The Crucibles

Scattered across the galaxy, the Crucibles are remnants of an age that predates any in known history. Often the size of small moons, no Crucible is identical to another, but they do share similarities. Each one is generally spherical. Their surfaces are most often metallic in appearance but feel organic in texture.
The First Crucibles were discovered many Centuries Ago and among the Galactic races it is disputed who discovered the first Crucible it more than likely depends on whose space you are in and their Historical Files and how vehemently they proclaim their race was the first to discover a Crucible.
What is known is that they are Vast Technological and Developmental Artifacts left by an unknown Ancient race that can produce a Valuable resource known as Sorium that in turn can be transformed into Energy or literally and other Element that is known in the Galaxy.
In addition, many of the known galactic races have sort of a symbiotic or spiritual tie to these Crucibles among a select few. This Tie when realized harnessed tapped is simply known as Esper Genesis and these select few can Harness and Manifest Supernatural Powers. These people or races are commonly referred to as Espers or those Possessing Esper powers. Many with these powers become Explorers, and Adventurers, and are often formed into elite teams.
The Galactic Races all have these Crucibles to varying degrees and numbers within their own Space territories and they all Research, Study and diligently harness the Gifts from these Crucibles. Sorium that comes from these Crucibles is Highly prized and wars have even been fought over Sorium and access to Crucibles.
The Discovery and Research of the Crucibles has led to the vast expansion of the Galaxy Many Quadrants Above and Beyond the Altharin Rim. Crucibles are at the heart of Technological Development and Sorium is the Blood of the Galaxy.
The sorium energy within their cores is used to power almost all modern age ships, metropolitan cities, and space stations. They also serve as interstellar hubs, allowing starships to instantly jump from one Crucible to another. This method of travel has given spacefaring cultures the ability to explore vast regions of space at a hyper-accelerated rate.

General Anatomy of a Crucible:

Below the surface, there are long branches of tunnels leading into the core, where a material only known as sorium can be harvested. Sorium is a material without classification. Its chemical makeup constantly shifts, can be identified as any element, and can be made to change molecular states with focus and concentration. The primary aspect of sorium is that it’s a raw energy source that may be used to power any device adapted to function with it. Anything from a light fixture, weapon to a space cruiser may use its power source.

Primary Advancement from Crucibles:

With the discovery of the Crucibles, their infinite energy source was adapted into the existing technology used for space travel. The results would become the prototype of what is known today as the sorium stardrive. These devices are the core of most ships that travel between the planets of the Atharin Rim and beyond.
Each stardrive is capable of achieving speeds that are faster than light (referred to as FTL speeds as described below), allowing travel between planets in a matter of minutes. Sorium stardrives, like the Crucibles themselves, have their own rules when it comes to the laws of physics. Traveling at FTL speeds while using a stardrive is possible without causing time dilation or other anomalies of space-time.

Finding Crucibles:

Crucibles Can be found Orbiting Planet Systems, Stars, and even on occasion within Asteroid Fields or other Galactic Anomalies. Ships computers have been developed to Scan for and try to Interface with most of the known Crucibles and it takes some Talent and Research to sync up with newly discovered Crucibles. It is not clear how many Crucibles are out there in the Galaxy But each race has traveled farther and developed faster because of these Ancient Alien Artifacts.