Imperial Navy
Lexicon

See also: Computer Lexicon and Everfresh Sandwiches

90-Day Wonder: (slang) Derogatory term for a graduate of OCS. The derision arises from the lack of experience and naval knowledge of the typical graduate. A commonly alternative is “90-Day Blunder”.

A-gang: (slang) Auxiliaries Division of the Engineering Department. These personnel operate and maintain the ship’s auxiliary equipment (aka Hotel Services).

Admiral: The most senior Admiral present (including any Commodores, but not counting a Grand Admiral) is usually referred to just as “Admiral”. Any other officers of these ranks present are then referred to as “Vice Admiral” or “Rear Admiral”.

Admiralty: The Imperial central government is organised into a series of Ministries. The Ministry for the Imperial Navy is called the Admiralty. Rather than being run by a Minister the Admiralty is run by the Grand Admiral.

All green: (slang) Expression meaning everything is okay. (See also “All green by the board”.)

All green by the board: (slang) Expression meaning everything appears okay. The expression comes from a status board where all the indicators are green … but indicators cannot always be relied on.

Alpha Base: An advanced, or forward, naval base. A border outpost. Typically found along the Imperial border, an Alpha Base will have an extensive intelligence section and often a number of small recon starships.

Amateur Night: (slang) When nothing seems to go right.

ASAP: Standard abbreviation for “As Soon As Possible. (Pronounced “A-Sap”.)

Barn: (slang) A transport pod bay. (See also “Transport Pod” in the ship types section, and “Kennel”.)

Bars: (slang) Officers rank O1-O6, so-called because of their rank insignia. O1-O3 have gold bars and are called “Gold Officers”. O4-O6 have iridium bars (supposedly representing the power of the Iridium Throne) and are called “Iridium Officers”.

Base Ship: A large troop transport ship capable of carrying a division or larger unit, and of deploying them in ground operations. In other words, in addition to transporting troops a Base Ship must also carry enough landers and short-term supplies of munitions to support those troops once they get to their destination.

Battleship: Jump-capable capital ship intended to stand in the line-of-battle in space combat. (See also Battle Rider)

Battle Rider: Non-jump-capable capital ship intended to stand in the line-of-battle in space combat, and carried interstellar by a battle tender. (See also Battleship)

Beta Base: A naval base focused on building ships. In addition to the base’s shipyards, there will be extensive industry either nearby on the host planet or on a number of surrounding systems (with regular inbound shipments).

Battle Tender: Interstellar ship transport intended to carry two to ten battle riders into combat.

Bird: (slang) A missile or other unmanned powered object (such as a sensor drone). Tends not to be used in relation to mass volleys.

• “Birds Free”: Permission to fire missiles has been granted.
• “Birds Tight”: Permission to fire missiles has been refused.

Boat: (slang) A system defence boat.

Bravo Zulu: Communications slang expression meaning “Manoeuvre well-executed” or more simply “Well done”. (Origin unknown.)

Bubble boy: (slang) An individual (any gender) in a rescue bubble.

Bucket and spade job: (slang) Planetside burial duty.

Butter Bar: (slang) Mildly derogatory term for an Ensign (O1), so-called because of the gold bar insignia.

Cabal, The: Nickname for IN Intelligence or, sometimes, a fleet’s Intelligence Department. (Not to be confused with the Imperial Army/Marine nickname for the CBL-532-F Battledress Sensor Rig.)

Carrier: Starship, whose primary role is the transportation and deployment of fighters.

Cinderella Liberty: (slang) Liberty where one must be back aboard by midnight (ship time). (See “Liberty”.)

Cold: Term meaning no life present. Typically used to refer to a derelict ship or an abandoned base.

Command Carrier: A battle tender designed to stay on the line of battle rather than retreat after launching its battle riders. While individually impressive, many see them as a bastardised hybrid of the battleship and battle tender concept … less cost-effective than either a pure battleship or a pure battle tender.

Corvette: Out of favour for some time, corvettes are being reintroduced into Imperial Service. Corvettes are small starships that can function as Destroyer Escorts but are intended for independent operations.

Crate: (slang) A low-tech transport pod. (See “Transport Pod”.)

Crawler: (slang) Ground vehicle (tracked or wheeled).

Cruiser: Starship capable of independent operations and of support of the main line-of-battle. Cruisers come in a variety of different types: Heavy, Light, Strike, Armoured, etc.

Custody Officer: Title of someone assigned (temporarily or otherwise) to look after prisoners. May, or may not, be an actual officer. The Custody Officer is responsible for a prisoner’s well-being and medical needs as well as ensuring against possible escape. (See Section IV Article 6 and 7 of the IN General Regulations.)

Deal: (slang) To launch one or more fighters. Usually only used when there are a lot of fighters. Variations: “deal a new hand” means to launch all fighters, as does “deal us in” (typically given as a order by the ship’s Captain or XO). (See “Deck of cards”.)

Deck of cards: (slang) The fighters carried aboard a single ship. Usually used when referring to a large number of fighters. Example: a Wind class Strike Carrier has 2 decks of cards, one of Fury class Heavy Fighters and one of Hawk class Strike Fighters … in this case, there are 40 cards in each deck. (See “Deal”.)

Delta Base: A diplomatic outpost naval base. Found either on (a) new member worlds to facilitate integration of a local military into the Imperial ranks, (b) on culturally mature member worlds with significant planetary or subsector forces, or (c) in troubled regions (diplomacy is just another weapon in the Imperial arsenal).

Destroyer: Originally a starship designed for escort duty and limited independent operations. As the new type of ‘Escort Destroyers’ becomes more prevalent, traditional Destroyers are becoming much more independent.

Destroyer Escorts: Small starships intended to be light support craft for larger ships, usually Destroyers.

Directions …

• Forward: The direction the ship is facing.
• Aft: The opposite direction to forward.
• Port: Left (relative to the direction of the ship).
• Starboard: Right (relative to the direction of the ship).

Directions (aboard ship) …

• Bow: The front of the ship.
• Stern: The back of the ship.
• Port Side: The left side of the ship.
• Starboard Side: The right side of the ship.
• Dorsal: The top of the ship.
• Ventral: The bottom of the ship.

Disruptor: Official term for a Naval Intelligence agent whose primary mission is sabotage.

Epsilon Base: A fleet home port. When a fleet has been based out of a specific system for a length of time, a logistical support operation evolves. There are expanded ship repair facilities, supply stockpiles, and extensive staff facilities. The size of the local R&R facilities are also boosted.

Escort Destroyers: A relatively new type of starships intended to be support craft for larger ships, usually Battle Tenders, Command Carriers, and the like.

Executive Override: Sometimes a ship captain will give an order that violates standard procedures. A crewman might rightly object (especially if it’s a safety procedure). If the ship captain then says “Executive Override”, it means the ship captain acknowledges the crewman’s concern, but the order should be carried out anyway without further debate. The crewman is absolved from any negative consequences that follow. Although technically this has never been made official policy, it is a long-standing tradition.

Faceplant: (slang) To crash onto a planet.

First Command: The leadership of a squadron … a Commodore and his staff officers. When the squadron is part of a fleet, First Command can become marginalised in importance as Fleet Command takes charge. But when a squadron is detached from a fleet, then First Command may be the most senior present.

Flash Card: Term used to report a nuclear detonation, normally spaceside. (Example: “We have a Flash Card bearing 037.116”)

Fleet: Common nickname for the Admiral in charge of a fleet. Short for Fleet Admiral.

Fleet Command: The leadership of a fleet … an Admiral and his staff officers.

Flight Team: Official term for the pilot (or most senior pilot when more than one) and navigator (or most senior navigator when more than one) currently flying the ship. On smaller ships where the piloting and navigation roles are performed by the same crewman then this term is usually not applied.

Food Cubes: Ships cannot carry enough fresh food for their crews for extended periods. Thus, organic matter aboard ship is recycled as food via algae vats. Shaped into cubes, flat squares, or ‘macaroni’, these mixes of protein, carbohydrates, sugars, and fats, supplement fresh food. Food cubes cannot replace fresh food entirely as they often lack many vitamins and other nutrients, but they can bulk out fresh food reducing the amount needed to be carried.

Frigate: Out of favour for some time, frigates are beginning to be reintroduced into Imperial Service. Frigates are starships that can function as Escort Destroyers but are intended for independent operations. Sometimes called mini-cruisers.

Full Trick: See “Trick”.

Gamma Base: A naval base focused on research. Similar to an Imperial Research Station but (a) exclusively for the Imperial Navy, and (b) more for application development than pure research.

Goldie: (slang) Mildly derogatory term for a “Gold Officer” (O1-O3).

Gold Officer: (slang) Officers rank O1-O3, so-called because of their gold bar rank insignia.

Go to Blackout: A order from the captain (or executive officer) to reduce power consumption to a bare minimum and enter stealth mode.

Grot: (slang) Mildly derogatory term for a maintenance person.

Groundhugger: (slang) A planet-dweller. (See also “Slopes”.)

Ground Zero: Target point for an ortillery strike.

Gullet: (slang) The front end of a spinal mount weapon. Sometimes used to refer to just in front of the spinal mount weapon.

Hands-On/Hands-Off Approach: To reduce accidents docking manoeuvres are typically performed by computer (referred to as “hands-off”). However, occasionally it is necessary to perform a docking manoeuvre manually (referred to as “hands-on”).

Having an open day: (slang) Referring to a ship or station with multiple hull breaches. (See “Open”.)

High Command: The leadership of all fleets within a theatre of operations. In peacetime, this is usually a sector; in times of war, a theatre may shift and grow with the progress of the war.

Hotel Services: Power and water used for auxiliary equipment (non-engineering and non-life-support equipment such as freshers, food cookers, laundry machines, etc.).

Ident Chip: Navy dog-tags with built-in microcircuitry to authenticate the wearer. Ident Chips contain the retina scan and DNA profile of the owner plus current security permissions. They are frequently checked for access to high-security areas or to access secured computer terminals. Ident Chips use strong encryption methods to preserve authenticity and make forgeries extremely difficult.

Intelligence: The gathering and sifting of data on conditions in the operational area (including where the enemy is and what are their strengths and weaknesses). Not to be confused with Security (physical shipboard security) or “Naval Intelligence” (a naval department originally created to gather intelligence but now engaged in espionage and counter-espionage).

Intimate: (slang) Used by Enlisted. To be in visual range of the enemy.

Iridium Officer: (slang) Officers rank O4-O6, so-called because of their iridium bar rank insignia.

Irregular Operations: A pool of maverick misfit junior officers assigned to a fleet or base who do not have a regular assignment. Typical I-Ops (Irregular Operations) can include Search & Rescue missions, courier duty, covert surveillance, prisoner transportation, etc.

Kennel: (slang) A fighter bay. (See also “Barn”.)

Kill Shot: A fast-acting nerve poison injected into the neck. Used by Special Forces to execute prisoners, agents as a form of suicide to avoid live capture, and medical staff as a form of battlefield euthanasia when a patient can’t be saved.

Liberty: (slang) Absent from a ship or station, with permission, for a period of up to 48 hours. Anything longer is “leave” and comes out of an individual’s annual leave entitlement. (See “Cinderella Liberty.”)

Light Bulb: (slang) When a ship or boat goes active with its sensors.

Mama/Papa: (slang) Used by fighter pilots. “Mama” means the ship upon which they were based. “Papa” means the squadron flagship.

Missile types …

• OSM: Orbit-to-surface missile. A missile intended to be fired from an orbiting ship or station at a target on the ground … a planetary bombardment missile.
• SOM: Surface-to-orbit missile. A missile intended to be fired from the ground at a target in orbit … a planetary defence missile.
• SM: Ship missile. A standard missile intended for ship to ship use. Most SM designs can be used in an OSM role if required.

Mission Pack: A specialised tablet. There is no tile reader, but there is integral memory equivalent to a tile, a data port (input only), and an Ident Chip reader (for basic authorisation). Mission packs are used to pass mission briefings … instructions, maps, related data, etc. (See “Data Tile” and “Tablet” in Computer Lexicon, and “Ident Chip”.)

Mister … : A standard form of address used by a superior officer to an inferior officer below the rank of captain. Used instead of the rank title. Used regardless of gender.

Mudball: (slang) A habitable world.

Nerve Shot: A fast-acting, but non-lethal and non-permanent, nerve poison injected into the neck. Used by medical staff to block extreme pain. In addition to blocking all sensations, it renders the patient completely unable to move.

Odd Job Squad: (slang) An Irregular Operations team. Mildly derogatory.

Open: (slang) From “open to space”. An airlock is “open” when the space side door is open and the ship side door is closed, an entire ship can be “open” as the result of a hull breach, etc.

Ortillery: Orbital artillery … weapons used to strike ground targets from orbit.

Pips: (slang) Petty Officers (naval non-commissioned officers) E4-E9, so-called because of their rank insignia is a series of pips.

Platform: Standard term referring to any spinal-mount equipped ship.

Poison pill: A Disruptor. (See “Disruptor”.)

Pop/Popped: (slang) To detonate a nuclear warhead.

Protection: A recognised naval tradition whereby a ship captain can place an individual or group under his or her protection. That means that the ship captain, and the crew, must do everything possible to ensure the safety and well-being of the ‘protectees’. If protection is given but not honoured this can sometimes cost an officer his commission.

Protocol: Official term for a procedure. Personnel are expected to know all the security protocols and operational protocols relevant to their rank and position.

Prowler: (slang) A space fighter typically used on long range recon.

Recyc’: Ships cannot carry enough fresh water for their crews for extended periods. Thus wastewater aboard ship is recycled. Despite a high degree of purity, many claim they can recognise recyc’ by the metallic aftertaste.

Rock: (slang) An airless world or asteroid.

Rockhound: (slang) A belter (asteroid miner/prospector).

Ship’s Company: Refers to the officers and men assigned to the ship.

Ship kill expressions (slang) …

• Roast/Roasted: To ‘kill’ a ship with a spinal mount meson gun hit.
• Burn/Burnt: To ‘kill’ a ship with a spinal mount PAWS hit.
• Fry/Fried: To ‘kill’ a ship with energy weapons (plasma or fusion) or sub-spinal PAWS hit.
• Gut/Gutted: To ‘kill’ a ship with a massive missile volley.
• Sizzle/Sizzled: Radiation damage to electrical/computer components.

Sigma Base: A supply dump (naval base). While it may have normal day-to-day operations, its primary purpose is to stockpile supplies, spare parts, etc.

Sky Diver: (slang) A strike fighter … a space fighter typically used to enter an atmosphere and engage COACC units.

Slopes: (slang) A low-tech planet-dweller. As in sloped forehead, no frontal lobe, etc. Derogatory. (See “Groundhugger”.)

Smack: (slang) To cash into another ship or station.

SPANaR: Starport Authority Navigation Rules. A standardised set of laws and procedures governing the navigation of ships, craft, and other spaceborne and airborne vehicles designed to reduce the chance of an accident or collision. (Pronounced “Spanner”.)

Stars: (slang) The Admiral ranks (O7-O10), so-called because of their rank insignia.

Strike: Ground assault operations. For example, a strike fighter is one whose design is focused on engaging COACC and army units.

Sunrise Officer: (slang) A Petty Officer Second Class … due to the somewhat unique design rank insignia (a half-gold, half-iridium pip). Often seen as a derogatory expression.

Tabs: (slang) Ratings rank E1-E3. So-called due to their rank insignia is a cloth tab.

Task Force: A temporary grouping of ships for a specific mission. A task force can be a few ships or a full-sized fleet.

TDY: A temporary assignment. From Temporary DutY.

Theta Base: A training base. Many (but not all) Theta Bases are Naval Academies.

Top Hat: Person placed in temporary charge of a group or team … usually the most senior officer present.

Transport Pod: (slang) Any non-combat small craft (ship’s boat, pinnace, shuttle, cutter, etc).

Trick: (slang) A period of duty spent on the bridge that is usually less than a full Watch period. When a Trick is a full Watch period it is referred to as a “Full Trick”.

Tumbling down: (slang) Standard tactics for mass assault with jump troops. Such a mass assault calls for a seemingly chaotic cloud of drop capsules, decoys, and OSM missiles, to hit the target site at roughly the same time.

Unzipped: (slang) Referring to the effect of someone hit by gauss fire.

XM: Standard abbreviation for an x-boat message. (Pronounced “Ex Em”.)

Zeta Base: Some naval bases have served their purpose and have been scaled down, others are built to “show the flag” but little else. Such low-priority naval bases are Zeta Bases.

Zulu Five Oscar: (slang) Personnel making a deliberate attempt to board a ship unauthorised, usually at the direction of higher authority to test security procedures. The standard intruder drill.

Zulu Time: Typically, a ship will adjust its clocks incrementally during a voyage so as to be in sync with local time at the destination upon arrival. But ships in a fleet must be able to coordinate their actions. Thus, there is an official fleet time … known as Zulu Time. Zulu Time uses a standard 24-hour clock and is written hhmmZ (e.g. 0800Z).