AGMS: Anti-G Straining Maneuvers
AIW: Association of Independent Worlds
AO: Area of Operations
ASAP: As Soon As Possible
BC: the digital currency for most nations
BFG: generic term for “Big Fucking Gun”
BIPAC: A heavy weapon used by MDS soldiers
BOCT: Benevolent Order of Crystal Technicians
Breel: ally to humans. Vegetative-type race. Called “ents.”
Bronze Nova: the third-highest medal in the Union military
CASEVAC: Casualty Evacuation
CCR-32 Didactic Interface: the AI implanted into the Marines’ heads.
Cerrocrete: a very strong futuristic concrete
CG: Commanding General
CO: Commanding Officer
COH: Congress of Humanity, the highest authority of mankind
Corolla Wars: a series of wars approximately 200 years before the events in these books. The wars pitted humans against several android and augmented groups.
CP: Command Post
CST: Combat Simulation Trainer
Camp Seong-Matris: One of the three camps on Eceladus housing the Home Guard’s Second Brigade
D-5 Cord: an explosive-saturated cord
Dalit: residents of Samara. They came from the Dalit caste, sometimes known as the “Untouchables.”
DC/Direct Combat: Marines such as infantry, recon mech combat engineers, who will face the enemy in direct combat.
Deca: an MDS unit about the size of a battalion
Deimers: a group of androids dedicated to eliminating humans. Defeated during the Corolla Wars
DI: Drill Instructor
Dykstra: a heavy sniper rifle
E-Club: Enlisted Club where the lowest three ranks can hang out, drink, and eat.
ECR: Effective Casualty Radius. The radius from a detonation within which will produce 50% casualties
EMP: Electro-magnetic Pulse. Will shut down all electronics within range
EOE: End of Enlistment
ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival
Eunuch Regiments: an extreme group an opponent of humanity during the Corolla Wars
EVA: Extravehicular Activity
FEPM-K: A combined electromagnetic pulse shell that is followed by a kinetic missile.
Frag Order/FRAGO: Fragmentary Order. A modified and abbreviated version of an operation order to modify or issue a follow-on mission
FSCL: Fire Support Coordination Line. A control measure beyond which fires into the area must be coordinated.
FTL: Faster Than Light, a starship drive
G-Loc: G-force induced loss of consciousness
Genesians: human/machine constructs and opponent during the Corolla Wars
Gnista: a formalized Naxli method of combat by champion
Gold Nova: the second highest medal in the Union military forces
Groundpounders: slang for infantry
HE: High Explosive
Hellborer: a man-packed beamer
Hiver: nickname for Naxli-subjugated race
Host: the military arm of the Frisian Mantle, a sometime ally/enemy of the Perseus Union
Hreetz: derogatory Naxli term roughly akin to coward
HSPEY: High Speed Planetary Extraction System
IBHU: Integrated Bionic Hopological Unit
Kanter: a small, furry, human ally. They attack in mass. Called “lemmings.”
Karnan: Nickname for the hyper-augmented soldiers from the MDS
KIA: Killed in Action
Leaches: Military slang for civilians
LOD: Line of Departure
LZ: Landing Zone
M-102 Nellis: the Marine Corps’ main sniper rifle
M-103: a 40mm grenade launcher attachment to the M-49 and M-51
M-133: a heavy weapon fired by mech Marines
M-305 Jackhammer: a crew-served 40mm grenade launcher
M-49 Assault Rifle: the standard weapon of the Union Marines. It fires a 2mm high-velocity dart.
M-51: a modified version of the M-49. Bigger barrel to fire a heavier dart that has tiny warheads in the tip that can help burn through body armor.
MF-30: a standard issue handgun
MM-37 Mantis II: a man-packed launcher for the Mantis II missile
MDS: Manifest Destiny Sphere
MilDes: Military Designator
MilDes Ninety-nine/Ninety-nine: essentially indentured servants in uniform
MMCS: Marine Mechanical Combat Suit
MoV: Medal of Valor, a Home Guard award. Runs from third class to first class.
MP: Military Police
MPT: Military Placement Test
Na: Hinglish word often tacked onto the end of a sentence
Naxli: “shifter” race and enemy of humankind. Called “nox” by Marines and “gaunts” by most other humans.
NCO: Non-commissioned Officer. The middle two ranks of enlisted Marines
NCOIC: Non-commissioned Officer in Charge
Niklith: human ally. Fierce fighter with electrogenesis capability. Nicknamed “scorps.”
NM: Neuro-mapping
Nox: nickname for Naxli
NVD: Night Vision Device
OBE: Overcome By Events
Omega Division/OD: the secret police and spy agency of the Union
OP: Observation Post
Optisight: a flexible optical tube
Order of Saint Bome: a fraternal/political elite organization within the MDS military
PAL-3: Personal Armor, Light 3: the standard body armor for an infantry Marine
PAL-5: Personal Armor, Light 5. The standard body armor of recon Marines and Raiders.
PAL-H: new and improved heavier PAL
PAL-HX: PAL-H version designed for IBHU Marines
Paladin: a large Centaur heavy mech unit, similar to a light tank
PFC: Private First Class
Phoenix MG-3 Incendiary Mine: a small grenade that can burn through most substances
Plastiderm: a synthetic skin that is used in medical procedures
PN: Platinum Nova the highest military award in the Perseus Union military
POO: Point of Origin. From where an incoming round was fired.
Poolee: someone who is committed to the Corps but who is not yet been sworn in as a recruit
PQ: Personality Quotient. Used to determine the human characteristics of some AIs
PS-40 “Viber:” an unpowered ground sensor
PUNS: Perseus Union Naval Ship
Raider: part of Recon, but with more combat-focused missions instead of surveillance
Recon: Reconnaissance Marine
Riever: a smaller Centaur mech unit, similar to a Marine Raider or reconnaissance Marine.
Rodan: Mezame hyperaugment. Can fly.
RP: Rally Point
S-1: staff section that deals with administrative matters.
S-2: staff section that deals with intelligence
S-3: staff section that deals with operations
S-4: staff section that deals with logistics
S-5: staff section that deals with technology and information
Safe Harbor: Rev’s homeworld
Secdrones: Security drones used by the police
SFC: Sergeant First Class, the equal to a Marine gunnery sergeant
Shrike: Union Navy fighter aircraft, capable of atmospheric and vacuum operations
Sia: etheral, floating race. Human ally. Called “singers.”
SNCO: Staff Non-commissioned Officer. The highest three ranks among enlisted Marines.
SOP: Standard Operating Procedure
Syksky: a deep-fried bread stuffed with spiced meat and vegetables
T/E: Table of Equipment. This is the document that identifies all the equipment of a unit.
T/O: Table of Organization. This is the document that identifies all the members of a unit.
Toan: human ally. Not very militaristic, but technologically advanced. Nicknamed “radishes.”
Toanphone: nickname for a commercial Toan-made communicator that is resistant to Naxli jamming
Toh: Hinglish word without a real meaning.
Torinth Accords: a treaty governing the rules of war
VGW: Veterans of Galactic Wars
Uauii: tripedal human ally. Called “clickers.”
WIA: Wounded in Action
Weislen’s Syndrome: A cancer-like disease affecting those who have had their bodies augmented. Known as the “rot.”
XM-554: a more powerful missile designed to have more punch
XO: Executive Officer, the #2 person in the unit.
Yellowjacket: a shoulder-launched missile
Yellowshirt: a Navy sailor charged with moving people and goods around a flight line.