AKARIUM An extremely dense and durable metal easily recognized by its reddish-bronze color. It was first discovered by Hoshi Enterprises in the Gliese 876 star system and was the primary building material used in establishing the permanent settlements on the planet Hinode. During the latter part of the 22nd century, the colonists contributed much of this resource towards the war effort against the Zendathu and constructed their own private defense fleet as well.
BESSELIUM A very dense, yet pliable metal that is highly resistant to gravimetric stress. First discovered by Hoshi Enterprises in the 61 Cygni star system; its primary usage is in the construction of a wide range of starship hulls, but is often implemented in the building of surface-based structures as well.
CALADANIUM A naturally occurring radioactive ore discovered by the Zarkov Corporation and the Lao Che Syndicate during a cooperative mission in the Delta Pavonis star system. Several purification processes are required before utilizing it in a reactor, but the energy output is comparable to that of Divinium (see below).
DARK MATTER DRIVE Expanding on Dr. Ian Galbraith’s previous work with coherent graviton particles, this interstellar propulsion engine was first developed by Bourne Industries in 2129. This innovative drive system utilizes a small amount of dark matter within its core to generate a localized curvature in the fabric of space-time; allowing a starship to travel faster than light. Although the first few engines operated at only a fraction of their theoretical potentials, further adjustments to the matter-to-energy conversion levels gradually increased both efficiency and overall velocities. By 2183, just prior to the development of the Quaniton Accelerator Drive (see below), most Human vessels that utilized this method of propulsion could attain a maximum velocity of around 0.7 to 0.85 ly/d (light years per day) for limited periods of time.
DIVINIUM A naturally occurring radioactive ore first discovered by Hoshi Enterprises in the Altair system. When utilized in a reactor, it can produce over a dozen times the amount of energy as Uranium, yet burns itself out very quickly. Employed as a source of fuel for sub-light engines in a variety of starships, it is most commonly used to provide power to entire settlements as well.
DRIAXOL The purified form of a naturally occurring hydrocarbon found embedded in the rocky debris that orbits the secondary star in the Eta Cassiopeiae system. Discovered by the SolCorp exploratory division, it is used as both a coolant and a lubricant in a variety of starship engines.
EINSTEIN-ROSEN TRANSMISSION (ERT) Originally developed by Bourne Industries in 2123, this form of communications technology is the only known means of sending and receiving audio/video transmissions at trans-luminal speeds. It utilizes a long-range transceiver array which generates a transient atomic-sized wormhole (see below) to transmit messages across the vast distances of space. Although these transmissions appear to be sent and received almost instantly within a star system, delay times become far more noticeable across interstellar distances. Using this method, transmissions generally travel at an average rate of 0.78 light years per hour depending on the degree of temporal interference within the wormhole. In this manner, a message sent from the Sol system to Alpha Centauri over a distance of 4.3 light years would be received in approximately 5.5 hours. Transmissions must be sent directly to a designated receiver which could be located on a planet, an outpost, or even an individual ship. It should also be noted that these transmissions cannot be sent or received while a vessel is traveling through netherspace (see below).
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC SHIELDING Originally developed in the late 21st century, this defensive energy field is generated around a space vessel to protect the hull and crew from cosmic radiation, stellar flares, and minor debris. Over time, this technology has been greatly enhanced by both Hoshi Enterprises and the Reinhold Corporation and is currently capable of providing limited protection against most energy-based weapons as well as long periods of gravimetric stress.
ERIDIUM First discovered by SolCorp’s exploratory division in the Epsilon Eridani system, this valuable ore is highly resistant to both cosmic radiation and gravimetric stress. When refined, the purified byproduct, Eridium-D, is most commonly used as insulation within the hulls of a variety of spacecraft. Frontier Industries later found even greater quantities of this mineral in the Tau Ceti system as well.
GALVANIC PULSE WEAPONS Energy weapons originally developed by Hoshi Enterprises and installed onboard their battle cruisers during the Zendathu-Human war. Employing a massive pulse of coherent anti-protons, these weapons were designed to nullify electro-magnetic shields and play havoc with all the electrical systems onboard an enemy vessel without harming the crew.
GRAVITY GENERATOR Originally developed by Frontier Industries in 2109, this mechanism generates an immersive field of coherent gravitons to create artificial gravity onboard vessels in space. This technology was commercially successful enough to make centrifugal-force designs completely obsolete by the mid-22nd century. However, the bulky components require massive amounts of energy and are not suitable for use onboard smaller spacecraft, such as shuttle pods and patrol fighters. Current models now utilize this technology within both orbital space stations and land-based outposts.
HOLOGRAM A three-dimensional image projected by lasers which has a variety of uses such as; navigational and medical displays, video transmissions, and interactive entertainment features.
ICHORITE A naturally occurring radioactive metal which is found in large quantities in the 82 Eridani star system. When utilized in a reactor, it produces nearly twice the energy output of any other known substance discovered by Humans. Commonly used as a source of fuel in a variety of sub-light engines, it also provides power to entire colonies as well.
INERTIAL COMPENSATOR A component of the gravity generator (see above) onboard a vessel in space which utilizes an internal artificial gravitational field to counteract the effects of inertia caused by rapid changes in velocity. Its primary function is to enable a crew to withstand greater increases in speed over shorter lengths of time.
NAVIGATIONAL COMPUTER Often referred to as a “NavComp” for short, this onboard computer system is programmed to plot a predetermined course and calculate the complex equations necessary for navigating in space. As drive engines onboard space vessels have advanced over the years, navigational computers have continued to change as well. Early on in the exploration of the Sol system, NavComps relied mostly on recurrent data gathered concerning the mass and movements of the celestial bodies. As the Human race developed the means of traveling faster than light with the Coherent Graviton Drive (see above), this computer system utilized much of the same programming while factoring in the mass of the destination star as a backstop. With the introduction of the Quaniton Accelerator Drive (see below) in the late 22nd century, artificial intelligence was implemented to allow the computer to make course corrections more rapidly as it charts the seemingly infinite number of gravitic corridors that exist in Netherspace (see below).
NERONIUM An extremely versatile metal that is lightweight, durable, and highly resistant to nearly all forms of radiation. Originally discovered by Bourne Industries in the Alpha Centauri system, it is most commonly used in the construction of a variety of starship hulls.
NETHERSPACE A colloquial term used by most space-faring Humans to refer to the dimensional realm which binds the fabric of space-time and the multi-verse together. Though “Netherspace” can not be readily observed by any ordinary means, the acceleration of coherent quaniton particles can be utilized to open transient portals called “thresholds”. Once a vessel breaches this threshold into Netherspace, normal laws of physics do not apply. Within this realm; a web of inter-dimensional corridors, connected by gravity wells and other high-mass objects, are utilized as shortcuts through space-time.
NEUTRONIC NET A type of weapon used by the Zendathu onboard their predatory attack cruisers. It is designed to fire a dispersal field of highly lethal, short-lived neutrons which envelops the target’s energy shields. It has little heat or shock effect and achieves negligible damage to a vessel unless at very close range. The weapon gradually weakens shields and eventually permeates the vessel’s hull, killing the personnel onboard.
PARTICLE CANNON A weapon which uses a high-output energy beam of subatomic particles. These particles have tremendous kinetic energy which disrupts a target’s molecular structure; inducing near-instantaneous and catastrophic superheating.
QUANITON ACCELERATOR DRIVE (QUAD) An interstellar propulsion engine derived from Zendathu technology that Humans acquired in the late 22nd century. This advanced drive system utilizes an inverse artificial singularity contained within an absorption chamber to accelerate a localized field of quanitons. These subatomic particles act as an adhesive layer between dimensions and can be manipulated to open a transient portal into Netherspace (see above). Velocities within this multi-dimensional realm are not subject to the normal laws of physics and are primarily determined by engine efficiency and structural durability due to gravimetric stress. When this propulsion system was first developed, the preliminary speeds obtained were nearly twice that of the Dark Matter Drive (see above). Yet, within only a few decades, most Human vessels were capable of reaching maximum velocities of around 4.5 to 5 ly/d (light years per day) for limited periods of time.
RIESENIUM The densest, most durable metal yet discovered by Humans; it was first found by the Reinhold Corporation in the Groombridge 1618 star system. Highly resistant to nearly all forms of radiation as well as extreme gravimetric stress; it is used most often in starship construction.
STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY FIELD Operated in conjunction with a spacecraft’s gravity generator (see above), this secondary energy field protects a ship from breaking apart at high velocities. As a vessel’s speed increases, an exponential amount of energy is applied to its structural integrity to shield it from extreme gravimetric shearing.
TESLIUM A naturally occurring radioactive ore discovered by the Reinhold Corporation in both the Sirius and Procyon star systems. When utilized in a reactor, it can produce nearly ten times the amount of energy as Uranium. An extremely efficient source of fuel for a variety of sub-light engines; it also provides power for entire settlements as well.
THAOLIUM An extremely dense metal which is highly resistant to most forms of radiation. First discovered during a cooperative mission between the Lao Che Syndicate and the Zarkov Corporation, it is found in substantial amounts exclusively in the Epsilon Indi system. Currently, this major resource is used as the primary building material in the construction of SolCorp’s security fleet.
THERMO-KINETIC MISSILES Originally designed by Humans as defensive weaponry onboard their earliest interstellar patrol ships; these torpedoes give off an enormous amount of heat and force in a brief, bright flash. At long-range, they can scramble sensors and do minor structural damage to an intended target. At close-range, they can actually penetrate an enemy vessel’s hull, but can subsequently damage the spacecraft that fired them as well. Used extensively throughout the mid-22nd century as a primary means of defense, they are currently only found onboard large freighters and merchant vessels.
TIBERIUM A highly durable metal which is extremely resistant to heat, radiation, and gravimetric stress. First discovered by Frontier Industries in the Kappa Ceti star system; its primary usage is in the construction of a variety of spacecraft.
TRANSLATOR MATRIX A communication device that was originally developed by the Brekka. Although it is most often found integrated into a spacecraft’s onboard computer, it can also be condensed into a small portable device for personal use. Its primary function is to almost instantly interpret any unknown language and translate it into the approximate language pattern of the user. Humans obtained this technology during first contact in 2177.
WORMHOLE Also known as an Einstein–Rosen bridge, a “wormhole” is a topological feature, much like a tunnel with two ends, which acts as a shortcut connecting two separate points in space. Artificially created atomic-size wormholes are currently the only known means of allowing trans-luminal communications (see Einstein-Rosen Transmission above).