#
8D---An honorary suffix denoting a superior state of awesomeness, derived from the following TRO: Project Phoenix BattleMech;'s: RFL-8D Rifleman, WHM-8D Warhammer, and WVL-8D Wolverine. This usage was first made by MDM on the CBT forums in 2003.
A
AFFC---Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth
AFFS---Armed Forces of the Federated Suns; House Davion's military establishment
Avalonian---A resident of New Avalon, the planet that serves as the capital of the Federated Suns.
B
BattleMech---Instrument of war, first fielded by the Terran Hegemony in 2439. They have since become the dominant force on terrestrial battlefields.
Black Box---colloquial reference to a Fax Machine. (See Fax Machine)
C
C-Bill---Comstar bill, the universal currency in the Inner Sphere. The C-Bill was derived from the cost required to send a single page of text by HPG.
Cappie---A derogatory term for a denizen of the Capellan Confederation.
CCAF---Capellan Confederation Armed Forces
Combat Theater--Each March of the Federated Suns is divided into two Combat Theater's except for the Crucis March, which has three.
CR---Combat Region, a division of a Combat Theater. Though once used throughout the Federated Suns, the Combat Region are found only with in the Crucis March, having been replaced by the PDZ system elsewhere.
D
Davion---The ruling family of the Federated Suns and the true heirs to the throne of the Star League.
DCMS---Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery
Drac---A derogatory term for an inhabitant of the Draconis Combine. It is often said that the only good Drac is a dead Drac. Similar in usage to the term Snake.
DropShips---DropShips attach to JumpShips for travel between systems' jump points and their planets. DropShips can carry BattleMechs, aerospace fighters, or other cargo, including passengers.
E
ECM---Electronic Counter Measures
Enforcer---A trademark AFFS BattleMech design.
ER---Extended Range
F
Fax Machine---A communication instrument that transmits faster-than-light messages to another fax machine. Used by the Federated Commonwealth during the Fourth Succession War. Also known as a "Black box."
FWLM---Free World League Militia
G
Gauss Rifle---A recovered Star League weapon design, the Gauss Rifle accelerates a large piece of metal at tremendous speeds through magnetic means rather than relying upon chemical propellants. The Gauss Rifle has extremely long range, delivers heavy damage while generating very little heat. The weapon explodes catastrophically when it suffers critical damage.
Giftake---A DNA sample taken from Clan Warriors who have earned inclusion in the breeding program. It is usually collect when the warrior is killed in combat.
H
Hasek---One of the families of prominence in the Federated Suns, descended from the first Prime Minister of New Avalon. The Duke of New Syrtis and Capellan March Lord has been a Hasek since 2829.
HGR---Heavy Gauss Rifle
HPG---Abbreviation for Hyper Pulse Generator, the device which transmits messages at faster than light speeds, allowing interstellar communication to be functional. The HPGs were maintained exclusively by Comstar until the schism which led to the spliter group Word of Blake's formation. Now both organizations run portions of the Inner Sphere's HPG network. The revenue from transmitting messages allowed Comstar to function throughout the Succession Wars. The C-Bill was derived from the cost required to send a single page of text by HPG.
I
Inner Sphere---The region of space composed of the five Successor States, centered upon Terra.
Isorla---A Clan term indicating the spoils of war claimed by the victor of a trial.
J
Jagermech---One of the backbone Heavy 'Mechs of the AFFS. Often derided by those who do not know better and usually not for a second time.
JumpShip---The only means of interstellar transportation, JumpShips bend space using their Kearney-Fuchida drives to jump instantaneously from one point to another up to 30 light years distant. The massive power required to jump is stored in batteries which are charged from large solar-collector sails.
Jury rig--to repair partially
K
kaKhan--The senior leader of a Clan, usually simplified to Khan.
Kell Hounds---One of the more famous mercenary units in the Inner Sphere, based on Arc Royal and led by Archduke Morgan Kell, the Kell Hounds are a primary line of defense against the Clans in the Lyran Alliance. They have loyalty to the leader of the Lyran Alliance and fought against the forces of the usurper Katherine during the FedCom Civil War.
L
LAAF---Lyran Alliance Armed Forces, the acronym is considered apt by many.
LCAF---Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces
Listen-Kill missile---A missile munition uilized by the AFFS in the War of 3039. Initial successes were soon countered by the DCMS, condemning the munition to obsolescence before the war ended.
LRM---Long Range Missile
M
Maskirovka---The dreaded secret police of the Capellan Confederation, often abbreviated as "Mask"; The Capellan counterpart of the MIIO.
MHAF---Marion Hegemony Armed Forces
MIIO---Acronym for Ministry of Intelligence Investigations and Operations; The variegated governmental organizations that act covertly to gather information and influence events within and without the Federated Suns.
MRM---Medium Range Missile
N
NARC---The meaning of this acronym is no longer clear, but it refers to a missile system capable of delivering a variety of payloads including shaped charges and various electronics.
New Avalon---The capital planet of the Federated Suns. Also the capital of the Crucis March and seat of the ruling Davion line.
New Syrtis---The ice-locked capital planet of the Federated Suns' Capellan March and seat of the Hasek family.
O
Operation Rat---The Federated Suns' highly successful invasion of the Capellan Confederation in 3028.
Outback---General inclusionary term for a number of Federated Suns worlds near the Periphery. Considered by many to be a mark of shame for the FS due to the low standard of living and poor education of the denizens therein, the Outback is nonetheless an important part of the Federated Suns. Improving conditions in the Outback was a priority of Hanse Davion's prior to the Fourth Succession War as the region has numerous unexplored/undiscovered resource potential.
P
PDZ---Polymorphous Defense Zone. A division of a Combat Theater, containing a March Militia, whose leader commands the PDZ unless a frontline RCT is located in the PDZ. Only the Crucis March does not have its Combat Theaters divided into PDZs.
Periphery---The region of space forming a circle along the outside of the Five Great Houses.
Plague Pidgeon---A derogatory term for those hailing from the Free Worlds League.
Pulse --- A type of laser which rapidly fires a succession of bolts, instead of a single beam, with each discharge, resulting in improved accuracy and damage to the target at a cost of greater weight and heat generation.
Q
Quentin---A former Federated Suns planet of the Draconis March (Addicks PDZ), conquered by the Draconis Combine in the War of 3039. Home to a large BattleMech factory (Independence Weaponry) which produced the Atlas, Jagermech, Victor, and Marauder.
Quiaff---A Clan term applied at the end of a question when a positive response is expected.
Quineg---A Clan term applied at the end of a question when a negative response is expected.
R
RCT---Regimental Combat Team. A combat unit that combines BattleMech assets with significant amounts of conventional support, including infantry, combat vehicles, and aerospace fighters.
RL---Rocket Launcher
S
SAFE---The primary intellegence agency of the Free Worlds League with a (perhaps undeserved) reputation for ineffectiveness. The meaning of the acronym has been lost since the agency's formation.
saKhan---The junior Khan in a Clan.
SL---Star League, the star empire which encompassed the Terran Hegemony, the five Successor States and major Periphery realms until the empire fell after the assassination of its hereditary leader in the 28th century. Later breifly reformed during the 31st century as a political ploy to aide in stopping the Clan Invasion.
SLDF---Star League Defense Force, the military of the Star League. The bulk of the SLDF left the Inner Sphere after the War against the Usurper. They later formed the Clans and invaded the Inner Sphere in 3049. The Inner Sphere in response formed a new Star League and re-established the SLDF.
Snake---Another derogatory term for an inhabitant of the Draconis Combine.
SRM---Short Range Missile
Successor States---The five nations that formed the core of the Star League along with the now defunct Terran Hegemony, those being the Federated Suns, the Draconis Combine, the Lyran Commonwealth (later the Lyran Alliance, after 3057), the Free Worlds League, and the Capellan Confederation. The term is derived from the fact that each nation attempted to succeed as the prime nation of the Star League by placing their respective leaders as First Lord.
T
TDF---Taurian Defense Force
Thunder---A special LRM munition type that does not attack an enemy target directly but instead deploys a minefield at a designated location. The size of the minefield so deployed depends upon the size of the missile launcher firing the munitions.
U
Ultra---Denotes a special type of AutoCannon, one capable of firing at double (or Ultra)-rate. Ultra ACs are prone to jamming when the firing circuitry experiences a failure requiring a Technician to repair.
Urbielord---A highly coveted titled awarded to the winner of a MegaMek tournament fought solely with UrbanMechs.
V
Vagabond Schools---Traveling schools housed within old and refit cargo-hauling JumpShips which provide education to remote regions possessed of little or no educational infrastructure. The Schools educate the local planetary population's 12- and 13- year old for nine months, then move on to their next system. The Schools spend the majority of their time in the Outback region.
Victor(1)---An 80-ton Assault 'Mech.
Victor(2)---The first and only Archon Prince of the Federated Commonwealth.
Victor(3)---The winner.
W
WarShip---Armored combat JumpShips
Wolf's Dragoons---A famous Inner Sphere mercenary regiment often used as a standard of munchiness.
X
X---The one letter of the alphabet that is not the first letter in any canon BattleMech design. (Though there is a Xerxes aerospace fighter.)
XL---Extra Light as in XL Engine.
Y
Yeoman---One of the ugliest known BattleMechs (according to TN).
Yikes!---An expression used in polite company instead of the #@!$!#$ alternative when realizing after a lucky headshot, your Locust is alone on the table with an Atlas.
Z
Zeus---A venerable assault-class BattleMech of Lyran design.
Ziliang---MDM's favorite planet in the Federated Suns.
Thanks to Geoff "97jedi" Swift for his help with the editing and the contribution of several entries.
8D---An honorary suffix denoting a superior state of awesomeness, derived from the following TRO: Project Phoenix BattleMech;'s: RFL-8D Rifleman, WHM-8D Warhammer, and WVL-8D Wolverine. This usage was first made by MDM on the CBT forums in 2003.
A
AFFC---Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth
AFFS---Armed Forces of the Federated Suns; House Davion's military establishment
Avalonian---A resident of New Avalon, the planet that serves as the capital of the Federated Suns.
B
BattleMech---Instrument of war, first fielded by the Terran Hegemony in 2439. They have since become the dominant force on terrestrial battlefields.
Black Box---colloquial reference to a Fax Machine. (See Fax Machine)
C
C-Bill---Comstar bill, the universal currency in the Inner Sphere. The C-Bill was derived from the cost required to send a single page of text by HPG.
Cappie---A derogatory term for a denizen of the Capellan Confederation.
CCAF---Capellan Confederation Armed Forces
Combat Theater--Each March of the Federated Suns is divided into two Combat Theater's except for the Crucis March, which has three.
CR---Combat Region, a division of a Combat Theater. Though once used throughout the Federated Suns, the Combat Region are found only with in the Crucis March, having been replaced by the PDZ system elsewhere.
D
Davion---The ruling family of the Federated Suns and the true heirs to the throne of the Star League.
DCMS---Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery
Drac---A derogatory term for an inhabitant of the Draconis Combine. It is often said that the only good Drac is a dead Drac. Similar in usage to the term Snake.
DropShips---DropShips attach to JumpShips for travel between systems' jump points and their planets. DropShips can carry BattleMechs, aerospace fighters, or other cargo, including passengers.
E
ECM---Electronic Counter Measures
Enforcer---A trademark AFFS BattleMech design.
ER---Extended Range
F
Fax Machine---A communication instrument that transmits faster-than-light messages to another fax machine. Used by the Federated Commonwealth during the Fourth Succession War. Also known as a "Black box."
FWLM---Free World League Militia
G
Gauss Rifle---A recovered Star League weapon design, the Gauss Rifle accelerates a large piece of metal at tremendous speeds through magnetic means rather than relying upon chemical propellants. The Gauss Rifle has extremely long range, delivers heavy damage while generating very little heat. The weapon explodes catastrophically when it suffers critical damage.
Giftake---A DNA sample taken from Clan Warriors who have earned inclusion in the breeding program. It is usually collect when the warrior is killed in combat.
H
Hasek---One of the families of prominence in the Federated Suns, descended from the first Prime Minister of New Avalon. The Duke of New Syrtis and Capellan March Lord has been a Hasek since 2829.
HGR---Heavy Gauss Rifle
HPG---Abbreviation for Hyper Pulse Generator, the device which transmits messages at faster than light speeds, allowing interstellar communication to be functional. The HPGs were maintained exclusively by Comstar until the schism which led to the spliter group Word of Blake's formation. Now both organizations run portions of the Inner Sphere's HPG network. The revenue from transmitting messages allowed Comstar to function throughout the Succession Wars. The C-Bill was derived from the cost required to send a single page of text by HPG.
I
Inner Sphere---The region of space composed of the five Successor States, centered upon Terra.
Isorla---A Clan term indicating the spoils of war claimed by the victor of a trial.
J
Jagermech---One of the backbone Heavy 'Mechs of the AFFS. Often derided by those who do not know better and usually not for a second time.
JumpShip---The only means of interstellar transportation, JumpShips bend space using their Kearney-Fuchida drives to jump instantaneously from one point to another up to 30 light years distant. The massive power required to jump is stored in batteries which are charged from large solar-collector sails.
Jury rig--to repair partially
K
kaKhan--The senior leader of a Clan, usually simplified to Khan.
Kell Hounds---One of the more famous mercenary units in the Inner Sphere, based on Arc Royal and led by Archduke Morgan Kell, the Kell Hounds are a primary line of defense against the Clans in the Lyran Alliance. They have loyalty to the leader of the Lyran Alliance and fought against the forces of the usurper Katherine during the FedCom Civil War.
L
LAAF---Lyran Alliance Armed Forces, the acronym is considered apt by many.
LCAF---Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces
Listen-Kill missile---A missile munition uilized by the AFFS in the War of 3039. Initial successes were soon countered by the DCMS, condemning the munition to obsolescence before the war ended.
LRM---Long Range Missile
M
Maskirovka---The dreaded secret police of the Capellan Confederation, often abbreviated as "Mask"; The Capellan counterpart of the MIIO.
MHAF---Marion Hegemony Armed Forces
MIIO---Acronym for Ministry of Intelligence Investigations and Operations; The variegated governmental organizations that act covertly to gather information and influence events within and without the Federated Suns.
MRM---Medium Range Missile
N
NARC---The meaning of this acronym is no longer clear, but it refers to a missile system capable of delivering a variety of payloads including shaped charges and various electronics.
New Avalon---The capital planet of the Federated Suns. Also the capital of the Crucis March and seat of the ruling Davion line.
New Syrtis---The ice-locked capital planet of the Federated Suns' Capellan March and seat of the Hasek family.
O
Operation Rat---The Federated Suns' highly successful invasion of the Capellan Confederation in 3028.
Outback---General inclusionary term for a number of Federated Suns worlds near the Periphery. Considered by many to be a mark of shame for the FS due to the low standard of living and poor education of the denizens therein, the Outback is nonetheless an important part of the Federated Suns. Improving conditions in the Outback was a priority of Hanse Davion's prior to the Fourth Succession War as the region has numerous unexplored/undiscovered resource potential.
P
PDZ---Polymorphous Defense Zone. A division of a Combat Theater, containing a March Militia, whose leader commands the PDZ unless a frontline RCT is located in the PDZ. Only the Crucis March does not have its Combat Theaters divided into PDZs.
Periphery---The region of space forming a circle along the outside of the Five Great Houses.
Plague Pidgeon---A derogatory term for those hailing from the Free Worlds League.
Pulse --- A type of laser which rapidly fires a succession of bolts, instead of a single beam, with each discharge, resulting in improved accuracy and damage to the target at a cost of greater weight and heat generation.
Q
Quentin---A former Federated Suns planet of the Draconis March (Addicks PDZ), conquered by the Draconis Combine in the War of 3039. Home to a large BattleMech factory (Independence Weaponry) which produced the Atlas, Jagermech, Victor, and Marauder.
Quiaff---A Clan term applied at the end of a question when a positive response is expected.
Quineg---A Clan term applied at the end of a question when a negative response is expected.
R
RCT---Regimental Combat Team. A combat unit that combines BattleMech assets with significant amounts of conventional support, including infantry, combat vehicles, and aerospace fighters.
RL---Rocket Launcher
S
SAFE---The primary intellegence agency of the Free Worlds League with a (perhaps undeserved) reputation for ineffectiveness. The meaning of the acronym has been lost since the agency's formation.
saKhan---The junior Khan in a Clan.
SL---Star League, the star empire which encompassed the Terran Hegemony, the five Successor States and major Periphery realms until the empire fell after the assassination of its hereditary leader in the 28th century. Later breifly reformed during the 31st century as a political ploy to aide in stopping the Clan Invasion.
SLDF---Star League Defense Force, the military of the Star League. The bulk of the SLDF left the Inner Sphere after the War against the Usurper. They later formed the Clans and invaded the Inner Sphere in 3049. The Inner Sphere in response formed a new Star League and re-established the SLDF.
Snake---Another derogatory term for an inhabitant of the Draconis Combine.
SRM---Short Range Missile
Successor States---The five nations that formed the core of the Star League along with the now defunct Terran Hegemony, those being the Federated Suns, the Draconis Combine, the Lyran Commonwealth (later the Lyran Alliance, after 3057), the Free Worlds League, and the Capellan Confederation. The term is derived from the fact that each nation attempted to succeed as the prime nation of the Star League by placing their respective leaders as First Lord.
T
TDF---Taurian Defense Force
Thunder---A special LRM munition type that does not attack an enemy target directly but instead deploys a minefield at a designated location. The size of the minefield so deployed depends upon the size of the missile launcher firing the munitions.
U
Ultra---Denotes a special type of AutoCannon, one capable of firing at double (or Ultra)-rate. Ultra ACs are prone to jamming when the firing circuitry experiences a failure requiring a Technician to repair.
Urbielord---A highly coveted titled awarded to the winner of a MegaMek tournament fought solely with UrbanMechs.
V
Vagabond Schools---Traveling schools housed within old and refit cargo-hauling JumpShips which provide education to remote regions possessed of little or no educational infrastructure. The Schools educate the local planetary population's 12- and 13- year old for nine months, then move on to their next system. The Schools spend the majority of their time in the Outback region.
Victor(1)---An 80-ton Assault 'Mech.
Victor(2)---The first and only Archon Prince of the Federated Commonwealth.
Victor(3)---The winner.
W
WarShip---Armored combat JumpShips
Wolf's Dragoons---A famous Inner Sphere mercenary regiment often used as a standard of munchiness.
X
X---The one letter of the alphabet that is not the first letter in any canon BattleMech design. (Though there is a Xerxes aerospace fighter.)
XL---Extra Light as in XL Engine.
Y
Yeoman---One of the ugliest known BattleMechs (according to TN).
Yikes!---An expression used in polite company instead of the #@!$!#$ alternative when realizing after a lucky headshot, your Locust is alone on the table with an Atlas.
Z
Zeus---A venerable assault-class BattleMech of Lyran design.
Ziliang---MDM's favorite planet in the Federated Suns.
Thanks to Geoff "97jedi" Swift for his help with the editing and the contribution of several entries.
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