Glossary

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z - #

A

Alpha Bootis

(see Arcturus)

Alpha Centauri

A trinary system, also known as Rigil Kentaurus and Al Rijil; home system of the semi-indigenous Centaurians.

Alpha Centauri III

A class L planet in the Alpha Centauri system, also known as Alpha Centauri AB III and Seldarian.

Alpha Centauri Prime

A class M planet in the Alpha Centauri system, also known as Alpha Centauri, Alpha Centauri IV, Alpha Centauri AB IV, and Velestus; home world of the semi-indigenous Centaurians.

Arcturus

a K class star system, also known as Benis Multalis and Alpha Bootis; home system of the Arcturians.

Array

Generally, a combination of identical sensors, weapons, or other equipment operating in conjunction.

AU

Astronomical Unit; a unit of length, roughly the distance from Earth to Sol and equal to 150 million kilometers or 8.3 light-minutes.

Augment

A type of Human genetically modified before birth (originally) in the mid-20th century.

Auxiliary

a common name for small craft embarked aboard and utilized by starships for various tasks. Craft types include work pod, shuttlepod, shuttle, plus various tactical craft and other special-purpose craft.

AWSS

Alliance of Western States Ship; prefix for militarized vessels of the Western Alliance Space Agency.

C

C/P/S

Centerline/Port/Starboard (see P/S).

Canada

an important pre-Unification state on Earth; it was a core member of the Western Alliance.

Central African States

Formed as a result of global investment in spacecraft construction and launch facilities in equatorial Africa during the Swarm crisis, the nations of Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and Sao Tome initiated the first all-African space-faring organization in 2035.

China

On Earth, a powerful pre-Unification state; joined the Eastern Coalition (ECON) in 2031, and formally absorbed in 2055.

Class H

A classification for an inhabitable planet rated as desert. These worlds are almost entirely desert; at most they have only 20% of their surface covered in water. Young planets of four to six billion years old tend to be rocky, while those that are older tend to be covered in sand. Life can evolve here, but it is limited; plants tend to be small, as do animals. Weather tends to be dry, with sandstorms and still days with few clouds. Some have snow on their poles and can experience wider variations of weather. They are often incapable of naturally supporting populations above a hundred million humanoid lifeforms. Vulcan is an example Class H world.

Class K

A classification for an inhabitable (when domed) planet rated as adaptable. These planets are much like their Class H counterparts, but the atmosphere is too weak for most complex lifeforms. Only capable of supporting single-cell life, they are not considered inhabitable and fluctuations in temperature would kill most humanoids over a few days. They can, however, be colonized with pressurized domes. Mars is an example Class K world.

Class L

A classification for an inhabitable planet rated as marginal. These worlds are young planets that have not yet developed animal life. They tend to be covered in forests and plants that are broken down by simple organisms and fungi. Water is not common and those with less than 20% surface coverage fall to being Class H. These planets, however, are perfect for colonization and terraforming. Impact of native life is minimal and minimum effort is needed. Seldarian is an example Class L world.

CNSA

China National Space Administration, the official launch agency for the pre-Unification state of China on Earth.

Corvette

Small warp-capable ship dedicated to local patrol, law enforcement and community service missions. Sometimes landing-capable, not dependent on starbase facilities for support.

Cruiser [Pre-Warp Age]

A multi-purpose combat-capable spaceship.

Cruiser [Warp Age]

A medium multi-purpose starship. The largest exploration vessels until the early 24th century, when relegated to other duties with the introduction of large Explorer starships.

D

D-Y

Dinyan-Yoyodyne Conglomerate, a pre-Eugenics War technology and industry sector corporation on Earth that served as the Great Khanate’s agent in plans for planetary domination. Collapsed into smaller, disparate companies in 1996.

Deep space [Pre-First Contact era]

All space outside the Sol system.

Deep space [Federation era]

The region near or beyond the recognized borders of the Federation, often uncharted in any considerable detail.

Deimos

one of two natural satellites of the planet Mars.

Delhi

a territory of the pre-Unification state of India on Earth.

Destroyer

A medium offense starship intended for destroying enemy capital ships and installations, as well as conducting fleet escorts.

Deuterium

hydrogen-2, or heavy hydrogen; an isotope of hydrogen often used as one of the primary ingredients for fuel in matter-antimatter reactors (the other being antideuterium).

Draylax

A class H planet in the Epsilon Indi system, also known as Epsilon Indi A II; home world of the Draylaxians.

Duonetopause

warp-traversible space.

E

Earth

A class M planet in the Sol system, also known as Terra, Sol IV, Sol Prime; home world of the Humans.

EC

Eurasian Confederation, a large pre-Unification nation-state on Earth, formed from the smaller states of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in 1996. It joined with the Eastern Coalition (ECON) in 2031 and formally dissolved in 2055.

ECON

Eastern Coalition; a political and military alliance formed in 2031 between the nations of the Eurasion Confederation and China, India, Iran, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Singapore, and Vietnam. The alliance subsumed the members into one nation-state in 2055.

ECS

Earth Cargo Ship, a prefix for vessels flagged under the governing authority of the Earth Cargo Service.

ECSA

Eurasian Confederation Space Agency; formed in 1996 from the constituent agencies and absorbed into the ECSN in 2031.

ECSN

Eastern Coalition Space Navy; formed in 2031 from the alliance’s constituent agencies.

ELRS

Extreme Long Range Sensor

EmDrive

A theoretical technology that sought to achieve greater power efficiency for thrusters via the use of microwave resonance waves inside a mostly-empty chamber.

Epsilon Indi

A trinary star system; home system to the Draylaxians and the semi-indigenous Tarl.

Epsilon Indi A

A K-class star in the Epsilon Indi system; host star of the planet Draylax.

Epsilon Indi C

A M-class star in the Epsilon Indi system; host star of the planet Tarl.

Epsilon Indi C I

(see Tarl)

ESA

European Space Agency, an intergovernmental space exploration organization of 22 European member states on pre-Unification Earth.

Eugenics Wars

a late 20th century global conflict on Earth in which the Augments established themselves as super men and attempted world domination.

F

Flight

A modification to a class of ship intended to be incorporated by most or all members of that class.

France

an important pre-Unification state on Earth; it was a core member of the Western Alliance.

Frigate

Until the late 22nd century, a dedicated medium defense and escort starship, larger than corvette but smaller than destroyer, often capable of trans-atmospheric operations. In the 23rd century and into the early 24th century, often used to designate defense and escort starships ranging from small patrol and escort ships typically lacking torpedo armament to versatile multipurpose ships similar to light cruisers.

FTL

Faster Than Light

G

GCN

Galactic Computer Network, a Federation-wide information network that functions in a similar (but far larger) capacity to the Earth Internet and Interface networks of the late 20th and 21st centuries, over the subspace network. Limited nodes are made available for allied states (such as the Klingon Empire), some which provide public access to otherwise-closed networks, such as the Memory databases and the Star Fleet Internet.

Grand Tour

a series of planetary survey missions administered by the Western Alliance Space Agency; 2009-2039.

Gravitic mine

a type of explosive device used in the 23rd and 24th centuries in anti-starship and anti-personnel roles.

Great Khanate

an historical designation for the tight but self-contentious organization of Augments that sought to dominate Earth in the late 20th century, culminating in their defeat in the Eugenics Wars.

GW

GigaWatt

H

Harauk

(see Class H)

HEO

High Earth Orbit; a geocentric orbit with an altitude higher than 35,800 kilometers. In the modern idiom, High Planetary Orbit (HPO) is above that of the geosynchronous orbital range, with orbital periods greater than that of the rotation of the planet in question.

I

India

an important pre-Unification state; subsumed into the Eastern Coalition (ECON) in 2055.

Inertial stabilizer

A predecessor to the modern-day inertial damping field; developed in 2036 (on Earth), operates as a series of low-strength electromagnetic fields that attempt to absorb and counteract the velocity forces generated by the ship’s maneuvers.

Interferometry

A technique using the interference of superimposed waves (typically electromagnetic) to extract information.

IRC

ISA Rescue (or Regulatory) Cutter. Ship prefix for the names of vessels of the International Space Agency.

ISA

International Space Agency. Formed by the NUN in 2018 in an effort to coordinate international space exploration missions. Succeeded by both the UESPA and UESN in 2067 and 2069, respectively.

Ishakawa-Dell Barrier

The exponential growth in the power required by early warp nacelles as FTL speeds approached warp factor 6 (on the OCU scale).

ISRO

Indian Space Research Organization, the national space agency for the pre-Unification state of India on Earth.

K

KARI

Korea Aerospace Research Institute, the national space agency for the pre-Unification state of South Korea on Earth; transitioned into the RRKS in 2003.

Kesh

(see Class K)

Korea

formally the Royal Republic of Korea on Earth, a 2003 (pre-Unification) merger of the prominent nation of South Korea and the xenophobic and developmentally-devastated state of North Korea.

L

L-5 Colonies

while not comprising all installations located at Earth’s L-5, the six Swarm asteroids captured in the period of 2031-2033 were usually identified by this name; they comprised Brynner Asteroid, Colony Roykirk, Moss-Offenhouse Colony, the NicholCorp Facility, Starling Habitat, and Vanguard Colony.

LaGrange Point

five positions in space where a body of negligible mass would maintain its position relative to two existing massive bodies; these are referred to in abbreviated forms as L-1 through L-5.

Laser

Typically, a secondary weapon on early space vessels. Current shielding technology has largely negated the threat poised by the coherent electromagnetic beam.

LEO

Low Earth Orbit; an altitude of 2,000 kilometers or less. In the modern idiom, Low Planetary Orbit (LPO) is approximately one-third or less of the radius of the planet in question, in altitude.

Leonine

Resembling a (Earth) lion.

LIDAR

Acronym for Light Detection And Ranging; a sensor that uses laser pulses to calculate the size, speed, and distance of an object.

Lunar

of or relating to Luna (see Moon).

M

M

Meters

Main Belt

the designation for the Sol system’s major asteroid belt.

M/AM

Matter / Antimatter

Mars

the fourth planet in the Sol system.

Mediterranean Alliance

a political block within the NUN comprised of a majority of the states that ringed the Mediterranean Sea; formed in 2040.

Mission spacecraft

a catch-all category for governmental spacecraft, though usually non-military, that operate independently and perform certain functions, such as search & rescue or regulatory enforcement.

Moon

the pre-colonization name for Luna, the sole natural satellite of Earth.

MT

Metric Tons

N

NASA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration, an independent agency of the United States government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and space research.

Navigation Light

Yellow in color, these lights are generally located on or near major points of superstructure of a space vessel. They often provide low-emission positioning signals for specific locations on and within the vessel for the purposes of proximity maneuvering by another vessel and relative destination positions for transporters. Not to be confused with red or green running lights.

NCC

Letter prefix in UFP Starfleet vessel registries, anecdotally said to come from the term Naval Construction Contract. Current usage has letter N signifying UFP registry, and CC signifying active Star Fleet forces.

Nearspace

The region of the Federation considered to be internal, fully charted, and uncontested.

NEO

Near-Earth Object; any small Solar System body whose orbit brings it into proximity with Earth, usually defined as less than 1.3 AUs of Sol.

Northern African Alliance

inspired by the collaborative success of Central African States, African nations in the north-west of the continent formed a similar economic alliance in 2037.

NTR

nuclear thermal rocketry

NUN

New United Nations. Formed in 2011, first dissolved in 2053 (during the Third World War), re-formed in 2065 (two years following First Contact), then finally dissolved in 2079. Authorized the formation of the ISA (2018), UESPA (2067), UEDP and UESN (both 2069). Succeeded by the UEDP.

O

Oceania

On Earth, a distinct geographic region spanning the eastern and western hemispheres of the northern and southern Pacific Ocean.

OCU

Original Cochrane Units, representing the original warp scale, where the warp factor cubed was the velocity in c, the speed of light.

P

P/S

Port/Starboard; left & right side, respectively, in naval parlance.

Pan-African Alliance

a political block within the NUN comprised of the Central States of Africa, New West Africa, the Republic of Northern Africa, United East Africa, and the United States of Southern Africa; formed in 2010.

Particle Cannon

A primary or secondary weapon on some early space vessels, though generally replaced by phaser technology. The weapon accelerated charged or neutral matter (or antimatter) particles to relativistic speeds. Also commonly known as phase cannons.

Phase Cannon

(see Particle Cannon)

Phaser

A directed-energy/particle weapon in common use aboard Star Fleet vessels, as well as other UFP and foreign fleets. Based upon rapid nadion effect, it generates a wide-band particle beam utilizing both electromagnetic and subspace components.

Phobos

one of two natural satellites of the planet Mars.

Plasma Cannon

A projectile weapon in common use aboard early space vessels. A sublight weapon, the cannon generates, contains, and directs the release of ionized matter. The weapon is often complemented by particle and/or laser weapon systems.

R

RCS

reaction control system; a spacecraft system that uses thrusters to provide attitude and station-keeping control (and sometimes propulsion).

RRKS

Royal Republic of Korea Spaceforce, the new nation’s space and regulatory agency. Merged with other international agencies to form the ECSN in 2031.

Running Light

Red (port/left) and green (starboard/right) lights traditionally denoting the observed side of a water vessel under low light conditions. Utilized for similar purposes by space vessels of the UFP, though generally for rapid orientation by the pilots/helms of other vessels maneuvering in close proximity. Not to be confused with yellow navigation lights.

Russia

an important pre-Unification state on Earth; it merged with six other states in 1996 to form the Eurasian Confederation (EC).

S

Scout

A small to medium, fast research and/or reconnaissance space vessel, equipped with extensive sensor and research equipment. Though protected by defensive energy weapons, most substitute probe launchers for torpedoes.

Seldarian

(see Alpha Centauri III)

Semi-indigenous

A description generally describing a sentient species in relation to a planet they consider their home world, despite there being no historic or scientific indication as to their point of origin. Example: Centaurians are semi-indigenous to Alpha Centauri Prime.

Shore power

the provision of electrical power to a ship at berth while its main and auxiliary engines are shut down; often provided by a station.

Shuttle

An auxiliary craft usually carried by larger vessels for orbit-to-ground transportation or detached operations. Also used for starbase liaison duties.

Shuttlepod

Very small auxiliary craft used for ship-to-ship or orbit-to-ground transportation, free-space maintenance, and repair work, and detached operations of a very limited nature. Usually not equipped with a warp drive.

Sol

A G-class star system; home system of the Humans.

South Korea

an important pre-Unification state on Earth; it merged with the smaller, xenophobic and developmentally-devastated state of North Korea to form the Royal Republic of Korea in 2003.

South Pacific Ocean Uninhabited Area

a spacecraft “cemetery” on Earth, a target in pre-Unification times for spacecraft that had reached the end of usefulness and destroyed by de-orbiting.

Space Station Freedom

an expansive orbital facility, evoking perception as a techno-snowflake, built by the United States of America, ostensibly in a NEO monitor role, but including highly-advanced construction berthing.

Star Fleet

The primary exploration and defense organization of the UFP. Formed in 2161 to protect the integrity of the Federation and the safety of its members and to expand the knowledge of the member cultures.

Starfleet

Short-hand name for the United Earth Starfleet (UESF), the primary exploration and defense organization of United Earth 2033-2161. Not to be confused with the UFP Star Fleet. Renamed Earth Fleet upon the formation of the United Federation of Planets.

STL

Slower Than Light (also known as sublight).

Subclass

A significant variant of a given class of ship, usually newbuilds, though sometimes including important modifications to existing ships, that are not intended to replace the existing ships of the original class. Often named for the first ship to reach that final intended production standard.

Swarm

An existential crisis to the planet Earth, wherein 17 metropolis-sized and attendant “flocks” of medium-sized asteroids threatened to impact the surface between the years of 2031 and 2033; a planet-wide effort diverted all of the planetesimals.

T

Tarl

A class K planet in the Epsilon Indi system, also known as Epsilon Indi C I; home world of the semi-indigenous Tarl species.

TASA

Texan Aeronautics and Space Agency; formed from assets seized from NASA during Texas’ secession from the United States of America.

TAU

Thousand Astronomical Unit; the designation for the NASA extrasolar exploration vessels that launched in 2036.

Tau Ceti

A G-class star system; home system of the Kaferians.

Telemetry

The process of recording and transmitting the readings of an instrument.

Tender

An auxiliary vessel specifically designed for deep space replenishment and support of starships and other vessels. While often equipped with a tractor device, the inability to efficiently tow another vessel in warp distinguishes the tender from a tug.

Texas

a medium-sized break-away nation from the United States of America during the closing events of World War Three, the state took a leading role in the post-war space program, largely in part to assets seized from NASA.

TNG

Terrance-Neltorr Graduated scale where upon each full warp factor is achieved when a certain number of cochranes were met in output, resulting in more efficient engine plateaus. In this scale, Warp 10 is unattainable.

Torpedo

The general designation for warp-capable guided projectile weapons, in contrast to sublight-only guided missiles.

Transport

A Starship or other vessel dedicated to transporting passengers or cargo. They range in size from small two- or three-crew ships to huge starships and freighters.

Trans-spectral Imager

a.k.a., trans-spectrum imager; A sensor that compares changes in perceived light to help determine the platform’s location, as well as distance and aspect of a target.

Tug

1) A warp-powered ship specifically designed to extend her warp field around objects that can thereafter be towed at warp speeds. Primarily used for the carriage of transport pods and towing of disabled starships or other equipment lacking appropriate motive capabilities. 2) A craft designed to propel ships or equipment lacking motive power about a limited area of operation, such as a space dock or construction site. May also refer to such a vessel intended to assist ships maneuvering within and in the vicinity of docking facilities.

TW

TerraWatt

Tyme Barrier

The exponential growth in the power required by early warp nacelles as FTL speeds approached warp factor 7 (on the OCU scale).

U

UEDP

United Earth Defense Pact. Formed by the NUN in 2069 to put the "Earth's ascendancy and safety ahead of national goals". Tasked with the combined command and control of the planet’s various armed forces, it became the de facto world government upon the NUN’s second dissolution in 2079, until superseded by the United Earth government in 2130.

UES

United Earth Ship. Ship prefix for the names of vessels of the UESN.

UESF

(see Starfleet)

UESN

United Earth Stellar Navy. Predecessor to the UESF. Formed under the authority of the United Earth Defense Pact in 2069.

UESPA

United Earth Space Probe Agency. Formed by the NUN in 2067, relieving the ISA of the coordination and development of human presence in interstellar space. Re-purposed as the exploration arm of the NUN in 2069.

UESS

United Earth Space Ship. Ship prefix for the names of vessels of the United Earth Starfleet.

UFP

United Federation of Planets. Formed in 2161 by a coalition of United Earth, the Andorian Empire, Tellar, Alpha Centauri, and the Confederacy of Vulcan, following the Romulan War.

UFP SF

(see Star Fleet)

UFP SF

(see Star Fleet)

United States

On Earth, a powerful pre-Unification nation. An original signatory to the Traité d'Unification, which established the United Earth government in 2130.

United States Strategic Command

An American combatant command tasked with overseeing the military assets above the Earth’s atmosphere (20th and 21st c.).

UNSS

United Nations Space Ship; ship prefix for the names of the non-enforcement/governmental interplanetary vessels of the United Nations and the NUN’s early interstellar vessels operated by the ISA.

Ununennium

an early Human name for dilithium, prior to the discovery of its hypersonic attributes.

USAF

United States Air Force, the aerial and space warfare branch of the armed forces of the pre-Unification nation of the United States on Earth.

USNS

United Survey and Navigation Ship. Prefix for joint missions of the ISA & NASA.

USS

UFP Star Fleet Starship. Ship prefix for the names of Star Fleet vessels, emblazed on ship hulls (along with the ship’s registry number). Commonly abbreviated as “United Starship” in verbal communication, although the expressions “United Spaceship” and “Federation Starship” are also frequently used.

V

Velestus

(see Alpha Centauri Prime)

Venus

the second planet in the Sol system.

Venus Terraforming Project

an effort begun in 2025 to establish a permanent presence on the planet, with the intent to develop and reform the global environment into a more human-habitable setting.

W

WA

Western Alliance; originally a NATO agency to oversee the 2002 pre-Unification economic and defensive agreement between Earth’s United States and European Union, it became a major force for the coordination response to the Swarm incident of 2026 and a competitor to the rival Eastern Coalition.

WASA

Western Alliance Space Agency; built from the (generally militarized) assets of the European Space Agency and formed core part of the ISA.

Work Pod

The general name for manned, sub-impulse craft used for construction, maintenance, repair, and other service tasks in space. A variety of external tools and modules are attached to the work pods to facilitate a multitude of tasks.

World War Three (WWIII)

A global conflict on Earth (and in the Sol system) that officially dates from the eco-terrorism of 2026 to the open nuclear conflict between the Eastern Coalition and the New United Nations, through the signing of the concluding Treaty of San Francisco in 2053.

Y

YPS

Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems, an offshoot and surviving entity of the post-Eugenics Wars Dinyan-Yoyodyne Conglomerate on Earth; most associated with the United States and Korean nations, as well as the Western Alliance.

#

40 Eridani

a trinary system, also known as Omicron² Eridani, Vulcanis, and Ko'vel; home system of the Vulcan species.