Scourge

The Scourge is a widespread energy phenomenon discovered by the Andromeda Initiative in the Heleus Cluster of the Andromeda galaxy. It defies understanding by contemporary science, and is described as a "charged absence". Speculation about the nature of the Scourge usually ties it to dark energy, yet the Scourge does not behave in the way that existing theories on dark energy say that it would. Element Zero can be harvested from the Scourge, but only at great expense as the Scourge catastrophically interferes with the function of most technology. The Scourge is associated in some way with Remnant structures and has severely damaged the environments of the planets classified as golden worlds by the Initiative.