worldbuilding
bloodshits: A slangy, less polite name for the bloody flux, a rather unpleasant form of severe gastroenteritis. di-clad: Coated in diamondoid or diamondoid-family materials. electron plumbing: the thermionic valve equivalent of integrated circuits, intended for use in high-power and EMP-resistant applications. “Empress’s word”: An implication of conspiracy or secrecy
meta
While that would probably make a decent story title, sad to say, this isn’t one. As you may have noticed, my output has been down in recent months, and really down this last month in particular. Why, you ask? Well, because so am I. Which is to say, in
battleshort
justonce breaker / justonce bar / justonce stop / etc.: Engineering jargon. A justonce in any of its forms – be it the hardline switch or insertable bus-bar that bypasses circuit overload protection, the stop valve that seals off pressure-relief valves, or the disabling of thermal trips is the manual override which permits equipment
FTL
“Othalbar SysCon, this is IS Star of Miragrann preparing to initiate fittle-flight per filed intentions. Please reconfirm entry vector.” “Star of Miragrann, SysCon. We show you initiating fittle-flight at 8201-06-09:2+11-54. We confirm your entry vector as computed and valid for twelve-pulse window. You are clear for entry at
laser broom
“Why will we use green lasers for starwisp and light sail propulsion? “Because stars aren’t green. Can’t be green, in fact, because a black-body spectrum that peaks in the green is broad enough that there’s plenty of other-colored light to make it not sum to green. That
exopoesis
ECOPOETIC LINE GANGERS/PLANET-BREAKERS WANTED No Background Check · No Identification · No Questions No Qualifications Required · No Experience Required · Training Provided Six-Year Indenture Required · Bonus for Successful Completion Free transportation and reflux bond provided to Sagiraz (Ull Cluster). Accomodation and sustenance included. No homestead or residency rights are earned. Apply Mezgalrás
Eye-in-the-Flame Arms
from the Eye-in-the-Flame Arms internal memeweave archives From: Aldysis Cyprium (Directorate) To: Diziet Cyprium (Director of Entertaining Research) Subject: FULGURANT TRIBULATION It’s not that we’re dismissing the potential of FULGURANT TRIBULATION, cousin. From a purely commercial point of view, the potential of an algetic weapon capable of wide-area
Tuntamus (Madel Cauldron)
LEAGUE SAFETY IN HABITATION COMMISSION CATASTROPHIC FAILURE ANALYSIS SUMMARY REPORT Location: Tuntamus (Madel Cauldron) Date: 6921-11-13 Habitat: Tuntab High Orbit Three (“Senmarville”) Defining Event: Complete structural failure Accident Number: LM6921-443 Damage: Total Casualties: 23,147 Presented to the Inter-Worlds Commission on the Accord on Free Space The events of the
Emergency Management Authority
BROADCAST // GTR CESTIA & PROXIMAL // INFRA UNCLASS ALL ECS STATIONS ANNOUNCE IMMEDIATE PREEMPT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY // ALERT 2049/04/20 This is an EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY alert for all residents of the Greater Cestian continent and proximal regions. This is a QUARANTINE ADVISORY. The Office of Disease and Toxin Control,
mercenary
“Listen up, you bastards! For the rookies and anyone who’s conveniently forgotten how we do this, here are the rules. Official loot – anything the client or the skipper wants – goes in the BLUE crates. Other loot of military value, in the GREEN crates. Plunder, in the YELLOW crates for
Claithmat Annulments
“You don’t want us to touch this one.” “I thought you were the best demolitions company in the Worlds!” “We are.” “Then why can’t you demolish this?” “I never said that we couldn’t demolish this. I said that you didn’t want us to demolish this. Look
meta
For those concerned with such things or just a mite irritated with Patreon at the moment, I am pleased to announce that I now also accept monthly donations via Liberapay. Patreon won’t be going away, so really, this just means you have a bit more freedom of choice, and