Red Matter

Red Matter is a multi purpose resource used exclusively by The Skaronien Council in all manner of technology, from star ship weapons to armour plates. It is an incredibly durable material derived from one of the most dangerous places in the entire galaxy; the mouth of a black hole and a key step toward the mass manufacturing of destructive antimatter particles.

Origin

redmatter itself is an artificial material created by the Skaroniens from the molecules that are constantly being sucked into a black hole. They in essence fish these particles out of the vortex before they are taken back to a Redmatter forge. The construction of Redmatter has been attempted without using a black hole, but recreating similar conditions has proved difficult, plus the composition of the result material is never quite as strong. 

Creation

Redmatter as a thing can be split into several categories;
Material
Energy Source
Weaponry
Each type of Redmatter is created in a different way, but from the same or similar methods, all involving the interstellar anomaly that is a black hole. Redmatter as a material that is created from molecules being sucked into the black hole, while Redmatter energy is harvested from the event horizon of the black hole and Redmatter weaponry is made using gravatonic energy also harvested from the black hole.

Material

The material form of Red Matter consists of particles gather from the mouth of a black hole. These particles are carefully harvested using a specialised probe that extends on a set of long cables. Through this device the super heated particles are gathered and transported back to the forge. These particles are the result of anything that has been sucked into the black hole, with every kind of material, be it solid, liquid or gas, being broken down under the astronomical gravitonic and thermal forces around the black hole, thus reverting to a raw, molecular form. In the mouth of a black hole, water, steel or gas does not exist beyond a certain point, these are the trace elements gathered by the Skaroniens. 
These particles take on a unique property as they get broken down and mixed with bursts of Hawking radiation, their physical and atomic properties becoming heavily altered. This combined with a secretive forging process allows the Skaroniens to form these particles into a unique alloy, known commonly as Redmatter. When initially gathered from the black hole the first result of the process is a volatile material similar in consistency to hot wax when it goes through the first stage of compression. At this stage is is known as un-stable Redmatter. Following this the Redmatter is stabilised and hardened into its common form of Redmatter alloy, where it can be used as construction material. 
After it is stabilised Redmatter loses all gravitonic properties, but remains incredibly tough and low in density, making it light yet extremely tough to damage, making it perfect for armour plates. It's also very mailable, meaning it can be shaped into a variety of compositions. 

Energy

Redmatter energy is difficult to produce, as it is harvested from the event horizon of a black hole. The harvesting probe used to gather the energy is one of the only things in the known galaxy that is capable of getting that close to a black hole and not be pulled in.
Like the material forging process, the harvesting probe is extended on a long cable hundreds of miles long equipped with repulserlift stabilisers at multiple intervals down its length to keep the cable strong against the astronomical gravitonic forces being applied to it. The energy cells are made of a rare material called Hawkanite, solidified form of gas found in some stars that are due to collapse within the next several thousand years. The Hawkanite reacts directly with the intense heat and gravitational forces subject to it when lowered near the black hole, the heat combined with the crushing gravitational force begins to 'charge' the cells that essentially store the mass and heat captured.
When the cells are full they are pulled back to the forge where their gathered energy is funnelled into a central chamber. Redmatter power cells actually have little to do with the Redmatter material at all aside from their outer casing often being made from the stuff, Though they are often referred to as this for the fact they are made on the same station using a black hole as the source.
What is unique about Skaronien power sources is that instead of storing electricity they store raw, gravitonic energy that can be converted into kinetic energy, which is in turn used to power traditional power generators. However, Redmatter cells hold a vast amount of gravitonic energy that is incredibly dangerous if the outer shell is compromised. If such a thing happens all that stored gravity and heat will be released, essentially creating a temporary, miniature black hole style implosion.
After a Redmatter power cell is empty, it is often kept and sent back to the forges to be refuelled.

Weaponry

Redmatter weapons are essentially releasing that borrowed gravitonic energy on a specific location. A Redmatter energy weapon will contain a Redmatter power cell as mentioned above, the size and capacity will depend on the size of the weapon itself. Power from the energy cell is fed through a component which traps some of that stored gravitonic power and heat in an energy field which is fired at the target. When the energy field impacts that stored power is released, causing an implosion that crumples armour and rips flesh. Visually this takes the form of a red bolt or beam depending on weapon configuration.

Redmatter and Antimatter

Antimatter is a little understood phenomenon. It is known to be incredibly destructive in small amount and does not occur anywhere other than within black holes. Harvesting antimatter is something no species, not even the Skaroniens, have mastered. Redmatter was originally discovered as a bi-product of attempting to secure antimatter from the mouth of a black hole, however it soon became the Skaroniens priority.
While the Skaroniens cannot harvest anti matter on mass, they are certainly the most well equipped for securing it out of all the major factions, and it is no secret that they do have the largest anti matter stocks out of anyone by a very large margin.

Cultural Significance

To the Skaroniens, Redmatter is a sacred material that they strongly belief is their birth rite and should not be used by any other species. They keep the method of its creation very secretive and their forges closely guarded. Redmatter forges are plentiful throughout Skaronien space, however they are never left unattended, as these forges are also where the Skaroniens keep their stockpiles of the stuff.