Authors: William H. Keith

Battlemind (45 page)

Universal Life, Lifers:
A widespread, moderate “green” movement dedicated to preserving alien ecosystems.

Vacwalls:
Walls or bulkheads holding pressure against vacuum.

VCH:
Vehicle Cephlinkage Helmet. Allows direct human control of warstriders, ascraft, or other military vehicles. Internal leads plug into the operator’s temporal sockets, while external sockets receive leads from AI interface.

ViR, Virtual Reality:
Made possible by cephalic implants, virtual reality is the “artificial reality” of computer interfaces that allows, for example, a human pilot to “become” the strider or missile he is piloting, to “live” a simplay, or to “see” things that do not really exist, save as sophisticated computer software. An artificial world existing within the human mind that, through AI technology, can be shared with others.

ViRcom:
Full sensory linked communication. Linker enters a chamber and plugs into communications net. He can then engage in conversation with one or more other humans or their computer analogues as though all were present together.

ViRdrama:
Recreational jacking allowing full sensory experience through cephlinkage. Linker can participate in elaborate canned shows or AI-monitored games. Two or more linkers can share a single scenario, allowing them to interact with one another.

ViRnews:
Also ViRinfo. Jack-fed informational programs permitting viewer interaction and questions with programmed “guides.”

ViRpersona:
The image of self projected in virtual reality dramas or communications. Clothing styles and even personal appearance can be purchased as a cephlink program, much as someone would buy new clothes.

Warstrider:
Also strider. Battlefield armor on two or four legs, giving it high mobility over rough terrain. Generally consists of a fuselage slung between two legs, and equipped either with two arms mounting weapons or with interchangeable weapons pods. Sizes include single-slotters (eight to twelve tons), dual-slotters (ten to thirty tons), single-slotters three-slotters (twenty-five to seventy tons), and special vehicles such as Armored Personnel Walkers that carry large numbers of troops.

Wetware:
The human brain, the ultimate computer.

Whitesuit:
Slang for Hegemonic naval personnel. From their dress uniforms, which are white with gold trim.

Who-was:
Rumor, scuttlebutt. Corruption of Japanese
uwasa.

Xeno, Xenophobe:
Human name for the life form that first attacked the human colony on An-Nur II in 2498. So-called because of their apparent hatred or fear of other life forms. Investigations within the Alya system in 2541 proved Xenophobes are machine-organic hybrids evolved from fairly simple organisms billions of years ago. They are defined by their technology, much of which has been borrowed from other civilizations.

Yukanno Kisho:
Medal of Valor. Imperial decoration awarded in ten orders, or
dans,
for bravery in the line of duty.

Japanese Words and Phrases

Baka:
Foolish, stupid, or silly.

Daihyo:
Representative. In twenty-sixth-century usage, the Emperor’s representative to a government or local military force within the Shichiju.

Dan:
Order or ranking.

Fushi:
Eternity, immortality. Era-name of current Emperor Fushi 84.

Gaijin:
Foreigner, specifically a non-Japanese.

Gokuhi:
Secret.

Hema:
Damned mess. Bungled situation.

Kancho:
Depending on how you say it. “warship captain” or “enema.”

Kao:
Face.

Kichigai:
You’re crazy!