SHADOW FLEET: A secret Imperial fleet which, under normal circumstances, exists only as a cadre. Its existence, however, is a matter of perpetual rumor, and is the standard explanation for a military person who drops out of sight for an extended time, especially if @ reappears at a higher rank. When it is activated for military emergencies (under another designation, of course), it operates, if necessary, without regard for the Laws of War; its Fleet Admiral is subsequently courtmartialled, then given another identity and set up on a world of @'s choice.
Home port is Shonnar, where its cover mission (and, most of the time, real one) is to interdict that world from contact.
SHAMASH, Subsector 1-F:
No. systems: 51 Sector: Orion
with 3 inhabited planets: 2 Ruled by:
with 2 inhabited planets: 10
with 1 inhabited planet: 15
SHAMU, Subsector 14-F:
No. systems: 133 Sector: Phoenix
with 3 inhabited planets: 1 Ruled by:
with 2 inhabited planets: 9
with 1 inhabited planet: 22
SHAPERS: The genetic engineers, led by Sandoval "Sandy" Cassell, who created the Sandeman race and much of its culture. They were overthrown and killed by their creations in 2316.
SHIP CLASSES, CIVILIAN: Civilian ships are so varied it is impossible to summarize them, except to say that they vary from hundred-meter needles (the smallest size able to carry hyperdrive engines) to five-hundred-meter spheres (the largest able to land in near-standard gravity fields).
SHIP CLASSES, ITN: In order of size, Imperial Navy ships are:
Battle Cruisers (IBCs), equatorial diameter 1000 meters, mass 8 x 10 to the eighth tons, crew 2000, carrying capacity over a million, named for Sovereigns or Rangers. Flagships of Imperial Fleets when such must be assembled, and the ship-type most commonly used by Rangers. They are very well armed, used for things like colony setup, deep-space patrol, large-scale rescue, and similar missions, as well as combat.