Dictionary for the Leave Series

BDUs-Battle Dress Uniforms

Contract—the paper drawn up between a man in the Service and the woman he marries to provide for her well being if something happens to him while he's on duty.

Credit—money

Dog boy—essentially a punishment for a cadet where one cadet (who has insulted another) is assigned as the senior cadet's fetch and carry man. The senior cadet will often take advantage of this punishment and treat the “dog boy” like a dog—hence the name.

EVA—extravehicular activities

filius–son

Leave—the one-month that a serviceman is allowed to stay at home. A month when he is not on-call at all unless there is a war. During the time at the Academy this time is broken into one or two week sections.

Libertas—the freedom for a First Wife to act and speak freely without fear of reprimand from her husband or other Clan members.

Link—mechanical device used to access accounts and pay for purchases. Usually part of a watch worn by the person. Service personal have a chip embedded in their wrist for the Link.

Patrol—the eleven-month tour of duty that a Space Naval Serviceman is required to serve.

Search-The quest that Clanmen go on to find their new wives.

Service—the name used by members of the SNS (and other branches of the armed forces) and their families when not being addressed by a commanding officer or in the presence of the United Nations men.

Space Naval Service (SNS)—the name of the combined space and naval services that serve the United Nations.

The Clans—a nomadic people who trade and entertain as they make their way through the galaxy. Very similar to Gypsies.

The Wall—the dividing line between uptown and downtown or the haves and the have nots. It is literally a wall that must be passed through.