Terminology

-A-

AATF: Antarctic Training Facility

ACTC: Air Cargo Transport Craft

Advancism: A theory and belief which emerged late in the 2100s stating, “War and its brethren inhibit the positive advancement of humankind and society.” Originating from a team of prestigious African, Asian, and American sociologists, it became quite popular on the international stage. Much like the later World Union program titled Mission: Outer Limit, it blamed war for the lack of focus in the advancement of beneficial technology and society in general, calling it “the shackles of humanity.” Unfortunately, the principles put forth in goodwill produced sects of extremists who believed war should be destroyed forever by war itself. This concept of “canceling out” war’s negative energies through fighting, thus severing the static cycle, spread small conflicts and riots all over the globe for a period of time. This controversial implementation of Advancism would later mix with the concepts of the Classical Revolution, thus helping to create the alliance known as the World Unification Program (which would go on to form the World Union).

Aero Division: ARM X division made up of Tekkion fighter craft. Member uniforms have red accents.

AFI: Armed Forces Intelligence

AI: Artificial intelligence

AL-USB: Advanced Laser Universal Serial Bus

Amoxi: A mysterious alien race with innate extrasensory abilities and immense technological prowess.

AMRL: Anti-mecha rocket launcher

Ares Incident: An infamous tactical nuclear strike carried out by the World Unification Army during the year 2315. It occurred in what is now the Asian Union. This tragic and hotly debated event ushered in the Beijing Treaty and the end of the Eastern Conflicts. Following this event, the world’s remaining supply of nuclear armaments was rounded up by the World Union for disposal and/or storage. Nevertheless, the environmental, political, and personal scars from this nuclear strike endure nearly thirty years after the horrifying fact.

Armored Life Shroud: One-man lifeboats meant to protect astronauts or related personnel that may find themselves adrift in space.

ARM X: Armed Reserve Mecha of the Xeno Organization

ASA: Asian Separatist Army

Astro Corps: World Union science and military organization focused on the orbital defense of Earth and its assets in space.

Azile-xen: The massive Amoxi UFO that destroyed Moon Colony Moori and arrived in Earth’s orbit on the eve of April 2343. Its size is calculated to be equivalent to that of the Alaskan Union’s mainland.

-B-

Battle Ghost: An exclusive and enigmatic title given to an ARM X member who will be carrying out covert assignments on direct orders from a member of the ARM X Defense Council.

Beijing Treaty: The formal document that ended the Eastern Conflicts.

B-HT : Behemoth hover transport

Bion (Bionic): The most common form of mecha used worldwide. Dubbed “Bionic” because of their humanoid frames and ability to augment human attributes, such as strength and speed. They debuted on the world stage during the Eastern Conflicts.

Black Market: While there are smaller black markets around the world, the illegal entity dubbed the “Black Market” is said to be a borderless supplier of arms and intelligence to revolutionaries across the globe. It is believed to be independently based in the Russian Union, and that the entities known as La Cruz and Twilight Brigade hide within its organization.

Blood Runners: An elite special forces group belonging to the IRF and Neo IRF. They bear streaks of blood-like markings on their machines.

-C-

Civil Uprising: United States Union civil war. (2317-2318 AD).

Civil Response Guard: The military police force of the ARM X.

Classical Revolution: The coined term for the ideology and teachings of British sociologist and philosopher Nicholas Herrington, who wrote a famous treatise on the subject. His writings proved immensely popular and were widely adopted in schools, especially in Europe and East Asia in the early 2200s. The concept of the “Classical Revolution” was to reintroduce “traditional, conservative values of the prosperous past,” while at the same time pushing a “progressive idealism” for a “perfect tomorrow.” Herrington wanted to foster a “new chivalry” in a material-driven global society that was “losing control of itself” in the midst of interrelated environmental and economic disasters. The peak of this cultural revolution took place between 2232 and 2315 AD. Aristocratic families flourished during this time period, and Herrington’s ideals molded many prominent minds, becoming an indirect cause to the Eastern Conflicts, the skirmishes which preceded it for years, and eventually the final formation of the World Union. Around 2325 AD, the Classical Revolution’s ideals began fading from the societal mainstream. However, even today it has its niche group of followers in the world.

Commune-set: Next-generation advanced communication devices, portable or embedded in larger machines. They can set up individual “links” (commune-link) or a “network” (commune-net). It was designed to make short- and long-range communication in any situation effortless–a “communion of words between speakers” rather than simple communication, hence its name. This technology still has its limits and continues to evolve to overcome any issues of transmission interference.

Communications Division: ARM X division specialized in using communication and navigation support technologies. Member uniforms have teal accents.

Council for Internal Defense: A post-Civil Uprising USU national security council made up of top officials from the various military branches of the United States Union, including the Army and Washington Defense Corps.

CRG: Civil Response Guard (of the ARM X).

CTS (Control Throttle Stick/s): One of the main operating devices inside a mecha’s cockpit. Along with the foot pedals, these control the mecha’s primary movements.

-D-

Datascroller: A small laptop/tablet-styled device that has completely replaced the newspaper in the ARM X society.

Demi-Bion: A type of machine that mixes conventional vehicular frames with mecha components. It retroactively refers to such designs that predated Bionic mecha, which are also known as Proto-class mecha.

Defense Council: A nine-member ARM X military council under the Xeno Head Committee that oversees day-to-day operations in the ARM X. The titles of these council members are as follows: Director-Marshal of Principal Operations; Director of Military Operations; Director of Aerospace Combat; Director of Terrestrial Combat; Director of Internal Affairs; Director of Candidate Development; Director of Candidate Acquisition; Director of Construction and Sustainability; and Director of Scientific Research and Development.

Design/Unit/Model: Refers to a mecha’s makeup/status. (i.e. “That has to be a new design!” or “Who’s piloting that old unit?”) Also used as a synonym for “mecha.”

Diamond fighter: A next-generation drone fighter integrated with advanced AI capable of operating in space. Its unconventional shape gives it stealth properties, and its sole armament is a strega diffuser lens, which inverts, amplifies, and redirects strega energy reserves. Its development is an illegal endeavor, as drones used for martial purposes remain banned by the lingering principles of the Classical Revolution that carried on into many World Union laws.

Disaster of 2331: Crisis in which an abnormal meteor shower temporarily damaged Moon Colony Moori’s Nerve Center. Resulted in various safety upgrades to the Central Dome, including the addition of four strega cannons.

Dive-chute: Large, segmented, and reinforced parachute released from a pressurized launch device. It was developed to efficiently and safely drop unwieldy objects such as mecha from an ACTC.

Domain: Title of the seven-member command council aboard an Amoxi mother ship.

Dominion: General name given to the underground cities tucked within certain ARM X bases hidden across the globe.

-E-

Eastern Conflicts: The international war which led to the official and completed formation of the World Union. Dubbed as such due to the primary front being in East Asia (2313-2315 AD).

EBG: Energy blast grenade

ECM: Electronic countermeasure

EG: Energy gun

EMG: Energy machine gun

Energy Revolution of 2270: An ambitious international push to solve global energy crises contributing to economic and environmental disaster. It resulted in multiple solutions, from infrastructural and technical improvements in the generation and transmission of wind and solar energies to the development of particle reactors, super batteries, and refined energy cells. Some historians see the international ingenuity and cooperation on this bold endeavor as another seed that led to the current World Union. During all this, American, Russian, and Italian scientists stumbled upon a versatile new energy source they called strega, which is still in its developmental stages on Earth and Moon Colony Moori in 2343 AD.

Energy weaponry/development: In most industrialized areas of the world, weapons run by advanced energy cells or batteries have replaced conventional ammunition, both in mecha and small firearms. This new energy cell technology has also proven beneficial for powering cities and all manner of machinery, including mecha themselves.

ERF: Energy rifle

ET: Shorthand for “extraterrestrial.”

-F-

Fire Falcon (F-16DX2): A Series DX Aircraft designed by the United States Union. It is a balanced craft that excels as an interceptor.

-G-

GAT : Gaton’s Assault Tube

GEB (Global Economic Board): Economic regulatory body of the World Union which monitors and manages financial exchanges and investments across the globe.

Generation of Hope: A title generally referring to those born around the end of the Civil Uprising, though sometimes extended to those born just prior during the establishment of the World Union. It is believed that these individuals were born in a world dedicated to peace and have consciously known little else but peace. As such, there is great “hope” that this generation will carry on a freedom from war into the future as they find their own new way in the world.

Grappling gun: A pistol-like instrument capable of firing a powered wire with a durable, claw-like hook. Said “hook” has a sensor to grab or stab for leverage depending on the scenario.

GSDS: Gladiator Satellite Defense Station

-H-

HAVEN: The official acronym for the ARM X Head Compound, which is short for Hallowed Armed Vale Ensuring the Next age.

HELT : Helitransport

Holo-D: A trademark term used colloquially for brand-name or generic holographic message recording and projecting devices.

Howler (X-76): The ARM X’s stalwart mainstay Tekkion fighter containing twin kinetic cannons and capable of carrying a variety of physical ordnance. Named after the sound of its powerful main guns.

H-RPG: Heavy rocket-propelled grenade

HT : Hover transport

-I-

IA: Impulse Attack (mode)

Impulse suit: Complex pilot suits exclusive to the ARM X that have retractable wires which act as extensions of the human nervous system when interacting with the KIFIS or Auto-KIFIS.

Investigator Division: ARM X division focused on keeping the secrets of the ARM X from the outside world. Member uniforms are slate and black, rather than the traditional color accents on white seen in other divisions of the ARM X.

IR: Infrared

IRF (Iron Revolution Faction): Revolutionary group based in the United States Union that once fought for reform using Bionic mecha. Responsible for the Civil Uprising. Its leaders were Reish Kinheir, Magnus T. Oghin, and Sebastian Thrumasi.

-J-

“Jock”: Slang term in the ARM X society for fighter pilots. (Originally derogatory).

-K-

KIFIS/Auto-KIFIS (Automatic/Kinetic Induced Force Impulse System): The KIFIS is an operating system that allows for highly complex kinetic nerve-based movements in equipped Tekkion machines via impulse suit interface. The more advanced Auto-KIFIS provides a digital co-pilot with its own set of nerves to assist the pilot in extreme combat situations. This latter system has not yet been widely adopted and is still considered experimental.

Kinetic cannon: The ARM X’s most powerful class of weapon, which relies on turbines to magnify and release force-fed kinetic energy. It requires a time delay before and after firing for maximum power and efficiency.

Kinetic energy: A powerful member of the Advanced Energy Spectrum known only to the ARM X. It has active molecular properties that are considered less stable during controlled fluctuations than its opposite, psionic energy.

Kinetic shield: Based around the same technology as the kinetic cannon, the kinetic shield has the turbines projecting a stationary energy glaze over the surface they are embedded in rather than outward. This increases that surface’s resistance to outside forces exponentially.

KPA (Kinheir Peace Armament): A private paramilitary organization formed by Reish Kinheir in late March 2343 AD from a mixture of various official and unofficial global forces, including the Iron Revolution Faction, which uses a variety of methods to preserve and reform the World Union. Their ultimate goal is world peace, and their mission statement has them using direct offensive force as a last resort.

KREEP: Designation/acronym for some lunar rocks containing a unique combination of incompatible elements. The K stands for potassium, the REE stands for rare earth elements, and the P stands for phosphorus. Since mining began on these rocks due to the related discovery of strega energy, they are sometimes referred to as “KREEPs” in the plural. While a number of resources and their byproducts are being mined for practical usage or experimentation on the Moon, KREEPs are the most celebrated at present because of the promise of strega as another energy source with the potential to shore up successful efforts back on Earth in ending energy crises for the foreseeable future. It was with this thought in mind that the development of Moon Colony Moori was fast-tracked.

-L-

Labor Lounge: The ARM X Antarctic Training Facility’s version of the ARM X Head Compound’s Work Lounge.

La Cruz: A mysterious organization with a radicalized religious bent that is often seen in conjunction with individuals who use the motif of silver stripes.

LCT : Lunar Containment Tent

L-HT : Leviathan hover transport

LNT : Lunar tank

-M-

Magna blade: A long sword for mecha melee combat. It contains a magnetic turbine-generator near its tip that produces a magnified electromagnetic energy throughout the blade’s frame, making it capable of slicing through reinforced armor. It was designed to work with the BMMI-2 Beta Knight.

Magna claw: A rebel mecha weapon that is essentially two magna blades fused to act like a pair of giant scissors.

Magna dagger: A more compact version of the magna blade that is compatible with a wider range of mecha designs.

Meta-flesh: A specialized, synthetic, and highly malleable yet sturdy substance with nanofibers capable of bonding to and masking human flesh. Used largely by military intelligence operatives and healthcare specialists.

M-reflector: A small device employed by military and law enforcement members capable of masking certain types and amounts of metals from conventional metal detectors.

Mecha* (manned mechanized infantry/man/men**): Giant, military-flaired, humanoid machines piloted by men and women that have become a mainstay weapon in tactical combat alongside tanks and fighter jets.

*Note: The word mecha is both singular and plural.

**Note: Infantryman/men, or a class identity like Bion, Turbon, or Tekkion, as well as the mecha’s name (i.e. Goliath), serial number (i.e. BMMI-1), or any organized combination, are all recognized ways to refer to a particular design.

“Mechaneer”: Slang term in the ARM X society for mecha pilots. (Originally derogatory.)

Mechanized Division: ARM X division made up of Tekkion mecha and armors. Member uniforms have blue accents.

Mechanoid: The Amoxi language term for “mecha.”

Medical Division: ARM X division specialized in the health and wellness of ARM X soldiers. Member uniforms have yellow accents.

MMM (Moori’s Moon Militia):  A military-police organization responsible for protecting Moon Colony Moori and its various lunar endeavors. They are considered a “militia” of the larger collective army of the World Union back on Earth. Their armaments utilize strega energy.

MSS (Mobile Stealth Skin): An integrated, real-time optical camouflage armor system that allows an object to synthesize with its surroundings, rendering said object invisible.

-N-

Neo IRF: New Iron Revolution Faction

-O-

Operation  Stormdrop: Covert operation during the early weeks of March 2343 in the Asian Union carried out by the WDC Wingers against Qing Weng, considered by history as the “Father of the Asian Separatist Army.”

-P-

Pit Viper (F-012): A Series Zero Aircraft designed by the Chinese Union that excels as a high-speed strike aircraft.

Project Juggernaut: The World Unification Program’s codename for the limited production of massive, advanced mobile frontline bases. These incredible stations bristling with weaponry assisted greatly in the final defeat of rebel outfits during the latter stages of the Eastern Conflicts. The land-based B-HT and the sea-based L-HT are examples of this project. All reports state that they were destroyed and/or dismantled following that war.

Proto: A class of civilian and military machines defined retroactively and collectively as “mecha” prior to the development of Bionic-class mecha. (Often used this way: “Proto-class mecha.”)

PSIFIS (Psionic Induced Force Impulse System): An experimental and advanced form of the KIFIS. It allows for highly complex control in a Tekkion more so than any other system, and runs off of a pilot’s ambition and psyche/thoughts. Though limitless in potential, it is considered unstable and very dangerous.

Psionic energy: A powerful member of the Advanced Energy Spectrum known only to the ARM X. It has stationary molecular properties and is considered stable during controlled fluctuations. Its direct opposite is kinetic energy.

Psionic gatling: A fixed, rapid-firing psionic energy weapon.

Psionic rifle: A scoped gun exclusive to the ARM X capable of firing battery-stored psionic energy at various rates of release.

-Q-

-R-

“Rain of Fire”: Another name for the Ares Incident.

“Reach for the Heavens”: Slogan used by delegates of the World Unification Program promoting the development of an international space agenda. Numerous years of fighting, isolation, corruption, and other counterproductive actions had prevented humankind’s journey to the heavens in any sizable capacity. This slogan led to Mission: Outer Limit, a program that planned a daring thrust into space. The initial stages of this project have produced the highly successful Moon Colony Moori, the Gladiator Satellite Defense Stations, and the soon-to-be completed Cherubic Satellite Space Cannon. (The latter two have been argued as crippling the purpose and far-reaching goals of the program by focusing too much on Earth.) Still, it is hoped that with Earth’s orbital perimeter secured from chance disaster, further manned missions to more distant locations might occur, procuring results like those seen through Moori. However, with the invigorating idealism of the Classical Revolution all but gone, funding for Mission: Outer Limit has been cut considerably. It appears as if man will be stranded in their part of the galaxy for many more years to come, denied their long-overdue exploration of the stars once again. There is a silent consensus among some in the political realm that the continued strength and unity of the World Union depends upon Mission: Outer Limit, which provides all of humankind a clear, common, and universally beneficial goal from which everyone can take pride in, while at the same time providing new opportunities and a hope-filled, ambitious future vision. Historians are in agreement, stating that the original heart of Advancism is basically that hope, advancement, positive goals, and prosperity “fend off war’s hot breath.” It is a formula which has thus far allowed the World Union its relative success during its short existence; though, some would point to its stratified treatment of various unions as a sign that it is failing in its long-term goals.

-S-

SAM: Surface-to-air missile

Sea Dragon (F-013): A Series Zero Aircraft designed by the Chinese Union. It was conceived as a maritime support and strike fighter.

Science Division: ARM X division concerned with the development and maintenance of ARM X technology. Member uniforms have orange accents.

Shock cell: A holding cell sealed by a focused, stationary field of electrical energy that discourages escape attempts by stunning or knocking out anyone who touches it.

Shock pike: An experimental mecha melee weapon shaped like a spike that is surrounded by a revolving electrical current.

Shock pistol: A handheld gun capable of firing bursts of electrical energy that can stun or knock out its targets.

Shock saber: An experimental mecha-sized sword that is surrounded by a revolving electrical current.

Series DX Aircraft: A series of aircraft ahead of its time and still in production in certain unions. Inspired by the Classical Revolution, designers sought to update and perfect heralded aircraft designs of the past. While they cost more to produce, they are considered to be superior in overall specs to the later Series Zero Aircraft becoming more and more prominent. Their model numbers are distinguished by the inclusion of “DX.”

Series Zero Aircraft: International, specialized production line of cost-efficient and effective next-generation aircraft sponsored by the World Union. Their model numbers, however, are distinguished by a preceding “0.”

Sim: Shorthand for “simulation”

Special Division: ARM X interdisciplinary division dealing with specialized duties. Member uniforms have purple accents.

Spirited (X-61C): An ARM X aerial transport capable of carrying people or supplies across vast distances in short order.

Splinter remote mine: An armor-piercing mine with spike-like extensions that can be detonated by remote.

Stasis cask: Advanced cryogenic containment vessel that resembles a coffin with a semitransparent lid.

Steel Raven (F-09): A Series Zero Aircraft designed by the Russian Union. It was conceived for escort and bombing missions, and is therefore an extremely durable craft capable of housing heavier ordnance.

Strata jet: A shuttle-like World Union space interceptor fighter produced for the Gladiator Satellite Defense Stations to augment the defense of the space around the Earth. So named for its functionality within all “strata” of the atmosphere and beyond. 

Strega: A new, powerful, but thus far limited energy source produced by refining the incompatible elements of lunar KREEPs (potassium, rare earth elements, and phosphorus) in conjunction with experimental particle energy processes. It resonates a dazzling cerulean blue.

Strike Fist (F-019): A Series Zero Aircraft designed by a collective of unions in the European Union. It was conceived as an air superiority fighter.

Sub-EMG: Energy submachine gun

Sydney Spaceport Massacre: The name given to the battle and resulting destruction caused by Magnus T. Oghin’s trap at the Sydney Spaceport on March 31^st, 2343 A.D. It was ultimately a massacre that cost countless lives of Neo IRF, Loyalist, AUSU military, and USU Resistance members.

-T-

TCH: Tactical Commission Hall

Tekkion: A mysterious class of mecha that predates Bionic, but is far more advanced. Mecha of this class have the best overall stats.

The Thunder of Fenyang: An insurgent organization promoting a violent and nationalistic revolution in the Egyptian Union that would officially remove the Egyptian Union from the World Union. Composed largely of disgruntled citizens rather than foreign fighters, they are the most prominent rebel force in the Egyptian Union and claim to be representing the Egyptian people and their ancient heritage. Their members choose symbolic names like their enigmatic and influential leader, whose self-proclaimed name, Fenyang, means “Conqueror.”

Traversaloid : A sub-group of mecha that generally rely on boosters, hover cushion-engines, or some other form of propulsion for primary movement. Initially used for construction, mining, and other labor-intensive jobs, they have also been converted into fighting machines. Usually they are somewhat smaller than their massive mechanized counterparts, though this is not always the case. They are often called “troids.”

Troid: Shorthand for “traversaloid.”

Turbon (Turbonic): A new hybrid, experimental mixture of Tekkion and Bionic know-how. Mecha of this class are faster, more maneuverable, and have better armor than their Bionic predecessors.

Turbo spear: A pole-shaped, retractable melee weapon designed for use by the TXMMI-5 Redeemer. Either bludgeon end of this spear can produce stationary kinetic energy extensions powerful enough to burn and/or slice through any conventional surface. While it stores a small charge to produce these extensions, the power to keep its energy spearheads active and at full strength comes from contact with the Redeemer’s gauntlets, which transfer energy from its energy matrix into the spear. The spear then processes and magnifies this energy through turbines embedded near either end of the weapon.

Twilight Brigade: The believed title of the presumed mercenaries bearing the motif of silver stripes.

-U-

Unified Time (UNIT): A relatively new way of tracking time. Though there are many skeptics of its accuracy, it has gained ascendancy through the World Union government as a method of recording the passing of time. Used primarily in the static comparison of events, though with a complicated conversion formula, it is particularly useful for those living in orbit or on Moon Colony Moori.

UNN: Union News Network

Union Security Agreement: Post-Civil Uprising USU document comprised of a number of articles explaining the jurisdiction and division of duties between various USU military branches and security agencies, including the USU Army, Armed Forces Intelligence, and Washington Defense Corps.

Universal War: A controversial term coined by British sociologist and philosopher Nicholas Herrington which spoke of the potential consequences of a “contentious relationship” between humankind and beings from another world.

USBS: Universal Subway System

-V-

Vid-screen: Next-generation video transmission technology based on the framework behind the communications technology found in a commune-set. The screens in question can be material or projected outward in 2D into digital windows, sometimes called “vid-windows.”

-W-

WDC (Washington Defense Corps): Once a special forces group under the United States Union Army, following the Civil Uprising they became more independent and now have close ties with the Judicial Branch and the security agencies of the United States Union. They act as a strong police entity rather than a full-fledged army, preventing acts of rebellion and terrorism. Their jurisdiction is usually limited to within the USU’s borders unless otherwise told, giving the USU Army some minor degree of control over them despite their significant increase in status.

Whisper (X-77): The ARM X’s successor to the Howler that integrates the KIFIS for previously unheard of maneuverability. It uses the more reliable psionic gatlings for its main guns, and while it cannot carry as much ordnance as the Howler, it is every bit as powerful. Its vast improvements in sound-masking Tekkion technologies have given it its name.

Winger/s:WDC Air Corps’ elite special forces.

World Unification Movement/Program: An international alliance struck between many of the major governments of the world over a number of years under the noble pledge to secure a stable world peace. Fueled by the concepts of Advancism and the Classical Revolution, as well as a desire to overcome costly mistakes of the past, they became extremely active in the early 2300s, taking daring steps toward adding the entire world’s governments into the alliance through one method or another, and thus form a comprehensive “world union.” They succeeded, and in 2316, the World Union became the official governing body of the entire world. However, despite the uneasy peace which has seemingly benefited many in the world, there are still many others who view the World Union’s supranational structure with distrust and even disdain.

Work Lounge: Prominent club in the ARM X Head Compound where members listed on active duty can be summoned for action or a surprise drill at a moment’s notice.

WU (World Union): The new, collective governing entity of the Earth formally established in 2316 AD. It is divided into eight “macro unions”: European Union, North American Union, South American Union, Uralian Union, Middle Eastern Union, Asian Union, African Union, and the Oceanic Union. With few exceptions, all governing structures such as states and provinces within these macro unions have been renamed “unions,” as well. (i.e. the United States is now the United States Union.)

-X-

Xeno Foundation: An enigmatic three-member body with influence over the Xeno Head Committee.

Xeno Head Committee: The true and mysterious leaders of the ARM X. Admiral Samuel L. Degarri is their sole official messenger, carrying out their directives. The Xeno Head Committee is made up of twelve members that take instructions from an even more secretive three-member body dubbed the Xeno Foundation.

XT: Shorthand for “extraterrestrial.”

-Y-

-Z-