The cornerstone of scientific advancement and technology in the last century has been nanotech: the use of molecular machines to manipulate the very atoms of matter. This technology has allowed humanity to construct objects that are lighter, stronger, and more perfectly assembled than ever before – one molecule at a time. It also means that if we have the "blueprints" of any device, we can construct it perfectly, over and over.

There are two types of nanotech (also called "nanites") currently in use – replicating, and fixed. Fixed nanotech are molecular machines that perform one function only, running off an internal energy supply, and expiring when their work is done. An example would be the medical nanos in medkits. They enter the body, locate damage, and repair it. Once their energy is used up, they "die", entering the bloodstream to be filtered out naturally. Each medkit can only repair so much damage (and good thing – medical nanites with no energy limit might continue to "repair" even after the damage was fixed). Replicating nanotech, on the other hand, draw energy from their environment (usually a single type of matter) and some even have the ability to reproduce, creating new versions of themselves that can in turn replicate, ad infinitum. An example would be the biotech patrolling every Frontiersman's body, looking for foreign biotech or nanotech attack. These machines convert iron in the blood into the minimal charge needed to continue functioning. Replicating nanotech is extremely dangerous and nearly non-existent today. The dangers of a machine that never stops, or can reproduce itself into infinity, are too great. Early mistakes destroyed entire planets, and created "hot zones" that will be off limits for many generations. The destructive potential of this technology dwarfs anything man has encountered or imagined.

For this reason, there are strict limits on the use of nanotech in civilian or industrial applications. These limits are relaxed slightly on ships, where accidents can be contained, or in military situations, where it seems any advantage will be exploited sooner or later, no matter the risk.

Most ships or bases have carefully contained stores of "raw" nano-sludge, a mineral rich slop that can serve as the base material for any desired object. Nanotech assemblers are designed to accept this sludge, and this sludge only, as their fuel, and the building blocks for nano-construction. This helps limit the dangers of nanotech, and also allows the Trans-Govs to police its use (by controlling the nano-sludge supply). There are few greater crimes than the unsanctioned development or use of nanotech.

Stores of nano-sludge on ships or bases are called Resource Nodes. They are only accessed under supervised conditions, requiring the oversight of a ship's captain. Frontiersmen can tap them using Resource Towers. See Resources and Equipment for more information.