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Description

Marker Symbols for Vespomide Phases

Vespomide

Atomic Symbol: Ve
Density: Variable (0.492 g/cm3 at STP; 18.7g/cm3 at temperatures exceeding 4,000C [7,232F)
Phase at STP: Solid
Melting Point: -70 Celsius (-94 Fahrenheit)
Boiling Point: -130 Celsius (-202 Fahrenheit)

History:
Vespomide (also known as Maorka) is an element of exotic baryons known as Cerritulusons (Mad Particles). It was first identified during the ITV Oldreum’s exploratory mission to Alpha Centauri in 2038. The vessel, five-years into its fifteen-year-long outgoing transit, was intercepted by a Thillian ship in interstellar space, an event that would become known as First Contact.

As a means of establishing trust, the thillians provided the multinational human crew with a trove of anthropological, cosmological, and technological information. Among these were references to an unknown element referred to as Maorka. The human crew would humorously provide an alternate name for this element in honour of the geologist who had first acquired knowledge of its existence from this data: Luigi Vespo. Vespomide would subsequently become the more common name employed by humans and those interacting with them.

Properties:
Vespomide has a reddish hue in all states that grows more intense as a solid. When subjected to ultraviolet light, faint fluorescence is present. Both liquid and STP solid states will float on water. It can also be polished and cut to thicknesses in the realm of 3nm. Due to its electromagnetic emissions, even STP vespomide will emit a warmth in the form of infrared radiation. At STP, vespomide is a stable, non-ionising element that is safe to handle. That being said, larger pieces may generate more thermal heat, and could cause thermal pain if placed in contact with bare skin for an extended period. Subseeding -70C, vespomide emits low energy, long wavelength radio waves, which only diminish in power as the element cools further.

At extreme temperatures exceeding 4,000C, vespomide increases in both density and hardness, more closely resembling uranium and diamond respectively, than the lithium and platinum comparisons it holds at STP. Vespomide subjected to such temperatures must be magnetically and physically shielded within a reactor unit, due to the high energy photons in the x-ray and gamma ray range. These emissions are detectable through variable scanners and sensors, which proves useful during survey operations.

The formation of vespomide is presently unknown, and no clarification has been presented by the thillians. It is hypothesised to originate within the Inferis or Underworld, a parallel dimension utilised for FTL travel courtesy of a Dimensional Drive Core, which is itself powered by a vespomide target sphere. The Underworld contains a form of radiation simply referred to as Pink, per the colouration of the featureless vid where it originates. This is more scientifically known as Sasuke Radiation.

Creating a gateway between the Underworld and Domum (Home) dimensions, even for a picosecond, requires a considerable amount of energy. Significant rips are thought to appear in the presence of major stellar events, such as supernovae, or black holes. The resulting release of Pink radiation into the Home Dimension is thought to be responsible for the transmutation of other elements into vespomide. However, this remains hypothetical. Studies have also been conducted on potential emissions during FTL transit rips.

Vespomide in all phases has the ability to faintly affect localised spacetime, which allows it to capture a pair of virtual particles. One of these is drawn into the vespomide itself to annihilate a quark and result in overall decay of the active mass. The other is ejected as a photon in the same manner as those that escape the event horizons of black holes, and became known as Spalding Radiation. The frequency and wavelength of these photons is, as previously mentioned, related to the ambient temperature of the vespomide mass in question. Spacetime effects increase under temperature extremes, and can be further enhanced and subsequently directed via powerful electromagnetic manipulation. Vespomide will decay into Nitrogen-15, a stable, inert gas.

Distribution:
Vespomide has a varied range of accumulations that, to date, have an indeterminate pattern. The lightness of the element in a chilled state is considered to be one reason for its rarer appearance in inner planetary bodies. Indeed, vespomide is frequently found on planets or moons more distant from the parent star, and is almost always discovered as a subsurface solid. Liquid deposits have been discovered in rarer cases, but in all instances the element is almost entirely encased within, or permeating throughout, igneous or metamorphic rock, which is believed to provide a degree of shielding that prevents the escape of energy and thus prolongs the lifespan of the deposit.

However, there are outliers to the common distribution. Most notably the kelitian homeworld of Jerul, the crust of which is heavily saturated with vespomide. Jerul is unique for the diffusion of vespomide into its natural environment and food chain, with variable concentrations in both flora and fauna. Evolution in tandem with this exposure has given rise to biological adaptations of an electrical nature, such as the electrogenic organ of the kelit themselves. Vespomide can even appear floating on the surface of waterways following heavy rains, as it is flushed from underground caverns.

On the qeleki homeworld of Naqei, vespomide is also present, albeit deeper within the crust. The combination of increased heat and pressure at these depths results in stronger thermal emissions, heating subterranean reservoirs and waterways that result in the prolific geyser activity across the moon. It is believed that the presence of the element, and its thermal generation, is responsible for Naqei being habitable in spite of its distance from its parent star. This creates the distinctive quality of a near constantly twilight world that is sufficiently warm enough to support widespread life.

Distribution of vespomide is not repeated across all star systems. Some may be abundant, others may be devoid. The Sol System is almost entirely empty of vespomide accumulations, with only small amounts discovered in the moons of the gas giants, and bodies within the Oort Cloud. Human mining and collection operations are therefore largely concentrated in neighbouring systems where survey operations have detected it in quantity.

Extraction:
Vespomide mining can be conducted in several ways. Although open cast operations are possible, environmental treaties put into place have geared companies toward shaft mining. A variation of fracking may also be employed, where high-pressure water is injected into a vespomide seam or saturated rock. Even if the seam has increased density due to the geothermal gradient, the introduction of colder fluid will cool and ultimately reduce this. Vespomide fractured from the seam will then float to the surface for collection.

Liquid concentrations, which exist between -70C and -130C, can be extracted via cryogenically cooled suction hoses, which then deposit the fluid into refrigerated storage tanks. This fluid is then transferred to a refinery where it is scrubbed of contaminant particles from the surrounding environment, and commonly heated for safer shipping as a solid. Vespomide earmarked for vehicular fuel is reprocessed by specific companies, where it is melted back to a fluid and transported in similarly refrigerated tanks to specialised stations.

Applications:
Batteries:
The most widespread use of vespomide is as a non-polluting electrical power source. Following First Contact, humanity was finally capable of divesting itself from fossil fuels for the means of power generation, particularly with regard to vehicles. Vespomide is light enough, stable enough, and energy dense enough to permit fully electric cars, watercraft, and aircraft. Its stability also saw it replacing lithium ion batteries, and chemical cell batteries in smaller electronic devices. The vespomide is encased in a negative-index metamaterial shell that will prevent the released photons from escaping. Magnetic switches tied to the power toggle of a device are used to open the shell and permit the release of these photons. The photons will then contact a transfer sheath around the shell, and be converted directly to electrical power.

Although vespomide cells cannot be recharged, they are more energy efficient, and capable of supplying power to a device for a considerable period of time. Once depleted, the vespomide contained within the battery has fully decayed, leaving an empty shell that can be recycled without risk. Small batteries also emit low temperatures, negating heat, and fire risk.

Vehicular batteries employ a similar principle of electrical generation, but for economical reasons are reusable. This is achieved via refrigerated, liquid state vespomide, which is supplied to the vehicle’s battery tank in a similar manner to the petroleum products widespread pre-First Contact. Pump systems will draw liquid vespomide from storage units to be injected into the vehicle’s tank. A combination of natural warming and heating elements - powered by a solid-state vespomide battery elsewhere in the vehicle - will change the element’s state from liquid to solid. Any residual solid within the tank will typically melt during the refuelling process, and simply combine with the fresh intake. Once solidified, the battery tank will function in the same manner as a small cell. Liquid vespomide for vehicular refuelling is typically stored near the transition temperature, to reduce the required warming time.

In both small batteries and vehicular battery tanks, decayed vespomide will result in Nitrogen-15 gas. For small batteries, this gas is typically vented during recycling. For vehicle tanks, N-15 can either be vented during operation, or extracted during refuelling as injected fluid displaces the gas.

Dimensional Drives:
Aside from battery systems, the second most common application of vespomide is within the Dimensional Drive Core. This is a system critical to faster-than-light transit through the Underworld, as it enables sufficient energy to be generated for a localised rip. The drive core contains a spherical target sphere of vespomide that has been formed over a ferrous core, typically iron. During operation, this core is subjected to a strong electromagnetic field, which causes it to levitate in the centre of the dimensional drive. The sphere is then set to rotate, before being subjected to plasma bleed off from a dedicated fusion reactor.

As the plasma vastly exceeds the 4,000C threshold required, the vespomide sphere instantly hardens and increases in density. This increases the effect on spacetime, which results in what is known as a Jerda Field Energy. The specific design of the drive core, derived from those supplied by the thillians, allows for the JFE to be directed out of the core to a manifold system.

The majority of the JFE is sent to hull-mounted emitters, where it is used to create a Spacetime Energy Ellipse or SPEE. In essence, an energy shield. This shield offers vital protection from cosmic radiation, debris, or other kinetic threats. Shielding has a kinetic rating that dictates how much energy it may sustain and contain before collapsing as a failsafe. During shield collapse, the energy is ejected outward from the vessel, carrying that energy with it. Until the shield can reestablish itself, the vessel must rely on its physical armour.

The minority of JFE redirected through the manifold is used to affect the internal environment of the SPEE, which is essentially a bubble of controlled spacetime. The key elements of this are gravitational control, and inertial dampening. Both aspects are key to comfortable, frequent spaceflight. Within a spacecraft utilising a fully functional drive core, external motion is entirely negated, and artificial gravity employed. Without visual reference, occupants can be entirely unaware of movement, including extreme acceleration and deceleration.

By increasing the rotational speed of the target sphere, a stronger Jerda Field can be produced. This is used to enact a localised rip for a micro jump, whereupon a vessel passes from the Home dimension to the Underworld under its own power. As the Underworld is free from the known laws of physics, vessels and spacecraft equipped with drive cores are capable of exceeding the speed of light by a considerable magnitude. Independent jumps are dictated in both distance and speed by the size of the vessel’s drive core. The largest ships can traverse entire star systems in a matter of minutes, while smaller shuttles can easily transit between planets in a similar time frame.

For punctual interstellar transit, ships and shuttles must use a Dimensional Gate. These massive constructs are present in pairs in occupied star systems, and typically built in those discovered by long-distance, series micro jumps in order to connect newly encountered systems to the wider System Network, or SysNet.

Dimensional gates are used to infuse a drive core with sufficient energy for a given transit route, and are manned by the equivalent of an air traffic control system. Vessels are queued up and placed under automatic control, with each vessel proceeding into the gate with its assigned transit information. The gate will precisely open a rip as the vessel hits a predetermined point, and send the vessel to a designated exit gate. Distance of transit is not a factor between gates, although overall speed can vary again depending on core size. The added benefit of FTL through the Underworld is the role of time. Clocks of ships travelling within the Underworld will elapse the same amount of time as one in the Home dimension. A ship with a transit time of thirty minutes, will appear in the destination system exactly thirty minutes later. Upon exiting, the ship is rendered motionless, and deposited thousands of miles away from any other vessels to avoid collision events.

Weaponry:
In spite of its relative safety, the properties of vespomide inevitably lent to its usage in weapon systems. These can range from non-lethal implants such as those given to kelit for interaction with their ryuka electrogenic organ, which allows them to release directed JFE, to highly destructive munitions.

These are known as AVMs or Aerosolised Vespomide Munitions, which function similarly to fuel-air explosive weapons. A warhead loaded with fluid vespomide, typically chilled by a cryogenic jacket for the duration of its flight time, will deploy and fracture under a bursting charge. This will spread the contained fluid into a rapidly warming cloud, which will turn into solid vespomide dust. A secondary electrostatic discharge device is likewise launched by the burster, and tumbles through this cloud. After approximately one microsecond to allow for dispersal, this device will discharge a powerful electrical shock to the enshrouding dust. The particles are rapidly heated in excess of 4,000C, and explode with high energy photons. These impact all other dust particles instantly, resulting in a mass energy detonation via suddenly distorted JFE.

The size of the warhead, and the volume of contained vespomide governs the potential explosive yield of the weapon. These can, in some cases, rival tactical nuclear weapons in power, and have largely replaced these systems in operational usage. Smaller systems can still amount to dozens of tons of TNT of explosive power. Although they initially release bursts of x-rays and gamma rays in a fatal range, AVMs are considered ‘clean nuclear’ systems for their lack of long term irradiating effects. Thermal effects are likewise short lived, with most destructive power coming from the emitted shockwave.

Hazards:
As noted above, vespomide is generally safe to handle and operate in day-to-day activities. However, it carries some unique risks. Vapour and liquid forms are most susceptible to explosions because of the potential for rapid thermal change. If either state is gradually heated, such as proximity to fire, the risk is quite low. A sudden, extreme change can be catastrophic, as mentioned in the section regarding AVMs.

Vespomide that rapidly changes from vapour to liquid to solid, or liquid to solid, with continued heating, will release high-energy, ionising radiation that can in turn create a cascade effect. Newly solidified vespomide can at best enhance a surrounding fire with IR radiation, if the external source is relatively low or slow to heat the element. At worst, it will release x-rays and gamma rays, which can be lethal to those in proximity, and penetrate insufficient materials. This will, as in the AVM, also create a sudden JFE distortion, resulting in a shockwave.

Thankfully, cases of such rapid temperature change are rare. Tankers transporting liquid vespomide are not likely to be exposed to fires such as those found in fossil fuel powered vehicles, as they are fully electric, and also stable compared with older lithium-ion packs. These explosion risks are almost always tied to intentional acts that deliberately bypass the multi-layered safety systems. These include: reinforced, thermally insulative tanks; temperature activated fire suppression systems; vacuum jackets; and regulated thermal heaters for safe warming, which is designed to minimise rapid conversion risk.

Description

Marker Symbols for Vespomide Phases

Vespomide

Atomic Symbol: Ve
Density: Variable (0.492 g/cm3 at STP; 18.7g/cm3 at temperatures exceeding 4,000C [7,232F)
Phase at STP: Solid
Melting Point: -70 Celsius (-94 Fahrenheit)
Boiling Point: -130 Celsius (-202 Fahrenheit)

History:
Vespomide (also known as Maorka) is an element of exotic baryons known as Cerritulusons (Mad Particles). It was first identified during the ITV Oldreum’s exploratory mission to Alpha Centauri in 2038. The vessel, five-years into its fifteen-year-long outgoing transit, was intercepted by a Thillian ship in interstellar space, an event that would become known as First Contact.

As a means of establishing trust, the thillians provided the multinational human crew with a trove of anthropological, cosmological, and technological information. Among these were references to an unknown element referred to as Maorka. The human crew would humorously provide an alternate name for this element in honour of the geologist who had first acquired knowledge of its existence from this data: Luigi Vespo. Vespomide would subsequently become the more common name employed by humans and those interacting with them.

Properties:
Vespomide has a reddish hue in all states that grows more intense as a solid. When subjected to ultraviolet light, faint fluorescence is present. Both liquid and STP solid states will float on water. It can also be polished and cut to thicknesses in the realm of 3nm. Due to its electromagnetic emissions, even STP vespomide will emit a warmth in the form of infrared radiation. At STP, vespomide is a stable, non-ionising element that is safe to handle. That being said, larger pieces may generate more thermal heat, and could cause thermal pain if placed in contact with bare skin for an extended period. Subseeding -70C, vespomide emits low energy, long wavelength radio waves, which only diminish in power as the element cools further.

At extreme temperatures exceeding 4,000C, vespomide increases in both density and hardness, more closely resembling uranium and diamond respectively, than the lithium and platinum comparisons it holds at STP. Vespomide subjected to such temperatures must be magnetically and physically shielded within a reactor unit, due to the high energy photons in the x-ray and gamma ray range. These emissions are detectable through variable scanners and sensors, which proves useful during survey operations.

The formation of vespomide is presently unknown, and no clarification has been presented by the thillians. It is hypothesised to originate within the Inferis or Underworld, a parallel dimension utilised for FTL travel courtesy of a Dimensional Drive Core, which is itself powered by a vespomide target sphere. The Underworld contains a form of radiation simply referred to as Pink, per the colouration of the featureless vid where it originates. This is more scientifically known as Sasuke Radiation.

Creating a gateway between the Underworld and Domum (Home) dimensions, even for a picosecond, requires a considerable amount of energy. Significant rips are thought to appear in the presence of major stellar events, such as supernovae, or black holes. The resulting release of Pink radiation into the Home Dimension is thought to be responsible for the transmutation of other elements into vespomide. However, this remains hypothetical. Studies have also been conducted on potential emissions during FTL transit rips.

Vespomide in all phases has the ability to faintly affect localised spacetime, which allows it to capture a pair of virtual particles. One of these is drawn into the vespomide itself to annihilate a quark and result in overall decay of the active mass. The other is ejected as a photon in the same manner as those that escape the event horizons of black holes, and became known as Spalding Radiation. The frequency and wavelength of these photons is, as previously mentioned, related to the ambient temperature of the vespomide mass in question. Spacetime effects increase under temperature extremes, and can be further enhanced and subsequently directed via powerful electromagnetic manipulation. Vespomide will decay into Nitrogen-15, a stable, inert gas.

Distribution:
Vespomide has a varied range of accumulations that, to date, have an indeterminate pattern. The lightness of the element in a chilled state is considered to be one reason for its rarer appearance in inner planetary bodies. Indeed, vespomide is frequently found on planets or moons more distant from the parent star, and is almost always discovered as a subsurface solid. Liquid deposits have been discovered in rarer cases, but in all instances the element is almost entirely encased within, or permeating throughout, igneous or metamorphic rock, which is believed to provide a degree of shielding that prevents the escape of energy and thus prolongs the lifespan of the deposit.

However, there are outliers to the common distribution. Most notably the kelitian homeworld of Jerul, the crust of which is heavily saturated with vespomide. Jerul is unique for the diffusion of vespomide into its natural environment and food chain, with variable concentrations in both flora and fauna. Evolution in tandem with this exposure has given rise to biological adaptations of an electrical nature, such as the electrogenic organ of the kelit themselves. Vespomide can even appear floating on the surface of waterways following heavy rains, as it is flushed from underground caverns.

On the qeleki homeworld of Naqei, vespomide is also present, albeit deeper within the crust. The combination of increased heat and pressure at these depths results in stronger thermal emissions, heating subterranean reservoirs and waterways that result in the prolific geyser activity across the moon. It is believed that the presence of the element, and its thermal generation, is responsible for Naqei being habitable in spite of its distance from its parent star. This creates the distinctive quality of a near constantly twilight world that is sufficiently warm enough to support widespread life.

Distribution of vespomide is not repeated across all star systems. Some may be abundant, others may be devoid. The Sol System is almost entirely empty of vespomide accumulations, with only small amounts discovered in the moons of the gas giants, and bodies within the Oort Cloud. Human mining and collection operations are therefore largely concentrated in neighbouring systems where survey operations have detected it in quantity.

Extraction:
Vespomide mining can be conducted in several ways. Although open cast operations are possible, environmental treaties put into place have geared companies toward shaft mining. A variation of fracking may also be employed, where high-pressure water is injected into a vespomide seam or saturated rock. Even if the seam has increased density due to the geothermal gradient, the introduction of colder fluid will cool and ultimately reduce this. Vespomide fractured from the seam will then float to the surface for collection.

Liquid concentrations, which exist between -70C and -130C, can be extracted via cryogenically cooled suction hoses, which then deposit the fluid into refrigerated storage tanks. This fluid is then transferred to a refinery where it is scrubbed of contaminant particles from the surrounding environment, and commonly heated for safer shipping as a solid. Vespomide earmarked for vehicular fuel is reprocessed by specific companies, where it is melted back to a fluid and transported in similarly refrigerated tanks to specialised stations.

Applications:
Batteries:
The most widespread use of vespomide is as a non-polluting electrical power source. Following First Contact, humanity was finally capable of divesting itself from fossil fuels for the means of power generation, particularly with regard to vehicles. Vespomide is light enough, stable enough, and energy dense enough to permit fully electric cars, watercraft, and aircraft. Its stability also saw it replacing lithium ion batteries, and chemical cell batteries in smaller electronic devices. The vespomide is encased in a negative-index metamaterial shell that will prevent the released photons from escaping. Magnetic switches tied to the power toggle of a device are used to open the shell and permit the release of these photons. The photons will then contact a transfer sheath around the shell, and be converted directly to electrical power.

Although vespomide cells cannot be recharged, they are more energy efficient, and capable of supplying power to a device for a considerable period of time. Once depleted, the vespomide contained within the battery has fully decayed, leaving an empty shell that can be recycled without risk. Small batteries also emit low temperatures, negating heat, and fire risk.

Vehicular batteries employ a similar principle of electrical generation, but for economical reasons are reusable. This is achieved via refrigerated, liquid state vespomide, which is supplied to the vehicle’s battery tank in a similar manner to the petroleum products widespread pre-First Contact. Pump systems will draw liquid vespomide from storage units to be injected into the vehicle’s tank. A combination of natural warming and heating elements - powered by a solid-state vespomide battery elsewhere in the vehicle - will change the element’s state from liquid to solid. Any residual solid within the tank will typically melt during the refuelling process, and simply combine with the fresh intake. Once solidified, the battery tank will function in the same manner as a small cell. Liquid vespomide for vehicular refuelling is typically stored near the transition temperature, to reduce the required warming time.

In both small batteries and vehicular battery tanks, decayed vespomide will result in Nitrogen-15 gas. For small batteries, this gas is typically vented during recycling. For vehicle tanks, N-15 can either be vented during operation, or extracted during refuelling as injected fluid displaces the gas.

Dimensional Drives:
Aside from battery systems, the second most common application of vespomide is within the Dimensional Drive Core. This is a system critical to faster-than-light transit through the Underworld, as it enables sufficient energy to be generated for a localised rip. The drive core contains a spherical target sphere of vespomide that has been formed over a ferrous core, typically iron. During operation, this core is subjected to a strong electromagnetic field, which causes it to levitate in the centre of the dimensional drive. The sphere is then set to rotate, before being subjected to plasma bleed off from a dedicated fusion reactor.

As the plasma vastly exceeds the 4,000C threshold required, the vespomide sphere instantly hardens and increases in density. This increases the effect on spacetime, which results in what is known as a Jerda Field Energy. The specific design of the drive core, derived from those supplied by the thillians, allows for the JFE to be directed out of the core to a manifold system.

The majority of the JFE is sent to hull-mounted emitters, where it is used to create a Spacetime Energy Ellipse or SPEE. In essence, an energy shield. This shield offers vital protection from cosmic radiation, debris, or other kinetic threats. Shielding has a kinetic rating that dictates how much energy it may sustain and contain before collapsing as a failsafe. During shield collapse, the energy is ejected outward from the vessel, carrying that energy with it. Until the shield can reestablish itself, the vessel must rely on its physical armour.

The minority of JFE redirected through the manifold is used to affect the internal environment of the SPEE, which is essentially a bubble of controlled spacetime. The key elements of this are gravitational control, and inertial dampening. Both aspects are key to comfortable, frequent spaceflight. Within a spacecraft utilising a fully functional drive core, external motion is entirely negated, and artificial gravity employed. Without visual reference, occupants can be entirely unaware of movement, including extreme acceleration and deceleration.

By increasing the rotational speed of the target sphere, a stronger Jerda Field can be produced. This is used to enact a localised rip for a micro jump, whereupon a vessel passes from the Home dimension to the Underworld under its own power. As the Underworld is free from the known laws of physics, vessels and spacecraft equipped with drive cores are capable of exceeding the speed of light by a considerable magnitude. Independent jumps are dictated in both distance and speed by the size of the vessel’s drive core. The largest ships can traverse entire star systems in a matter of minutes, while smaller shuttles can easily transit between planets in a similar time frame.

For punctual interstellar transit, ships and shuttles must use a Dimensional Gate. These massive constructs are present in pairs in occupied star systems, and typically built in those discovered by long-distance, series micro jumps in order to connect newly encountered systems to the wider System Network, or SysNet.

Dimensional gates are used to infuse a drive core with sufficient energy for a given transit route, and are manned by the equivalent of an air traffic control system. Vessels are queued up and placed under automatic control, with each vessel proceeding into the gate with its assigned transit information. The gate will precisely open a rip as the vessel hits a predetermined point, and send the vessel to a designated exit gate. Distance of transit is not a factor between gates, although overall speed can vary again depending on core size. The added benefit of FTL through the Underworld is the role of time. Clocks of ships travelling within the Underworld will elapse the same amount of time as one in the Home dimension. A ship with a transit time of thirty minutes, will appear in the destination system exactly thirty minutes later. Upon exiting, the ship is rendered motionless, and deposited thousands of miles away from any other vessels to avoid collision events.

Weaponry:
In spite of its relative safety, the properties of vespomide inevitably lent to its usage in weapon systems. These can range from non-lethal implants such as those given to kelit for interaction with their ryuka electrogenic organ, which allows them to release directed JFE, to highly destructive munitions.

These are known as AVMs or Aerosolised Vespomide Munitions, which function similarly to fuel-air explosive weapons. A warhead loaded with fluid vespomide, typically chilled by a cryogenic jacket for the duration of its flight time, will deploy and fracture under a bursting charge. This will spread the contained fluid into a rapidly warming cloud, which will turn into solid vespomide dust. A secondary electrostatic discharge device is likewise launched by the burster, and tumbles through this cloud. After approximately one microsecond to allow for dispersal, this device will discharge a powerful electrical shock to the enshrouding dust. The particles are rapidly heated in excess of 4,000C, and explode with high energy photons. These impact all other dust particles instantly, resulting in a mass energy detonation via suddenly distorted JFE.

The size of the warhead, and the volume of contained vespomide governs the potential explosive yield of the weapon. These can, in some cases, rival tactical nuclear weapons in power, and have largely replaced these systems in operational usage. Smaller systems can still amount to dozens of tons of TNT of explosive power. Although they initially release bursts of x-rays and gamma rays in a fatal range, AVMs are considered ‘clean nuclear’ systems for their lack of long term irradiating effects. Thermal effects are likewise short lived, with most destructive power coming from the emitted shockwave.

Hazards:
As noted above, vespomide is generally safe to handle and operate in day-to-day activities. However, it carries some unique risks. Vapour and liquid forms are most susceptible to explosions because of the potential for rapid thermal change. If either state is gradually heated, such as proximity to fire, the risk is quite low. A sudden, extreme change can be catastrophic, as mentioned in the section regarding AVMs.

Vespomide that rapidly changes from vapour to liquid to solid, or liquid to solid, with continued heating, will release high-energy, ionising radiation that can in turn create a cascade effect. Newly solidified vespomide can at best enhance a surrounding fire with IR radiation, if the external source is relatively low or slow to heat the element. At worst, it will release x-rays and gamma rays, which can be lethal to those in proximity, and penetrate insufficient materials. This will, as in the AVM, also create a sudden JFE distortion, resulting in a shockwave.

Thankfully, cases of such rapid temperature change are rare. Tankers transporting liquid vespomide are not likely to be exposed to fires such as those found in fossil fuel powered vehicles, as they are fully electric, and also stable compared with older lithium-ion packs. These explosion risks are almost always tied to intentional acts that deliberately bypass the multi-layered safety systems. These include: reinforced, thermally insulative tanks; temperature activated fire suppression systems; vacuum jackets; and regulated thermal heaters for safe warming, which is designed to minimise rapid conversion risk.