U

Ultrasonics
The Uranian Duos communicate by ultrasonics, sound beyond that which humans can hear (DP, II, JW). Their speech disrupts the functions of robots (RR) and leads to ultrasonics being used in other situations (EV). Dart claims ultrasonics were used once to cure brain disorders and a ‘super ultrasonic’ device is used to restore Cassie when she speaks backwards after a matter transmission experiment (DS).

Ultraviolet Rays
Used to get rid of germs in the 22nd century (DP). It may also be the basis of Contamination Control, although this is never stated. The rings of Saturn use blinding ultraviolet radiation as one of its defences (RS).

Uniforms
The uniforms of the Space Patrol, as seen on the crew of Galasphere 347, seem fairly standardised. It consists of a sleeveless olive brown vest over light blue trousers and long-sleeved turtle neck with an interthreaded sparkle effect, worn with short boots. Crew members have a gold six-pointed star on the chest of the turtle neck, visible above the top of the vest. Captains have a gold sunburst design with a four-pointed star on the vest itself, while the sleeves of the top are a matching olive brown (or red) with a pale blue V-design running from shoulder to elbow.

It is possible the redesigned uniforms (seen later, and in published stories) involved a more white jumpsuit with a red tunic.

Husky refers to the uniform as a spacesuit (HI), suggesting the design is functional with built-in protection, only requiring the addition of a molung or helmet to be fully protective against the vacuum of space and the extremes of conditions on other planets - both logical and time-saving - but there are inconsistencies. They are protective against the fierce heat of Mercury (FM) for example, but Husky succumbs to the infrared radiation of the Saturnian rings (RS). It would also appear that they are not suitable for underwater usage (RR, HF)

Colonels wear off-white trousers and top over which is worn a shorter vest in dark olive green (or red) with gold trim and piping, with the shoulder flash of the UGO.

Generals of the United Galactic Forces wear light trousers and a pale satin shirt, over which is worn a dark sleeveless jerkin with embroided trim and the chest chain and stylised Sun symbol. Interestingly, this uniform is also worn by the President of the World Science Bureau (TVC03), suggesting either a link with the United Galactic Forces, or another 'umbrella' organisation (though not the UGO) to which both may belong.

Other uniform designs seem to involve a white trouser and tunic affair with prominent dark shoulder flashes, as seen at the Martian and Moon Observatories, and may be a variant spacesuit used by the scientific community. This design is echoed by Major Valla at Moon Station One, and some of the Jupiter Scientific HQ teams, though the colours are more mid-tone. Other variations appear to exist as functional uniforms throughout the solar system by the human communities.

United Galactic Army
Military division of the United Galactic Organisation, headed by General Smith (RR, RS, II, ES, UA, EV, SF, SD).

United Galactic Cross
Medal for bravery, which Slim recommends for the Lumina who return to help them find the ‘Cave of Death’ at risk to its own safety (PL).

United Galactic Forces
Term used to describe a division of the United Galactic Army in action (SJ, TF, SD).

United Galactic Organisation (UGO)
Federation comprising of - initially - Earth, Venus and Mars. It would be fair to assume contact and an accord between all three was established around the same time, certainly by the mid-21st Century, for the organisation to be as well established as it seems to be in 2100.

While contact has been established with Jupiter long enough for the Jovian laguage to be programmed into electrans, it is unclear whether the planet is also a member. Saturn joined after initial contact (RS), and its membership seemed to continue after a political coup was thwarted allowing the original leader Riga to regain power (GS). Neptune also joined (CD, PT) but this may simply have been a ploy to gain slave labour in the form of robots when their previous method of hijacking colony ships was discovered (SN). Mars has also threatened to leave the UGO when it became clear membership was not helping with the drought situation (WB).

The role of the UGO is never really explained but if it is, say, analagous to the United Nations of today then it probably tries to represent and balance the interests of all member planets. The Duos of Uranus are of the opinion that the UGO rules Earth but it is more than likely, even if we do not see or hear of one, that there is a President of Earth whom Colonel Raeburn represents to the other planets, while he/she deals with global matters.

The UGO has an official seal which is used to authenticate documentation (UA, GS). Above right is an approximation of this, based on the symbol on Colonel Raeburn's tunic.

United Galactic Rules/Laws/Regulations
These are refered to on several occasions and seem reasonably consistent:
• It is not permitted to take a person from one planet to another without permission (SJ, PT).
• Animals and birds are not allowed on Galaspheres (SN), but exceptions are sometimes made (TF).
• A Galasphere cannot be left unguarded (GT, II) by its crew, though exceptions are sometimes made in emergencies by using the robot (SG).
• It is a breach of United Galactic regulations to use telepathic powers on another person (PT).
• A Galasphere cannot land on a planet without informing Space Headquarters (SG).

United Galactic Steel Company
Manufacturing outfit in 2100 who are having problems with their robots (EV).

Uranians - see Duos.

Uranian Ship
See Husky's Technical Manual: Duo Spacecraft

Uranus
Seventh planet of the solar system. A round trip to the planet would take about about six months - 172 days (DP). A mission to Uranus in 2098 consisting of 20 men and a space freighter ended in tragedy with the men vanishing, leaving only the freighter to be found. The planet was noted as only being inhabited by plants, but these are intelligent and communicate ultrasonically at 90,000 sound cycles (DP). Haggarty is examining rocks from the Uranus polar region which are radioactive and about 4000 years old, leading Cassie to suggest there had been an atomic war there in the past (DP). The temperature at the poles is 78 degrees (DP).

Uranus Steel
Alloy made from Uranian ore. Rockets made from Uranus steel were used to test the effectiveness of the Eye (EV).


V

Vacuum Door
Twin system of access in and out of Galaspheres. The inner vacuum door is usually refered to as the access to the Galasphere control room. Their usage would appear to hold much in common with modern airlocks though we do occasionally see the crew standing by the open outer vacuum door with no molung or breathing apparatus. This would suggest an unseen force (possibly the Galasphere’s own spinning energy sphere) retains some atmosphere while in space when it is active.

Valla, Major
Bearded Venusian in charge of Moon Station One (MM).

Venus
Second planet of the solar system. Earthlike, but referred to as both hot and with a wet climate (BS, WB) though this is not apparent from the rocky landscape seen around the capitol city of Cresta. At maximum speed, it only takes a day and a half to two days to reach from. There are at least three oceans, one of which is the Magda Ocean (HF), of which Cresta is on the west coast.

Venusian
1/ Bearded replacement for Slim when he chooses to remain on Venus to help Gallia come to power. He acts as pilot and is very adept but is never named (VV).
2/ Dark haired and bearded member of Marog’s gang, an expert in physics and bomb building. He tells Marog it will take him about a week to build a hydrogen bomb but perishes when Husky sabotages the launch mechanism (WB).

Venusian President - see President of Venus

Venusians (right)
Petite humanoid race with only three fingers, slanted eyes, and slightly pointed heads. Their voices tend to be high pitched in both sexes and most but not all have characteristicaly silver hair. They are a highly logical intelligent race, priding themselves on being cleverer than Earthmen or Martians (EVT). Colonel Raeburn states that Venusians knew nothing about engineering before joining the UGO (PT), which may be a reason for little of the planet seeming to be developed with the exception of their capitol Cresta. A ‘V’ on the Elektrans indicates that they have their own language, though most we see speak English very well, and some of their written symbols are in evidence on Gallia's chart (VV). Most Venusian names end in the letter 'A' - Marla, Borra, Patra etc - which suggests 'Slim' may be a nickname, but this is not conclusive.

Vibra Gun
Sonic weapon used by Mall and his assistant to kill the Loomis. Long and slender, it appears to fire a stream of mist, though this could simply be the beam disturbing the atmosphere. The sound waves can also disturb compasses from some distance away (SJ).

Vision Phone
Older form of communication comprising of a wall mounted screen and phone mouthpiece (TVC02).

Vitamin Pills
What Jones survives on for the 41 day trip to Saturn when he stows away on Galasphere 347 (MTS). Husky bemoans having to live on them when Galasphere 347 has to return to Saturn (GS).

Vitascope
A device that could be carried in almost any spaceship and, from an orbit within two hundred miles of a planet's surface, would detect any form of life and focus selected scenes upon a video-screen. The vitascope tested by a two Galasphere mission to planet M17 showed fearsome monsters but on landing on the surface, both Lieutenant Roget of Galasphere 774, and later the crew of Galasphere 347, found nothing (HS01).

Volcanoes
An undersea volcano is responsible for the chemical which combines with sea water and eats away half of the electronic brain of robots at the sea farm (RR). The Venusian capitol of Cresta (left) is ringed by dead volcanoes, though it may be that some are just dormant. One is used in a plan to spread a powder that puts people to sleep for two days, in a takeover bid by Slim’s uncle Gallia (VV)

Voltek (left)
Alien space raider convicted of piracy and condemned to life strapped into the chair of a spaceship with a crew of robots who would do his every bidding - except release him unless someone agreed to take his place. (TVC10)

On to W