Guardian Stone 1: Stone Genesis (32 page)

AI               Artificial Intelligence. This is the term applied to the super computers that run the various stations. The AI for Station One is Barana, the largest and brightest of the super computers. Computers operating other stations are all cloned from Barana and select their own name upon achieving self-awareness.

Bay               Divisions within a deck. These are major vertical divisions of large interior spaces.

C Day              At the start of each chapter, a month, day and a C Day is noted. In some places within a chapter, a C Day is also noted. C day 1 is the day that Henry Stone assumes command of the Antoran Fleet. So, C day 140 is the 140
th
day of his command and so forth.

Core Area              The core area is the center of the cylinder and is 8 miles in diameter. This is where construction of new ships is done along with other manufacturing functions and special projects. Physical access to the inside of the station when the transport mechanism is not used, is through airlocks along the core. The core area contains numerous tractor beam units along its surface so it is the area where disabled ships are landed, maneuvered and recovered. It is also heavily shielded in the event an enemy attempts access at any point along the tube. The shields can withstand a nuclear explosion or even a singularity breach from a ship's power-plant.

Deck               The floor-like surface occupying one level of a sector in the station. It also serves as a strengthening member of the structure of the station.

Enhancement              These are physical adjustments to the body that allow functions not otherwise available to a normal person. There are six types available, Temporary, Planetary, General, Recruiters, Combat and Command.

Temporary – This enhancement is intended for persons not resident of a station but is participating in a medical or educational program on a station.

Planetary – This is generally a protective shield and communication package provided to some persons not resident on a station.

General - Access to the medical/learning machines is provided to all station residents. The medical/learning machines repair the long chain DNA thus resulting in substantially extended lifespans on the order of 10 to 15 centuries. Since the inhabitants each have their own medical/learning machine in their quarters developing issues can immediately be discerned and resolved.

Recruiters - Recruiters receive the General package. Recruiters are all telepaths because of their ability to detect personality defects and because they can always detect a lie. In addition, they receive the physical protection package that will stop any projectile fired at them at 12 inches from their body. This is an automatic function. Energy generated by the operation is channeled to the person protected to restore energy used to operate the package. The package can be activated at will when attack from energy weapons is expected. Some recruiters may have additional enhancements depending on position in the command hierarchy.

Combat - Combat troops receive the General and Recruiters package. In addition, visual acuity is increased to 25X and can switch to Infrared and ultraviolet spectrums at will. Hearing acuity is enhanced fivefold at will. An advanced physical enhancement increases body strength, and speed by a factor of 4. Reflexes are likewise enhanced. Auto spacesuit is triggered immediately in the presence of biohazard, vacuum, poison gases, extreme cold, extreme heat, etc. These also contain body heat control and insulation from extreme cold. The auto suit also provides a stealth option that can render the wearer invisible. Body armor also provides supplements to all these features.

Warship Crew - Warship crew receive the General, Recruiters, and Combat packages. In addition they receive direct mental links to all warship functions. The ships Captain or XO activate these functions. So a crewmember cannot fire a ships weapon unless the Captain or XO has released the weapons by command.

Command - This is the maximum package. It includes all of the features of other enhancement packages. However reflex is further enhanced as is strength, speed, and sensory perception. The fleet Commander and XO have direct contact with the Station AI at all times so her mental resources are available.

Farm Sectors                These sectors provide the food, food storage and food processing for the station.

FTL               Faster Than Light. Refers to the ability to move at speeds above 670,616,629 miles per hour. Antoran Stations generally move in high order multiples of light speed that are represented as [multiple]xSL. For example, 6,000xSL is 6,000 times the speed of light. Note that the maximum travel speed used by the Glarin and most other known space faring races with FTL has been 6xSL. Some Linan construction is capable of 15xSL.

Habitat Sectors              These sectors provide the living quarters and general living environment for station inhabitants. The Type 1A has six Habitat areas, Type 1B has four and the Type 2 has one. In addition to housing, it also provides the shopping, entertainment, leisure, schools, churches, healthcare and businesses of the station.

Herculenium              The strongest metallic alloy known. It is the principle material used to build the hull and supporting members of a Station and its warships.

Inner Hull                            This is the area of the station between RM 4 and RM 6 containing the ship recovery deck, the manufacturing and entry points from the core and the Innermost transportation corridor between RM 4 and RM 5.

Inner Zone               On all Stations, the area between RM 6 and RM 15.

LM               (Length Mile) The measurement unit for distances along the length of the Station. Maximum length is 260 miles in the Type 1A Station, 200 miles in the Type 1B Station and 90 miles on the Type 2 Station. The same method of measurement is used for Glarin ships.

Military               The Station sectors housing flight decks and military training decks.

Outer Hull              The area on all Stations between RM 26 and RM 30, containing the water supply, the computer cores, the power generating tubes and the physical shielding for the station.

Outer Zone               On all Stations, the area between RM 16 and RM 25.

RM               (Radius Mile) The measurement unit for distances from the axis of the Station to the outer hull.  Maximum radius on all Stations is 30 miles.

Sector               A division of the station into areas of specialization. Sectors are of varying widths and have different deck configurations.

Storage Sectors              These sectors provide storage of materials needed for operation of the station
and its military and manufacturing capabilities.

T Raptor              The appellation applied to individuals of the telepathic rapport teams used for surveillance, intelligence gathering and offensive activity.

Unit               (in descending order by size)

Fleet
–               All Antoran vessels, including 100 stations and 2,000,000 warships. The fleet is commanded by a General of the Fleet. (*****)

Division
–              Comprised of One Type 1 Station and Four Type 2 Stations. Commanded by a General (****). The Executive Officer (XO), second in command, is typically a Lt. General(***). Number of warships per Division is 100,000.

Station
-               Type 1 or Type2.

              Commanded by a Lt. General (***), XO is a Major General(**). Each Station has 20,000 warships (2 Wings).

Wing
- Comprised of four groups and has 10,000 warships. A wing is commanded by a Major General (**), XO is a Brigadier General(*).

Group
-              Comprised of five flights and has 2,500 warships. The group is commanded a Brigadier General (*) and the XO is a Colonel.

Flight
–               Comprised of five squadrons, and is commanded by a Colonel. XO is a Lt. Colonel. A squadron has 500 warships.

Squadron
- Comprised of four patrols for a total of 100 warships. Commanded by a Lt. Colonel. XO is a Major.

Patrol
-              Comprised of 25 warships and is usually commanded by a Major. XO is generally a Captain.

Warship
- a Captain commands a warship. The warship typically has a crew of 24. XO is typically a 1st Lieutenant.

Zone               Each Station has an Inner Zone and an Outer Zone, see definitions above.