Celestrix-Shards

Common State and Physical Characteristics

Celestrix-Shards are commonly found in a crystalline form occurring in clusters or as floating particulates throughout The Desolate Grimlands. Interestingly the clusters will always appear in their pure form and are never amalgamated with other sources. Shards vary in size from just a few millimetres in length resembling specks of sand or glitter, with others measuring several centimetres or even up to a metre in length.

Celestrix-Shards possess a sharp, jagged crystalline structures, capable of inflicting deep cuts and severe damage to starships, slicing through most metals and alloys with ease. While dangerous and often deadly, they exhibit a remarkable transparency, allowing light to pass through the shards and creating stunning visuals with some researchers postulating their use in holographic generators due to their immense clarity.

Colour

Celestrix-Shards possess a striking deep red coloration with shimmering silver accents. In certain light conditions, Celestrix-Shards exhibit a vibrant violet hue with a subtle iridescent sheen.

Density

Celestrix-Shards exhibit an exceptionally high density, significantly heavier than most terrestrial materials. The density of Celestrix-Shards makes them prized for their weight-to-strength ratio in various industrial applications.

Properties

Celestrix-Shards are renowned for their exceptional hardness and durability, making them highly resistant to scratching and wear. They have a unique electromagnetic property that enables them to generate a weak magnetic field when subjected to certain conditions. These properties make them particularly deadly when exposed to the magnetic tides of the Grimlands, creating swarms of Shards that can tear through vessels like razor blades through tissue paper.

Half-Life / Deterioration

Celestrix-Shards exhibit remarkable stability, showing no signs of deterioration or decay over extended periods. The concept of half-life or expiration does not apply to Celestrix-Shards, as they are considered essentially indestructible.

Harvesting

Celestrix-Shards are harvested easily due to their electromagnetic properties. Powerful magnetic fields are used to harvest the shards which react and align with the magnetic currents allowing them to be drawn towards collection chambers for retrieval. This process requires precision to avoid creating dangerous swarms that can very easily disable or destroy harvesting equipment. Even with the greatest care, equipment must be replaced as often as every 2 weeks due to the wear and tear caused by the shards, especially the smaller pieces.