RA 167/422
SECRET
ABYSS WATCHERS: RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
LH-3210 ORACLE
14:9:24
PRELIMINARY REPORT FOR:
Var Zheen, CSO
Cheriss Sair, CRO
Lady Ciaran
SUBJECT: Overview of Anomalous Materials and their Applications
ABSTRACT: Due to their scarcity and variety, 'Anomalous Materials' remain rarely studied and poorly understood. Nevertheless, such materials offer clear opportunities for military and economic application, and further research and analysis would be immensely rewarding.
CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION
DEFINITIONS: 'Anomalous Materials' (AM): a technical classification for rare materials whose properties are unique or otherwise unexplained. Should the properties of an AM ever be fully understood or revealed by further analysis, such an AM would be promptly reclassified.
LIMITATIONS: In general, any given AM tends to be extraordinarily rare. Many AM exist only on a single planet; few exist on more than a handful. While certain AMs offer extraordinary benefits for military or economic application, their scarcity would in many cases preempt any widespread use.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, SINGLE-MATERIAL: As the exact mechanisms by which an AM operates are poorly understood, these materials present grave safety concerns for researchers. When running an initial analysis of an AM, utilize the most stringent safety precautions available to your lab. Such safeguards may be partially relaxed with further testing, but never treat any AM as safe while it remains classified as an AM.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, MULTIPLE-MATERIAL: While it is possible to study or craft applications for a single AM with an acceptable level of safety, attempts to examine the interaction or application of multiple AMs in a single project must be considered extraordinarily hazardous. Such projects should only be undertaken in designated deep-space research facilities, far from concentrated population centers. Exhaustive testing would be required before such a multiple-AM project be moved to primary labs on the Oracle or elsewhere.
GROUP I: ANOMALOUS MATERIALS WITH DAMAGE-RESISTANT PROPERTIES
ITEM 1: CORTOSIS
'Cortosis' is primarily known for its tendency to violently disrupt lightsaber blades; however, this is merely an applied instance of the unique property of pure cortosis to redirect energy and disrupt energy fields. It is for this reason that cortosis is considered an Anomalous Material. In addition to its most distinctive ability, cortosis is one of the best materials in the galaxy for resisting heat and electromagnetic energy. Though extraordinarily brittle in its pure form, cortosis alloys are considerably more resistant to kinetic energy, while losing little of the thermal and electromagnetic resistance that defines the pure variants.
Cortosis and its alloys are primarily considered for military applications (such as anti-lightsaber armor or weaponry), but the economic and industrial applications of such material technology should be obvious, however untapped such applications may be. While the properties of cortosis remain poorly understood, the material itself has been subject to thousands of years of military application, and may thus be considered one of the safest AMs on this list.
Moreover, cortosis is significantly less scare than other materials on this list -- known cortosis deposits exist on Bal'demnic, Obredaan, Apatros, Duro, and Katanos VII, with other rumored sources around the Outer Rim and Wild Space. Accordingly, cortosis products may in fact be viable for large-scale use.
ADDENDUM TO ITEM 1: CORTOSIS. For additional analysis, see
RA 167/762 "Materials Analysis for Cortosis and Derivative Alloys." (15:2:33)
ITEM 2: BESKAR
'Beskar' (also known as 'Mandalorian Iron') is not in fact a distinct Anomalous Material, nor is it related to iron. Beskar is in fact a family of naturally-occurring cortosis alloys found solely within the Mandalore system, principally on Mandalore proper and on its moon Concordia.
In most alloys, the cortosis forms a distinctive nano-scale honeycomb lattice, within which another material such as durasteel is suspended. In beskar, the other material alloyed is fully integrated within the lattice, such that the resulting alloy contains very little pure cortosis and demonstrates none of cortosis's vulnerability to kinetic force. Moreover, while much of cortosis's ability to disrupt electromagnetic energy is lost, beskar is still capable of resisting magnetic fields, and thus retains the ability to resist lightsabers.
Beskar's use in Mandalorian armor is well-documented and date from the earliest days of Mandalorian civilization; however, its uses for industrial applications appear to be largely unexplored. However, the widespread use of beskar'gam and beskar'kandar indicate that, like cortosis, this is a thoroughly time-tested AM that may be considered safe for routine analysis and application. Investment in Concordia beskar mines, for additional samples and sufficient supply for wide-spread use.
ITEM 3: PHRIK
'Phrik' is perhaps the most promising type of Anomalous Material currently under study at this time. There is evidence that phrik (or an alloy quite like it) was used as armor and starship plating by the Fenelar race as early as four millennia ago, but Fenel was conquered by the Mandalorian Crusaders, their species driven to extinction and their technology faded to obscurity. The rediscovery of the phrik alloy occurred last year, in an isolated Weapons Research Facility run by the CIS out of the Fest system, lying between Neutral and Muun Space. Unfortunately for them, the facility's transmissions were intercepted by Kal Skirata's Omega Squad, who raided the base and seized the research and AM. Skirata's men have been sitting on it ever since, but now that we're cooperating, they've provided samples for us to examine.
Phrik is an artificial alloy with two main components. The first is phrikite, the rare ore found only on Anteevy and on the 'blood moon 'of Gromas XVI -- both in the northwest Mid Rim (in the Esuain and Perkell sectors respectively), both on the very border of Neutral Space. The second component is tydirium, another rare ore found in primarily on Fest -- which explains why the CIS research station was based there. In its pure form, the phrik alloy is astonishingly light and virtually indestructible, requiring a full order of magnitude more energy to damage or deform than even beskar. More notably, its damage-resistance seems to apply to all forms of energy equally -- kinetic, thermal, electromagnetic.
Most intriguing, however, is the alloy's unbelievable malleability: it can be alloyed with almost any other substance, and has demonstrated a tendency to assimilate properties of materials it is mixed with. One notable instance came during early experimentation, which a small sample of phrik alloy was melted and absorbed into samples of local bedrock. Preliminary scans showed no indication of the alloy, but when we tried to drill through the bedrock sample, our laboratory's high-performance drill assembly literally shattered after 1.6 seconds of attempted penetration. Potential applications of this AM beggar belief, and should enable some frankly ludicrous engineering projects.
ADDENDUM TO ITEM 3: PHRIK. All Abyss Watcher personnel are reminded that all phrik samples are confined to designated deep-space facilities, that any unattended phrik sample outside those facilities constitutes a class-four violation of Abyss Watcher protocol, and that transportation or analysis of other Anomalous Materials are strictly prohibited from facilities that contain phrik. Violation of these provisions will be punished by immediate dismissal for cause and without compensation, with possible legal action to follow. (14:9:25)
GROUP II: ANOMALOUS MATERIALS WITH ENHANCEMENT EFFECTS
ITEM 1: AGROCITE
'Agrocite' is an unusually common form of Anomalous Material, with known caches on three planets: Simocadia (in the southwestern Inner Rim), Khorm (in the northeastern Mid Rim, just outside CNS borders), and Mygeeto (in the northern Outer Rim, within Muun Space). It is unknown why deposits of the crystalline ore would develop in those three planets and no others.
The physical structure of agrocite is comprised of a great number of nano-sized nodules that contain and stabilize pockets of extremely energetic exotic matter. When a nodule is breached, the exotic matter immediately volatilizes into a micro-pulsar that releases energy at a steady rate, for up to 10 microseconds. The military application is obvious: a properly tuned turbolaser blast, fired through a mass of agrocite, induces the exotic matter to react and release its energy in the same direction and same form, thus amplifying the turbolaser's power by as much as 80% (a perfect doubling would only be possible under conditions of no energy loss or inefficiency). It is no surprise that all three planets with agrocite caches have been identified as strategic targets for both sides of the war, and have seen fierce fighting as a result.
As for the AM itself, while the effects and military applications are well understood, very little else is. The exotic matter itself remains a complete mystery -- any sensor that could penetrate the agrocite sample would simple breach the nodules and consume the energy for a boosted sensory analysis of whatever material lay behind the sample. Moreover, once the nodules are breached, it does not last long enough to properly examine, and no attempts to stabilize it have yet succeeded. The precise magnitude of amplification seems to rely entirely on the volume of agrocite being utilized, though this may be a artifact of how many nodules are breached by an energy blast (in which case extra density would serve just as well).
Most concerningly, the energy-amplifying effect occurs only at specific, discrete energy wavelengths. Thus, at one setting, the agrocite would boost the turbolaser; at another, it may seem to have no effect at all; at a third, the AM may twist the breaching energy back on itself, resulting in total detonation of the agrocite sample. Needless to say, despite its long history of use, agrocite should only be examined in small quantities, lest larger stockpiles of this AM explode due to insufficient precaution or experimental error.
ITEM 2: HIRIDIU
In academic debates over the nature of Anomalous Materials, beskar is commonly cited as evidence that most AMs are naturally occurring. When the opposing argument is made, 'hiridiu' is invariably Exhibit A. Detailed atomic-scale analysis of the crystal (found only on the planet Generis in the northern Outer Rim) have revealed complex structures reminiscent of computer networks and logic gates, despite their apparent natural occurrence, and despite the lack of any 'computer program' that might flow through them.
Given the proximity of Generis to the Gree Enclave, it has been hypothesized that the planet was once a colony world of the Gree, and the hiridiu deposits found in the southern ice cap were created by them sometime before their decline. On the other hand, given the presence of numerous Rakatan Temple ruins across the planet, it is perhaps more likely that Generis was a Rakatan colony world, and that the hiridiu derived from their technology instead.
Even in its raw, unprocessed form, hiridiu is capable of boosting any communications signal in its vicinity, with absolutely no distortion. When processed, hiridiu crystals may be arranged to increase the efficiency of the amplification effect, or shape it into a directed broadcast. This might enable communications equipment to transmit and receive signals much further than otherwise possible, or to communicate with a specific target with as much danger that the signal would be intercepted.
When this AM was first discovered, the lack of distortion led researchers to suspect that the crystals were broadcasting in a coordinated manner. Further experimentation revealed that even when a hiridiu sample was deliberately arranged to generate destructive interference, the crystals appeared to spontaneously adjust to the signal as it was received. Questions of where the energy to amplify the signal originates, why the hiridiu came to be arranged in such a distinctive pattern, and how the crystal coordinates its signal, all remain unanswered. Regardless, the military and industrial applications of this AM are obvious.
GROUP III: ANOMALOUS MATERIALS WITH NULLIFICATION EFFECTS
ITEM 1: IONITE
'Ionite' was a recently discovered Anomalous Material, found exclusively on the Outer Rim planet of Bandomeer, near Mandalore and Taris in the middle of Neutral Space. The AM was brought to our attention after noticing that some of our Tarisian refugees were earning a steady income from the sale of mechanical clocks to Bandomeer miners.
The initial reports on ionite indicated that the AM was characterized by a naturally alternating current; however, that is both inaccurate and misleading. Rather, ionite projects a field that reacts with electrical current by generating a current of equal power in the opposing direction, resulting in total destructive interference. This field is projected through all known forms of energy barriers, and can attain at least partial penetration through all known forms of matter.
It should be noted that there is a defined lower limit on how much current would trigger the ionite field -- this was confirmed by one of the first experiments involving the AM, and explains why life forms have no need to worry about neurological disruption. Even so, study of ionite and its nullification field has proceeded with extraordinary care, as this AM tends to destructively nullify any equipment used to examine it. Even the atomic structure of ionite remains a mystery at this time.
Successive experiments have shown that the ionite field's radius, and nullification capacity, increases in direct relation with the mass and density of the ionite. The densest veins of unprocessed ionite has shown indications of canceling other forms of energy, and it is theorized that when processed to sufficient density, such material could nullify not only broad swathes of the electromagnetic spectrum, but possibly kinetic or even thermal energy as well.
Needless to say, experimental testing of such theories would only take place in a deep-space facilities, lest they result in significant loss of life and property. Our researchers have also theorized that an ionite sample might be treated in such a way to generate a single strong pulse of its nullification field, extending over a much larger area than a sustained field would affect. However, such applications remain speculative at this time.
GROUP IV: ANOMALOUS MATERIALS WITH DIMENSIONAL EFFECTS
ITEM 1: HIBRIDIUM
'Hibridium' is a rare Anomalous Material found exclusively along the Locura coastline on Garos IV, a Mid Rim plane that recently joined Neutral Space. Raw hibridium deposits are known to muffle and distort emissions and sensor readings. Upon closer examination, it was found that hibridium actually moves itself slightly out of phase with reality.
When extracted and processed into a cloaking array, hibridium is capable of generating the same dimensional field for larger objects in close proximity, such as a starship. However, the energy requirements of such a device are at this time prohibitively high, while the device itself occupies about twice as much space as a standard Corellian Class 1.5 Hyperdrive, making it useful only for larger freighters and cruiser-class ships or larger.
Moreover, it's worth noting that a hibridium cloaking device renders the affected vessel at once both undetectable and totally blind, as energy and matter will simply pass through the vessel without interacting with it. Theoretically, this would also make hibridium-equipped ships invulnerable to kinetic or energetic weapons. However, this has not yet been tested, as it is hypothesized that a sufficiently vigorous energy blast would penetrate the dimensional field and cause to fail in a potentially violent manner. On the other hand, when the hibidrium device is deactivated and the dimensional field is dropped, the preceding gravitic pulse has been observed to displace any matter that would otherwise occupy the same space as the once-cloaked vessel, so perhaps a hibridium field failure would be less hazardous than we suspect.
Research for using hibridium displacement fields for industrial purposes -- holding one thing in place while hibridium-engaged matter rephases around it -- remains hypothetical, though for obvious reasons such research would be restricted to deep-space facilities in case of catastrophic failure.
ITEM 2: STYGIUM
'Stygium' (also known as 'Stealth Crystals') is another single-planet Anomalous Material found exclusively on Aeten II, a planet in the Dreighton Nebula of Wild Space, near Kalee. While there are hints that stygium was used during the Cold War two thousand years before the Ruusan Reformation, records are clear that sustained mining on Aeten II didn't begin until the planet was settled by the Republic around the time of the Reformation, a little less than a thousand years ago. Unfortunately, while the stygium deposits were by early accounts considered practically limitless, extensive freeholder corporate and freeholder mining efforts have severely depleted the most accessible veins. This led the Galactic Senate to pass a law two years ago banning the export of stygium crystals, along with occasional skirmishes between Republic and Separatist forces over the planet -- though the limited availability of this AM means that neither side has invested heavily in seizing the planet.
It should be possible to obtain additional stygium veins within the planet's interior, but the energy requirements for penetrating the crust would make extraction costs quite prohibitive. Given the strip-mining that took place in the decade before the export ban, it may be far more cost-effective seek out stygium crystal troves in corporate storehouses around the galaxy. Records indicate that this has been the strategy of both the Republic and Separatist faction -- fierce fighting has taken place over the planet Maramere in the southeastern Outer Rim, a backwater world once controlled by Cato Neimoidia and which, our Seekers suspect, was used as a repository for the Trade Federation's stygium surplus.
Stygium itself is considered so valuable because it can be used for cloaking devices that do not render the target vessel within blind to its surroundings. Like hibridium, stygium generates a dimensional field slightly out of phase with the rest of reality -- unlike hibridium, this field maintains electromagnetic 'tethers' that connect the field to what lies around it. This enables a stygium-equipped stealth ship to maintain a full field of view and full sensor readings from within, even while being essentially undetectable from without.
However, stygium cloaking fields are not perfectly undetectable from without. Specifically, the electromagnetic tethers which bind the vessel to space around it also leaves a faint magnetic residue that, with adequate sensing equipment, can be tracked as the vessel's signature. Stygium-cloaked vessels are also vulnerable to outside attack, unlike hibridium-equipped vessels that would be theoretically immune to electromagnetic or kinetic weapons. Even so, as attested by the successful field performance of Lady Ciaran's Scimitar, stygium-based cloaking devices remain the galaxy's preference for comprehensive large-scale stealth devices.
GROUP V: ANOMALOUS MATERIALS WITH VARIABLE EFFECTS
SUBCATEGORY 1: LIGHTSABER CRYSTALS
While the Jedi Order has successfully suppressed most research into the inner workings of lightsabers, we are able to confirm that lightsabers almost invariably employ some form of Anomalous Material. As there is only one part of a lightsaber that cannot be sourced from otherwise standard technical parts, it is plainly obvious that the lightsaber crystal at the heart of a saber is that AM.
Strangely, our analysis of crystals harvested from Dantooine -- which include kathracite, relacite, danite, mephite, rubat, bondar, and even a few Ultima Pearls -- indicate that most lightsaber crystals are not especially unique or exotic. But there are countless records of the very same crystals demonstrating a wide range of anomalous effects after being incorporated as the focus of a lightsaber. More frustratingly for our researchers and archivists, such effects are remarkably inconsistent, and appear to be only tangentially related to the original crystal type.
While their Order is officially silent on the matter, individual Jedi have been known to speak at length on the deep and personal meaning of their sabers and the subtle differences in construction that differentiate them. While each individual lightsaber may be uniquely constructed to maximize the connection between the Force User and the blade, the differences can be practically impossible for an outside observer to notice, especially given the sheer variance in Jedi fighting style. Further analysis of individual crystals is strongly recommended.
Of far greater interest to our researchers, is the implication that Jedi are able to transmute otherwise commonplace crystals into unique forms of AM. Tellingly, many Jedi consider the construction of their lightsaber to be a sign of Force mastery, and records indicate that such construction often takes place while the Jedi are in a trance-like state. The obvious implication is that these Jedi are using the Force to imbue the crystal with its unique properties, which may shed light on why most forms of AM are themselves crystalline in nature.
CONCLUSION
'Anomalous Materials' remain a great untapped source of military and industrial potential in the galaxy. While most parties are content to use these materials for only the most obvious functions, our researchers have concluded that closer inspection would reveal far more rewarding applications. The way forward is admittedly difficult and expensive, but the promised rewards are breath-taking in their scale and scope. By fully utilizing AM, the Abyss Watchers would secure their place in the history of the galaxy: first, by pioneering such innovative uses of unique materials; second, by employing these materials in such noble endeavors as Lady Ciaran directs -- from Karada Corporation, to the Silver Cross, to the Council of Neutral Systems and her peace-making efforts that lately bore so much fruit at Caamas; and third, by becoming insanely rich as being the first to capitalize on such untapped potential.
In addition, Lady Ciaran is uniquely positioned to take the lead in this matter. As one of the richest individuals in the galaxy, she is more than able to afford such research; as the head of the Abyss Watchers and aforementioned organizations, she has the resources and connections to make use of any discoveries made in her efforts across the galaxy; and as the galaxy's most renowned philanthropists and head of one of the largest and most effective charities during the late outbreak of war, Lady Ciaran has the reputation to allow her to readily gather large amounts of AM without generating undue suspicion by other parties. After all, who else could be trusted with such materials that could work such devastation were they to fall into the wrong hands?
DISTRIBUTION
This overview was intended to provide a broad summary of Anomalous Materials currently being researched or targeted for feasibility studies by the Abyss Watchers, along with relevant background information for our nontechnical personnel. This was not intended as an exhaustive report in either scope or depth.
This overview was formally classified SECRET due to the references to classified Abyss Watcher activities mentioned throughout. Should such references be redacted, or non-classified information be extracted into materials analysis reports on individual Anomalous Materials, such contents could be safely reclassified as CONFIDENTIAL/FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY and more widely distributed.
REPORT PREPARED BY:
Irits Kejorn
Lead Researcher, Exotic Materials
Abyss Watchers: Research & Development
A/N: Credit for initial write-up goes to @random_npc.
) and while all the "shiny" attracted attention...
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