AP-FILE #201A: PROJECT "COPIAM"

[Tenacity]

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Incoming Transmission

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Source: Invicta Research Complex, Omicron Rho
Comm ID: Associate Damien Mekal
Encryption: APM Standard

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Establishing Feed

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Pairing once more with the crew of the Remora and Novitas, we've undertaken studies of the Azurite Reactor in Omicron Delta with the goal of maximizing collection efficiency. It should be noted that collection of Azurite gas differs significantly in equipment and process than standard mining operations - or even other forms of gas mining. I reached out to some of my contacts in Kishiro and the Gas Miner's Guild for their insight into this substance, and theories on how to collect it efficiently.

It should first be said that Azurite itself is relatively unremarkable. What makes the gas valuable is an inherent ability to gather and store various forms of energy with little to no loss. Some of my associates in the LSF at Kodiak Research Station have experimented with Azurite in the past, so I'm not unfamiliar with it, and it was concluded that the substance would be most logically utilized in the form of biomechanical hybrid power transfer systems. Energy stored in an Azurite particle cloud maintains zero loss until utilized, making it several magnitudes more efficient in powering weapon capacitors, reactor cold start assemblies, shield batteries, and high energy drain technologies such as hyperspace modules and cloaking devices.

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Initial survey of the Azurite Reactor reveals a combination of recognized Daam K'vosh technology, quite similar to many structures and excavated objects found on Nauru, as well as signs of Nomad organic integration. As near as I can tell, the reactor itself draws in micro-organisms living in the edge nebula, collecting and compressing them into a high-energy conduit at the center of the reactor, where the organisms themselves are flash-vaporized. These organisms naturally contain trace amounts of Azurite gas collected from the nebula - most likely as a food source - and once vaporized leave behind a small, bright orb of highly energized and cohesive Azurite gas.

In theory, it may be possible to re-create this system, on a much smaller scale, which could allow us to create Azurite from the nebula ourselves; however the primary hurdle would be matching the power output of the reactor itself. It appears the Reactor is powered by subatomic forces present in the nebula itself, utilizing a vast conductive surface area to absorb and funnel power to the reactor core. The amount energy created and channeled by the Reactor dwarfs even the capabilities of the Ingenuus Research Group's power cells.

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In stark contrast to the Iridium mining project, Azurite is bright and immediately visible against the background chamber of the reactor. The interior of the chamber is a highly volatile environment, with radiation levels spiking each time a new Azurite cluster is formed in the conduit. Collision with these clusters is also extremely dangerous, as the amount of energy contained within each orb of free-floating Azurite gas is enough to incinerate a small ship. The crew of the Novitas took additional precautions to map the drift of each cluster, endeavoring to avoid such incidents.

Collection of Azurite, as well, requires a different set of tools. Due to its volatile nature and precarious stability, utilizing traditional mining arrays such as the CMT-221 models causes the cluster to erupt, leaving behind very little salvageable material. Efficiency levels were extremely low when testing these mining arrays with Azurite, resulting in negative returns for the mining operation.

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Extensive surveys and scans were conducted on the Azurite clusters to discern the best way to approach collection. Each cluster, upon closer inspection, consists of a highly energized and dense core, with a negative ionic charge. The thin outer sphere containing the core is comprised of a less dense field of Azurite particles with a positive charge. Azurite acts, in many ways, like a non-newtonian fluid: the outer shell, while being gaseous in nature, is "hardened" against ion particles from the core attempting to escape, while simultaneously allowing any energy applied from outside the sphere to pass through and further excite the core. This unique property is the exact reason standard mining arrays interact negatively with the cluster; adding too much additional energy to the Azurite core causes it to overwhelm the containment shell, leading to an imbalance of charges and subsequent eruption.

Taking these properties into account, my engineer Marcus Greele modified our previously-designed variable-focus mining array, tuning it to the specific properties of Azurite. The mining array, with these parameters set, is capable of extracting energy from the core and shell simultaneously and at a precisely controlled rate of exchange, until the energy content of the cluster is low enough to collect without dispersing the gas particles.

This modification is not without its own deficiencies, however; without its high energy content, Azurite gas becomes far less viable as a resource, unable to maintain its form and function. Marcus was, however, able to prototype a gas collector capable of withstanding slightly more energized Azurite than traditional containment systems. Further modifications to the variable-focus mining array were made, allowing for mid-level energized gas to be extracted and stored in the Azurite collector. This solution is far from perfect, but allows an unprecedented rate of collection and storage compared to any previously undertaken operations.

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While relatively crude in design, Greele's collection system has proven efficient. The device utilizes an electromagnetic collection conduit, drawing Azurite gas into a shielded chamber for compression and storage. It should be noted that this system could drastically improve the Gas Miner Guild's efficiency in collecting Helium-3, despite being a less volatile substance. It is my recommendation that diplomatic channels be opened up to the GMG to ascertain their willingness to purchase such equipment from AP Manufacturing, and whether or not such a business partnership would be profitable for us.

Following the operation at the Azurite Reactor, the Remora and Novitas were joined by the Areion, and the three ships together hauled a total of 8,760 units of collected Azurite Gas back to Invicta Research Complex in Omicron Rho. While the results of this operation did not entirely meet my expectations and standards, I believe that our ability to collect Azurite has reached its peak, and I expect further testing from outside sources will reveal as much.

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END TRANSMISSION

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