are generally provided for vessels of 1000 tons or less; orbital facilities handle larger ships.
A naval base has several distinct parts to it; each part help in the accomplishment of the overall mission of the base. The typical naval base is composed of an orbital berthing area, a surface berthing area, a maintenance section, and an administrative headquarters.
Berthing areas provide locations for ships to lay over, for a day or for months. All berthing areas include provisions for refueling from storage tanks or fuel lighters.
Maintenance sections at naval bases vary from base to base. Where such a section would be redundant to the local starport shipyard, it is small, and repairs or alterations are carried out under contract by the local facility. Where adequate facilities do not exist, the naval base itself may have a large maintenance section capable of extensive repairs and refits. Maintenance is performed on the ships on the world surface or in orbit as necessary.
The administrative headquarters handles the day-to-day operations of the base, as well as its paperwork (including the allocation of funds, distribution of personnel, and disbursement of maintenance and repair contracts).
The naval base is not a tactical unit. It has no battle forces of its own, and it does not exert control even over local system defense boats (which are under a separate command). The naval base is responsible for supporting the fleet and keeping it in optimum condition for its combat missions. -ld IE

Naval Depot: Depots serve as focuses for naval efforts: supplying a fleet's every need, providing construction and repair facilities, and producing and testing experimental ship prototypes. A depot generally occupies an entire system. Facilities, material, and personnel are extensive enough to repair and resupply a large fraction of the fleet at any time. A depot may be isolated from outside contact for years at a time without serious setbacks. As depots cover large parts of a system, there is no distinction between orbital and surface berthing.
In peacetime, the main function of a depot is the design and testing of ships. A large staff of naval architects (the cream of the area) and construction personnel is maintained at every depot.
In wartime, depots serve as repair and resupply centers for the fleet. In emergencies, the depot's construction yards are sometimes pressed into service for production of military ships.
Since a depot is obviously a very sensitive installation, security is tight. An extensive array of both entry and exit codes are employed to ensure no unauthorized vessels enter or leave the system. Contingents of marines and system defense boats are stationed throughout the system, and they are constantly ready for action.
There is usually no more than one naval depot per sector. Depots are placed in systems where they will be close enough to the expected action to be useful, but far enough back to insure that they will not be captured. -ld IE

Neghu Oug (2804 Corridor C63A641-9): The population of Neghu Oug is an uneven mixture of Vargr and Ojehshodu, the world's indigenous minor race. The Ojehshodu are a race of large, aquatic mammals, unsuited for life on dry land - very little of which exists on ocean-swathed Neghu Oug. The technologically unsophisticated Ojehshodu readily submitted to foreign rule when the Vargr arrived; even today, their contributions to the planet's administration are practically invisible.
Interestingly, one Vargr sociologist, Dartsongze, suggested in 972 that the Ojehshodu ran the planetary government, manipulating the Vargr leaders as unsuspecting puppets. Within weeks, Dartsongze was murdered. To this day, it is uncertain whether he had uncovered an Ojehshodu plot or was killed at the request of insulted Vargr politicians. -cor TD 18

Neopis (2020 Gateway A676789-A): A rich world with a class-A starport, located just off the main interstellar route from Gateway to the Megusard Corporate. Colonized from neighboring Bonnhelm by wealthy emigrants seeking to escape Bonnhelm's severe desert conditions, it was repeatedly raided by pirate forces early in its history. Those raids forced Neopis to develop a strong system defense force which today is the world's principal export. Neopan jump carriers are frequently hired by commercial lines as escorts, especially on the Gateway-Sardis run. The system boasts an excellent class-A ship building and repair facility. Neopis was the site of an important victory over pirate forces in 1106. Over fifty ships belonging to the notorious Fellowship of Kotar were lured to Neopis by faked reports of rebellion and civil war. The Kotar warships jumped in to loot what should have been a fat and easy prize... and were ambushed by Neopan cruisers and a Plavian expeditionary force led by then-Rear Admiral Quintana. Only ten pirate craft escaped, and the Kotar Fellowship was never again a serious threat. -gat MTJ 4

Neto (0504 Diaspora A300898-F): This world supplies starships to Soyuz and Gasudarsk, thereby supporting their efforts to contain the Ecclesiasty of Narquel. Neto's economy is dominated by the new industrial focus on starship production, and several rival shipyards are inviting megacorporation investment to facilitate plans for expansion. So far, Ling Standard Products, GSbAG, and General Products have all shown interest. -AGD

New Slavic Solidarity: Member state of the Solomani Confederation. Many of the Solidarity worlds were first settled during the Interstellar Wars by Terran emigres fleeing political unification at home. European and Russian in origin, the colonies never enjoyed official backing, and their early days saw primitive conditions and much hardship. During the Long Night, the worlds banded together to defend against piracy and raiding, preserving their shared Slavic language and culture in the process.
Presently, most of the worlds have passed from military rule, now being governed by bureaucracies and democracies. Relationships with the Confederation are strained at times, as the Solidats value their heritage of independence. The Slavs have filed protests over Confederation meddling in their internal affairs, but as yet the conflict is not heated, for the Solidats support the Confederation military as a counter to both the Hierate and Imperium. -sta S&A

Newcastle (1801 Vland C567669-8): Newcastle has been under the control of numerous Vargr corsairs for nearly two decades now. Early in 1104, Vargr corsairs overwhelmed the relatively low-tech defenses and took over the planet completely.
It is believed that Newcastle has served as the jump off point for many of the Vargr corsair advances in the last two years. Although clandestine surveys of the system have failed to turn up any conclusive evidence of a corsair base, computer analysis of traffic patterns repeatedly show Newcastle as the hub. Officials are at a loss to explain the mystery. -vla V&V

Nicholle: Oldest issue of Martin V. Born in 401, proclaimed empress by the Moot in 457, murdered in 475. -emp IE
Eleventh in the line of emperors of the Imperium. Oldest issue of Martin V. Born 401, proclaimed empress 457, assasinated 475 by Cleon IV. Second empress to hold the throne.
The fact that Nicholle was assasinated by her successor is indicative of the strained fabric of the Imperium in those days before the Civil War and the Barracks Emperors. The incident, and the pressure of certain member worlds of the Imperium led to the establishment (now somewhat discredited) of succession by right of assassination. -ld AN

Nicolai: Defeated the forces of Emperor Constantus in the Battle of Rakakaka (610). Born in 559, proclaimed emperor by the Moot in 610, murdered in 612. -emp IE

Nika: Blue, hot beverage common in Domain of Ilelish. Nika contains a mild stimulant and is popular as accompaniement for breakfast. -cam MS

Nikok: Breakfast eaten in the Domain of Vland. Consists of fried meat, crispy thin cakes and jam. -cam MS

Nilnanok: Vilani dessert consisting of layers of differently flavored sweet creme with crisp sprinkling. Usually served in a transparent bowl for maximum effect, as the different layers should be of varying colors. -cam MS

Ningho (3008 Diaspora A577110-F): This world is home to an intelligent race of amphibians who are uninterested in technology or trade. Happy just the way they are, they found pre-Rebellion efforts to conduct a census of their numbers both amusing and silly. -AGD

Nishka: Alcoholic drink common to the Vland/Lishun area. -cam MS

Nobility: The foundation of interstellar government within the Imperium. The Imperium depends on nobles ranging from knights to archdukes to carry the chain of authority and the mantle of responsibility from the Emperor to the people. -ld IE

Noricum (2918 Solomani Rim A38A7CC-F): Amber Zone. Noricum's native life evolved directly from sea to air forms by way of many varieties of flying fish and rays. Such an evolutionary pattern was aided by the world's low gravity and dense atmosphere. Both environments teem with life; Noricum harbors millions of aerial species.
Although little land appears above water on Noricum, there are literal forests of sea plants, counterweighted to stand upright, that extend several meters into the air out of the water. Where these plants have intertwined their roots, they may form large mats up to several kilometers across. In the protected waters among their stalks, another ecology flourishes, including the only crawling forms on Noricum.
Some 40 million people live here, mostly in grav cities. They are ruled by the Alkalif, a group whose members are selected in infancy and trained for their role until age 30. The populace is convinced that this produces the best possible leaders, possibly because charisma is one of the traits trained into the Alkalif.
The local culture places little value on privacy. Visitors should use discretion, since their words can be repeated to the highest officials if they criticize anything. -sr TD 13

Nosea (0724 Spinward Marches B2326BB-C): Nosea was named by explorers who were disappointed in the small hydrographic percentage of the world. Actual water coverage is about 5 percent; the remainder is ice-cap. -ld D

Nth Interstellar War: Any one of an indeterminate number of interstellar wars fought between the Terran Confederation and the First Imperium during the Period -2408 and -2219.
The First Interstellar War (-2408 to -2400) marked the initial clash between Terra and Vland. The peace that concluded the hostilities was both uneasy and short. The second through seventh wars were marked by seesaw exchanges of territory, mostly confined to the Dingir and Sol subsectors. These initial wars were fought, on the Vilani side, with only the forces available to the Vilani provincial governor; the central government was preoccupied with other problems. This was fortunate for the Terrans, as Vilani power, even at this late date, was sufficient to crush the Terrans in short order had it been applied.
The Eighth War finally broke open the frontier and ended in the first major Terran victory. Finally, the Grand Imperium took notice, and dispatched major fleet elements to the area, but the time for action had passed. Terran invention of the jump-3 drive made the Ninth War a crushing victory for Terra and forced the Vilani to relinquish most of the Solomani Rim. Thereafter, the Terrans were almost constantly on the offensive.
In the centuries after the conclusion of the wars, no consensus could be reached in the academic community as to when the later conflicts began or ended; all were interrupted several times by armistices. cease fires, or shaky periods of peace (indeed, a new war would often break out along the front lines before the existence of a peace treaty could be communicated to the respective capitals).
Periods of warfare are lumped together or split apart depending on the historian's individual point of view, and a single war to one historian can be identified as two or more wars by others. The situation is complicated by the fact that records for some of the years in question are sketchy. To clarify matters, an accommodation was arrived at which simply labels all interstellar wars after the Ninth with the indeterminate variable N. Proper usage calls for the war to be defined with the actual years being discussed. Many history texts use this system to refer to all the wars except the first.
The Nth Interstellar War (-2235 to -2219) ended the series when the Vilani Grand Imperium collapsed, as much from its own weight, age. and decadence as from Terran victories. The Terrans moved quickly to occupy the remaining Vilani territory.
See Rule of Man. -ld IE

Nulisud (1937 Vland A8D366A-F): Four million people crowd Nulisud's highlands above three kilometers altitude. The atmosphere's high concentratbn of oxygen prevents efficient settlement of low-lying regions.
Unfortunately, the soil in the highlands is poor and little mining can be done, but Nulisud survives as the subsector capital and a trade center. It has one of the best starports in its area of space.
Recent terrorist activities have been occurring in the starport with alarming regularity. Several of the terrorist groups who have claimed responsibility are thought to be aligned with Lucan. -vla V&V

Nyadh: One of five basins on Darrian (0627 Spinward Marches). -ld D