Ipsium

"It is tremendously valuable when refined. However, in its raw state, the mineral is highly combustible, like a primed thermal detonator."

―Tech to Omega, on the qualities of ipsium^[1]

Ipsium was a highly volatile mineral found on the planet Ipsidon that was combustible in its raw form. It required a specific tool to extract but was incredibly valuable once refined into a fuel source. The mineral was extensively mined by the Techno Union corporation during the Clone Wars, with several areas designated to mining across Ipsidon, while a spaceport served as a thriving hub for the ipsium industry until it was abandoned.

By around 18 BBY, the gang boss Mokko had taken over one of the Techno Union's refineries after the Galactic Empire forced the company out. Mokko continued the operation, selling ipsium to feed his miners while claiming it had degraded and hoarding the true profits and food rations for himself. The gang boss's lies about the ipsium and actual income were discovered by the clone commando mercenaries Clone Force 99 after their job to mine ipsium had gone awry. When the group's shuttle was stolen by the miner Benni Baro, it revealed the theft situation to Mokko's workers. The workers ultimately killed the gang boss, allowing them to take over the operation themselves. By 3 ABY, ipsium was considered valuable on the black market, and the Ashiga Clan syndicate shipped the mineral as cargo.

Description

"The mineral is far too unstable. Even the slightest friction around it can cause a destructive chain reaction."

―Tech to Hunter, while attempting to extract ipsium^[1]

Ipsium was a crystalized mineral located on the planet Ipsidon that could be mined and refined into a fuel source.^[2] Naturally emanating a blue light^[1] from golden-yellow deposits, the mineral was found in rich seams^[2] covered in fossilized quartz situated underground in caverns and lakes. It was also an unstable and highly volatile and combustible substance^[1] equal in power to a thermal detonator.^[2] Ipsium could be detonated and cause destructive chain reactions if mishandled, compromised in the mining process, or when disrupted from the slightest amounts of friction. Although extraction operations were dangerous, ipsium could be safely mined with a specific device that was equipped with a drill and suction tube, which breached the quartz and siphoned the liquid crystal into a canister.^[1]

Even when contained, ipsium was still potent enough to destroy rocky walls but required actions such as blasterfire to ignite. With scanning equipment, ipsium could be detected from energy readings that varied depending on the amount nearby. Following the refining process, during which the mineral was still volatile, ipsium became tremendously valuable^[1] and worthy as a profitable business when sold.^[2] The mineral allegedly degraded over time and extensive mining operations.^[3]

History

Ipsium mining industry

"The ipsium's not degrading! You've been cutting us out and keeping the profits for yourself!"

―Benni Baro confronting Mokko, regarding the ipsium's alleged degradation^[3]

In the era of the Galactic Republic,^[4] the planet Ipsidon hosted a spaceport^[1] in its northern territory.^[3] The spaceport was a thriving hub for the ipsium mining industry but was later abandoned and housed a graveyard of skiffs and other technology suitable for scavengers.^[5] When the Clone Wars took place, fought from 22 BBY to 19 BBY^[6] between the Republic and Confederacy of Independent Systems, the galactic corporation known as the Techno Union had established numerous mining areas and refineries on Ipsidon designated toward collecting ipsium. After the war ended^[4] and the Republic transformed into the Galactic Empire,^[6] the Techno Union was forced out and left its mining operations.^[3]

Before the Imperial Era, some individuals had carved out their own private mines aimed at mining ipsium for themselves, though some of them had been depleted of their minerals^[1] and were aging by the Empire's reign.^[3] By around 18 BBY,^[7] the gang boss Mokko had claimed one of the Techno Union refineries, continuing the lucrative operation and renaming it Mokkotown for himself.^[4] With help from a crew of scrumrats, the gathered minerals were sold off-world and rewarded Mokko with food supplies and amounts of income. However, the workers' wages were decreased following claims that the ipsium ore was degrading. The workers were willing to serve the gangster for praise and rationed food as they contended for the position of "top earner" for sustenance. In truth, however, Mokko was lying about the ipsium's state and cutting the workers out to gain the true income and supplies for himself.^[3]

Ipsium troubles

"My scans are not indicating a sizable presence of ipsium. Looks like Cid was deceived into purchasing an already depleted mine."

―Tech to Hunter, inside Cid's purchased ipsium mine^[1]

Around that time,^[7] the Trandoshan information broker Ciddarin Scaleback had purchased a mine in the northern territory of the planet and sent her mercenary clone commandos of Clone Force 99 to retrieve the mineral from within. Finding little traces of ipsium, the crew realized the mine was largely depleted before Scaleback had bought it. Collecting what remained and about to leave Ipsidon with their quarry, the crew's shuttle, the Marauder, was stolen by the young miner Benni Baro, forcing them to trek towards a spaceport. After being forced and trapped in another mine from a storm when their ipsium had blown the entrance shut,^[1] the female clone^[6] Omega discovered vast amounts of ipsium and hoped to blast the way open, and she later received help from her squadmate Tech.^[1]

While extracting the ipsium, the two fell into an underground stream and were carried deeper into the cavern but were able to leave once fellow crewmembers Hunter and Wrecker brought their collected minerals and exploded an opening with it. Reaching the abandoned spaceport, the team unsuccessfully contacted Scaleback to retrieve them in several days, waiting for her until they traced their power droid Gonky to Mokkotown. Hoping they would retrieve their shuttle as well, the squad traveled to the refinery and found their ship was held under ray shield by the gang boss Mokko. Going against the gangster, Omega was sent to deactivate the shield while the squad reassembled the Marauder, but they found the business' profit reports revealing that the ipsium had not degraded. Although the gang boss discovered them, the workers learned about Mokko's lies and of his hoarding of the income and they ultimately killed him, allowing the miners to continue the operation with equal shares.^[3]

By 3 ABY,^[8] ipsium was transported by the Ashiga Clan criminal syndicate as cargo. The mineral was considered valuable in the black market by that time.^[9]

This section of the article assumes 100% game completion of Star Wars Outlaws. Any alternate stories may be noted in the "Behind the scenes" section. The events in this section may or may not have been confirmed as canon.

That year,^[8] the outlaw Kay Vess was hired by a black market merchant affiliated with the Crimson Dawn syndicate to steal a shipment of ipsium from an Ashiga Clan freighter. After traveling to the planet Kijimi's orbit, she successfully stole the cargo and delivered it to a nearby location for payment.^[9]

Assumption ends here.

Behind the scenes

Ipsium was introduced in "The Crossing,"^[1] the ninth episode of the television series Star Wars: The Bad Batch's second season, which aired on February 15, 2023.^[10] Massive Entertainment's 2024 video game Star Wars Outlaws includes a mention of the mineral in an optional syndicate side quest available to players with good or exceptional Crimson Dawn reputation. The shipment of ipsium Vess is contracted to steal from the Ashiga Clan will always require it to be delivered to a nearby location in Kijimi's orbit. If the player completes the objective successfully, they will be rewarded with an amount of Crimson Dawn syndicate reputation and a randomized amount of credits. As Outlaws's syndicate optional quests can be completed an infinite number of times with slightly differing mission details, this article does not assume one version to be canonically superior. The game's mention capitalizes it as Ipsium,^[9] though this article assumes that the more common capitalization introduced in The Bad Batch is correct.^[1]