Wagnild (2214 Daibei C435687-B): At about the time of the Sylean Federation, geneticists on Wagnild were sufficiently confident of their abilities to attempt major genetic experiments on humans. By altering sperm and egg cells, they brought about the births of babies with supposedly enhanced senses, stronger immune systems, higher IQs, more efficient metabolisms, stronger bones, and so on. Most of these "super" children were born to carefully selected donor parents. Unfortunately, many were raised to be quite aware of their "improvements."
By the time a number of the "artificial" children reached young adulthood, resentment and alarm among the "natural" population had increased. The "artificials" posed an ominous threat. The appointment of several "artificials" to high office (in defiance of age limits, in some cases) was the final insult. A number of the "naturals" boarded ships for new worlds.
Ironically, few of the improvements can be traced today. Some of the improvements had side effects the geneticists had not expected. A high percentage of those born with super senses eventually suffered mental breakdowns in their early adult life, apparently from sensory overload.
The high IQs lasted a few generations before returning to a more normal distribution. The improved immune systems caused women to miscarry nearly 80% of their embryos, so that many of the new traits could not be passed on at all.
The social upheavals did point out the folly of separatism. The enhanced "artificials2 made efforts to fit back into ordinary society, so that now many Wagnilder "naturals" carry a few of those improved genes. The most common surviving trait is metabolic efficiency. An average Wagnilder lives on about 25 percent less food than most humans. -dai TD 15

Wahtoikoeakh (2936 Riftspan Reaches A773AL7-E): Wahtoikoeakh is the most heavily populated world in the Riftspan Reaches, home to over 91 billion Aslan. A landhold of the Fteweyeakh clan, the world is a major industrial center. The Fteweyeakh are well known for their investments in manufacturing concerns throughout the Hierate.
Wahtoikoeakh lies on the rimward edge of the Great Rift. Ihatei seeking new territory across the Rift initially surveyed the world. They quickly noted its dense core and rich mineral resources, and within a century the planet had been claimed by the Fteweyeakh.
Wahtoikoeakh's mineral wealth seemed inexhaustible, and miner after miner poured in from Hlakhoi Sector, immediately to rimward. Despite the high gravity - 1.4 Gs - many of the miners stayed, becoming settlers. Over time the world's economy diversified, and factories were built.
In modern times, the world is drastically overcrowded, its atmosphere is polluted, and its ecosphere is faltering. Local ecologists are concerned about the planet's environment, but perhaps worse is the abnormally high level of crime.
Honor-conscious Aslan are typically law-abiding, but the closeness of life on Wahtoikoeakh strains the inhabitants' tolerance. Duels sparked by insults - real or imaginary - are a common sight. Even normally unthinkable rukhta - crimes of honor - are committed on a regular basis. As a consequence, Wahtoikoeakh's stance in the eyes of other Aslan has diminished, despite the planet's importance. -rr TD 19

Wapitl (0913 Diaspora B326353-F): This planet is currently occupied by troops from Byrna (0915 Diaspora). After a protracted strike by the planet's miners, the Tech and Trade Council of Wapiti requested aid from its neighbor, Byrna. Enticed by the Council's generous offers, Byrna obligingly sent a squadron of TL 9 mercenary cruisers to take control of the situation.
Although the period of tension passed without incident, some of the strikers caused extensive damage to the automated mining apparatus in the main shafts. This crippled the Wapitian economy, causing the government to default on its promises to the Byrnans. In response, the Byrnans have declined to withdraw.
Wapitian mercenary contractors are now travelling throughout the subsector, looking to gather the necessary strength to throw off the Byrnan occupation. These recruiters are quick to point out tneir planet's loss of sovereignty to foreign "invaders", but they invariably neglect to mention that Wapiti defaulted on its debt to Byrna. They also do not mention that Wapiti may have similar problems paying off mercenaries. -AGD

War: Major violent conflict between nations, megacorporations, or races.
See Good War/Bad War, Imperial Rules of War. -ld IE

Way Station: Link in the express boat network. The way station is a large (for the Scout Service) base devoted to the overhaul and refit of express boats at points in their journeys. During a normal tour of duty, an express boat will jump from system to system, and occasionally change pilots, but steadily work its way farther and farther down the line.
At each stop (Xboat station), the Xboat is routinely checked, refuelled, reprovisioned, and sometimes recrewed. Ultimately, however, the Xboat must undergo maintenance and possible repair after the rigors of its mission. The way station performs this function.
Way stations have stocks of scout-oriented repair and maintenance equipment, as well as trained staffs of service personnel. They are the equivalent of naval bases, although they are capable of servicing only smaller tonnage ships (10.000 tons and less) due to the size and orientation of their facilities. -ld IE

Weipu (0719 Solomani Rim X543000-0): Red Zone. Weipu is a pretty planet, possessing vast forested regions with scattered lakes and small seas. History records how many spacefarers found Weipu to look inviting by comparison with its near neighbors: desert Ippurash, chilly, methane-rich Thars, and the Stralsund asteroids.
But Weipu is void of any human colonization or even robot intrusion - it instead is ruled by a unique metalconsuming bacteria evolved in its mineral-laden hot springs.
The first humans to land on Weipu were stranded by the inexplicable breakdown of their ship and most machinery. They eventually realized that something organic was the cause, but had little equipment left with which to investigate. A second wave of colonists landed and left in short order, bearing the survivors of the first wave with them. The colonists from both parties were quarantined on an asteroid at Stralsund and the ships were dismantled.
The bacteria, while not directly pathogenic, can live in the human intestine. All colonists living on the Stralsund asteroid eventually died of iron, copper, and zinc deficiencies.
The planet was interdicted. The bacteria is a widespread and essential link in the planetary ecology. Eradicating it would wipe out all native lifeforms on the world. -sr TD 13

Wildburn: Spirits served in Zarushagar sector. The color is almost black and the taste is liquorice-like. -cam MS

Wimorel (3129 Vland C765443-7): This Ancient site has only a few ruins attributable to the Ancients, but it has a great many ruins of a stone age culture that apparently coexisted with the Ancients, under their protection, and who shared their fate in the final war. It has been hypothesized that the Ancients looked on these primitives as a sort of pet.
The current inhabitants are not the descendants of that race, but of animals that were near intelligence when their superior competition was wiped out. Their numbers are rather small but the Kolzar are inventive and determined. They are roughly humanoid, but have scaly skins and a low body temperature.
Before the restored Vilani Empire could act, Lucan's forces acquired control of Wimorel. Apparently, scientific teams under orders from Lucan are combing the Ancient ruins for technology that could be of use to the ad-interim emperor in his fight against Dulinor. Recently, rumors have started to surface of amazing new technological finds on Wimorel, but many of these rumors are little more than hearsay. -vla V&V

Windhorn Pact of Two: The Pact united two small states in Tuglikki sector seeking assistance against the Dzarrgh Federate on their trailing borders. The Windhorn Pact has had little involvement in the turmoil following Strephon's death and the withdrawal of the Corridor Fleet. The Pact is too small, too decentralized, and too far from the Denebian border to launch a major assault.
Nevertheless, the Pact toes the line politically, passively supporting Dzarrgh and Augurgh raids. The worlds of the Pact prefer to keep their larger neighbors' attention focused on the Domain. -sidebar MTJ 2

Winston (0620 Spinward Marches E887573-6): Winston was thinly colonized before it was taken over and lost a great deal of its population and technology in repeating fighting with the Sword Worlds. Some nations are still sympathetic to the Sword Worlds, but most are loyal to Darrian. -ld D

Worlds of Leader Rukh (Rukh Aegz): One of Gvurrdon Sector's larger and more stable Vargr governments. The current Rukh, while bearing no love for Norris, has kept her people from attacking the Domain of Deneb en masse. Naturally, this hasn't kept numerous independent corsairs from heading rimward into the Marches, but the situation would be far worse if the Rukh Navy entered the picture.
Interestingly, some analysts see a Zhodani hand in the Rukh's stance. The Rukh worlds have long had strong diplomatic ties with the Zhodani, and with the recent thawing of relations between the Consulate and the Domain, the Zhodani may very well have asked for the Rukh's restraint. By far, the Zhodani would prefer a stable Domain on their borders than something resembling the anarchy of Corridor. -sidebar MTJ 2

Wuan Technology Association: Member state of the Solomani Confederation. A loose, commercial grouping, the Wuan worlds owe their colonization to Asian corporate interests. Well supported by Korean and Japanese funds on Terra, the wuans specialized in manufacturing high-tech products for export. They survived the Long Night by continuing this practice, and while raiders collected tribute, they chose not to loot the Association wholesale.
During the Long Night, the Wuans began a genetic experiment. They studied, modified, and standardized human genotypes. Now, the Wuans can produce specialized humans suited for any task or environment. A visitor to Wuan factories will see long rows of identical Workers performing the same industrial task.
Wuan political power rests with the Executives who administer the Association's various corporations. They maintain a fleet of trading ships that travel to Daibei, Dark Nebula, and Reaver's Deep, and they own many smaller companies throughout Magyar. Lacking a standing navy, the Wuans recognize the need for the Confederation military, but they do little more than tolerate the Cause and the central government. -sta S&A

Wyaroaer: This corporation takes the name of a legendary weaponsmith from early in the Age of Enlightenment. The students of her students banded together to form the company, which has remained a leader in Aslan military technology ever since.
Originally cross-clan, Wyaroaer came to be wholly owned by Eakhtiyho clan in -140 Aslan (-2205 Imperial) as a result of events often repeated in romantic tales. That union eventually spread Wyaroaer into space to become the third ranking megacorporation in the Hierate. Today, Wyaroaer is the Hierate's leading arms producer, from starship spinal mounts to small arms, some of which are made for export to human space.
Wyaroaer leads in the manufacture of electronics, computers, cybernetic components, and robots. In many cases, Wyaroaer set the industrial standards for the Hierate. Most of these products are for commercial consumption rather than as war material. -sidebar S&A