Sisterhood of Suns: Pallas Athena

by Martin Schiller

  Standard or Norma; the shared common language of the Sisterhood, Standard was created just after the establishment of the United Sisterhood of Suns. It is based largely on French, with Spanish, Italian and Romanian influences.

  Star Scouts; an organization dedicated to teaching the values of community, sisterhood and self-reliance to young women.

  Star Service; an alternate name for the Sisterhood Navy.

  Symbiote; a Drow’voi artifact which can attach itself to a living host, and grant them race-specific abilities. In human subjects, this is the power to slow time. Symbiotes are highly classified, and are only introduced to high-level intelligence operatives.

  Time and Date Conventions; in the Sisterhood series, many scenes are given location and time headings. The times and dates are based on Thermadonian time, and utilize a metric-based system. The Sisterhood year is calculated from the beginning of the Sisterhood (year 0.0) and has 13 months, of 30 days a piece. Months are further divided into four seven day weeks (known as a ‘Sevenday’, with each day labeled simply as Oneday, Twoday, etc.). An example of a typical header would be:

  “USSNS Pallas Athena, Battle Group Golden, Topaz Fleet, In Orbit, Nuvo Bolivar, Argenta Provensa, Esteral Terrana Rapabla, 1048.01|19|02:59:82”.

  In this entry, “1048.01|19|02:59:82” translates to the year 1048 ASE (After Sisterhood Era), the first month, the 19th day, at 02:59:82 hours (or 5:52:22 AM).

  Thermadon, Thermadonian; the capital of the Sisterhood and its largest city. It is also the Sisterhood’s main financial and media hub. The term ‘Thermadonian’ refers to anything native to, or inspired by this metropolis.

  Troop Leader; Marine rank equivalent of a Sergeant (replaced in the 24th century by the Gaian Star Federation Marine Corps).

  Tej, Tej Knife; a coming-of age-ritual that originated on Nemesis and was later adopted by the Nyxian women, and to a certain degree by the Kalians, Sitalans and Durendelans. Successful completion results in the awarding of the Tej knife (known as the Moonblade on Nyx), which serves as a functional survival tool, a fighting weapon, and a symbol of full adulthood. On Nemesis, Tej knives are custom made, and their markings identify the user’s clan.

  T’lakskalan (slang, Tee-Lak); a reptilian race, the T’lakskalan’s are notorious for their trafficking in slaves. Although not a major political or military force, the Tee-Laks are a constant thorn in the Sisterhood’s side, conducting raids on isolated settlements and taking prisoners.

  United Sisterhood of Suns; the official name for the Sisterhood (In Standard: Unité Sorele da Soléz).

  Zommerlaandar; a native of Sunna 3 (formerly Alpha Centauri A) in the Solari Elant. Zommerlaand was settled by a group of Northern European states early in the diaspora from Old Gaia. Its main exports are agricultural products, making it the ‘Bread Basket’ of the Sisterhood, but it is also home to some of the Sisterhood’s foremost military recruits, and many terms from Zommerlaandartal have found their way into Standard.

  Xee; a non-human invertebrate species, famous for their business acumen and political neutrality. The Free City on Ashkele, serves as their primary trade-hub with the Sisterhood and other star nations.