Cortium

 is a mineral scattered across the surface of Auraxis. An extremely potent material, easily refined and a highly efficient power source, cortium is used by Auraxis' inhabitants to quickly create durable structures on the battlefield, and power their vital modules.

Cortium has two uses in-game; to be used to purchase Structures, which can be placed in construction zones, and to power modules and other such utilities.

The Advanced Nanite Transport, or ANT, is a purpose-built mining vehicle and holds some of the only tools that can harvest the cortium deposits found across the continents. The ANT stores a large amount of cortium in its tank, and can transfer it into Cortium Silos or Colossi, or deploy to allow the resource to be used on construction.

The Wasp Prototype, a variant of the Valkyrie, is also able to harvest and deposit cortium similar to the ANT, however cannot deploy to use the resource on constructs.

There are three types of cortium deposits found across Auraxis. Small crystals are common, and contain each. Medium crystals are rarer, though still relatively common, storing within. Large deposits are scarcely seen, but allow a monstrous to be mined.

Locations
Cortium is found on all non-VR continents of Auraxis except Koltyr. It is typically found in open fields away from outposts and facilities, appearing as orange-black crystals of various sizes protuding from the ground, crackling with appropriately coloured electricity. Crystals will appear in random locations at random intervals, though tend to be more common near the Warpgates.

There will always be two nodes in/near every Warpgate, and they respawn almost instantly. So if a certain area is low in cortium nodes, it may be a good idea to go get a full load from the Warpgate.

Finding deposits is easiest when inside of a dedicated mining vehicle, as they have access to a Mineral Radar. The radar will direct the crew towards nearby cortium deposits, with the range based on the level of the certification where appropriate.

Harvesting
Only the Advanced Nanite Transport and Wasp Prototype have the capability to harvest cortium. The ANT has access to three unique mining lasers, two that can be chosen for the driver and one that can replace a defensive armament for the gunner, which can harvest cortium at close ranges and deposit it directly into the ANT's storage tank.

ANTs have the ability to harvest and store up to at a time, based on the rank of their Cortium Storage certification. Wasp Prototypes can store up to as a baseline.

To harvest cortium, drive a mining vehicle close to a cortium deposit, aim the laser at the node, and hold down the Fire hotkey ( by default). Using the same method, cortium can also be deposited using into a Cortium Silo by most mining lasers.

Construction
Cortium is primarily used to build constructables, such as the Rampart Wall, alongside powering modules like the Repair Module. To use cortium on a building, deploy an ANT and access the terminal on the rear, or deposit cortium into an already-built Cortium Silo and access the terminal on the building instead.

When a Silo is in range of a structure or module that demands power, it will automatically begin consuming cortium to power the module.

ANT Abilities
There are two abilities available to the ANT that allow the driver to consume stored Cortium for various buffs. These abilities consume a fixed amount of cortium per second, which is based on the ability and the abilities' level, and can be toggled at will.
 * C-Barrier — Allows the driver to form a Barrier around the ANT, reducing damage taken by the vehicle from almost every direction under the transport.
 * C300 Turbo Engine — Grants the driver access to a turbo afterburner, allowing the ANT to propel itself forward at a far greater speed and with higher acceleration than normal.

Colossus
The Colossus, similar to the ANT, has in-built Cortium Storage. It serves as the energy meter for the vehicle's bombardment shield that is deployed when the Colossus uses Deployment: Skylance Battery, and is also used to power the Mass Accelerator Drive, a utility ability available to the tank.

The Colossus does not naturally have any way to build up its cortium stores. It can receive cortium from any friendly ANT, the same way said mining vehicle would deposit it into a silo, or the Colossus can equip the Cortium Recycler logistics slot upgrade, allowing it to slowly replenish its cortium stores automatically over time when undeployed.