Stardust

Discovered in PLACEHOLDER DATE, Stardust (chemical formula incalculable) is an organic molecule with the unique trait of being impossible to synthesise. Stardust is desirable among organic molecules for its ultra-high energy density and inherent molecular instability. While unable to match the long-term energy production of modern fusion reactors, Stardust produces immense instantaenous yields when combusted. This unparalled yield is highly sought-after for use in providing the required instantaenous yield to trigger shiftspace 'flips' and open ShiftGates.

Refined
Refined Stardust is composed of crystalline, dust-like microparticles. With razor-sharp edges, refined Stardust can very easily slice skin, creating microscopic injuries and cuts within which Stardust microparticles can become lodged. Aside from now creating small internal injuries just under the skin layer, refined Stardust's immune-destroying properties can lead to deadly infection. Proper protocol upon receiving a Stardust injury is to immediately rinse the affected area with water to dislodge the microparticles, and rapidly apply anti-bacterial spray and a bandage.

The blue-green reflective appearance of the microparticles and their dust-like texture led to the coined common name 'Stardust'.

Unrefined
Unrefined Stardust is a reddish-orange gel-like substance. Highly unstable, unrefined Stardust has a tendency to detonate explosively if mishandled. While producing an immense energy yield, the blast radius of unrefined Stardust is much more confined than its refined state, and the energy released quickly dissipates. Because of its appearance and texture, unrefined Stardust is sometimes referred to as 'Stargel'.

Explosion
A Stardust detonation resembles as a blast of violet-black light and energy, often disintegrating anything within the blast radius near-instantly. However, outside a clearly defined radius, deals little to no damage from a blast wave. A zero-g Stardust explosion is said to appear as a perfectly spherical ball of violet-black flames, gaining Stardust-based explosives the nickname 'Dark Fire'.

Production
Despite it's immense value, the inherent instability of Stardust's molecular structure prevents artificial synthesis at any reasonable scale. Stardust is instead naturally produced in specific aquatic environments through what scientists believe to be a form of organic cold-fusion, long theorised to be impossible. The organic catalyst, however, rapidly denatures outside the host environment, preventing study and research.

Normally be a non-issue, but unfortunately the complex and delicate interplay of the alien ecologies required to create a suitable host environment is tightly interwoven and incredibly fragile, such that any interference (i.e. attempting to gather samples for reverse-engineering) would destabilise the whole network and lead to massive planetary ecosystem die-off. However, the cold-fusion reaction which produces Stardust occurs independently of the production of the organic catalyst, allowing relatively risk-free harvesting.

Panspermia vs. Convergent Evolution
The curious question, however, is that if the production of Stardust's organic catalyst requires such a complex and interwoven ecosystem, why is it that multiple planets, separated by hundreds of lightyears in some instances, host all the required factors necessary to support the production of Stardust? While theories range from the reasonable to the fringe, most scientists are divided into one of two camps. The first supports the age-old theory of Panspermia, believing that all these ecosystems stemmed from a common ancestor, perhaps on an asteroid which broke apart. The second group promotes convergent evolution, a theory already shown to have merit through the process of carcinisation on Old Earth.

Transport
The danger inherent in the harvesting and transport of Stardust is a major additional factor in its value, as the molecule's instability can result in spontaenous and explosive detonation if rapidly moved, heated, cooled, or subjected to a rapid change in any number of other factors. Stardust haulers must take care when transporting their cargo through shiftspace or ShiftGates, especially in the unrefined form, where it is even more volatile due to the surreal natures of shiftspace.

Shiftspace
Stardust is coveted as fuel for both shiftdrives and ShiftGates, being one of very few fuels capable of providing the ignition yield necessary to launch shiftspace 'flips' or provide the initial trigger to open ShiftGate wormholes.

Weaponry
Stardust-based explosives are quite popular with militaries for the potential in precision munitions. The limited blast radius allows for strikes against military targets with minimal risk of collateral damage. Amounts as small as five grams have the capability to entirely annihilate an armoured blast door.

Drug Trade
Stardust in the unrefined form, aside from being a highly explosive substance, is also a very addictive narcotic in small doses. Usually distributed in pill form, Stardust street drugs usually consist of no more than 150 micrograms, the minimum considered safe limit to avoid explosive detonation in normal use. Ingested orally, Stardust drugs dissolve through the blood-brain barrier and inhibit certain hormone receptors, temporarily allowing for increased speed and strength, as well as granting a chemical high similar to cocaine, but much more intense.

Negative Effects
Continued use of Stardust without leaving time for the body to heal eventually dulls the effects of regular Stardust doses, requiring even more to attain a high. However, as dose size increases, so too does the risk of detonation, nearly always causing death for the victim. Long-term use also often results in neural degradation, creating symptoms not dissimilar to stroke victims. Prolonged use of unrestricted strength and speed can also result in irreparable damage to muscle tissue, in some cases permanently paralysing users.

Overdose of Stardust generally occurs in doses greater than five hundred micrograms, depending on body type and weight, and often results in the victim's bodily temperature uncontrollably rising to lethal levels in a manner not unlike an unrestricted fever. This can however be treated by forcibly lowering the victim's body temperature until the drug is filtered from the bloodstream.

Known Sources
There are currently twelve planetary ecosystems known to support the necessary conditions to naturally produce unrefined Stardust. They are listed here, along with the nation which claims them and the corporation contracted to harvest the substance.