K

K.3
Compound in Galasphere medical kits used as a heavy duty pain killer but which also simulates death (WB).

Kamakolia Lizard
Creature indiginous to the planet Delta, whose horn is strong enough to act as an alternative to metal (MS)

Katy
Type 2 robot modified by Haggerty to receive orders by thought wave and act as house keeper while Cassie is on holiday. Men, honestly... ! (TR)

Kinotine
Compound invented by Dr Mason that has superior insulation properties. A Martian industrialist called Kolig, realising the profit in such a material, kidnapped Dr Mason in order to control its manufacture and distribution (SF)

Knitting
A hobby, Husky implies, among lonely Martian crewmembers (MM)

Kolig
Martian industrialist who kidnaps Dr Mason, the inventor of Kinotine, obtains the secret of its production and has the doctor killed. His plan is thwarted when given a newly discovered truth formula and questioned live on Martian television. His initials are W.J. (SF)

Koreeza
Proper name, apparently, for the common cold germ (MTS)


L

Larta (right)
Small world on the edge of the solar system and home to pioneers who left Earth many years ago (TVC11).

Lartans
Human colonists who inhabit the small world of Larta in a vast domed city. They had been terrorised by space bandits for many years and called upon Earth for help. Driven to desperation, they abduct Professor Haggarty until Galasphere 347 can drive the bandits away or secure their safety (TVC11).

Laser
Acronym for Light Amplified and Stimulated by Emissions of Radiation. Lasers still seem in use in 2100 although some consider them to have been replaced by Gamma Ray weaponry. Berridge uses a powerful moon-based laser to attack Earth (MM) but no laser has the strength to destroy the Zenton cloud placed by the Neptunians (CD). The Martian colonists on Pluto use them, presumably for mining but also to cut ice for building blocks (BS). A laser is later set up in Moon Crater Four, and used to destroy the threatening artificial planet built by the Neptunians (DW).

Laser Gun
Armament carried aboard Galaspheres, though from its appearance it may be another or generic term for a gamma ray gun (DP). The Galaspheres seem to be armed with a larger, more powerful type (JW)

‘Leeks’
Early description of the Uranian Duo plant creatures (DP, EVT).

Leyhart Building, The (left)
Destroyed by a Moon-based laser controlled by Berridge (MM). It would seem the rebuilt construction was equally unlucky, meeting a similar fate at the ultrasonics used by the Duos (JW).

Lumi Pebble
White smooth ‘stones’ that are played with by the Lumis on Jupiter. They do not seem to be a natural mineral and may come from the Lumis themselves, though it is never stated what it is. Ground into powder and mixed in water, it cures the shrinking caused by the venom of Jovian Snakes (SS). A similar condition caused by contamination from a meteorite found on Pallas (SS), and a gaseous vapour encountered on Jupiter (SG) were also cured by it.

Lumies
Refered to as the only animal life on Jupiter, they resemble dark furry seals with large eyes. Their skins retain heat for years, making them a valuable if unethical commodity (SJ). Their calls are refered to as ‘barking’, which they do often during the mating season. They are also the source of Lumi Pebbles, white ‘stones’ which they play with (SS, SG).

Lumen
Planet orbiting the star Sirius and home to the crystalline Lumina. There are a million Lumina living there, and the region they inhabit is in darkness for six hours at a time, suggesting a planetary rotation of twelve or so hours. (PL)

Lumina (right)
Silicon-based, glowing crystalline life forms from the planet Lumen orbiting the star Sirius. Roughly cylindrical and a few feet high, they float by an unknown means and can communicate telepathically. They are advanced, recharging themselves by the light of Sirius itself, and capable of faster-than-light space travel - the journey taking a matter of hours. They have never travelled to our solar system prior to encountering Galasphere 347 and while the oxygen atmosphere on the UGO worls make visits difficult for the Lumina, Raeburn is eager for Haggarty to find a way to protect them for future visits (PL)

Lumina Ship
Resembing a dumbell with nodules on each sphere, it seemingly appears out of nowhere from travelling faster than light. Its similarity in design to Neptunian ships leads one to suspect they may have had contact in the past, though it is never mentioned (PL).

Lunalt
Extremely hard mineral mined on the Moon by the Dawlish Mining Company, and the only ore Termoids cannot burrow through (TVC09).

On to M