The Journals of Etorre Agnusdei, M.D. - Volume III

[Doctor Agnusdei]

In the course of my studies, I have assigned a small amount of time to creating a new type of weaponized agent of the lethal demeanor. The research started out as a meaningless desire to determine how to shut down a living nervous system. My original foray discovered that without specialized toxins, the entire body is effected, despite my intentions of creating localized neural damage. Despite this setback, I have found that the product can be easily applied to use as an aerosol or by direct exposure. The following journal entries are a complete description of the toxin's parameters, creation, and abilities, along with the few flaws in the toxin's nature.


Before one begins to create or even handle this new agent, full protection is needed. A biological protection or hazardous materials suit with an advanced and durable respirator is required. My mask protects me, but until I can create the necessary field clothing, a suit of such design must be worn as the toxin can be absorbed through exposed skin. Care is necessary when handling the materials and various aides or technicians are required for help should larger batches be needed. However, for the moment I lack the necessary equipment and production facilities to manufacture larger quantities. For now, all that is needed is enough to fill a handful of larger canisters from which one can fill the smaller canisters found in the mask in my previous entries.

 

[Doctor Agnusdei]

The toxin, which I have taken to calling Mortis Caligine, is made up of a handful of chemicals and materials. First, one must obtain Dimethylamine, a chemical that is considered the predecessor for many industrial chemical compounds and, while not readily or commonly available, one can find and even purchase the chemical from lower Coruscant industrial plants at a fair sum of paltry credits. Once done, requisition of another chemical compound, Phosphoryl Chloride, is necessary. One can find this in most plastics refineries or any construction sites using plastic tubing as the material, or at least a derivative of it, is used as a flame retardant for various plastic piping.

Once obtained, render the Dimethylamine into a gaseous state and combine the gas with the Phosphoryl Chloride. The resulting reaction shall create two distinct gasses, one of which is needed. The other can be safely discarded. From here, the following steps are clear.

 

[Doctor Agnusdei]

Remove from the resulting gases one of the two, namely the one named Dimethylamidophosphoric Dichloride. Purify the gas through vacuum distillation and separate it. Dispose of the remaining gas from the original chemical reaction as safely as possible. Keep in mind, hazardous material protection is required at all times for this entire process from start to finish. If you have shirked this requirement and have been exposed to any gasses, your fate is sealed.

Combine the Dimethylamidophosphoric Dichloride with Sodium Cyanide. I shan't go into detail on where to find this chemical as one should already know where to obtain it. React the two chemicals together and disperse it in another chemical, Chlorobenzene. The Chlorobenzene must be completely dry, otherwise impurities in the final product will occur, possibly rendering the toxin inert and harmless. This process ultimately renders the chemical Dimethylamidophosphoric Dicyanide.

 

[Doctor Agnusdei]

Keep the resulting Dimethylamidophosphoric Dicyanide away from heat and water. The gas is highly flammable and, when exposed to moisture, gives off highly toxic gases. Once again, full environmental protection is required lest you desire a most excruciatingly painful death.

Combine the Dimethylamidophosphoric Dicyanide with pure ethanol. This will create the near final product of Mortis Caligine. The reaction will, however, create other gases and yield other chemicals in the process. For now, this is acceptable. However, the final product should be in liquid form. Should you produce mostly or only gases, you have failed. In which case, the process must be started anew. If you have committed this failure, perhaps calligraphy is more suited to your mental faculties.

 

[Doctor Agnusdei]

At this point, it becomes necessary to filter the fluid thus created. The solution will have a variety of insoluble salts and other compounds. Filter this mixture thoroughly to remove them entirely. Any stray salt granules can weaken the toxin and reduce its effectiveness. Again, if you have not maintained full environmental protection, you're dead already.

Once the salts are removed from the chemical mixture, you must vacuum distill the fluid once more. This removes the byproduct of Hydrogen Cyanide and any excess Chlorobenzene left from previous chemical reactions. The final product is the liquid form of Mortis Caligine. If the mixture was handled properly throughout and purified appropriately, the solution should be clear, odorless, and tasteless. However, inhaling, sniffing, or ingesting the liquid will kill you and is heavily discouraged.

 

[Doctor Agnusdei]

At this point, the fluid is easily weaponized. The concoction kills rapidly and painfully without antidotes or treatment. The toxin itself targets the neural network within the body, crossing over all mammalian species. The toxin, once in the body, shuts down the neural receptors throughout the victim's body. This causes a wide array of symptoms, the earliest being nervousness or restlessness and miosis, a contraction of the eyes. I theorize that in a combat situation, the early signs may be overlooked as combat stress or fatigue, meaning treatment could be delayed, at least at first.

Following these symptoms, more serious signs occur. Rhinorrea, or excessive mucus production in the sinuses, and salivation occur. This is followed by dyspnea, where the victim suffers respiratory distress due to excess secretions in the respiratory tract, along with sweating and brachycardia, or the slowing of the heart rate.

 

[Doctor Agnusdei]

At this point, more serious symptoms are evident in the patient. The patient will suffer a loss of consciousness due to the effects of the toxins. They will also suffer convulsions and flaccid paralysis in the later stages of the poisoning. The victim will display a loss of bladder and bowel control, apnea - cessation of breathing -, and lung blisters.

At this point, the patient suffers respiratory arrest followed by cardiac arrest ending in the demise of the victim. The toxin kills quickly depending on the dosage. My studies and experiments show that a range of one to ten minutes can occur when the victim inhales multiple lethal doses, though absorption through the eyes of the chemical kills nearly as fast. If the victim only inhales a single, lethal dose, death can occur in one to two hours. The toxin can survive on the victim's clothes for upwards of thirty minutes, leading to possible sympathetic exposure. The toxin can be absorbed through the skin, though this takes far longer. A day, perhaps more, until lethal symptoms are shown.

 

[Doctor Agnusdei]

Despite the lethality of the toxin, there are simple means around the chemical. Full environmental protection will thwart the agent, leaving the potential victim unharmed from the toxin's effects. Respirators will protect the victim from inhaling the agent, though without goggles the agent can still kill quickly. With a full respiration mask, only dermatological absorption is possible.

Along with this, infected individuals can be treated with anti-nerve agent drugs. This must occur close to the time of infection for a full recovery, though with dermatological absorption, the window for treatment and full recovery is far larger.

 

[Doctor Agnusdei]

Proper storage requires low temperatures within fully sealed and reinforced containers. I have found quartz or silver lined vessels better suited to the task. Constant vigilance is necessary on the containers as well. The toxin will degrade over time, leading to constant replacement at regular intervals. I have also taken the time to line the outer casings of the used vessels with reinforced Duraplast. This prevents potential damage to the containers in moving or, in a worst case scenario, meddling invalids who would desire my work destroyed.

Nevertheless, with proper storage determined and precautions in place, weaponizing the chemical is the final step.

 

[Doctor Agnusdei]

Weaponization is extremely simple at this point in time. The fluid can be condensed into an aerosol format and dispersed over a wide area. The chemical can also be deposited into a water supply and ingested by those who are unaware of its presence. Unfortunately, as an aerosol, the toxin has a limited time period of effectiveness. However, as a water-borne or contact toxin, it can be absorbed through ingestion or skin absorption with lethal effects in high enough doses.

The main, planned use of this chemical is in small gas canisters mounted inside the mask detailed in an earlier entry. I theorize that, without proper protection, such a canister can easily kill two to three dozen adult humanoids within the range of the mask's dispersal system. I also theorize that it would harm a further score or more of those who fail to suffer a lethal dose.

Overall, however, I believe the toxin is a more or less total success. However, I'm sure there are ways to improve the formula...