GLOSSARY FOR THE SHIMURAN LEGACY SERIES
STARSHIPS & THEIR ARTIFICIALLY INTELLIGENCE
AUTHORS NOTE:
Only the information relating to the
planets in the Milky Way Galaxy contain accurate information. All other
planets, places and races are purely fictional. If you have any questions,
or require further information, please feel free to contact me by clicking on
this link:
AIB: (Artificial Intelligence for Bore-hole Technology) The AIB programming is used to open temporal bore-holes and navigate the shipping lanes. It becomes obsolete in 2024, because the temporal bore-hole technology is integrated into the new MAI programs in 2025.
CIRRUS: A freighter from Orison, piloted by Colonel Gavin Diamond.
COSMOS: A four person, two bedroom, fully equipped escort ship from Shimura. Piloted by Captain Miranda Valen.
EARTH ANGLE: The first real starship completed by Earth. A replica of the four person, two bedroom escort ship from Shimura. FAI is the onboard AI. Major Karen O'Reilly became sole owner of this ship in 2025.
ENTERPRISE: In 2020, this first starship was put into space by Earth. The exterior was covered with high density insulation tiles originally designed for the shuttle program. This allowed NASA to mine the necessary ore from Callisto to create a proper titan-maridium hull. Enterprise was decommissioned in 2021, and placed in Earth's new technology museum so the general public could experience the new technology first hand.
ENTREPID: A large prototype freighter given to Earth in 2025 in trade for EARTH ANGLE by the Shimuran Starship Command. It is a six bedroom starship, equipped with an integrated MAI program. It is capable of opening, and navigating temporal bore-holes.
FAI: One of four artificially intelligent programs created by MAI from Stardust. FAI developed from infancy in the office of General Nelson, and was installed into Enterprise in 2020. In 2021, FAI was transferred to Star Born. In 2025 FAI comes of age, and creates 12 new AI's for Earth. These 12 programs are exact duplicates of the new integrated MAI program, with standard parameters. She also creates FAIM, a new and improved program for Caradoc's battle cruiser.
FAIM: Specially designed for Admiral Caradoc Rimon, leader of Shimura, by FAI. FAIM's program was implanted into Savvier in 2025. In 2026 she has developed beyond her parameters and is capable of connecting with Caradoc on a fundamental sensory level, tapping into the same energy that powers his duality. This is an exciting, new breakthrough in technology. FAIM is the first AI considered to be a new life form!
FREEDOM: Earth's second starship. KAI is the onboard AI. Piloted by Captain Beth Williams in 2023 - 2025, and then by Captain Robert Cole when Beth took a years leave of absence. Freedom is destroyed in 2026 while in the Galaxy of Flame.
INDEPENDENCE: An oversized shuttle craft that departed earth July 4, 2008 on Earths first deep space voyage. Piloted by Captain David Alexander, who spent ten years in cryogenic stasis before waking up in 2018/ This shuttle was shot out of the stars by an alien craft on December 6, 2018. Independence is now a monument to Earth's history on Titan.
INTEGRATED MAI PROGRAM: Created by the Shimurans in 2024. It is a newer version of the original MAI program with the added advantage of temporal bore-hole technology.
KAI: The artificially intelligent program from FREEDOM. She sacrifices herself to save Beth during the fiasco in the Galaxy of Flame 2026. Beth rescues her memory chips, and has her implanted into Seeker, the beautiful prototype freighter owned by Marcus Valen. This allows her much more freedom to expand her parameters, and keeps her connected to Beth, the one human being she cares about.
LIBERTY: Earth's third starship, a four man, two bedroom escort, identical to Freedom, Star Born and Stargazer. GAI is the onboard AI.
MAI: (My Artificial Intelligence) An AI program created by the Orisonites exclusively for the Shimuran Starship Command. It was designed to operate all ship systems. The one onboard STAR DUST grew beyond her original programming and taught Shimurans to look beyond their creation. Zara proved that if you treated an AI like a person, it would continue to grow and develop with the interaction. However, if you treated it like a machine, that is exactly what you'd get. In 2019, Zara's MAI program recreated itself with fewer parameters in order to supply Earth with 4 new AI's. FAI, GAI, KAI and RAI are her four replicants/offspring. All other MAI programs were replaced by SAL in 2024.
NAPIER: Is a Shimuran star cruiser that was transporting all the Matriarchs of Shimura from an Alliance meeting. It was destroyed by the Morian pirates in 2003. This one act of violence wiped out a whole generation of children for the already decimated Shimuran people.
SAL: The new artificially intelligent program utilizing the best qualities of the AIB, and MAI programs. This new improved operating system enables every ship in the Shimuran Fleet to open temporal bore-holes and navigate the shipping lanes.
SAVVIER: A fully equipped battle cruiser commissioned in 2017, piloted by Admiral Caradoc Rimon of the SSC. In 2025 his MAI program was replaced by a special program created by FAI. FAIM is declared a new life form in Star Bound.
SEEKER: A large prototype freighter that Marcus Valen won during the demonstration in 2025 in a blind match of tim-la. It is equipped with an integrated MAI program and has the ability to navigate temporal bore-holes. To satisfy Beth's need to save her friend, Marcus installs KAI's artificially intelligent program into Seeker in 2027.
STAR DUST: A Shimuran escort ship, owned and piloted by Commander Zara Darien-Alexander of the SSC. MAI is the artificially intelligent program that outgrew her parameters. This the original starship design that was given to NASA to accelerate their space program.
STARGAZER: Earth's fourth starship. RAI is the onboard AI, he has a rebellious personality and bonds well with Ryan Dunn. In 2027, RAI sets Ryan free, and the two set out to explore the universe.
XAVIOUR: Is the Shimuran freighter that crashed on Titan in 2018.
©
ANN O'BANNON 2003