Germanium

Germanium is an element critical in the construction of Kearny Fuchida drives and is an expensive and rare commodity.

Concerning the electronic attributes, it is a half-metal and thusly useful in many electronic applications as a semiconductor. Early solid state electronics were based on germanium.

The planet Alphard, the capital of the Marian Hegemony, has huge resources of germanium and is the source of the planet's wealth.

Bibliography

Handbook: Major Periphery States