Drup

Drup is a fictional mineral that appears as a central resource in several science fiction works. It is typically depicted as a dense, energy-rich crystalline substance whose unusual properties enable high-density energy storage and rapid energy transfer. In many stories, Drup is harvested from volcanic or desert planets and refined into cells or cores that power starships, shields, and planetary infrastructure.

Physical and chemical descriptions vary between authors. Some portray Drup as a silicate-graphite composite with anisotropic energy capacity; others assign it to a metastable allotrope of a fictional element. Common threads describe a material that remains stable at room temperature, can be charged rapidly, and loses energy slowly but requires careful handling due to brittleness or radiological hazards.

Extraction and processing are technologically demanding. Drup mining often requires automated mining fleets, remote processing facilities, and strict safety controls to prevent fragmentation and radiation exposure. Refined Drup is traded on interstellar markets, and the price is volatile due to supply disruptions, political tensions, and speculative demand for advanced propulsion or defense systems.

Drup's narrative role extends beyond economics. It serves as a driver of interplanetary geopolitics, triggers for conflict, and a plot device to explore scarcity and technological dependency. Etymological notes vary; in some canons, the term derives from the Drupian language, meaning “light mass” or “core energy,” though there is no single authoritative origin across works.

Appearances of Drup also occur in games, fan fiction, and reference texts, sometimes as a mineral, sometimes as a fictional resource or energy currency. Because Drup is a fictional construct used in multiple universes, there is no single canonical definition.