The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mando'ade - FINISH

[Ge'tal Buy'ce]

The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries were written by Howard Tayler, creator of the webcomic Schlock Mercenary. They are a compilation of witticisms and institutionalized bravado masquerading as common sense and general orders. Many do carry a certain degree of profound meaning, but it is often buried under phrasing that has been tuned for quotability at the expense of explicit clarity.

70 Maxims was originally written in a dialect of Basic known as Galstandard West. It has since been translated into Galstandard East, Galstandard Eight, Galstandard Brown, and Galstandard Peroxide, and is now receiving its long-overdue translation into Mando'a.


This seems like a good way to cut my teeth on the language, and given the subject matter, I think the translation has the potential to be even better in Mando'a than in English ("You have not truly experienced Shakespeare until you have read it in its original Klingon"). I'll be updating this as I have time; any and all input is appreciated.

This root post will be updated with the most current translations. The first line is the original English, the second is Mando'a, and the third is a literal translation of the Mando'a back into English (to aid in spotting translation errors and reverse-engineering new words). Words followed by asterisks are either new compound words or entirely new, and have their own list after the maxims.

To aid anyone who feels like cross-checking my work, words, roots, prefixes, and suffixes are now color-coded based on where I found them!
Red text means I got it from the main site dictionary.
Yellow text means I got it from the Words i accumulated or invented so far thread by Tal’jair “te Mir’ad” Rusk.
Green text means I got it from the Total Guide To Mandalorian Language by Tal’jair “te Mir’ad” Rusk.
Blue text means I got it from the Want to learn Mando'a? Hopefully I can help thread by Cuyan Atinii.
Purple text is my own work. I can't guarantee I'm not duplicating or contradicting someone else's work, but it's something I came up with or reverse-engineered on my own.
And I apologize for making my text an eyesore, but it was this or a web of citation notes.

Current Progress
70/70 Maxims Translated
40/70 Translations Edited

1. Pillage, then burn.
Gar ne'lis chak meg gar shi ru'ori'hett.
You can't steal what you just blew up.

2. A Sergeant in motion outranks a Lieutenant who doesn't know what's going on.
Nari'an ruus'alor jaon'kaji shebe'an ver'alor.
[A] moving Sergeant outranks [a] sitting Lieutenant.

3. An ordnance technician at a dead run outranks everybody.
Besbetrayc'naast viini'an par kaysh oyar jaon'kaji anade.
[An] ordnance technician running for his life outranks everybody.

4. Close air support covereth a multitude of sins.
Gebi can'gal hukaan ne'lise gotali di'kut, a lise gotali mayen ashi.
Close starfighter cover can't fix stupid, but [it] can fix anything else.

5. Close air support and friendly fire should be easier to tell apart.
Gebi can'gal hukaan bal burcya'la tracyn vegyce'haa'tayli sol'tanyc'shya.
Close starfighter cover and friendly fire should look more different.

6. If violence wasn't your last resort, you failed to resort to enough of it.
Meh hokaad trattok'o, cuyi jorcu gar ne'ru'cuy hokaad'la luubid.
If violence fails, it's because you weren't violent enough.

7. If the food is good enough, the grunts will stop complaining about incoming fire.
B'akaan'ade taabi ru'ga'epa de epan. Pirim jate skraan.
[The] army's march [is] fed by [its] stomach. Use good food.

8. Mockery and derision have their place. Usually, it's on the far side of the airlock.
Takisite bal mir'shebse gana taap. Nu'haamyc'la cuyi chaaj'yc eso be be'sen or'dayn palon.
Insults and smart-asses have their place. Usually it's [the] far side of [the] ship's door.

9. Never turn your back on an enemy.
Nu draar tengaan gar aru'e gar shebs.
Never show your enemy your back.

10. Sometimes the only way out is through... through the hull.
Jahaal be sen'aliite olaro ru jahaal be sen.
[The] health of [the] crew comes before [the] health of [the] ship.

11. Everything is air-droppable at least once.
An vhebesbe liser abiik'barycir sol'ca'nara.
All ground gear can air deploy once.

12. A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head.
Pel'miite udes a'den. Tion a'den tengaan norac, tracyn kovid.
Soft words calm wrath. When wrath shows its back, shoot its head.

13. Do unto others.
Entay'nar.
Act.

14. "Mad Science" means never stopping to ask "whats the worst thing that could happen?"
Kar'tayl vaii gar tracyn ven'slan ru gar chaa'din bic.
Know where your shot will go before you send it.

15. Only you can prevent friendly fire.
Lenedat'an cuy anade'bora.
Targeting is everyone's job.

16. Your name is in the mouth of others: be sure it has teeth.
Gar gai cuy o'or uram be ash'ade. Jatne meh gan edee.
Your name is in [the] mouth of other people. Best if it has teeth.

17. The longer everything goes according to plan, the bigger the impending disaster.
Munitshya dajun oya, muun'shya bic ash'am.
[The] longer [the] plan stays alive, [the] harder it dies.

18. If the officers are leading from in front, watch out for an attack from the rear.
Meh alore alor jurkad, ja'haili par aru'ese laam gar shebs.
If [the] officers lead [the] assault, watch for enemies at your back.

19. The world is richer when you turn your friends into enemies, but that's not the same as you being richer.
Meg cuyi jatne par oyu ne'cuyi ratiin jatne par gar.
What's best for [the] galaxy isn't always best for you.

20. If you're not willing to shell your own position, you're not willing to win.
Parjai slan at kaysh cuyi runan'ne nars'nibrar.
Victory goes to those [who] are most willing to sacrifice.

21. Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Take his fish away and tell him he's lucky just to be alive, and he'll figure out how to catch another one for you to take tomorrow.
Dinu ad gi, epa par tuur. Hiib kaysh gi bal rejorhaar cuyi jatekara'la cuyir oyayc, mar'eyi yust beviiragir gi par gar nakar'tuur.
Give someone [a] fish, they eat for [a] day. Take their fish and tell [them] they are lucky to be alive, they find [a] way to catch [a] fish for you tomorrow.

22. If you can see the whites of their eyes, somebody's done something wrong.
Meh gar liser haa'tayl gar troan'tay o'r val buyce'se, ashnar ru'shabii.
If you can see your reflection in their helmets, somebody's screwed up.

23. The company mess and friendly fire should be easier to tell apart.
Ol'averde skraan'karyai bal burcya'la tracyn vegyce'haa'tayli sol'tanyc'shya.
[The] company food-house and friendly fire should look more different.

24. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a big gun.
Laamyc'gotala cuyi laamyc'ori'hett.
High-technology is high-explosion (more loosely, high tech is high yield).

25. If a manufacturer's warranty covers the damage you did, you didn't do enough damage.
Meh gotur liser gotali meg gar ru'nyn, gar ne ru'nar nyn luubid'muun.
If [a] mechanic can fix what you struck, you didn't strike hard enough.

26. "Fire and forget" is fine, provided you never actually forget.
Yust'besenaare su liniba yust'ad.
Guided missiles still need [a] guide.

27. Don't be afraid to be the first to resort to violence.
Ne cuy chaab gaanynir sol'yc.
Don't be afraid to punch first.

28. If the price of collateral damage is high enough, you might be able to get paid for bringing ammunition home with you.
Naasade beri majyc par haran val ne'copaani.
Nobody pays extra for destruction they don't want.

29. The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy. No more. No less.
Ash'ad liser copaani gaa'taylir gar bal su copaani kyr'amur gar.
Someone can want to help you and still want to kill you.

30. A little trust goes a long way. The less you use, the further you'll go.
Ruusal'ika slana chaaj'yc. Ruusal'ika'shya slana chaashya.
[A] little trust goes far. Less trust goes farther.

31. Only cheaters prosper.
Shi ne'torla akaan cuyi akaan gar nibrar.
[The] only unfair fight is [the] fight you lose.

32. Anything is amphibious if you can get it back out of the water.
An besbe cuyi pirun'besbe meh bic su borari piryc.
All gear is water-gear if it still works wet.

33. If you're leaving tracks, you're being followed.
Meh dayngaan vhe'sur, ash'ad shekemi.
If [you] drop [a] trail, someone follows [you].

34. If you're leaving scorch marks, you need a bigger gun.
Meh kadalik, linib ori'shya kad.
If [you leave a] scratch, [you] need [a] bigger sword.

35. That which does not kill you has made a tactical error.
Ibac meg ne'nari kyr'amu gar gotal'u kyramla dunar.
That which does not kill you makes [a] fatal error.

36. When the going gets tough, the tough call for close air support.
Cuy draar bid atin'la meg ne'lis jor par gaa'tay.
[You] are never so tough that [you] can't call for help.

37. There is no "overkill." There is only "open fire" and "reload."
Naysol besbe'trayce cuyi draar luubid.
Too many weapons is never enough.

38. What's easy for you can still be hard on your clients.
Cuyi tra acyk "pakod narir" bal "ash'ad liser." Ne'chur'waad garast.
There is a difference between "easy to do" and "anyone can [do it]." Don't under-price yourself.

39. There is a difference between spare parts and extra parts.
Cuyi tra acyk ne'liniba ne'tome ne'pirimmu ne'tome.
There is a difference between unneeded parts and unused parts.

40. Not all good news is enemy action.
Ne'an jate'evaar'miit cuyi aru'e'nari.
Not all good news is enemy action.

41. "Do you have a backup?" means "I can't fix this."
"Tion gan tadyc?" sirbu "Ne'gotal ibic."
"Do have second?" says "Can't fix this."

42. "They'll never expect this" means "I want to try something stupid."
"Val ne'ban'tioni ibic" sirbu "Ni copaan kebuur jare'la dajun."
"They not-guess this" says "I want to try stupid plan."

43. If it's stupid and it works, it's still stupid and you're lucky.
Meh cuyi dikut'la bal borari, cuyi su'dikut'la bal gar cuy jate'kara.
If is stupid and works, is still-stupid and you're lucky.

44. If it will blow a hole in the ground, it will double as an entrenching tool.
Meh lise gotal palon o'r vheh, tebece ven'borari as vheh'gaanur'se.
If can make hole in ground, munitions will-work as shovels.

45. The size of the combat bonus is inversely proportional to the likelihood of surviving to collect it.
Gar ne'lis pirim waade meg waad gar oyar.
You can't use money that cost your life.

46. Don't try to save money by conserving ammunition.
Nu'kebb tegaanalir waade de tegaanal'an tebece.
Not-try to save money by saving ammunition.

47. Don't expect the enemy to cooperate in the creation of your dream engagement.
Ne'par par aru'e narir gar bora par gar. ((Translator's note: I don't think I managed to fit enough A's into this sentence.))
Not-wait for enemy to do your job for you.

48. If it ain't broke, it hasn't been issued to the infantry.
Trat'aab cuyi shukur kebise. Cerat val shal aru'e ru besbalor cu'ami kaden.
Infantry exists to break things. Point them at enemy before quartermaster becomes angry.

49. Every client is one missed payment away from becoming a target and every target is one bribe away from becoming a client.
Nar bora par meg gar as'gaan ber. Ne'cuy gaanadyc beh meg lise beri.
Do job for which you receive payment. Not-be picky about who can pay.

50. If it only works in exactly the way the manufacturer intended, it is defective.
Meh shi borari boru gotur copaani, cuyi di'kutla.
If only works how manufacturer wants, it's useless.

51. Let them see you sharpen the sword before you fall on it.
Tran gar takisit ru gar eparav bic.
Shine your insult before you eat it.

52. The army you've got is never the army you want.
Akaan'ade gar gan cuyi draar akaan'ade gar copaan.
Army you have is never army you want.

53. The intel you've got is never the intel you want.
Narjahail'miit gar gan cuyi draar narjahail'miit gar copaan.
Intel you have is never intel you want.

54. It's only too many troops if you can't pay them.
Shi naysol verde meh ne'lis ber val.
Only too many soldiers if can't pay them.

55. It's only too many weapons if they're pointing in the wrong direction.
Shi naysol kade meh cuyi bat dush videk.
Only too many swords if they're on wrong neck.

56. Infantry exists to paint targets for people with real guns.
Trat'aab cuyi lenedat par dra'kaane.
Infantry exists to target for cannons.

57. Artillery exists to launch large chunks of budget at an enemy it cannot actually see.
Dra'kaane cuyi tracyar waadasla kyrale at meg val vercopaani cuyi aru'e.
Cannons exist to fire expensive bullets towards what they hope is enemy.

58. The pen is mightiest when it writes orders for more swords.
Miit'bev cuyi dral'ne tuu miit'gaana ke'gyce par majyc kade.
Pen is most powerful when writes orders for more swords.

59. Two wrongs is probably not going to be enough.
Nu'kebb gotal'ur jate 'kay ashnar gotal'an dush.
Not-try to make right until done making wrong.

60. Any weapon's rate of fire is inversely proportional to the number of available targets.
Niviin'yc'shya gar besbe'trayce tra'cya, iviin'yc'shya gar aru'e ornau'kemi.
Slower your gun fires, faster your enemies appear.

61. Don't bring big grenades into small rooms.
Ne'jur ori'goorese lo kih'yamikase.
Not-carry big-grenades into small-rooms.

62. Anything labeled "This end toward enemy" is dangerous at both ends.
Gar besbe'trayc gotal aarar kebise. Ne'mird bic ne'lise aara gar.
Your weapon made to hurt things. Not-think it can't hurt you.

63. The brass knows how to do it by knowing who can do it.
Alore kar'tayli boru narir de kar'tayli'an meg lise nari.
Officers know how to do by knowing who can do.

64. An ounce of sniper is worth a pound of suppressing fire.
Sol'kand'ika be ramser cuyi sa jate sa sol'kand be traat'aliit'tracyn.
Gram of sniper is as good as kilogram of squad-fire.

65. After the toss, be the one with the pin, not the one with the grenade.
Ven goor, cuyi verd ti bev, ne'cuyi verd ti goore.
After throw, be soldier with pin, not-be soldier with grenade.

66. Necessity is the mother of deception.
Linib cuyi buir be jehaate.
Necessity is parent of lies.

67. If you can't carry cash, carry a weapon.
Meh gar ne'lis jur waade, jur besbe'trayc.
If you can't carry money, carry weapon.

68. Negotiating from a position of strength does not mean you shouldn't also negotiate from a position near the exits.
Draar mird cuy bid dral ne'ven'linib iviin'yc dayn'yust.
Never think you are so strong you won't need fast exit.

69. Sometimes rank is a function of firepower.
Dul'ca'nara verd'kajii cuyi ru'gyci de tracy'kot.
Sometimes rank is decided by firepower.

70. Failure is not an option - it is mandatory. The option is whether or not to let failure be the last thing you do.
Nibral ne'cuyi gaanada - cuyi mirutre'la. Gaanada cuyi meh nibral ven'cuyi gar kyr'yc nar.
Failure is not choice - it is certain. Choice is if failure will be your final act.


Besbalor: quartermaster. Root words besbe (gear), alor (officer, leader).

Besbetrayc'naast: ordnance technician, EOD. Roots besbe'trayc (weapon), naast (destroyer)

Burcya'la: friendly. The 'la suffix is used to create an adverb out of a noun (evaar -> evaar'la, jare -> jare'la, osik -> osik'la, etc.), so in this case, it's applied to the root word burc'ya (friend). The possibly ironic application is written into the definition of burc'ya in the Mando'a main dictionary, so it's especially fitting for describing 'friendly' fire.

Gaanadyc: selective, picky. Root word gaanader (choose, select).

Jatekara'la: lucky. Root word jate'kara (luck, destiny), adverb suffix 'la.

Jaon'kajir: outrank. Roots jaon (over), verd'kajii (rank)

Jorberir: to cause. Root word jorbe (reason, cause, root).

Ke'gyc'an: ordering. Root words ke'gyce (order, command), an (gerund suffix).

Linib: need, necessity. Derived root from linibar (verb: need), linyc (adjective: necessary, needed)

Mirutre'la: certain. Derived from nemirutre'la (adjective: uncertain).

Narjahail'miit: intel, recon. Root words narja'hail (scout), miit (word)

Nars'nibrar: to sacrifice, to lose for a purpose. Root words narser (purpose), nibrar (lose, fail).

Ne'ru'cuyi: were not. Root words ne (negative prefix), ru (past tense prefix), cuyir (cuyi, they are).

Oyu: galaxy. From roots oyu'baat (universe) and oyula (galactic).

Runan: willing. Roots runar (will, volition), 'an (gerund suffix).

Ru'pirim: used. Root words ru (past tense previx), pirimmur (pirim, you use).

Ru'trattok'or: failed. Root words ru (past tense prefix), trattok'or (fail).

Sol'kand'ika: gram, minute weight measurement. Root words sol'kand (weight measurement, ~1 kilogram), 'ika (diminutive suffix)

Sol'tanyc: different. Root sol'tan (one of a kind, unique).

Torla: fair, just. Root word tor (justice).

Tracy'kot: firepower, strength of arms. Derived from tracyn (noun: fire), kot (noun: strength)

Val: them. Expanded definition of existing word val (they, theirs).

Vhebesbe: equipment meant for use on solid ground (scout bikes, mobile HQs, earthmovers, etc.). Root words vheh (earth, dust, soil), besbe (kit).

Yust'besenaar: guided missile. Root words yust (way), be'senaar (missile).


Prefixes and suffixes:
Ent', entay': prefix denoting imperative, "must."
Ru': prefix denoting past tense.
Ven': prefix denoting "will." Will strike, will follow, etc.

'an: used to create a gerund form of a verb (move -> moving, ask -> asking, etc.). The general English phrase "is ____ing" is rendered as "nari ____'an" (literally: does the ___ing) in Mando'a.
'la: used to create an adverb from a noun, similarly to the way -ly creates an adverb from an adjective in English.
'ne: superlative suffix. Easy -> easiest, deep -> deepest, etc.
'or: applied to verbs to denote military objectives (ram'or: attack, besiege; trattok'or: fail, fall, collapse; tsikador: prepare, get ready).
'shya: comparative suffix. Easy -> easier, deep -> deeper, etc.

[Ge'tal Buy'ce]

3. An ordnance technician at a dead run outranks everybody.
Besbe'trayc'naast adu viini par oyacyi alori be'sol be anade.

This is supposed to be a corollary of Maxim 2, so if anyone can suggest a phrasing that would make the two flow better together, it'd be appreciated.

[Belandrie Meave]

Okay, vod, here goes nothing.
When Taljair or Vlet get back things might get interesting.
I'm not certain where most of your vocab's coming from, it doesn't seem to be in Kar'buir's original dictionary and I'm not finding it in Taljair's expanded - admittedly I'm working from an old edition. If you're coining new stuff, can you put it on the 'Words I accumulated or invented so far' thread over in the Lexicon in Canonical Mando'a as you go?
1) the expanded vocabulary (an Excel file that shows up at intervals in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=108) has a word for 'after', ven, derived from the future tense prefix. Not sure where your 'tad'yc' comes from. I'd render this 'Chakur, ven naastar'.
2) Ruus'alor shaadlir kajii ori'shya ver'alor nakar'mir me'bana. Kajii you'll need to check with Taljair, I can't find what it's derived from. Not sure if it's a Mandoa-org convention (local dialect ) or something most Mando'a do, but we seem to miss out prepositions and cuy and the like all over the place. Basically abandon all non-essential words.
3) I don't think 'naast' is quite what you're going for, unless being an ordnance technician involves destruction of ordnance, rather than destruction of other things using ordnance. I'd render this one Besbe'trayc'alor ivinii kajii ori'shya anade.
Hope that helps?
4) Having gone and looked up the Maxims: Gebi abiik-gaanar hodasalir birov dunar. (Taking 'air support' literally, and bearing in mind that to my everlasting frustration, Mando'a does not yet have a concept - much less a word - for 'sin'.)

[Ge'tal Buy'ce]

This is definitely helping, thanks.

So far, all of my words have come from the main site dictionary and Taljair's Total Guide To Mandalorian Language, posted here, with pronoun suffixes applied as appropriate. To the best of my knowledge, I haven't invented or misspelled anything, but I've also only been working seriously with this language for 3 days, so take that with a grain of salt. xD

1) "Ven" will definitely work better, I couldn't find "after." "Tad'yc" comes from Taljair's doc, meaning "second" (page 11, ordinal column). I'm translating and transcribing a lot of what he's written in Mandor, so there may be a few transcription errors here or there.

As for "chakur," is there a word that means "commandeer," or something similarly euphemistic? Recognizing that Mando'a doesn't pull its punches, using the word "steal" in a general order doesn't seem like it would have the right ring to it.

2) As far as I can tell, the root word seems to be "kajir," "table." That translation works a lot better, thanks.

3) I took the function of the ordnance technician here to be "Explosive Ordnance Disposal" (EOD), which is about destroying weapons (usually munitions and explosives). It could just as easily be a regular technician, though. I also didn't want to use 'alor, since officers usually aren't the ones handling things that go boom. How would we communicate that the position belongs to someone with no significant rank, but an easily identifiable function?

4) As for the last translation, I might reword it to "Gebi abiik-gaanar hodasalir birov di'kut shebs." Otherwise, perfect.

[Ge'tal Buy'ce]

I'm going to start adding literal translations as a third line to make reverse-engineering the translations (and my possibly flawed thought processes) easier.

5. Close air support and friendly fire should be easier to tell apart.
Gebi can'gal hukaat bal burcya'la* tracyn liniba cuyir pakod'shya rejorhaa'ir ne'tome.
Close starfighter cover and friendly fire need to be easier [to] tell not-together.

Burcya'la: new word (or word I couldn't find elsewhere)
Friendly

I used ne'tome instead of dar'tome because dar'tome literally means "no longer together," which wouldn't have worked for this meaning.

[Ruus]

I think dar'tome would work fine too. Remember, it has an idiomatic meaning as well as a literal one. In the Mandalorian wedding vows Mhi solus dar'tome is translated as 'we are one when apart' going by that I think dar'tome would be acceptable.

[Ge'tal Buy'ce]

That may be true, but it still feels a bit awkward to me. Is there any issue with keeping ne'tome?

6. If violence wasn't your last resort, you failed to resort to enough of it.
Meh besbe'trayce ne'ru'cuy* kyr'yc kebi gar ru'pirim*, gar ru'trattok'or* pirimmur luubid be val.*
If weapons were not [the] last thing you used, you failed to use enough of them.

ne'ru'cuy - were not [past tense, 'you' suffix]
Not technically any new material, but since I understand past-tense conjugation to be rare, I figured it was worth noting.
ru'pirim - used [past tense, 'you' suffix]
ru'trattok'or - failed [past tense, suffix unchanged since I'm unfamiliar with this form]
val - them [technically 'they,' but given the typical use of Mando'a pronouns, it doesn't seem to matter much]

[Ge'tal Buy'ce]

7. If the food is good enough, the grunts will stop complaining about incoming fire.
Meh skraan cuyi luubid'jate, verde'kar'ta ven'cuy ne'trattok'or chur aru'ela tracyn.
If [the] food is enough-good, [the] soldiers'-heart will not-collapse under enemy fire.

8. Mockery and derision have their place. Usually, it's on the far side of the airlock.
Takisite bal mir'shebse gana taap: tra'eso be beskar'gam.
Insults and smart-asses have [a] position: [the] void-side of [the] armor. [outside a ship's hull]

9. Never turn your back on an enemy.
Nu draar tengaan gar aru'e gar shebs.
Never show your enemy your back.


The phrasing for the last part of 8 feels kind of awkward. Anyone have any better ideas?

[Vlet Hansen]

I really wish I had time to translate these with you, mine just showed up in the mail a few days ago too...

[Aarlaya]

The multiple meanings of shebs makes number nine pretty funny.

[Ge'tal Buy'ce]

Well, that was only an 8 month hiatus. I return with more dubiously translated nuggets of dubious wisdom!

10. Sometimes the only way out is through... through the hull.
Dul'ca'nara entay'naast gar'besbe naastar val'besbe.
Sometimes you must destroy your gear to destroy their gear.

Note: this is phrased a bit oddly in English. The writer's intent is to say the only way out is through your own hull, meaning you might have to sacrifice your own ship/armor/weapons/etc. to get the job done.

Ent', entay' - prefix denoting mandatory imperative, "must."

[Ge'tal Buy'ce]

11. Everything is air-droppable at least once.
An vhebesbe liser abiik'barycir sol'ca'nara.
All ground gear can air deploy once.

12. A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head.
Pel'miite udes a'den. Tion a'den tengaan norac, tracyn a'den'kovid.
Soft words calm wrath. When wrath shows [its] back, shoot wrath's head.

13. Do unto others.
Entay'nar.
Act.

14. "Mad Science" means never stopping to ask "what's the worst thing that could happen?"
Dini'la mir'adar gaigotalu adat digu Demagol.
Insane science designates [a] person [who] forgets Demagol. [cultural reference: infamous war criminal, experimented on children]

15. Only you can prevent friendly fire.
Lenedat'an cuy anade'bora.
Targeting is everyone's job.

New word: vhebesbe
Roots vheh (earth, dust, soil), besbe (kit)
Equipment meant for use on solid ground (scout bikes, mobile HQs, earthmovers, etc.)

[Aarlaya]

These things make my day.

[Ge'tal Buy'ce]

Glad to hear it! Expect more of these on weekdays when I'm at work waiting on a simulation.

[Ge'tal Buy'ce]

16. Your name is in the mouth of others: be sure it has teeth.
Gar gai cuy o'r uram be ash'ade. Jatne meh gan edee.
Your name is in [the] mouth of other people. Best if [it] has teeth.

17. The longer everything goes according to plan, the bigger the impending disaster.
Munit'shya dajun oya, muun'shya bic ash'am.
Longer [the] plan stays alive, harder it dies.

[Ge'tal Buy'ce]

18. If the officers are leading from in front, watch out for an attack from the rear.
Meh alore alor jurkad, ja'haili par aru'ese laam gar shebs.
If [the] officers lead [the] assault, watch for enemies at your back.

19. The world is richer when you turn enemies into friends, but that's not the same as you being richer.
Meg cuyi jatne par oyu ne'cuyi ratiin jatne par gar.
What is best for [the] galaxy isn't always best for you.

20. If you're not willing to shell your own position, you're not willing to win.
Parjai slan at kaysh meg nari runar'ne'an narser'nibrar.
Victory goes to he/she who does [the] most-willing [more loosely: is most willing] to sacrifice.


New words:
Oyu [noun] - galaxy
Extracted as root from oyu'baat (universe) and oyula (galactic).

Narser'nibrar [verb] - to sacrifice, to lose for a purpose
Combined from the words narser (purpose) and nibrar (lose, fail).

[Aarlaya]

17 is why I don't make plans.

[Ge'tal Buy'ce]

17 is why counter-intel is important, so you can make your enemies think their plan is coming together nicely.

Not that I have first-hand experience with such things.

I've never even been to Hapes.


21. Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Take his fish away and tell him he's lucky just to be alive, and he'll figure out how to catch another one for you to take tomorrow.
Dinu ad gi, epa par tuur. Hiib kaysh gi bal rejorhaar cuyi jatekara'la cuyir oyayc, mar'eyi yust beviiragir gi par gar nakar'tuur.
Give [a] son/daughter (more broadly, person) [a] fish, they eat for [a] day. Take their fish and tell [them] they are lucky to be alive, they find [a] way to catch [a] fish for you tomorrow.

22. If you can see the whites of their eyes, somebody's done something wrong.
Meh gar liser haa'tayl cine be val sur'haaise, ashnar ru'shabii.
If you can see [the] whites of their eyes, someone has screwed up.

23. The company mess and friendly fire should be easier to tell apart.
Ol'averde skraan'karyai bal burcya'la tracyn liniba cuyir pakod'shya rejorhaar'ir dar'tome.
[The] company food-house and friendly fire need to be easier to tell apart.

24. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a big gun.
Laamyc'gotala cuyi laamyc'ori'hett.
High-technology is high-explosion. (more loosely, high tech is high yield)


New word:
Jatekara'la: lucky. Root word jate'kara (luck, destiny), adverb suffix 'la.

[Ge'tal Buy'ce]

25. If a manufacturer's warranty covers the damage you did, you didn't do enough damage.
Meh gotur liser gotali meg gar ru'nyn, gar ne ru'nar nyn luubid'muun.
If [a] maker can fix what you struck, you didn't strike enough-hard.

26. "Fire and forget" is fine, provided you never actually forget.
Yust'besenaare su liniba yust'ad.
Guided missiles still need [a] guide.

27. Don't be afraid to be the first to resort to violence.
Ne cuy chaab gaanynir sol'yc.
[You] not be afraid to punch first.

28. If the price of collateral damage is high enough, you might be able to get paid for bringing ammunition home with you.
Naasade beri majyc par haran val ne'copaani.
Nobody pays extra for destruction they not-want.

29. The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy. No more. No less.
Ash'ad liser copaani gaa'taylir gar bal su copaani kyr'amur gar.
Someone can want to help you and still want to kill you.

30. A little trust goes a long way. The less you use, the further you'll go.
Ruusal'ika slana chaaj'yc. Ruusal'ika'shya slana chaashya.
[A] little-trust goes far. Littler-trust goes farther.

New word:
Yust'besenaar - guided missile. From the roots yust (way) and be'senaar (missile).

[Ge'tal Buy'ce]

31. Only cheaters prosper.
Shi ne'torla akaan cuyi akaan gar nibrar.
[The] only unfair fight is [the] fight you lose.

32. Anything is amphibious if you can get it back out of the water.
An besbe cuyi pirun'besbe meh val su borari piryc.
All gear is water-gear if they still work wet.

33. If you're leaving tracks, you're being followed.
Meh dayngaan vhe'sur, ash'ad ven'shekemi.
If [you] drop [a] trail, someone will follow.

34. If you're leaving scorch marks, you need a bigger gun.
Meh kadalik, linib ori'shya kad.
If [you are leaving a] scratch, [you] need [a] bigger sword.

35. That which does not kill you has made a tactical error.
Meh su cuy'gar, gar lis jorber val trikari.
If you're still alive, you can make them regret.


New words:
Torla (adjective) - fair, just. Root word tor (justice).
Jorberir (verb) - to cause. Root word jorbe (reason, cause, root).