The Morcai Battalion (29 page)

Komak: Dtimun’s second in command of the Holconcom, an enigmatic and charming Centaurian who is overly curious and has a howling sense of humor that frequently exasperates his commanding officer. But on the front lines, he is brave and formidable. He is also very mysterious and enigmatic, and is fascinated with humans.

Lawson, Admiral Jeffrye: Leader of the Tri-Galaxy Fleet, composed of Terravegan, Altairian and Jebob military, but also the authority over any ally military seconded to the fleet in time of war. An old battle horse who is known for his bad temper and his soft heart. Winner of the Legion of Honor, the fleet’s highest award, in the Great Galaxy War thirty years ago.

Lightsteds: Secret Centaurian technology that controls the rate of flow of
emerillium
power banks, much like control rods in a nuclear reactor.

Mangus Lo: Leader of the Rojok dynasty, a small misshapen Rojok who poisoned his uncle and proclaimed himself emperor, supported by a group of bloodthirsty militants who rushed in to silence any detractors. He imposes terror to control the Rojok population. It was he who constructed
Ahkmau
, first used to house political prisoners and then to house enemy aliens.

Memcache: Home planet of the Centaurian Empire.

Mental Neutering: The Terravegan military is mentally neutered for service, so that males, females and berdache may shower, sleep and fight together with no sexual distraction. The process is chemical and irreversible. Cadets are chosen from children in the breeder colonies for traits that enhance combat abilities. Most cadets are initiated into military school at the age of nine. Type of service and specialties are chosen for them. They serve until they are of retirement age, at which time they may specify a vocation they wish to pursue. This is usually at the age of sixty, although many officers are allowed to continue to serve if their abilities are considered necessary to the state. Military may not marry. In the event that the neutering does not “take” completely, there is a statute that requires the death penalty for any fraternization between members of the military. The Centaurian government also invokes the death penalty for any fraternization between their soldiers and other races.

Microcyborgs: Implants, nanotechnology, which greatly enhance strength and endurance. Secret Centaurian technology. Usually implanted in the hair.

Milish Cone: A pocket-size water synthesizer.

Morcai: A legendary group of alien warriors who in ages past warred with a vastly superior force, and through tactics, strategy and sheer ferocity won a resounding victory. The flagship of the Holconcom is named for them: The
Morcai
.

Rigellians: A race of small humanoids descended from reptiles, with pale yellow skin and slit pupils. They are distant cousins of the Rojoks (who also have traces of reptilian DNA but deny any link to reptilian ancestors).

Rojok: An alien species in the Cularian classification of humanoids. Rojoks are one race, with reddish skin, thin mouths, slit eyes that are usually yellow or brown, and blond hair. Only officers are allowed to wear their hair long. The Rojok were a peaceful race until the Great Galaxy War, when they suffered at the hands of the renegades and were forced to study combat techniques and remake their military. They are now a military culture, having forsaken the arts in their determination never to be occupied by an alien force again. They have scientists, but are known to use spies to steal innovative technology from their enemies. They are led by an emperor, Mangus Lo, a Rojok who took power during the Great Galaxy War when he and his corps of terror troops protected the capital from being captured by the enemy. Now he rules with terror, using fear of imprisonment to keep the public in line. Every Rojok must give ten years to military service, although women are not permitted to serve; they are considered property, and the former royalty among the Rojoks are confined in camps. The system is supposed to be egalitarian, but Mangus Lo lives a life of incredible luxury and decadence, as do his ministers and bodyguards. The economy is based on military production, and property is owned by the state alone. Few dissidents are ever lucky enough to escape the military spies.

Spacing: A fatal walk in space without a space suit.

SSC: Strategic Space Command, an elite combat unit under the auspices of the Terravegan government, seconded to the Tri-Galaxy Fleet based on the planet Trimerius. Holt Stern’s ship, the
Bellatrix
, was part of the SSC Fleet.

Terravega: The first and only human colony from Earth established outside the Sol solar system. Now established in many other colonies on far-flung planets. The original colony site is referred to as Terravega, and the systems that it populated are known, collectively, as the Terravegan Colonies.

Trimerius: A planet in the Alpha Trimeri system. It is the headquarters of the Tri-Galaxy Fleet and home planet of the exobiological and human life sciences complex, which also boasts one of the finest medical centers in existence. The spaceport covers several square acres of land and is bordered by barracks for the military personnel stationed on the base. Not conducive to human life in its original state, the planet has been terraformed by the addition of many city-size hyperglas domes. The weather is controlled. The vegetation is very alien.

Vegan: The Meg-Vegan colonies are near the New Territory. Vegans are very tall and have light green skin. They are notorious pacifists.

Wimbat: A small, winged mammal found on Celeb IV that hibernates for two-year periods.

Wrist Scanner: Dr. Madeline Ruszel’s medical kit is embedded in her left forearm, in such a way that it is wired to her own nervous system
and uses it as a power source. It contains a minibank of electronically linked instruments, along with a modem, and a minisynthesizer that can produce a limited amount of drugs in the field. With it, she can read vital signs, do surgery, contact any linked medical facility for assistance and even transfer patient information across the galaxy. The unit has a cover that mimics human flesh, so when it is not in use, it is not noticeable.

Yomuth: A giant rodent, found on Dacerius. They can go for two weeks without water in the deep deserts and they can run like the wind. If attacked, they fight standing on their hind legs, using their thick, sharp claws as weapons. They also bite. Many Dacerians race them at meets held throughout the year among nomadic tribesmen.

If you liked this novel, be sure to read THE MORCAI BATTALION: THE RECRUIT, an eBook exclusive novel available November 2009 from Susan Kyle and Luna Books.

One woman harbors within her the key to lasting peace…