Union Terminology

This is a collection of terms used by the workers in the Interstellar Union in their speech. Just as Earth citizens have sayings, the Union has idioms too, although some of theirs relate to things found in space or general variations, but some Earth variations are still used.

## General

*Close, but the bullet didn't hit* - Something that has just missed the mark, i.e., *"Oh, close, Captain, but the bullet didn't hit."* This phrase is believed to allude to hunting.

*Hear a snake's footfall* - To have very good hearing, i.e., *"Mia can't see beyond arm's length, but I swear she can hear a snake's footfall!"* This alludes to the fact that snakes have no feet.

*Head in the stars, feet in a black hole* - Unaware of a dangerous situation, i.e., *"Do you think Mia would be any good in a Black Alert?" "I reckon she'll have her head in the stars and her feet in a black hole."*

*Louder than the Hindenburg Explosion* - Extremely loud, i.e., *"Will someone ask the Engineering department to please keep it down? It's louder than the Hindenburg explosion!"*

*Like the Boston Tea Party* - A lot of things are being discarded, often used in the Cargo Bay when a lot of boxes come in, i.e., *"God, it's like the Boston Tea Party in here."*

*To get pushed around more than the cargo* - To constantly be treated roughly or inconsiderately, i.e., *"As a young captain, I get pushed around more than the cargo!"*

*As clear as Thulor's air* - Something very much NOT clear, i.e., *"What these doctors have written is about as clear as Thulor's air."*

*Don't marry roosters to lions* - Some people are just awful matches, i.e., *"You have no idea how grateful I am that she married Chandler instead of brig-bound Ivan. You just shouldn't marry roosters to lions."*

*To have a stomach made of titanium* - To be able to tolerate any food without consequence, i.e., *"Did I just watch Zumihaur eat a Carolina Reaper?" "You did." "I swear he has a stomach made of titanium!"*

*To talk out of the shuttlebay* - Say things the recipient have no right to, i.e., "She was talking out of the shuttlebay, sir, I agree."

## Insults, Exclamations, and Phrases

*Pale as a floodlight* - Very pale, i.e., *"Mr. Lawson, I worry about you. You're pale as a floodlight."*

*Slide in on a chicken nugget* - Not have to try to get where they are, i.e., *"That Mia Lawson is definitely something. As much as she slid into the captaincy on a chicken nugget, she's got quite a brain on her."*

*Mutant in the room* - A problem everyone is avoiding, i.e., *"Now. Lawson. Adlington. We're not going to sit here and pretend that there's not a massive mutant in the room."*

*Button brain* - A very common insult meaning foolish, i.e., *"Please keep matches away from children...and button brains."*

*Death stick* - A cigarette, i.e., *"You need to be careful. We call cigarettes death sticks for a reason."*

*Eggshells!* - Usually an angry exclamation which could be used for anything, i.e., *"Eggshells! I blew it!"* or *"Oh eggshells!"*

*Paperskin* - An insult against a person who is very pale, i.e., *"Why do they even tolerate paperskins? Fake tan should be made mandatory for that lot."*

*Hairball Generator* - An insulting way to refer to a Zakarulian, i.e., *"Check that hairball generator's criminal history very carefully."*

*Bloodclaw* - A rarely used phrase referring to an overly brutal Zakarulian, i.e., *"I've killed people before, but he's nothing short of a bloodclaw."*