Glossary

The content of this Glossary is canon, so allow players reading the fan articles on this wiki who are unfamiliar with the genre.

A

 * Aerospace Fighter : This is a form of trans-atmospheric combat vehicle, which can fly in a planet's atmosphere on in space. It powered by fusion power planet can achieve great speeds. Like all combat vehicles with fusion reactors they, have can be equipped with array of weapons and need heatsinks to regulate the heat generated by these powerful systems.


 * Age of War : This was designation for early time period (sub-era of Star League Era) where mass colonization and formation of early interstellar nations formed and fell with rapid uncheck warfare which razed many wars. During this time period, BattleMechs were introduced changing warfare. This unrest time period would end when the Terran Hegemony mediated treaty to lessen the harshness of the war and eventually lead to formation of the massive interstellar nation known as the Star League.


 * Air Mech Mode : This is a state where a Land-Air Mech is reconfigures/transforms/changes into a hybrid of Aerospace fighter & still retains arms and legs of a BattleMech. While not fastest form, of the three configurations it can changed into, it allow maximum movement on ground and above it. Giving it unmatched maneuverability and speed.

B

 * Battalion : A medium size formation found in Battletech, this is usually consists of 3 companies worth of combat units (BattleMechs/Combat Vehicles) where, infantry and other traditional troops number may vary. Typically this formation is commanded by an officer rank as Major, usually requires three Union-Class Dropships to transports (if combat vehicles/Mechs are used.)


 * BattleMech : This is a Robotic Combat Vehicle, which is typically piloted by a pilot known as a MechWarrior. Considered to be ultimate combat machine, it can have range forms from human like two legged machine, strange three legs, or have four legs not unlike a horse/dog. It comes with array of weaponry and typically is powered by Fusion Reactor. They can weigh from 20 tons to 200 tons. This is primary unit used in the BattleTech Universe.


 * BattleTech : Name of the Tabletop franchise started in 1984. Originally of a box set, this has spun array of various games, fiction and more. BattleTech can also refer to (in game) as technology of Battle.


 * Battle Armor : This is a form of personal infantry Armor that is mechanically enhanced with added strength, protection, and firepower so to better counter large threats such as BattleMechs. Originally created by the Star League for it's Special Operations teams, the concept would be better refined by descents of the SLDF, the Clans. Later after the Clan invasion in 3049, new Battle Armor is created by the Inner Sphere powers.


 * Binary : This is a Clan military formation consisting of two Stars of troops commanded by a Star Captain.

C

 * Capellan Confederation : They are the smallest of the major interstellar nations of the Inner Sphere. Ruled by their Chancellor, the nation is governed with a caste system not unlike ancient Japan. Also known as House Liao (the principle family name of their rulers) The nation is heavily influenced by Chinese/Russian culture.


 * Concord of Kapteyn : This was a treaty sign in 3022 by Capellan Confederation, Draconis Combine, and Free Worlds League. Brokered by ComStar, this was intended as an alliance to counter the pending merged of the Federation Suns and Lyran Commonwealth into a super state later known as the Federated Commonwealth. The treaty ultimately was interstellar failure of diplomacy due to lack trust of all three Succession Houses when the Armed forces of both the Federated Suns & Lyran Commonwealth conquered large number of worlds between the two nations allowing them to have unified and secure border.


 * Clans : They are a descents of the Star League Defense Force (SLDF) which left the Inner Sphere in wake of Civil War that essentially destroyed the Star League. These descendants became a Warrior Culture, which was shaped by the son of the last commander of the SLDF. Nicholas Kerensky divided remaining SLDF forces under his command into Twenty Warrior Clans, which to bring about new form society. Structured not unlike Communist and Caste systems and focus around Honor. Each Clan resolves conflicts amount themselves called Trials, which winner achieves whatever goal they sought and losing party must honor the out come unless they wish to trial to refute the out come. Their culture's ultimate goal is reform the Star League, with their supreme leader, the ilKhan, ruling it.


 * Clan Invasion : 1) Military Invasion which began in 3049, where the descendants of the self-exiled Star League Defense Forces would return in massive invasion which would result in taking quarter of spiral-ward portion of the Inner Sphere into the divided territories of the Clans invaders. 2) The beginning of a new era for BattleTech, named Clan Invasion Era. There Era spans from 3049 to 3060.


 * ComStar : This is was organization that was originally created by the Star League Councel after the Star League Civil War as caretakers of the massive interstellar communication arrays known as HyperPulse Generators. The HPG Network allows communications between the stars. As centuries past, in effort to sustain itself from unslaught of the violent Succession Wars, ComStar turned to a religious dogma in order to prevent secrets of its technology to leak out and provide integity to the organization with hidden goal restoring the Star League under it's direct control. The organization began in 2785 and ended 3150 after its bankruptcy when a Hyperpulse Generator Network was sabotaged causing communication blackout through out the Inner Sphere, better known as Gray Monday. ComStar's slow demised over few decades would ushering new age of conflict known as the the Dark Age.


 * Combat Vehicle : Combat Vehicles are more traditional ground vehicles used for combat in the Battletech universe. They evolved from normal combat vehicles used since the 20th Century on Earth. Like BattleMechs, they can equipped with array weapons and armor. They were sidelined as leading combat vehicle when BattleMechs were invented, however they continue to support and be used in battle. These are family vehicles broken down to sub types based on their propulsion system. A Combat Vehicle must be under certain weight class for Combat types.


 * Custer (Clan) : This is third largest combat formation used by the Clans. Clusters consists of usually 3-5 Tinaries or 3-5 Binaries, Supernovas, and/or Supernova Trinaries. This size formation usually commanded by a Star Colonel.

D

 * Davion : Family name of the ruling Princes & Princess of the Federated Suns.


 * Draconis Combine : This is the of one the major interstellar nations of the Inner Sphere located Northeast of Terra/Earth. Draconis Combine is a communist style nation, which whom culture is heavily influenced by pre-World War II Japan. They are generally ruled by House Kurita (family) and their supreme leader known as the Coordinator. The soldiers of the nation follow strong Bushido/honor not unlike Japanese Samurai culture once followed.

E

 * Elemental : This is a generically engineered human intended for infantry world created by the Clans. They are extra large humans, sometimes seven feet tall, with massive muscles and highly intelligent. They typically are associated with use of Battle Armor, a type enhanced powered combat suit.


 * Era : Era is measurement of time in the BattleTech universe, where measured amount of years/centuries is labeled due to a significant historical event that accrued during this time period. Time is also broken up by "Sub-Eras" which has major event that warrants notice within the Era. Currently the canon Battletech Universe has 7 known eras.
 * Star League Era - Age where the rule of the Star League, it's dominance of all humanity from it's formation and it's downfall.
 * SubEra - Age of War - Early Time period the where all Inner Sphere powers fought for dominance and formation of the major as the newly formed Terra Hegemony forms
 * Succession Wars Era - The centuries of war which destroy much of the technology advances made in the Succession War as all the major nations war for dominance and ultimately control of the Inner Sphere to reform a new Star League under their rule.
 * Clan Invasion Era - Time period that the Clans, descendants of the Star League self-exiled armed forces returns in form of Warrior ruled Clans to conqueror the Inner Sphere and restore the Star League.
 * Civil War Era - All major Inner Sphere powers turn on each other.
 * Jihad Era - Second Star League, which was formed to defeat the Clans and maintain peace in the Inner Sphere is dissolved due to the events of the Civil War Era. The Word of Blake, their main purpose to reform the Star League goes on blitzkrieg and strikes capitals and major industries of the Inner Sphere in attempt restore the lost League and carve new nation at center of the Inner Sphere for themselves.
 * Dark Age Era - This time period where the newly form Republic of the Sphere is formed and governors in the name of peace until 3132. This is when the Inner Stellar communications is destroyed, causing Inner Sphere to turn on each war. Causing old rivalries and ambitions pent up from 70 years of peace to turn malevolent.
 * SubEra - Republic Era - Formation of the Republic of the Sphere and wars it fought in early days to establish itself and the moves try to stabilize its nation and promote peace across the Inner Sphere.
 * IlClan Era - Manifest destiny of the Clans is fulfilled, where one Clan takes Terra forming the IlClan, the replacement for the fallen Star League.

F

 * Federated Commonwealth : Was a interstellar nation superstate that existed during the 31st Century in 3028 til 3067. Second largest interstellar state of the Inner Sphere since the Star League. The nation consisted of two existing Succession Houses, House Steiner & House Davion. Briefly merged with the heir of Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner (now Steiner-Davion) being head of the new nation. Known also as the FedCom, the Fourth Succession War declared in 3028 at marriage of Hanse and Melissa as part of plan to allow both states to merge with borders secure and sunder any nation that stood in it's way. By 3057, enemies of the FedCom mounted a invasion that would destroy region linking House Steiner and Davion. With the House Steiner half of FedCom declaring it's independence from FedSun half, calling itself the Lyran Alliance, lead by Katherine Steiner-Davion.  Archon Katherine (Styling herself after grandmother as Katrina) would take over the House Davion half with her bother, the Archon-Prince Victor Steiner-Davion, leading the reborn 2nd Star League against the Clans.  On his return within few years of abuse to his people on both sides, Katrina, tyranty growing, Victor would declare war, gathering forces under collective name of Federated Suns, stating FedCom was dead. By 3067, the FedCom Civil War was over, with both nation states with new leaders and FedCom dissolved.


 * Federated Suns : A interstellar nation founded in the (southeast) of the Inner Sphere. Open culture, capitalist nation, which has French/British influences in their culture.


 * Federated Suns : See Succession Wars


 * Free Worlds League : A interstellar nation founded in the (southwest) of the Inner Sphere. Open culture, capitalist nation, which has Greek/Indian influences in their culture. Originally a democratic nation, ruled by a Parliment, the nation politic's is highly fragmented, in cases of emergencies, the Captain-General is given powers to rule the country. However centuries past, the position became semi-permanent.

G

 * Galaxy (Clan) : This is the largest military formation the Clans fields. Each Galaxy typically consists of four to six Clusters. Usually commanded by a Galaxy Commander.


 * Gyro : A device used in BattleMechs to regulate their means of standing like normal human. When destroyed, a BattleMech is unable to walk.

H

 * Heatsink : This is a device that regulates heat in a various fusion power machines found in the BattleTech universe. Often associated with BattleMechs or devices that creates high rate heat from using energy base applications. This is similar to a automobile's radiator, they govern fluids through them which can be toxic.

I

 * IlClan : This is designation for Clans of Kerensky of the one Clan that shall lead others. To designated the IlClan, this clan would need to conquer Terra, which would usher the reestablishing the Star League by conquest of the Inner Sphere.
 * IndustrialMech : This a civilian type of 'Mech, intended generally for commerical uses or non-combat labor. Typically these machines are powered by Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) and usually are fitted with industrial grade armor which isn't as strong as standard armor found on BattleMechs. However, they can be armed in desperate situations. Mechs modified in this fashion are designated with MOD (if their formerly civilian models), signifying it's a armed IndustrialMech. However, planetary militias do field what term as purpose built MilitiaMechs, which are low-tech combat mechs, which use heavy industrial armor and added military grade equipment which are more survivable than IndustrialMechs retrofitted with weapons.


 * Inner Sphere : This is given name of the BattleTech universe's setting in side the Milkyway Galaxy. Not consisting of entire galaxy, however, a massive part of it. Anything beyond heart interstellar civilization is considered to be Periphery and the Deep Periphery.  After certain point in BattleTech's universe, most deep space exploration & mass colonization on whole ceased. Center of the Inner Sphere is Terra (Earth).

J

 * JumpShip : A form of Starship used by Human civilization in the BattleTech Universe. The ship final component of a 2 segment transportation system. They can not move quickly in normal space, require stay in area without any gravitational influences. These ships use massive amount power which they need to leap between measurement of distance to reach their destination instantly. However, they must use massive solar sails to recharge their batteries. In some cases special batteries can be added to allow a double jump. JumpShips since destructive Era of the Succession Wars, JumpShips are fairly rare, near taboo to destroy due to loss of means building them in large numbers.

K

 * Kapteyn Accords : See Concord of Kapteyn
 * Kurita : Family name of Ruling Family of Draconis Combine.
 * KLONDIKE, Operation : Early Succession War Era military operation (war) in the Deep Periphery. The operation was when the first generation of the Clans, formerly SLDF, wage war against rebellious factions had formed in the original settle space of the Star League in Exile, Pentagon Worlds. This is operation where the Clans cement their control Pentagon worlds, placing the settlement in warrior-centric culture envisioned by founder Khan Nikolas Kerensky.

L

 * Liao : Ruling family of the Capellan Confederation.


 * Lyran Commonwealth : A major interstellar Nation of the Inner Sphere, located the northwest from Terra/Earth. A highly capitalist nation known to value wealth.  Ruled principally by Steiner family. The Lyran culture has normatic/german influences.

M

 * Mech : Slang for BattleMech or OmniMech


 * MechWarrior: Dark Age : This was a collectable game miniatures tabletop game devised by WizKids in 2001. The company was founded by BattleTech co-creator Jordan Weisman. The game was set in 3132 in the BattleTech universe, was largely a new time period yet explored by the original gameline which was frozen in 3067.  Weiseman revived original Battletech tabletop game, allowing it to continue. Game would cease being made by bankruptcy of the company however, the original Tabletop game would continue and move into the what term as Dark Age Era (3085-3150) time period and absorbing much of miniatures and fiction MWDA game created.


 * Mercenary : A soldier for hire, whom can acquire great wealth. Typically they form mercenary companies, formed around combat vehicles and more commonly BattleMechs.

N

 * Neg : A Slang found in Clan culture for Negative, which was originally a military term for No.


 * Nova (Clan) : This is a small Clan combined arms formation where two different types Stars consisting typical of BattleMechs/OmniMechs and Elemental Battle Armor are assigned together. This type formation is commanded by a Star Commander (sometimes referred to as a Nova Commander or Nova Star Commander) This formation trains to work together support each other in combat. Larger version of this formation is known as a Supernova.

O

 * Outreach : The famed world of the Wolf's Dragoons during the 31st Century, which during their rule during the century prior to the Jihad, was a mercenary world. A place where mercenary soldiers make contracts and sell their services to any who wish to hire them.


 * OmniMech : This is modular version of the BattleMech. Where refitting changing out weapons and equipment on a BattleMech means redesigning the Mech, taking considerable amount of time to do. OmniMech uses OmniPods which are containers that allows weapon or equipment plugin into the OmniMech in short amount time. Typically due to balance issues (weight or game balance) OmniMechs usually patterned amount of "configurations" weapons usually found on a OmniMech per model or class of mech. OmniMechs themselves, have fix amount of weight of Podded equipment they can carry based on their size and allotted room. Equipment that cannot bemoved, that is permenant to the OmniMech is usually referred to fixed equipment. OmniMechs are knowns to require more maintenance than normal BattleMechs (this was game mechanic to balance out differences between OmniMechs and standard BattleMechs.)

P

 * P

Q

 * Q

R

 * Recognition Guide : Recognition Guide (RG) is Clan name for the Technical Readout publication used identify combat & civilian machines/mecha/vehicles/etc in the BattleTech Universe. The term was first introduced at beginning of the IlClan Era


 * Regiment : This is a large military formation, where units within this formation number (108 BattlMechs or Combat Vehicles). Usually formation this size require at least 4 assault size DropShips to transport, such as Overlord-Class DropShip.


 * Republic of the Inner Sphere : This is a nation that was formed after the defeat of the Word of Blake in 3081. Formation of the Republic came about by the influences of David Lear and Devlin Stone, the general whom lead coalition forces to defeat manic Blakist. The Republic in the canon universe stood from 3081 to 3150.  They were largely free and capitalist multicultural nation, which was twp branch government of Senators and Paladins whom all answered to the Exarch. Elements people of all factions in the Inner Sphere would join the nation until it's demise at hands of the Inner Sphere based Clans.


 * Rim Worlds Republic : This is was a large expansive nation that exist along "North-western" regions of Inner Sphere's Periphery region. Bordering the Lyran Commonwealth to north edges of the Free Worlds League. This was a largest known Periphery nation that existed from Age of War Era to end of the dawn the Succession Wars. Its leadership in the end of the Star League era committed hostile take over of the Terran Hegemony, and left nation open to invasion by SLDF. Disarmed by era's end, it would partially taken over by the Lyran Commonwealth and the nation fragmented due to lack of strong central leadership or armed forces.

S

 * Steiner : The ruling family of the Lyran Commonwealth/Lyran Alliance.


 * Star League : This largest interstellar nation created by mankind. Fusion of alliances between the major Inner Sphere nations lead by Terran Hegemony. The nation waged war against minor nations outside the Inner Sphere, known as the Periphery States. The war was used to fuse the early shaky alliance of Inner Sphere nations into more fused nation. However, after successful conquest, centuries would past and discontent would rise among the League's member states. Betrayal of a leader of the Periphery State, kill the Star Lord of the League, taking throne in a coupe for himself. A civil war would be wage by the League's Armed forces commander General Alexandr Kerensky and ultimately devastating the Terra Hegemony and lead to break up the League's itself.


 * Star League Defense Force : Better known as the SLDF, this was the armed forces of the Star League, where they would form giant armies and navy to maintain peace and stability among the League members. However, following the Star League Civil War, the League would fall. In order to preserve the League in some form, the SLDF would go into exile into the deep space.  The SLDF would under go a social/political transformation into a multi-Clan of nations who manifest destiny is to reconquer the Inner Sphere and reforge the Star League under their control.


 * Succession Wars Era : This is name for time period that covers two centuries of brutal fighting in after math of the fall of the Star League. Series of wars is played out from 2785 to 3049 where members of the former Star League fight for domination of the Inner Sphere, with dreams of it's leadership to be named the next Star Lord. There were four wars which this time period gets its name, while smaller conflicts are also fought before end of the 3049, when the Clans invaded the Inner Sphere.


 * Succession War, First : This was first war of the Succession War era, where all five remaining Star League member state, at the peak of the their military build up and technology unleash total warfare against each other. This would the conflict where brutal strikes each other left millions dead from worlds being annihilated from devastating planetary bombardments and use of nuclear weapons. By the end of the conflict a considerable amount of factories are destroyed and technology levels of all the combatants begins to slide downwards, with countless millions dead on all side, what was former Terran Hegemony lay in ruins as mass land grab among other moves.


 * Succession War, Second : Mere decades after the First Succession War, the Second would begin. The remaining forces with enough military strength and consternation Star League level technology is thrown in to final throws of battle for domination in effort try make gains before the mighty nation is expended. This is era where Star League technology levels would go extinct, where last of the Inner Sphere's WarShips would be lost in efforts hold one another off from tipping tables to the other winning a conflict before troops make their land fall.


 * Succession War, Third : This is war which lasts centuries, however, it is time period where Inner Sphere's Succession States as they would become to be known as would only periodically muster enough BattleMechs and troops to casual raids for resources and rarely launch massive invasion troops mustering beyond a Regiment (105 BattleMechs).


 * Succession War, Fourth : The final Succession War in name and the shortest one, with war being fought from 3028 to 3030. This would be war where Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth would commit to alliance to merge their states into nation not seen since the fall of the Star league. Where they would Federated Suns conduct massive invasion into the Capellan Confederation and Lyran Commonwealth would move towards Terra cutting into the Draconis Combine and Free Worlds League where they would secure the borders between the two nations. The three other Succession States having formed an written document forming alliance known as the Kapteyn Accords, failed to work together to prevent Federated Commonwealth from forming, resulting Capellan Confederation being cut in half, leaving the Free Worlds League in chaos.


 * Squadron : Typically as Squadron is formation of 6 aerospace or conventional fighters or even VTOLs combat units. However, this term can be applied to other vehicles such as rare Large Naval Vehicle or WarShips.  These types of units seldom appear beyond the Succession War Era due to the devastating losses to vehicles and means of producing them.


 * Star (Clan) : This is a Clan formation consisting of 5 points of troops. Usually large units such as BattleMechs / OmniMechs only 1 unit per point in a Star, while smaller combat units such as Combat Vehicles or Aerospace Fighters will number 2 units per. Infantry or Battle Armor troops will number 25 per Star, broken to 5 troops per Point of such a formation. A Clan Star is commanded by a Star Commander.

T

 * Tank : A type of Combat Vehicle, sometimes referred to as Armor/Armour.


 * Technical Readout : This a type of in-universe publication (actual table top published source book) which acts as a guide to civilian & combat units ('Mechs/vehicles/aerospace/battle armor) that appears in the BattleTech Universe. These guides, are published names are traditionally use game year or Era its representing. Example "Technical Readout: 3025" or "Technical Readout: Succession Wars". Some specialty publications of this kind do not use year/era reference as part of their name, but by what focus of the publication. Such as "Technical Readout: Vehicle Annex" which specialized on civilian type vehicles or secondary vehicles on frontline combat units.


 * Terra Alliance : The Terran Alliance was 1st interstellar nation formed by Human kind. Center on Terra, the democracy lead nation would usher age discovery with invention of the K-F Jump Drive, creating countless worlds across space. However, as humans colonized space, old political unrest continued on Terra, created divisions among it's political standings, eventually leading to isolationist taking over the leadership of the Alliance and cutting off most it's colonies encircling Terra. As Terra turned on itself ending in a Civil War, it's own military would turn it's guns against the unstable democracy in a coupe lead by Admiral James McKenna. This coupe would form a new nation with limited elections called the Terra Hegemony.


 * Terra : This is name used for Earth in the BattleTech universe. It is center of all human culture and once the seat of power for Terran Hegemony, later the Star League, ComStar, and Republic of the Sphere. For most of it's existence, it has been the mostly the most technology world in human space. In later eras, Terra would be again the capital of the Republic of the Sphere and ilClan's version of the Star League.


 * Terra Hegemony : This was the 2nd interstellar nation to form centered on around world of Terra. Lead by the Director-General, the nation was quasi-Monarch (Director-General) and mix regional governors and elected Hegemony Congress. The nation would become force to be reckoned with, after the fall of the Terran Alliance, reclaiming center of what be known as Inner Sphere. The nation would be host nation of the Star League, until it's end in 2781 due a Civil War.


 * Trinary : This is a Clan military formation consisting of three Stars of troops. Typically of Clan formations usually stays consistent with same type of unit (Mech/BattleArmor/Infantry/Combat Vehicle/Fighters). This formation is commanded a Star Captain. Combined arms version of a Trinary include a Supernova Trinary, which includes Star of two different type of troops, typically Mechs and Elemental Battle Armor. However, other types units may mixed per point.

U

 * Unit : This singular combat vehicle/mech/aerospace fighter/Battle Armor Squad (4 men)

V

 * VTOL
 * This is type of Combat Vehicle which is basically a type Helicopter, however vertical Launch able can Aircraft be also designated under this type of designation.

W

 * WarShip : This is a rare type of JumpShip, which can move between planets unlike normal JumpShips. Armed with array of massive weaponry, that can destroy anything they encounter smaller than themselves. Incredibly costly to make and maintain, technology know how to build them is fleeting (due to the focus of the tabletop game on ground combat and BattleMechs).


 * Word of Blake : This is religious political organization first formed within the ranks of ComStar, the maintainers of the Inner Sphere's interstellar communication. Known for their fanical devotion to the teachings of its founder Jermony Blake, the WoB would evolve into force of it's own once ComStar faced the Clans in 3051, when in 3054 the WoB itself and it's sub-political components would divorce itself from ComStar due to its change of becoming non-political identity. It would eventually retake Terra for itself, and lead charge reform the Star League at the cost massive war when the quasi 2nd Star League collapsed in 3067. Ultimately leading to it's demise in 3081 and it's members hunted down by the Inner Sphere and Clans a like.

Y

 * Y

Z

 * Z