Glossary
Primordial Earth (Book 1) – Glossary
Glossary terms are listed in alphabetical order and without reference to their locations within the book.
Generally speaking, physical location references are not listed in the Glossary.
Measurements are provided in both metric and US/Imperial units.
Alamosaurus – A genus of sauropod dinosaurs containing just one species that lived in the late Cretaceous period. (See Cretaceous.) Specimens suggest they could measure up to 30 meters (98 feet) in length and weigh as much as 79 metric tons (88 tons). For comparison, the largest living land animal in the present day is the African elephant which can weigh up to 6.3 metric tons (7 tons). (Wikipedia.)
Albertosaurus – A genus of tyrannosaurid dinosaurs that lived in the late Cretaceous period. (See Cretaceous.) Specimens suggest they could measure up to 10 meters (33 feet) in length and weigh as much as 2.5 metric tons (2.8 tons). (Wikipedia.)
Ankylosaurus – A genus of armored dinosaurs that lived at the very end Cretaceous period. (See Cretaceous.) Specimens suggest they could measure up to 10.6 meters (35 feet) in length and weigh as much as 5.9 metric tons (6.5 tons). (Wikipedia.)
Ballistae – Plural form of ballista, an ancient weapon that hurled large stones, javelins, or bolts. The weapon dates back to the 4 th century BC Greece. (Wikipedia.)
Bambiraptor – A carnivorous dinosaur that lived in the late Cretaceous period. (See Cretaceous.) Estimated size for an adult would measure 1.3 meters (4.3 feet) in length and weigh 5 kilograms, (11 pounds). (Wikipedia.)
Brachylophosaurus – A genus of hadrosaur dinosaurs that lived in the late Cretaceous period. (See Cretaceous.) Estimates suggest that an adult could measure at least 9 to 11 meters (29 to 36 feet) in length and weigh as much as 7 metric tons, (7.7 tons). (Wikipedia.)
Clidastes – A genus of large carnivorous marine lizards called mosasaurs. An average size specimen could measure 2 to 4 meters (6.5 to 13 feet). A large one could be 6 meters (19.6 feet). It existed in the late Cretaceous period. (See Cretaceous.) (Wikipedia.)
Cretaceous – The Cretaceous period is defined as beginning 145 million years ago (mya) and lasting until approximately 66 mya. (Wikipedia.)
Lambeosaurus – A genus of hadrosaurid herbivore dinosaurs that lived in the late Cretaceous period. These dinosaurs had duckbills and could feed from trees as high as 4 meters (13 feet). (Wikipedia.)
mya – an acronym for “million years ago”, also “m.y.a”, used in astronomy, geology, and paleontology. (Wikipedia)
Nyctosaurus – A genus of nyctosaurid pterdactyloid pterosaur that lived in the late Cretaceous period. An adult could have a wingspan of 2 meters (6.5 feet). Compared to terrestrial dinosaurs Nyctosaurus were small bodied and weigh less than 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds). (See Cretaceous.) (Wikipedia.)
Utahraptor (meaning Utah’s predator) is a genus of large dromaeosaurid dinosaur that lived in North America during the Early Cretaceous period. It was a heavy-built, ground-dwelling, bipedal carnivore. Height: 1,8 – 2 m (At the hips), Length: 5 – 7 m, Mass: 300 – 1 000 kg (Adult, Estimated)
Pterosaur – Pronounced “tero saur”. Science considers pterosaurs to be flying lizards that are distinct from dinosaurs. Pterosaurs existed from the late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous period. (See Triassic.) (See Cretaceous.) (Wikipedia.)
Quetzalcoatlus – Pronounced “ket suhl kow at luhs”. A genus of pterosaurs. (Wikipedia.) Triassic – The Triassic period is defined as beginning approx 251 mya) and lasting until approximately 202 mya. (Wikipedia.)
Triceratops - a genus of herbivorous ceratopsid dinosaur that first appeared during the late Maastrichtian stage of the late Cretaceous period, about 68 million years ago (mya). It is one of the most recognizable of all dinosaurs and the best-known ceratopsid. It was also one of the largest, up to 9 metres (29.5 feet) long and 12 tonnes (13.2 tons) in weight. (Wikipedia.)
Tyrannosaurus rex – A bipedal carnivorous theropod dinosaur that lived in the late Cretaceous period. These dinosaurs could grow to lengths over 12.3 meters (40 feet) and up to 3.66 meters (12 feet) tall at the hips with a weight of 14 metric tons (15.4 tons). (Wikipedia.)
Watch – A security and/or law enforcement guard force as described for Prime City in this book.
Zuniceratops – Pronounced “Zooni ceratops”. A genus of ceratopsian herbivore dinosaurs having two horns and a head frill. It is thought to have been a herd animal. Specimens suggest a length of 3 to 3.5 meters (10 to 11.5 feet) and a weight of 100 to 150 kilograms (220 to 330 pounds). Height at the hips was approximately 1 meter (3 feet). (Wikipedia.)
Special note: While every effort was made to use dinosaurs of the Late Cretaceous Period existing in North America, this remains a work of fiction. Certain creative license was taken in instances where it better served the plot, for example, the Utahraptor.
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Primordial Earth - Book 2
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Sneak Preview
Chapter 1 - Moran
Moran leaned against the rough wooden table with both hands gripping the edges. On top lay a crude blueprint of Prime City. The paper was handmade, the ink blotchy, and edges creased. Still, every line was painstakingly drawn, and the measurements were precise. She’d made sure of that.
Around her were gathered a few members of the Rebel Faction. Bruce Copeland, her right-hand man, Patti Fry, her trusted advisor, Steven Yingling, a mole inside the Watch, and Kat Mewes, mistress to General Sikes and their latest recruit.
She pointed at a building not far from the Prime Hotel. “Right. My informant tells me that the latest harvest has been stored there while awaiting processing and distribution.”
“Informant?” Kat asked, her dark eyes boring into Moran’s. “Who is this informant?”
“That’s for me to know, Kat,” Moran replied, her tones clipped. She disliked being interrupted.
“How do we know we can trust this informant of yours?” Kat persisted.
Moran straightened up and pinned Kat with a sharp gaze. To her satisfaction, the woman began to squirm. “Are you questioning my judgment, Kat?”
“No, of course not,” Kat said with haste, her cheeks flushed.
“Good. Then let’s get back to business,” Moran said, leaning forward once more. “The harvest will only remain there for two more nights before it’s removed and distributed. Once that happens, it’s over. None of us will ever set eyes on that food again.”
“So, we need to make our move now,” Patti mused, her head bobbing as she eyed the map. Streaks of silver adorned her thick, auburn hair, but she was still a handsome woman. And a tough one too.
“Exactly,” Moran confirmed. “We’ll have to strike tomorrow night.”
“How much are we talking here?” Patti asked.
“We can’t take everything. We have nowhere to hide such a large amount of food and no way to transport it either. The best we can do is a fifth,” Moran said.
“A fifth,” Kat exclaimed. “It seems rather stupid to risk our lives for a few bags of fruit and vegetables.”
“Trust me, Kat. A fifth is plenty.
It will keep the Rebel Faction going for most of the year, freeing us up for more serious work,” Moran explained. “Besides, this won’t be the last harvest of the year.”
“I see,” Kat said, nodding slowly. “But what about meat?”
“The meat stores are running low. The hunting parties haven’t been out for weeks under Douglas’ orders. There’s no point in raiding them now.”
“That’s too bad,” Kat said. “I’m no vegetarian.”
“Me neither,” Bruce said with a low laugh.
“We’ll just have to make do with dried fish for now. We still have a stash stored away,” Moran said, allowing a small smile to play on her lips.
“Ugh, I’m so tired of fish,” Steven exclaimed.
“Yeah, right. The Watch eats better than all the rest of us, so who are you to complain?” Bruce asked in a good-natured fashion.
Steven laughed and rubbed his belly. “You have a point.”
“Bruce, I need you to arrange for a team,” Moran said.
“How many?” Bruce asked.
“At least twenty, all fighters, and all able to carry heavy backpacks. We’ll need wheelbarrows too,” Moran said.
“Won’t that make a noise?” Kat asked.
“Yes, that’s why we have to make sure the Watch is far away,” Moran said. “That’s where you come in, Steven. We need to know the guard’s schedule.”
“I’m on it.”
“We’ll also need a distraction,” Moran said. “I’ll arrange for that.”
“And I’ll ready our stores,” Patti said.
“Perfect. We’ll convene again tomorrow at sunset to go over the details. For now, you all know what to do,” Moran said.
“Except me,” Kat said. “What am I supposed to do?”
“You keep the General as far away from those stores as possible,” Moran said. “That’s your job.”
Kat shrugged. “That’s easy enough.”
“Then, I’ll see you all soon. Dismissed,” Moran said, watching as Kat sauntered out of the room, her luscious hips swaying from side to side. Though Moran’s age, the woman was untouched by time and a rare beauty by any standards. “Do you think we can trust her?”
Patti shook her head. “I don’t know. She could be a spy for Sikes and Douglas. Or, she could be sincere in her desire to see them burn.”
“Most likely, she’s simply bored and looking for excitement. Either way, we could use her for now,” Moran said. “I guess we’ll see tomorrow night. Just to be safe, arrange for a back-up team for support and a second escape route.”
“Will do,” Patti said, gathering up the map.
Moran slumped into the nearest chair, allowing herself to relax for the first time that day. Being the Rebel Faction leader wasn’t easy, and many a night, she wished she could simply disappear. Fade into the darkness and never return.
“You miss her, don’t you?” Patti asked.
“Who, Rogue?” Moran said. “Of course, I miss her. It feels as if a part of me has been torn away, leaving a gaping hole in my heart.”
“It’s never easy, losing a child,” Patti said, her face crinkling with remembered grief. “I still think about my Tobias every day.”
“I know, and I’m so sorry Patti,” Moran said. “Why don’t you make us a cup of tea? It will calm us both.”
“That sounds like an excellent idea,” Patti said, grabbing the kettle.
While she bustled about, Moran stared into the hearth, her eyes following the flickering flames’ patterns. In them, she saw Rogue, her daughter in all but blood. Petite, feisty, and beautiful. But that wasn’t what made her so special. It was her heart. Her boundless love and innocence despite everything she’d suffered.
Patti was right. It was hard to lose a child, but Rogue wasn’t lost. She was out there somewhere, wandering the vast wilderness. Moran knew it, just like she knew she’d see Rogue again. Where are you, Daughter? Hurry back, for I miss you sorely.
End of sneak preview. Available here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FDYG2TZ
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The Extinction Series | Book 1 | Primordial Earth Page 14
