Artifact- An object built by the Forerunners. Many items they built still work after thousands of years. THE Artifact was a silvery metal sab about 9 meters long that orbited the Earth beyond the Moon. For thousands of years it projected an illusion that Mars was a dead world and Venus an oven and hid all signs of space travel from humanity. When the Prometheus I discovered the Artifact it immediately stopped working. Alltests shot it is a solid inert slab of unknown metal. It appears every planet had a similar Artifact orbiting it. Mars’ Artifact produced the illusion that Earth was a radioactive desert.

Asteroid Belt- The ring of planetoids between Mars and Jupiter. Some larger planetoids have a thin atmosphere and native life because their cores are incredibly dense. Space Nomads frequent the Belt.

Atomic Power/Weapons- A form power more efficient than chemical reactions but inferior to Q-converters and Quantium gas. The Martians use it extensively. The Third Reich was developing an atomic bomb at the end of the World War.

Battle for Luna- The decisive battle of the Martian invasion of Earth. After several retreats beyond lunar orbit the Earth fleet went into orbit around the moon to protect several bases there. When the Martian fleet attempted to break the orbital blockade they met heavy resistance. It was also the first time the humans used Quantium torpedoes. While the torpedoes were inaccurate and mostly missed the Martian saucers Nick Valiant in command of a cruiser squadron braved intense fire to close to point blank range of the Martian flagship and fired torpedoes from a few miles away. The spread of torpedoes annihilated the ship and the rest of the invasion fleet fled back to Mars.

Bazooka- A rocket launcher built by the Americans at the start of World Ward II. It was originally an anti-tank weapon but soon replaced with the disintegrator. It is still used by the Earth Defense Forces and sometimes the Space Patrol since it is safer to store than a disintegrator.

Blaster- Particle beam weapon. Blasters are usually handheld since a ship’s radiation shields can deflect them easily. They use a small amount on Quantium for power.

Brittlestone, Samuel- The inventor of the Q-Converter. Professor Brittlestone worked with Einstein and Tesla to create applications for his power source. In 1938 he traveled to the Moon in the Prometheus I and encountered the Artifact. In 1951 he left the Solar System in the Prometheus II.

Broadcast Energy- Working with Tesla, Professor Brittlestone developed wireless energy transmission. Q-Converters on Earth are placed well away from inhabited areas and their power beamed to city receivers or individual home receivers.

Cavorite- An anti-gravity metal produced on Mars through unknown means. Cavorite is repelled by gravity but does not work indefinitely. It may  be related to Luftschwamm, used in Luftwaffe saucers.

Cheat Box- A light projector with hundreds of sliderule charts allowing quick estimates for navigation.

Clock- Slang for a robot. This dates back to late 1940’s when Tesla went into business producing electronic brains and said publicly his factory was producing timepieces. A clock denotes a robot very good at following orders.

Demeter- The accepted designation for the destroyed planet between Mars and Jupiter. Demeter was an Earthlike planet with rivers and seas and probably heated by volcanic activity since it was so far from the sun. This activity might have destroyed it.

Disintegrator- A heavy weapon that fires Quantium at a target. At high settings a man-sized target can be reduced to ash. Only Osmium steel can resist this. Disintegrators have a short range and have to be loaded shortly before use as the Quantium must be kept refrigerated.

Dynascanner- A sensor system that combines results from radar and energy scans.

Earth Defense Fleet- Arm of the Space Navy that defends the Earth and the Moon from attack. Most of its ships are belly-landers and designed to fly in an atmosphere for extended operations or even be seaworthy.

Forerunners- Advanced race that left various artifacts in the Solar System. The Forerunners probably modified Mercury, Mars and several planetoids to sustain life. They might have genetically altered humans into the different species millions of years ago. It is unknown whether they came from outside the Solar System or from Demeter.

Ferry- A vessel that can’t make landings on an earthlike planet. Ferries travel between space stations or to the moon. Most are dumbbell shaped and do not mount landing gear.

Ganymede- Ganymede is inhabited by humanoids who have built huge hothouse cities to survive. They have refused all contact with the rest of the Solar System. An unknown magnetic beam repels ships approaching.

Heat Ray- Infra red or UV optical maser. ‘Heaters’ are handheld or ship mounted. No one says ‘laser’. It’s a ray or beam. They use a tiny amount of Quantium for power.

Interplanetare Flotte- The fleet of saucers that evacuated the leaders of the Third Reich in 1940. The exact technology the saucers used is unknown as well as how the Germans developed them so quickly.

Jupiter- Fifth and largest planet. A few Earth ships have reached Jupiter using the Quantum II drive in a few months. The Space Patrol has set up several research outposts on its moons. The Stygians wiped out the first of these in 1950.

Luftschwamm- A bronze alloy used in Luftwaffe saucers. It may be related to Cavorite.

Lunar Lakes- Small thermally warmed lakes in deep lunar grottos and canyons. There is a thin atmosphere in these caves. The lakes might lead to an underground Lunar Sea. Some Forerunner artifacts were found around these lakes and they are home to unknown life forms.

Mars- Fourth planet of the Solar System. Mars is an old dying world. The Martians have had several civilizations rise and fall. They use an advanced form of atomic power and antigravity, both of which humans have failed to replicate. Q-Converters seem to be superior technology.

Martian- Any inhabitant of Mars. Note there are several intelligent species. The dominant species (for most purposes) is the Ancalma or Canal Martians. The Ancalma are about 7’ tall with felinoid features and olive skin. They attacked the Earth in 1948. Today with the threat of Stygia they are reluctant allies. Many Martians still want to conquer Earth.

Mercurian- An inhabitant of Mercury. Mercurians are slim and frail and stand about 6’ tall. Earth gravity is fatal to them in matter of days. Mercurians have pale skin and large eyes and see well in darkness. They are pacifists and incredible negotiators who helped Earth and Mars form an Alliance.

Mercury- The innermost planet of the Solar System. Mercury does not rotate. One side is always facing the sun and roasting, the other side is away from the sun and freezing. A small ring between day and night is habitable. Strong winds make it dangerous at certain times of year. Mercurians live in underground cities. Mercury is the source for energy crystals that have many uses in power generators and weapons. Huge crystals on the day-side reflect most of the sunlight back into space.

Needler- Martian sidearm that fires metal needles using a magnetic field. Bolt guns are heavier and resemble crossbows. Their bolts are explosive or carry special warheads.

P-Suit- A heavily armored spacesuit that resembles a can with rubber sleeves and legs. It is used in extremely hazardous environments.

Prometheus I- The first space rocket built by Professor Brittlestone (with the backing of the U.S. Army Air Corps). It used water for propellant and a Quantium reservoir. Lt. Nick Valiant was the pilot.

Prometheus II- The first human space rocket to leave the Solar System. It used a Superluminal drive created by Brittlestone and Einstein as well as a superluminal radio set for communication. It was lost one year ago after its only report.

Q-Converter- a total conversion energy source that powers Earth rockets and most of the planet. A converter can either produce energy seemingly from empty space or Quantium gas.

Quantium- an unstable form of hydrogen generated by Q-converters. At temperatures above 800 degrees it turns into energy with almost 100% efficiency. It becomes unstable at room temperatures after several hours. Smaller ships use it for fuel while larger ships mount their own Q-converters to generate it en route.

Robot- Mechanical man using a Tesla brain. Robots are large and cumbersome and not terribly bright. Automotive companies build most American robots. So you can have a Ford MGRC or a Studebaker X-1.

Saucer-An interplanetary vessel using anti-gravity technology.

Space Nomads- also called Space Gypsies. Space Nomads were originally inhabitants of  Demeter who somehow survived its destruction. They are barbarians who scavenge technology from the ruins of Demeter and any ship unlucky enough to fall into their clutches. Nomads look human but have blue skin and only four fingers on each hand. They are naturally adapted to weightlessness. Nomads are organized into tribes and bands.

Space Patrol- Arm of the Space Navy charged with exploring the Solar System. The Space Patrol also gathers intelligence for the Space Navy, delivers mail packets and helps supply the deep space outposts. Most of its ships are small scout ships that land on their tails. The crews are small but over all the best trained.

Space Patrol Scout- A SPS masses about 500 tons. Two thirds is water for propellant. It can reach Mars or Venus in three or four weeks and the Asteroids in two months and typically carries a crew of 4-8 and six months provisions. It is a tail-lander but maneuverable in an atmosphere. Most scouts are armed with a turreted Heat Ray. They have only small electronic brains so the crew does the bulk of the course plotting or courses are laid in by radio from a command ship or station.

Space Pirates- Individuals attacking other ships in open space for profit. In the last few years piracy has increased in the Solar System and it is believed this is because of the pirates having a secret base and shipyard. The Space Patrol is charged with hunting down pirates.

Stygian Empire- An InterSTELLAR empire ruled from the planet Stygia by Emperor Zartos. Transmissions from the Prometheus II indicated the Stygians rule thousands of Worlds. The Stygians attacked the Solar System in 1950 and nearly overwhelmed the Space Navy and Mars Warfleet.

Tele-torpedo- A Quantium powered unmanned missile that is guided by television/radio signals. TT’s can also be unarmed probes. Used by the Space Patrol. Telebots are robot bodies guided by remote control.

Tesla, Nikola- Nikola Tesla was approached by Professor Brittlestone in 1938 and asked to help develop the Q-Converter. Tesla died in 1949 and saw many of his ideas made reality with Professor Brittlestone’s endorsement. In 1941 he sold a number of automated coastal defense systems to the U.S. Navy and this led to the development of the Tesla Robotic Brain in 1942. He also designed the basic blaster that is the main sidearm of the Space Navy.

Tesla Cannon- A very short-range beam of ions that shorts out ship systems or stuns people. It is usually ship mounted.

Tommy Gun- Automatic machine pistol built during World War II. Thompson machine guns are a favorite weapon of Space Pirates. They fire a huge amount of bullets but can’t penetrate bulkheads.

United Nations- The united government of Earth. Space defense and relations are handled by the U.N. Nations still keep local defense forces.

United Nations Space Navy- The multinational military force charged with exploring the solar system and defending the Earth. The Space Navy is composed of the Earth Defense Fleet and the Space Patrol.

Valiant, Nick- General Valiant piloted the Prometheus I in 1938 and led the Space Navy against the MartianPrometheus II in 1951. Warfleet in 1950. He vanished aboard the

Venus- Second planet from the sun and sister planet to the Earth. Venus is covered in dense clouds and perpetually foggy. Most of the terrain is swampy or hilly and native life is similar to that on earth millions of years ago. Animals are similar to Earth dinosaurs and cold blooded. There are some sign of intelligent life but the Space Patrol hasn’t established contact yet. Earth, Mercury and Mars all claim portions of Venus and are arguing over its fate.

Wheel- A torus shaped space station that rotates for artificial gravity. Some stations are inflatable.>