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.

Aff

Clan abbreviation of "Affirmative".

Archon

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

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 Federated Commonwealth Armed Forces article.

Autocannon 

A direct-fire ballistic weapon, firing HEAP (High-Explosive Armor-Piercing) rounds at targets either singly or in bursts. Autocannons are grouped into four broad damage classes, Autocannon/2, Autocannon/5, Autocannon/10, and Autocannon/20. Beyond the "standard" models, variants include the shotgun-like LBX and quick-firing Ultra.

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 "well bargained and done" is spoken by both members of the bid.

Battalion 

A Inner Sphere military formation consisting of 3 Companies.

BattleMech (abv

'Mech): A bipedal or quadrupedal war machine, typically powered by a fusion reactor and piloted by a single soldier (cf. MechWarrior), used on the battlefields of the 31st century in a fashion similar to modern tanks. See the BattleMech page for more information.

Binary

A Clan military formation consisting of 2 Stars.

Bloodheritage

The history of the Bloodnamed warriors of a particular Bloodright.

Bloodcount

The Bloodcount is the number of active Bloodrights associated with a particular Bloodname, and thus is the number of individuals that may hold that name at any given time. Traditionally, this number is twenty-five, but it may be less in the case of inferior Bloodnames or Bloodheritages found useless or unworthy.

Bloodname 

A surname stemming from the 800 warriors who were the foundation of the Clans and formed the basis of their elaborate breeding program. The right to use one of these surnames has been the ambition of every Clan warrior since the system was established. See the Clan Bloodnames page for more information.

Bloodright 

A specific Bloodname lineage is called a Bloodright, and up to a maximum of twenty-five Bloodrights are attached to each Bloodname. As with Bloodnames, certain Bloodrights are considered more prestigious than others, depending largely on the Bloodright’s history.

Bondcord 

A woven cord worn on the wrist to indicate the wearer's status as a bondsman. The color and highlighting indicate the Clan to which the wearer is bound and the capturing unit.

Bondholder 

The person that takes a Bondsman and is the primary determiner of when a Bondsman has fulfilled his Bond obligation.

Bondsman 

A Clan prisoner taken during combat, of any caste or rank. Considered a member of the Laborer caste until freed or promoted back to active service. Custom indicates that any prisoner remain a bondsman for at least a token amount of time, even high-ranking and Bloodnamed warriors. Some Clans do not free bondsmen to certain castes, especially the Warrior caste.

Bondsref 

Ritual suicide to prevent becoming a Bondsman. The person performing Bondsref must have the permission of their Bondholder and perform said act before taking a Bondcord, otherwise the performer is considered Dezgra and their genes won't be used in the Clan breeding program.

Brian Cache 

A Clan equipment store, usually one established during the SLDF's demobilization upon arriving in the Pentagon Worlds. The name is derived from the Star League Castle Brian fortress.

C

Canister Born 

Derisive Clan 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.

CBT 

Abbreviation of Classic BattleTech.

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 that of lieutenant.

Chu-i 

a commissioned naval rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to that of captain.

Chu-sa 

a commissioned army rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to that of lieutenant colonel.

Classic BattleTech 

The designated name for the 'relaunch' of the traditional tabletop board game of BattleTech. The distinction was made following FASA's demise and the release of the separate-but-related universe of MechWarrior: Dark Age.

Cluster 

A Clan military formation consisting of 4-5 Binaries or Trinaries.

Codex 

Clan warrior's identification. Each Warrior's codex records their victories or defeats in battle, honors, disgraces, general behavior, units served with, and rank. It stores the warrior's "gene-parent" information as well as the warrior's genetic information. See also Master Codex.

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.

Commonality 

Large districts which originally consisted of the signatory-states forming the Capellan Confederation.

Company 

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

Coordinator 

the Draconis Combine's chief of state; 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.

D

Dai-i 

a commissioned naval rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to that of lieutenant commander.

Dezgra

Clan term referring to a unit or warrior that has committed dishonorable conduct. See the Dezgra page for more information.

E

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 two classes: Lasers and PPCs.

Extended-Range Laser 

Variant of normal Laser weapons, extended-range models have increased ranges and occasionally damage, but produce even larger amounts of waste heat.

F

First Prince 

the leader of the Federated Suns and is the commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns.

G

Gauss Rifle 

a weapon that uses electromagnets to accelerate a slug to extremely high speeds; capable of severing a 'Mech's limb with a lucky shot; usually mounted on 'Mechs and heavier vehicles. See the Gauss Rifle page for more information.

H

Hauptmann 

a commissioned army rank within the Lyran Alliance Armed Forces; equivalent to that of 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 a 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 a 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.

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.

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.

Hiritsu 

one of the Capellan Warrior House Orders, and arguably, the most well known.

House of Scions 

a gathering of the Capellan nobility.

HPG 

Acronym for Hyperpulse Generator. These FTL devices are the primary means of interstellar communications, and ComStar has a virtual monopoly on their usage in the Inner Sphere.

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 considerable simpler and cheaper to manufacture and maintain. See the Internal Combustion Engine page for more information.

ilClan 

Clan term meaning Clan of Clans, the title reversed for the Clan that conquers Terra.

ilKhan

A unique Clan title, denoting the overall commander of a multiple-Clan campaign. Last held by Lincoln Osis of the Smoke Jaguars before his Clan's destruction during Operation Bulldog/Serpent.

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 in her Locust in the Battle of Sarghad on Planet 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.

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.

Jump Jet 

Fusion powered thrusters equipped on some BattleMechs and Battle Armor which allows them to vault over and around obstacles, greatly increasing their maneuverability at the cost of increased waste heat. See the Jump Jets page for more information.

Jump Point 

Term referring to any point at which a JumpShip may initiate or resolve a jump through interstellar space. Traditionally, there are two jump points in a system - the zenith and the nadir of a star's gravity well - though more advantageous and dangerous pirate points also exist. See the Jump Point page for more information.

Jump Sail 

Massive and fragile solar collector for the energy a JumpShip uses to power it's jump drive. See the Jump Sail page for more information.

JumpShip 

Spacecraft capable of interstellar travel through the use of the Kearny-Fuchida Drive to "jump" around 30 light-years within seconds. These fragile craft are designed exclusively to provide FTL jump capacity for their attached DropShips and are comprised of little more than the components required for "jumping". See the JumpShip page for more information.

K

kaKhan (also Khan) 

the leader of a Clan in times of war.

Kommandant 

a commissioned army rank within the Lyran Alliance Armed Forces; equivalent to a 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 a 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 Squad 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, combat lasers are a compact and light energy weapon type and are available in human, 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 availble.

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. Mostly an administrative grouping, they were deployed as field units only at the Battle of Tukayyid.

LRM 

Acronym for Long Range Missile. A common missile system deployed on vehicles and BattleMechs, LRMs trade damage for range and can be fired indirectly from launchers capable of flights of 5, 10, 15 or 20 missiles at a time.

M

MechWarrior

(1) The pilot of a BattleMech. See the MechWarrior (pilot) page for more detail.

(2) The first name of the role-playing game based on the Battletech universe. See the MechWarrior (RPG) page for more detail.

(3) A series of computer games produced by FASA Interactive, initially through Activision and, later, Microsoft.

MechWarrior - Age of Destruction 

A collectible miniatures game that takes place several decades after the Word of Blake Jihad. Several new factions are introduced, and all the BattleTech factions except for the Free Worlds League are playable.

MRM 

Acronym for Medium Range Missile. A missile system deployed on vehicles and BattleMechs, while medium range missiles lack the guidance systems of other missile types they are cheaper and more compact, with launchers capable of flights of 10, 20, 30 or 40 missiles at a time.

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 V.T.O.L.S., five Elementals, and two tanks.)

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.

Point 

The smallest Clan military formation, consisting either of one BattleMech, two Land Vehicles or Aerospace Fighters, five Battle Armored Infantry or ProtoMechs, or twenty - five conventional infantry. 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 

in the Capellan Confederation, small collections of planets within a commonality, each ruled by an appointed administrator.

Privy Council 

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.

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

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.

RCT 

acronym for Regimental Combat Team.

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

Sho-i 

a commissioned naval rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to that of ensign.

Sho-sa 

a commissioned army or naval rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to that of major or commander, respectively.

Sho-so 

a commissioned army rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to that of brigadier general.

Star 

a Clan military formation consisting of five points.

Star Captain 

a clan rank, given to the commander of a Binary, Trinary, Nova, or Supernova.

Stravag 

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

Streak Missile 

a missile that has electronic guiding equipment onboard. The advantage of streak missiles is that they can be fired at targets that are hiding in terrain; they are often simply referred to as "streaks."

Supernova 

a Clan military formation consisting of three Mixed Stars (a mixture of different types of points, a.k.a. two BattleMechs, two V.T.O.L.S., five Elementals, and two tanks.)

T

Tai-i 

a commissioned army rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to that of captain.

Tai-sa 

a commissioned army and naval rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to that of colonel or captain, respectively.

Tai-sho 

a commissioned army and naval rank within the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery; equivalent to that of general or admiral, respectively.

Touman 

the sum of a Clans martial assets.

W

Warrior House Order 

the most elite warriors of the Capellan Confederation. They are a seperate command from the CCAF, and follow strong philosophical ideologies.