Mithril

Mithril is a chemical element with the chemical symbol M and atomic number 122. A silvery hard metal, mithril is the strongest element known to humans, as well as the metal with the lowest electrical conductivity. It is named after the fictional metal from J.R.R. Tolkien's classical Lord of the Rings books. Mithril is an extremely rare and precious metal. Currently, the only mithril mine in the Near Earth Sector is on Glacias.
==Characteristics==
===Physical===
Mithril has a very high strength-to-weight ratio, higher than even that of titanium. Mithril is extremely hard, being the hardest known to mankind. It is slightly ductile, but not malleable at all, making it hard to work with.
===Chemical===
Mithril reacts with oxygen at 1,400 °C to form mithril dioxide, but reacts very slowly with water due to a protective oxide coating that prevents further reactions. Mithril is extremely resistant to corrosion, even more so than titanium.
With a melting point of 1,701 °C, mithril cannot be melted in open air (it burns before the melting point is reached), and requires a vacuum to melt. It has a boiling point of 3,297 °C.
==History==
Mithril was first discovered (by humans) by Velconi military scientist Jeremy Wang. Upon first encountering the element, Dr. Wang saw its strength and potential to be used in warfare. He called it mithril, after a fictional metal by his favourate author. However, it was soon discovered that the metal is extremely rare and therefore unsuitable for military usage. The Velconi soon lost interest in the metal, but they kept it as a military secret.
Mithril was not known to the Irini until 10 years after its discovery, when agents from Department 1 found discarded Velconi starship plans which incorporated the metal. The Irini conducted more extensive research on mithril.
==Application==
Mithril is a precious metal, and although it should be extremely useful for starships due to its high strength-to-weight ratio and hardness, it is too expensive (and there is too few of it) to make ships with. Mithril is collected as a valuable, much like gold was on Earth centuries ago. Those who can afford it can make armor with mithril. For example, The Blade's exosuit contains mithril components.
The Hierarchy uses mithril much more extensively, as the metal is apparently more abundant in their galaxy. Several of their starships have mithril components, and their strongest warriors wear mithril armor. However, they still consider it a rare metal.
==Trivia==
*Mithril is based off the metal of the same name from Lord of the Rings.
*The characteristics of mithril are based off titanium. It is basically a stronger version of titanium.
*The melting point of mithril is an easter egg referring to the USS Enterprise.
Category:Chemical Elements