ulture or
society, usually because @ was born or raised in it, appointed to work
with the officer in charge of a mission to that culture.

STILDYNE, Subsector 7-F:
No. systems: 96 Sector: Cygnus
with 3 inhabited planets: 6 Ruled by:
with 2 inhabited planets: 8
with 1 inhabited planet: 26

STINGWEED: Nemran plant. A low-growing shrub with silvery-green
three-lobed leaves and milky sap. The sap contains something generally
described as a cross between a fungus and a bacterium, which is
harmless to intact skin, but is poisonous if introduced into a wound.
The first indication of poisoning, usually in less than an hour, is
that the wound begins to ooze a thick, greenish-yellow, foul-smelling
matter. If the victim does not receive prompt treatment, a fever
develops, followed by delirium, coma, and death, the speed of progress
determined by the amount of poison absorbed. It is dangerous for
anyone except a medic or physician with life support available to
attempt medicating a stingweed victim, since even something as normally
safe as quidine may at times intensify the poison's effect.

STUNNER, NEURAL: A blaster setting or special-purpose handgun that
stuns rather than injuring the one shot. Although it causes no actual
damage, the victim does wake with a severe, migraine-like headache.

STYX, Subsector 17-B:
No. systems: 115 Sector: Indus
with 3 inhabited planets: 3 Ruled by:
with 2 inhabited planets: 10
with 1 inhabited planet: 21

SUBSECTORS: The second subdivision of the Empire, ruled by earls.
There are 106 Subsectors, having an average of 53 planets in 36 systems.

SUCCESSION, IMPERIAL: After considerable study of possible
alternatives, Emperor Chang decided that the Imperial succession should
be based, with one modification, on the Roman Catholic method of
selecting Popes. That difference was timing; rather than wait until
the Sovereign died to elect a new one, thus risking a period without a
ruler, the Conclave would elect a Successor as soon as the new
Sovereign ascended the Throne. Acting on that, a Conclave to elect his
Successor was held a month later; that was Ranger Susan Lindner, who
followed his example, as has been done ever since. See below for a
list of the first twenty-five Sovereigns and the dates of their reigns.

Cheong Chang, 19 Jan 2128 - 1 Jan 2149
Susan M. Lindner, 1 Jan 2