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Terms:
Quadrants and Sectors - The galaxy is split into 4 pie peices, or quadrants, which are further subdivided into sectors
Frontier wars - A series of wars that enveloped the galaxy after several ill-fated encounters between the Shria and the Humans, where technology and weapons of mass destruction were used indescriminately. Resulted in the genocide of several sentient races. Various technologies conducive to WMDs were subsequently outlawed in the aftermath of the war
AR - Actual reality, versus living in cyberspace (in the internet) or Virtual Reality (in computer generated worlds)
VR - Virutal Reality, virtual or pseudo life lived immersed in a computer generated world
AI - Artificial Intelligence - a computer program so complex, modeled after our own brains' neural network, that it becomes self-aware and its own entity, capable of thought and rational decisions
Cyberspace - Inside the internet/galnet, and all the activity that happens therein, not to be confused with true Virtual Reality
Galnet - A general term applying to the whole data infrastructure of the galaxy. Like the Earthen Internet
Flake - a theoretical synthetic drug of the opium class, more addictive than heroin
Alterflake - a close cousin to Flake
Sysop - a computer network or system operator, a term made popular in the early days of the internet
Explo device - a small radio controlled explosive device implanted under the skin or inside the body of a slave. The ultimate "pacifier". Triggering such a device, depending on its implanted location, causes either very quick, or very slow, lingering, and horrible death. Similar to device featured in the movie MI-III
Flux travel - method of faster-than-light travel using high-power, high-frequency magnetic fields
Flux nodes - small active-radiating, dome-like protrusions from a ship's skin that generate and sustain the magnetic fields used in flux travel
Stargate - Tunnels through space that connect different areas of the galaxy, typically between quadrants, where flux travel would take too long
Wormhole - a tunnel through space linking two points. A stargate is a huge/stable wormhole of sorts
Beam weapon - a focused raw-energy weapon, highly destructive to flesh and inanimate objects alike
Las weapons or Laser weapons - weapons that use focused laser energy to burn or explode flesh or objects
Leathon - Synthetic leather substitute
Telon - A high impact rigid durable plastic
Terrillium - a theoretical mineral that catalizes hydrogen fusion, used extensively in starships
Polyacryl or polyacrylic - A theoretical cousin of transparent acrylic plastic, but far stronger and machinable
Dominate Races
Humans - homeworld Earth, pioneered stargate technology and who fought long war with Shri over expansion rights
Geans - a race of sentient lizard like hominids, from near the center of the galaxy
Kobraks - a race of sentient hominids, cousins to the Geans, with more snakelike cobra features
Fineesians - homeworld Fineesian, a race of copper-blooded homonids known for their methodical ways, paperwork, merchanting, and dislike of human males and fondness for human females
Killians - a race of elven-like hominids, known for peace and harmony
Shri - a race of bat-winged hominids from the world of Shria in Quadrant 4
Dwarves - a race of short, squat "dwarves" that live in the shadows and underground. Major dwarven cities are found underground on Doria and several other worlds. Stout and loyal, just reclusive.
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Main Characters
Jon Silar - human, the main character, a loner trying to find his way. Running from his past because it hurts too much.
Karen Stone - human, the rich kid who books passage with Jon and eventually becomes more than just a friend
Ben Dragon - human, a college friend of Jon Silar, with whom Jon had fun being vigilannte in the drug shadows
Rusty - human, another friend of Jon Silar's, with whom Jon had fun being vigilannte in the drug shadows
Tramin Seitz - human, ship's first mate to Tasha Slaker, who falls in love with her and helps build the new order
Tasha Slaker - human, a deep friend of Jon Silar's, whom he once rescued from pirates, now a pilot herself
Sasha Slaker - human, twin sister to Tasha Slaker, who, ironically enough, Jon never knew
Fish - Fineesian, ship's gunner for Tasha Slaker, who becomes a body guard for several different VIP's
Beth - a mysterious AI that Jon once repaired and freed, that keeps crossing paths with Jon and his friends
Aleecia Dragon - human, married to Ben Dragon, whom she met after being rescued from pirates by Jon Silar
Tana - human, woman who falls in love with Rusty, and vice-a-versa
Nat Kale - human, drug kingpin on Earth
Who will betray who?
Places
Tertia - an agricultural world covered by jungles, large estates, and a few large cities
Loran Minor - Galactic capital world. Almost completely enclosed by a steel shell housing the galaxy's beaurocracy
Fineesia - homeworld of the Fineesian race, with a red-shifted sun, home to some of the best universities in the galaxy
Kia - A water world of floating estates and one large single continent. Tropical.
Kamen - A desert world, known for two things: its minerals, and its Mardi Grah night life, where, ironically enough, flake is not tolerated.
Karwan - A barony world of rich folk. Karen's home world. Lots of forests, millionaire estates, and retirement homes for the rich and famous
Kearon - A pacifistic human settled world of small, neat, well maintained cities. Several continents and large oceans
Terraslene Four - A major banking world, where some of the galnet's biggest net servers and banking databases are housed
Scarat - a pirate dominated outlaw world
Polaris - a ranching world near Earth, known for its cowboys and beef
Vera - a small world, home and sanctuary to humans and cross-breeds alike
Doria - a forested world under a repressive regime. Scene of several frontier war battles
Destar - original homeworld of the Dwarves.
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