James Barrington - Pandemic

CVSThe official designation of a Through-Deck Cruiser, like HMS Invincible

DCPP Direzione Centrale Polizia di Prevenzione : the division of the Italian police force that carries out arrests on behalf of the SISDE

DECOMType of table (and software program) that allows a diver to calculate decompression stops for specific times underwater

DP51Daewoo 9mm semi-automatic pistol

Dragunov Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova sniper rifle in 7.62mm Soviet calibre, normally equipped with either the PSO-1 telescopic sight or the NSPU-3 night sight

DSCS-3Defense Satellite Communications System 3. Hardened, jam-proof satellites in geostationary orbit that are designed to provide uninterrupted high-priority secure communications

E2BSimple magnetic compass fitted in Sea Harrier aircraft

ECGElectrocardiogram. Essentially an electronic recording of the heart to allow doctors to assess its condition

ECMElectronic Counter-Measures: devices used to jam or otherwise disrupt radio and radar systems

EEGElectroencephalogram. Test intended to detect electrical abnormalities in the brain

EMCONEmission control policy: statement of intent governing the use of radios and radar

Enigma T301Type of mobile phone allowing totally secure conversation

EPI1Essentially a movement order for CDC (q.v.) personnel. It specifies what the team members are hoping to achieve, where they are going, who they are to contact on arrival, and so on

ERCEn-route Chart. Aviation chart showing airfields, airways, upper air routes and other information

ERSEn-Route Supplement. Document listing airfield, beacon and other aviation information for a specified geographic area

FA2Fighter Attack 2 variant of the Sea Harrier, also known as the FRS2

FAAFederal Aviation Administration: the American Government organization responsible for all aspects of aviation and air traffic control in the United States

FADECFull Authority Digital Engine Control: a computerized control system used on the Agusta 109 helicopter

FDOFlight Deck Officer: physically controls all movements on the Flight Deck of an aircraft carrier

FibbiesSlang term for the FBI

FilovirusA lethal thread-like virus found in Africa: there are several different types, the most deadly being Ebola Zaïre

Flight LevelHeight of an aircraft in thousands of feet based upon the standard pressure setting (q.v.) of 1013.25 hPa (hectopascals) or 29.92 inches (for some American aircraft)

FlycoFlying Control position: located on the port side of the bridge of an aircraft carrier, Flyco controls all launches from, and recoveries to, the ship

FOEForeign Operations Executive. The fictitious organization that employs Paul Richter. Although FOE does not literally exist, the concept of the SIS employing ex-military personnel to carry out deniable operations is well established. These recruits are known collectively as ‘The Increment’

Fort DetrickLocation of USAMRIID, the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, which possesses one of the only two BSL4 laboratories in America

FRS1Early model of the Sea Harrier

GazelleTwo-seat basic trainer helicopter used by the Royal Navy

GlockAustrian-manufactured 9mm semi-automatic pistol

GSMGlobal System for Mobile Telecommunications. The technical name for the system that operates the ubiquitous mobile phone

GuardMilitary Emergency frequency of 243.0 megahertz: the equivalent civil VHF frequency is 121.5 megahertz

GuardianRadar warning receiver fitted to Sea Harrier aircraft

HDSHelicopter Delivery Service

HEPAHigh Efficiency Particle Arrestor: a very efficient filter

Hi-PowerBrowning 9mm semi-automatic pistol: the standard British Forces side-arm

HomerA radar console manned by a specialist Air Traffic Control officer on an aircraft carrier

KH-11 or KH-12Type of surveillance satellite normally known as a ‘Keyhole’

L4HALevel Four Hot Agent: classification of the most lethal known virus types

Little FLieutenant Commander (Flying)

MaydayHighest state of emergency in an aircraft or ship

MDCMiniature Detonating Cord: thin line of explosive bonded into an aircraft canopy, which shatters it a split-second before the ejection seat is fired

MerlinAgusta Westland Merlin HM Mk 1 ASW helicopter

MI5Military Intelligence 5 – the Security Service – responsible for counter-espionage in the United Kingdom. Also known as ‘Five’

Model 92Beretta 9mm semi-automatic pistol

MossadThe Institute for Intelligence and Special Tasks. The Israeli intelligence service, headquartered in Tel Aviv, is one of the most competent and feared services in the world, achieving remarkable results from a total staff of only about 1,200

NASNaval Air Station (US) or Naval Air Squadron (UK)

NAVHARSSea Harrier’s inertial navigation system

NBCDNuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence

N-PICNational Photographic Interpretation Center: part of the Science and Technology Directorate of the CIA and based at Building 213 in the Washington Navy Yard

OOWOfficer of the Watch

PanLower of the two possible states of emergency in an aircraft or ship

PerpPerpetrator

PGPPretty Good Privacy: a type of data-encryption computer program

PigeonsMagnetic heading to steer and distance to run to reach a ship. Passed to a pilot on recovery to the ship in the format: ‘Pigeons two seven five at forty-two’

Porton DownBritish biological and chemical weapon research facility

POTUSPresident of the United States

PWOPrincipal Warfare Officer

QNHAirfield pressure setting calculated so that an aircraft’s altimeter will show the airfield’s elevation when on the runway

RC-135A highly specialized and very expensive electronic surveillance aircraft based on the Boeing 707 platform

RDFRadio Direction Finder

RDXCyclotrimethylenetrinitramine. Also known as hexogen or cyclonite, it’s a white crystalline substance that is one of the most powerful and stable of the military-application explosives

RFARoyal Fleet Auxiliary: merchant ships that operate under special rules and act as supply vessels to Royal Navy ships

Ripple ThreeASW tactic using three helicopters in a screen to protect a group of surface ships: each aircraft is relieved on task by another, so providing a constant ASW protection against the perceived threat

RPSRegional Pressure Setting: the lowest forecast pressure setting for an area that is used by low-level aircraft in transit through that area

SAMOSSatellite and Missile Observation System. Generic term for a series of early American satellites designed to spy on the Soviet Union

SDSSatellite Data System. American satellites used to relay images and data from reconnaissance and geostationary communications satellites, and to detect nuclear detonations. The current version is the SDS-2