The Cardinal Directive: Glossary

A collection terms from the story and their meanings!

Welcome to the Cardinal Directive’s glossary! This contains definitions for both important terms and in-universe slang from the series.

To avoid spoilers, this glossary will be sorted by mission log, and will update after every log is released. I also highly recommend you read the log before you come here, so you don’t spoil anything for yourself!

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MISSION LOG #1

• Biodomes - Protective barriers that sit over Martian cities, keeping them habitable for Earthly life, like humans, livestock, and crops.

• Crews - Term for the group of dragons that pull the lochsled. Often consists of six members.

• Dragons - Bioengineered creatures that pull lochsleds, similar to mythic dragons. They are strong and fast, with scales and large claws to help with traction in the deserts. Very intelligent and capable of problem-solving, often with hand-like dexterity in their front limbs. Capable of surviving on Mars without a suit or other means of protection. Appearances and characteristics vary wildly.

• Harrier - Supply runners between Martian cities. Use lochsleds pulled by dragons to get around. The word has a debated origin on Mars — some claim it comes from the word for a runner on a cross country team (harrier), while others believe it comes from a combination of the Latin words “harena” and “naut”, meaning “sand sailor”, that was eventually shortened to its present form.

• LAHCs - See “lochsleds”. Catchall acronym for low altitude hovercrafts, but only really used to refer to the sleds.

• Labyrinth - Noctis Labyrinthus, AKA the “Labyrinth of the Night”. A maze-like intersection of many steep canyons known for filling with fog in the early mornings. Subject of many horror stories. Note: This is a real place on Mars!

• Lochsleds - Solar-powered, low-altitude hovercrafts the harriers use to move supplies. No internal engine or method of propulsion, so they must be pushed or pulled by outside forces, often dragons. Also known as LAHCs.

• Lochsled Graveyards - Places where lochsleds inexplicably gather after crashing or being abandoned in the desert. Something causes the sleds to float vertically here, resembling sleeping whales.

• The Marled Man - A creepy children’s story about a man that lures children into the fog of the labyrinth, never to be seen again. The Martian version of the classic Pied Piper story.

• Tower(s) - Often used as shorthand for the radio operators in each of the cities. They are responsible for communicating to the harriers where supplies need to go, and have the authority to send them out on missions into the desert.

MISSION LOG #2

• Heaters/Heat panels - A set of black panels that go under harrier’s tents for the night. They expand from a small box and are powered by the lochsled’s solar reserves to keep harriers warm while they sleep. Consumes power much slower than running the sled does.

• The Red - Similar usage to “The Wild West”. Refers to the red deserts of Mars, especially the untamed and unpatrolled areas of it.

• MHSL Pact - One of several laws that protect harriers and their activities. Acronym for the Martian Harrier Supply Line pact. Prevents civilians from using harrier communication channels, protects harrier property rights, and more.

• Hovercore - Item currently unknown to the reader, but presumably of great value.

• Suit breach - One of the deadliest fates to befall a harrier, or anyone out in the desert. Exposure to the normal atmospheric pressure of Mars causes death within seconds.

MISSION LOG #3

• Bounty Hunters - Though “harrier” is seen most commonly referring to supply runners, it is considered a general term for anyone that regularly traverses the Martian desert. Bounty hunters are one such group. See gun.

• Draconic Variants - There are many breeds of dragons that fall into different classes. There is a harrier-class, meaning built for the desert, but within that, there’s also supply-class, hunt-class, and more. Hunt-class dragons are often capable of flight, and come with abilities specialized to hunt, track, or chase people down. This can include things like poison, infrared vision, high dive speed, etc.

• Gun - Supply runner harriers are not authorized to carry firearms as a part of their job, but other harriers like bounty hunters and rangers are. Bounty hunters guns tend to use pressurized atmospheric CO2 to fire nail-like projectiles into a helmet or suit to cause a suit breach. These guns have a nonlethal option as well. Some ammunition comes planted in sealant that expands on impact. They also come attached to a small explosive. This gives the hunter enough versatility to threaten a life without needing to take it if it isn’t necessary.

• Hovercore (Updated from 2) - Details still vague. Item within lochsled that is responsible for its ability to hover. Very rare. Not a sustainable resource. Sacred to many harriers. Desired by non-harriers. Usually makes use of a stabilizer when in a sled. Very painful and dangerous to touch if handled incorrectly.