BattleTechWiki:Glossary of BattleTech terms

See also: BattleTechWiki:Dictionary for terms related to this wiki.

A

Abtakha 

A warrior captured but then accepted into his new Clan as a warrior.

Actuator 

A component within a BattleMech's limbs, composed of the joint, myomer bundles and motor control units.

Aff 

Clan abbreviation of "Affirmative". Generally used in place of "Yes".

Air Lance 

A alternative name for a formation of Aerospace Fighters consisting of 2 Conventional aircraft or AeroSpace Fighters. A Squadron consists six such units.

Archon 

Political and military leader of the Lyran Commonwealth. For more information, refer to the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces article.

Archon-Designate 

Title granted to designated heir of Lyran Commonwealth. Example: Melissa Steiner was Archon-Designate until her mother's death in 3039.

Archon-Prince 

Political and military leader of the Federated Commonwealth, a combination of the Lyran position of Archon and the Federated Suns position of First Prince. For more information, refer to the Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth article.

B

Ballistic weapons

Term for weapons which fire high-speed, unguided projectiles designed to inflict kinetic and/or explosive damage. Unlike Energy Weapons, ballistic weapons produce far less heat, but are generally bulkier and dependent upon limited ammunition. These weapons fall broadly into three classes: Machine guns, Gauss Rifles, and Autocannons.

Batchall 

Ritual by which Clan warriors issue combat challenges. Though the type and phrasing of the challenge varies, most begin with the challenger identifying himself, stating the prize of the contest, and requesting that the defender identify the forces at his disposal. All batchalls are closed and final when the phrase "bargained well and done" is spoken by both members of the bid.

Battalion 

A Inner Sphere military formation consisting of 3 Companies. Also see Square Battalion.

Binary 

A Clan military formation consisting of 2 Stars.

Brigade 

A military formation typically consisting of 3 regiments. This formation was used by the SLDF, but is not longer used by most Inner Sphere militaries.

C

Canister Born 

Derisive Clan Freeborn slang for the artificial breeding element of the eugenic program or the Trueborn warriors that result from that process. Occasionally shortened to Canister.

Caste 

Primary division within Clan society, which is rigidly divided into five castes in order of importance: Warrior, Scientist, Merchant, Technician, and Laborer. Each caste has many sub-castes, which are based on specialties within a professional field. A sixth, unofficial caste, the Bandit or Dark Caste, exists outside Clan society.

Captain-General 

The head of state of the Free Worlds League.

Celestial Throne 

A synonym for Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation.

Chalcas 

Clan term referring to persons or beliefs which challenge the Clans rigid caste system.

Chancellor 

The chief of state of the Capellan Confederation.

Cho-sho 

A commissioned army and naval rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to Lieutenant.

Chu-i 

A commissioned naval rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to Captain.

Chu-sa 

A commissioned army rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to Lieutenant-Colonel.

Cluster 

A Clan military formation consisting of 4-5 Binaries or Trinaries, falling between a battalion and a regiment in size.

Combat Loss Grouping 

The principle that a group of 'Mechs (or other vehicles) engaged in combat will accumulate damage over time, leading to a point where several or all of the group will succumb to damage at the same time. Can also be used to describe the time a unit sustains enough losses that it is no longer a viable fighting force.

Combined-Arms

A military formation which has its elements (BattleMechs, Vehicles, Infantry, Aerospace Fighters, etc) more tightly mixed together. These range from Regiments with dedicated battalions of vehicles to highly concentrated mixed units that have can it units as small companies & lance which do not segregate its different types combat elements.

Commonality 

Large districts which originally consisted of the signatory-states with interstellar nation. Such political states are used by Capellan Confederation or independant nations.

Command Circuit 

Organized method of using series of JumpShips in relaying DropShip(s) to distant destination in short amount of time. Example: A DropShip leaving destination by Command Circuit, take a week to arrive instead of months travelling and waiting for JumpShips to recharge.

Company 

A military unit designation that, for BattleMech units, usually consists of three Lances. Companies are usually commanded by a Major or a Captain (or their equivalent).

Coordinator 

The Chief of State of the Draconis Combine; also, the head of the Kurita family.

Cutdown 

Clan term referring to the minimum force necessary to win a trial for which there has been bidding. Bidders who can push their opponent into making a bid below the cutdown are considered clever, while those who win with a force smaller than the cutdown are greatly honored.

Capitol Weapons

weapons that are 10 times as powerful as standard scale weapons. The standard scale damage is 10 times that listed on tables unless otherwise noted. These weapons are found on WarShips and Fortresses. Capital Missiles may also be found on DropShips.

D

Dai-i 

A commissioned naval rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to that of Lieutenant-Commander.

Diem 

A appointed administrator of Duchy. A Diem will be charged to administrate small group star systems referred to as warrens. The title is typically used by the Capellan Confederation.

Director-General 

The head of state of the Terran Hegemony.

E

Element 

Alternate term for individual military vehicles, 'mechs, Aerospace fighters, and other combat units.

Energy Weapons 

Term for weapons which deal damage by directing a concentrated beam of particles or radiation against a target. Unlike Ballistic Weapons, energy weapons are extremely light and compact and when linked a fusion reactor are ammunition free, but produce very large amounts of waste heat. These weapons fall broadly into three classes: Flamers, Lasers and PPCs.

Elstars 

A 32nd Century Genotype of Clan Warrior that was first introducted by scientist caste of Clan Jade Falcon. This combination of all-three existing geno-types of Clan Warrior; MechWarrior, Elemential, and Aerospace pilot. Resulting combination results in slightly shorter, large headed, individual, whom show superior reflexs and other ablities. Other Inner Sphere Clans have adopted genotype as well. They are considered to be superior to typical Clan warrior, but also they are rarely used unless extreme situation are called for. Name of genotype comes from term Elite Ristar.

Errant MechWarrior 

A lone Mechwarrior whom is hired to act as protector of under defended worlds. Normally, they are found in Periphery. Always owning their own 'Mech.

F

First Prince 

The leader of the Federated Suns and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns.

Force Commander 

Associated with Free Worlds League Rank Structure, which is equal to the rank of Major in regular militaries.

G

Galaxy 

A Clan military formation consisting of 3-5 Clusters, roughly equivalent toan SLDF Brigade or a ComStar Army.

Genetic Respository 

A Clan facility designed store, maintain and create new Clan Warriors using the DNA of founding founders & their Bloodname successors. Taking two seperate DNAs & they put into device known as Iron Wombs where child develops.

H

Hauptmann 

A commissioned army rank within the Lyran Alliance Armed Forces; equivalent to Captain. For more information, please refer to the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces article.

Hauptmann-General 

A commissioned army rank within the Lyran Alliance Armed Forces; equivalent to Lieutenant-General. For more information, please refer to the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces article.

Hauptmann-Kommandant 

A commissioned army rank within the Lyran Alliance Armed Forces; equivalent to Lieutenant-Colonel. For more information, please refer to the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces article.

HeavyMetal Aero 

the official CBT software for the design of AeroSpace Fighters, DropShips, JumpShips, WarShips, space stations, monitors & conventional (combat) fighters.

HeavyMetal Battle Armor 

the official CBT software for the design of Battle Armor.

HeavyMetal Lite 

the official CBT software for ProtoMech design, as well as printouts for Battle Armor and infantry platoon designs.

HeavyMetal Plus 

a bundle of three official CBT software programs: HeavyMetal Pro, HeavyMetal Aero and HeavyMetal Vee.

HeavyMetal Pro 

the official CBT software for 'Mech design.

HeavyMetal Vee 

the official CBT software for designing combat vehicles.

Heavy Weapons 

the new Core Books use this term for standard scale CBT Weapons.

Hegira 

Honorable withdrawal from battle granted by a Clan warrior to a defeated enemy. Hegira allows the opponent to withdraw honorably from the field without further combat or cost.

Heir-apparent 

Designated person to succeed a person whom is the head of state, usually a person of noblity.

Heir-designate 

alternate term for individual whom is designated to take over as head of state or a organization. Sometimes refer to as successor or Heir-apparent.

High Council

a group of both democratic, hereditary, and other officials chosen by the leadership of the member-worlds of the Federated Suns who officially governed the nation.

House of Scions

a gathering of the Capellan nobility.

I

ICE

Acrnoym for Internal Combustion Engine. Roughly identical to real world internal combustion engines, ICE don't provide the power of Fusion Engines, but are considerably simpler and cheaper to manufacture and maintain. See the Internal Combustion Engine page for more information.

Inferno Missile 

A short-range missile with a proximity fuse that sprays burning white phosphorous or napalm-like fuel over a target, usually 'Mechs, in an attempt to increase their operating temperature and force a reactor shutdown. Rarely carried in 'Mech ammo bays as pilots generally are afraid that an ammo explosion will engulf their 'Mech in flames, shut down their reactor, and fry them in the cockpit. An inferno missile was used by Grayson "Death" Carlyle to force the surrender of Lori Kalmar's Locust in the Battle of Sarghad on Trell I during a raid by commandos from House Kurita. The fight for Trell I was depicted in William H. Keith, Jr.'s novel Decision at Thunder Rift.

Interdiction 

Active blocking of passage vessels or communications. A prominent example is when Comstar interdicted the Federated Suns' communications during the Fourth Succession War. See the Interdiction article for more information.

Iron Womb 

Clan device used conceive artificially conceived children. These devices are usually found in genetic depositories.

Isorla 

The spoils of battle, including bondsmen, claimed by victorious Clan warriors.

J

Jump 

Abbreviation of Hyperspace Jump.

Jump Infantry 

Type of infantry unit equipped with jet packs, greatly increasing maneuverability.

K

Kindraa 

The modern, abbreviated Clan Fire Mandrill term used to denote a "kindred association", or a group of blood names which act as a single military and political entity (essentially, a small house). The word "Kindraa" was shortened from "Kindrasc"; purportedly this change indicates that the House is actually a single, powerful bloodname (or a pair of bloodnames as indicated by hyphens). However, every Kindraa maintains a couple of lesser bloodnames to reduce (already ubiquitous) inbreeding.

Kindrasc 

The original term used to denote the extended familial house, consisting of a group of bloodnames from Clan Fire Mandrill.

Knight-Errant 

A entry level rank of Knight in the service The Republic of the Sphere. There is no equivalent to this rank. For information see article in Republic of the Sphere main article.

Kommandant 

A commissioned army rank within the Lyran Alliance Armed Forces; equivalent to Major. For more information, please refer to the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces article.

Kommandant-General 

A commissioned army rank within the Lyran Alliance Armed Forces; equivalent to Major-General. For more information, please refer to the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces article.

L

Lance 

Designation given to the smallest organizational collection of BattleMechs, Aerospace Fighters, or armor units. It is the equivalent of a Platoon of infantry. 'Mech lances consist of four BattleMechs and are categorized based upon the average weight of the 'Mechs that comprise it (Light, Medium, Heavy, Assault). Aerospace lances consist of two aerospace fighters and are similarly categorized by weight.

Laser

Acronym for "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation", a laser is a device that focuses an amplified beam of light on a small surface area. Despite generating a high degree of waste heat, laser weapons are a compact and light energy weapon type and are available in human, BattleArmor, BattleMech and WarShip sizes. At BattleMech scales, the three common classes are small, medium and large Lasers, with extended range and rapid pulse firing variants also available.

LB-X Autocannon

An autocannon variant that is capable of firing a fragmenting, shotgun type, "cluster" round in addition to standard AC rounds.

Light Weapons 

Term the new core rules use for Pistols, Infantry Long Arms, and other weapons that are not commonly mounted in vehicles or on vehicle Pintle Mounts. These Weapons may be attached to BattleArmor Anti-Personnel Weapon Mounts and are not otherwise accounted for in the construction rules for any type of unit other than an Innersphere Infantry Platoon or Clan Solhama Infantry Squad.

Level I

The smallest ComStar and Word of Blake military formation, consisting of either a single BattleMech, armored vehicle or aerospace fighter, or single infantry squad.

Level II

A ComStar/Word of Blake military formation consisting of six Level I units, referred to as a demi-company.

Level III

A ComStar/Word of Blake military formation consisting of six Level II units, referred to as a battalion.

Level IV

A ComStar/Word of Blake military formation consisting of six Level III units, referred to as a division.

Level V

A ComStar/Word of Blake military formation consisting of six Level IV units, referred to as an army. Mostly an administrative grouping for regional deployment, they were deployed as field units only at the Battle of Tukayyid.

LoaderMech

A commerical cargo handling Industrial Mech. Typically employed to do physical labor. They are usually powered by ICE power plants and used by civilians. They are also known to be used by military forces to reload weaponry and move supplies.

M

Machine Guns

Medium and Heavy Class Slug-Throwing Ballistic Weapons that fire many shells for a single pull of the trigger.

Magestrix

Title of the Supreme Leader of Magistracy of Canopus. An elected title, which person it elected by Central Committe & Canopian Electors. The title can be only held by a woman.

Medium Weapons 

Term the new core rules use for Support Weapons.

Melee Weapons

Term for BattleMech scale melee weapons such as Hatchets and Swords. While nominally armed with ranged weaponry, the technological decline of the Succession Wars led to the development of specialized BattleMech scale melee weapons in response to the impromptu battlefield debris for physical attacks. While many deride melee weapons as a waste of tonnage, Clans considering them highly dishonorable, their ability to inflict increased damage without a heat cost has led to appear both in and outside the arenas of Solaris VII.

Minister-General

(New) Free World League political title created by Nikol Marik in 3138, whom duties include minister the people of the League; to ensure people of the league remain free. The MG also sits over FWL Parliament while its in session. Also, handles domestic affairs of the League. Acting as primary aide to the Captain-General.

Missile Weapons

Missile Weapons are Rockets & Missiles that are fired from tubes and include an engine in the projectile. Some of these weapons travel a flat trajectory, others have an arcing trajectory that allows them to clear terrain features. In general parlance, Rockets are unguided and Missiles have some form of guidance.

Monocycle

Term for a single wheeled variation of the motorcycle.

N

Neg 

Clan abbreviation of "Negative".

Nova 

a Clan military formation consisting of two mixed Stars (a mixture of different types of points, a.k.a. two BattleMechs, two VTOLs, five Elementals, and two tanks.)

O

Oathmaster 

Clan name for a person whom is the master of a any particular clan ceremony. This can be a temporary position for small ceremonies or events such as trials or be permanent position who answers to Khan of a Clan. Oathmaster are also responsible to know rules & laws he/she must use to conduct or judge in various cermonies. This depending on size or scope of the event.

Occupational Zone 

Name given to Inner Sphere terrority that is taken by invading Clan forces. These zones are referred to by the Clan's name at head of them. Example: Clan Jade Falcon Occupational Zone. Typically the initials for Occupational Zone is used in place of full spelling.

P

PBI 

A MechWarrior's acronym for "Poor Bloody Infantry", those forced to fight without a 'Mech or other vehicle. Often crushed underfoot, toasted with Flamers, or riddled with Machine Gun bullets by amused pilots; PBI's fight back with shoulder-launched SRMs, Inferno missiles, hand Flamers, and satchel charges.

Personal Weapons

pistols and other small weapons carried in addition to any arms issued.

Pit Fighter 

Solaris VII slang for specialized combat exoskeletons used in arena fighting.

Platoon 

An Inner Sphere military formation, a platoon is the infantry eqivilant of the BattleMech/Combat Vehicle Lance, and can consist of anywhere between eight and 28 men depending on infantry type.

Point 

The smallest Clan military formation, consisting either of one BattleMech, two Land Vehicles or Aerospace Fighters, five Battle Armored Infantry or ProtoMechs, or five Squads of conventional infantry (25 men total). Commanded by a Point Commander.

Point Commander 

A Clan rank, given to the commander of a Point.

Prefectorate 

Officially, the law-making body of the Capellan Confederation; made up of the six leaders of the Capellan member-states, which generally includes the current Chancellor.

Prefecture 

A commonly known as geo-political district of land or a group star systems. The latter is commonly utilized within in the Capellan Confederation, Draconis Combine, Republic of the Sphere. Example: In the Capellan Confederation. They are small collections of planets within a Commonality, each ruled by an appointed administrator.

Privy Council 

A group of the highest advisors to the First Prince of the Federated Suns that is extremely important in the running of the day-to-day affairs of the state.

Provisional Galaxy 

A 2nd-Line or reserve Clan formation consisting mainly of 2nd-line BattleMechs and other 2nd-line equipment. Provisional Galaxies are used to garrison and defend Clan worlds.

Power Armor 

Essentially an industrial Exo-Skeleton that has been covered in armor, this suit of infantry armor is powered by Battery Packs and may or may not be armed. Power Armor comes in the Following flavors in the game rules: Power Armor (Light), Battle Armor (Light) (also known as Scout Battle Armor), Battle Armor (Medium), Battle Armor (Heavy) and Battle Armor (Assault).

Q

Quiaff 

Clan word used at the end of a question in which an affirmative response is expected.

Quineg 

Clan word used at the end of a question in which a negative response is expected.

R

Regimental Combat Team 

Commanded by a general, an RCT is combined-arms formation consisting of multiple combat unit types designed to work in concert. The standard modern RCT, introduced to the Succession Wars by the Federated Suns military, consists of one BattleMech regiment, three regiments of combat vehicles, five infantry regiments, one artillery battalion and two AeroSpace Fighter wings.

Recharge station 

a space station, generally located at a zenith or nadir point within a solar system, where JumpShips and WarShips can recharge their jump drives.

Rede 

Clan honor-bound promise. Breaking a rede may be punishable by death.

Remembrance, The 

Ongoing heroic saga detailing Clan history from the time of the Exodus to the present day. Each Clan has a slightly different version reflecting their own opinions and experiences, and all Clan warriors can quote whole verses of this marvelous epic from memory. See the Remembrance page for more information.

Ristar 

Clan compound word for "rising star", referring to a particularly gifted warrior on his or her way to high position.

Rite of the Vision 

Clan Nova Cat ritual which a warrior meditates before a large fire to bring on a vision of that person's future. The ritual uses objects known as a Vineer to bring about this vision. The warrior also does not sleep for over 24 hours and fasts.

Rotary Autocannon 

Derived from prototype Light Autocannons, these weapons are capable of firing six times faster than standard Autocannons, but at the cost of a proportional increase in the chance of jamming over the Ultra Autocannon series. These are only available in the Rotary AC/2 and Rotary AC/5 forms.

RPG 

acronym for Role Playing Game.

Rules Expansion

a secondary line of rulesets, usually intended to develop upon the primary rulesets for one or more Classic BattleTech games (ex: Combat Operations).

S

Scrapper

A post-Jihad Solaris VII infantry warrior. Which is are be part of a named team(s) or can be solo warriors.

Sho-i 

A commissioned naval rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to Ensign.

Sho-sa 

A commissioned army or naval rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent Major or Commander, respectively.

Sho-sho 

A commissioned army rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to Brigadier-General.

Squad 

An Inner Sphere Military Formation consisting of Seven unaugmented Infantry Men or Four Powered Armor augmented Infantry Men (PA/BA). Also a Clan military formation consisting of five unaugmented Infantry Men. For payroll purposes, a single MechWarrior, AeroSpace Fighter Pilot or Vehicle's Crew often recieves pay equivelent to that of an entire Infantry Squad.

Squadron 

An Inner Sphere military formation, a squadron most commonly refers to three lances or flights of AeroSpace Fighters, making it the fighter equivalent of a ground force Company.

Star 

a Clan military formation consisting of five points.

Stravag 

a Clan epithet favored by members of the Warrior Caste, loosely translated as "freeborn."

Supernova 

a Clan Binary or Trinary consisting entirely of Nova Stars.

Squad Support Weapons 

Medium or Heavy Weapons carried by an individual suit in a BattleArmor Point or Squad. the rules account for this oddly by assigning a fraction of the mass to each suit in the Squad or Point as part of the design process for the Suit.

Support Weapons 

Medium Class Weapons requiring a crew of 1 or more infantry men. These weapons are only rarely able to be fired from a standing position and on the RPG scale must be deployed in order to be fired. Missile Based Support Weapons, Light Machine Guns, and to a more limited extent, Portable Machine Guns, are the exception to this rule.

Support Weapons, Light 

Medium Class Weapons requiring a crew of 1 infantry man and are normally fired from a standing position but have a folding bipod to facilitate firing from the prone or from emplacements and are intended to supplement the Long Arms carried by the rest of the squad.

Support Weapons, Portable 

Medium Class Weapons requiring a crew of 1 and are normally fired from emplacements but may be fired from the standing position, these weapons are used to supplement the firepower of the platoon.

Support Weapons, Semi-Portable 

Medium Class Weapons requiring a crew of 2 and are normally fired from emplacements and may be equipped with either a folding bi-pod or be intended to be fired from a tripod or a vehicle Pintle Mount, these weapons are used to supplement the firepower of the platoon.

Support Weapons, Support 

The heaviest type of Medium Class Weapons, requiring a crew of 2 or more and are normally fired from emplacements and are equipped with a tripod are intended to be fired from emplacements and are intended to be used to supplement the firepower of the platoon. These weapons are also found on Pintle Mounts aboard Naval Vessels or Fortresses.

"Square" Battalion

Variant Battalion consisting of four companies, May also have a Command Lance, This organizational Structure came about when the Inner Sphere Militaries re-purposed the Air Lance that would support each Company.

T

Tai-i 

A commissioned army rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to Captain.

Tai-sa 

A commissioned army and naval rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to Colonel or Captain, respectively.

Tai-sho 

A commissioned army and naval rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to General or Admiral, respectively.

Tai-shu 

More a position than an actual rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; a Tai-shu or Warlord is the commander of one Combine's Military Districts, and is in command of all military forces in the district as well as overall commanding officer of its Military District Regulars.

Terra Synchronized Time 

Also known as (TST) – This related to the time on any world to traditional, twenty-four hour clock set to the rise and the fall of local sun(s). Which divides the any world’s time into standard hours & days. .

Thuggee 

Pre-starflight death cult of assassins, which were secretly devoted to the Hindu death goddess named Kali. The cult was known to numerous enclaves throughout the Inner Sphere by 31st Century. They became more public, in their devotion to Romano & Kali Liao in 31st Century.

Totem 'Mech 

A BattleMech designed to resemble the totem animal embodying a clan. See the Totem BattleMech for further information.

U

Unit 

Mixed use term for any individual combat organized formation (Example: Lances, Companies, Etc.). This term is sometimes applied to individual vehicles/BattleMechs/Aerospace Fighters.

V

Vineer 

A Clan Nova Cat name for a object from a warrior's past which is used for their Clan's Rite of the Vision. The object is usually a fragment of the person's life in which they throw into a fire to bring about a vision of warrior's future.

W

Warden-General

Free World League title first used in 3139, for a person whom oversees FWL’s military.

Warren

A name for pair of star systems that belong to a Duchy or Grand Duchy. Name is typically used in the Capellan Confederation. Diems are usually appointed by a Duke/Duchess to govern a warren.