Ossillium

## Overview

Ossillium is a translucent aquamarine mineral ore that naturally forms deep beneath the surface of Rerador. The ore has been invaluable to the inhabitants of System 54 due to the strange effects it imposes upon members of the Collective race or those with an activated Seed. When in close proximity to the ore, members of the Collective are unable to utilise the powers their language normally provides, making Ossillium one of the few reliable counter-measures when facing the faction.

## History

Ossillium naturally forms within Rerador, lacing the moon's crust in great veins of softly shimmering ore. Those native to Rerador have utilised the minerals for a number of years in a variety of industries, but its true importance only came about during the Collective War. On the 10th of May, 2095, the Collective army arrived on Rerador, only to discover their powers no longer functioned. They were quickly rebuffed by defenders on the moon's surface.

Curious by the phenomena, and eager to discover a potential weapon to combat the Collective, the Galactic Imperium performed a number of tests to determine the cause. Five days after the initial exposure, they confirmed it was the proximity to a large Ossillium vein that had blocked the Collective's powers. They began extraction as soon as possible.

During the coming months, Ossillium based weaponry and shielding helped turn the tide of the Collective, giving the people of System 54 to have a fighting chance against the would be conquerors. This culminated in the Battle of London, which centered around the detonation of an Ossillium bomb designed to nullify the command forces of the Collective.

Since that time, Ossillium has been utilised by many high level authorities throughout the Systems, including the likes of the Brain, Uek Ferris, the IIA and the RIS, due to its usage as a Collective equalizer.

## Material States

### Raw Ossillium

As a raw material, Ossillium looks like a dark grey stone that shimmers a light blue in the correct light. A small chunk of raw Ossillium will nullify the powers of any Collective within a 20 foot radius.

This radius increases as the size of the ore itself increases, with a multi-ton vein of the ore capable of blocking Collective armies, despite layers of rock in between.

### Refined Ossillium

Refined Ossillium, such as that used in the London Ossillium Bomb, takes the form of a vibrant translucent blue mineral, almost like a gemstone. In extreme cases, the ore has even been said to glow. It is capable of nullifying Collective powers for a longer period of time and over a larger radius. However, it can also be extremely toxic for humanoids to handle, leading to severe illnesses if ingested or inhaled.

### Ossillium Dust

When Refined Ossillium is vaporized, it takes the form of Ossillium Dust. This extremely fine powder is the most effective method of nullifying mass Collective over a wide area, as once a member of the faction inhales the Dust, their powers are fully neutralized, often for days. The Ossillium Dust cloud caused by the detonation of the London Ossillium Bomb was a crucial component in ending the Collective War.

However, the Dust is also the main cause of the Ossillium sickness that spread through the System months after the event.

### Ossillium Liquid

Though an extremely taxing process, Refined Ossillium can be distilled and kept in a liquidized form. This liquid is a translucent silvery-blue colour and glows with a soft blue light. It is extremely reactive and quite viscous, with a consistency slightly thicker than blood.

The individual who first discovered this form of the ore was Duke Isard, within the space station Fuyoria-Five Zeno. He, with funding and designs from the Brain, was able to use this liquid to create the Living Ossillium Weapon, Jax.

This form of the ore was later used by Uek Ferris as part of his Tempest Project, though it was combined with the X-17 formula to make the enhancement chemical OX-17.

## Usage and Reactions

### Collective Nullification

The primary use of Ossillium is the nullification of the Collective's reality-shifting powers. The reasons behind this are still poorly understood, though the leading theory is based on research done by Dr. Devlin Gadera. Essentially, Ossillium confuses certain protein receptors within the Collective's immune system. This 'tricks' the system into believing their Seed is a foreign invader, triggering subconscious reaction that blocks the Seed from being used.

The effectiveness of Ossillium varies from being to being, with the most powerful Collective mages needing a larger amount to be fully nullified. However, there are no Collective immune to its effects.

Some believe that Ossillium was originally designed by the Saturnine millennia ago in order to combat their Singer rivals. However, it is unknown if the ore would have affected the Singers, and there are no solid records of the mineral in any ancient sources.

### Ossillium Sickness

Ossillium Sickness began after the detonation of the afore mentioned Bomb, caused and spread by the several thousands that inhaled the Ossillium Dust that blanketed London. The illness was not terribly contagious and did not strike all who inhaled the Ossillium particles, but it was viscous and long lasting to those infected.

The illness in question took the form of an extremely efficient autoimmune disease, causing the immune systems of those infected to go into overdrive and, eventually, burn out completely. The illness was spread via contact, and could lay dormant for several months until symptoms were displayed.

At the time, True Aurelia conducted experiments to weaponize the illness, but there attempts, thankfully, did not bear any fruit.

Several cures were proposed during the following year that the Sickness ravaged the System, including the experimental D-12 Virus. Considering the 80% mortality rate, this particular option was never explored. Eventually, on the 9th of October, 2096, a cure was finally announced and distributed. Though the sickness still sporadically appears in the present day, it is much easier to control.