Chapter 8

URSA, Sector 9: Ruled by: No. systems: 651 Subsectors: 6 Inhabited planets: 313 A. Polaris D. Indra B. Hathor E. Ilmatar C. Apis F. Meerclar

V

VADER, Clan (Sandeman): The first clan founded after Overthrow. Named for the Saga's Black Lord, it is the arbiter of the most delicate questions of honor. It specializes in energy weapons, the development of one of which, the lightsaber, required controlled-length laser beams, which has had considerable effect on many fields of Imperial technology.

VERANOL: Developed by Solar Federation researchers in 2096, Veranol is a pale blue liquid which remained the only reliable means of insuring accurate testimony until the mindprobe was developed in 2543. Although it is still used for that purpose when mindprobes are not available, its primary use now is in the anti-interrogation conditioning given Imperials in sensitive or senior positions. There is speculation that it is also used to condition IntelDiv field agents to help them maintain cover identities during covert investigations, but Marine Corps authorities refuse to comment.

VIP CODES: A ship carrying Imperial nobles and/or senior officers will use special designations to inform others of that fact. A vessel carrying the Sovereign will drop its name and use either "Navy One", "Marine One", or (in the rare case of a civilian ship) "Empire One".

Ships carrying other VIPs retain their names, identifying the senior's rank, whether crewwen or passenger, by the following Distinguished Visitor codes:

DV-1: Ranger DV-2: Duke, Fleet Admiral, or Commandant of the Marine Corps DV-3: Earl or Admiral DV-4: Count, Marine Lieutenant General, or Navy Vice Admiral DV-5: Baron, Marine Major General, or Navy Rear Admiral DV-6: Imperial Liaison Officer, Marine Brigadier General, or Navy Commodore

VIRGO, Sector 16: Ruled by: No. systems: 360 Subsectors: 4 Inhabited planets: 200 A. Athena C. Ishtar B. Isis D. Freya

VISHNU, Subsector 18-D: No. systems: 198 Sector: Aries with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 10 with 1 inhabited planet: 21

W

WAR DOGS, Sandeman: One of the two types of livestock modified by the Shapers, of the wide variety they took with them. These are Doberman pinschers modified for size (averaging about 45 kilos), intelligence, and speech. Their intellectual ability is about that of a ten-year-old human. The speech modification was less successful; while they can be understood, it takes either concentration or a practiced ear. Clan Shona is the primary breeder and trainer of these dogs, and tends to consider them as members of the clan.

WARRIORS, Sandeman: Males genetically modified even beyond the Sandeman norm by addition of a gland which produces the hormone egerin. Under the Shapers, warriors were about ten percent of the male population. This changed after Overthrow, when more warriors were seen as vital to the defense of the race. After Annexation, when the benefits of warrior-police were seen on the worlds they had conquered, other worlds began to hire them and warriors became an economic asset to their clans. Up to half of a modern clan's men may be warriors, with many of them away from the clan in the Marines or on contract as security forces.

Egerin is the primary part of a sex-linked recessive gene complex, and is responsible for giving them speed, strength, and stamina well above the Sandeman norm. Although the psychological segment of the gene complex is smaller, it is no less important: Sandeman warriors enjoy fighting.

These physical and psychological traits are developed by training which starts at age five. The major emphasis, of course, is on combat and related subjects, such as weapons, martial arts, High War Speech, military and Sandeman history, and perhaps some spacecraft handling. Other important subjects are customs and courtesies, need management, the clan's specialty, and one or more personal interests, usually including some form of handiwork. When the young warriors move into the main clanhome at puberty, they begin doing their own chores (laundry, cleaning, etc.), including a share in cooking.

At approximately 18 years old, there is a graduation ceremony for the new warriors and w'women, indicating that they now take their place in the clan as adults. There is no sharp division other than that an adult will not fight or have sex (except for the instructors) with a student; part of the post-graduation party is an adult inviting one of the new graduates to one or the other.

Warriors have the typical Sandeman ethnocentrism, but to an even greater degree. The race was created to be better than its creators, and the warriors are the best of the Sandemans. Fortunately, they are also more concerned with honor, propriety, and courtesy, and they are thoroughly trained in "warrior restraint"; it is dishonorable to fight Others who regard themselves as non-combatants, however great the provocation, except in self-defense. To a Sandeman warrior, the Marine slogan "Death before dishonor" is a truism--and a probable reason most warriors spend some time in that service.

Their physiology and training, however, make it unlikely that a warrior will ever become a Ranger or Sovereign; they are temperamentally unsuited to administering a civilian group larger than a clan.

WARRIORS'-WOMEN, Sandeman: (abbreviated w'women) The female members of the warrior caste, women trained in combat, medicine, and need management. They have no genetic modifications beyond those shared by all Sandemans, so any girl-child who wants to take the training may do so, and most warriors' daughters, particularly the eldest, at least begin training; those who complete it successfully wear a gold-gemmed ring (e.g., golden topaz) to mark their status. Since they have no special genetic alterations, however, any who decide they are not suited to the life may quit at any time, during or after training.

Because of this, there are fewer w'women than warriors, though ideally their numbers would be equal. About the best ratio most clans can expect is one w'woman for two to three warriors.

WEN: (Imperial English) Indefinite pronoun used either when sex is unknown or irrelevant (e.g., crewwen) or referring to a group in which both sexes are present (e.g., crewwens).

WHITE ORDER: (Irschchan) The organization of Talented Irschchans that has ruled that planet since approximately 3000 BCE, its most strongly Talented member becoming the High Adept. In keeping with the Empire's policy regarding already-existing governments, this was modified only in that the High Adept also becomes the Planetary Baron.

At initiation, a member drops @'s family name, using "of the White Order" instead.

X

XAN: Xanadu's planetary computer.

XANADEN: Inhabitant of Xanadu.

XANADU: Sector: 1, Orion Year: 729 std. days Subsector: C, Heimdall Day: 83 hours System: Kama Gravity: 950 cm/sec2 Settled/established: 2142 Axial tilt: 47 deg. By: Oxygen: 23% Satellites: None % Water: No surface water Ident code prefix: XAN Continents: None Ruled by: Steen family

General: Pleasure planet. Although its surface is uninhabited, its near-surface volume contains numerous large cave complexes which have been improved and expanded. It has no native life, even plants, but Terran imported plants thrive, thanks to carefully-controlled lighting and atmosphere. Since everything is underground, the surface year and day are irrelevant to Xanadens; the entire planet operates on Palace Standard Time.

Xanadu's only significant economic asset is tourism, its most famous attractions the Pleasure Dome and the amators.

XANTH, Subsector 4-D: No. systems: 94 Sector: Fornax with 3 inhabited planets: 6 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 12 with 1 inhabited planet: 21

Y

YAMA, Subsector 15-D: No. systems: 109 Sector: Auriga with 3 inhabited planets: 6 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 9 with 1 inhabited planet: 17

YONAR: Sector: 13, Crater Year: Subsector: D, Idun Day: System: Jade Gravity: Settled/established: 2516 Axial tilt: By: Oxygen: Satellites: 3 % Water: Ident code prefix: YON Continents: Ruled by: General: The main colony suffered a disastrous flood in 2518; the rescue mission was led by Ranger James Medart, his first solo.

Z

ZEUS, Subsector 12-F: No. systems: 150 Sector: Eridanus with 3 inhabited planets: 7 Ruled by: with 2 inhabited planets: 8 with 1 inhabited planet: 17

ZWILNIK: Anyone dealing in illegal drugs, or dealing illegally in legal ones. (From the Lensman multiverse chronicled by E. E. "Doc" Smith, with thanks.)