Triter Zone
The Littlest Space Pirate
- Trikiirium -
[ Image Source ]
Intent - To create a distinctive armor material for Empire of the Line warships, and for the open market.
Development Thread - N/A.
Manufacturer - Svivren Xenomineralogy Institute, licensed to various commercial foundries.
Type - Metal.
Affiliation - Open market.
Modularity - No.
Production - Mass-produced.
Material - Specially treated kiirium.
Description -
Trikiirium is a strong metal derived from kiirium, which was once an important material in starship and weapon construction in the ancient Galaxy. Famously, kiirium ingots were a major part of Xim the Despot's fabled treasure hoard on Dellalt, and it was the metal used to shield his warships and Guardian Corps battle droids.
Advances in metallurgy and weapon technology have long made ordinary kiirium obsolete. Once a precious commodity due to its strategic value, it was rendered essentially worthless by the time of the First Galactic Civil War, supplanted by such materials as duranium and doonium.
However, it was perhaps premature to write off kiirium as having no further use.
Trikiirium was discovered by researchers at the Svivren Xenomineralogy Institute, who had been studying metallurgical transmutation. Inspired by legends of ancient warships becoming "invincible" after voyages wherein they visited a succession of strange stars, they had theorized that exposure to certain wavelengths of exotic radiation could change the properties of certain metals.
The scientists bombarded samples of kiirium - known to be a common armor material in the era from which the legends were thought to have come - with sequences of different radiation treatments, believing that the successive "layering" of different energies was what had caused the "hardening" of ancient ship hulls. Tests went slowly, but eventually they achieved a rather dramatic result.
Baked under the synthesized light of a dozen suns, the new, modified form of kiirium which resulted from the experiments had a series of unusual properties. Unlike normal kiirium, which was a glossy, reflective blue, this new metal was an unusual grey-green. Upon inspection, it was found that the molecular structure of the metal had transmuted into three new elements, and had reorganized into an immensely strong triangular lattice, which inspired its new name.
Like kiirium before it, which was said to have been able to deflect the beams of primitive photon lasers, trikiirium was found to be highly resistant to damage by energy weapons. Though it could not reflect coherent bolts, as certain exotic metals such as ultrachrome were able to do, it could "bounce" a shot as a high-energy spray, which could inflict minor damage if splashed back on an attacker. Trikiirium was not invulnerable, but had roughly twice the equivalent resistance and strength of duranium. Though, like duranium, it could withstand a glancing blow from such a weapon, it could naturally still be cut by a lightsaber; the point of contact with an energy blade emitted a constant geyser of hazardous sparks, however.
Trikiirium made extremely effective radiation shielding; it also could be fashioned into body armor, offering superior protection compared to durasteel plate.
Trikiirium was commercialized by the institute, which designed and licensed the production of kiirium treatment equipment for use by commercial foundries; the production of trikiirium itself with said equipment was also licensed. The metal became a welcome revenue stream for the institute, allowing them to expand their metallurgical department and build additions to their campus.
Trikiirium, meanwhile, became a popular alternative to armor materials such as doonium and turadium. Overnight, it revolutionized the mining industry; previously worthless, kiirium could now be converted into a much more worthwhile material. Kiirium seams on many ancient mining worlds began to be worked once again, and the worth of the metal slowly began to climb, albeit not to the level it had been valued in antiquity.
Today, Trikiirium is most commonly used by shipbuilders in the Outer Rim, where extensive kiirium reserves can be found. Though not a borderline precious metal, as kiirium was long ago, it is highly prized for its utility and relative inexpensiveness compared to equivalent materials.
