Sabsee (0806 Core A212531-G): The Imperial Naval base on Sabsee has reportedly been conducting research into high-tech personal weapons for decades. Recently, a highly advanced fusion-plasma weapon similar to the FGMP-15 was unveiled. Dubbed the FGMP-16, the weapon is considerably smaller and lighter than its earlier counterpart, but every bit as lethal. -core TD 8

Saezghen (0216 Gvurrdon B200A72-C): The struggle over resources is unending on Saezghen. Armies constantly clash in the subterranean networks or on the barren surface to capture mines, manufacturing centers, and reservoirs. Occasionally, a faction manages to capture all the world, but it inevitably splits into smaller factions to start the cycle over. Before the Thirz Empire, Saezghen's history was bloodier still when its armies fought wars of extermination to control population growth. The world is now trying alternatives under the Empire's guidance. But no one has ruled out a return to the old ways if population growth is not checked. Most of the ground forces of the Thirz Empire originate from Saezghen. -w&o V&V

Saie: A mysterious, non-human civilization which vanished approximately 3,700 years ago, believed to have been based in the Caledon subsector of Reavers' Deep. Few details, beyond their warlike nature, are known about the Saie - most of the existing information being drawn from legends told by some of the sector's indigenous minor races. The search for further evidence of this culture has occupied the interest of a great number of the Principality of Caledon's archeologists. -rd TD 16

Salur (0921 Gateway B746989-A): A high-population, heavily industrialized world still largely dominated by the interstellar corporations that first organized the sector. Salurian Lines - an important transport, freight, and passenger starliner company - is headquartered here. The Salurian Naval base furnishes fleet defense for all of the Galian Coreward worlds, including Gateway itself. Salurian industries specialize in starcraft components and electronics, computers, and exotic composite materials. -gat MTJ 4

Sanctaterra: Members of this agrarian sect can be found on many worlds in Solomani space. Its adherents are fundamentalists who wish to limit the amount of technology in their lives. They typically live on readily habitable worlds with low tech levels, often in regions far from cities or starports. They oppose industrial exploitation, genetic meddling, and the creation of "intelligent" machines, seeing these acts as tampering with God's creation. -rel S&A

Sardis (2630 Gateway A876999-S): Capital of the Megusard Corporate. An industrial, high-population world of sprawling, fog-shrouded cities and vast industrial complexes. The world's constitution has recently been suspended "for the duration of the emergency" - the increased border tensions with the neighboring, K'kree-ruled state - and citizens and visitors are subject to arrest and search. The government authorities are seeking to halt the illegal flow of arms through Sardis, arms destined for the Force Bravo forces training on Kolan. -gat MTJ 4

Scaramouche (2509 Solomani Rim A7C6503-9): Planet in the Harlequin subsector of the Solomani Rim. One of the few worlds in the Solomani Rim where local longing for the "good old days" of Solomani rule remains strong enough to give rise to active unrest, Scaramouche is a comparatively backwater world of little importance.
The planet's harsh atmospheric conditions and a relative lack of value contributed significantly to the continuation of Solomani sympathies. Resistance to the presence of an Imperial governor and a brigade of marines at the starport/capital led, in 1098, to the outbreak of the so-called Unity Uprisings against the government. The uprising was largely suppressed by Acting Governor General Ringiil Urshukaan, though his methods were hars and later repudiated by higher authority (depsite Urshukaan's popularity on nearby worlds, which perceived his actions as decisive in preventing a recurrence of unrest in that portion of the sector).
The organization of the rebellion effectively collapsed after Urshukaan's capture of its major leader, Moradeyo Davis Atiyah.
After the short administration of Governor Baronet Rosa Demetriou, in which attempts at reconcilliation were begun, it was decided that the Imperial presence on Scaramouche would be greatly reduced. Government was formally turned over to the citizens of the planet in 1102, and the post of governor dissolved. The majority of the garrison was withdrawn at that time.
Since the Imperial withdrawal, government on Scaramouche has varied from unstable to nonexistent. Numerous splinter groups of the local Solomani party have caused the movement to collapse from internal bickering, while no other political force has emerged. Violence is common, and the world has been posted an amber zone by the Travellers' Aid Society. -ld MAS

Scout Base: Port facility for the support, maintenance, and repair of scout vessels. The Imperial Interstellar Scout Service maintains a variety of scout bases scattered throughout the Imperium, with installations tending to be on less well-developed worlds with starports type D or C. Scout bases tend to be surface installations equipped with basic facilities for fueling and for minor maintenance activities oriented toward ships of 1000 tons or less.
Scout bases are positioned in systems more out of the way than are naval bases for a reason. The scout bases serve as a source of ships carrying dispatches from the well-travelled Xboat lanes to more remote worlds.
Scout bases also have other responsibilities, and most have an administrative responsibility in addition to the maintenance and refueling of scout ships. Within a subsector, one base will hold responsibility for cartography in the subsector, another will be responsible for technical developments, and still another for contact or liaison activities. The scout base is more extensive than an Xboat station, but less comprehensive than a way station. -ld IE

Scout Brew: Syrupy brown beverage containing nopital - a very strong stimulant. Scout Brew is illegal on many high law level worlds in and outside the Imperium, but is quite common on other worlds. The name Scout Brew is a generic one spanning many different producers from sector-wide to purely local ones. Naturally the name is coined from the fact that especially scouts like to indulge in excessive drinking of this liquid.
Drinking Scout Brew and staying sober is not very easy and requires some skill. People not staying sober tend to become seemingly insane - a state that can last for days. When the individual sobers up, he or she can only rarely remember what has happened. -cam MS

Scuf: Dark, warm beverage which is mildly addictive. Common in the Domain of Deneb, where large portions of the population drinks it for breakfast or between meals. Normally, it contains caffeine. -cam MS

Seaharvester, LIC: Founded in 934, Seaharvester has always specialized in gathering the resources of the oceans of several worlds in the Solomani Rim region. Noted as pioneers in techniques of seabed mining, sea farming, seawater metals reclamation, and the breeding and herding of various species of useful marine creatures, Seaharvester was purchased outright by Shunamann und Sohn, AG, in 1099. The SuSAG purchase was made to ensure a constant source of the organic sources for several of the megacorporation's pharmaceuticals, which Seaharvester provided. -ld NWO

Searchers for the One Faith: This faith holds that all Terran religions are valid, each being a different interpretation of the divine message. The Searchers have established a massive computer database, where all religious scriptures, teachings, and sayings are pooled. The Searchers hope that when all Terran belief has been assembled and analyzed, the message of the Divine Being will become evident. Searchers can be found travelling throughout Solomani space, interviewing religious leaders and amassing data.
Party opinion of the Searchers is mixed. Centrists look upon the Searcher movement with favor, thinking that a unified religious belief would help create a more cohesive society. Solomani reactionaries despise the faith because of the tolerance it shows for a variety of beliefs. -rel S&A

Second Frontier War (615 to 620): Fought between the Outworld Coalition and the Imperium during the period of the barracks emperors. Arbellatra (587 to 666) was named Grand Admiral of the Marches by Cleon V and led the combined local and Imperial forces to defeat the Coalition, and then he proceeded to reestablish the central Imperial authority. -ld IE
She was named regent in 622 as a result, and Empress in 629. -ld TP

Second Imperium: The successor to the First Imperium, established by the Terran Confederation Navy to rule the territories conquered from the Vilani Empire by Terra.
See Rule of Man. -ld IE

Sector: Mapping unit in astrography equal to sixteen subsectors. Average density 500 to 650 worlds per sector.
Sectors are named, and several synonyms are in common use, including march (or marches), region, reach (or reaches), quadrant, and matrix. The Spinward Marches, for example, is a sector.
As a rough means of comparing size (and as of 1115), the sector counts of the large interstellar states and areas of settlement are: the Imperium: 27; the Aslan Hierate: 18; the Hive Federation: 17; the Two Thousand Worlds: 14; the Vargr Extents: 14; the Zhodani Consulate: 13; the Solomani Confederation: 11. -ld IE

Shabii (2408 Vland B854010-A): This world holds extensive warehouse operations for Makhidkarun, the prosperous megacorporation and Vilani bureau.
Thousands of square kilometers of the surface are covered with mechanized storage units and landing areas for transport to and from offworld. -vla V&V

Sharasham (0805 Lishun A441768-B): Sharasham have been under military rule from Norijo (0705 Lishun) ever since the Norijons helped drive off a Vargr invasion from Kfe-gou (0904 Lishun). The Sharashami are not convinced that the present arrangement is an improvement. Both worlds remain poor and traders usually pass them by. -lis TD 7

Sharurshid: A Vilani trade and speculation corporation (with very little manufacturing capability), Sharurshid trades in luxury goods from all parts of the Imperium and many areas beyond. Most rare wines and spirits are carried on the starships of Sharurshid.
Stock Ownership: Sharurshid trust, 46 percent; Imperial family, 3 percent; other corporations, 14 percent; Zirunkariish, 13 percent; Hortalez et Cie, 14 percent; private ownership, 10 percent. -mc RC

Shinkili: Spirits served in Zarushagar and Massilia sectors. Has a somewhat bitter taste which not everyone likes. Transparent yellow. -cam MS

Shinorasus (1918 Deneb A410200-E): The inhabitants of Shinorasus came from Namidshur (2019 Deneb) because of their discontent with its high law level. Many were inventors, technicians, and artisans. They agreed to have little formal government.Their sealed estates are supplied with water and oxygen released from the world's crust. Fuel, repairs, and starships constructed at Shinorasus' starport are known for high quality and astronomical cost. Offworld visitors are not encouraged to stay for more than a few weeks. -den TD 19

Shudusham Concords: Agreement signed by twelve worlds of the Sylean Federation at Shudusham (2214 Core) in -110 which dealt with weaponry carried by robots. The Concords have no legal force now, of course, but many worlds have adopted similar or identical standards using the Concords as a template, and most robots produced commercially in the Imperium are designed with these restrictions in mind. -ld IE

Shuna (0227 Lishun A385A98-G): Shuna has put most of its high-tech expertise into devising comfortable housing for its 45 billion people. The world is famous for its beautiful, free-floating "air cities", which hover in the atmosphere at many different levels and rarely, if ever, touch the planet's surface.
All available land on the planet's surface is farmed, forested, or mined, often with the aid of climate control. Subsector and planetary governments each have a single massive air city to themselves. -lis TD 6

Shurgi Main: The Shurgi Main is a branch of the Vland Main, and was settled early in the first Imperium. The Corridor Sector was first entered at the world Sharkhagu (3235 Corridor) by ships of the Sharurshid Merchant Company out of Sakin (0135 Vland). Sharkhagu, only one jump away, strongly resembled Sakin and the colony there has maintained close relations with the mother planet throughout its history - it never requested independence and remains a Sakin coloni to this day.
At Cafad (3135 Corridor), a low-tech human minor race was discovered. The Vilani efforts to integrate the Cafad humans into their Grand Imperium progressed slowly. The world relapsed into barbarism at the onset of the Long Night. After centuries of contact with the Third Imperium, Cafad has only now started to re-embrace technology.
Igudi (2836 Corridor) discarded most technology during the Long Night. Its climate is quite hospitable and the inhabitants grew to prefer an essentially pastoral existence. Certain native animals have been domesticated for food and wool. The populace has shown very little inclination to technological advancement since contact with the Third Imperium in 68. Interstellar merchants visit only occasionally.
Palama (3240 Corridor) was only recently colonized because its resources were not detected until the TL 15 density survey. Its dense tainted atmosphere made it unattractive to ordinary colonists before this time.
The Shurgi Main is commercially and psychologically part of the Imperial Core, in the Vilani cultural area. -sidebar TD 19

Signal GK: Abbreviation for Gashimeku Kaalariin, Vilani for "vessel in distress. The code signal GK originated on Vland as a distress signal in maritime and aviation activity, and it was one of the standard communications codes of the Vilani Imperium. When the Second Imperium succeeded it, signal GK was retained as a distress code co-equal with the Terran SOS and Mayday signals.
The Imperial Navigation Act of 103 requires all vessels, whether military or civilian, to respond to the GK, SOS, or Mayday signals, provided such response does not endanger the ship and crew of the responding vessel. -ld IE

Sikilar (1107 Vland B3328DH-9): Colonized during the First Imperium with a dome ecology, Sikilar was a popular retirement world because of its low gravity. As the Long Night deepened Sikilar was cut off completely from interstellar contact. The domes were maintained by rote knowledge but their atmosphere became thinner over the centuries and the population naturally adapted to the new atmosphere.
Technology on Sikilar became the province of religious oriented researcher caste. Eventually, all knowledge of the technology was lost, with operation of what equipment remained being done by rote.
At the close of the Long Night, an offworlder from a higher tech world with plenty of ambition and few scruples came to Sikilar. Dhusa (the only name now remembered) overawed the populace with his "magic" and set up a religious dictatorship. Since then his priestly caste has instilled a terrified obedience in the people.
Offworlders are worshipped as angels. No native may speak to an offworlder without permission. All trade is handled by the priests, who keep technology to themselves.
The only reason the incredible law level of this planet has not made it an amber zone is that offworlders are not subject to the most stringent taboos.
The Vilani Igsiirdi is currently considering its options with this world. The current culture that pervades Sikilar is unacceptable to the restored Vilani Empire. -vla V&V

Silest (3229 Gateway B99A76E-8): Capital of the former Renkard Union, now under the direct rule of a K'kree clan. Though occupied by K'kree forces, enforcement of the new government's laws is carried out primarily by the Regulators, a paramilitary human force working for the K'kree and called "black jackets" by the populace at large. -gat MTJ 4

Six Races: Traditional term for the intelligent races which dominate this region of the galaxy. It appears independently in Aslan, Vargr, and K'kree literature.
There is some disagreement as to the meaning of the term and the identity of the races involved. Most commentators agree that all of the six races must be major races; the candidates are Aslan, Droyne, Hive, K'kree, Solomani, Vargr, Vilani, and Zhodani. Various racially based hypotheses have emerged, but none has gained ascendancy. -ld IE -ld TP

Skyhaven (3118 Magyar B588501-D): The inhabhants of Skyhaven have no government and want none; indeed they can see no use for a government under any circumstance. No decision is ever taken collectively: each chooses for himself, independent of whether he consults with others or not. There is no army, no police force, no foreign ministry; off-worlders deal directly with the people they wish to see and need answer to no officials.
Many Skyhaveners are quite vocal about their preference of the Imperium over the Solomani Confederation. Solomani, the locals say, tend have some representative speak for the whole world. But the Imperium has never interfered wnh the individualistic approach prefered by the Skyhaveners.
There is, however, a strong taboo on violence, and the penalty is often enforced by the victim or his friends. Off-worlders are strongly advised to keep their hands to themselves and to keep their weapons put away.
Ostracism is a popular form of punishment for non-violent forms of unacceptable behavior. Because of this, hermits who "don't get along with others" are numerous. -mag TD 14

Skymelon: Pungent, sharptasting fruit grown on Pysadi (3008 Spinward Marches). The skymelon grows on vines which co-exist with trees; the fruit appears in the upper reaches of the branches, making it difficult to harvest. Many farms have induced the vines to grow instead on trellises with overhead catwalks to facilitate harvesting. Skymelons have a light blue interior color, hence the name. -ld TA

SMART Library Data, LIC: Organized by Eura Regnis of the Regina Center for Research, the Spinward Marches Archival Retrieval Team (SMART) was conceived in 1117 to restore library data service throughout the Domain. By 1119, SMART was up and running. The team's members were derived from both the academic and business communities, and include noted journalist Akidda Laagiir, SMART's director since its opening.
A semi-private company, SMART is guided by a board appointed by Archduke Norris. The company gathers its information from both government-subsidized and private sources. SMART branch offices can be found on most major worlds in the Domain. -dod MTJ 1

Smoke Test: Engineering slang indicating the first time something is tried in reality. Derived from the practise of "turning it on and seeing if it catches fire". -smo AVe

Soegz: Admiral Soegz was a loyal supporter of Arbellatra in the final years of the Civil War, and he was elevated to archduke of Antares by her decree, which incidentally and simultaneously ordered the execution of the previous archduke for the treason of not supporting her.
Soegz, a Vargr and a subordinate admiral under Arbellatra, commanded a task force during the fleet actions of the Second Frontier War and late in the Civil War. -ld IE

Solomani: Strictly, a member of that human race which developed on Terra from the original human stock (H. sapiens). The term Solomani is often used to refer to members of the Solomani race (or, more palatably to some, to members of the human race of Solomani descent) or to members of the Solomani political movement. Its original meaning is obscure, but the word seems to have originally meant either "men of Sol" or "sole men."
After the Solomani developed jump drives in -2431, Solomani humans scattered to the stars in several waves. Early colonization efforts first settled the worlds closest to Terra; the later conquest of the First Imperium and the establishment of the Rule of Man sent more Solomani humans out primarily to occupy the former Vilani controlled regions. -ld IE -ld SotA

Solomani Autonomous Region: Area within the Imperium granted self-government through a charter from Empress Margaret I in 704. The charter granted control of the region of space within a radius of 50 parsecs of Terra (hence the name Solomani Sphere) to a Solomani governing body, which was given broad powers of authority.
For two hundred years, the Imperium effectively ignored the region and concentrated instead on its coreward frontiers.
By 940, Solomani oppression of nonhuman (and non-Solomani) worlds forced Empress Margaret II to revoke the region's charter. After years of diplomatic actions proved fruitless, it was decided to forcibly reintegrate the region into the Imperium. Naturally, the Solomani resisted, and the Solomani Rim War (990 to 1002) began. -ld IE

Solomani Confederation: In 871, the government of the Solomani Autonomous Region reorganized itself as the Solomani Confederation in an attempt to strengthen its claims to the heritage of the old Terran Confederation. Although tantamount to a declaration of independence, the reorganization was officially ignored by the government of the Imperium until the increasingly belligerent and extremist policies of the Solomani caused many border worlds under Solomani rule to petition the Imperium for redress.
The branches of the Solomani Confederation's government took the names of the government of the Terran Confederation, but the present institutions have little resemblance to those of the past. The chief governing body of the Solomani Confederation is the Secretariat. The Secretariat is presided over by the Secretary General, who is elected from its membership. The Secretary General is the chief administrative officer of the Solomani government, and while the office holds great power, it is fully accountable to the Secretariat.
Representatives to the Secretariat are appointed by the governments of the individual districts. The number of representatives each district may appoint is determined according to that district's contribution to the Solomani economy.
A district typically consists of a single world, but low population worlds or depressed areas are combined into multiworld districts. In the case of a district such as this, an election is held to determine the representative from that district. These, however, are not elections in the normal sense; the governments vote, rather than the populace. Each government of such a district is allocated votes (again, according to its economic importance), which are used to elect a representative for that district.
All government officeholders and officials must be members of the official party, the Solomani Movement. Although once waning in power and influence, the party is gaining in popularity as a result of successful Solomani incursions on the Imperium's rimward border. Still, the real power in the Confederation is held by the government and its factions.
Because of the greater degree of local autonomy that exists in the Solomani Confederation, interworld factionalism exists to a much greater degree than had been allowed in the Imperium. Coalitions of worlds exist outside the normal government channels which sometimes equal them in importance within a given region.
For example, the Near Bootes cluster, in the Capella subsector, dominates large portions of the adjacent subsectors both economically and politically. Bootean mercantile interests have traditionally favored peaceful trade with the Imperium, and their influence has been held to be largely responsible for many peace negotiations between the Imperium and the Solomani Confederation.
Another example of this factionalism is the ongoing trade war (in Solomani Rim/Kukulcan) between Kukulcan and the coalition of Thetis and Laputa. The war has been causing severe damage to the economy of Kukulcan, but the Thetis-Laputa coalition has thus far been able to muster enough power to prevent effective intervention by the Confederation government. -ld IE

Solomani Hypothesis: When the Solomani discovered jump drive in -2431, they also discovered that more than a dozen human races had already colonized the worlds surrounding Earth. At the time, there was no satisfactory explanation for the more than 40 genetically identical human races.
The Solomani Hypothesis, first proposed by Magis Sergei haut-Devroe (64 to 141), theorized that all of the many widely scattered human races of the galaxy originated on Terra, and he thought that they were transported to their current homeworlds by an alien race (called the Ancients) for purposes which even today remain unclear. The approximate date of the scattering has been established as -300,000.
When Terra was incorporated in the Imperium in 588, a small historical mission verified much of haut-Devroe's work. The hypothesis was already generally accepted by the majority of the human population in the Imperium.
More than 40 known human races have been located (and several more of them failed to adapt to their new worlds and are now extinct); only three of these human races have reached widespread prominence: they are the Vilani, the Zhodani, and the Solomani.
Most other human races accept the hypothesis but lend it no special importance. The hypothesis is used by the Solomani Movement as a basis for its claims of Solomani racial superiority. -ld IE (-ld SotA)
A generally accepted theory that all Humaniti originated on Terra, and that all other native human races arise from stock transported there by the Ancients. The theory explains the large number of independent human races within the Imperium without requiring a farfetched concept of "parallel evolution". -ld TP

Solomani Movement: An organization devoted to the doctrine that humans of Solomani descent are superior to all others and are most fit to rule the galaxy. -ld IE

Solomani Rim War (990 to 1002): War between the Third Imperium and the Solomani Confederation during which a large portion of the Solomani Rim sector was returned to Imperial control.
Hoping to profit from Imperial preoccupation with the Third Frontier War and the disorganization which followed upon the abdication of Styryx in 989, the Solomani reasserted their control over the complete Solomani Sphere, including those portions reabsorbed into the Imperium (see Solomani Autonomous Region). The Imperium declared war in 990.
The initial phase of the war went very well for the Solomani. Although the Imperium maintained sizable fleets along the border, they were inferior in strength to the massed naval elements of the Solomani Confederation. In most areas, the Solomani regained the border worlds lost to the Imperium in the last half century and even occupied a number of worlds that had never been part of the Solomani Sphere.
However, Solomani fortunes were checked in 993 when the large invasion force attempted to regain the worlds in the Old Expanses sector; it encountered near-fanatical resistance and was repulsed with heavy losses.
The period from 993 to 998 was one of stalemate. The Solomani abandoned their plans for further expansion in order to rebuild their forces. However, their policy of inflexibly defending every border world was a constant drain on their resources, and the Solomani were not able to regain the initiative. By 998, the Imperial Navy had achieved strategic dominance as the greater industrial base of the Imperium made its power felt.
The last phase of the war, 998 to 1002, consisted of a near-continual advance by Imperial forces into the heart of the Solomani Sphere. The basic Imperial strategy was to attack along two parallel axes of advance, with lesser task forces spreading out to create a huge pocket of Solomani Territory.
Although the Solomani occasionally achieved a tactical success against a task force (such as in the Battle of Kagukhasaggan in early 1002), they were unable to halt the main advances. With the liberation of the Vegan district in 1001, the Imperium gained the secure base envisioned in the reign of Styryx. The loss of the Vegan district prompted the Solomani to embark on a desperate gamble. Recalling the time when the outnumbered Terran Confederation was able to defeat the Vilani Imperium, the Solomani consolidated their remaining naval forces into a single fleet and struck at the Imperial fleet that was advancing out of the Vegan district.
At the Battle of Dingir, in early 1002, the Solomani Grand Fleet was scattered and substantially destroyed. The remnants of the Solomani fleet fell back deeper into the Sphere, and the Imperial forces firmly established themselves in Terra's own subsector.
The Imperial high command decided that Terra would have to be invaded in order to end forever all claims of Solomani superiority and thus the use of Terra as a rallying standard elsewhere in the Sphere. In order to invade Terra, a sizable fraction of the Imperial forces in the Solomani Sphere were assembled into an assault force, which effectively ended the pursuit of the defeated Solomani fleet. The invasion began in the second quarter of 1002, and the hard-fought campaign lasted until nearly the end of the year.
In the end, the Imperium conquered the planet. However, the battle for Terra had consumed so much of the Imperial military's resources that the Imperial high command felt they lacked sufficient strength to resume their advance into the rest of the Solomani Sphere. Accordingly, they negotiated a temporary armistice with the Solomani military commanders, who were glad to gain a respite to regroup their remaining forces.
The war ended on this basis as both the Imperial and Solomani civilian governments, who were concerned with the strain placed on their economies by the protracted war, informally agreed to extend the armistice indefinitely.
Although scholars have debated the wisdom of invading Terra, some claim that the battle was a marginal if not a pyrrhic victory for the Imperium. The general consensus has been that the war as a whole was a victory for the Imperium. A substantial amount of the Solomani Sphere was reabsorbed by the Imperium, and a vigorous Vegan Autonomous District was set up to oversee Imperial interests along the new border.
However, much of this territory has been lost once again to the Solomani because of the turmoil following Strephon's assassination. -ld IE
The culmination of centuries of disagreement between the Imperium and the Solomani Sphere. Following rifts at court, the Imperium established the Solomani Autonomous Region (Solomani Sphere) in 704, and then ignored the region, allowing it to develop independently while the central government paid closer attention to the Spinward Marches and the Gateway. By 900, reports that the Solomani rule of many client-worlds within the sphere was over-bearing and heavy-handed forced Empress Margaret to reassess the situation, and she (by proclamation in 940) dissolved the Solomani Sphere and reintegrated it into the Imperium. The Solomani resisted, ultimately to be crushed in the Solomani Rim War.
In 1002, Terra was recaptured by a massive invasion, and the capital of the Solomani was lost to them. At that point, the war for the Imperium effectively ended. Solomani sentiments differ, and there is still a strong anti-Imperial faction along the Imperium's rimward border. -ld TP

Solomani Security: Secret police force maintained in service to the Solomani Confederation for the purpose of maintaining state secrets, conducting espionage, and implementing political policies of the government.
Solomani Security maintains both a network of contacts which provide information from outside the Confederation and a network of informants which provide information within the Confederation. Solomani Security agents themselves are highly trained individuals capable of conducting espionage and sabotage. -ld IE

Solomani Shipping: A major passenger and freight service on the Confederation trade routes of Solomani Rim sector. The corporation originally served the entire sector, but the routes in the Imperial portion of the sector are now operated by Solar Shipping. Although the two companies are split, in many respects they operate as if they are still one. Solomani Shipping operates out of the economically powerful Bootean Federation. -solbiz S&A

Solomani Sphere: The territory governed by the Solomani as the Solomani Autonomous Region. -ld IE

Sophont: A generalized term for an intelligent lifeform. -ld IE -ld SotA

Sophontology: The study of intelligent life forms. Subsidiary branches of this science include: cultural sophontology, the comparative study of sophont societies; physical sophontology, the study of the genetic and physiological makeup of intelligent life; and developmental sophontology, the study of the various means by which life forms evolve intelligence. -ld IE -ld SotA

Spinward: See Directions, Galactic. -cam MS

Spinward Main: Within the Spinward Marches, a grouping of worlds, planets, and systems each within jump-1 of another. Together, this grouping (called the Spinward Main) forms a corridor of jump points which allow simple jump-1 ships to travel to 15 of the 16 March subsectors and to 223 of the 440 worlds. -ld TP

Spinward Marches: The Imperium's farthest frontier sector, containing 437 star systems divided along a coreward/rimward line by the Imperial border. The region is dominated by two major powers: the Imperial Spinward Marches sector and the frontier provinces of the Zhodani Consulate. In the independent territory between the two powers lie four small territories: the Federation of Arden, the Sword Worlds Confederation, the Border Worlds (a splinter state cut from the Sword Worlds during the Fifth Frontier War), and the Darrian Confederation. Each follows its own diplomatic line designed to maintain independence from both the Zhodani and the Imperium.
The Spinward Marches has been settled since the 400s and is still a frontier sector. High-tech worlds are scattered among empty, fallow worlds; there is potential for exploration, exploitation, and development for centuries to come. -ld IE

Springwater: Light alcoholic beverage common to Ilelish and Zarushagar sectors. Springwater is sweet, very fresh and contains carbonic acid. In appearence it is almost water-like, although a little more viscid. -cam MS

Spume (0727 Spinward Marches C140200-A): A Darrian Confederation world, Spume, like Anselhome (0820 Spinward Marches), was colonized for resources rather than comfort. Its atmosphere is polluted with radioactive gasses from its few volcanoes. All inhabitants live in Dryavis, a domed village from which mining machines are directed by remote systems. These machines sometimes refuel at a lake near the village. -ld D

Sqrauie: Light blue, very sweet alcoholic beverage found in Lishun and Vland. -cam MS

St. George (2616 Vland B7C59BB-D): The dominant native animal of St. Gsorge is, of course, a "dragon". Lizard-like in appearance but bearing live young, these feisty animals can spit a fluid that catches fire in the hydrogen atmosphere of the planet. The resemblance was too good to pass up for the original colonists, one of whom fancied himself an expert on ancient Terran legends. St. George was not colonized until 360, when technology to overcome its atmosphere was finally developed.
The original, highly esteemed leaders set up an almost dictatorial government but their replacements have lost the confidence of the people and there is considerable unrest. Time will tell if the current government can stand.
The kesternet plant, which grows only on St. George, is an important ingredient of anagathic drugs. Much of the population of the system is housed in orbital complexes, safe from the insidious hydrogen atmosphere. -vla V&V

Starport: Establishment for the landing, servicing, refueling, and control of starships. Starports range in quality from A (the best and most extensive) to E (the worst, little more than a spot of cleared ground).
Starports generally have two components: a surface facility and an orbital facility. The surface facility includes cargo handling installations, a landing field, control towers, and other necessary areas. Surface starport components are frequently called Down (as in Credo Down Starport on Regina). Orbital facilities are present (usually in stationary orbit above the surface component) to enable handling of unstreamlined ships and to allow construction of heavy craft in orbit. The orbital component is often called Orbital (as in Credo Orbital Starport).
Type D and E starports have no extensive orbital facilities, but they usually have navigational satellites or similar equipment. Nonstreamlined ships at these starports must be serviced by shuttles. Starports, being the primary point at which starships interact with a system, are usually the location for shipyards and additional bases, such as scout bases, naval bases or other military installations. -ld IE

Stern-Stern (0223 Spinward Marches B321588-B): Stern-Stern specializes in heavy industry with considerable robotic help in the factories. The atmosphere is breathable but unpleasant enough that most residences have their own life support systems. -ld D

Sternmetal Horizons, LIC: Stermetal is primarily engaged in mining operations and manufacturing. It produces mostly power generation equipment of all types (including power plants for starships, air and ground vehicles, cities, and industrial installations). Sternmetal is the largest manufacturer of food synthesis equipment in the Imperium.
Stock ownership: Imperial family, 2 percent; Hortalez et Cie, 29 percent; investment trusts, 32 percent; noble families, 18 percent; Antares Holdings, LIC, 19 percent. -mc RC

Strat (0318 Old Expanses A9BA8A8-F): The need for head-to-toe protection when out in the air or ocean of Strat has produced a curious cultural twist. People wear head-to-toe clothing at all times, even indoors. Anything that necessitates opening or removing parts of this clothing is considered private and even obscene. One never eats in public, for instance. Medicine is an unpopular profession because of the need for personal contact, and a great deal is done by mechanical means such as medibooths.
The king of Strat is a progressive, enlightened monarch who encourages offworld trade in every possible way. This does not include trying to change his own culture. Visitors need to conform to local custom or people simply will not deal with them. -oe TD 12

Strephon Aella Alkhalikoi (1049-1116): Oldest surviving issue of Paulo III. Born in 1049, proclaimed emperor by the Moot in 1071, murdered in 1116.
During Strephon's reign, the Fourth Frontier War (1082 to 1084) erupted; his delegation of war powers to Norris, Duke of Regina, is credited with bringing a speedy end to a conflict that otherwise would have been hampered by the long delays in communication between Capital and the front. Norris later became the conquering hero of the Fifth Frontier War, and in partial recognition of this, one of Strephon's last official acts was the appointment of Norris as Archduke of the Domain of Deneb, which consists of the sectors of Deneb, the Spinward Marches, Trojan Reach, and Reft Sector. -emp IE
Forty-third emperor of the Imperium; eldest son of Emperor Paulo III (981-1071). Born 1049. Coronation 1071. Murdered by Dulinor in 1116. -ld IE

Stronghold: The Solomani base established on Darrian (0627 Spinward Marches) in -1521 when they first arrived on Darrian. Located on a high mountain plateau where the Rimb, Boyr, and Abh basins meet, it was intended as a secret retreat for Solomani in the event that public opinion turned against them. By -1450, the Solomani were an accepted part of Darrian society, and the Stronghold became known as a research and manufacturing center. -ld D

Styryx: Oldest issue of Tomolin (oldest issue of Margaret II, born in 901, died in 944). Born in 920, proclaimed emperor by the Moot in 945, abdicated in 989 in the repercussions following the mismanaged Third Frontier War (979 to 986). -emp IE

Subsector: Mapping unit in astrography. Average density: 30 to 40 worlds per subsector.
Subsectors are noted within a sector by their position using the first sixteen letters of the alphabet (A-P). In addition, they are named and may be called by a variety of synonyms for subsector, including province, cluster, or district. Imperial convention is to assign numbers to districts (for example, District 268) which are under Imperial protection because they are pending integration into the Imperium. -ld IE

Suedzuk: Amdukan, Trenchans, and trailing. These Vargr were displaced from Gashikan and Mendan by violence soon after the Sack of Gashikan. The Vargr Enclaves region is not heavily populated, and the Suedzuk form interstellar states less often. This group tends to remain isolated and disinclined to involve itself in affairs spinward.
Humans in Mendan and Gashikan call them "the Red Vargr," alluding to both the occurrence of reddish fur and the blame given them for the bloodshed resulting from the Sack of Gashikan. Humans well integrated into a racially mixed society, and even some Vargr, treat the Suedzuk with disdain.
Suedzuk packs are not as loose as elsewhere, tending to be closed and enduring. Packs of adolescents often remain intact throughout their lives, forming strong personal bonds. -cul V&V

Sufren (2004 Diaspora B686973-F): Sufren is a major industrial hub, a garden-world, and considered by many to be the jewel of the sector. It is also home to a large population (over two million) of Orcinus orca sapiens, intelligent orcas produced by an off shoot of the same Terran program that resulted in the more well-known intelligent dolphins. These huge creatures were relocated to Sufren after funding was terminated for the program on Terra. They share Sufren's seas with a population of Tursiops truncatus galactus.
Sufren features a fairly well-preserved Ancient site. However, since the Umorphutwyo (1816 Diaspora) incidents of the mid-1120s, access to the site has become difficult; Visitors must submit to background checks and personal interviews. The reason for these added precautions is not known, but rumors suggest that the Intelligence Division of Sufren's Planetary Navy has begun classified research at the site. -AGD

Sulawesi (1025 Canopus D6846A6-8): Originally Indochinese, Sulawesi's inhabitants practice extensive agriculture on the world's wide, fertile plains. Culturally isolated, its natives grouped in small, rural villages, Sulawesi is ruled by a figurehead monarch, the Grand Rajah. Traditionally, government has been the province of the village headmen.
For decades, the world was content in its quiet prosperity, but the Party has recently attempted to infiltrate itself into Sulawesian life. A coup, arranged by SolSec and various business interests, deposed the rightful Rajah and replaced him with a Party lackey. Religious leaders and village headmen have denounced the new Rajah, and the Confederation has sent in pacification troops to bolster the new regime. -sta S&A

Superheavy Elements: Although elements heavier than uranium are increasingly unstable and radioactive (with half-lives measured in fractions of a second), quantum theory predicts an "island of stability," consisting of the elements with atomic numbers 114 to 122, which have half-lives measured in the millions of years. These superheavy elements, also called eka-metals or island metals. are generated in small amounts in supernova explosions. Only a few grams have ever been discovered in nature, which is just enough for scientists to determine that superheavies would be immensely valuable to industry if a source could be found. -ld IE

Supi: Very delicate soup from the old Vilani haute cuisine. Extremely difficult to prepare. This is one of the few courses in the Vilani haute cuisine originating back to the times of the shugilii. -cam MS

Survey, First (published 420): The first comprehensive astrographic and demographic survey of the Imperium, which was performed by the Imperial Interstellar Scout Service. More than a hundred years in the making, its publication in 420 made available the Imperium's records on its component worlds for public use. -ld IE

Survey, Second (published 1065): The second comprehensive survey of the Imperium, which was performed by the Scout Service, and which updated the long obsolete and incomplete data in the First Survey. The Second Survey was seventy years in compilation, went to greater lengths than the first survey, and included more world data as well as more complete astrographic data. In addition, the expansion of the Imperium since 420 had added many new worlds that had to be included. -ld IE

SuSAG, LIC (Schunamann und Sohn AG, LIC): SuSAG engages in a wide range of chemical, pharmaceutical, and gene engineering activities. SuSAG is the primary manufacturer of anagathics for the Imperium, and maintains psi drug manufacturing plants in client states outside Imperial borders. -mc RC
Because of the bad reputation for safety of its chemical/biological warfare division, the firm is not well liked in many regions, even though all of SuSAG's dangerous manufacturing plants and experimental stations are located on remote, uninhabited planetoids. Since sabotage of its plants is widespread and its products extremely valuable, the firm maintains a large paramilitary security force, equipped to tech level 12-14 standards.
SuSAG was founded in 252 by Gustav Schunamann, financed from royalties received for his purification process for various psionic drugs, and using the shell of a bankrupt Sylean firm (hence the archaic AG in its name). In 800, psi drugs were declared illegal, all plants angaged in their manufacture within the Imperium closed, and all stocks confiscated and destroyed. Fortunately for SuSAG, the firm had by then expanded into other operations; although badly damaged, it managed to survive and prosper. SuSAG often engages in clandestine military ventures (using mercenary units) to protect their extra-Imperial interests.
Stock Ownership: Schunamann family, 52 percent; Imperial family, 2.5 percent; Hortalez et Cie, 9 percent; other corporations, 23.5 percent; private ownership, 7 percent; other, 6 percent. -ld NWO

Swanfei Free Worlds: A collective of nine worlds in Gateway sector devoted, as one observer put it, to "uninhibited capitalism." Anything can be had for a price, and it is widely understood that the association's economy is largely derived from piracy. -gat MTJ 4

Sword Worlds Confederation: A loose confederation of worlds in the Spinward Marches, spinward of Imperial space and coreward of the Darrians. The first settlement in the region was on Gram in -399.
By circa -200 the settlement of the area was largely complete, and the first interstellar government in the region, the Sacnoth Dominate, was formed in -186. Consisting of the twenty worlds settled up to that point, the Dominate lasted until -102, when it was fractured by rebellion into several smaller states.
During the ensuing centuries, various Sword World governments rose and fell; they sometimes coalesced all the worlds under a single world's domination and sometimes splintered into several small states. Contact with Imperial traders in 73 brought increased trade and had a stabilizing influence on the region, but this stability was short-lived.
The First Frontier War brought a desire for cooperation among the various squabbling worlds, and the end of the war saw the formation of the first unified confederation in centuries, which was centered on Sacnoth and which was referred to as the Second Dominate. As a result of the Outworld Coalition's victory, the Sword Worlds annexed Terant 340, Torment, Trifuge, and Cunnonic, which are all in the Darrian subsector.
The Second Dominate held power until 698, when it was overthrown by a coalition headed by Gram. The Gram Coalition ruled until 788, when a short war with the Darrian Confederation resulted in the loss of the four worlds gained during the First Frontier War.
Public outrage at the mishandling of the war caused the subsequent fall of the Gram government. The replacement for the Gram Coalition was the Trilateral Alliance. a decentralized organization headed by Narsil, Sacnoth, and Durendal. The Alliance broke up in 848 due in large part to the inherent weakness of its organization, and an interregnum of essentially independent worlds lasted until Gram reasserted its influence (helped substantially by Zhodani money and advisors, rumor has it) in 852. This government has remained in control down to the present.
The government allows almost complete local autonomy. Individual worlds maintain separate military forces, pass their own laws, and completely regulate their own internal affairs. The Confederation government regulates interworld trade, handles diplomatic relations with outside powers, and adjudicates interworld disputes.
In peacetime, the Confederation government maintains a pool of high-ranking military officers (selected from the military forces of all worlds) who are trained in large unit command and staff operations.
During time of war, all military forces are confederalized and placed under a single unified command. For ground forces, divisions will be commanded by generals from the individual worlds, corps, and higher organizations by Confederation officers. The component forces of a division will be from the same world whenever possible. For naval forces, individual ships are under the command of local officers, squadrons, or higher organizations under Confederation officers. -ld IE
A loose confederation of human-inhabited worlds spinward of Imperial space in the Spinward Marches. The region was first settled by Solomani sleeper ships in -399. The official language of the Sword Worlds is derived from Terran Icelandic, though borrowing heavily from other tongues.
The government allows almost complete local autonomy. Individual worlds maintain separate military forces, pass their own laws, and completely regulate their own internal affairs. The Confederation government regulates interworld trade, handles diplomatic foreign relations, and adjudicates interworld disputes. During times of war, all military forces are confederalized and placed under a unified command.
Sword World culture, though technically diverse from world to world, has many points of common ground. The culture is highly militaristic and male-dominated. Obedience and honor are highly stressed attributes. Though the Sword Worlds do not suppress psionics talents, they do not make them an integral part of their society, as the Zhodani do.
The Sword Worlds allied with the Outworld Coalition against the Imperium during the Fifth Frontier War and have a history of unsteady relations with the Imperium. -dod MTJ 1

Sword Worlds Subsector: Subsector J of the Spinward Marches. Originally settled by Solomani exiles during the period -400 to -200, the Sword Worlds are named for legendary named swords (and other arms) from the varied history of Terra. Names include Tizon and Colada from the spanish El Cid, and Excalibur from the King Arthur epics.
Settled at about the same time, the many worlds have progressed at about the same rate technologically, and the worlds are remarkably homogenous socially and culturally. Nevertheless, the relationships between the many worlds have undergone many changes over the centuries. Worlds join together into confederations; those interstellar governments provide a safety of numbers. The precise nature of such confederations ranges from a simple trading community (with preference to its members) to a powerful empire.
In 852, the Sword Worlds Confederation was established with its capital at Joyeuse (1123 Spinward Marches B464778-A). It participated in the Third Frontier War on the side of the Zhodani; after the war, a coup by an anti-Imperial faction transferred the capital to Gram.
All members of the Sword Worlds maintain independent local navies; they patrol their own systems for the protection of trade. The Confederation Charter calls for the confederalization of these forces in times of need; local admirals are then chosen (based on their homeworld's financial, equipment, and troop contributions) to lead fleets on operations.
The perfomance of the Sword Worlds forces during the Fifth Frontier War was faltering and suffered from a lack of cohesive leadership. Following their defeat by the Imperials - and the occupation of Dyrnwyn (1522 Spinward Marches B958412-A), Beater (1424 Spinward Marches B685686-A), and Biter (1526 Spinward Marches B354623-A) - the worlds along the Imperial border broke off from the Confederation to create a pro-Imperial puppet state (called the Border Worlds, with its capital at Sting). -spin SMC

Sylean Federation (-650 to 0): Large interstellar federation which served as the basis for the Third Imperium.
Established on Sylea in -650, the Federation grew slowly, absorbing several surrounding worlds and increasing trade and interaction between worlds.
By -30, the real power in the Federation was an industrial consortium headed by Cleon Zhunastu. Cleon, a Solomani noble of great vision, used his family industrial base and the support of other families (obtained by the persuasiveness of his personality) to obtain behind-the-scenes control of the Federation government and to begin an active campaign to increase the number of worlds under its control.
After 30 years of economic and diplomatic maneuvering (and occasional military action), Cleon had increased the size of the Federation and extended its control to the edge of what is now Core sector. Cleon envisioned a territory larger than a single sector, however, and concluded that the tightly controlled, highly centralized nature of the government of the Sylean Federation was not suitable for a large, starspanning empire.
Cleon decided the Federation had served its purpose, and he began plans for a more suitable form of interstellar government, which would allow greater local autonomy but maintain cohesion over large distances. In addition, to restore the past glories of the Rule of Man (and therefore lay claim to all former territories of the First and Second Imperiums), Cleon proposed to revive the Imperium.
This was made possible by the fact that in the closing years of the period known as Twilight, one of the last claimants to the throne of the Rule of Man had made Sylea his capital. Cleon traced the legitimacy of the Sylean Federation backwards through this emperor to the Rule of Man and (since the Rule of Man claimed to be the lawful successor to the Vilani Imperium) to the First Imperium as well.
In the 651st year of the Sylean Federation, the Grand Senate of the Federation "persuaded" Cleon to accept the Imperial crown. That year he was crowned First Emperor of the Third Imperium, and he proclaimed the 651st year of the Sylean Federation to be the Year Zero of the Third Imperium. -ld IE

Syoisuis: A monolithic grouping of several trillion Aslan, the Syoisuis clan mantains its power through an array of vassal clans scattered throughout the Hierate. Generally, the Syoisuis avoid aliances, keeping their own interests in the foreground.
Some human observers perceive this clan as "dark and sinister," probably because of its restrictive and secretive nature. Syoisuis favors wars of assassins, and has a mastery of intelligence and counter-intelligence unsurpassed by any other clan. However, its intelligence focuses on reconnaissance and observation. The clan excludes such methods as extortion and subterfuge - things distasteful to Aslan honor - but familiar to human covert operations.
Neither does Syoisuis protect its secrets to give itself an ardvantage. The secrecy is instead meant to deny its opponents an advantage by denying them information, even things that by themselves seem of no consequence. Syoisuis does not depend on secrecy in strategic planning. Should its military secrets become known, its plans would change little. To do otherwise would be "sneaky" and not befitting Aslan honor. -tlau S&A

System: A star and its family of planets and satellites. The term system denotes a major world and its associated star, plus any other planets, satellites, asteroids, and other bodies. -ld IE

System Defense Boat: A nonstarship specifically intended for defensive operations inside a star system. It was developed on the principle that a nonstarship (because of the increased armament made possible by its lack of jump drives) can normally defeat a starship of equal tonnage. SDBs are typically stationed at the vital points of a system (the gas giants, the asteroid belt, the major world, and so on), and they attack invading vessels according to one or more predetermined plans.
System defense boats range in size from 100 to 5000 tons and are constructed at all tech levels from eight to 15. There are hundreds of different types, which depend upon the specific mission for which they are designed. -ld IE -ld SotA