The Prodigal Sun (44 page)

Sol System:
uninhabited system in a nonaligned region near the Dato Bloc. Former home of the Sol Apotheosis Movement.

Sol Wunderkind:
genetically modified clone warriors designed and bred by the Sol Apotheosis Movement.

Soul, the:
the local name for the orbiting ring of mineral-rich moonlets girdling Sciacca’s World.

Surin:
a relatively minor Caste found in the regions surrounding the COE. The Surin exist in isolated clumps overseen by a governing body that guides rather than rules. They are social beings, yet ones fond of isolation, giving them a reputation for occasional aloofness. They are technically accomplished, especially in the biological sciences. In stature, they tend to be slight, and they have hair covering much of their bodies. It is occasionally speculated that they have reevolved from Low Caste status.

Surin Agora:
the ruling body of the loosely knit Surin nation.

Szubetka Base:
the Dato Bloc’s equivalent of COE Intelligence HQ.

T’Bul:
a Kesh slave trader.

TAN-C:
a commercial cipher employed by COE Enforcement.

Teh, Sylvester:
transportee, Sciacca Penal Colony.

Tepko:
MiCom supervisor, Port Parvati.

Terms of Revocation:
the treaty negotiated by the Dato Bloc and the COE that ended the Secession War.

Terrison:
first officer, COEA
Midnight.

Transcend:
to break free of the constraints of mundane Humanity. A being or Caste that has Transcended typically has an extremely long lifespan and spreads its consciousness across a number of primary containers—such as neural nets, quantum data vats, and the like. Transcended entities, singular or collective, are referred to as High Human and accorded the highest status.

Transcendence:
the state of being Transcended. Usually achieved when consciousness research and computer technology overlap, allowing an organic mind to be down-loaded into an electronic vessel, thereby gaining the potential for unlimited growth.

Transpicuous, COEC:
a vessel once registered with the COE.

tri-rage:
the local name for a weather pattern—a series of three violent dust storms—found on Sciacca’s World.

Trinity:
the world on which AIs are made in the region dominated by the COE. The AI factory was founded and is overseen by the High Human known as the Crescend.

Ul-oemato:
the Dominion name of Houghton’s Cross; roughly translatable as “Founder’s Rock.”

Undira Province:
home of the Commonwealth of Empires’ original capital.

Vasos:
the Mbatan capital system.

Veden, Makil:
an Eckandar Trade Axis citizen and Commerce Artel ex-delegate.

Vereine, Ataman Ana:
the last leader of the Ataman Theocracy and the founder of the Andermahr Experiment.

Vexisen Republic, Greater:
a nation home to the most ancient known Pristine remains, pushing Humanity’s appearance in the wider galaxy back to half a million years.

vintu buds:
the shoots of a plant native to Sciacca’s World.

Walan Third:
a COE world leased to the Commerce Artel.

war-dancer:
a Surin ritual combatant.

Warfare Protocol:
the code by which war is conducted within and between those nations that trade with the Commerce Artel.

Wars:
notable conflicts include the Interdiction, Scion, Secession, Ghost, and First and Second Ataman Wars.

Xarodine:
an epsense-inhibiting drug.