FreeSpace Wiki - User contributions [en]

Terrans (Wings of Dawn)

2011-08-15T01:28:33Z

Rodo: /* The Terran-Cyrvan War */

{{WoDArticle}}
In the ''[[Wings of Dawn]]'' universe, '''Terrans''' have become a space faring race. Many Terran characters serve as protagonists in the ''[[Wings of Dawn]]'' story.
==Physiology==
[[Image:MisuzuJustice.png|right|200px|thumb|Misuzu and Justice, two Terrans.]]
Thanks to generations of genetic tinkering, Terrans have grown to be a strong and intelligent race. The average life span is around 140 years and signs of old age only start to set in around the 70 year mark. The average male height is between 190-220cm, the average female height tends to variate between 165-200cm

==History==
===Early history===
One of the biggest events in the history of humankind happened in the year 2198 of the old calendar. The year in which Einstein's 'I do not know how the third World War will be fought, but I can tell you what they will use in the Fourth, rocks!' quote was proven wrong. World war three only lasted one day and only one type of warhead was used: Nuclear flavored.

When the dust settled one clear victor emerged, the western continents. Thanks to highly advanced missile interception technology and large scale experimental energy shield generators the west managed to get through a nuclear holocaust with relative minor damage. Reconstruction efforts started almost immediately afterwards and with in a span of 20 years the remains of humanity managed to terraform a nuclear wasteland into rich grasslands.

While it was never clearly recorded who fired the first shot in the war, it is generally claimed that it was planned ahead by the western continents. The most used evidence for these claims are the previously unknown technologies (terraforming, energy shields, altering genetics) and the almost unreal fast recovery of the suffered damage.

Shortly after the war the remaining countries (West Europe, North America, Australia and Japan) united into one nation, the 'united earth union'. A Technocracy government type was instated and much value was placed in technological advancement. Genetic modifications on unborn babies was also conducted on a large scale, making the new generation highly resistant to diseases, stronger and more intelligent. Certain personality traits that were deemed 'unwelcome to the continued survival of mankind' were also removed. Having your child undergoing genetic modifications was not a choice.

It wasn't long before the now united mankind started shifting their gaze to the stars. With new drive technology, the other planets within the Sol system now became within range and before long humanity set out to terraform and colonize the moon, mars and later on the moons of Saturn, Neptune and Jupiter

===United Earth Union===
[[File:Dawn.png|left|thumb|200px|Dawn, a genetically engineered Terran from the UEU period.]]
The United Earth Union was formed after the third world war and was both the government and the military for the Terrans for over two hundred years. As a Technocracy, it placed great value on technology and science and many consider this the reason why humanity started successfully expanding into space so soon after a world devastating war. The people in ruling positions were selected on skill and talent. The UEU controlled all colonies from the central capital on Earth. The UEU also instated the new calender based on standard time units instead of the day and night cycle of the Earth.

Eventually however, it grew corrupt over the years when people unfit for positions refused to give up their seat of power and more and more 'unethical' research was being conducted. The UEU was overthrown when the colonies rebelled and reached Sol after a short war. In its last moments it destroyed a lot of evidence of 'genetic crimes'

===The Terran-Cyrvan War===
When the Cyrva made first contact with the Terrans in the Algol system they were surprised just how much the Terrans resembled them in appearance. But it also became clear to them that the Terrans are but a young and inexperienced race and needed to be protected against their own destructive tendencies. Likewise the Terrans did not expect that their first contact would be with 'space elves' but welcomed the encounter. Before long, this joy started to turn into irritation. The Cyrva were looking down on them and soon started suggesting that it would be best for the LSF to disarm themselves and let the CSA handle the defenses of the Terrans. The Terrans refused and in response mobilized and send a large fleet into the Algol system and claimed the system as their own. This caused the Cyrva to decide that a quick military victory would be prudent to show the Terrans just how powerless they are.

The LSF fleet consisted of 7000 capital ships and over 18000 fighters, well organized and in formation for a 'line vs line' type of battle. The CSA entered the Algol system with 4500 capships and around 12000 MCWS. What the Terrans did not know at that time, was that only 750 of those ships would be actually invading. The CSA opened the battle by subspace jumping behind the rearguard of the LSF and taking out the command ships of the fleet. This caused a lot of confusion among the LSF lines, they still had a large CSA force in front of them around the node and they did not receive any orders to turn around and engage the fleet behind them. The attacking CSA fleet wasted no time and did an other jump, this time to the outer left flank of the LSF line and started destroying the LSF ships there from a flanking position. After the situation became clear, rear admiral Zego assumed command of the fleet and ordered all ships to engage the attacking CSA fleet. By this time however, the LSF had already lost over a thousand ships and three thousand fighters. Whereas the CSA had only suffered a few MCWS losses.

In response to the LSF now actively trying to engage them, the CSA fleet started backing up, keeping the LSF ships just inside their own range while staying out of range from the LSF heavy weaponry. Furious, rear admiral Zego ordered all ships to hold position and ordered a massive fighter and bomber strike. In response the CSA fleet also held position and launched their MCWS. Zego was aiming for this moment and ordered all capital ships forward again and to continue forward 'until you can see the white of their eyes'. This maneuver was successful, the LSF managed to close in and did not allowed the CSA fleet to get away again. However what Zego could not anticipate was just how vastly superior CSA technology was. The CSA point defense weapons ripped through LSF ships like a knife through hot butter, while the LSF heavy turrets could hardly penetrate the CSA shielding. The LSF fleet started breaking up and retreated back to the Lyrae node.

The end result: The CSA lost four frigates, two destroyers and one cruiser was damaged. 500 MCWS were lost. The LSF lost 5000 capital ships, of which 3000 were disabled and taken prisoner, and over 6000 fighters.
[[File:Abyssstation.png|thumb|250px|right|The Abyss system was left as a monument, a reminder of a long but pointless war.]]
The CSA then continued on into the Lyrae node, easily crushing the blockade that was put up in a hurry and seized control of the system. The Cyrva predicted that the Terrans had no more then three systems under their control. The fleet was split, one was send to the Tauri system, the other to the Librae system. Both encountered fierce resistance but eventually the CSA ensured control of these systems too. After a whole year of fighting, the CSA fleets entered Sol and Harcon. It not only seemed like the Terrans had far more systems then initially thought but also like they were rapidly producing new weapon systems and more effective ship designs. The CSA fleets received little in the terms of reinforcements and were slowly but surely starting to lose fighting power. One more year passed, Terran causalities and losses numbered in the thousands, the CSA fleet was down to 457 capital ships. Each ship they lost caused a cheer in the LSF fleets as they had realized that the invading fleet received little to no new reinforcements. Some ships even had a counter to keep track. The Cyrvan public opinion was starting to turn more and more against this invasion. Perhaps the Terrans were not as immature as a race as they had thought? Hearing stories from families that had lost their loved ones also did little good for the support of this war.

The Cyrvan fleet commander, Fer'opal, started realizing that in order to reach the Terran homeworld he would need the fleet currently fighting in the Harcon system as well and ordered both fleets to regroup in the Lyrae system. The LSF took this as a sign that the enemy was on the run and launched full scale counter attacks, retaking Librae and Tauri and putting immense pressure on the CSA fleet in Lyrae. Before Fer'opal could launch a counter attack of his own however, he received orders to return to CSA space. A more diplomatic approach would be taken, the Terrans had shown that they would not need the Cyrva to watch over them but that they could stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

The LSF followed them through to Algol and initiated a fierce orbital bombardment on the military outpost the CSA had established on Algol prime. Devastating the planet as the crust was broken on several places. Turning it into a hellish place of lava and brimstone.

After almost five years of space warfare, peace was signed. The Algol system was declared neutral space and renamed to Abyss. It was to be left as a monument, a reminder of a long but pointless war.

===Today===
====League of Terran Worlds====
The League Star Forces is the military branch of the current Terran government, the League of Terran Worlds. The LTW is a Confederation of all Terran controlled systems. The biggest difference with the UEU is that each colony is now allowed to make its own laws and is free from the control of some far away government. Each planet has its government elected by democratic means. The prime minister of each planet serves as a representative for the central LTW meetings.

Each system is responsible for building and maintaining a fleet, which is put at the disposal of the LSF. LSF high command consists of a fleet admiral of each system. The Intelligence branch of the LSF consists mostly of people from the Lyrae system and is known for being highly skilled at its job. Fleet commanders have learned that they can usually trust the info they receive from Intelligence.

====Joint Guardian Angel Strike Force====
[[File:JGASF.png|300px|center]]

The Joint Guardian Angel Strike Force is a joint project between the Terran and Cyrvan navies. Students from both races receive their training at Abyss station and after five year will end up serving on a Guardian Angel class carrier, which will be the center piece of the new battlegroup. The program is not aimed to increase the fighting power of both races but to encourage cooperation, interaction and friendship between each other. So that both races will understand each other better and that a war will never break out again.
Each year there will be a new Guardian Angel class carrier for the next class of graduating students. The 1st JGASF has been assigned to LSF space. The 2nd will be assigned to CSA space, the 3rd will be assigned to LSF space again and so forth.

Abyss station is a large space station orbitting the waste land of Abyss Prime. Has design traits of both Terran and Cyrvan architecture. Functions as the primary trading hub between the two races. While it has a strong shield generator, it is only armed with a few point defense systems.

===Timeline===
*'''NC0000''' - ''Start of the new calender''
*'''NC0025''' - All of the suitable moons in Sol terraformed and colonized
*'''NC0027''' - IO shipyards constructed
*'''NC0030''' - The first starlance discovered
*'''NC0038''' - After intensive research, a jumpdrive that is capable of entering the starlance is developed.
*'''NC0040''' - First successful manned jump through the starlance to the Tauri system.
*'''NC0045''' - The third ship that is starlance jump capable, the UEU Explorer, is missing after its jump to Tauri.
*'''NC0052''' - An outpost is established on Tauri II and soon after a colony is established. Making it the first human colony outside the Sol sector.
*'''NC0053-70''' - More starlances are discovered. In this time frame colonies in the Polaris, Grens, Harcon, Silva, Lyrae, Librae and Phoenicis are established. Greatly expanding the human sphere of influence and giving the human race nearly infinite resources.
----
*'''NC0071''' - The colonies are starting to feel oppressed by the Earth centered government. Genetic modifications are still being enforced despite the fact that the human population now numbers in the billions. The cry for reform becomes louder with the day, the UEU government however has slowly grown corrupt over the years and outright rejects all proposals involving reformation of the government.
----
*'''NC0072''' - Fed up with being treated as second rate citizens and having to abide by old laws and the UEU government dead set in its ways, Librae and Phoenicis declared open revolt. The Silva shipyards supported the rebellion in secret by providing them with the latest cutting edge fighters and weapons.
----
*'''NC0073''' - The UEU is slow to respond to the uprise and soon starts to lose control of the situation. In response to the uprise the UEU sends a fleet too each revolting system but by the time they arrived they had already lost half their force due to defectors and ambushes staged by mercenaries from Harcon. Encourage by the success of the Rebellion, Tauri, Harcon and Polaris each joined the revolt.
----
*'''NC0074''' - After a short but bloody fleet encounter in Sol between UEU loyalists and rebel ships the United Earth Union's reign came to an end. From its ashes arose a new government that would no longer function with Earth as its center point. All fleets from the colonies were united under the LSF flag, League space forces.
----
*'''NC0077''' - The new LSF is going strong, the economy is in top health, political reforms have raised the morale of the population and new technological advances are being made. A scouting fleet in the newly discovered Algol system encounters ships of unknown design. First contact was established with the Cyrva. See the Terran-Cyrva war entry for details on the encounter.
----
*'''NC0078-83''' - Terran-Cyrva war
*'''NC0084''' - Algol renamed to Abyss and declared a neutral zone. Peace was signed.
*'''NC0085''' - Relations between the two races improved at a rapid pace after the war was over, the main two reasons for this was that the CSA never invaded any planets and managed to minimize casualties on the LSF side by disabling most capships instead of destroying them and the fact that a Cyrva and a Terran closely resembles each other in appearance. Before long the two races signed an alliance.
----
*'''NC0086''' - New colonies were established in the Vega system
*'''NC0089''' - Ravi colonized
*'''NC0090''' - Alpha Draconis discovered
*'''NC0094''' - The idea of a Joint space academy was proposed
*'''NC0096''' - After two years of heavy debate the idea is rejected in its current form
*'''NC0102''' - Alpha draconis colonized
*'''NC0128''' - The alliance continues going strong and the idea of a joint starbase&academy project is once again proposed
*'''NC0131''' - The project is accepted by both parties and the construction of Abyss station gets the green light
*'''NC0135''' - Construction of Abyss station completed, work on the Academy section begins
*'''NC0138''' - Construction is finished but the academy is not yet taken into use because of disagreement on what teaching methods to use
*'''NC0140''' - The first Terran-Cyrva academy finally opens its doors.
*'''NC0145''' - Exams of the first class, start of ''[[Wings of Dawn]]''...

==Ships==
===UEU===
*[[UEU Ray]]
*[[Star]]
*[[Node station]]
*[[UEU Explorer]]
*[[SCC MkII]]
===LSF===
*[[LSF Ray MkIII]]
*[[LSF Ray MkIII-E]]
*[[LSF Ray MkIII-W]]
*[[LSF Ray MkIII-WE]]
*[[LSF Ray MkIV]]
*[[LSF Caliburn]]
*[[LSF Caliburn-C]]
*[[LSF Caliburn-D]]
*[[LSF Kaze]]
*[[LSF Kaze-B]]
*[[LSF Hazel-D]]
*[[LSF Skirmisher]]
*[[LSF Cavalier]]
*[[LSF Challenger]]
*[[LSF Challenger II]]
*[[LSF Crusader]]
*[[LSF Champion]]
*[[LSF Guardian Angel]]
*[[Civilian transport]]
*[[Civilian medical transport]]
*[[Civilian cargo hauler]]
*[[Civilian supply ship]]
*[[SCC Mk VI]]

[[Category:Wings of Dawn Species]]

Various Terms

2009-08-16T14:47:30Z

Rodo: /* Abbreviations of campaign names */

This is a list of '''terms, abbreviations, and other jargon''' that the FreeSpace community uses.

==Fan Terminology==
* '''AAA''' - Anti-figther beam
* '''AWOL''' - Absent without leave. In FreeSpace, it is used to refer to the debriefing stage that tells the pilot when he left the area without being authorized to do so.
* '''CM''' - Countermeasure
* '''CB''' - Command Briefing.
* '''CBAnim''' - Command Briefing animation.
* '''Colly''' - The [[GTVA Colossus|GTVA ''Colossus'']]
* '''[[FRED]]''' - FReespace EDitor. The program created by Volition to make the mission and campaigns for both FreeSpace games. Released to the public along with said games.
* '''SEXP''' - Symbolic EXPressions. Special function strings within FRED that allow for complex mission objectives and other things to be carried out by a mission bulider.
* '''[[Portal:FreeSpace 1 | FS1]]''' - Descent: FreeSpace, The Great War. Also called Conflict: FreeSpace, The Great War in Europe. The first game of the series.
* '''[[Portal:FreeSpace 2 | FS2]]''' - FreeSpace 2. The second game of the series.
* '''[[FreeSpace 3 | FS3]]''' - FreeSpace 3. Would be the third game of the series, but it won't happen. There is no FS3.
* '''FS2_Open''' - The open source version of FS2.
* '''FSO''' - The open source version of FS2. Used interchangably with FS2_Open.
* '''GOG''' or '''GoG'''- Good Old Games. A digital distribution website that sells copies of FreeSpace 2. See [[Getting FreeSpace]].
* '''GW''' - Game-warden - Smaller FS2 community.
* '''Retail''' - The original, unaltered version of FreeSpace 2. (=not FreeSpace Open)
* '''RTB''' - "Return to base." Used to refer to the directive that tells the player to return to base.
* '''SCP''' - Source Code Project. The people responsible for creating, maintaining and debugging FS2_Open.
* '''V''' or '''[V]''' - [[Volition]] Inc., the developer of FreeSpace and FreeSpace 2.
* '''VBB''' - Volition Bulletin Board. The boards Volition maintained as a centre for the FS community. Now defunct.
* '''HUD''' - Heads-up Display.
* '''HOTU''' - Home of the Underdogs. A website used to have some copes of FreeSpace 2 for purchase. See also GOG
* '''HLP''' - [[Hard Light Productions]], the hub of the FreeSpace community.
* '''Lucy''' - The [[SD Lucifer|SD ''Lucifer'']]
* '''VW''' - Volition Watch, developer fansite covering the FreeSpace, Red Faction and Summoner series. Awaiting demolition.
* '''F2S''' - FreeSpace 2 Sector - Smaller FS2 community.
* '''MediaVP''' or '''MVP''' - VP files with graphical enhancements for FreeSpace Open
* '''SG''' - Sectorgame - Network which hosts F2S. Often used interchangably (though inaccurately) with F2S.
* '''TC''' - Total Conversion. See [[Total conversions]]
* '''FS2NetD''' - FS2 Network Game Monitor - Utility used to monitor FS2 network games being operated on the FS2Net servers.
* '''FSPort''' - FreeSpace 1 ported to run on FreeSpace 2.

===Abbreviations of campaign names===
:''This list is incomplete and not necessarily up-to-date. See also [[Narwhal's Campaign List]]
*The 158th: The 158th Banshee Squadron
*AAB: Ascension and Beyond (dead)
*[[AG]]: Alcibiades' Gamble
*AHTW: All Hands to War (not hosted at HLP)
*AotD: Angels of the Damned (not hosted at HLP)
*[[ASW]]: Ancient-Shivan War
*TAP: The Apocalypse Project
*TBP: The Bablyon Project
*BP: Blue Planet
**AoA: Age of Acuarius
**WiH: War in Heaven
*BtRL: Beyond the Red Line (not hosted at HLP, it can be found on GW)
*BWO: Blackwater Operations
*CoW: Casualties of War
*CoS: Nukemod - Children of Shiva (also refered to as Nukemod-CoS or just Nukemod)
*[[CtS]]: Crossing the Styx
*DEM: Deus Ex Machina
*FA: FRED Academy (This is not a campaign)
*FotG: Fate of the Galaxy (also known as the Star Wars Conversion)
*FSC or FSPort: FreeSpace Conversion or FreeSpace Port (they're the same project)
*FSU: FreeSpace Upgrade Project
*INF: Inferno, can refer to any Inferno mod
**INFA or INFA1: Inferno Alliance
**INFA2: Sequel of INFA1 or INFA
**INFR1: Inferno Release 1
**INFASA: Inferno Alliance Standalone
**INF SCP: Inferno SCP
*ITHOV: Into the Halls of Valhalla
*JAD: Just Another Day
*JtEP: The Journey to Epsilon Pegasi
*LM: The Lightning Marshal
*MT: Machina Terra
*MG: Mind Games
*NTV: Neo-Terra Victorious
*OTT: Over the Top
*PI: The Procyon Insurgency
*RR: Renegade Resurgence
*SA: Scroll of Antankharzim
*SoL: Shadows of Lylat (not hosted at HLP, it can be found on GW)
*ST: Silent Threat
*ST:R: Silent Threat: Reborn (a FreeSpace Port campaign)
*SWC: See FotG (Fate of the Galaxy)
*TI: Twisted Infinities
*TotT: Teeth of the Tiger (Also ToT)
*TTP: The Titan Project
*TS: Technological Superiority (discontinued)
*TVWP: Terran-Vasudan War Project
*WCS: Wing Commander Saga

===File extensions===
These are FreeSpace-related extensions only.
*.ani - Animation files such as explosions
*.fc2 - FreeSpace 2 campaign
*.fs2 - FreeSpace 2 mission
*.fsm - FreeSpace 1 mission
*.pof - Model files with additional gameplay-related information like position of subsystems, turrets, etc.
*.tbl - Table file
*.tbm - Modular table
*.vp - Volition package files

===Multiplayer Terminology===
Following lists some of the terms commonly seen on multiplayer chat screens.
*'''AE''': Area-Effect weapon. These include EMP missiles, Infyrnos and Piranhas.
*'''AI:''' Computer-controlled ships
*'''Coop''': Cooperative game. All players are on the same side and work together to accomplish the mission objectives.
*'''Dogfight''': A free-for-all type of game, essentially the Deathmatch of FreeSpace. All players are on their own and fight for survival.
*'''EMP:''' The EMP missile
*'''Fire:''' The Infyrno missile
*'''Fish:''' The Piranha missile
* '''Lag''': "Jumpiness" in a multiplayer game due to slow Internet connections. FreeSpace has always had a lag problem, and even modern, high-speed connections have trouble hosting and playing online FreeSpace games. Can be greatly migitated by having all players set their "Object Update" setting to Low.
* '''Lag bombing''': Double-linking your secondary slot, firing, then quickly switching to your other secondary slot and firing it. Continue cycling and firing secondary slots until the server finally updates and you must wait to reload. This is often outlawed in multiplayer games.
*'''Lock/Unlock:''' Refers to the "Lock" button on the mission briefing screen. The host (or in TvT game, team captains) have to click the "Lock" button to allow other pilots/wingmates to make ship/loadout changes.
*'''LOW (object updates):''' Setting the "Object Updates" on "LOW" on the multiplayer options page - the preferred setting for MP clients. Limits the connection bit rate between the MP host and the client in order to make the game run smoother for everyone. Using something else than LOW against host instructions may get you kicked! Later FS2 Open builds provide a means for the host to force low object updates (the -cap_object_update flag).
*'''SD:''' Self Destruct (by pressing SHIFT+END)
*'''STD rules:''' Standard Rules - A set of rules commonly followed in TvT matches: no AI, no EMP, no Fire, no Fish, no SD allowed during the game.
* '''Tab loading''': A procedure by which server lag allows one to load a ship with a weapon that it isn't able to carry by default, eg, Helios on a Perseus. Specifically, keep the TAB key held down while you switch ships and quickly jump to the weapons loadout screen to load a prohibited weapon on to your new ship. The server still thinks that you have your old ship selected, and so its "weapons permissions" will not update in time to prevent you from loading something illegal. This usually considered a cheat, but some of the old multiplayer maps were actually made to acommodate this tactic.
*'''TvT''': Team versus Team game. The players are divided into two sides and fight for supremacy.

[[Category:Multiplayer]]

==Ingame Terminology==
*'''ETS''' - Energy Transfer System
*'''HUD''' - Heads-up Display. The interface the player uses while flying.
*'''Subsystem''' - Targetable and destroyable systems of a ship, e. g. radars, engines.

===Designation Prefixes===
* GT_ - [[Galactic Terran Alliance | Galactic Terran]]
* NT_ - [[Neo-Terran Front | Neo-Terran]]
* GV_ - Galactic Vasudan
* PV_ - [[Parliamentary Vasudan Empire | Parliamentary Vasudan]]
* GTV_ - [[Galactic Terran-Vasudan Alliance | Galactic Terran-Vasudan]]
* S_ - [[Shivan]]
* A_ - [[Ancient]] (non-canon)
* HL_ - [[Hammer of Light]] (non-canon, but very commonly used)

===Designation Suffixes===
* _A - [[Advanced Warning and Control System | AWACS]]
* _B - Bomber
* _C - Cruiser
* _Ca - Carrier (non-canon)
* _Cv - Corvette
* _D - [[Destroyer]]
* _Dr - Drone
* _Dn - Dreadnaught (non-canon)
* _EP - Escape Pod
* _F - Fighter
* _Fg - Frigate (non-canon)
* _Ff - Frigate (non-canon)
* _Fr or FR - Freighter
* _G - Gas Miner
* _H - Hive (non-canon)
* _I - Installation
* _J - [[Juggernaut]]
* _M - Medical Ship
* _NB - Navigation Buoy
* _S - Support Ship
* _SG - Sentry Gun
* _SJ - Super Juggernaut (non-canon)
* _T - Transport
* _W - Weapon ([[Weapon Comparison (FS1) |FreeSpace 1]])([[Weapon Comparison (FS2) |FreeSpace 2]])

===Fighter Units and Roles===

*'''Wing''' - A unit of fightercraft, varying in size from one to six ships. The normal number is four. Ships of a wing are labelled by their wing name and a number (i.e. Alpha 1, Alpha 2, and so on). The GTVA uses the Greek alphabet for its wings and the signs of the zodiac for hostile wings. In FS1, Shivan wings were named after Hindu gods. '''Wing''' is also sometimes used for freighter or transport groups.
*'''Squadron''' - Refers to an organized group of pilots, e. g. [[242nd Suicide Kings]]
*'''Stealth Recon''' - Fighters that specialize in infiltrating hostile territory and acquiring information without being detected. The [[GTF Pegasus|GTF ''Pegasus'']] and the [[GVF Ptah|GVF ''Ptah'']] are the only canon stealth fighters.
*'''Interceptor''' - A fighter role that aims at the destruction of hostile fighters and bombers. Interceptors are fast and agile, but are weakly shielded and armored.
*'''Space Superiority''' - A versatile fighter role that is capable in all sorts of roles, except for bombing. A celebrated example of a Space Superiority fighter is the [[GTF Myrmidon|GTF ''Myrmidon'']]
*'''Heavy Assault''' - Heavy Assault fighters have tremendous secondary capacity, heavy shielding and armoring at the expense of speed and maneuverability
*'''Bomber''' - A bomber is a very heavy craft that specializes in carrying bombs. They attack freighter-size ship and above. Bombers are very slow and easily taken down without fighter escorts. Bombers are further categorized into light, medium, and heavy bombers.

===Ship Types===

'''Cruiser''' - Smallest combatant capital craft classification. Cruisers are at least several times the size of a fighter or bomber and possess mainly antifighter weaponry, with one or two (or in the case of the [[SC Rakshasa|SC ''Rakshasa'']], three) anticapital weapons. The defensive fire of a cruiser is rarely capable of stopping a determined bomber wing, and most are vulnerable to even a well-handled lone fighter. Unable to carry fighters. Canonical examples include the [[GTC Fenris|''Fenris'']] and the [[GTC Leviathan|''Leviathan'']]. In FS1, cruisers were deployed for both offensive and defensive tasks by all sides to any situation not requiring the attention of a destroyer. In FS2 Shivan cruisers are often deployed in mainline antiship and strike roles, while GTVA cruisers tend to be used as escorts and patrol craft.

'''Corvette''' - Middle ground combatant capital craft, falling between the cruiser and the destroyer in size and capablity. Equipped with between two and four anticapital weapons and considerably more impressive antifighter armament than a cruiser. Corvettes are capable of defending themselves adequately against a small number of enemy fighters or bombers. With the exception of the [[SCv Moloch|SCv ''Moloch'']], corvettes are unable to carry fighters of their own. Corvettes appear to handle most of the antiship and strike duties for the GTVA fleet; Shivan corvettes are extremely rare and have only been deployed against GTVA destroyers canonically. Whether this is their role or not is guesswork.

'''Destroyer''' - Large combatant capital craft, combining the functions of destroying enemy ships and transporting fighters. Destroyers vary wildly in armament and effectiveness against different types of targets. They will have at least one heavy-calibur anticapital weapon and probably several more, plus a number of cruiser-corvette anticapital weapons. Destroyers tend to need fighter cover more than corvettes; some of them actually mount fewer antifighter weapons, and all have much larger amounts of surface area that needs to be defended. Any situation with the direct involvement of a destroyer-class ship is by definition serious.

'''Superdestroyer''' - Bigger, meaner, and tougher than a destroyer, yet too small for the juggernaut classification; first applied well before the juggernaut classification came into existence. Only the [[GTD Hades|''Hades'']] and [[SD Lucifer|''Lucifer'']] have canonically been given this classification. The nature of the canonical superdestroyers was such that any appearance by them indicates ''the'' major effort by the controlling side. Their success is often decisive for that system, while their failure is a blow that is difficult to recover from.

'''Juggernaut''' - The pinnacle of combatant capital craft, a juggernaut is capable of making mincemeat out of an enemy fleet singlehanded and is superbly equipped to combat other capital craft. Due to its large surface area its defenses against fightercraft attack are generally somewhat thinly spread, but a juggernaut's sheer ability to absorb damage means that only another juggernaut or a mass attack by corvettes and destroyers is capable of destroying one in anything like a timely manner. Only the [[SJ Sathanas|SJ ''Sathanas'']] has canonically been given this classification, though the ''Colossus'' could also be classified as juggernaut. The presence of a juggernaut, like a superdestroyer, indicates the controlling side considers the mission absolutely essential; decisive for the system if not the campaign or the entire war.

'''Installation''' - A space station, described as "installation" because of its size, self-sufficiency, and permanence. The only installation class canonically known is the [[GTI Arcadia|Arcadia]]. The [[Galactic Terran-Vasudan Alliance|GTVA's]] naming system for installations generally includes something indicating their nature. Installation Riveria, Tombaugh Station, [[Enif Station]], and the Vega Installation are examples.

{{non-canon section|

'''Carrier''' - Ship of any size whose primary purpose is to carry fightercraft, whether directly into combat or standing off and lending fightercraft support to ongoing operations as needed.

'''Frigate''' - Semi-canonical ship class, both the Hippocrates and the Iceni have been referred to as frigates; the normally accepted role of a frigate is that of a pocket destroyer, lacking a fighterbay and fighter support facilities/crews enabling the ship to be shrunk down to only slightly bigger than a corvette.

'''Dreadnought''' - Generally understood to be a destroyer-sized craft, but built for the sole purpose of ship-to-ship combat and lacking a fighterbay or supporting a very limited number of fighters purely for self-defense.}}

===Weapons===
*'''AAA''' or '''AA''' - Anti-fighter beam cannon
*'''Aspect-seeking''' - A type of secondary that must acquire a lock to track the target. See [[GTM Harpoon]].
*'''Blob turret''' - A primary weapon-based, warship-mounted turret. [[Terran Turret]] is a prototypical example of it.
*'''Countermeasure''' or '''CM''' - An anti-missile defensive mechanism for fighter-sized craft.
*'''Dumbfire''' - Secondary weapons cannot acquire any kind of lock on the target. See [[GTM Tempest]].
*'''Heat-seeking''' - A type of secondary weapon that acquires instant lock on the nearest target and chases it until it gets out of its cone.
*'''Primary''' - Primary weapons in ''FreeSpace'' are energy-based lasers.
*'''Secondary''' - Secondary weapons in ''FreeSpace'' are missiles and bombs.
*'''Slash beam''' - A slash beam is a type of beam weapon.
*'''Swarm missile''' - Swarm missiles are secondary weapons that are fired in multiple numbers. See [[GTM Hornet]]

==Terms related to modelling==
*Greeble: Small piece of detail which serve no other purpose only to make a ship look better.
*LOD: Level of Detail. The further you get away from a ship, the less detailed it will be rendered.
*TrueView: A plugin utility for [[trueSpace]]. Ideal for building hierarchy. However, not a must.
*Single-part turret: A single-part turret, is, in a word, a turret without any barrels.
*Multi-part turret: A multi-part turret is, in a word, a turret with one, two or three barrels.

[[Category:Lists]]

Various Terms

2009-07-01T23:31:39Z

Rodo: /* Abbreviations of campaign names */

This is a list of '''terms, abbreviations, and other jargon''' that the FreeSpace community uses.

==Fan Terminology==
* '''AAA''' - Anti-figther beam
* '''AWOL''' - Absent without leave. In FreeSpace, it is used to refer to the debriefing stage that tells the pilot when he left the area without being authorized to do so.
* '''CM''' - Countermeasure
* '''CB''' - Command Briefing.
* '''CBAnim''' - Command Briefing animation.
* '''Colly''' - The [[GTVA Colossus|GTVA ''Colossus'']]
* '''[[FRED]]''' - FReespace EDitor. The program created by Volition to make the mission and campaigns for both FreeSpace games. Released to the public along with said games.
* '''SEXP''' - Symbolic EXPressions. Special function strings within FRED that allow for complex mission objectives and other things to be carried out by a mission bulider.
* '''[[Portal:FreeSpace 1 | FS1]]''' - Descent: FreeSpace, The Great War. Also called Conflict: FreeSpace, The Great War in Europe. The first game of the series.
* '''[[Portal:FreeSpace 2 | FS2]]''' - FreeSpace 2. The second game of the series.
* '''[[FreeSpace 3 | FS3]]''' - FreeSpace 3. Would be the third game of the series, but it won't happen. There is no FS3.
* '''FS2_Open''' - The open source version of FS2.
* '''FSO''' - The open source version of FS2. Used interchangably with FS2_Open.
* '''GOG''' or '''GoG'''- Good Old Games. A digital distribution website that sells copies of FreeSpace 2. See [[Getting FreeSpace]].
* '''GW''' - Game-warden - Smaller FS2 community.
* '''Retail''' - The original, unaltered version of FreeSpace 2. (=not FreeSpace Open)
* '''RTB''' - "Return to base." Used to refer to the directive that tells the player to return to base.
* '''SCP''' - Source Code Project. The people responsible for creating, maintaining and debugging FS2_Open.
* '''V''' or '''[V]''' - [[Volition]] Inc., the developer of FreeSpace and FreeSpace 2.
* '''VBB''' - Volition Bulletin Board. The boards Volition maintained as a centre for the FS community. Now defunct.
* '''HUD''' - Heads-up Display.
* '''HOTU''' - Home of the Underdogs. A website used to have some copes of FreeSpace 2 for purchase. See also GOG
* '''HLP''' - [[Hard Light Productions]], the hub of the FreeSpace community.
* '''Lucy''' - The [[SD Lucifer|SD ''Lucifer'']]
* '''VW''' - Volition Watch, developer fansite covering the FreeSpace, Red Faction and Summoner series. Awaiting demolition.
* '''F2S''' - FreeSpace 2 Sector - Smaller FS2 community.
* '''MediaVP''' or '''MVP''' - VP files with graphical enhancements for FreeSpace Open
* '''SG''' - Sectorgame - Network which hosts F2S. Often used interchangably (though inaccurately) with F2S.
* '''TC''' - Total Conversion. See [[Total conversions]]
* '''FS2NetD''' - FS2 Network Game Monitor - Utility used to monitor FS2 network games being operated on the FS2Net servers.
* '''FSPort''' - FreeSpace 1 ported to run on FreeSpace 2.

===Abbreviations of campaign names===
:''This list is incomplete and not necessarily up-to-date. See also [[Narwhal's Campaign List]]
*The 158th: The 158th Banshee Squadron
*AAB: Ascension and Beyond (dead)
*[[AG]]: Alcibiades' Gamble
*AHTW: All Hands to War (not hosted at HLP)
*AotD: Angels of the Damned (not hosted at HLP)
*[[ASW]]: Ancient-Shivan War
*TAP: The Apocalypse Project
*TBP: The Bablyon Project
*BP: Blue Planet
*BtRL: Beyond the Red Line (not hosted at HLP, it can be found on GW)
*BWO: Blackwater Operations
*CoW: Casualties of War
*CoS: Nukemod - Children of Shiva (also refered to as Nukemod-CoS or just Nukemod)
*[[CtS]]: Crossing the Styx
*DEM: Deus Ex Machina
*FA: FRED Academy (This is not a campaign)
*FotG: Fate of the Galaxy (also known as the Star Wars Conversion)
*FSC or FSPort: FreeSpace Conversion or FreeSpace Port (they're the same project)
*FSU: FreeSpace Upgrade Project
*INF: Inferno, can refer to any Inferno mod
*INFA or INFA1: Inferno Alliance
*INFA2: Sequel of INFA1 or INFA
*INFR1: Inferno Release 1
*INFASA: Inferno Alliance Standalone
*INF SCP: Inferno SCP
*ITHOV: Into the Halls of Valhalla
*JAD: Just Another Day
*JtEP: The Journey to Epsilon Pegasi
*LM: The Lightning Marshal
*MT: Machina Terra
*MG: Mind Games
*NTV: Neo-Terra Victorious
*PI: The Procyon Insurgency
*RR: Renegade Resurgence
*SA: Scroll of Antankharzim
*SoL: Shadows of Lylat (not hosted at HLP, it can be found on GW)
*ST: Silent Threat
*ST:R: Silent Threat: Reborn (a FreeSpace Port campaign)
*SWC: See FotG (Fate of the Galaxy)
*TI: Twisted Infinities
*TotT: Teeth of the Tiger (Also ToT)
*TTP: The Titan Project
*TS: Technological Superiority (discontinued)
*TVWP: Terran-Vasudan War Project
*WCS: Wing Commander Saga

===File extensions===
These are FreeSpace-related extensions only.
*.ani - Animation files such as explosions
*.fc2 - FreeSpace 2 campaign
*.fs2 - FreeSpace 2 mission
*.fsm - FreeSpace 1 mission
*.pof - Model files with additional gameplay-related information like position of subsystems, turrets, etc.
*.tbl - Table file
*.tbm - Modular table
*.vp - Volition package files

===Multiplayer Terminology===
Following lists some of the terms commonly seen on multiplayer chat screens.
*'''AE''': Area-Effect weapon. These include EMP missiles, Infyrnos and Piranhas.
*'''AI:''' Computer-controlled ships
*'''Coop''': Cooperative game. All players are on the same side and work together to accomplish the mission objectives.
*'''Dogfight''': A free-for-all type of game, essentially the Deathmatch of FreeSpace. All players are on their own and fight for survival.
*'''EMP:''' The EMP missile
*'''Fire:''' The Infyrno missile
*'''Fish:''' The Piranha missile
* '''Lag''': "Jumpiness" in a multiplayer game due to slow Internet connections. FreeSpace has always had a lag problem, and even modern, high-speed connections have trouble hosting and playing online FreeSpace games. Can be greatly migitated by having all players set their "Object Update" setting to Low.
* '''Lag bombing''': Double-linking your secondary slot, firing, then quickly switching to your other secondary slot and firing it. Continue cycling and firing secondary slots until the server finally updates and you must wait to reload. This is often outlawed in multiplayer games.
*'''Lock/Unlock:''' Refers to the "Lock" button on the mission briefing screen. The host (or in TvT game, team captains) have to click the "Lock" button to allow other pilots/wingmates to make ship/loadout changes.
*'''LOW (object updates):''' Setting the "Object Updates" on "LOW" on the multiplayer options page - the preferred setting for MP clients. Limits the connection bit rate between the MP host and the client in order to make the game run smoother for everyone. Using something else than LOW against host instructions may get you kicked! Later FS2 Open builds provide a means for the host to force low object updates (the -cap_object_update flag).
*'''SD:''' Self Destruct (by pressing SHIFT+END)
*'''STD rules:''' Standard Rules - A set of rules commonly followed in TvT matches: no AI, no EMP, no Fire, no Fish, no SD allowed during the game.
* '''Tab loading''': A procedure by which server lag allows one to load a ship with a weapon that it isn't able to carry by default, eg, Helios on a Perseus. Specifically, keep the TAB key held down while you switch ships and quickly jump to the weapons loadout screen to load a prohibited weapon on to your new ship. The server still thinks that you have your old ship selected, and so its "weapons permissions" will not update in time to prevent you from loading something illegal. This usually considered a cheat, but some of the old multiplayer maps were actually made to acommodate this tactic.
*'''TvT''': Team versus Team game. The players are divided into two sides and fight for supremacy.

[[Category:Multiplayer]]

==Ingame Terminology==
*'''ETS''' - Energy Transfer System
*'''HUD''' - Heads-up Display. The interface the player uses while flying.
*'''Subsystem''' - Targetable and destroyable systems of a ship, e. g. radars, engines.

===Designation Prefixes===
* GT_ - [[Galactic Terran Alliance | Galactic Terran]]
* NT_ - [[Neo-Terran Front | Neo-Terran]]
* GV_ - Galactic Vasudan
* PV_ - [[Parliamentary Vasudan Empire | Parliamentary Vasudan]]
* GTV_ - [[Galactic Terran-Vasudan Alliance | Galactic Terran-Vasudan]]
* S_ - [[Shivan]]
* A_ - [[Ancient]] (non-canon)
* HL_ - [[Hammer of Light]] (non-canon, but very commonly used)

===Designation Suffixes===
* _A - [[Advanced Warning and Control System | AWACS]]
* _B - Bomber
* _C - Cruiser
* _Ca - Carrier (non-canon)
* _Cv - Corvette
* _D - [[Destroyer]]
* _Dr - Drone
* _Dn - Dreadnaught (non-canon)
* _EP - Escape Pod
* _F - Fighter
* _Fg - Frigate (non-canon)
* _Ff - Frigate (non-canon)
* _Fr or FR - Freighter
* _G - Gas Miner
* _H - Hive (non-canon)
* _I - Installation
* _J - [[Juggernaut]]
* _M - Medical Ship
* _NB - Navigation Buoy
* _S - Support Ship
* _SG - Sentry Gun
* _SJ - Super Juggernaut (non-canon)
* _T - Transport
* _W - Weapon ([[Weapon Comparison (FS1) |FreeSpace 1]])([[Weapon Comparison (FS2) |FreeSpace 2]])

===Fighter Units and Roles===

*'''Wing''' - A unit of fightercraft, varying in size from one to six ships. The normal number is four. Ships of a wing are labelled by their wing name and a number (i.e. Alpha 1, Alpha 2, and so on). The GTVA uses the Greek alphabet for its wings and the signs of the zodiac for hostile wings. In FS1, Shivan wings were named after Hindu gods. '''Wing''' is also sometimes used for freighter or transport groups.
*'''Squadron''' - Refers to an organized group of pilots, e. g. [[242nd Suicide Kings]]
*'''Stealth Recon''' - Fighters that specialize in infiltrating hostile territory and acquiring information without being detected. The [[GTF Pegasus|GTF ''Pegasus'']] and the [[GVF Ptah|GVF ''Ptah'']] are the only canon stealth fighters.
*'''Interceptor''' - A fighter role that aims at the destruction of hostile fighters and bombers. Interceptors are fast and agile, but are weakly shielded and armored.
*'''Space Superiority''' - A versatile fighter role that is capable in all sorts of roles, except for bombing. A celebrated example of a Space Superiority fighter is the [[GTF Myrmidon|GTF ''Myrmidon'']]
*'''Heavy Assault''' - Heavy Assault fighters have tremendous secondary capacity, heavy shielding and armoring at the expense of speed and maneuverability
*'''Bomber''' - A bomber is a very heavy craft that specializes in carrying bombs. They attack freighter-size ship and above. Bombers are very slow and easily taken down without fighter escorts. Bombers are further categorized into light, medium, and heavy bombers.

===Ship Types===

'''Cruiser''' - Smallest combatant capital craft classification. Cruisers are at least several times the size of a fighter or bomber and possess mainly antifighter weaponry, with one or two (or in the case of the [[SC Rakshasa|SC ''Rakshasa'']], three) anticapital weapons. The defensive fire of a cruiser is rarely capable of stopping a determined bomber wing, and most are vulnerable to even a well-handled lone fighter. Unable to carry fighters. Canonical examples include the [[GTC Fenris|''Fenris'']] and the [[GTC Leviathan|''Leviathan'']]. In FS1, cruisers were deployed for both offensive and defensive tasks by all sides to any situation not requiring the attention of a destroyer. In FS2 Shivan cruisers are often deployed in mainline antiship and strike roles, while GTVA cruisers tend to be used as escorts and patrol craft.

'''Corvette''' - Middle ground combatant capital craft, falling between the cruiser and the destroyer in size and capablity. Equipped with between two and four anticapital weapons and considerably more impressive antifighter armament than a cruiser. Corvettes are capable of defending themselves adequately against a small number of enemy fighters or bombers. With the exception of the [[SCv Moloch|SCv ''Moloch'']], corvettes are unable to carry fighters of their own. Corvettes appear to handle most of the antiship and strike duties for the GTVA fleet; Shivan corvettes are extremely rare and have only been deployed against GTVA destroyers canonically. Whether this is their role or not is guesswork.

'''Destroyer''' - Large combatant capital craft, combining the functions of destroying enemy ships and transporting fighters. Destroyers vary wildly in armament and effectiveness against different types of targets. They will have at least one heavy-calibur anticapital weapon and probably several more, plus a number of cruiser-corvette anticapital weapons. Destroyers tend to need fighter cover more than corvettes; some of them actually mount fewer antifighter weapons, and all have much larger amounts of surface area that needs to be defended. Any situation with the direct involvement of a destroyer-class ship is by definition serious.

'''Superdestroyer''' - Bigger, meaner, and tougher than a destroyer, yet too small for the juggernaut classification; first applied well before the juggernaut classification came into existence. Only the [[GTD Hades|''Hades'']] and [[SD Lucifer|''Lucifer'']] have canonically been given this classification. The nature of the canonical superdestroyers was such that any appearance by them indicates ''the'' major effort by the controlling side. Their success is often decisive for that system, while their failure is a blow that is difficult to recover from.

'''Juggernaut''' - The pinnacle of combatant capital craft, a juggernaut is capable of making mincemeat out of an enemy fleet singlehanded and is superbly equipped to combat other capital craft. Due to its large surface area its defenses against fightercraft attack are generally somewhat thinly spread, but a juggernaut's sheer ability to absorb damage means that only another juggernaut or a mass attack by corvettes and destroyers is capable of destroying one in anything like a timely manner. Only the [[SJ Sathanas|SJ ''Sathanas'']] has canonically been given this classification, though the ''Colossus'' could also be classified as juggernaut. The presence of a juggernaut, like a superdestroyer, indicates the controlling side considers the mission absolutely essential; decisive for the system if not the campaign or the entire war.

'''Installation''' - A space station, described as "installation" because of its size, self-sufficiency, and permanence. The only installation class canonically known is the [[GTI Arcadia|Arcadia]]. The [[Galactic Terran-Vasudan Alliance|GTVA's]] naming system for installations generally includes something indicating their nature. Installation Riveria, Tombaugh Station, [[Enif Station]], and the Vega Installation are examples.

{{non-canon section|

'''Carrier''' - Ship of any size whose primary purpose is to carry fightercraft, whether directly into combat or standing off and lending fightercraft support to ongoing operations as needed.

'''Frigate''' - Semi-canonical ship class, both the Hippocrates and the Iceni have been referred to as frigates; the normally accepted role of a frigate is that of a pocket destroyer, lacking a fighterbay and fighter support facilities/crews enabling the ship to be shrunk down to only slightly bigger than a corvette.

'''Dreadnought''' - Generally understood to be a destroyer-sized craft, but built for the sole purpose of ship-to-ship combat and lacking a fighterbay or supporting a very limited number of fighters purely for self-defense.}}

===Weapons===
*'''AAA''' or '''AA''' - Anti-fighter beam cannon
*'''Aspect-seeking''' - A type of secondary that must acquire a lock to track the target. See [[GTM Harpoon]].
*'''Blob turret''' - A primary weapon-based, warship-mounted turret. [[Terran Turret]] is a prototypical example of it.
*'''Countermeasure''' or '''CM''' - An anti-missile defensive mechanism for fighter-sized craft.
*'''Dumbfire''' - Secondary weapons cannot acquire any kind of lock on the target. See [[GTM Tempest]].
*'''Heat-seeking''' - A type of secondary weapon that acquires instant lock on the nearest target and chases it until it gets out of its cone.
*'''Primary''' - Primary weapons in ''FreeSpace'' are energy-based lasers.
*'''Secondary''' - Secondary weapons in ''FreeSpace'' are missiles and bombs.
*'''Slash beam''' - A slash beam is a type of beam weapon.
*'''Swarm missile''' - Swarm missiles are secondary weapons that are fired in multiple numbers. See [[GTM Hornet]]

==Terms related to modelling==
*Greeble: Small piece of detail which serve no other purpose only to make a ship look better.
*LOD: Level of Detail. The further you get away from a ship, the less detailed it will be rendered.
*TrueView: A plugin utility for [[trueSpace]]. Ideal for building hierarchy. However, not a must.
*Single-part turret: A single-part turret, is, in a word, a turret without any barrels.
*Multi-part turret: A multi-part turret is, in a word, a turret with one, two or three barrels.

[[Category:Lists]]