Progressium

A synthetic "super-alloy", Progressium does not exist naturally anywhere in the Universe. It can only be manufactured through a highly energetic particle reconstruction involving the manipulation of individual quarks and gluons into a "quantum lattice" that has a number of peculiar and unique properties. These include a very high energy conductivity that allows the material to act both as a "focuser lens" as well as an effective dissipator for concentrated energy blasts. The material is also virtually indestructible and has an extraordinarily high tensile strength.

The manufacture of this material was thought impossible and indeed, did not even occur to scientists of the Galaxy until a large mass of it was discovered by the Hemmoian Federation - namely in the form of the hull of a gigantic, derelict alien starship, known only as The Apex. For a long period of time HFed science teams studying the material were unable to replicate the manufacturing process, perplexed by its seemingly unachievable form. Eventually however, the Ta'mag Research Facilities, initially formed exclusively to study the alien technology, figured out a way. To this date the process is guarded as a close secret by the Federation.

Since then, Progressium has been employed in a number of experimental HFed starship designs. It was first seen in the prototype Catbert class vessels, and later employed in the more advanced Progress class heavy strike cruiser, the planned next generation IHSF cruiser design. The name "Progressium" was also invented at this time; previously the substance had only been known by various technical titles such as Quantum Reconstruction Quark-Gluon Alloy.